Essential Vietnam & Cambodia 17 days

Trip Itineraries:

• Day 1

  Saigon Arrival

  Arrive in Saigon and transfer to your hotel by our driver. Free at the rest of the day. Meals are own your own. Overnight in Saigon.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: N/A
  • Meals: N/A
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

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• Day 2

  Saigon City Tour (B)

  Start 1.5-hour drive to Cu Chi district and visit Ben Dinh section of the tunnel. Watch a short documentary film, then learn more about the history and the incredible tenacity and ingenuity of the Cu Chi inhabitants. You may want to try crawling through the tunnels and firing off some rounds from AK47 or M16 assault rifles at the shooting range. Taste boiled tapioca and hot tea – the main food and drink during the war. Back to Saigon for lunch in the local restaurant.

  In the afternoon, visit historic landmarks of Saigon such as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office and Ben Thanh Market. Overnight in Saigon.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

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• Day 3

  Saigon - Mekong Delta - Saigon (B,L)

  From Sagon, driver picks you up to head to My Tho city. Hop on a private boat at My Tho pier to admire stunning Rach Mieu Cable-stayed Bridge - the longest bridge in the area. Visit a local bee farm with a lot of fruit trees, taste the honey tea. Continue cruising to floating fish farms to experience Mekong’s rural life. Visit candy workshop and taste coconut candy - a specialty of Ben Tre. Take the Xe loi (motor cart) to explore the beautiful villages, stop by a local village to enjoy tropical seasonal fruits. Later, board a rowing boat along the spectacular water palm creek. Have Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.

  After lunch, enjoy the coconuts on the boat and cruise back to My Tho city. Stop to visit Vinh Trang pagoga-one of the most famous pagodas in Mekong Delta on the way back to Saigon. Drop off at the hotel. Overnight in Saigon.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

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• Day 4

  Saigon - Fly to Siem Reap (B)

  You have free time in Saigon until the driver transfers you to the airport for your international flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap Angkor Airport (SAI), pick up and transfer you to hotel for check in. Meals are on your own. Overnight in Siem Reap.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

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• Day 5

  Siem Reap - Angkor Wat (B, L)

  Have breakfast at the hotel. Get in Tuk – Tuk (a kind of motorcar) to the South gate. Here you will see amazing statues representing the movement of the ocean, the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), the temple of Bayon, the Phimeanakas, the terraces of the leper king and the elephants, and the royal chambers. Then visit Ta Prohm temple, one of the most beautiful temples in the area. Lunch at a local restaurant.

  In the afternoon, transfer by bus to visit Angkor Wat – the most famous temple recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

  In the evening, have dinner with Apsara dances (3 days per week Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday). Overnight in Siem Reap.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

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• Day 6

  Siem Reap - Tonle Sap - Fly to Danang - Hoi An (B)

  Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to a town near Siem Reap. You will board a boat to visit Tonle Sap Lake (the largest lake in Southeast Asia) to see the life of the people, their hospital, their church, the school, the market, etc. Lunch at a local restaurant. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for the departure flight to Danang. Upon arrival at Danang Airport, transfer to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

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• Day 7

  Hoi An - Free at leisure (B)

  Today, you are free!

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

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• Day 8

  Hoi An Free day - Danang - Fly to Hanoi(B)

  Enjoy a free morning in Hoi An before catching a flight to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: N/A
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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• Day 9

  Hanoi City tour (B)

  Start the city tour at 9:00 am. Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday and Friday), the traditional stilt house and the reserved One-Pillar Pagoda. Then, head to Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda, along the shore of West Lake. Pay a visit to Vietnam’s first university - Temple of literature. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Ethnology Museum (closed on Monday). End the day with the beautiful Ngoc Son Temple on an island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Overnight in Hanoi.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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• Day 10

  Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Trang An Scenic Landscape – Ninh Binh (B)

  At 8:00 am, transfer to Ninh Binh - the former capital of Vietnam during the 10th century.

  Stop to visit Dinh and Le temples before having lunch at a local restaurant. Then, take a rowing boat to discover Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex with signature caves namely Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave and Nau Ruou. After the tour, check in your hotel in late afternoon. Dinner is on your own. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

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• Day 11

  Ninh Binh - Hanoi (B)

  You have free time in the morning. Our tour guide will take you on a bicycle tour around and enjoy peaceful Ninh Binh. After lunch, our car will take you back to Hanoi. Meals on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Hanoi

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• Day 12

  Hanoi - Halong Cruise Trip (B, L, D)

  Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter between 8:15 - 8:45 am to Halong. Upon arrival at Tuan Chau Pier, do luggage check in and transfer by Tender boat to ASPIRA CRUISES. Enjoy a welcome drink followed by a cruise briefing. The cruise sets sail and you will have lunch while enjoying the charming landscape of the bay. The first stop is Dark & Bright Cave where you can do kayaking or bamboo boat around a tranquil area. Back to the vessel, admire the sunset from the top deck, relax in the swimming pool, enjoy a complimentary sunset party. You can order drinks at best deals in Happy Hour (buy 2 get 1 free drink). A traditional cooking class will be presented at 18:00. You can also book with crew the massage service. Later, have a sumptuous dinner. After dinner, you can enjoy the landscape of the bay, relax with romantic ballad music, enjoy drinks from the bar, try your luck at squid fishing, relax in your room. Overnight on board.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide on board
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Cruise in Halong Bay/ Private AC cabin

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• Day 13

  Halong Bay Cruise (B, L, D)

  Early birds can try Taichi session on sundeck at 6:30 am. Have breakfast with sandwiches, pastries, eggs, ham, sausage....At 8:15 am, the day boat takes you to Cat Ba Island to explore Viet Hai Village. Ride a bike through the rustic paths surrounded by jungles and mountains, meet local people and learn about the local life. Have lunch on the day boat while the boat proceeds to Ba Trai Dao area. You have around 1.5 hour for swimming or kayaking here. At 15:30, back to Aspira Cruise. You have free time to relax or join activities such as watching sunset, happy hour, sunset party, cooking class, massage.

  In the evening, enjoy an all-new menu dinner then free time for night activities. Overnight onboard.

  • Guide: Local English speaking guide on board
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Cruise in Halong Bay/ Private AC cabin

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• Day 14

  Halong – Hanoi – Night Train to Lao Cai (B, L)

  Wake up early for sunrise or Taichi session. Have breakfast while the ship moves to a secluded area for kayaking. After kayaking, return to the cruise, check out the cabin. Savor a hearty brunch and enjoy the breathtaking view of the bay on the way back to the mainland. Disembark the boat and return to port at 11:30 am. Return to Hanoi at about 3PM (you can leave your luggage at the hotel until our driver pick you up to the train station at 8PM). Dinner is on your own and stay overnight on train to Lao Cai.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
  • Accommodation: Soft sleeper berth Deluxe wooden AC cabin/ sharing cabin

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• Day 15

  Lao Cai – Sapa – Trekking to The Village – Sapa (B, L)

  Upon arrival in Lao Cai, our driver transfer you to Sapa Town. Have breakfast, then trek to explore local villages. Follow small tracks, cross Muong Hoa River and rice terraces to reach Lao Chai village, home of Black H’mong people. Then, continue to trek to Ta Van Giay village. You will witness a fascinating collection of rock carvings. After lunch, passing a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai - home of Red Dao people. Take a rest at a waterfall nearby, then climb uphill to the pick-up point and back to Sapa. Dinner is on your own and overnight in Sapa.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

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• Day 16

  Sapa – Return to Hanoi (B)

  After breakfast, head to Cat Cat Village. Take a quick break at a waterfall and a hydroelectric station before continuing our trek on a dirty trail through rice terraced fields. Visit Y Linh Ho village where many Black H’mong inhabit. Climb back to the main road to the pick-up point. Back to Sapa. Our bus takes you back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi in late afternoon. Meals are on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle/ Luxury shuttle express bus Sapa - Hanoi
  • Guide: Local English speaking guide
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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• Day 17

  Hanoi Departure (B)

  Free time until the transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Trip ends.

  • Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle

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