Best of Northern Vietnam and Cambodia Tour

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam and the starting point of your Vietnam and Cambodia tour. Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), your private tour guide will warmly welcome you and accompany you to your private car for the transfer to your hotel in Hanoi city center. After check-in, the rest of the day is free to relax and recover from your journey, with no scheduled activities. Overnight in Hanoi.

08:00 – Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel lobby to begin a full-day exploration of Hanoi. Start with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, his Stilt House, the Presidential Palace, and the iconic One Pillar Pagoda nearby. Continue to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to discover the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.
12:00 – Enjoy lunch at a carefully selected restaurant in the city center. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first national university. Continue to Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, followed by a relaxing 1-hour cyclo ride through the charming narrow streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Conclude the day with a traditional Water Puppet Show before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Temple of Literature

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Hoan Kiem Lake

08:00 – Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and depart for Ninh Binh. After approximately a 2-hour drive, arrive in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010. Visit the Dinh Temple and Le Temple, built to honor King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh.

Continue to Tam Coc. For those who enjoy cycling, an optional bicycle ride of approximately 18 km from Hoa Lu to Tam Coc offers a chance to enjoy the peaceful countryside, rice fields, and rural scenery along the way. Guests who prefer not to cycle can travel to Tam Coc by private vehicle.

12:00 – Enjoy lunch at a carefully selected restaurant in Tam Coc. In the afternoon, take a 2-hour boat trip through Tam Coc, often referred to as “Halong Bay on land,” passing along a peaceful river surrounded by rice fields and limestone karst formations. Continue through the grottoes before returning to the pier.

15:30 – Leave Tam Coc by private vehicle and return to Hanoi. Arrive at your hotel around 17:30 and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.`

9:00 – Your driver will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi and depart for Tuan Chau International Harbor. Enjoy the scenic drive through the countryside before arriving at the harbor around noon.
11:45–12:00 – Arrive at the V’Spirit Cruises Lounge at Tuan Chau International Harbor and complete the check-in procedures. Transfer to the cruise by tender boat and enjoy a welcome drink while receiving a cruise briefing and safety instructions.
13:00 – Enjoy lunch at the onboard restaurant while cruising towards Lan Ha Bay. In the afternoon, explore Bright Cave by traditional rowing bamboo boat, gliding through the peaceful scenery of limestone islands and emerald waters.
17:00 – Join a Vietnamese cooking demonstration and learn how to prepare a traditional dish. Later, enjoy a sunset party and Happy Hour on the sundeck as the sun sets over the limestone islands.
19:00 – Enjoy dinner on board. After dinner, relax on the sundeck, join the evening activities, or try squid fishing. Overnight on V’Spirit Cruise.

06:30 – Start the day with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck while enjoying the fresh morning air and sunrise over the bay.
07:00 – Enjoy a light breakfast on board. At 07:30, explore the Tra Bau area by kayak, getting closer to the limestone islands and enjoying the peaceful scenery of Lan Ha Bay. Weather permitting, continue with some swimming and water activities before returning to the cruise.
09:00 – Return to the cruise, check out of the cabin, and enjoy a brunch at the restaurant while cruising back towards Tuan Chau International Harbor.
11:00–11:30 – Disembark at Tuan Chau International Harbor and meet your private driver for the transfer back to Hanoi. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon, check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Morning – Enjoy the morning at leisure at your hotel in Hanoi. After check-out, your private driver will transfer you to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) for your afternoon flight to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), complete the immigration procedures and collect your luggage. Your local representative will meet you at the airport and assist with the transfer to your hotel in Siem Reap, approximately a 1-hour drive from the airport. After check-in, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore the city independently. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Begin a full-day exploration of the Angkor Complex, starting with Angkor Thom, the great walled city built by King Jayavarman VII. Enter through the South Gate and continue to Bayon Temple, famous for its serene stone faces carved into its towers and one of the most distinctive landmarks of the Angkor complex.
Continue to Baphuon, an impressive temple mountain dating from the 11th century, before visiting the Terrace of the Leper King and the Terrace of the Elephants. Once used as a grand viewing platform for royal ceremonies and processions, the terraces offer a fascinating glimpse into the grandeur of the Khmer Empire.
Continue to Ta Prohm, one of Angkor's most atmospheric temples, where massive tree roots intertwine with ancient stone walls. The temple's dramatic setting has made it one of the most recognizable sites in the Angkor complex.
In the afternoon, continue to Angkor Wat, Cambodia's most celebrated temple and the largest religious monument in the world. Explore its grand galleries, intricate bas-reliefs, and remarkable towers while learning about the history and symbolism behind this extraordinary Khmer masterpiece.
Return to Siem Reap in the evening and enjoy dinner accompanied by a traditional Apsara dance performance. After dinner, the evening is free to explore Pub Street and Angkor Night Market, with time to browse the shops, enjoy the lively atmosphere, or simply take a relaxed evening walk. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Begin the morning with a visit to Neak Pean, a small island temple set in the middle of the historic Jayatataka Baray reservoir. From there, take a scenic drive through the countryside, approximately 35 km, to Banteay Srei Temple. Built in the 10th century and dedicated to Shiva, this pink sandstone temple is renowned for its exceptionally fine and intricate classical Khmer carvings.
On the way back, stop at Pradark Village, a rural community where local families continue traditional palm sugar making and handicraft production. It is a chance to see a quieter side of Cambodian life beyond the major temples.
In the afternoon, head to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Board a private boat for a cruise through the floating communities, with views of floating homes, schools, markets, and fishing boats. The character of the lake changes with the seasonal water levels, shaping the way people live and travel on the water.
In the evening, experience a performance at Phare, The Cambodian Circus (Phare Ponleu Selpak). Talented young Cambodian artists combine contemporary circus arts, theatre, music, and traditional storytelling in a lively performance. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Travel by private vehicle from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, passing through provincial towns, rural villages, and the Cambodian countryside. The journey offers a chance to see a quieter side of Cambodia, with traditional houses, farmland, local markets, and everyday scenes along the way. An optional stop can be made at Kampong Kdei to see Spean Praptos, an impressive ancient Angkorian bridge dating from the Khmer Empire.
Continue to Oudong, the former capital of Cambodia and an important historical site known for its hilltop stupas and panoramic views over the surrounding plains. Explore the area and learn about its role in Cambodia's history before continuing to the Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Center, where the guide can introduce the principles of Vipassana, or insight meditation. The center also features a striking jade Buddha, a mummified monk, and colorful murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana.
Continue to Phnom Penh and check in at the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore the Cambodian capital at leisure. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Begin the day with a visit to Wat Phnom, a serene hilltop Buddhist temple associated with the founding of Phnom Penh. Continue to the Royal Palace, built in 1866, to admire its distinctive Khmer-style architecture and elegant golden spires. Within the palace compound, visit the Silver Pagoda, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, renowned for its silver-tiled floor and collection of richly decorated Buddha images.
Continue to the nearby National Museum of Cambodia, housed in an iconic terracotta-red building and home to one of the world's finest collections of Khmer art and sculpture. Along the way, make a brief stop at the Independence Monument, built in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia's independence from French colonial rule.
Enjoy lunch at a carefully selected restaurant in the city center.
In the afternoon, gain a deeper understanding of Cambodia's modern history with a respectful visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), a former high school that was used as a detention center during the Khmer Rouge regime. Continue to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, one of the primary Killing Fields, where a memorial stupa honors the victims. Your local guide will provide thoughtful historical context throughout the visits before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Enjoy some free time in Phnom Penh for last-minute souvenir shopping, relaxing at a café, or strolling along the riverfront promenade until check-out time.
At the appointed time, your private vehicle and driver will pick you up at the hotel for a comfortable transfer to Techo International Airport (KTI) for your departure flight home or onward journey. This marks the end of your Vietnam and Cambodia tour.