Best of Northern Vietnam and Cambodia Tour

Duration: 11 days 10 night

Destination: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Siem Reap - Phnom Penh

From US $1,245 $1,102 Tour Enquiry
Best of Northern Vietnam and Cambodia Tour is a private tailor - made tour to explore the highlights of Hanoi Capital then overnight on a luxury boat in Halong Bay, take in the beauty of Tam Coc in Ninh Binh then fly to Siem Reap to visit Angkor Complex and Tonle Sap lake, the tour will be finished after a visit to Phnom Penh Capital.

Tour brief

  • Day 1: Hanoi arrival
  • Day 2: Hanoi City Tour
  • Dat 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh
  • Day 4: Hanoi – Halong Bay
  • Day 5: Halong – Hanoi
  • Day 6: Hanoi – Siem Reap
  • Day 7: Siem Reap
  • Day 8: Siem Reap
  • Day 9: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh
  • Day 10: Phnom Penh
  • Day 11: Phnom Penh Departure

PRICE AND BOOKING

Tours & Packages2 pax3-4 pax5-6 pax> 6 pax 
USD/Person
2 pax$1326
3-4 pax$1265
5-6 pax$1186
> 6 pax$1102
Tour Enquiry

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi arrival- welcome dinner (D)
Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, your tour guide will meet you at the airport for a private transfer to your hotel in Hanoi City center, check in, time at leisure
 
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)

8h00: Our tour guide and driver will meet you at hotel lobby for Hanoi City tour, first visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilt- House, Presidential Palace, and One Pillar Pagoda nearby, after that our guide will take you to visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to discover the rich culture of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.
12h00: Lunch, after lunch, visit the Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple. 1 hour sitting on the Cyclo to visit Hanoi Old Quarter then enjoy the Water Puppet Show, time at leisure

Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh (B, L)
8h00: Our guide will pick you up at your hotel to Ninh Binh. After 2-hour driving, we arrive in Hoa Lu-The capital of Vietnam from 968 AD to 1010 AD ruled by King Dinh and King Le, visit Dinh Temple and Le Temple – these temples were built in 17th Century to warship for King Dinh and King Le.
11h15: Leave for Tam Coc by bicycle about 18kms, enjoy the beautiful countryside road and sceneries on the way, stop for pictures… (you can go by bus if you don’t like a biking trip)
12h00: Arrive in Tam Coc, lunch at a local restaurant
13h30: 2-hour boat trip to visit Tam Coc which is called "Inland Halong Bay". The boat trip on a river through the quiet and peaceful landscape of rice fields surrounded by limestone formations to the grottoes of Tam Coc.
15h30: Back to the pier, private transfer back to Hanoi
17h30: Arrive at your hotel in Hanoi, time at leisure

Day 4: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
9h00: Leave for Halong Bay on Highway 5B through Hai Phong City
12h00: Arrive at Tuan Chau Island – Take break and welcome drink at Pelican Halong Cruise Lounge at Block No 15
Transfer to Pelican Cruise
13h00 – 19h30: Welcome drink - receive cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay - one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
Enjoy buffet lunch with Vietnamese and International dishes served while cruising through the bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Island
   Visiting Tung Sau area is covered by the leaping rocks, cultured pearl fishery. You can wit yourself the process of the jewel, from culturing to harvesting and sculpting, Moreover, you have a chance to do kayaking based on your preference. Enjoy busy space with pearl maker, you can experience the completion of pearl.
  Visiting the beautiful Ti Top beach for swimming (if the weather permits), Ti Top Beach is especially famous for its fresh atmosphere, clean water, and smooth white sand that create a great ambiance for tourists to relax or passengers can take steps to reach on the top of  Ti Top beach to have a whole panorama view of Halong Bay.
Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor overnight.
Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly (please see massage menu)
  Attend the Cooking class on sundeck – How to make Vietnamese spring rolls - traditional Vietnamese food. Then enjoy Happy Hour (Buy one drink-get one free). It is time for chit chat and relaxing. Watch the magnificent sunset over Halong Bay.
19h30 – 23h00: Dinner – Deluxe Vietnamese and International Set Deluxe Dinner
  Evening activities include Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar, watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films, relaxing and spending a romantic night on Pelican Halong Cruise’s music, playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. You may also try your luck at squid fishing from the boat.
23h00: End of Program for Day One

Day 5: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)
  06h00 – 08h00: The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai chi, also called Tai chi chuan, combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements.
Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.
  08h00 – 11h30: Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes for cave visiting. Visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the biggest caves in  Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat by tender. Proper shoes are highly recommended.
Back to Pelican Halong Cruise. Check out.
  Have a buffet brunch while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf. Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery while approaching the wharf.
Disembark to Tuan Chau Wharf. Say goodbye to the crew.
12.00: Return to Hanoi - Arrival back at your hotel about 15:00, time at leisure

Day 6: Hanoi – Siem Reap (B)
Morning: time at leisure
12h00: Check out your hotel, lunch then your tour guide will take you to the airport for the afternoon flight to Siem Reap
Upon arrival at Siem Reap Int’s Airport, process immigration procedure (visa on arrival is available or obtain in advance via www.evisa.gov.kh), then get your luggage and walk straight to the exit gate where our representative is waiting. After self-introduced, you’ll be transferred directly around 30 minutes to the hotel in the city for check in. Time at leisure

Day 7: Angkor Highlights (B, D)

After breakfast, we continue to Angkor Thom that was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. We begin to visit Bayon Temple. At the exact center of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. From there, we walk to Baphuon, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century. We continue to visit Terrace of the Leper King. Along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports. We continue to Ta Prohm ``Tomb Raider`` fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. We journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers.
Back to Siem Reap center, enjoy the dinner with Apsara Show, after dinner free time at busy Pub Street where you can find many bars for cool drinks or shopping at Angkor Night Market.

Day 8: Banteay Srei & Life on Tonle Sap Lake & Circus show (B,L)
After breakfast, we depart Neak Poan, “the entwined snakes” is a small temple located on an island in the center of the now dry Jayatataka baray, a water reservoir 3,500-meter-long and 900 meter wide. Drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments, and friezes. Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man. On the way back stop at Pradark Village, where you will see the villagers making palm sugar, handicraft for selling to tourist. It’s a nice chance for you to see the local people living at the countryside with their struggling for daily life.
Depart for the Tonlé Sap. You will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. You will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" move from place-to-place following water levels and current.
In the evening prepare for a special treat and visit Phare Ponleu Selpak. Phare is a social center and arts school that started in Battambang. The organization offers Cambodian youth a way out of poverty through arts. One of these projects is the Circus.


Day 9: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh (B)

Travel by road from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. On route you will witness the everyday lives of Cambodians as you pass through interesting provincial towns, bucolic villages, and delightful scenery. This is no ‘freeway dash’ as you will often slow down to let cows and water buffalo wander across the road, pass horse drawn carriages, and school kids walking and cycling to/from school. You may wish to stop off in Kompong Kdei, to look at Spean Pratos – an ancient Angkorian bridge.
We continue to Phnom Udong, the ancient Cambodian capital during the latter stages of the Khmer Empire and crowning site of many past kings. Consisting of a series of stupas atop a large hill, there are outstanding views across the surrounding plains below. Phnom Udong was bombed and desecrated by the Americans and then the Khmer Rouge, but still possesses a beauty that no war has been able to steal from it. Before going to Phnom Penh, stop by to see the spectacular Vipassana Dhura Buddhist meditation center, also located in Udong. Your tour guide can tell you more about the Vipassana school (Insight Meditation) as you walk through the center. Don't forget to see the imposing jade Buddha, the mummified monk and the colorful painted walls that tell the story of Ramayana, the epic Sanskrit poem that adorns many pagodas throughout the country.
Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, you will check-in to your hotel.
Time at leisure

Day 10: Phnom Penh City Tour (B, L)

After breakfast, we meet our guide and visit Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple located in center of Phnom Penh City. It was built in 1373 and stands 27 meters above the ground. Next, we visit to the Royal Palace (closed for renovation and reopen in October 2022) compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver, continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was built since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony.
Continue the tour of Phnom Penh by taking a sobering walk through Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21). Here there are stark and moving reminders of Cambodia’s recent tragic past.  Our expert guide will explain the historical, political and social context of the bleak period of Khmer history which followed the fall of Phnom Penh in April 1975. Then continue to Choeung Ek Memorial, one of the infamous Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge executed around 17,000 of the estimated 2 million Cambodians who perished under the Pol Pot regime.

Day 11: Phnom Penh – Departure (B)

Free time until transfer to the airport for your departure flight

Inclusions

    • Accommodation based on double/twin sharing
    • Private transfers
    • English speaking tour guide
    • Meals as stated (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
    • Private Boats in Tonle Sap Lake
    • Overnight Cruise in Halong Bay
    • All sight-seeing fees in Vietnam and Cambodia
    • Cyclo ride in Hanoi
    • Water on coach
    • Visa assistance
    • Service charges

Exclusions

    • International flight tickets
    • Single room
    • Personal expenses
    • Drinks
    • Tips and gratuities
    • Others not mentioned above

Hotels

  • Hanoi: Silk Path Hotel
  • Halong: Pelican Luxury Cruise
  • Siem Reap: The Aviary Hotel
  • Phnom Penh: Anik Palace Hotel

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