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The Best of Vietnam & Cambodia Suggested Itinerary

An itinerary that masterfully blends the colourful cities of Cambodia and Vietnam with downtime in tranquil pockets of these mesmerising countries.

Hanoi is the perfect springboard for your journey, awakening your senses in your first three days. Moving through ever-changing gears, you’ll cruise Halong Bay, boat along the Perfume River, and get swept up in the melee of Ho Chi Minh city, ending on a reflective note in the temples of Siem Reap.

Suggested itinerary
15 nights
Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon and Siem Reap
Adventure, Culture

Itinerary overview

Days 1 to 3

You’ll arrive in the capital of Vietnam and head to your chosen hotel. Step out onto the busy str...

Day 4

You’ll be collected from Hanoi for the four-hour drive to Halong Bay to board the elegant Au Co C...

Days 5 & 6

After disembarking your cruise, you’ll return to Hanoi Airport for your onward flight to Hue to s...

Days 7 to 9

Staying at the Almanity Hoi An you're in a prime location for exploring the city of Hoi An. Some ...

Days 10 to 12

Next is Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, where you’ll stay for two nights — just enoug...

Days 13 to 16

You’ll fly to Siem Reap next, checking into Tara Angkor for three final nights. A tour of Angkor ...

Extend your holiday

Relax on the golden shores of the Cambodian island of Koh Rong following your full on trip throug...

Days 1 to 3

Hanoi

You’ll arrive in the capital of Vietnam and head to your chosen hotel. Step out onto the busy streets where the calmness of t'ai chi at dawn collides with the cacophony of daily life. At every turn, there’s an aromatic food stall, a colourful building, or an ancient monument to catch your eye.

Hanoi Your Way (Private Driver & Guide)
Hanoi

Whether you already have a list of famous landmarks you want to tick off your ‘to see’ list or you’re looking for some direction during your stay, there’s no better way of exploring Hanoi than with an expert local guide. Pointing out places of interest as you travel across the city in your own personal car, with their insider knowledge you’re sure to uncover a whole different side to the capital. A fantastic option for those travelling with kids or couples who want to dive deeper into the culture of Hanoi.

Hanoi Street Food
Hanoi

It has been said that one of the best ways to immerse yourself into a new culture is through the local food and this evening street food tour through Hanoi won’t disappoint. As you weave through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter packed with locals perched on plastic stools amongst sizzling woks and bubbling pots, you’re sure to leave with a greater understanding of local life and a firm grasp of Hanoi’s favourite dishes. Enjoy a refreshing glass of local ale – you’ll soon discover Vietnam has a thriving craft beer scene – as you people watch at Bia Hoi corner before diving into Ly Quoc Su, the city’s famed food street with your personal guide.

Tuck into freshly made Banh Goi, crescent-shaped fried pastries filled with pork, mushrooms, onions and spices with sticky rice and mouth-watering Pho before finishing with dessert from Hanoi’s most famous ice cream parlour.

• Duration: evening
• Time: 5.30pm to 8.30pm
• Daily
• Year Round
• Private experience

Good to know
While every effort will be made to cater for any specific dietary requirements, please talk to your guide when booking to ensure the tour can be shaped around your needs. Suitable for children six years and over.

Hanoi Old Quarter Cyclo Tour
Hanoi

Spend a few hours being whisked through the streets of Hanoi’s beautiful Old Quarter on a cyclo. The first port of call is Ngoc Son temple, the most visited temple in the city which is located on an island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. To reach the island, a tiny land of legends, you’ll cross the pretty, scarlet hued Huc Bridge. Then head to Hanoi’s beautiful Opera House before weaving your way through the historic streets of the Old Quarter.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8am to midday or 1.30pm to 5pm
• Daily departures from Hanoi
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Day 4

Halong Bay

You’ll be collected from Hanoi for the four-hour drive to Halong Bay to board the elegant Au Co Cruise Ship, where you’ll spend a night onboard. It would be remiss to visit this part of the world and not see the beautiful Halong Bay. Boarding a traditional-style junk and taking an overnight cruise makes sure you see the best of it. There’s the chance to kayak through caves and find a quiet patch on a private beach, too.

Days 5 & 6

Hue

After disembarking your cruise, you’ll return to Hanoi Airport for your onward flight to Hue to spend the next couple of nights in a countryside retreat outside Hue. You’re here long enough to spend a day exploring the highlights of Vietnam’s former capital, possibly including a traditional dragon boat trip.

Days 7 to 9

Hoi An

Staying at the Almanity Hoi An you're in a prime location for exploring the city of Hoi An. Some of the city’s highlights are within walking distance of the hotel. Visit a traditional Vietnamese house or take a boat trip along the Thu Bon River for a different perspective of the city.

Hoi An’s Highlights
Hoi An

Hoi An is a wonderland of international influences, particularly in its delightful – and UNESCO-listed – Old Town which was once a bustling centre of trade. This guided walking tour is a great way to get your bearings and find out more about its layers of time. Highlights include a visit to a traditional house and the Hoi An Museum, a trove of local treasures collected through the ages. You’ll also visit Cau Temple, which is commonly referred to as the Japanese Covered Bridge and finish your exploratory morning with a boat trip along the Thu Bon River for a different view of the city.

• Daily departures from Hoi An or Danang
• Operates year-round 
• Private experience

Vietnamese Lantern Making Workshop (from Hoi An or Danang)
Hoi An

There are colourful hanging lanterns everywhere you look in Hoi An’s atmospheric Old Town, a picturesque legacy of the days when this once-important port attracted merchants from China and Japan. On this engaging hands-on workshop, you’ll learn about how the craft took hold here and evolved in its own unique way, gaining an insight into the region’s history and culture along the way. Then it’s time to make your own example, from choosing the shape and picking the silk to learning how to glue it all together and smooth out any creases.

At the end of the class, you’ll head off on a short walk around Hoi An - carrying your precious new creation - where you’ll be able to truly appreciate the skill that has gone into making the many lanterns that dot the city. And if you’re wondering how you’re going to get your handiwork home in one piece, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s conveniently foldable.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 1.30pm to 4pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
This workshop is suitable for families with children aged 6 and above.

Local Life Cycling Adventure
Hoi An

A glimpse of rural life provides an unbeatable insight into a country and its culture. And it gives a chance to take a break from the buzz of the city. From Hoi An or Danang, you’ll head into the countryside and cycle through the countryside to the fascinating Tra Que vegetable village, a settlement where the focus is on growing some of the highest quality produce in the region.

As well as meeting farmers and hearing about their methods you’ll have the opportunity to get hands on and join in with raking, sowing, watering and tending the vegies. Following your work in the garden, you’ll be treated to a therapeutic foot bath and then help prepare lunch alongside a local family. Learn how to make a Tam Huu spring roll and Bang Xeo pancake and try a host of other Vietnamese delicacies.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8am to 2pm
• Daily departures from Hoi An and Danang 
• Operates year-round 
• Private experience

Good to know 
The cycling distance is approximately six miles and there will be no back-up vehicle, so you need to be physically fit and mobile.

Vietnamese Cooking Class in Hoi An (from Hoi An or Danang)
Hoi An

It’s hard to think of a more enduring souvenir of a visit to Vietnam than being able to make some of its best-loved dishes back home. On this half-day culinary exploration, you’ll start at Hoi An’s lively market, with its heady sights, sounds and smells, where you’ll meet some of the stallholders and learn about the ingredients you’ll be using later. From here, it’s a scenic 25-minute boat ride along the river to the Red Bridge Cooking School - be sure to have your camera to hand. Following a tour of the school’s herb garden, you’ll hear the story behind some famous national and local dishes before the cooking begins in earnest. After a demonstration from the resident chefs, you’ll prepare dishes such as cao lau, made with yellow noodles, pork and pickled hot peppers, and mi quang, another favourite local noodle speciality, before sitting down to eat what you’ve cooked for a memorable lunch.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8am to 1pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
The class is suitable for families with children aged 6 and above.

Days 10 to 12

Ho Chi Minh City

Next is Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, where you’ll stay for two nights — just enough time to scratch the surface of this bustling metropolis, that’s deservedly famous for its intriguing history, vibrant culture, and delicious street food. Your centrally situated hotel means Ben Thanh Market and the War Remnants Museum are within walking distance.

Hidden Saigon By Vespa
Ho Chi Minh City

If you’ve always wanted to experience Saigon like a local, this fun-filled morning tour by vintage Vespa scooter is for you. Riding behind an experienced driver who knows the streets like the back of their hand, you’ll be whisked around a beguiling blend of must-see landmarks and off-the-beaten-track gems. You’ll discover a secret weapon bunker dating from the Vietnam War, watch coffee made the traditional way in clay pots at Saigon’s oldest café and be dazzled by the colour and scent of a vibrant flower market.

You’ll also explore a historic residential district, stop at breathtaking Buddhist temples and check out specialist markets dedicated to everything from spare parts for motorbikes to fabrics from all around Asia. Lunch at a neighbourhood restaurant that serves authentic Vietnamese cuisine is a perfect way to round off an adventure that’s sure to be a hit with couples and honeymooners.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8am to 12.30pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private tour

Good to know
This trip is suitable for those over the age of 16 only. Helmets - and raincoats in case of showers - are provided.

Saigon Street Food By Vespa
Ho Chi Minh City

Plunge into Saigon’s dynamic night-time scene local-style as you zip between some of its buzziest foodie haunts on a vintage Vespa. Riding pillion behind an expert driver, you’ll begin the evening with a tour around several vibrant downtown districts, passing some of the city’s must-see sights. After pausing for a drink and a spot of people-watching at a neighbourhood café, you’ll head for one of Saigon’s best stalls for banh mi, a stubby baguette sandwich with an array of delicious classic fillings.

The next stop is a bustling night flower market, ablaze with colour, followed by a taste of traditional rice pancakes and seafood at a popular restaurant. No gourmet experience is complete without something sweet to finish things off, so the final tasting of the evening is Vietnamese che - a sort of dessert soup - which comes in a dizzying range of varieties.

• Duration: evening
• Time: 6pm to 10pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
This trip is suitable for those over the age of 16 only. While every effort will be made to cater for food allergies or special diets, this may not always be possible.

Mekong Delta Discovery
Ho Chi Minh City

Travel south from Ho Chi Minh City, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Known as the "rice bowl" of Vietnam, the Delta is the most fertile region in the country and the main producer of rice and tropical fruits. Board your boat to begin your discovery of the mighty Mekong River as well as its narrow canals, gaining a real insight into the lives of the local people. Late afternoon you'll return to Ho Chi Minh City.

• Departing daily from Ho Chi Minh City
• Year round
• Transfers included
• Lunch included

Days 13 to 16

Siem Reap

You’ll fly to Siem Reap next, checking into Tara Angkor for three final nights. A tour of Angkor Wat takes you to the most famous spots in this intriguing epicentre of the Khmer civilisation. End the trip on a high and upgrade to a sunset champagne cruise.

Full Day Angkor Temple with Sunrise
Siem Reap

Rise early for a magical sunrise at Angkor Wat, arriving around 04:30am to watch the sun illuminate the temple’s iconic towers before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Begin your temple explorations at Ta Prohm as it opens, enjoying its atmospheric tree‑covered ruins, then continue into Angkor Thom via the impressive South Gate to visit Bayon with its serene stone faces, along with the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King. After lunch either in the park or back in town, return to Angkor Wat in the cooler afternoon light to explore its shaded galleries and upper platform, ending your visit as the setting sun casts a warm glow across the temple. Conclude the day at a scenic viewpoint, where your guide will help choose the perfect spot to watch sunset over the jungle.

• Duration: full day

• Timings: 4.30am to 5.30pm

• Departs daily from Siem Reap

• Private experience

Good to know

Make sure to bring layers as it can be cold in the mornings.

Hidden Angkor Photography Tour
Cambodia

The remarkable temples of Angkor are the ideal subjects for keen (or budding) photographers. A professional photographer will guide you around the awe-inspiring Angkor Archaeological Park and teach you the best ways to shoot the temples, using light and shadow to create beautiful images. Taking your time to capture these ancient temples means you’ll get to appreciate the ornate detail and understand the astounding amount of planning that went into creating them. Plus, you’ll have the perfect keepsakes of your time at this bucket-list location.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8am to 2pm or 2pm to 6pm
• Departing daily from Siem Reap
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Cambodian Cooking Class (Siem Reap)
Cambodia

Get a better understanding of Cambodian cuisine and learn to cook like a local in a gorgeous setting. The cooking class takes place in Mahob Farm’s tranquil garden, surrounded by trees, flowers and a lotus pond, just five minutes away from Angkor Wat. The farm specialises in heirloom varieties of seasonal fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumber, squash, eggplant and local lettuce. There’s a natural approach here – fresh and flavourful ingredients are grown without any synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. You’ll get to pick your own ingredients straight from the garden, before learning how to prepare some traditional dishes with your friendly expert teacher. The best bit? Tucking into your tasty creations for lunch in the farm gardens.

• Duration: 2½ hours
• Time: 10am to 12.30pm
• Departing daily from Siem Reap
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Extend your holiday

Koh Rong

Relax on the golden shores of the Cambodian island of Koh Rong following your full on trip through Vietnam and Cambodia. Stay three nights at The Royal Sands Koh Rong, a rustic chic getaway with individual villas: some that are down by the beach, others that are further up the hillside and a select few that feature a private pool.

Personalise your trip

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Call our South East Asia experts on

0800 294 9702

Available until 8pm

Call our South East Asia experts on

0800 294 9702

Available until 8pm

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