Compare Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights by APT Touring vs A Taste Of Vietnam And Cambodia In 9 Days by Realistic Asia
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 13 days | 9 days |
Price From | $ 4,848 | $ 1,075 |
Price Per Day | $ 373 | $ 119 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | River cruise | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Luxury | Standard |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
Activities |
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Meals Included | N/A |
8 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 1 Dinner |
Description |
Enjoy 13 days with a seven-night Mekong River cruise aboard the RV AmaLotus, cultural and religious exposure, as well as authentic fine dining. |
Let's get lost in stunning panoramas of Vietnam and Cambodia. A Taste Of Vietnam And Cambodia In 9 Days, starts in colonial Hanoi - the elegant capital, graceful yet fast-paced city. Cruise on emerald waters among the peaks of Vietnam's most famous bay. Move to the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City to discover the riverside life of local people alongside the mighty Mekong River. Then fly to Siem Reap and be amazed by the largest religious complex in the world. |
Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you’ll be met by an APT representative and transferred to your luxurious hotel. Settle in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to explore.
Stay: Three Nights: Siem Reap, Hotel Sofitel Angkor
Day 2: Siem Reap
FREEDOM OF CHOICE - Dining
Choose from an extensive range of activities that showcase the cultural heart of Siem Reap.
Meet your tour director and fellow travellers this morning at your welcome briefing and then head to Angkor Archaeological Park to visit the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom, and the 12th-century temple of Bayon. This evening, enjoy dinner and a traditional Apsara dance performance.
Day 3: Siem Reap
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Rise early and travel back to Angkor Archaeological Park for a glass of champagne as you enjoy a special sunrise experience at Angkor Wat.
Freedom Of Choice - Dining
Tonight you can select from a number of local restaurants for dinner.
Explore the vine-engulfed temple of Ta Prohm, a World Heritage-listed site, and pay a visit to ‘Opportunities of Development thru Art’.
Day 4: Siem Reap, Prek K’dam, Embark Ship
Transfer to Prek K’dam to embark your river ship. Tonight, celebrate the beginning of your cruise with a Luke Nguyen Welcome Dinner.
Stay: Seven Nights: Cruise the Mekong River aboard APT’s RV AmaLotus
Day 5: Kampong Chhnang, Koh Chen
Hop aboard a small boat to explore the lush wetlands near Kampong Chhnang, watching for water birds and traditional fishing traps near the riverbank. Back on your ship, continue sailing to the village of Koh Chen for a walk to visit the fine silverware and copperware workshops.
Day 6: Prek K’dam, Oudong, Kampong Tralach, Phnom Penh
From Prek K’dam, take a coach to Oudong where you’ll call on a monastery for a Buddhist blessing experience with monks. In Kampong Tralach later, ride an ox cart through the countryside, passing rice fields and smiling locals on the way back to your ship. Later, arrive in Phnom Penh.
Day 7: Phnom Penh
FREEDOM OF CHOICE - Sightseeing
Perhaps enjoy a tour of the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, or take a moving excursion to the infamous Killing Fields. Your other options are a visit to the National Museum or a city tour in a tuk tuk.
After breakfast, disembark in Phnom Penh.
Day 8: Phnom Penh, Border Crossing
Relax while border crossing formalities are carried out before arriving in Tan Chau.
Day 9: Tan Chau, Evergreen Island
Transfer to a small boat for a journey along the tiny tributaries that snake around Tan Chau. Glide past a floating fishing farm, then take a rickshaw tour. Later, observe rural Mekong life on an evergreen island.
Day 10: Sa Dec, Cai Be
In the city of Sa Dec, enjoy a small boat ride past floating markets, then disembark to visit a Cao Dai temple. You’ll also enjoy a guided tour of Huynh Thuy Le’s old house and visit a rice paper manufacturer.
Day 11: Disembark Cruise, Depart Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Long Tan OR Cu Chi Tunnels
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
In Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), attend either a memorialservice at Long Tan Cross or visit the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Disembark at My Tho Port and select from two Signature Experiences.
Stay: Two Nights: Ho Chi Minh City, Park Hyatt Saigon
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Tonight, enjoy a Luke Nguyen-inspired degustation dinner with matching wines at Xu Restaurant.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE - Sightseeing
Discover the city on your choice of activities: tour the city on foot, enjoy a motorbike tour, visit the Ky Long Art Villa, join a shopping tour, or take part in a cooking class at GRAIN by Luke Nguyen cooking studio.
Day 13: Depart Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer to the airport this morning.
Day 1 Welcome to Vietnam - Hanoi Arrival
Your Vietnam adventure begins with your arrival in Hanoi. Your private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. He will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city, with the fascinating Old Quarter at your fingertips. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2 Explore The Charms Of Vietnam's Capital - Group Tour (B/L)
Today you will have a full-day exploration of a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes, and oriental pagodas and temples dating back thousand years ago.
The guide will pick you up at your hotel from 8:00-8:45 am. Start your exploration by visiting the Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Vietnamese great father, and President Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, where he lived and worked from 1958 to 1969. Then visit Ho Chi Minh Museum where you will learn about his devotion to Vietnam. Then continue to Tran Quoc pagoda, a Buddhist temple, and national heritage, lying on one side of West Lake.
Then proceed to the Ethnology Museum (apply on Sun, Tue, Thu & Sat). Here you will find the diversity of the culture of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.
Have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, drive to the Temple of Literature, which is the first university in Vietnam. It is an ancient architecture, constructed in 1073 to worship Confucius and the Chu Van An - headmaster of the Imperial College - representing the high moral philosophy and ethics of Vietnamese education. After an amazing time in the Temple of Literature drive back to Hoan Kiem Lake to visit Ngoc Son Temple and see the Vietnamese and French architecture around the lake.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3 Explore The Magnificent Ha long Bay (B/L/D)
In the morning, after breakfast, check out the hotel, the Cruise team will pick you up. Take the most scenic route to reach Ha long Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival to Ha long, you will enjoy a cruise on the Bay and explore the limestone rocks and the karst grottoes.
After you are done with your exploration of the bay, it is time to enjoy an utterly delicious seafood lunch, after which there will be a trip to the famous limestone cave in Ha Long Bay, you’ll get to spend some time here, kayaking or swimming so that you can get closer to the floating villages and shops. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.
Overnight on cruise.
Day 4 Wake Up With The Dragon in The Bay (B/L)
Rise early today to view the dawn at the Wonder of the Nature World with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awake your mind and muscles.
Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. Then return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor. Later you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 5 Hanoi - Flight To Ho Chi Minh (B)
Relish the remaining moment in Hanoi before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh. When you arrive at Ho Chi Minh airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation. The rest of the time is free at leisure.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 6 Excursion On The Mighty Mekong Delta (B/L)
Kick start your day with a hearty breakfast, and a trip to Mekong Delta follows. The guide will meet you at the hotel lobby around 7:15-7:30 am, and you will head to My Tho, which lies on the left side of the Mekong River.
Upon arrival, board the sampan and cruise down the river around the four beautiful islands, known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands. Stop at Unicorn Island, walk around the country lanes and see the orchards. Visit fruit plantations and enjoy tropical fruits and folk song music performed by the local people.
Then take a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and immerse yourself in the beauty of the countryside. Visit family workshops and honey-bee farm, and taste some honey tea and coconut candies.
Refuel yourself with a traditional Vietnamese lunch, and later cycle around the Tan Thach village, and meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong Delta. If you are not keen on a cycling trip, enjoy a cool breeze and a relaxing time in a hammock. Afterward, you will get back to your accommodation.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B/L) - Flight to Siem Reap
Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, which was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the historic Central Post Office. The next stop is the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum, which has a vast display of both the Indochina wars.
Then have some free time until our driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, your private driver will meet you and escort you to the hotel. Rest if the day is at your leisure.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Please note: The Notre Dame Cathedral is under restoration, so the guests could visit it only outside.
Day 8 Explore The Magnificent Ancient Capital of Khmers (B)
Have breakfast at the hotel and start your sightseeing tour of the Angkor complex. Start your exploration with the wondrous ancient ruins of the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone. Continue your sightseeing to the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares.
We will stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. Then visit the famous jungle-covered temple of Ta Prohm. Here the enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 9 Biggest Farewell and Warmest Thank You - Siem Reap Departure (B)
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later your private driver will transfer you to the airport to take your flight back home.
Trip Ends.