Grand Vietnam and Cambodia Tour

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, your private tour guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Hanoi. Your guide will assist with hotel check-in so you can settle in comfortably after your flight.

The rest of the day is yours to relax or take a gentle first look around Hanoi at your own pace. Today marks the beginning of your 20-day journey across Vietnam and Cambodia, moving from the northern heritage through the central coast and southern waterways before exploring Cambodia.

After breakfast, meet your private tour guide and begin your first full day exploring Hanoi. Start at the Ho Chi Minh Complex, visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Stilt House and One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of Hanoi’s oldest Buddhist temples, before stopping for lunch at a carefully selected Vietnamese restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university and an important part of Hanoi’s history. Continue to Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, with some time to walk around the lake and enjoy the atmosphere of central Hanoi.
Later, enjoy a one-hour cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, a relaxed way to see the narrow streets, old shop houses and everyday activity of this historic part of the city. In the evening, enjoy a traditional water puppet show, a Vietnamese art form that originated in the villages of the Red River Delta.

After breakfast, leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh, one of northern Vietnam’s most scenic areas. Start at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, where you will visit the temples of King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh, two important figures in Vietnam’s 10th-century history.
Continue to Tuyet Tinh Coc, a quiet valley surrounded by limestone mountains. Walk around the lake and visit Am Tien Pagoda, taking in the peaceful scenery before continuing to Tam Coc.
After lunch, take a boat trip through Tam Coc, passing between limestone mountains, rice fields and caves. Often referred to as “Halong Bay on land,” Tam Coc is best enjoyed from the water, with plenty of time to take in the scenery along the way.
After the boat trip, spend some time around Tam Coc village before checking in to your hotel and enjoying the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Trang An Landscape Complex

Tam Coc - Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh Province

After breakfast, leave Ninh Binh for Tuan Chau Port in Halong Bay. Arrive at the Indochina Sails Lounge around 11:30 and complete the check-in before boarding Indochine Grand Cruise.
Enjoy a welcome drink and safety briefing before lunch as the cruise sails from Halong Bay toward Lan Ha Bay, passing limestone islands and quiet stretches of water along the way. In the afternoon, visit Dark and Bright Cave by bamboo boat or kayak, followed by time for swimming in the bay.
Back on board, relax on the sundeck and enjoy the sunset before joining a Vietnamese cooking demonstration or a behind-the-scenes cruise tour. Dinner is served in the evening, followed by free time for squid fishing or simply relaxing on board. Overnight on Indochine Grand Cruise.

Start your morning with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, weather permitting, as the cruise sails through the quiet waters of Lan Ha Bay. After breakfast, visit Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, or stay on board and enjoy a relaxed final morning as the cruise passes limestone islands and islets.
Return to the cruise for check-out and enjoy brunch in the main restaurant before disembarking at Tuan Chau Port around midday. Your private driver and tour guide will meet you at the port for the return drive to Hanoi.
Arrive in Hanoi in the afternoon, check in at your hotel, and spend the rest of the day free to rest after the cruise, visit a local cafe, or take a relaxed walk around the city center. Overnight in Hanoi.

   After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your morning flight from Hanoi to Hue. On arrival, meet your private tour guide and board a private boat for a cruise along the Perfume River, one of the best ways to begin your time in Hue.

   The first stop is Thien Mu Pagoda, a historic seven-story pagoda overlooking the river and one of Hue’s best-known landmarks. After the visit, enjoy lunch at a carefully selected Vietnamese restaurant.

   In the afternoon, explore the Imperial City of Hue, including the Citadel, the Forbidden Purple City, and the Royal Antiquities Museum. The tour continues to Dong Ba Market, where you can see the everyday side of Hue and browse local produce, food, and traditional goods.   Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight in Hue.

Hue City

Hue Imperial Citadel

Specialities and Restaurants in Hue

Enjoy a free morning in Hue to relax, explore local cafes, or visit nearby sites. In the afternoon, meet your private driver and guide for a scenic drive south toward Hoi An via Danang.
Stop at Lang Co fishing village along the way, a coastal community known for fishing and oyster farming, before continuing over the Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass). Take a short break at the summit to enjoy views of the coastline, green mountains and Da Nang Bay.
Arrive in Hoi An by late afternoon and check in to your hotel. Spend the evening at leisure, perhaps taking your first stroll through the lantern-lit streets of the Old Town. Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, drive to My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 40 km southwest of Hoi An. Once the religious and political center of the Champa Kingdom, the site is known for its red-brick temples and towers built between the 4th and 13th centuries. Explore the temple complex with your guide and learn more about the Cham civilization and its influence on Central Vietnam.
Return to Hoi An for lunch at a carefully selected Vietnamese restaurant. In the afternoon, explore Hoi An Ancient Town, walking through its narrow streets and historic houses. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, old merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls and riverside streets, with time to browse the small shops and local handicrafts.
As evening approaches, you can stay in the Old Town to see Hoi An when the lanterns begin to light up, or return to your hotel for a relaxing evening. Overnight in Hoi An.

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Hoi An. You can spend the morning cycling through the quiet countryside and nearby rice paddies, or head to An Bang Beach for some time by the sea.
Hoi An is also well known for its skilled tailors, making this a good day to visit a tailor shop for custom clothing. If you prefer something more hands-on, join a cooking class or try a traditional lantern-making workshop.
In the evening, return to Hoi An Ancient Town for riverside dining, browse the night market, or take a short boat ride on the Hoai River as lanterns light up the water. Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang International Airport for a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, meet your private tour guide and driver and head directly to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Explore part of this extensive underground network, learn how the tunnels were used during the Vietnam War, and see some of the original underground structures and concealed traps.
After the visit, stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Cu Chi before returning to Ho Chi Minh City. In the afternoon, continue with a city tour, visiting the Reunification Palace, the former presidential residence, followed by the Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral from the outside while restoration work continues.
Check in to your hotel after the sightseeing and enjoy the evening free to relax or explore the city center. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, leave Ho Chi Minh City for the Mekong Delta, where you will explore the waterways and countryside around My Tho and Ben Tre.
Begin with a private boat ride along the Mekong River, passing small islands, fishing villages, and riverside life before entering the narrower canals. Continue by traditional sampan, gliding through shaded waterways lined with coconut palms and tropical vegetation.
Back on land, take a traditional xe lôi through the countryside, passing fruit orchards, small villages, and local homes. Visit a family-run orchard and enjoy a tasting of seasonal tropical fruits before continuing to a garden house for lunch, where Mekong Delta specialties are served in a peaceful garden setting.
In the afternoon, visit Dong Tam Snake Farm, a long-established center for snake breeding and research. Learn about different native species and the farm’s work with snake venom and traditional medicine before beginning the drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, meet your private driver for a comfortable 2.5-hour drive via the expressway to Mui Ne, one of Southern Vietnam’s well-known coastal destinations.
   Upon arrival, check in to your beach resort and spend the rest of the day completely at leisure. Relax on the sandy beach, enjoy the resort pool, or take a peaceful stroll along the coast at sunset.
   Optional: If you prefer another beach destination such as Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, or Quy Nhon, this part of the tour can be customized to match your preferences.   Overnight in Mui Ne.

Enjoy two full days at leisure in Mui Ne. Simply relax on a sun lounger by the beach, swim in the resort pool, enjoy a fresh coconut, or treat yourself to a spa session.

If you feel like exploring, you can visit some of Mui Ne’s best-known sights independently, including the Red and White Sand Dunes, Fairy Stream, and Mui Ne Fishing Village. The coast is also well known for kitesurfing and other water sports, with activities available depending on the season and weather.

In the evenings, head out for fresh seafood by the coast, enjoy a casual drink, or simply stay at the resort and watch the sunset. There is no fixed sightseeing schedule on these two days, so you can spend the time resting by the beach or exploring Mui Ne when you feel like it. Overnight in Mui Ne.

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Mui Ne, with some final time by the beach or at your resort before checking out around noon.
Meet your private driver for the return drive to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening free to rest, explore the city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for a short flight to Phnom Penh, marking the beginning of the Cambodia part of your tour.
Upon arrival, meet your private tour guide and driver and begin your introduction to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The city offers an interesting introduction to Cambodia’s history, from its royal traditions to the legacy of the Khmer civilization.
In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Cambodian royal family, followed by the Silver Pagoda, known for its richly decorated interior and collection of Buddhist treasures. Continue to Central Market (Phsar Thmei), one of Phnom Penh’s best-known landmarks, where you can browse local food, handicrafts and everyday goods.
Check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure. You may take a relaxed walk along Sisowath Quay, the riverside promenade overlooking the Mekong and Tonle Sap. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

8:00 AM, leave Phnom Penh with your private driver and guide and head north toward Siem Reap. The drive takes around five hours, with several stops along the way to break up the journey and see more of rural Cambodia.
Travel through the countryside, passing rice fields, small towns and villages. Stop at Spean Praptos, the old Angkorian bridge at Kampong Kdei, before continuing toward Tonle Sap Lake.
At the lake, board a wooden boat to Kompong Phluk, a Khmer village known for its houses built on tall wooden stilts. Cruise through the village and flooded forest, seeing fishing boats, stilt houses and everyday life around the lake.
Continue to Chansar village, where you can take a short ride by traditional ox cart through the surrounding fields. Visit a local family to see how traditional brooms are made, followed by a simple Khmer lunch at the family home.
Before the final drive to Siem Reap, stop at a Buddhist pagoda for a traditional water blessing from the monks. Arrive in Siem Reap in the late afternoon, check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening free. You may explore Pub Street and the Night Market, or simply relax at the hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Begin your exploration of Angkor Archaeological Park at Ta Prohm, widely known as the “Tomb Raider temple.” Walk through its ancient stone galleries and courtyards, where large tree roots have grown over parts of the temple walls. Continue to Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in Cambodia. Explore its galleries, courtyards and detailed bas-reliefs with your private guide, while learning about the history of the Angkorian period.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant near the temple complex.
In the afternoon, drive through the countryside to Banteay Srei, a 10th-century temple built from pink sandstone and known for its finely detailed carvings. Often called the “Citadel of the Women,” the temple is smaller than Angkor Wat but particularly interesting for the quality of its stonework.
On the way back to Siem Reap, stop at Pre Rup, a pyramid-shaped temple mountain dating from the 10th century. Stay here for sunset before returning to your hotel. Enjoy the evening at leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, continue exploring the Angkor Complex with a visit to Angkor Thom, the fortified royal city built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century.
Enter through the South Gate, lined with stone statues of gods and demons, before continuing to Bayon Temple, known for its towers with large carved faces and detailed bas-reliefs showing scenes from everyday life and battles during the Khmer Empire. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King, and Phimeanakas, a pyramid-shaped temple that once stood within the royal enclosure.
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant near the temple complex.
In the afternoon, visit Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist temple built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, then walk around Srah Srang, the large royal reservoir opposite the temple. Alternatively, visit a local artisan workshop in Siem Reap to see traditional Khmer crafts such as stone carving, woodwork and silk weaving.
Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy your final evening in Siem Reap free to relax, shop for souvenirs, or choose a restaurant for your farewell dinner. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Enjoy a relaxed final morning in Siem Reap. Spend some free time at your hotel or take a final walk around the town before checking out.
At the agreed time, your private driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Siem Reap International Airport (SAI) for your flight home.
Your 20-day Vietnam and Cambodia tour comes to an end today. Thank you for choosing WaytoVietnam Travel, and we wish you a safe journey home. End of our services.