Compare Vietnam & Cambodia Holiday by Swallow Travel vs Finding Vietnam & The Lost Temples Of Angkor by Exotic Voyages

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in HCMC

Arrival Ho Chi Minh city. Our driver will pick you up from the airport to the hotel for check-in. Then you will have free time to explore HCMC by yourself.

Day 2: Mekong Delta Deluxe Group Full Day Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in HCMC

A trip to Mekong Delta to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and the rich culture of the vibrant southern Delta region. Boating down the river to experience the local life, fishing port, fishing floating house, enjoy the local folk song music and seasonal fresh fruit.

Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and then start leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands.

Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around country lane and seeing orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, enjoy the folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation.

Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop.

In the afternoon, time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong delta. Hammock relaxing and enjoy cool breeze for those can’t joint the cycling trip.

Drop off at your hotel. Trip ends.

Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnel Deluxe Group Half Day Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in HCMC

Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and then start driving to Cu Chi which located 70 km from the Ho Chi Minh City Center to the Northwest. Cu Chi was known as the “area of steel” in the war time, and the tunnel systems were over 200km, which was considered the unbreakable underground village in the Vietnam-American war. It is legendary for its network of tunnels, and is a popular destination for both Vietnamese and foreign visitors.

The trip to Cu Chi will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving.

Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun.

Return to Ho Chi Minh city. Have lunch at the restaurant

Get transferred back to your hotel. Trip ends.

Explore more Ho Chi Minh city by yourself. Please contact us if you want to join other daily tours in Ho Chi Minh city with us.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh - Fly To Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

 You will have a breakfast at the hotel, free and easy till our driver comes to transfer to the airport to take flight to Hanoi. Arrival Hanoi, get picked up to the hotel from the airport. Then you will have time for discovering by yourselves the attractions of Hanoi City. Check out your reflection in beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, wander along shaded. Museum-wise, why not visit the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, drop into the serene Temple of Literature or get arty at the city's Fine Arts Museum.

Day 5: Hanoi - Halong - Halong Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on Halong cruise

Pick-up at the hotel then travel to the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin (approximately four hours) with a short break on the way. The bay is dotted with sandy coves, grottoes and 1,600 limestone islands, which have been formed over millennia by wind and water erosion.

Embark on Lavender Cruise followed by a short cruise briefing and enjoy welcome-drink. Check in the cabin.

Enjoy lunch with sampling regional fresh seafood while cruising on exquisite water, passing Incense Burner island, Fighting Cock islet, Stone Dog… Lavender Cruise will bring you to explore Ha Long Bay on the most wonderful route where just a few cruises go through.

Do kayaking through the magnificent landscape with Limestone Mountains, visit Titov Island and swimming or just relaxing on the sun-deck for fantastic views at The Bay. After kayaking, you will be back to Lavender Cruises and join sunset party.

The cruise passes by Soi Sim Beach, “Rang Dua” Island to sleeping area near The Surprising cave.

Joining our Cooking Class in the restaurant. Let’s see how to make the fresh/fried spring rolls and mix fish-sauce.

Under the magnificent night sky, our set-menu dinner is served with a variety of Vietnamese and Asian foods.

- Evening activities:

Join squid fishing on boat with our crews, playing card, karaoke or laze yourself with our happy-hour drinks at the bar. To end the day, spend a peaceful night aboard the boat beneath the night sky.

Day 6: Halong Bay - Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

Morning exercises on the Sun-deck.

Have breakfast with Coffee, tea and Bakeries on board.

Visit the Surprising Cave (Hang Sung Sot) discovered by the French in 1901. Opened for tourists since 1936, now it is a must-to-see and a symbol for geology value of Halong.

Check out time. Then relax on the sun-deck or inside the restaurant to enjoy the bay’s scenery.

Enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch while cruising back to the pier.

Check out cruise. Our car will be at your disposal to pick you up then drive back to Hanoi.

Arrive in Hanoi. End of the trip!

Note: The above itinerary is for Halong Lavender cruises. It may vary depending on the boat you choose.

Day 7: Hanoi Walking Food Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

You have breakfast at the hotel then have free time to relax, go shopping and explore Hanoi by yourself. Check out your reflection in beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, wander along shaded. Museum-wise, why not visit the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, drop into the serene Temple of Literature or get arty at the city's Fine Arts Museum.

We will pick up from your hotel located in Hanoi Old Quarter, then start walking around Hanoi old quarter "36 streets" to visit some famous and specialized- food families or stalls/ local restaurants, shops where they run their business everyday, certainly you will watch and taste some particular dishes, we can customize vegetarian or special food too. Special thing is our guide will introduce you some popular authentic food in lovely local restaurants (not luxury restaurants) where you feel comfortable to sit down and enjoy some favorite dishes and nice drinks too. It's interesting to hear from tour guide about the history of the old quarter in Hanoi, it is thousand years old and today retains much of the old flavor that made the area special in earlier times, each street was the exclusive domain of one trade (guilds) so there are whole streets of blacksmiths, silver shops, paper shops, headstone makers and more. Originally there were just 36 streets in the old quarter but today there are more than 50 streets. It is very difficult to find some local food stalls and special restaurants on your own in hidden alleys and sidewalks, certainly the best way to make it easy is joining with Swallow Travel, taking part in this special tour to learn about Vietnamese cuisine, culture, people and language. Food on Foot Tour will give you an unique experience to try our special local food and drinks, we ensure the food is handled hygienically and provide a comfortable venue for the tasting. The margin also goes back to the vendors or local restaurants/ families as we buy directly from them. At 14.30/or 21.00, our tour guide will take you back to the hotel. Trip ends.

Day 8: Hanoi - Sleeper Bus To Sapa - Cat Cat Trekking

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in Sapa

Have breakfast or ask for take-away breakfast at your hotel.

We will pick you up at your hotel then leave for Sapa. Traveling on new Highway Noi Bai by sleeper bus, it takes around 5 hours. We will have a short break around 20 minutes on the way.

Arrival in Sapa town. Have lunch at the restaurant.

After lunch and short time to relax, trekking from hotel to Cat Cat village of H’mong - It is named Cat Cat Village, you have a chance to visit a waterfall and the hydroelectric power station built by the French, learning about the culture, customs and unique people here with traditional crafts such as weaving, carved silver, hand forged agricultural tools.

We will go back to Sapa Town. Spend your time for fresh up then have dinner at the hotel.

You will have your own leisure time to explore Sapa Town’s night life.

Day 9: Lao Chai Ta Van - Sleeper Bus To Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in Sapa

Have breakfast at hotel.

After breakfast, we leave the hotel and start trekking. After 4km on the main road, we start going down to the valley by the small trails through the terrace rice fields to get to Y Linh Ho hamlet, and from here to the Black H'mong village - Lao Chai village (Black H'mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa). After that, you will continue your trekking along Muong Hoa stream, paddy field to Ta Van village, visit and understand about "Zay" ethnic people. You will see houses of The Zay people which are built of wood and bamboo with a clay floor.

Have lunch at the village.

We will transfer you to the bus station to catch the sleeper bus back to Hanoi.

Drop you off at the hotel.

Note: The trekking to Lao Chai - Ta Van is around 12km, if you dont want to do the long trek. We can organize private car and tourguide at a surcharge.

Day 10: Hanoi Free Day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

You have breakfast at the hotel then have the whole day free in Hanoi to relax, go shopping and explore this city by yourself.

Our Hanoi private city tour or My Village Show Hanoi can be good options for you. Please contact us if you want to join these tours with us

- Optional Activities (not included)

• Hanoi City Tour
• Hoa Lu Citadel - Tam Coc Boat Trip Tour
• Trang An Grottoes - Bai Dinh Pagoda Tour

Day 11: Hanoi - Fly To Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap

Have breakfast at the hotel then free and easy until our driver comes and transfers you to the airport. You will catch the flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, get picked up and transferred to hotel for check in. Free at your own.

Day 12: Angkor Wat Private Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap

We drive to visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Continue your visit Thommanan, ChaosayTevoda, Takeo and the fabulous Ta Prohm.

Time for Lunch

Spend your last afternoon, visit to the World Heritage Site; the Heart & Soul of Cambodia, Angkor Wat, the biggest Buddhist temple on the World. seeing the architectural masterpiece of Angkor Wat and stroll around this massive monument, exploring the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple.

Day 13: Tonle Sap Lake Private Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap

Option 1: Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel then move to Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. You can enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals. If your energy level still permit, before returning back to hotel stop by atArtisan D’Angkor home of handicraft center or Old Market, a lively outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewelry, gems, silk, Kramas, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, CDs and other souvenirs.

Option 2: Visiting Angkor National Museum with thousands of Art galleries and reveal legend of Angkor. Then continue to visit the killing fields at WatThmey before spending your last trip to Artisan D’Angkor home of handicraft center or Old Market, a lively outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewelry, gems, silk, Kramas, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, CDs and other souvenirs.

Note: Visiting Tonle Sap Lake from March to August is not really interesting because water level is very low and smelly. You can choose to visit Angkor National Museum &The Killing Fields of WatThmey instead of visting Tonle Sap Lake.

Day 14: Siem Reap Departure

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at hotel then you will have free time at your own leisure till our driver comes and transfers you to airport. Trip ends. Please let us know if you want to extend some extra days in Siem Reap or visit other places in Cambodia.

DAY 1 HANOI

Hotel: Capella Hanoi

Arriving at Noi Bai Airport, you will be welcomed by a local guide who will drive you to Capella Hanoi, the No. 3 Best City Hotel in Asia for hotel check-in. Capella Hanoi is conveniently located near many of Hanoi's top attractions, allowing you to explore the city for the rest of the day.

DAY 2 HANOI

Hotel: Capella Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Go on a walking tour with a story teller, find some local houses to understand more about Vietnamese local life and the development of architecture over the years. Have lunch and free talk with the story teller. In the afternoon, visit Hanoi’s first university - the Temple of Literature, head to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum and travel through the Old Quarter on a cycle rickshaw.

DAY 3 HA LONG BAY

Hotel: Ginger Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel by a private vehicle and leave for Halong Bay, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with 3,000 islands of towering limestone dotting the bay and Gulf of Tonkin. Board the Ginger Cruise at around noon, a beautiful private boat for an overnight.

DAY 4 HOI AN

Hotel: Palm Garden Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch

Enjoy a spectacular dawn over the bay. After that, have brunch and return to Hanoi around noontime, passing a vast expanse of rice fields of the Red River Delta. Go directly to the airport to catch a short flight to Da Nang. Once you arrive, you will be picked up by a local driver and transferred to the hotel in Hoi An. Free to explore the town.

DAY 5 HOI AN

Hotel: Palm Garden Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit the bustling fish market at sunrise and have local breakfast while strolling in Ancient Town. Later, ride your bicycle into the Cam Thanh countryside, observe picturesque scenes of the local life before reaching the seaport of Cua Dai to explore a unique method of fishing in “basket boats". Enjoy a lunch carefully prepared by the fishermen.

DAY 6 HOI AN

Hotel: Palm Garden Resort
Meals: Breakfast

Have the whole day to yourself to explore the city of Hoi An, whether it is the beach or the ancient town, the decision is up to you. Let yourself be seduced by the old charm and the serenity of Hoi An.

DAY 7 SAIGON

Hotel: Hotel Des Arts Saigon - MGallery
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, fly to Saigon. Check in the hotel and rest. At 6 pm, go on a Jeep night food tour to try local 'Banh Xeo' and some spring rolls, see famous monuments such as the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, and the City Hall. The next stop is District 4, where you will enjoy delicious fresh seafood cooked in a traditional way. Have a drink at a rooftop and admire an incredible view of the city.

DAY 8 MEKONG DELTA & RIVER

Hotel: Hotel Des Arts Saigon - MGallery
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive southwest to the Mekong Delta. A traditional boat tour on the Mekong River let you taste local fruits and feel the cold breeze on your hair. Leave your boat for a while to visit local families making traditional and handicraft products. After exploring the island's minor waterways by sampan, explore the once-called floating market in the commercial center. After having a local meal, return to Saigon, and visit the Opera House for the A O art show, a new circus art performance.

DAY 9 SIEM REAP

Hotel: Anantara Angkor Resort
Meals: Breakfast

Visit the 250-km Cu Chi tunnel network, which housed over 16,000 Viet Cong guerrillas this morning. You can also descend into the tunnels to learn about Viet Cong life. After returning to the city, fly to Siem Reap. A local guide will greet you in Siem Reap and assist with hotel check-in. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.

DAY 10 SIEM REAP

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit Angkor Wat, a bas-relief wonder. At noon, enjoy a cultural and culinary experience in a traditional house. You can also stay in the house for a nap on the sofas or walk through the village and the close-by rice-fields. Explore Angkor Thom's South gate and Bayon, 54 enormous towers with 216 smiling Avalokitesvara faces, in the afternoon. The Elephant Terrace, the king's large audience room, and the raised Leper King Terrace are next. Stop at Ta Prohm monastery on the way home to admire gigantic stone branches.

DAY 11 SIEM REAP

Hotel: Anantara Angkor Resort
Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy your free time in the morning until noon, when it’s time to say goodbye to Siem Reap and get transferred to the airport for your flight home.