Classic Vietnam & Cambodia - 16 day tour

Hello Hanoi! Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the today at leisure.
Overnight: Hanoi

Hanoi - Halong Bay. This morning transfer from your hotel in Hanoi to Halong City, the drive takes approximately 3 hours and you will stop off for a refreshment break en route. Upon arrival meet the crew of the traditional Junk boat at the dock and cruise to the famous islands of UNESCO Listed Halong Bay, exploring the many grottoes and myriad of tiny islands. Back on board we enjoy a cooking demonstration followed by a scrumptious dinner while soaking up an incredible sunset over the bay.

Please note The cruise itinerary is subject to change.
Overnight: Halong Bay - Junk boat  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hue was the Vietnamese capital during the Nguyen Dynasty 1802-1945 and ruins of the city’s regal past can still be seen inside the Citadel and the Imperial City. Created in the 19th century, the Imperial City was modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and holds many palaces and temples inside its giant walls. Your tour begins after breakfast with the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial Palace. After exploring the Citadel, travel on to quaint Thuy Bieu Village, famous for growing Thanh Tra fruit. Here you’ll see garden houses, ancient ancestral temples and have lunch at a local house.

In the afternoon visit the final resting place of the Emperors at one of the most impressive Royal Tombs before enjoying a sunset cruise along the Perfume River.
Overnight: Hue  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Hue - Hoi An. This morning, continue south to the picturesque riverside town of Hoi An. The five hour drive takes you along the South China Sea coastline with breathtaking views particularly as the road winds its way up Hai Van Pass (“Pass of the Clouds”).

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab merchants. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, renowned for its silk and popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century and much of the town is now heritage-listed. This afternoon enjoy a half day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house and the Japanese Covered Bridge.
Overnight: Hoi An  |  Breakfast

Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to the airport in Danang this morning and catch the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as the city is still referred to by all except officials, is Vietnam’s largest city. It is a fast-paced metropolis full of contrasts, with street vendors selling fruit and vegetables next to glitzy western-style bars and boutiques. Amazingly, the city’s history dates back only 300 years. In 1859 the city was captured by the French and became the capital of Cochin China. From 1956 until April 1975 it was the capital of the US-backed Republic of Vietnam. Today, Ho Chi Minh City is very much the heart of Vietnamese business and entrepreneurial activity. The French left their mark with some fine colonial-era buildings such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.

Enjoy a guided tour of the city this afternoon. Highlights include the Notre Dame Cathedral (from the outside as renovations are taking place), and the Old Post Office. Dong Khoi Street, which is home to many boutiques and fine restaurants, the Opera House and the beautiful Peoples’ Committee Building. The War Remnants Museum, formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes, this is a poignant display of the futility of war and the Reunification Palace which is one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on 30 April 1975 the ‘American War’ officially ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through the gates of what was, at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.

Tonight offers free time to explore the bustling city, or you could opt to join a Taste of Saigon tour, featuring the unique flavors of Ho Chi Minh City’s cuisine. Start your tour at the last street market still remaining in the city center, walk on one of the city’s oldest bridges, built more than 120 years ago. Taste some local specialties such as goi cuon (fresh spring rolls), banh mi (Vietnamese baguette) and more, before enjoying lau (hot pot) at a “secret” restaurant. Enjoy a drink and a birds-eye view of a modernizing Ho Chi Minh City from its highest building, before entering the “sleepless streets area” where you can try the local beer and possibly extend your time here exploring more of Ho Chi Minh City’s nightlife activities.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City  |  Breakfast

Day at leisure to independently explore Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City  |  Breakfast

Chau Doc - Phnom Penh. After breakfast, we take a speed boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh, arriving around midday. (crossing at Vinh Xuong/Khaorm Sam Nor Kaoh Roka border gate). Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Cambodia's energetic capital is noted for its beautiful colonial architecture and historic sites. See the highlights of this bustling, vibrant city on a guided tour this afternoon, including the fascinating Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum. You can climb the hill to Wat Phnom, the city’s main temple, where you’ll find throngs of worshipers and troops of monkeys.

We finish today with a stroll along the riverside starting at the Royal Palace. Witness the locals doing their daily exercises and feel free to join in.

An optional sunset cruise is available this afternoon - Travel along the Tonle Sap River towards the Mekong. Relax onboard and enjoy some drinks while watching the sunset over Phnom Penh city.
Overnight: Phnom Penh  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Phnom Penh - Siem Reap. Spend time at leisure this morning before your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. With its picturesque riverside location, colonial and Chinese-style architecture and leafy tree lined boulevards, Siem Reap is an ideal base to explore Cambodia's legendary Angkor Temple complex over the next two days.

This afternoon we drive to the edge of the city through the countryside, until we reach Cambodia’s largest freshwater lake – the Tonle Sap. Here we board a boat and cruise to one of the largest floating villages on the lake, Kompong Phluk, where we witness the fascinating daily lives of the locals. Return to Siem Reap for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Siem Reap  |  Breakfast