9 Nights Vietnam - Cambodia Tour

After 90km drive to the South of Hanoi, you will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in the 11th century. The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Trang An and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in the 10th century. The visit to Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Trang An where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”. Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued in the site that used to be the kings’ palace in the 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples. In the late afternoon, we will head back to Hanoi for an overnight stay in Hanoi.

We pick you up from your hotel for a 3.5 hours drive to North-East, the bus ride will take you over the Red River and through the countryside of our second biggest delta to reach the Halong Bay. You would be first dropped off at the harbor of Halong’s embark on a cruise, enjoy the welcome drinks & check-in your room. Your lunch, at the boat’s restaurant, would be served with fresh local seafood, but the vegetable menu is always available at your request. From the marina area, our cruiser passes by Dog Head and Swan Islands, Ba Hang Floating villages (with floating houses), Incense Burner then Thumb Islands before reaching the Surprising (Sung Sot) Cave. At around 15h00, our boat will be anchored for a short tender ride from the middle of the bay to an island for your visit to the famous Sung Sot Cave. As the sun sets over the bay, we head back to our cruise and relax. Coffee, tea and fruits will be available on the sundeck or you can order your favorite drink from our bar. Dinner would be served with typically local seafood; you are then free to either drink or experience squid fishing before heading to your bed.

Note: Cruise programs may be different as per the cruises

Private pick up and drop off with a guide will be arranged. You would love to rise a bit early for a breathtaking, stunning vista of the serene bay as it is always the best experience of staying overnight on a boat. We serve you buffet breakfast from 7h30, then we have time to gear up to visit around Luom Bo area (provincial border between Quang Ninh province and Cat Ba National Park of Hai Phong). On cruising the way back, we cruise on a different way so that you can see new areas and viewing islands from a different side. At around 09h00, we arrange a cooking demonstration on the boat to show you how to make real Vietnamese spring rolls, just before lunchtime. You will learn recipes and techniques that go into the most popular dish of Vietnamese food. Lunch would be served on the boat when you are close to the harbor. Disembark at 11.00 am & Our bus will already be waiting for you at the marina to take you back to Hanoi. Our guide and driver will pick you at Hanoi and transfer to Noi Bai Domestic Airport to take a flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city). Arrive at Saigon, our guide and driver will pick up you and transfer to hotel for check-in. Enjoy your overnight in Saigon.

Have breakfast at the hotel and then start for a city tour by morning to visit Hindu temples in Saigon: Sri Thenday Yuttha Pani (66 Ton That Thiep Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City); Subramaniam Swamy Temple (98 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City); Temple Goddess Mariamma (45 Truong Dinh Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). Next, visit The Reunification Palace in the afternoon: This is one of the most important buildings in the city; War Remnants Museum: Formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes, this is a poignant display of the futility of war; Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Then visit the Ben Thanh Market, this bustling market is very popular with tourists, primarily due to its central location. It has a wide selection of goods ranging from fake Nike shoes to beautiful silk Ao Dais. Return for an Overnight in Saigon.

Next morning, we will drive overland to Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese guerrillas to protect the region against the American attacks during the Vietnam War. We can even crawl a part inside the tunnel, visit their infirmary, kitchen: to discover how people had survived hereby. Back to Hochiminh city. Enjoy your free time for shopping. Return to your hotel for an overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at the hotel, and then we transfer to Phnom Penh by Sorya Bus to Phnom Penh City. Meet our guide at arrival and transfer to check in the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Wat Phnom Pagoda, an ancient pagoda stand up on the hill, Independence Monument commemorates the end of Cambodia's rule by France in 1953. Then visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 and the Silver Pagoda located within the Royal Palace compound. Then move ahead to visit the Tuol Sleng, better known as the Killing Fields, where large numbers of people were killed and buried in mass graves. Overnight stay at Phnom Penh.

Have Breakfast at your hotel and transfer to Bus station and get a vehicle to Siem Ream, this takes around 6 hours. On arrival, transfer directly to your selected hotel for refreshment. In the Afternoon, visit Chong Kneas, one of the natural tourism spots and mangroves for hundreds of species of freshwater fishes and birds, decorated with ethnic stilted houses line over the water surface up to the air. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them, most of who live in stilted houses. The people depend largely on fishing and tourism for their incomes. We embark on the traditional wooden boat through the flooded forests of the Great Tonle Sap Lake, the habitat of many bird species it will bring you to Chong Kneas. This amazing floating village is built on 8 to 10 m high stilts. We visit an island pagoda, a school and traditional stilt houses to interact with the local families. Return to Siem Reap for refreshment. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Have breakfast at the hotel and continue the tour to Angkor Thom covers, an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats; the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental South Gate over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas, before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and Ascend the narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle.

Afternoon crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat Temple is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best-preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. Visit Ta Prohm Temple, one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel, check out. We transfer to Siem Reap airport and take a flight back home. The amazing tour comes to an end!