Enchanting experience of Vietnam Cambodia itinerary | 15 days 14 nights

Plane landing in Siem Reap, pick up then transfer to your hotel in Siem Reap. Kick off  Vietnam Cambodia 15 days tour. This town is our base for visiting the world famous temples of the ancient city Angkor, which was the capital of the powerful Khmer Empire from 802 AD to 1350 AD.

After checking into hotel, free time to discover this beautiful city.

Meals on your own. O/N in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, you will take the second day of Vietnam Cambodia itinerary 15 days with a tour to Angkor Thom, starting at the South Gate entrance. Visit the main temple of Bayon (4-Faced Temple) to see the last great temple to be built at the Angkor complex.

Experience up-close where the Khmer rulers watched their returning armies from the Terrace of the Elephants, and see the stunning 3-tiered temple of Baphoun, where a 51-year restoration project has finally been completed. Experience the steamy environment of the jungle where the blockbuster movie “Tomb Raider” was shot.
 
After lunch, continue your temple tour at Angkor Wat, the most legendary of the temples of the Khmer kingdom, and its former capital. Admire exquisite carvings and bas reliefs dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, and see scenes depicting Hindu mythology. Back in Siem Reap, enjoy a buffet dinner at a local restaurant, and watch a traditional Apsara dance, evoking classical myths.

Dinner on your own. O/N in Siem Reap.

This morning, keep cruises to Vietnam and Cambodia by visiting the small temple of Bantaey Srei, said to have the finest carvings of all the Angkor temples. En route back to Siem Reap, pass local villages where, time permitting, you can stop to watch and learn how sugar is produced from the sugar palms.
 
After lunch, explore the temples of the Roluos group from the early Angkor period (802-1431).

You will go to Preah Ko, the first temple to be built in the ancient and now defunct city of Hariharalaya. Preah Ko (Sacred Bull) derives its name from the 3 sandstone statues facing the temple's central towers, representing Nandi, the white bull that served as the mount of Shiva.
 
Continue to the temple mountain of Bakong, which served as the official state temple of King Indravarman I in Hariharalaya, and see fragments of the original bas reliefs.

The last temple on your Roluos tour is Lolei, the last of the 3 temples of Hariharalaya, best known for its beautiful carved lintels and false doors.

Come back to your hotel in Siem Reap. Dinner on your own. O/N in Siem Reap.

An early morning transfer to Siem Reap pier. We embark on express boat and make our way up the Tonle Sap River and into the lake of the same name. The shallow Tonle Sap is the largest of Southeast Asia's lake.
 
Depending on the season, our boat journey takes us anything from 5 to 7 hours to reach Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

Arrive in Phnom Penh pier, pick up then transfer to your hotel.

Keep 15 days in Vietnam and Cambodia by visiting of the Killing Fields Memorial​ Museum of Cambodia (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum): From 1975 to 1979, an estimated 17,000 people were imprisoned at Tuol Sleng. At any one time, the prison held between 1,000–1,500 prisoners. They were repeatedly tortured and coerced into naming family members and close associates, who were in turn arrested, tortured and killed.
 
Come back to your hotel, free time. Dinner on your own. O/N in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast we board an express board for a trip along the Mekong River crossing into Chau Doc - Vietnam.
 
After customs procedure for the entry visa, our guide waits for you on the side of Vietnam then pick you up.

Transfer to your hotel in Chau Doc. Dinner on your own.

End of the fifth day of 15 day Vietnam Cambodia tour in Chau Doc. 

Breakfast in the hotel, drive to Sa Dec.

Arrive at the Huynh Thuy Le ancient house. This wonderfully atmospheric 18th century house on the riverfront was once the residence of Huynh Thuy Le, the 27-year-old son of the most reputable family in Dong Thap. This house was also named the house of the lovers, for it had witnessed the affair between Le and the 15 year old French writter Marguerite Duras. Insipired by this romance, she wrote The Lover in 1984, which was eventually made into a film in 1992 by Jean Jacques Annaud.
 
Lunch at Huynh Thuy Le ancient house.

Vietnam Cambodia itinerary 15 days continue to visit Kien An Cung pagoda, Trung Vuong school where Marguerite Duras enrolled primary school.

Head to Cai Be river wharf then take a boat to the Mekong Lodge. Check in your private bungalows in the Mekong Lodge.
 
6:30pm Getting some hands on culinary experience by joining a "Vietnamese cooking demo", and enjoy the dishes that you have prepared.

Note: The bar at the Lodge opens from 7am to 12am, located at the end of the big swimming pool.

Overnight at the Mekong Lodge (authentic | swimming pool | nice garden).

07:10am: Breakfast in the restaurant

08:00: Getting on our rowed sampan to visit Cai Be floating and ground market.
15 day Vietnam Cambodia tour leads you to visit families making rice cake, coconut candy, caramen souffle cake to see the traditional production of goods in Mekong Delta. Tasting some local honey tea.

Come back to the Lodge. Check out around 11am. Lunch in a local restaurant.

Our boat will transfer you back to Cai Be harbor. Heat to Ho Chi Minh city.
 
Arrive at your hotel, check in hotel.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

A morning city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin-china and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam from 1955–75. On 2 July 1976, Saigon was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City, name of Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader who was prime minister (1945–1955) and president (1945–1969) of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam).
 
15 days in Vietnam and Cambodia offer a visit to the former Presidential Palace (ouside), other name Reunification palace, Set on well-maintained and spacious grounds, pf this historic building is a prominent symbol of the country's political history. During the 19th century, the Reunification Hall was the site of the Norodom Palace, former residence of the French governor general.

The Notre Dame Cathedral,  The famous central Saigon Cathedral, built in 1877, is one of HCMC's architectural marvels, built with materials imported from France.
 
Old Saigon Post Office signed by Gustave Eiffel.

Thien Hau Pagoda (The Pagoda of the Lady Thien Hau) is a Chinese style temple located on Nguyen Trai Street in the Cho Lon (Chinatown), Thien Hau is a deity of traditional Chinese religion, who is revered in the southern maritime provinces of China and in overseas Chinese communities. Thien Hau is worshipped in the seafaring Chinese communities of Fujian, Guangzhou, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.
 
In the afternoon, visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for a short flight to the central port city of Danang, a big city of the central region, located in the middle of Hue (100km)  and Hoi An (30km).

When arriving in Danang, transfer to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and local people’s lifestyle have changed little over the years.
 
Check in Hoi An hotel. Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, keep Vietnam Cambodia 15 days tour by walk around Hoi An ancient town and exploring its treasures.

Quan Cong temple – the brave and loyal Chinese General.

Phuc Kien pagoda, This is the most well-known assembly hall in the ancient town. Fukjianese were Chinese traders who first came to Hoi An in great number, at least in the XVII century. That was the reason why all above mentioned gods were worshipped in this pagoda after the collapse of the old pagoda.
 
The Japanese Bridge, Hoi An’s signature landmark used widely as an emblem of the town. It was built by Japanese merchants in the 16the century.

Tan Ky ancient house, the most popular of Hoi An’s old houses.

Hoi An port, the World Heritage listed by Unesco.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hoi An.

8h00AM The guide will meet you in your hotel lobby, than you will cycle around Hoi An towards the Tra Que vegetable village - About 150 farmers and 400 owners live on there and cultivate about 20 types of vegetables and herbs such as mint, lettuce, basil, cilantro, broccoli and many more. From the more than 40 hectares of land 8 tons of Village Tra vegetables are sold every year. The vegetable growers do not use pesticides or GMOs, using natural fertilizers instead, including seaweed found in the river and harvested by gardeners every morning.
 
During the walk, guests joining Vietnam Cambodia itinerary 15 days will cross vast rice fields in the countryside and quiet road, far away from the tourist trails. You will see the activities of the inhabitants through the villages of Hoi An.

Walk in Tra Que vegetable village and meet local people working in the garden.

The local farmer will teach you all about cultivation methods and how to protect developing vegetable from the insects as well as join the farmers in preparing gardening activities such as raking the ground, sowing, watering greens, transplanting and tending greens.

Continue riding through paddy field, Ba Le market, kindergarten ... until reaching Van Lang fisherman village and Bay Mau coconut water forest - about 7 hectares, surrounded by mangrove forests, canals, houses covered by coconut water leaf. This place had ever been the refuge for people and local soldiers during the Vietnam War. Nowadays, it is famous for providing the most seafood products.

You will be warmly welcomed at Mr. Han – a 3 generations family, taste of green tea and stroll through the village. You will row a basket boat within the hands of skillful locals and discover their techniques of traditional fishery in water coconut forest.
 
Back Mr. Han’ family for enjoy a foot bath with medicinal herbs, traditional therapeutic practice before getting ready to prepare lunch with a local family. Lunch will feature many local delicacies, such as Tam Huu spring rolls, BanhXeo local pancakes, grilled fish in banana leaf and others.

After lunch, free time and take a short rest before returning to your hotel about 15h30.

Free time in Hoi An beach or shopping in Hoi An old quarter.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, transfer to Hue through Hai Van Pass and the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co.

Arrive at noon in Hue, check in hotel. Have lunch in a local restaurant.
 
In the afternoon, keep 15 day Vietnam Cambodia tour by visiting the Imperial Citadel, City of the Nguyen Dynasty (1804-1945), Visit some of the most highly revered site in this World Heritage area; The Flag Tower, South Door, Edict Pavilion, Supreme Harmony Palace, and the Forbidden Purple City.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hue.

8h00AM: Pick up at your hotel, take a boat for a cruise on the gentle Huong River.

Visit Thien Mu pagoda, built in 1601 on the order of the first Nguyen lords, Nguyen Hoang, who at that time was the governor of Hue.
 
Continue 15 days in Vietnam and Cambodia to a quiet Thuy Bieu village – 6.5 km from the city centre – a laidback village famous for growing the Thanh Tra fruit (a kind of small pomelo), visit many garden houses, a unique feature of Hue countryside, and enjoy a nice walking and biking around the village.
 
Visit an old communal house, pass by several ancient ancestral temples and communicate with local people.

Visit an incense making family and discover the daily life of local people while they are working strenuously with joy and enthusiasm. You may also join their activities: gardening, talking and drinking tea with them.

Back to Thuy Bieu restaurant, relax by steeping your foot in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice and enjoy excellent massage by blind people.

Lunch at Thuy Bieu restaurant.

In the afternoon, discovery of Emperor Minh Mang’s tomb, ponds and gardens is known for its perfect harmony between architecture and its natural environment. It began to be built during his reign (1820-1841) and was completed only in 1843, two years after his death by his successor Thieu Tri.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, transfer to the Airport for a short flight to Hanoi, the modern day capital of Vietnam.

Pick up at the airport then transfer to your hotel in Hanoi.

Have lunch in a restaurant.

Then, guests of Vietnam Cambodia 15 days trip will enjoy a very interesting walking tour around the old quarter within 1,5 hours. Firstly the trip start from head of Cao Thang street where local people sell all traditional cooking spices of Vietnam such as onions, garlic, mushrooms, black mushrooms, peppers, lemongrass, ginger, galangal ...

Then moving to Dong Xuan market, the biggest market in Hanoi, originally built by the French administration and surrounded by different streets, you will go through the market and turn right to Hang Ma street, the road is shimmered by decorating stuff , Chinese toys, the colorful lanterns, paper goods and in particular paper votive offerings.
 
Passing by Luong Van Can, Lan Ong, you arrive Hang Buom street where located the oldest temple of Hanoi - Bach Ma Temple, you will take some rest to admire the temple before continue walking through Ta Hien, Dinh Liet street to the most peaceful small alley of Hanoi - Trung Yen. On the way you have chance to explore daily life of local people who live and sharing their life in the confined spaces.

We continue to Hang Be street - used to be one of the best well-known outdoor markets in town dating from medieval, with famous food”Mam Tep Chung Thit”, some years ago, it was disintegrated. At the end of this road, there is a coffee shop named Cafe market, where we will invite you a cup of coffee or iced fruit smoothies

We end of trip at Hoan Kiem Lake, in front of Water Puppet show theatre, from here you can continue your walking or back to your hotel.
 
Discover Hoan Kiem Lake, meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword" , where emperor Le Loi was boating on the lake when his magic sword, Heaven's Will, was grabbed by a turtle who quickly disappeared into the depths.

Take a beautiful picture on the The Huc red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple.
 
Early in the evening, join a water puppet show, a distinct Vietnamese art in which a split-bamboo screen obscures puppets which stand in water and are manipulated using long poles hidden beneath the water.

Come back to your hotel. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, transfer to Halong Bay – the World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO.

Arrive around 12h30 and take a junk for a memorable cruise through the mystical Halong Bay.

Keep Vietnam Cambodia itinerary 15 days by enjoying fresh seafood set lunch while our Halong Sail is peacefully passing Burn of Incense, Dog, Fighting Cock Island and Halong fishing village.

Visit the most magical and beautiful cave – Sung Sot Cave.
 
Trek and swim at Titop Island, which gives you a chance to view panorama view of Halong bay from the top and do kayaking nearby.

Enjoy fresh seafood set dinner on the bay.

Enjoy films or squid fishing at night if requested.

Overnight on the junk.

Wake up in the next morning at sunrise. Experience Tai Chi Lesson on the sundeck if request in advance. Enjoy an energizing breakfast.

Visit Luon Cave by small boat and then the boat passes Man Head Island, Tortoise Island.
 
Check out the cabin and clear the bills. Learn to cut flowers from fruits and roots.

Check out the boat to transfer to Cua Vang for lunch.

In the afternoon, transfer back to Noi Bai Airport for your departure flight.

Dinner on your own. End of cruises to Vietnam and Cambodia !