Best of Vietnam Cambodia 15days

Day 01: Ha Noi - Arrival

On arrival at Ha Noi Airport, you are greeted by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer.

Ha Noi – The capital of Vietnam, also known that “The cradle of Vietnam’s culture”. Lies besides modern constructions are many hidden gems that still retain their charm and culture from thousands years ago.

Depending on your arrival flight schedule, you either have the opportunity to rest at your hotel if the room is available (please note the check-in time is at 14.00 pm), or take your own exploration of the town. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 02: Ha Noi - 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 03: Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay (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 situation.

Day 04: Ha Long Bay – Fly to Danang - Hoi An (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 flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival, you are met and driven to Hoi An town, known in the past under its name "Faifo", was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 05: Hoi An - City discovery & 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 06: Hoi An – Hue (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.

Day 07: Hue - City discovery (B)

The full day tour today will bring 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. ,. 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.

Return to hotel for a rest and overnight in Hue.

Day 08: Hue - Fly to Ho Chi Minh city (B)

The next destination of our trip will be Ho Chi Minh city via short flight from Hue. Upon arrival, you are welcomed by our local tour guide and driven to hotel. After checking in, free time at your own exploration of town. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 09: Ho Chi Minh city - Cu Chi Tunnel – City discovery by cyclo (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 hotel in the early afternoon and have a short break.

We then enjoy the cyclo tour visiting 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 Ho Chi Minh city 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.

Finish of the day will be the visit the retail Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh city - Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh city (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.

After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel for a night at Ho Chi Minh City. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh city  - Fly to Phnom Penh (B)

After breakfast, you will be free till being transferred to airport for the flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival at airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Free time for your first glimpse of the town on your own.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 12: Phnom Penh – City discovery (B)

Start your day with the visit to the Royal Palace that 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 boats many national treasures including many golden and jeweled Buddha statues. Its original name is Wat Prakeo means Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

In the afternoon, explore two of Phnom Penh’s most famous temples: Wat Ounalom Temple and Wat Phnom Temple. Founded in 1443s and inclusive of 44 structures, Wat Ounalom Temple is locally known as the headquarters of Cambodian Buddhism. The temple suffered serious damage during the Pol Pot era, but today it has come back to life. 

Continue to the hillside temple of Wat Phnom that lent the Cambodian capital its name. The temple was originally built to preserve four statues of the Buddha that had been discovered in the heart of the Mekong River 

If time permitted, we round off our day with a walk in the Central Market, a showcase of the local product richness. This flagship trade center of Phnom Penh was built in shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways crammed with countless stalls of goods.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 13: Phnom Penh – Fly to Siem Reap - Tonle Sap lake (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart to Siem Reap by flight from Phnom Penh. Upon arrival at airport, meet our guide who is waiting for us right outside of the arrival terminal. Transferring to our hotel and checking into our hotel’s room.

(the check in time at hotel: 14.00pm)

Later on, we drive around 1 hour toward the west of Siem Reap to visit the off the beaten track floating village of Me Chrey on the great Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in Southeast Asia. This is one of Siem Reap’s little known floating villages where life is simple and slow with people living on the water, close to nature. 

Board a local boat for a relaxing cruise to discover the daily life of the Khmer community that largely depends on fishing for survival all year round. This fishing community also boats small shops, a school and a medical centre on the water. It is possible to make a stop along the waterway to have a chat with the local villagers to learn more about how this floating community lives, works, and trades. One thing to be sure, life on land is very different from life on the water!

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 14: Siem Reap – Full day Angkor temples (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 15: Siem Reap – Full day Angkor temples (B)

Today, drive out to visit the Banteay Srei that translates to “the Citadel of the Women”. Originally constructed in the 10th Century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, this red sand-stone temple is one of Angkor’s most significant structures as its walls are decorated with elaborate carvings which have been remarkably well preserved. 

Continue on your exploration of the famous jungle temple of Ta Prohm where several shots of the adventure movie “The Tomb Raider” were filmed. This beautiful Buddhist temple was not restored and looks just as it did when French explorers stumbled it in the 1860s. The magnificent tree roots have merged over the centuries with the temple’s huge stone blocks, emphasizing a ‘forgotten city’ feeling. 

Visit the Angkor Silk Farm 15 km west of Siem Reap, where you can witness the entire process of silk creation from the breeding process and life cycle of the silkworm to the spinning of the silk, the dying process and the creation of beautiful silk weavings on wooden hand looms. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 16: Siem Reap – Departure (B)

Having breakfast at the hotel, enjoy the last moment in Siem Reap. Then the driver will transfer you 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.