Passion Vietnam and extension to Cambodia 15 days

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 – City discovery – Night train to Lao Cai (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.

Dinner on your own before transfer to Ha Noi Central Station to take the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.

Note: Local train is in basic condition, you will be shared with other passengers in 4berths carriage, air conditioned.

Day 03: Lao Cai - Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van(B) 

|Hiking information: Around 8km on paved road

Upon arrival at Lao Cai Station, you will met and transfer to mini hotel for freshen up and breakfast

Our guide and driver then will welcome you at the hotel and transfer to Sapa town. Leave luggage at the hotel and start your hike through the most beautiful landscape of the Muong Hoa Valley, home to magnificent views of mountain terrain with high and steep rice terraces dotted with the houses of H’mong people to Y Linh Ho Village.

From the main road, follow the hiking path down to Y Linh Ho Village, alongside Muong Hoa Valley. Capture panoramic views of wonderful rice terraces as far as the eye can see. Then hike along Muong Hoa Stream to Lao Chai Village, home to Black H’mong community, living mainly on rice cultivation in terraced fields. Stop wherever you please to interact with locals or take nice pictures of Muong Hoa Valley. Visit a H’mong family, chat with them about daily life, H’mong culture & lifestyle, while enjoying a local snack with a cup of tea or coffee.

Then the driver will take you back to your hotel in SaPa town.  In the late afternoon, you will be free at your own exploration of town. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 04: Sapa - Hike to Ban Khoang - Ta Giang Phinh - Sapa  - Limousine bus to Hanoi (B) | Hiking information: Around 4.5km on paved road

The morning day tour today will bring you to visit Ban Khoang & Ta Giang Phinh village, home to H’mong & Red Dzao people, with views of mountain terrain and rice terraces.

A short visit to Ban Khoang gives you an introduction to the Black H’mong & Red Dzao ethnic minorities.

Continue your drive to Ta Giang Phinh village, home to a H’mong community living mainly on rice cultivation in terraced fields on high terrain. Wander around the village, learn more about H’mong traditional customs and culture, and capture panoramic views of wonderful rice terraces as far as the eye can see. Stop wherever you please to interact with locals or shoot nice pictures of rice terraces.

Then the driver will take you back to your hotel in Sa Pa town.

In the mid afternoon, you will be picked up and transferred to hotel by limousine bus.

Arrive in Hanoi in the evening and enjoy your free time afterward. 

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 05: 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. Lunch and dinner with Vietnamese food is served on board. Overnight on board.

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

Day 06: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi - Fly to Hue (Brunch)

The boat cruises around Ha Long Bay, passing 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 and transfer to Noi Bai airport for domestic flight to Hue.  On arrival,  you are met and driven to the hotel. Overnight in Hue.

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 of which are ideal places for visitors to sample some local delicacies.

Return to the hotel for a rest and overnight in Hue.

Day 08: Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An - City discovery (B)

Today, we set off on our drive along one of Vietnams most scenic highways and yet with several stops en-route such as Hai Van Pass, gives you a great view towards Lang Co Beach; one of the most beautiful peninsulas in Vietnam.

 Arrival in the ancient city of Hoi An, known in the past under its name "Faifo", was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

We enjoy an afternoon walking tour to explore tiny town of Hoi An with the stops at a 400 year – old Japanese Covered 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 building with a mixture of Japanese and Chinese architectural elements.

And continue to visit 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 dangers. 

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 09: Hoi An – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (B)

We transfer to Da Nang airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Formerly known as “Sai Gon” before 1975, Ho Chi Minh City today is Vietnam’s commercial center that never sleeps. Although the city is a dynamic metropolis undergoing dramatic change, but the architecture, local culture and lifestyle of Ho Chi Minh are still a reconciliation among French, American and Chinese influences.

Upon arrival, you are met by our guide and driven to your hotel in town for rest. 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 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.

Finish of the day will be a visit to the retail Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts. 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 -  City discovery - Fly to Siem Reap (B)

The morning 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.

Finish of this half day tour will be a visit to the retail Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts.

Free time till being transferred to airport for the flight to Siem Reap. 

Upon arrival at Siem Reap international 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)

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 12: Siem Reap – City discovery (B)

The full day tour will acquaint us with 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.

Next place will be visit is  the Angkor National Museum, a showpiece on the Khmer civilisation and the majesty of Angkor. The rich collection of Angkorian artifacts remains a very useful experience for first-time visitors, putting the story of Angkor and the Khmer empire in context before exploring the temples. 

After lunch you will proceed to visit Psar Chaa to the Old Market. Bustling with energy and activity, Siem Reap’s Old Market is teeming with souvenir shops, pubs, bars, and restaurants catering to backpackers and tourists. Final place isit Wat Bo Temple - one of the oldest pagodas in Siem Reap, Cambodia and has a number of well-preserved wall paintings from the 19th century. Overnight in Siem Reap.  

Day 13: 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.

We round out day tour with a walk up the Pre Rup Temple to enjoy the spectacular sunset over these sandstone monuments.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Optional tour: Experience the Phare, The Cambodia circus

Tonight attend a performance from Phare, the Cambodian Circus. Starting at 8pm, professional artists of Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) will perform an inspiring show suitable for people of all ages. 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. 

Day 14: 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. There are also many sculptures depicting Hindu mythological scenes and symbols, including Gods Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Lakshmi, Rama, Hanuman, and  animal images. 

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 15: 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.