Description

Itinerary

Day 1: USA – Hanoi

Get ready for an exciting journey as you depart from your home airport for Hanoi, Vietnam. Settle in for a comfortable overnight flight.

Day 2: Arriving Hanoi at night

Arrive at Hanoi Airport between 9 PM and 10 PM. Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 3: Hanoi

After breakfast, enjoy leisure time until lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, explore Hanoi’s highlights, including the Temple of Literature and a scenic Ecar and walking tour through the Old Quarter. End the day with a mesmerizing water puppet show.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 4: Hanoi

Begin your day with a 1.5-hour drive to Duong Lam, an ancient village nestled in the north of the Red River Delta. Wander through its narrow alleyways and explore the rural life and centuries-old architecture among its approximately 300 houses.

Return to Hanoi for lunch at a local restaurant followed by an afternoon city tour. Start with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology to gain insights into Vietnam’s diverse culture. Then, delve into the hidden gems of Hanoi, experiencing local life. A must-visit is a vintage coffee shop to savor robust home-grown coffees, immersed in the city’s café culture. Enroute, pass by St. Joseph’s Cathedral, a Gothic structure in the French Quarter.

Head back to your hotel for overnight stay in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 5: Hanoi – Ninh Binh

A 2.5-hour drive to Ninh Binh province will bring you to Hoa Lu ancient capital. This was the first centralized feudal state in Vietnam at the end of the 10th century. The ravages of time have destroyed the ancient citadel but some vestiges including King Dinh and King Le worship temples still stand to this day among the rice paddies and are a worthwhile visit to get a glimpse of the ancient Vietnamese past.

Then enjoy the boat trip on the emerald water of Trang An Complex to discover the caves. Trang An Landscape Complex is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, many of them partly submerged and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs. Trang An is recognized as the World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.

Lunch is on your own.

In the afternoon, visit Bai Dinh Pagoda – the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam!

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

Day 6: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay

Travel to Halong Bay for a scenic cruise among limestone islands. Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and a delicious seafood lunch onboard. Witness a stunning sunset before spending the night onboard the cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

Day 7: Halong Bay –  Hanoi

Continue exploring Halong Bay before brunch onboard. Arrive boat docking station at around 11:00 AM. Transfer back to Hanoi for overnight stay.

Meals: Brunch on cruise

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 8: Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City (Formerly Saigon)

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, followed by leisure time until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel.

In the afternoon, explore the charm of Saigon. Begin by visiting Dong Khoi street, formerly Rue Catinat during the French occupation, to admire its beautiful French colonial buildings. Marvel at iconic landmarks such as the Opera House and the former Hotel de Ville, which remain among the city’s finest architectural treasures. Stroll to Notre Dame Cathedral, known for its striking red brick façade and twin spires inspired by the original design in Paris (note: currently under renovation, visit from the outside). Continue to the Central Post Office before proceeding to the former Presidential Palace.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City

Start your day with a hotel pick-up and drive to the Cu Chi tunnels. These tunnels, begun in 1948, were used by Viet Cong guerrillas to evade French air and ground attacks.

After exploring the tunnels, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, venture out of the city center for a short 6km drive to District 5. Here, you’ll visit Thien Hau temple, built in the early 19th century to honor the Goddess of the Sea by the Cantonese community.

Wrap up your city tour with a leisurely stroll around Ben Thanh Market, a bustling hub famous for its shopping opportunities.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City – Cao Lanh

Start your day with a hotel pick-up and transfer to the Mekong Delta for a boat trip to Tan Phong islet. Here, you’ll glide through small canals on a rowing boat, enjoying tropical fruits and folk music in a garden setting.

Then visit Cai Be floating market by boat – culturally specific characteristics in South Western region. Visit Phu Chau pagoda or Cai Be church and traditional handicraft villages.

Cruise to Dong Hoa Hiep village to visit the ancient house of the South: Ba Duc ancient house or Ong Kiet ancient house (one of the ancient houses of the Southwest region, recognized by UNESCO),

Enjoy your lunch with specialties of the South at Xeo May restaurant or at the old house and continue driving to Cao Lanh.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Lanh

Day 11: Cao Lanh – Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing to explore the Dong Thap archaeological and architectural relics, including the renowned Go Thap site.

Visit Tram Chim National Park in Tam Nong, recognized as the 2,000th Ramsar site in the world and the 4th in Vietnam. Covering an expansive area of 7612 hectares, this national park boasts a stunning natural landscape teeming with diverse flora and fauna, including over 130 species of plants and various habitats for hundreds of vertebrate and aquatic species.

After your exploration, return to the city and check in to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap

After having breakfast at hotel, transfer to the airport to catch the flight to Siem Reap. The flight is 1 hour 10 minutes.

Upon arrival to Siem Reap, transfer to your hotel for rest.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 13: Siem Reap

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before departing at 6:30 AM for the South Gate of Angkor Thom, featuring four giant faces representing compassion, sympathy, equanimity, and charity. Explore the Bayon temple, adorned with over 200 smiling stone faces, along with other fascinating temples such as Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Terrace of Leper King, and Elephant (if time allows).

Continue your journey to the iconic Ta Prohm temple, known for its stunning tree root formations featured in the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

In the afternoon, visit the main temples of Preah Khan and explore the vibrant Preah Dak market before heading to the intricately carved Banteay Srei temple, known for its beautiful red-pink sandstone architecture.

Note: Visiting beautiful sunset (free of charge) is available at Phnom Bakheng, please speak to our tour guide to manage this for you. This is a hiking up (Approx. 25 minutes/way) to the hill and it’s always touristy or skip it if you feel tired.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 14: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh by bus

Get up early for an eye-catching sunrise at Angkor Wat, you might see the sunlight rays clear for a dawn display of color over the towers, making the view towards the temple stunning.

Have breakfast box and coffee break at the temple site then jump into the temple during less crowds.

Enjoy a breakfast box and a coffee break at the temple site before exploring the temple with fewer crowds.

Then you will transfer to bus station 12:30PM to depart for Phnom Penh (320 km, 5-7 hour of driving, with 2 stops). Upon arrival at the bus station, our experienced guide and driver will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in Phnom Penh. Enjoy your evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Day 15: Phnom Penh

fter breakfast at the hotel, embark on a fascinating half-day city tour of Phnom Penh. Your first stop is the magnificent Royal Palace, built in 1866, which serves as the official residence of the King of Cambodia. Explore the intricate Khmer architecture and marvel at the grandeur of the Throne Hall, Silver Pagoda, and the stunning Emerald Buddha statue.

Next, delve into Cambodia’s dark history with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, formerly a high school turned into a prison by the Khmer Rouge regime. Gain insights into the country’s tragic past and learn about the horrors endured by the Cambodian people during the regime’s reign of terror.

The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Day 16: Phnom Penh – Home

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward journey home or extend your trip to Bangkok, Thailand.

Meals: Breakfast