Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights in 10 days

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital city locating in the north of Vietnam which is the first destination of your Cambodia and Vietnam tour! Being the capital for over a thousand years, Hanoi is undeniably show a colorful brocade of culture, history, gastronomy and lifestyles. Staying in Hanoi, you shall delve into two of best things to see and do in Vietnam including Hanoi city tour and Halong Bay overnight cruise.

Upon your arrival, welcomed by your local tour guide and take private transfer from Hanoi airport to city center for hotel check-in. Balance of the day will be free & easy to get off the jet lag.

Spend this day to explore charming city Hanoi and get to know more about Vietnam. Start with Tran Quoc Pagoda which impressively locates on a West Lake's peninsula. Being constructed over 1,500 years ago and relocated once due to flood, Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest one in Hanoi - the city of rising dragon. It's a pleasant place to learn of the Mahayana Buddism practices and beliefs in Vietnam as well as to enjoy the stunning view and peaceful ambience on West Lake. Next, you will stop at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a lovely lotus-shape construction preserving the body of Vietnam's greatest president played a crucial part to achieve country independence. Walking around, you also spot the Presidential Palace, unique One-Pillar Pagoda and the old houses of Ho Chi Minh President.
After the lunch with tasty Vietnamese dishes, you will visit Temple of Literature or the Confucius Temple and the First University in Vietnam. Its construction and solemn atmosphere reveals interesting stories and principles of Vietnamese education in the past. Lastly, you will have a walk from Hoan Kiem Lake toward the Old Quarter of Hanoi which is a small corner but vibrant all day and night. It's the hub for wholesalers of divergent goods, clans of traditional jobs, small stores of high-end items and souvenirs, boutique hotels, small but crowded restaurants of both street food and top notch, night bars and beer clubs. Finish your stroll around Hanoi Old Quarter, return to your hotel and have free time till rest of the day.

You will leave Hanoi this morning for the overnight cruise over Halong Bay a UNESCO Heritage Site of Vietnam. Halong Bay is the highlight of this Vietnam Cambodia 10 day tour itinerary. After roughly 2.5 hour drive, you shall embark a lovely oriental style cruise and sail around 13km (8 miles) to the center of Halong Bay. Staying on boat, you will enjoy relaxing moments and contemplate captivating scenes of thousands karst mountains on the jade emerald water bay. You also jon outdoor excursion and go hiking to Halong Bay dried Cave and admire the stunning cavities decorated with variant stalactites and stalagmites; then kayaking on the Bay and get closer to the rock and islands. Have leisure time on boat with sun set tea break; and then enjoy dinner of Vietnamese cuisine and fresh seafood. Overnight on Halong Bay.

On the second day on Halong Bay, you will see more of Halong Bay by have a hike up to one of its island for a awe-inspiring panorama view of Halong Bay; and go swimming if interested. After the outdoor sightseeing; the crew will carry on its journey passing the other parts of Halong Bay and return to the mainland. You shall get off the boat at noon, and travel to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam. Upon your landing, you will see your local tour guide and head to hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Have free time on your own till rest of the day. You might hang out at night walking streets Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien to see local life and try street food; or chill out at a roof-top bars in Saigon and cast the view over this sleepless city of Vietnam.

You will have full day tour explore main attractions in Ho Chi Minh City and its nearby places which is Cu Chi Tunnels. Drive roughly 1.5 hour, you shall reach the historical relics of underground tunnels which make up the total length of 200km (124 miles). Being digged as seperate tunnels in 1946 during the war against French colonial, these 3 - 4m (9.6 - 12.8 feet) underground cavities were hidden places of villagers to escape the sweeping rades by French colonial; as well as the hiding and weapon storage places of Viet Minh troop. The tunnels then extended and became interconnected systems with variable amenities such as kitchen, sleeping areas, clinics, etc.
Return to Ho Chi Minh for lunch; and then you will see the symbolic attractions in Ho Chi Minh City including the War Remnants to know more about histories of Vietnam; then the Reunification Palace where witnessed the Southern Vietnam liberation in 1975; and the colonial architecture constructions the Notre Dame Cathedral, City Post Office. Rest of the day will be free on your own. 

You will take a full day Mekong Delta sightseeing today with boat cruising and local places visiting to learn more about southern Vietnam. Drive by land from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre where is a luxiriant countryside renown as hometown of coconuts in Vietnam. You will board local boat from Phong Nam Pier, cruise on An Hoa River and make stops to visit the local brick kiln, handicrafts and coconut candies making factories.

Have lunch in a garden restaurant with delicious local dishes and have some pleasant. Then, have a biking excursion in exotic Mekong Delta region of Vietnam and make some visit to local houses, their orchards of tropical fruits and know more about their lifestyle. Thereupon, the cruise will take you back to mainland and drive to Ho Chi Minh City this late afternoon.

You will have breakfast at hotel and have leisure time at your own for shopping or getting around the town. After check-out, your tour guide and driver will greet you at hotel lobby and travel to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your departure to Siem Reap one of the best places to see in your Vietnam Cambodia 10 day tour itinerary. 

Upon your arrival, greeted by your local driver and tour guide and travel to hotel for check-in. Have free time at leisure till the rest of the day.

This morning, you will travel through the lush jungle to enter the Angkor complex including around 72 main temples and constructions. Let’s begin with Angkor Wat – the biggest temple of the area, built in 12th century. This is one of the most significant religious temples in Cambodia. Walking around the walls, you will realize the vivid carvings and sculptures showing country’s history and culture.

This afternoon, you will enter the Angkor Thom via the south gate. The first one comes out is Bayon Temple of 54 pillars topped by four facet stone heads. Then Bakheng Temples, Terraces of Elephants, etc. Finish the day at Ta Prohm Temple called “Tomb Raider Temple” which is impressively swallowed by the huge trees’ roots.

This morning you will drive around 40 km (25 miles) to the Tonle Sap Lake to visit the Kompong Phluk floating village of around 3,000 villagers. A boat ride passing schools, pagodas and houses built on stilts up to 9m (29.5 feets) will reveals more about the livings of the local people. Return to Siem Reap late noon and have free time on your own to get around the town or chilling at hotel.

This evening, transfer to see the show Phare – The Cambodian Circus of around 50 minutes. Young excellent Cambodian performers showing their creative combination of theater, music, dance and circus arts to tell of Cambodia's culture stories. 

It's the last day of the package holidays to Vietnam and Cambodia. After check-out, travel to airport with tour guide and driver for your flight to next destination.