Highlight of Cambodia and Vietnam 14days

Day 1: Siem Reap - Arrival

Upon your arrival in Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by your local English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel.

Siem Reap is a charming provincial town that attracts travel photographer by a cluster of villages, Chinese-style shop houses, and French-colonial architecture. As a gateway to the ancient temple ruins of Angkor, Siem Reap is a wonderful destination to explore and yet numerous photo opportunities.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 2: Siem Reap - Full day Angkor Temple (B)

Today, set off to encounter the beautiful temples which are considered Angkor's jewel. 

The day starts with the visit to Ta Prohm, perhaps most popularly known as The Tomb Raider temple. This beautiful temple is overgrown with fig trees, giving it a haunting yet exotic atmosphere. 

Get inside the reinforced city of Angkor Thom to admire the mysterious Bayon temple, crowned with the large number of serene faces sculpted on its towers. Also, take this chance to learn more about the intricate carvings of the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. 

Wind your way to Angkor Wat, one of the modern wonders of the world. Be amazed by the sheer size of the temple and learn how the Khmer Empire prospered between the 9th and 13th Century, around the time when the temple was built.

Final touch of the day is a performance by Phare, the Cambodian Circus. An hour-long Khmer cultural show, professional artists mix traditional and modern forms of theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion to perform a story about Cambodian lives and society. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 3: Siem Reap - Full day Angkor temples (B)

Heading out of the town, we drive beyond the towering Angkor Wat  through  Preah Dark Village to Banteay Srey Temple. This intricately carved temple despite the lack in size is still a jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The architecture style features a mixture of the archaic concept and the innovative materials since Banteay Srey Temple  was largely built from sandstone in pinkish hue, with brick and laterite used for the enclosure walls and some structural elements. We stroll around this beautiful landmark and admire the marvelous sculpture at every step. 

Upon leaving Banteay Srey Temple, we continue our drive towards the Kbal Spean River, where water and sculpture intertwine to make for the secret treasure of “ River of a Thousand Lingas”. This mysterious site has been largely reclaimed by the jungle of Kulein Mountains; however, it involves a walk through the luxuriant forest to catch a view of numerous lingas covering the surface of a sandstone riverbed rock. The carving motifs are mainly myriads of lingams and yoni. 

We travel by roads back to Siem Reap Town, with stopover at  Banteay Samre, a temple containing both Hindu and Buddhist depictions. This structure is adorned with striking relief depicting the scenes of Vishunu and  Krishna legends. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 4: Siem Reap -  Tonle sap Lake – Fly to Phnom Penh

Today, drive 20-25 minutes toward South of Siem Reap along scenic roads to the floating village of Chong Kneas on the great Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Stop along the way to capture the peaceful countryside scenery or interact with the locals to gain insight into the rural lifestyle. Then, embark on a local wooden boat and set out on a relaxing and insightful cruise exploring the floating villages where more than a thousand families live and make their living. Observe the floating schools, markets, police stations, and the traditional way of living. 

Enjoy the last time in Siem Reap before transferring to the airport for the flight to Phnom Penh. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 05: Phnom Penh - City discovery (B)

Start your day with the visit to the Royal Palace, originally built in 1866s by the grandfather of the current Cambodian King. It includes the official residence of the royal family with parts of the massive palace compound, partially opened to the public. 

Wind your way to the nearby Silver Pagoda that houses many national treasures including many golden and jeweled Buddha statues. Perched within the Royal Palace compound, this is the most sacred temple in the country. 

Visit the National Museum, which is designed in Khmer style by a French archaeologist and painter in 1917, dedicated exclusively to Khmer art and sculpture. Gain insight into Cambodian history from Cambodia's "Golden Age" of Angkor, with an excellent collection of Khmer art and sculpture from archaeological sites across Cambodia. 

Take your time to learn about the turbulent Khmer Rouge years with the visit to Tuol Sleng, a high school turned interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge era and now a genocide museum dedicated to showcasing the sad story of the thousands of innocent Cambodian people who were tortured on its grounds. 

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 06: Phnom Penh – Fly to Ho Chi Minh (B)

Having breakfast at the hotel and enjoying the last moment in Phnom Penh. Then the driver will take you to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Upon arrival at the airport, you are met by our tour guide and taken to the hotel.

Check in at the hotel and enjoy your own town exploration. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

Day 07: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (B/L)

After breakfast, drive south of the city to the Mekong Delta, a remarkable agricultural area referred to as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’.

On arrival in Ben Tre province, we board a private boat to explore the Mekong Delta. Cruise among the river islands which have whimsical names such as Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix Islands. We make some stops at local houses to taste seasonal fruits, listen to traditional music performed by a villager ensemble, and sample honey tea. The interlaced canals are truly a lifeblood of the Mekong Delta; however, many channels can be accessed only by small boats.

We enjoy a short sampan trip rowing under the palm grove to venture into this maze of canals before we continue our motorboat to the coconut kingdom of Ben Tre. We will either take a horse cart or motorbike pulling cart to discover the traditional lifestyles, culture, and history of local people and visit some industry cottages. They may be brick-kiln ceramics, coconut candy and coconut handicrafts, etc.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy your free time. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 08: Ho Chi Minh city - Cu Chi Tunnel – City discovery - Fly to Danang - Hoi An (B)

After breakfast, we depart to Cu Chi Tunnel and discover a vast network of underground passageways built and used by the Viet Cong to evade detection as they moved troops and supplies throughout Ho Chi Minh City’s northern districts. You will have chance to get a feel of the underground life and learn a little more about the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong. There are also possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.

Return to the hotel in the early afternoon and have a short break.

The afternoon city tour will acquaint us with the Reunification Palace, former residence of the Indochina Governor General and later, of the President of the Republic of Southern Vietnam until the fall of Sai Gon on Apr 30, 1975.

Walk down to see Notre Dame Cathedral and General Post Office which are beautiful examples of architecture from the French colonial period.

Then going to airport for short flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you are welcomed by our guide and driven to Hoi An town.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 09: Hoi An - City discovery with lantern making(B)

After breakfast, we enjoy the morning walking tour to explore the tiny town of Hoi An with stops at a 400 year – old Japanese Bridge. This structure was first constructed in 1590s by the Japanese traders to link them with the Chinese quarters. We head towards the typical Phung Hung House, a gem with a mixture of Japanese and Chinese architectural elements.

And continue visiting the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. This colorful building is one of the five well-known halls in Hoi An and dedicated to Thien Hau, the goddess of sea who protects sailors from the danger.

The next visit is to the home of a craftsman in the old streets. Here you’ll have a brief introduction to the history, shapes and colors of the lantern, as well as stages of making them. After that you can make a lantern on your own, decorate, pack and keep it as a souvenir of your time in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 10: Hoi an – Hue - City discovery (B)

This day, set off on our drive alongside one of Vietnam’s most scenic highways and yet with several stops en route such as Hai Van Pass, which gives you a quick look towards Lang Co Beach; one of the most beautiful peninsulas in Vietnam.

Arrival in Hue city - former capital of Vietnam with many heritages still perished up till now. Check-in at the hotel and have a rest.

The afternoon city tour brings you to the massive Hue Citadel where Kings of Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945, including Flag Tower, Nine Holy Cannons, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Dynastic Urns, and the Forbidden Purple City.

We embark on a traditional boat for a relaxed excursion on the Perfume River. Along the way, we visit the riverside Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most famous landmarks of Hue. 

Overnight in Hue.

Day 11: Hue - City discovery - Fly to Hanoi (B)

This morning, we continue driving to the tomb of Tu Duc, the ‘poet Emperor’, set in an elegant garden with a magnificent lake and pavilion complex.

Afterward, we will pay a visit to the Dong Ba Market , which sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts.  We pass by many fantastic eating spots, all ideal places for visitors to sample some local delicacies.

The next destination of our trip today is Hanoi via a short flight from Hue. Upon arrival, you are welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to hotel. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 12: Ha Noi - City discovery (B)

Today, we start our exploration of Ha Noi, seeing the most notable landmark of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (close on Mon. and Fri. and Oct. to Nov). This imposing marble and granite monument was built towards Ba Dinh Square. We follow the footpath to the One Pillar Pagoda rising from the center of a square lotus pond, ascending on a single pillar and resembling a blossoming lotus flower.

The next place will be the fascinating Ethnology Museum (closed Mondays), which is both a research center and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. As an alternative to the Ethnology Museum, visit the highly acclaimed Hoa Lo Prison which was once known as “Ha Noi Hilton”

We continue the trip to the Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university, constructed in the 11th century, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam's past.

After that, visit Ha Noi’s Old Quarter also known as the ‘36 streets’. Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It's a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities.

The final touch of the day is a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 13: Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay – Cruise (B/L/D)

After breakfast, take a 3.5 hour drive to Ha Long Bay, one of the World Natural Heritages recognized by UNESCO with thousands of spectacular limestone islands rising from the clear, emerald sea in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Upon arrival, welcome aboard. Enjoy a welcome drink before check-in your cabin. While the boat is passing many rocky islets, caves, floating villages and beaches, a tasty lunch will be served on board with fresh seafood. Relax on the sundeck.

Later on, the boat moves to a quiet area to dock for overnight stay. Dinner with Vietnamese food is served on board. Overnight stay on board.

Note: The itinerary of boats in Ha Long may change without prior notice depending on the situation.

Day 14: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Departure (Brunch) 

The boat cruises around Ha Long Bay, passes by many islets named by their shapes such as Dog, Incense Urn, Fighting Cock, Finger, etc. Breakfast or brunch is served while the boat then continues cruising towards the wharf.

After disembarkation, travel back to Ha Noi city then go straight to the airport for your departure flight.

List of our hotels:

The hotels offered by Horizon Vietnam Travel are classified from 02 to 05 stars at the international standard, and comfortable with all the required services.

+ Standard Category: 2 stars. The rooms are correct, clean, and equipped with a bathroom, satellite television, and air conditioning.

+ Superior category 3 stars. The rooms are generally spacious, and the services and facilities are more numerous.

+ First class category: 4 stars. The rooms are luxurious and spacious and have a wide choice of quality services.

+ Deluxe Category: 4-5 stars. Hotels are of excellent comfort and have a wide range of excellent services. (swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi…).

+ On the other hand, we have developed fair tourism, through contact with the local population, the possibility of sleeping with the locals and sharing their daily life. The conditions of these accommodations that we offer you are well insured and with the best possible conditions.

Our services include:

• Private transportation with air-conditioned vehicle
• Accommodation in the planned hotels or similar in the program with daily breakfast as mentioned 
• Meals are provided in local restaurants of typical Vietnamese cuisine (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner included)
• The English-speaking guide for each city.
• All entry fees to tourist sites
• All the permission to enter the tourist areas
• Boat tours as described in the program
• 02 bottles of mineral water of 0,5 (l)/person/day
• Other services as mentioned in the program (bicycle, boat trip, etc...)
• All fees for all other services as clearly described in the program above.

Our services exclude:

• Airfare on all domestic and international flights (quote separately)
• Drinks and surcharge for special requests on foods and meals
• Entrance fees, guide service during free time & other personal expenses
• Surcharge for public holidays (if any)
• Surcharge for other language-speaking tour guides (upon request)
• Travel insurance 
• Vietnam visa stamping fees 
• All other services are not stated in the program.

More information:

Horizon Vietnam Travel gives you an estimated price per person on our website for the group of six people in low season with standard 2 and 3-star hotels.

The price of this trip varies according to the services chosen (category of accommodation, activities during the trip,...), the tourist seasonality of the year (Christmas and end of year holiday, Lunar New Year holiday in Vietnam), the booking delays and especially the number of participants of your group you wish to travel with.

Please note that Horizon Vietnam Travel only organizes private "tailor-made" trips for groups from 2 persons. We generally propose an offer including all the services on the spot from your arrival until your departure.

Depending on your wishes and your budget, this tour can be adapted and modified in terms of duration, content and departure date.

HORIZON VIETNAM TRAVEL calculates its prices as closely as possible in order to guarantee you the best price/quality ratio.

Our advice: the earlier you book, the better your chances of getting good rates, especially for air services, think about it!

Note: The price of international flights is not included in this estimate.

Please note that this tour is only a first draft and you can also customize it according to your wishes. We remain at your disposal to build your trip perfectly to your expectations and your budget

To obtain a detailed and personalized estimate, please contact us to request an estimate.