Compare A Taste Of Vietnam And Cambodia In 9 Days by Realistic Asia vs Vietnam & Cambodia by Under30Experiences

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.

Day 1: Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City!

Morning/Afternoon

• Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam before 3:00 pm to meet your fellow travelers.
• Your Trip Leader will meet you at the airport and take you included private transportation to our accommodations in the center of Ho Chi Minh.
• Relax after a long flight at your hotel or take a walk with your Trip Leader and explore Ben Thanh market or discover Ho Chi Minh‘s Chinatown (Cho Lon).

Evening

• Get to know your new friends over a delicious Vietnamese dinner. Savor the traditional cuisine of Vietnam with your group as you begin to settle into this side of the world.

Day 2: Explore the Capital of Southern Vietnam

Morning

• Wake up in Vietnam and enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
• After breakfast, your Trip Leader will lead you on a morning sightseeing tour in Ho Chi Minh city where you’ll see some of the most important historic sights of the city.
• Visit The Reunification Palace, Stroll in Dong Khoi Street--home to many French colonial buildings and Vietnam’s version of the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Afternoon

• Enjoy free time to explore the city at your own pace.
• Find some of the best Vietnamese food for lunch with the help of your Trip Leader and indulge in the exotic cuisine of the region.

Evening

• In the evening, you’ll have the option of taking a street food tour or attending an A-O Show at the Ho Chi Minh Opera House.
• Explore this lively city at night with your new group of friends.

Day 3: Vietnamese Cooking Class & Cu Chi Tunnels

Morning

• After breakfast, travel to an organic farm outside the city (~1.5-hour drive).
• Pick fresh vegetables and mushrooms straight from the garden that you’ll use for your cooking class with your Vietnamese Chef.

Afternoon

• Enjoy your homemade Southern Vietnamese lunch with your group.
• Afterward, enjoy an excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels--one of the most important historic sites of the Vietnam war. This network of underground tunnels is 200km long complete with meeting rooms, medical and sanitary posts.

Evening

• Return back to Ho Chi Minh City and relax for the rest of the evening or enjoy the Ho Chi Minh nightlife with your group.

Day 4: Cycle & Float the Mekong Delta

Morning

• Enjoy your final breakfast in Ho Chi Minh City before departing for the Vung Liem district in the Mekong Delta (~3.5-hour drive).

Afternoon

• Arrive at your new lodge situated perfectly along the river.
• Enjoy some free time to enjoy a hearty lunch amongst coconut trees and picturesque rice fields.
• Cycle for 1-2 hours through the beautiful Vietnamese countryside. If you don’t like to cycle, you can follow along on a tuk tuk.
• Float down the small canals of the Mekong Delta in the shadow of the surrounding water-coconut trees.

Evening

• Settle into your riverside lodge and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Mekong Delta.

Day 5: Vietnamese Cultural Immersion

Morning

• Wake up in the stunning Vietnamese countryside and enjoy breakfast with your group.
• Take a morning boat ride through the Mekong and reach a farmers market where locals sell vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat.
• Continue down the river to a local Cao Dai temple by the river, a coconut factory, and learn how locals make crafts from natural materials. 

Afternoon

• Return to your riverside lodge for lunch.
• Spend the rest of your afternoon taking part in optional activities like fishing, palm weaving, or preparing dinner with a local chef.

Evening

• Feast on some more delicious Vietnamese cuisine at your riverside lodge.
• After dinner, meet a former Viet Cong war veteran and interact with him as you listen to traditional songs about war.

Day 6: Welcome to Cambodia!

Morning

• Enjoy a relaxing morning or check out the local workshops in Vinh Long.
• Be sure to enjoy a final scenic walk along the river before departing for our next stop--Cambodia!

Afternoon

• Travel back to Ho Chi Minh City (~4-hour drive) with your group and catch a final Vietnamese lunch in the city before catching your included flight to Cambodia (~1.5 hour flight).

Evening

• Welcome to Cambodia!
• Take included transportation to your boutique hotel in Siem Reap.
• Wrap up your first night in a new country with a delicious dinner.

Day 7: Village Immersion in Siem Reap & Angkor Wat

Morning

• Start off your first morning in Cambodia by cycling to Bong Thom Village where you’ll visit Preah Dak--a local Cambodian market.
• Arrive at a villager’s house renowned for its production of Cambodia's famous rice noodles.
• Be welcomed by the family and help them through the different stages of making rice noodles.
• Eat the traditional breakfast you helped prepare called Nom Bahn Cho.
• Stop at another family home where villagers teach you how to make palm leaf handicrafts.
• Visit two temples called Banteay Samre and Phnom Bok as you cycle through picturesque rice paddies and palm trees. If you don’t like to cycle, there will be a tuk tuk available to transport you.

Afternoon

• Enjoy lunch in a small village that specializes in bamboo sticky rice production.
• Relax under a palm tree while indulging in delicious Cambodian snacks.
• After lunch, you’ll visit Angkor Wat-–the biggest temple in the Angkor complex. Marvel at the architectural achievement of one of the largest religious monuments in the world.

Evening

• Finish the day by visiting Ta Prohm, a temple which has been covered by the surrounding jungle and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Enjoy included dinner in Cambodia as a group at a traditional restaurant.

Day 8: Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple

Morning

• Travel by tuk tuk on a road surrounded by hundred-year-old trees to discover the legendary Angkor Complex.
• Visit Angkor Thom known as “the big city.”
• Admire Bayon Temple built around the 12th century and Baphuon, a temple mountain built in the 11th century.
• Discover the Terrace of the Elephants, with a length of 350 meters, was used for royal audiences and public ceremonies.
• Continue your visit to the Terrace of the Leper King, built in the 12th century, covered by magnificent Apsara sculptings.

Afternoon

• Enjoy a free afternoon discovering more of the Angkor Wat complex at your own pace.
• If you’d prefer to make your own adventure your Trip Leader will provide more information on some of the best optional activities the Siem Reap has to offer.

Evening

• Enjoy another traditional Cambodian dinner with your group (not included) as you recount the experiences of the last few days.
• Check out the nightlife in Siem Reap before we depart to Battambang in the morning!

Day 9: Phnom Sampov & Battambang

Morning

• For those who didn’t go out, wake up early and experience the sunrise over the Angkor Temples by local tuk tuk (optional).
• After breakfast, travel to Battambang from Siem Reap (~3 hours drive)
• Stop at a local silk farm and learn about the importance of cultivation, cocoon unwinding, and silk weaving.

Afternoon

• Arrive in Battambang and visit the Bat Caves at Phnom Sampov.
• Phnom Sampov is known for its "killing caves" from the Khmer Rouge era.
• Take a hike to the top of Phnom Sampov and soak in the magnificent views over the rice fields and surrounding countryside as millions of bats take a flight out of the caves.

Evening

• Enjoy dinner at your boutique hotel in Battambang.

Day 10: Discover Battambang

Morning

• Discover Battambang’s beautiful countryside by tuk tuk.
• Start off at an ancient pagoda named Wat Balat, and drive past typical Cambodian houses that have been unchanged for generations.
• Observe the daily activities such as the preparation of sticky rice, custom knife making, and the preparation of the traditional fish paste prahok.

Afternoon

• Have the option of riding the famous Bamboo Train of Battambang or do a workshop at the Phare arts school.
• Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the famous sights of Battambang, visiting the central market or strolling along the riverside.

Evening

• After an eventful day, grab dinner with your group at a restaurant in Battambang where you’ll be able to try traditional Khmer dining.

Day 11: Siem Reap

Morning

• Begin the drive back to Siem Reap (~3-hour drive).
• Admire the traditional Khmer houses, the massive Tonle Sap Lake, and observe the stonemasons whose techniques have been passed down since the Angkorian era.
• Afternoon
• Your final afternoon in Siem Reap is free for you to relax or immerse yourself further in everything the city has to offer.

Evening

• Enjoy your farewell dinner at one of the best restaurants in Siem Reap.
• Reflect on the cultural experiences of the last few days and enjoy one final night out with your group of travelers.

Day 12: Departure

Morning

• Enjoy the final morning at your leisure or do some last minute souvenir shopping.
• After checkout, you will take included private transportation to Siem Reap Airport for your flight back home.
• Be sure your flight home departs after 12:00 pm.
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