Others

All accommodation, activities and meals that are shown in the itinerary are included in the total cost of your trip You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information.

Accommodation

1 nights simple homestay 17 nights standard hotel 1 nights simple overnight train

Guide

Tour Leaders are quite simply the glue that holds our tours together. They are chosen for their travel experience and people skills and are thoroughly trained by Explore, widely acknowledged as some of the best training in the industry. A Tour Leader’s ultimate aim is to ensure everyone is well looked after and have a fantastic trip. They are there to ensure that the tour logistics run smoothly, that health and safety is adhered to and provide comprehensive briefings at the beginning and throughout the tour.

Transport

Bus, Boat, Flight, Train

Meals

A key facet of our responsible approach to tourism is that we encourage our groups to eat in local restaurants that prepare locally grown food. We give customers choice as to their meals and do not use rather bland and impersonal hotel restaurants or all- inclusive options 18 Breakfasts 2 Lunches 1 Dinners

Optional

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for direct with the supplier and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract. Hanoi - Water Puppets Show from US$ 6; ’Cyclo’ tour of Old Quarter US$ 8 Hoi An - Cookery class US$ 30 Phnom Penh - Sunset cruise US$ 10, Koh Dach Island - US $24, Oudong Mountain - US $32, Chiso Mountain - US $35 Siem Reap - Scenic helicopter flight over Angkor temples from US$ 135-260; Apsara traditional khmer dance and dinner US$ 22,Tonle Sap boat optional US$ 42; cookery class US$ 12; National Museum Culture Show US$ 12 - US$20 (limited availability during low season May - September) The prices stated are based on a minimum number of participants (usually 5-6). Please be aware that the optional excursions can run with fewer people but the price may be higher. Likewise, a slightly reduced price may be applicable where the participation greater. The prices listed are generally only entrance fees and do not include the price of transport to and from the excursion, Your Explore Leader will quote this when you are on tour, as the price for transport will depend on the number of participants. These excursions are generally run via our agent in the country. Local companies may offer similar excursions at a cheaper price. Should you want to use these companies please be aware that a lower price may mean that not all costs are included (entrance fees etc.) or services will not operate at the same safety and quality standards.

Not included:

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Others

Any visa costs, spending money and tips are not included in the trip price. You can also book extra nights’ accommodation at the beginning and end of the trip and the cost of this accommodation along with any transfers would be quoted separately.

Flights

International flights not included in the tour cost

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Join Tour In Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Join Tour In Hanoi

Arrive in Vietnam’s capital which is famous for its rich culture, bustling life and colonial influences on their centuries-old architecture. Little lakes dotted around the city are encased by busy streets and secret alleyways, which are waiting to be explored. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Hanoi at any time. If you would like an airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive into Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), which is only a 45 minute drive to the hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information by note left at the front desk. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to take a stroll through the narrow lanes of the Old Quarter, or perhaps enjoy a gentle walk around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 2 Day 2: Discover The Sights Of Hanoi Including The Old Quarter
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Discover The Sights Of Hanoi Including The Old Quarter

This morning we make a tour of the main sights of Hanoi. Architecturally styled like a French provincial town with tree-lined boulevards and substantial low-built houses the city is wonderfully nostalgic. Among the interesting sights are the charming One-Pillar Pagoda, Confucius Temple and the Presidential Palace. Ho Chi Minh himself, a spartan-living and scholarly man, chose not to live in the Presidential Palace; he preferred instead a simple teak stilt-house specially built for him in the grounds. This afternoon we walk through the narrow lanes of the fascinating Old Quarter, where the streets are named after various crafts or specialties: Paper Street, Silk Street, Basket Street and so on. The shops themselves have very narrow frontages but are actually quite deep; they are known locally as tube shops. On the pavements food sellers sell noodles, snacks and stir-fries from shoulder panniers. The smell of food mixes with the smell of incense from small temples dotted around.
Day 3 Day 3: Free Time In Hanoi, Then Drive To Halong Bay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Free Time In Hanoi, Then Drive To Halong Bay

We have some free time in Hanoi this morning perhaps to visit some of the many museums or Ho Chi Minh’s austere mausoleum, which resembles Lenin’s in Moscow. Afterwards we drive out towards the iconic Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin. Thousands of jagged limestone islands rise out of the jade green waters like the hairy scales of a submerged dragon. In fact Halong means: ’Where the dragon descends to the sea’. As legend has it the rugged seascape was created by the pounding tail of a dragon as he ran from the mountains into the sea, carving the islands in his wake.
Day 4 Day 4: Cruise Halong Bay; From Hanoi Overnight Train To Hué
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Cruise Halong Bay; From Hanoi Overnight Train To Hué

This morning we enjoy the romantic scenery of Halong Bay on a cruise amongst the islands. We’ll have the chance to stop at a grotto beneath towering cliffs and perhaps visit a beach. It is interesting to see the curious assortment of tourist boats, traditional junks and wooden sampans gliding through the waters. We enjoy a seafood lunch on board the boat, before returning to a hotel in Hanoi to freshen up before boarding the Reunification Express to Hué.
Day 5 Day 5: In Hué; Boat Along Perfume River To Thien Mu Pagoda
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: In Hué; Boat Along Perfume River To Thien Mu Pagoda

We arrive in Hué, one of the great cultural and religious centres of Vietnam, a quietly impressive place. The Perfume River divides the city in two and has been the inspiration for poets and painters for many centuries. This afternoon we to take a trip by boat along the Perfume River from Hué to the Thien Mu Pagoda. This serene temple is the oldest in Hué and also the symbol of the city.
Day 6 Day 6: In Hué, Visit The Imperial Citadel; Free Afternoon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: In Hué, Visit The Imperial Citadel; Free Afternoon

This morning we appreciate Hué’s fascinating history with a visit to the Imperial Citadel. Located on the left bank is the river, this palace was built by the Nguyen dynasty, Vietnam’s ruling emperors from the early 1800s to 1945. The Citadel has formal moats and impressive ramparts that were constructed by 20,000 men and was a copy of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Although most of the inner part of the city was totally destroyed during the month-long Tet Offensive in 1968, the vast outer walls and the west wing remain an eloquent reminder of the palace’s former glory. The remainder of the day is free to perhaps explore some of the outlying Tombs of the Emperors.
Day 7 Day 7: Scenic Drive Via Danang To Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Scenic Drive Via Danang To Hoi An

This morning we enjoy a scenic drive across the spectacular Col des Nuages, otherwise known as the Hai Van Pass observing rural scenes of thatched, wooden houses and lime-green rice paddies as well as enjoying panoramic sea views. Pausing in Danang, once the centre of the Kingdom of Champa (2nd century AD - 1720) we visit the Cham Museum, home to a fine collection of Cham sculptures. Our next stop is at the nearby five peaks of the Marble Mountains, said to represent the five elements of water, wood, fire, gold and earth. Naturally formed grottoes have been transformed into heavily carved Buddhist sanctuaries. A short distance from the mountains we find the white sands of My Khe Beach (nicknamed China Beach by American troops)- an ideal spot for a brief rest. Finally we reach our destination - the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An.
Day 8 Day 8: Free Day To Explore Hoi An; Optional Visit To My Lai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Free Day To Explore Hoi An; Optional Visit To My Lai

The historic, merchant town of Hoi An had become one of the busiest international trading ports of Southeast Asia by the 17th and 18th centuries. First colonised by the Portuguese in the 16th century it still retains its medieval charm today, with many of its old buildings superbly preserved. The day is free to explore at leisure. You may choose to visit the Japanese Bridge or some of the Chinese temples and meeting halls in the Old Town. There are many shops, bars and restaurants in this charming town and it is a great place to buy souvenirs, have clothing tailored or simply watch the world go by in a riverside café. You may wish to take an optional excursion out to the site of the My Lai village massacre memorial. The massacre was a significant turning point in the American War and the horrific story is told through a very emotive exhibition of photography. Another option would be to take a fishing trip out to the Thu Bon River Delta, where we learn how to fish using a traditional cast net. Travelling out by boat we meet local fisherman and try our hand at cast net fishing as well as trying the bamboo winches used to haul in the huge drop nets from the river. We also have a chance to go out in a Vietnamese ’basket boat’ - a circular boat constructed from bamboo that takes a little practice to row!
Day 9 Day 9: Visit To Ancient My Son; Free Afternoon In Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Visit To Ancient My Son; Free Afternoon In Hoi An

A further day is spent based in this lovely historic town. This morning we take an excursion to the holiest and most evocative of Vietnam’s Cham sites, My Son. The Chams were dynastic lords who rejected the authority of China in 2AD and established their own kingdom. Although they benefited from strong sea links with the rest of Southeast Asia the kingdom’s interior could not supply sufficient food for a strong military force. For 1000 years they managed to stave off attacks by the Vietnamese and Chinese, before being overcome by the Vietnamese in the 15th century. The track that leads to the site is slow and bumpy through wooded hills, but the site is certainly impressive with several groupings of Cham temples to be visited. Nowhere are the fine masonry skills of the Chams more evident than at My Son, despite the fact that much of the site was bombed in the 1960s. The afternoon is free to enjoy Hoi An further. A cookery class at one of Hoi An’s restaurants is a popular choice, as is the lantern-making workshop where you can learn how to make the beautiful lanterns that are ubiquitous in Hoi An. The beach is only a short drive by taxi alternatively a boat trip on the river as the late afternoon sun lights up the riverfront is a treat.
Day 10 Day 10: Fly To Ho Chi Minh City; Drive To Mekong Delta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Fly To Ho Chi Minh City; Drive To Mekong Delta

After a short drive to Danang Airport we fly to Ho Chi Minh City, from where we drive further south to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. Surrounded with lush and fertile land the area is home to small villages and swaying coconut palms. We take a local ferry to a nearby village, which we explore by trishaw. Later we board sampans, which are small Chinese wooden boats, and cruise along the narrow canals that shoot of the main vein of the Mekong River. After lunch at a local house we have some free time to explore the area further. Finally we return to Ben Tre by boat where we spend the night in a local homestay, with shared facilities and dorm-style accommodation.
Day 11 Day 11: Mekong Delta Cruise, Then Drive To Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Mekong Delta Cruise, Then Drive To Ho Chi Minh City

We spend the morning exploring the canals of the Mekong Delta, meeting some hard working locals, perhaps with time to see coconut processing and trading. We also have options to walk or cycle along the canal to explore further. Later on we drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 12 Day 12: In Ho Chi Minh City; Explore Old Saigon, And Discover ’Secret Weapons Bunker’
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: In Ho Chi Minh City; Explore Old Saigon, And Discover ’Secret Weapons Bunker’

This morning we walk around the central sights of Old Saigon, now District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. We see the Notre Dame Cathedral and the GPO building as well as some of the old French Colonial hotels such as The Rex. We then drive to the Independence Palace (renamed the Reunification Hall) and the graphic War Remnants Museum. This afternoon we will experience a different side of Ho Chi Minh City, away from the major sights where we take a walk through Old Saigon’s back alleys. We make our way to District 3 and turn off the main thoroughfare and into the maze of narrow streets of this bustling district. Our walk takes us past ramshackle shopfronts, through local markets selling anything from colourful fruit to bootleg DVDs, and past houses, churches and schools, all squeezed into the small buildings that line the narrow alleys. It’s a fascinating inter-connected community here that is a stones-throw from the city centre, yet feels a far cry from the modern buildings and throngs of tourists. We stop at a local stall for a traditional Vietnamese coffee (brewed coffee served sweet with condensed milk) where we can also sample ’Banh Mi’ - a Vietnamese take on the humble French baguette - freshly baked and packed with a combo of traditional and more exotic, aromatic ingredients. The walk ends the so-called ’secret weapons’ bunker’. A small unassuming ’tube house’ nestled in a quiet neighbourhood hides a trap door in the floor, concealing a basement stocked full of rifles, grenades and ammunition. The bunker played a key role in the TET Offensive of 1968, it was the base from which the Viet Cong’s "Team 5" launched their assault, and its location was only revealed after the end of the war. We have some time to explore the house and bunker, filled with decommissioned weapons and photographs, news clippings and memorabilia from the wartime.
Day 13 Day 13: Visit Cu Chi Tunnels And Then Cross Border Into Cambodia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Visit Cu Chi Tunnels And Then Cross Border Into Cambodia

This morning we take a short drive out of the city to the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels, which formed an incredible underground command base for 10,000 Viet Cong troops and were a major part of the 1968 Tet Offensive. The site is a fascinating insight into the resourcefulness of the Vietnamese. There is the opportunity to crawl through a small specially adapted section of the tunnels should you wish to sample the claustrophobic conditions in which the Viet Cong lived. We then continue onto Phnom Penh, crossing the border at Moc Boi/Bavet. This drive will take approximately five hours.
Day 14 Day 14: Discover The Sights Of Phnom Penh
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Discover The Sights Of Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh took over from Angkor as Cambodia’s capital city in the 1440s. It is now a lively city with many French colonial buildings and plenty to see. Accompanied by a local guide we visit the National Museum, a treasure trove of beautifully preserved carvings and lintels rescued from Angkor; the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda as well as the temple of Wat Phnom. This afternoon we visit the emotive Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, formerly a high school that became the Khmer Rouge’s main torture and interrogation centre; and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek - the memorial stupa is a glass tower filled with human skulls - a gruesome reminder of the scale of Pol Pot’s atrocities before returning back in the city.
Day 15 Day 15: Free Day In Phnom Penh; Optional Visit To Silk Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Free Day In Phnom Penh; Optional Visit To Silk Island

Today is free allowing you the opportunity to explore the city or its surrounds further. Optional excursions close to the city include a trip to Silk Island, Chiso Mountain or the abandoned Royal City of Oudong. Each of these excursions are half a day in duration and may be combined, your tour leader will discuss in more detail. Silk Island or Koh Dach is reached by a short ferry journey along the Mekong where the majority of villagers on the island earn a living through producing handicrafts. It is a great opportunity to learn more about traditional ways of life and interact with locals as you learn about the island’s iconic silk weaving. Chiso Mountain (380m), located in Sia village about 62 km south of Phnom Penh, is topped by the ruins of an 11th century Khmer Brahmanic Temple with fine views of the surrounding paddy fields. Oudong is about an hour north of the capital and offers the opportunity to explore attractive historic temples and stupas.
Day 16 Day 16: Drive To Siem Reap; Cruise On Tonle Sap Lake
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Drive To Siem Reap; Cruise On Tonle Sap Lake

This morning we make an early start for our drive to Siem Reap, stopping somewhere for lunch on the way. Later in the day we journey to nearby Tonle Sap Lake where we board our charter boat for a leisurely cruise through the fascinating floating village of Chong Kneas, where we see stilt houses, floating markets and an array of boats.
Day 17 Day 17: From Siem Reap, Explore Angkor Temples With Sunset
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: From Siem Reap, Explore Angkor Temples With Sunset

Our exact programme over the next three days may change slightly at our local guide’s discretion (to avoid crowds, coincide with sunsets, etc.). Angkor was actually a series of cities, built between the 9th and the 13th centuries by the Khmer kings, with a population of 750,000 in its heyday. The Angkor complex is spread out over some 155 square kilometres, scattered with magnificent carved stone temples, elegant sculptures and incredible bas reliefs. We visit the Rolous group, which are some of the earliest temples. In the afternoon we visit the temples of Banteay Srei, a small but beautiful temples with exquisite carvings. We end the day at East Mebon, with a visit to Pre Rup temple for sunset.
Day 18 Day 18: From Siem Reap, Explore Angkor Thom
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 18: From Siem Reap, Explore Angkor Thom

We continue our exploration with a visit to the temples of King Jayavarman Vll, reputedly Angkor’s greatest king. The fortified city of Angkor Thom, which he built at the end of the 12th century is enclosed by a square wall with five monumental gates decorated with stone elephant trunks. Originally, crocodiles inhabited the moat and huge statues of 54 different gods protected each gate. The city contains another of Angkor’s true gems - The Bayon. Although not as impressive as Angkor Wat from a distance, The Bayon is nevertheless incredible for its maze of corridors, gothic style towers and magical central temples. We’ll explore The Terrace of the Elephants and the Leper King, the Baphuon and Phimeanakas, and some of the surrounding temples such as Preah Khan.
Day 19 Day 19: From Siem Reap, Explore Ta Prohm And Angkor Wat
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 19: From Siem Reap, Explore Ta Prohm And Angkor Wat

On our final day we make a visit to the 2nd Angkor capital that includes the temples of Prasat Kravan, Banteay Kdei and Takeo. A highlight for many is a visit to the atmospheric temple of Ta Prohm, where the film Tomb Raider was filmed, lying half consumed by the jungle. We leave the best known and most breathtaking of all the sights, Angkor Wat, to the end - where we stay until the sun sets on the last night of our adventure.
Day 20 Day 20: Tour Ends In Siem Reap
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 20: Tour Ends In Siem Reap

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Siem Reap. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Siem Reap at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a airport transfer today, you need to depart from Siem Reap International Airport (SAI), which is approximately 60-80 minutes from the hotel. If you have time you may choose to browse the old market for some last minute bargains, visit a fish spa or enjoy afternoon tea at The Foreign Correspondent’s Club.

+17

20 days tour

Inside Vietnam + Cambodia Highlights

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Inside Vietnam + Cambodia Highlights

Day 1: Join Tour In Hanoi

Day 2: Discover The Sights Of Hanoi Including The Old Quarter

Day 3: Free Time In Hanoi, Then Drive To Halong Bay

Day 4: Cruise Halong Bay; From Hanoi Overnight Train To Hué

Day 5: In Hué; Boat Along Perfume River To Thien Mu Pagoda

Day 6: In Hué, Visit The Imperial Citadel; Free Afternoon

Day 7: Scenic Drive Via Danang To Hoi An

Day 8: Free Day To Explore Hoi An; Optional Visit To My Lai

Day 9: Visit To Ancient My Son; Free Afternoon In Hoi An

Day 10: Fly To Ho Chi Minh City; Drive To Mekong Delta

Day 11: Mekong Delta Cruise, Then Drive To Ho Chi Minh City

Day 12: In Ho Chi Minh City; Explore Old Saigon, And Discover ’Secret Weapons Bunker’

Day 13: Visit Cu Chi Tunnels And Then Cross Border Into Cambodia

Day 14: Discover The Sights Of Phnom Penh

Day 15: Free Day In Phnom Penh; Optional Visit To Silk Island

Day 16: Drive To Siem Reap; Cruise On Tonle Sap Lake

Day 17: From Siem Reap, Explore Angkor Temples With Sunset

Day 18: From Siem Reap, Explore Angkor Thom

Day 19: From Siem Reap, Explore Ta Prohm And Angkor Wat

Day 20: Tour Ends In Siem Reap

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