Vietnam and Cambodia Essence 14 Days

Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide who will escort you to a waiting vehicle for your transfer to downtown with a brief introduction en route.

Your guide will be holding a welcome signboard with the ASIA TOUR ADVISOR LOGO & your name. Settle down at the hotel and relax.
(Check in time is from 14:00 - Early check-in subject to availability)
Note: We’re flexible to switch the itinerary if you want to start/finish your trip in another city

The capital of Vietnam, a city that celebrated 1.000 years in 2010 has countless fascinating cultural and historic sites and our days' tour will visit the highlights.

See the grand and solemn mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov), the 'icon of Hanoi' - The One Pillar Pagoda, the beautiful Temple of Literature, West Lake's Tran Quoc temple and Quan Thanh pagoda as well as the bustling Old Quarter and at the end of the day - a water puppet performance. Evening free at leisure.

Breakfast at your hotel, ready for the ride to Ninh Binh for visiting Hoa Lu - the Ancient Royal capital of Viet Nam. This will include Dinh king temple and Le king temple in the 10th century, finding out the heroic histories of this two Kings in Chinese Wars.

After that, take a boat trip to visit Trang An or Tam Coc or Van Long tourist attraction before heading to hotel for checking in.

We'll pick you up at your hotel around 8:00am and drive through the verdant Red River Delta to make our way to the famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay. You'll board a luxury junk ship for an overnight cruise-- while you relax on-board you can marvel at the incredible limestone karsts that jut out of the sea and the thousands of jungle-covered islands that seem to float on the waves. The turquoise waters of the Gulf of Tonkin swirl around hidden grottoes and ancient caves to create an enchanting, timeless world.

We'll serve you a fresh seafood lunch while you sit back and relax as you enjoy the incredible view with a drink in your hand. We'll take you to a traditional fishing village where the locals have created an entire town on the decks of their boats, then you can explore Tien Ong Cave before returning to the cruise for cocktails, canapés, and a spectacular sunset. End your day with a romantic, candlelit dinner.

Begin the day with a Tai Chi class on deck in the early morning mist or just admire the beautiful scenery as the sun rises over the azure waters. Choose between an excursions to a secluded island with a sandy beach for a swim or join the chef for a cooking demonstration to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine. Enjoy a leisurely brunch while your junk cruises Halong Bay, passing islets and caves as you make your way back to the dock.

Your driver will meet you when you disembark and transfer you to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Danang. When you arrive at the airport, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An downtown.
Flight VN 185N from HAN - DAD @18:30 arriving 19:50 (tentative schedule)
Note: The itinerary is subject to change according to different boats and weather conditions

Option 1 – Cooking class:

Your cooking class today will begin with a visit to a colorful local markets, buying all the necessary ingredients and head back to prepare. Your cheft will demonstrate how to cook some typical Vietnam cruisine, you will then start cooking yourself and enjoy what you have cooked.

In the afternoon, exploring the enchanting time-capsule town of Old Hoi An on a walking tour with your guide. Hoi An was a major sea port in Asia and it resulted in a fusion of style and culture that has been perfectly preserved. Wander traditional Chinese shops, luxurious French homes, and an ancient Japanese bridge. The town is home to silk markets, Vietnamese food stalls, and talented street performers-- all of which are sure to charm you.

Option 2 – Vegetable village:
Breakfast at your hotel and then it’s time for a little bit of exercise and a bike ride to Tra Que Vilage and a visit to a local farm. This is a very special involvement in true Vietnamese rural life. You will learn about the history of the village and then be shown the daily practices of growing vegetables. You will learn how the vegetables are used in traditional Vietnamese medicine.

You will join in the activities of the farmers – collecting seaweed fertilizer, sowing, raking, watering and picking. Your cultural immersion continues as you join the family to prepare and eat the lunch you have helped grow. You will also taste other local specialties such a Tam huu (spring roll) and Bahn xeo (pancake). Of course you must also join in the after lunch nap before returning to the fiel to learn how to harvest and wrap the produce. Mid-afternoon we wave goodbye to your new friends and go back to Hoian for visiting Hoian Old Quarter. Return to your hotel for relaxing

Option 3 – Countryside biking or motor riding:
Our guide will pick you up at the hotel by motobike, riding to Tra Que village and then ride back to the river for aboard a local ferry to Kim Bong Village. This village is not only famous for wood carving but weaving sleeping mat as well, so we will stop at a family to see how they weave the mat for every day use in the old time before having today popular mattresses. Visit a local family making the famous local noodle - Mi Quang is the other chance to learn the local life.

You also have a chance to make make and eat the perfect banh dap (rice cracker). Riding into a small village , gearing up for an adrenalin pumping 300 metre bamboo bridge river crossing to the opposing landscape of the sea-board side of the island making our way to Duy Hai market and harbour. Here, the local ferry crossing takes guests to the water coconut palm fringed Cam Thanh village. Have lunch at Cam Thanh homestay. Back your hotel by motobike.
Note: If you prefer biking than scooter tour, we can be flexible to modify the route, matching with your ability.

Today is an easy day, after breakfast you can choose to stay a little longer in Hoi An or to leave for Hue. At the right time, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Hue.

On the way to Hoian, stop over for visiting the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co Beach Cham Museum, ascending the Pass of Ocean Clouds for panoramic views of the surrounding. Arrive in Hue, check in hotel & enjoy your free time.

Start your day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument, continue through the 'Old City' to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax.

This afternoon, visit Mu Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River End the day at Khai Dinh's Tomb which boasts a traditional Vietnamese design with aEuropean touch, making it unique from the other tombs in Hue. Then free time.

You'll have the morning for a leisurely breakfast before we come to collect you and take you to catch a flight to Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh city. When you arrive at the airport, you will be met and heading to downtown for sightseeing.

Depending on your interest, we suggest Cu Chi Tunnels, a major part of the Vietnam-American War and a fascinating day trip-- explore the mysterious tunnels, find hidden doors and once-deadly traps.
OR alternatively, visiting the War Remnants Museum or the Presidential Palace, whichever you prefer. Then stroll around the city's colonial streets in the evening to the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall.

Leave Saigon this morning, drive to visit Mekong delta. On arrival in Hàm Luông pier. Cruise on Bến Tre river exploring the lively activities along river as fishing, water transferring, brick making in handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal.

Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to village. Take a walk to family workshop making sleepmats and enjoying some fruits and tea.

Riding a motor cart (xe lôi) or bike on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on the local life and find out about tropical culture from Peasants. Lunch at Hai Hồ house.
Afternoon - riding a sampan along canal, before boat back to Ham Luông pier. End you touring, going back to your hotel & relax.

You'll have the morning for a leisurely breakfast before we come to collect you and take you to the airport to catch a flight to Siem Reap/ Cambodia.
Flight: TBA
When you arrive at the airport, you will be met and transferred directly to your hotel. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.

Breakfast at your hotel, you will then be picked up by your guide to visit the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya which flourished in the late 9th and earlier 10th centuries. These are the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are referred to the Rolous group (Lo Lei, Preah Koh, and Bakhong Temples).

Lunch with the local family and then we will continue to 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 to Siem Reap we will visit the Banteay Samre Temple adorned with impressive reliefs depicting scenes of Vishnu as well as Krishna legends.

Have an early breakfast at hotel. At 07h30, departing the hotel for visit to the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. And continue to visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat - one of the world’s most impressive ruins. The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art.

And continue exploring the mysterious Royal city Angkor Thom. City & Bayon Its 54-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time.

Further, visit to the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Lipper King Terrace and Royal Palace . Enclosure area and visit one more ruin in Angkor Area of Preah Khan temple, built in 12th century by King Jayavarman VII and it is the same style to Ta Prom Temple.

Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrives to take you to the airport for your flight home. Services end.