ESENTIAL VIETNAM - CAMBODIA

DAY 1: ARRIVE HANOI 

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be met at Noi Bai Airport and taken to your hotel in Hanoi for a relaxing evening .
Overnight at your hotel in Hanoi 
 

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR  (B,L)

• 8:00 AM: Tour guide picks you up for a full-day Hanoi exploration.
•  Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Stilt House - note Mausoleum closures).
• See the unique One Pillar Pagoda.
• Visit the historically significant Temple of Literature.
• Enjoy local lunch at a nearby restaurant.
• Afternoon: Visit the Ethnology Museum (or Women’s Museum if Ethnology Museum is closed).
• Experience the bustling Hanoi Train Street and Old Quarter, including Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Return to your hotel around 5:00 PM.
• Overnight in Hanoi 

DAY 3: HANOI - HALONG (B,L,D)

• 08:00 – 08:30 – Our driver will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and transfer to Ha Long (approx. 2.5–3 hours by road).
• 11:30 – 11:45 – Arrive at Ha Long International Harbor.
• 12:15 – Transfer to the cruise by tender. Enjoy a welcome drink, receive a cruise briefing, and check in to your cabin.
• 13:00 – Lunch on board while the boat begins cruising into the heart of Ha Long Bay, passing fascinating limestone islands and emerald waters.
• 14:45 – Explore Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, the largest and most spectacular cave in Ha Long Bay.

• 16:00 – Visit Titop Island, famous for its crescent-shaped beach and crystal waters. You may climb to the mountain peak for a panoramic view of the bay or relax and swim at the beach.

• 17:00 – 18:30 – Return to the cruise. Relax on the sundeck during sunset with your favorite drinks. Join a Vietnamese cooking demonstration with the chef.

• 19:15 – Savor a delicious dinner on board.

• 21:00 – Evening leisure: try night squid fishing, enjoy karaoke, or simply relax under the starry sky. Overnight on the cruise.
   

DAY 4: HALONG - HANOI -FLIGHT TO HUE (B,L,D) 
 

• Morning: Start the day with breakfast on board. Enjoy the cruise’s final activities such as a light excursion (floating village visit / kayaking / cave exploration – depending on the cruise program).

• Return to the boat, check out of your cabin, and relax while the cruise sails back to the pier.

• Brunch / early lunch is served on board before disembarkation.

• 11:00 – 11:30 – Disembark at Ha Long International Harbor. Meet your driver for the transfer back to Hanoi.

• Afternoon: Arrive in Hanoi (around 14:30–15:00). go to the airport , flight to Hue 

• Overnight in Hue 
   

DAY 5: HUE CITY TOUR (B,L) 

• Morning: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
• 08:00 – Your guide and driver will pick you up for a full-day exploration of Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam.
• Visit the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, where the Nguyen Emperors once lived and ruled. Walk through grand gates, palaces, and temples, and learn about Vietnam’s royal history.
• Take a leisurely boat trip on the Perfume River to the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, a historic Buddhist site offering spiritual insight and panoramic river views.
• Lunch: Savor a traditional Vietnamese meal at a restaurant in Hue city center.
• Afternoon: Continue to the beautifully landscaped Tu Duc Tomb, an architectural masterpiece reflecting the Emperor’s romanticism and philosophy.
• End the day with a visit to Dong Ba Market, where you can experience local life, shop for handicrafts, and sample Hue’s unique cuisine.
• Evening: Return to your hotel. Overnight in Hue.

DAY 6 : HUE - DANANG - HOI AN (B,L)

• Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, depart from Hue and drive south along the famous Hai Van Pass, known as one of the most spectacular coastal routes in Vietnam. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Truong Son Mountains and the East Sea.
• Stop at the summit of Hai Van Pass to take photos and admire the sweeping panoramas.
• Continue the journey, passing picturesque Lang Co Beach and the peaceful fishing villages along the way.
• Lunch: Enjoy a Vietnamese meal at a local restaurant en route.
• Afternoon: Arrive in Hoi An Ancient Town. Check in at your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax at the hotel or take a leisurely stroll through the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An.
• Evening: Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 7: HOI AN COUNTRYSIDE ( B/lL) 

• Morning:
• After breakfast, transfer to the Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village. Board a traditional basket boat and enjoy a peaceful ride through the coconut palm forest. Local fishermen will demonstrate unique fishing techniques, and you’ll have the chance to try paddling, join fun boat spinning activities, and even catch small crabs in the water channels.
• Noon:
• Enjoy a local lunch at a restaurant in Hoi An with authentic Vietnamese dishes
• Evening: Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 8 : HOI AN FREEDAY ( B) 

Suggestion : 
 

•  Relax on An Bang Beach or Cua Dai Beach

•  Get custom-made clothing from one of Hoi An’s famous tailors

•  Take a cycling tour through rice paddies and local villages

•  Join a cooking class to learn traditional Vietnamese dishes

•  Wander the lantern-lit streets of the Ancient Town and visit the Japanese Covered Bridge
• Evening: Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 9 : HOI AN - DANANG - FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH ( B) 

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City with free time to explore today.
 

DAY 10 : HO CHI MINH - CU CHI ( B/L) 

• Morning:
• After breakfast, depart from Ho Chi Minh City for a drive through the countryside to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels, located about 60 km away. On arrival, watch a short documentary to learn about the history of the tunnels and their role during the Vietnam War.
• Explore the underground tunnel system, which stretches over 200 km. You will see living areas, kitchens, storage rooms, command centers, and even hidden entrances used by guerrilla fighters. For those who wish, you can crawl through a section of the tunnels to experience what life was like underground.
• Along the way, discover ingenious war-time traps, weapons, and equipment, and learn how locals survived using simple yet effective techniques.
• Noon:
• Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.
• Afternoon:
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Free time at leisure for shopping, relaxing, or exploring the city on your own.
• Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 11: MEKONG DELTA ( B/L)

• Breakfast at your hotel.
• Depart for My Tho on the Mekong River.
• Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda.
• Take a sampan cruise around Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands.
• Stop at Unicorn Island, walk through orchards, enjoy tropical fruits and folk music, and visit a fruit plantation.
• Ride a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal, visit a family business, a honey-bee farm (enjoy honey tea), and a coconut candy workshop.
• Have lunch at a local restaurant.
• Afternoon: Cycle around Tan Thach village to experience local life (hammock relaxation available).
• Return to Ho Chi Minh City. End of trip.
• Overnight in Ho Chi Minh 

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH - SIEMRIEP ( B) 

• Breakfast at your hotel.

• Driver will pick you up to the airport 

• Flight to Siem Reap (note: no escort on the flight).

• On arrival, meet your Siem Reap guide and driver for transfer to your hotel and check-in.

• Overnight stay in Siem Reap.
   

DAY 13: SIEMRIEP - ANGKO TOUR  ( B/L) 

• After breakfast at the hotel, depart with your guide to explore the magnificent Angkor complex.

• Begin with Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. Enter through the impressive South Gate and continue to the Bayon Temple, famous for its serene stone faces. Visit the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

• Continue to Ta Prohm, a temple embraced by giant tree roots, offering a unique and atmospheric jungle experience.

• Lunch at a local restaurant.

• In the afternoon, visit the legendary Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world and a symbol of Cambodia. Admire its stunning bas-reliefs and towering architecture.

• Conclude the day with sunset views over the temple complex (weather permitting).

• Return to your hotel.

• Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 14: SIEMRIEP WAT THMEI - TONLE SAP LAKE ( B/L) 

• After breakfast at the hotel, begin the day with a visit to Wat Thmei (Killing Field Pagoda), a peaceful monastery that houses a stupa memorial containing the remains of victims from the KhSIEM REAPmer Rouge period.

• Continue to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Take a boat trip to see the fascinating floating villages, where communities live in stilt houses and move with the changing water levels. Experience the unique lifestyle of the local fishermen and families who depend on the lake for their livelihood.

• Lunch at a local restaurant.

• Return to Siem Reap town in the afternoon.

• Free time at leisure.

• Overnight in Siem Reap.

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DAY 15: SIEMRIEP DEPARTURE  ( B) 

EXCLUSION: 

• Early check-in or late check-out
• International flight tickets
• Meals not mentioned in the tour itinerary
• Other beverages during the tour
• Visa fees - as per country requirements
• Tips for Guides & Drivers
• Travel insurance
• Optional excursions and activities
• Personal expenses