Vietnam and Cambodia Discovery

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our local guide and driver. After a smooth transfer to your hotel in the heart of Hanoi, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Take your time to relax, explore nearby attractions, or unwind at a cozy café before your exciting Vietnam and Cambodia Trip begins. 

Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and driver for a full-day exploration of Hanoi, a city rich in history and culture. The day begins with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you will see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of Vietnam’s revered leader.

A short walk takes you to the Presidential Palace, a beautiful example of French colonial architecture, followed to visit Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, which offers a simple lifestyle of the man who shaped modern Vietnam. Before leaving the complex, visit the One Pillar Pagoda, an iconic temple known for its unique lotus-shaped structure.

Next, continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, dedicated to Confucius and generations of scholars. The well-preserved architecture and serene courtyards give you a glimpse into Vietnam’s academic traditions.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before choosing to visit one of the followings:

– Hoa Lo Prison Museum, commonly known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” where American pilots were held during the war.

–  Or museum of Ethnology, offering a fascinating lives of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Explore displays of traditional customs, religious ceremonies, and full-scale replicas of ethnic minority homes in the museum’s outdoor area.

Late afternoon continues with an exploration of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where a traditional cyclo ride takes you through the bustling, maze-like streets of the city’s historic trading hub. This slow-paced journey offers the perfect opportunity to soak in the vibrant atmosphere, with its mix of ancient shopfronts, modern cafes, and street vendors.

Late afternoon, experience the magic of a traditional water puppet performance, a unique Vietnamese art form that brings folklore and legends to life on a water stage. After the show, return to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Optional for those eager to experience Hanoi’s vibrant morning culture, consider rising early for a refreshing jog to a nearby lake. There, you’ll witness locals starting their day with Tai Chi, jogging, martial arts, classical dance, and other energizing activities, a fascinating glimpse into the city’s daily rhythm.

Return to the hotel for breakfast before embarking on our journey to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its remarkable limestone seascape. Upon arrival, we’ll complete the check-in process for our overnight cruise, ready to explore this magnificent seascape.

Cruise between Halong Bay’s limestone islands, with time to explore a cave, swim and enjoy the changing light across the bay. As night falls, enjoy a dinner on board, followed by an evening of relaxation under the starlit sky.

Overnight on the tranquil beauty of Halong Bay.

Note: The detailed itinerary of the cruise will be provided upon confirmation. The program may be subject to change depending on the weather or management.

Enjoying Halong Bay in the early morning with a Tai Chi Class on the sun deck. Then relax on the upper deck, enjoy the best sightseeing, and take photos of the magnificent beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water.

After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave – one of the finest and widest grottoes in Halong Bay.  Go back to the boat and keep cruising through the fishing village, and witness its unique way of life.

10:00 The boat cruises back to the jetty. Enjoy your last time on the bay before having a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

11:30 Disembark the cruise, get ashore, meet your guide and driver, and transfer to the airport for your flight to Hue. Take your opportunity to visit the rice fields and villages on the way if the flight time permits.

Upon arriving in Hue, you will be welcomed and transferred to the hotel by your tour guide and driver.

Overnight in Hue.

Note: The detailed itinerary of the cruise will be provided upon confirmation. The program may be subject to change depending on the weather or management.

Meet your local guide and begin exploring Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam and one of the country’s most culturally significant destinations.

Start the day with a leisurely dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River, taking in the peaceful scenery and local riverside life. Your first stop is the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, one of Hue’s most revered landmarks, beautifully situated on a hill overlooking the river.

Continue to visit the magnificent royal tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and Emperor Khai Dinh. These impressive monuments showcase two distinct architectural styles and offer fascinating insights into the lives of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, explore the Imperial Citadel, the historic heart of the Nguyen Dynasty and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the ancient palaces, courtyards, and gates of the Forbidden Purple City, once reserved exclusively for the emperor and royal family. Discover the rich history, culture, and architectural heritage that made Hue the political and cultural center of Vietnam for more than a century.

After the tour, return to your hotel. The evening is free for you to relax or explore the charming city at your own pace.

Overnight in Hue.

Depart Hue for Hoi An on a scenic journey through some of Central Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes. Along the way, drive over the famous Hai Van Pass, often regarded as one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world. From the summit, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains, coastline, and the East Sea stretching into the distance.

Continue to Da Nang, where you will visit the fascinating Cham Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Cham sculptures and artifacts, offering insight into the rich heritage of the ancient Champa Kingdom. You will also stop for photos at the iconic Dragon Bridge and enjoy views of My Khe Beach, a long stretch of golden sand renowned as one of Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches.

Arrive in Hoi An, have lunch at a local restaurant, and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, take a walking tour to explore Hoi An Ancient Town, a harmonious blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architecture. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky House (over 200 years old), Pottery Museum, Chua Ong Pagoda, and bustling local markets. Walking through narrow streets and low-tiled houses offers insight into the town’s multiculturalism.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meet your guide at the hotel and drive to the Co Co River to begin the day’s countryside tour.

Board a local boat and cruise along the peaceful waterways while discovering the daily life of the fishing communities that have lived here for generations. Meet local fishermen, learn about their traditional techniques, and try lifting a large fishing net or casting the unique Ro fishing net, an age-old method still used today.

Continue to the Coconut Forest, where local fishermen welcome you aboard a traditional Vietnamese basket boat. Learn how to paddle this unique round boat through the maze of water coconut palms, enjoy a fun basket boat demonstration, and try catching the small purple crabs that inhabit the mangrove forest.

Enjoy a refreshing break at a traditional bamboo-and-water-coconut house, where you can relax with a cup of Vietnamese tea before continuing to the next experience.

A short drive brings you to the peaceful Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village, a farming community that has supplied fresh herbs and vegetables to Hoi An for more than 400 years. After a refreshing welcome drink, take a guided walk through the gardens to learn about the village’s history and the traditional organic farming methods that have been preserved for generations.

Join local farmers in preparing the soil, planting vegetables, watering the gardens using traditional shoulder yokes, and harvesting fresh herbs. Discover how river seaweed is still used as a natural fertilizer and learn why Tra Que’s produce is renowned throughout central Vietnam.

After your farming experience, relax with a traditional herbal foot soak and massage, a simple yet enjoyable local wellness ritual.

Continue to your host family’s home for a hands-on cooking session. Using the fresh herbs and vegetables you have just harvested, learn to prepare local specialties such as Tam Huu (Hoi An fresh spring rolls) and the famous Vietnamese crispy pancake (Banh Xeo).

Enjoy the meal you have prepared before returning to your hotel in the afternoon.

Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, take your free time to walk around Hoi An ancient town, go shopping, admire the ancient architecture, or relax at the beach.

Around 3 hours before departure, transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, meet your driver and continue to the hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and depart for Cu Chi Tunnels, located approximately 1.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, discover an extensive underground tunnel network stretching over 200 kilometers, once used as shelters, living quarters, and strategic hideouts by Vietnamese guerrillas during the Vietnam War.

Lunch at a local restaurant

Drive back to HCM City; you will take a tour to discover the city by visiting the Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Presidential Palace. This fascinating building is filled with history and evidence of the former Saigon government. The tour also includes the War Remnants Museum, the Saigon Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market.

Drive back to your hotel, and then you are free to relax.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, your guide will take you on the trip to Cai Be via Trung Luong Freeway.

Arrive at Cai Be pier, take a boat trip to discover Mekong river delta. Visit the local workshops to see the locals making rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice… it will be so amazing to take a walk or a bike ride on village paths to see the local daily life: orchards, school, church, pagoda, traditional.

Then, take a rowing boat ride to go deeper into the countryside on canals to enjoy the peaceful time. Back on the boat to go across the Mekong River, go to An Binh Island to visit a local home, enjoy the traditional music in the ancient house during your lunch.

Visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. The cruise will end at Vinh Long city.

Meet our vehicle for a 40 minute drive to Can Tho.

Overnight in Can Tho.

In the early morning, take a boat trip to visit the famous Cai Rang Floating Market, known for its bustling activity and numerous rowing boats. This is a highlight of any Vietnam tour, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and witness the daily lives of locals living along the Mekong canals.

Later, visit a rice husking mill and a rice noodle-making shop to get a deeper insight into the traditional practices of the Mekong Delta.

Go back to the hotel for breakfast, check out the hotel, drive to Chau Doc with a stop at Tra Su Cajuput Forest. Travel by small boat through the peaceful flooded forest, passing cajuput trees and quiet waterways rich in birdlife. It is a gentle way to experience the distinctive wetland landscape of the Mekong Delta before continuing to Chau Doc.

Overnight in Chau Doc.

Depart in the morning for the 4,5-hour journey by speedboat along the Mekong River to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital city.

Once known as the “Pearl of Asia,” Phnom Penh has a complex history but today is a vibrant city where Khmer heritage, colonial architecture and everyday local life come together.

In the afternoon, begin your city exploration with visits to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Raung Damrei Museum and the National Museum of Fine Arts. Continue to the Independence Monument before browsing the bustling Central Market.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, visit the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center or “Killing Field”, located about 17 km from Phnom Penh. This peaceful site carries a difficult chapter of Cambodia’s history and serves as a memorial to the thousands of people who lost their lives during the Khmer Rouge period. Take time to learn about the events that took place here and pay respects at the memorial stupa.

After the visit, drive back to the city for lunch and transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap in the afternoon, gateway to the magnificent temples of Angkor.

Upon arrival, meet your local guide and driver and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast at the hotel, set out to explore the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). Enter through the South Gate, flanked by impressive statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk.

Visit the iconic Bayon Temple, renowned for its 54 towers adorned with over 200 serene, smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. Continue to the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King, each offering fascinating insights into Angkor’s grandeur.

Next, explore Ta Prohm Temple, where ancient ruins are dramatically intertwined with massive tree roots. This temple, known for its mystical atmosphere, gained international fame as a filming location for Tomb Raider.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, discover Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992 and one of the most spectacular monuments of Southeast Asia. Admire its intricate carvings, including the world’s longest continuous bas-relief, which vividly depicts scenes from Hindu mythology.

Late afternoon, head to Bakheng Temple to witness a stunning sunset over the Angkor complex, offering an unforgettable panoramic view of the jungle-covered ruins.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Depart in the morning for Kampong Phluk, a traditional stilt village on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake, located 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. Accessible only by boat, this small fishing community offers an authentic glimpse into life on the Tonle Sap Lake. The village is home to stilt houses rising to 10 meters high, built to withstand seasonal floods and is surrounded by a lush flooded forest.

Water levels on Tonle Sap vary considerably throughout the year. The village is at its most atmospheric during the high water season, generally from August to November. At other times, the experience may be adjusted according to local conditions.

Return to Siem Reap after the visit. The rest of the day is free, and meals are not included.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, followed by some free time to relax or explore at your own pace. Take a final stroll through Siem Reap, shop for souvenirs.

Four hours before your flight, our driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to Siem Reap Airport for your departure to your next destination.

Thank you for being part of this incredible Vietnam and Cambodia Discovery with LuxeTravel Asia! We hope you had a memorable experience and look forward to welcoming you again.