THE BEST OF VIETNAM & CAMBODIA TOURS 20 DAYS

Arrival in Noi Bai airport , you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center. The check-in is available at 2 pm. The day is free for your own exploration and shopping. Overnight at hotel.

You will be picked up at the hotel at 8:00am. Starting the day trip will be a visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which compromises Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays), his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum. We will then visit the Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. The site also honors 82 Vietnamese doctorates who passed a number of rigid exams in the feudal ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are engraved in 82 headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring luck. Its peaceful green compound with its neatly maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds make it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle and heat.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative being the History Museum), which offers informative and well-documented displays of the country’s 54 ethnic groups, including elaborate and colorful hill tribe costumes. The display continues in the museum’s garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses of numerous minority groups, from the Kinhs to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. Then back to the Old Quarter for a 1 hour cyclo tour. We then head to Ngoc Son Temple set on a tiny island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Ngoc Son Temple dates back to the 13th century, and the lake itself is the picturesque heart of Hanoi, frequented by tourists and locals alike.

And in the evening, you will join a culinary tour to experience famous street foods: bun cha, bread, egg coffee, and rolls. At the end of the trip, you will sit and relax in the train street.

Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, We will take you to Quang Phu Cau incense village to take beautiful photos. Afterward, we will drive to Tam Coc also known as « Dry Halong Bay». On the way, we will stop to visit Hoa Lu, which used to be Vietnam’s capital during the 10th century. Arrive at Tam Coc, where we will embark a small rowing boat to discover the outstanding karst waterscape on Ngo Dong River. Tam Coc literally translates to « three caves» and is adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of all sizes shaped like gemstones. When rowing, enjoy the peaceful scenery of rice paddies lining the river bank. After lunch (at your own account) we will visit Mua Cave, with 500 step up to the Top of Mua Mountain. On the Top, you can overview all the nice scene of Hoa Lu. Back to Hanoi for overnight

08:15 – 08:45: Hotel or private address pick up with our shuttle bus. Short break half way.
11:45 – 12:00: Arriving Tuan Chau marina, transferred by tender of La Pandora cruises.

12:45 – 13:00: Welcome aboard the cruise. Refresh with our welcome drink. Meet the captain, crew in the cruise briefing, safety instruction.

13:00 – 13:15: A special lunch in Vietnamese cuisine of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favorites are served while sailing through Islets of Con Vit.
16:00: The Cruise sails through Lan Ha Bay. The area is surrounding of extraordinary limestone karsts landscapes. We progress to Ong Cam Area of Lan Ha Bay- a separate part of Ha Long Bay. This is a quiet tourist paradise in Vietnam, enjoy kayaking and/or enjoy swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Bay.
17:30: Back to La Pandora Cruise, drop anchor for staying overnight. Enjoy cooking demonstration (teaching you how to make our speciality, Spring rolls) and the complimentary Sunset Party on the sundeck with local wine and fresh fruit.

19:00: Dinner is served in the restaurant. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. After dinner, retiring to your cabin or join the fishing excursion, watch a movie, have a drink at the bar, wifi access or play exciting games. Overnight on board.

05:30 – 06:00 SUNRISE & TAI CHI SESSION-Wake up early for the sunrise (depends on the season and the weather)

Enjoy Tai Chi session on the sundeck (If it is not raining). Tai Chi helps focus the mind and condition the body.

06:30 LIGHT BREAKFAST-Light breakfast is served in the dining room with the morning view of bay’s landscape.

08:30 – 08:45 MOVE TO THE DAY BOAT   You are transferred to the Day Boat and start cruising along to explore further Lan Ha Bay.

10:00 DISCOVER  VIETHAI VILLAGE       Cycling a short trip of 5km to Viet Hai village – a small village in the midst of the jungle, surrounded by the high mountain ranges of Cat Ba National Park. The area has become popular with foreign tourists without attracting the mass tourism so that it is still very rustic. For those who are not fancy with cycling will be arranged by electric car.

11:30     Go back to the Day Boat

12:00 LUNCH TIME- Enjoy the lunch with beautiful view on the Day Boat.

13:15 KAYAKING- Kayaking around the area to discover further landscape of the bay.

15:00 SWIMMING- Swimming in the sea-green water at Three Peaches beach area

16:00 – 16:30 Say goodbye to the day boat crews and come back to Rosy Cruise.

17:30 SUNSET PARTY HAPPY HOURS        Summit on the sundeck for watching the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin, you are invited to Sunset party (we serve you local snacks and fresh fruits) and do not miss the special offer “Happy hours – buy 2 get 1 for free” (from 17:30 to 19:00).

18:00 COOKING DEMONSTRATION          You take part in cooking demonstration. We will guide you how to make the traditional Vietnamese dish – deep fried spring rolls.

19:15 DINNER TIME – The delicious dinner is served with fresh food set menu.

06:00: Enjoy sunrise and admire the never-ending miraculous scenery of the Bay. Practice an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sundeck.
06:30: Light breakfast, coffee and tea served.
07:00: Visit Dark & Bright Cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage.
09:15: Back to our La Pandora Cruise, relax before checking out.
10:00: Lunch is served on board.

11:30 Drive to Hanoi, then transfer to the airport for flight to Hue. On arrival, transfer to hotel in Hue for check in & overnight

Start the day with a visit to Hue Imperial City, the remaining vestiges of Hue’s citadel, including: Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh. Then, we will take a boat trip on poetic Perfume River. Stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda (Celestial Lady Pagoda) built in 1601 – the symbol of Hue city. Cruise toward Thuy Bieu eco-village, an old laid back village situated on the bank of Perfume River known for its green tea fruit orchards.

Arrive in the village, and join our cooking class to prepare Hue’s signature dishes with our chef’s instruction, then enjoy your creations in the open air riverside restaurant surrounded by lush trees. The afternoon is reserved for cycling through the peaceful village, visiting several communal houses, ancient temples and the garden-house, a typical and unique feature of Hue.

Soaking your feet in medicinal herb water followed by an excellent blind massage will refresh them after a day of sightseeing. Back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Hue.

In the morning, have a half day tour, visit Minh Mang Tomb, about 14 – 15 kilometer away from Hue Center. The red and yellow lacquer building combined with the straight line of palaces will speak a lot about the Emperor’s personality himself.

The end of your day in Hue, we will visit the Conical hat village, incense stick making village. At here, you can see ingredients and how to make incense by yourself. You can experience how to make incense together with local people

Afternoon, drive on the Mandarin road, a scenic journey from Hue to Hoi An, which allows you to see a picturesque Vietnam with stunning beaches and lush tropical forest. Take some photos en route of Danang Beach and visit Marble Mountain, Son Tra Peninsula before arriving in Hoi An’s ancient town. Overnight in Hoi An

In the morning, explore Hoi An ancient town, when visiting the Japanese Pagoda Bridge, Chinese streets, old Phung Hung houses, Hoi An’s market and ancient port. On the 1st and 15th of every lunar month, Hoi An’s ancient town is lit up by hundreds of colorful lanterns, giving it an extra portion of sparkle. Enjoy the city’s transformation and stroll through this quaint, glowing fairytale town in your free time.

14:30 – Arrive at My SonSanctuary and we’ll have 2 hours to discover the site by walking throughout the landscape, learning histories with our local English-speaking guide, and enjoying the Champa’s traditional performances.

Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel, then ride bicycles to Tra Que Village. Take around the vegetable village and join in the daily activities with local farmer there. Continue to take bicycles along De Vong River to Hoi An Beach wharf.

Embark on the boat to Cua Dai sand dune, enjoy casting net show and learn how to cast net by local fisher man. Continue to Cam Thanh Water coconut village, have a brief introduce to the history there.

Take on the basket boat along the water coconut river, Fisherman will teach you how to catch the crabs (02 paxs/ boat ). Divide group into 2 teams for basket boat racing and catching crabs. Embark on the boat, enjoy the folk songs show by local people there.

Enjoy special local food such as pancake, Tam Huu spring roll, fried fish …After lunch, learn how to make funny tools by water coconut leaf

Continue to the ancient town, experience the daily life of fisher man along Thu Bon River

Get on Bach Dang wharf, take a bicycle back to Hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own.

Overnight at the hotel in Hoian

Freely explore Hoian and have relaxing moments on the beach and swimming pool.

After breakfast, at 8h30, transfer to the airport for flight to Saigon. On arrival, be picked up to hotel for check in

In the late afternoon, tour guide will pick you up from hotel for a street food tour on scooter. After a short riding instruction and program introduction of Night Saigon Food Tour by Motorbike, we hop on the motorbike.

1st stop: Popular local eatery in alley

• Vietnamese pancake (Banh xeo)
• Khot cake

2nd stop: Try good Vietnamese noodle soup

Beef noodle soup or Crab noodle soup

3rd stop: Ho Thi Ky flower & Cambodian market

Vietnamese pizza (Grilled rice paper with toppings)

4th stop: Ngo Gia Tu old apartment building & street food area & a dessert shop since 1975

Coconut ice cream or Vietnamese beef stew dish with bread

5th stop: Former mafia hotspot but a hustle street food area in the recent & Xom Chieu night food market & Vinh Khanh snail street

• Steamed clam with lemongrass
• Grilled scallop with green onion oil
• Grilled Shrimp with chili (or Stir-fried noodles with beef)
• Fertilized duck egg if you dare enough
• Local beer
• Non-seafood dishes are available like BBQ meat if you can’t eat seafood and snails

Bonus hidden places

• Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment buildings
• Through lots of hidden alleys

Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars.

Have lunch at local restaurant.

Depart for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun.

Return to Saigon. End trip.

At 8AM, leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which sated back to the late 19^th century. Then, you embark a boat on Mekong river and go down stream, along Dragon Island to see daily activities on river as catching, raising fish on farm and conquer the 3 km large river by crossing.

Next, you get through the Xep canal to village, visit some fascinating local industries and stop in farmer house to enjoy some fruits, honey tea and listen to local music. Drive on paths by horse cart and change on small rowing boat to river.

Lunch in local restaurant by river by your own, enjoying some local specialty as elephant ear fish and shrimp. Boat takes tour to coconut candy and taste some sweet. In the afternoon, time for cycling around the village, meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong delta.

Go back to My Tho by get over back large river.

Then transfer ahead to Can Tho for your overnight.

Early morning (around 5AM), take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river. After, proceed to visit the Cai Răng floating market, which is the liveliest in the whole region. Take in the beautiful scenery and the daily activities of the locals who live along the Mekong canals. Next, you will roam through the village, see fruit gardens and a rice noodles making shop.

After lunch by your own, proceed to Chau Doc and continue the tour to visit Tra Su, getting to the wild birds Sanctuary, cruising smoothly with small boats to discover the arrays of splendid canals deep into the forest, watching storks, cranes and other tropical birds.

Arrive in Chau Doc, check in hotel and overnight in Chau Doc (hotel booked by yourself)

Breakfast at your hotel, be picked up and transferred to a speed boat station for the the journey to Phnom Penh. Arrive at Sisowath tourist dock in Phnom Penh at around 2pm.

Welcome to Phnom Penh – the city retains its traditional Khmer and colonial styles with French villas and large tree-line sidewalk. Pick up and transfer to check in hotel, free leisure on own arrangement. Overnight in Phnom Penh!

Morning, visit the Royal Palace and its Silver Pagoda. Next, you will have the opportunity to explore either the Khmer Rouge Killing Field and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. These sites offer a sobering reminder of Cambodia’s turbulent history and provide a deeper understanding of the country’s rich culture and heritage. You can visit the Wat Phnom insteadly, depending on your preference.

Afternoon, we make our way to Siem Reap.

After breakfast, explore South Gate of Angkor Thom known as Big Angkor, 3km2 walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire, The famous Bayon Temple was an architectural muddle, in part because it was constructed in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for over a century. Terrace of the Elephants is an impressive, two and a half meter tall, 300 meter long terrace wall adorned with carved elephants and gradual that spans the heart of Angkor Thom in front of Baphuon – huge temple mountain in the heart of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace Area and Phimeanakas – impressive rite and sandstone pyramid. Terrace of the Leper King is at the north end of the Terrace of the Elephants, a double terrace wall with deeply carved nag as, demons and other mythological beings. Last visit Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty! Giant trees have grown here for centuries.

Afternoon visit Angkor Wat temple, the founder of the temple was Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century to dedicate to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys, ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction. It is time for a romantic sunset view. Overnight in Seam Reap!

You’ll be free to explore and take some time for yourself, before boarding your flight back home.