Vietnam & Cambodia Passion

This "Vietnam & Cambodia Passion" 12-day tour is a good chance to allow you to access all the must-see places in these two Indochinese countries. Get ready to immerse yourself in the unique cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and a smiling population that welcomes you for an unforgettable trip.

12 days 11 nights

Vietnam

Multi-Country Tours

Attractions

Ha Noi - Sapa - Ha Long City - Sai Gon - Angkor Complex - Tonle Sap Lake

Duration

12 days 11 nights

Code

VNC03

Overview

Overview

This "Vietnam & Cambodia Passion " 12 days is a good chance to allows you to access all the can-not-miss places of these two Indochinese countries. The unique cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes and a smiling population welcome you for an unforgettable trip.
From northern Vietnam, you will first join the three main destinations of Tonkin. First, visit Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam for a tour of the city and its typical neighborhoods, its national monuments representing the country's ancient and contemporary history. Further north, the mountains, near the Chinese border known as the Annamite Cordillera, welcome you to enjoy Sapa's climatic health resort reachable by train from Hanoi. The coolness of the heights and the smiling welcome of the minority ethnic population bring together the best conditions for strolling in the mountains and admiring the magnificent landscapes of Mount Ham Rong, Lao Chai and Ta Van. You will end your journey north by taking a cruise on Halong Bay, one of the 7 new wonders of nature.
The following days continue with the visit of the Angkor Relic to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the beautiful and quiet capital of Cambodia with the Royal Palace, the National Archeology Museum and sites related to the dark period of the regime.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

Take a beautiful picture of Hanoi city– the Paris of the Orient after taking one full day trip
Enjoy a quiet night with pure, fresh atmosphere on board in Halong Bay
Experience night train for round trip between Hanoi and Lao Cai
Sneak into Cao Son Ethnic market on Wednesday. The market deeply shows the typical cultural features of the minorities in remote mountainous areas.
Short trekking to visit Lao Chai and Ta van the village of the Hmong and Zay people. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of rice field terrace
Explore vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, the dynamic heart of Vietnam and experience yourself on the back of your rider. We will ride through the beautiful lit boulevards, the back alleys, and the busy streets where you can enjoy Saigon street foods
Explore the mighty ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat
Join the trip to Banteay Srei temple (10th c), the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art.
Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas. And take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia.

Itinerary

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Warmly welcome you on arrival at Noi Bai international airport. We transfer you with a comfortable vehicle to the city center of Hanoi to check-in your hotel. This day is scheduled to take some rest after your long flight. You have the opportunity to get some first impressions of the city by yourself and of course our tour guide is always available at your request. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast, our guide will pick you up and show you around Hanoi, Vietnam’s gracious capital. We enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, home to his mausoleum, garden, house on stilts and a museum which traces his life and work.

Our first stop is to visit the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh. Located in the center of Ba Dinh Square, this is the most important monument of Vietnam in which Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved. This site only opens on Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from 08:00 – 11:00.

The next destination is the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house was completed on May 19th, 1958 as a birthday present for uncle Ho and becomes a symbol of his simple life.

Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda. The pagoda looks like a lotus blossoming from the square pond. It was constructed in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong based on his dream of Goddess of Mercy seating on a lotus flower and giving him a boy. In 1954, it was destroyed by the French and then restored in 1955.

We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. This temple provides an opportunity to learn more about education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago until recent history.

In the afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnologic Museum that is dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. This museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibition area with the most popular architectural styles of house’s ethnic people. The museum closes on every Monday.

You have free time until we transfer to the rail way station to board a soft sleep & AC train to Lao Cai/Sapa (21:00).

At approximately 06:00 we arrive in Lao Cai. Your chauffeur waits with a 45 minutes’ drive by private car, from Lao Cai Station to Sapa. After breakfast, we start trekking from Sapa town to Lao Chai village.
Lao Chai & Ta Van Villages are the places where ethnic black H’mong and Dzay people are living. Here you will enjoy the fresh air, see terraced fields and stream and visit some of Black H’mong families to learn more about their culture and customs.
Along the road, you have a chance to contemplate the beauty in peace of the Muong Hoa Valley, magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields. Particularly, you can meet many ethnic minority groups (H’mong, Zay, and Red Dao) whose stalls are along the way to sell fruits or sweets. From the main road, we get off the car and trek along a local path until we reach the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai and experience the daily life of the villagers. Continue walking from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Zay hill tribes live. Here you take a rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your local guide in a local house. After lunch, relax and continue trekking to the meeting point on the main road for transferring back to Sapa town. The rest of this day is at leisure. Discover the fanciful Sapa town on your own, its bustling market with colorful handmade brocatelle stuffs of the ethnic people, tea and coffee shops as well as the local culture in this mountainous town.

Highlights:
Cao Son is the most stunning part of Lao Cai province. The wonder of Cao Son is ever inspirational with mild weather, authentic culture of local hill tribes, spectacular views toward lush valleys and mighty Chay River
On this trip you will visit one of the smallest local markets in the area, which locates in a beautiful landscape. The market still keeps its original aspect as it is. Here you will meet Flower Hmong, Black Dao, Tay, Nung minorities.

Itinerary:
You will enjoy beautiful scenery along the ride until you arrive in Muong Khuong. From there, you turn in a dirt road, which goes up in mountains. Pine trees forests and villages surround the tinny market. Flower H’mong, Black Dao, Tay, Nung ethnic minorities come to buy and sell local products such as food and material for agriculture and fabric. People coming to the market not only for selling or buying something but also importantly to meet friends, relative and to sip some cups of wine until the dawn comes. Nowhere else but here, Flower H’mong people greet you with a temptation of corn wine and endless hospitality. After exploring the market, you will be able to visit a village of Flower H’mong or a village of Tay people. You will then head back to Muong Khuong and have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, you get on the car for journey drive to Lao Cai then board the overnight train to Hanoi (19.00)
Approx: 6 hours driving/ 1-hour walking/ 1-hour lunch

Arrival at the train station early and then transfer to a mini hotel for breakfast and fresh up. Then starts a 3-hour drive through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta to Ha Long City.
Declared as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1994, Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural attractions. Nearly 200 km far from Hanoi, the bay is dotted with 1600 limestone islands, capturing visitors’ attention.
Arrive in Halong ad board a luxury wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island. Dinner served on board. Overnight on Ha Long Bay Cruise

Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back-up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor where our private vehicle waiting for you for a 4 hour journey to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Saigon. Upon arrival pick up and transfer to the hotel for your overnight.

Morning after having breakfast, depart for the famous Cu Chi Tunnels which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war.

Afternoon, we take a half day of city tour to visit all famous sites of this bustling city. The first destination is the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, followed by some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral. Apart from the religious meaning, the even more special captivating point of this Cathedral is its special neo-Romanesque style of architecture. Next, it is on to the Old Saigon Post Office. After visiting the Jade Emperor Pagoda, we continue our trip to the bustling Ben Thanh Market, which is firstly well-known as the place for real Vietnamese food. There are a number of vendors and food stalls in the market food section that offer guests many freshly delicious dishes. You also can find any goods for daily use as well as variety of eye-catching local handicrafts, souvenirs here. Overnight at the hotel in HCM city.

After breakfast, free time on your own then we transfer you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by our guide outside the terminal and transferred to the hotel for check-in.
During the transfer, our guide will give you the introduction of Siem Reap City and general information about traffic, currency, shopping area and more.

Beat the crowd early morning by 7am, visit the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. And continue to visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat - one of the world’s most impressive ruins. The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art. Lunch is own account.
Afternoon, explore the mysterious Royal city Angkor Thom. City & Bayon Its 54-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further, visit to the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Lepper King Terrace and Royal Place area.

Morning transfer out of the Siem Reap town to a beautiful village in the countryside, you will start to walk through the village houses, witnessing very nice and different activities from the locals for their daily life. Just as some examples: how the locals wash vehicles, selling gasoline in whiskey bottles or the small shops where the locals sell food on the side of small streets.

On the way, you can take some fruits from the plants, enjoy a view of this wonderful area and interact with very kindly people in the village. Enjoy a 30-minute ox-cart ride through the rice paddies to reach one big local house to see how this family doing daily work such as making rice wine and handicraft works meanwhile a member of the family will offer you a fresh coconut and some homemade rice wine to taste.
Hop in your van for driving onward to the next destination, a floating community, arrive at the quay for embarking on a motorized boat to visit floating houses village offering an incredible natural phenomenon of making their lives from the lake in a respectful and meaningful way. This is a great chance to witness one of Cambodia and the world’s most amazing natural wonders. Drive back to Siem Reap. (Note***floating community is recommended from September to February).

At your choice, Kayaking is available on request on Tonle Sap Lake at additional cost.