16-Day Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia Tour

Arriving in Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi, you will immediately be met with a sense of “old meets new” as you come across buildings with French, Chinese, and Soviet influences. After checking in to your hotel, you may want to wander around, dodging the plethora of motorcycles, their symphony resembling a swarm of bees. Come across the Bach Ma Temple, designed to represent the Chinese character for “three”, its pillars decorated with intricate gold swirls, the iron and wooden beams beautifully connected, making the structure resemble a “house with eight roofs”. Inside, discover a 19th-century axe of Indian origin, a creation of steel, brass, and copper with a raised, decorative blade.

Leave the busy city behind you as you venture to the charming rural village of Ky Son, a historical gem boasting the popular “Moon Garden”. Its exterior courtyard features a small, shimmering pond and bonsai garden that offers views over lush rice fields. The stillness is all-encompassing as you stand humbled by traditional architecture comprising earth and mud homes. Embrace traditional methods and flavors as you join a cooking class, a chance to try your hand at creating the perfect goi cuon, rice paper spring rolls, or perhaps a delicious pho, the fragrance of sweet herbs and salty beef swimming in a noodle soup inviting you to dig in.

Drive through what can surely be described as a picture postcard as you travel southeast to the tranquil and dramatically beautiful Ninh Binh province. Nestled among the terracotta hues of the Red River Delta, this region is breathtaking, with vegetation-covered limestone peaks and hills and golden fields that seem to flow into the winding river. Spend time in the Van Long nature reserve, its network of intertwining mangroves alive with the sharp barks of the red-faced monkeys that live there. Switch from branches to bricks when stepping through the remains of the Old Palace at Hoa Lu to pay tribute to the founder of the Dinh Dynasty when visiting its temples and tombs, their brilliant decor weathered over time.

Switch out dusty roads and winding mountain passes for the emerald waters of panoramic Ha Long Bay as you set out on a lazy boat ride at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dramatic limestone formations seem to leap out from beneath the water’s surface, the misshaped mounds of vegetation breathtaking in their natural beauty. After a delicious lunch, you can explore the Sung Sot Cave. The grotto is full of twists and turns, with lights used to highlight bold stalactites and short, sharp stalagmites. Feel the chill on your neck as you explore this large, dark cave before returning to your boat in time to capture an incredible sunset before dinner.

Waking up in your floating hotel, embrace your watery surroundings one last time before continuing your journey to one of Vietnam's most historical cities, Hue. Before bidding farewell, you will be able to visit Ti Top Island to soak up the sun on a golden beach, the warm sand complimenting the mild and inviting waters, or set out on a kayak, the gentle whoosh of water gliding off the paddle as you swiftly move through the water. After the boat docks, your private transfer will meet you and escort you to your gorgeous accommodations in the imperial city of Hue.

Your first morning in historic Hue and your chance to experience this essential city to the country’s imperial past. A guided tour will see you exploring on land and water as you cruise along the picturesque Perfume River, a chance to capture views of the beautiful Trang Tien Bridge, the silver arches built to reflect the leafy trees that lie on the riverbank. Continue to beautiful places, visiting the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang, an exquisite example of Sino-Vietnamese architecture. The brown and copper Chinese-style roof is complemented by a red-walled upper room and balcony above two intricate doors. The colors are soothing, while the surrounding land is haunting.

A guided tour through the remnants of Hue’s Citadel will likely impress with its grandeur, its massive gray-washed walls noticeably weathered by nature through time. You may wish to take a walk around the defensive moat, once strong defense, now a sight of beauty with lotus flowers floating by, their sweet aroma catching the air every now and then. Continue your journey over the Hai Van Pass, a cloud-covered road that weaves and bends through lush hillsides to connect Hue to Da Nang. You will glimpse the crisp sands of picturesque Lang Co beach and capture a panoramic view of Da Nang City. Your journey brings you to rest for the night in Hoi An.

Explore the life of local fishermen and farmers today when venturing to the Hoi An countryside, vast yellow and green rice fields swaying in the wake of a lone water buffalo. Board a thung chai, a basket-shaped boat made from carefully intertwined bamboo. Watch as finely threaded tin, plastic, and bamboo sail through the sky, a slight whistle filling the air as the net lands with purpose on rippling waters. Continue your day of all things fish with a delicious seafood lunch, perhaps a plate of soft, buttery crab to tantalize your taste buds.

Enjoy the unique architecture of Hoi An, with its mustard-colored traditional buildings, archways trimmed in white detail, and brilliant green windows. Wander the alleyways and narrow lanes to discover one and two-story houses that are simple, yet beautifully designed. Admire the aged ceilings of Hoi An’s famous covered bridges, ridged wooden beams holding up the quaint structures, creaking floors a subtle reminder of their age. Perhaps stop for a while to admire decals on the walls while the water flows beneath you.

Travel to Vietnam’s most populous city, Ho Chi Minh, a vibrant destination that buzzes with action from early morning to late at night. Settle into your hotel, then take some time to discover the wonders of the Ben Thanh Market, with its clothing, souvenirs, and myriad food stalls. Wander slowly down each row as you marvel at the colors and take in the aromas from food stalls.

Get lost momentarily in an underground labyrinth of arched corridors and rooms when visiting the Cu Chi Tunnel with your guide. Lighting is dim and the air quite chilled as you navigate living areas, command centers, and simple kitchens, the remnants of a once-burning stove a reminder of its prior importance. Step into the daylight and continue your tour to the Notre Dame Cathedral. This magnificent red-brick building is an example of French colonial style, a center of peace and calm that can immediately be felt as you step inside. Two magnificent columns house bell towers that ring so loudly at Christmas time they can be heard over six miles away.

Board your boat today for a tour with a difference, a point of view from the surface of the water as you float along the famous Mekong Delta, colorful barges of greens and yellows almost overflowing with fresh produce. Watch vendors bargain and trade, taking in the subtle din of laughter, a sign that a good deal was made. Step ashore and enjoy lunch at the Ut Trinh Homestay, hanging plants and lush gardens offering a tranquil setting. Back on the water, continue down slender canals, watching locals at work on the shore. Spend the night in a homestay, a unique overnight experience.

Travel by boat to see laborers at work. Watch the transformation from clay to kiln, bamboo reeds interwoven to create a beautiful tray, the light green color a subtle touch to a beautiful creation. Stop for a while to listen to stories about a bygone era, about tradition and trade, family and fortune. Marvel at the manufacture of conical hats, the palm-leaf creations accompanied by a silk ao da, the soft, smooth shirt symbolizing beauty and elegance. Bid farewell to Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam as your travels take you on a short flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Transfer to your hotel and capture your first sighting of the country’s chic and colorful second-largest city.

An early start this morning as twilight turns to dawn. Today’s destination offers you a chance to witness the sun rising over one of Cambodia’s treasured sites, Angkor Wat, the still, gray silhouettes coming into view as the light of day captures the “City of Temples” in all their glory. Said to be the world’s largest religious structure, the haunting beauty can make your skin tingle, intricate details etched into the Khmer Temple of Bayon at Angkor Thom, the massive faces of Buddha serene in their smiling state. Pay a visit to Ta Prohm, the cool, crumbling stonework engulfed by massive roots and branches, the jungle seemingly swallowing temples and tombs. Then experience a stunning sunset over the Pre Rup Temple.

Venture into the world of rural Cambodia, a day filled with tranquil beauty and humble hospitality. Stand in front of the Koh Ker Temple, feeling the cool air as you witness forest ferns flowing over ancient stone, the impressive Prasat Thom rising from the grassy floor in a tower of rocky vegetation. A closer inspection reveals the protective wings of Garuda etched into stone blocks, continuously guarding monuments throughout time. Step inside a local home and delve into a dish of amok, a traditional coconut fish curry, the visual appeal of green banana leaves and red curry surpassed by the smooth, mousse-like texture of the dish as each spicy bite begs for another.

Bid farewell to your Southeast Asia experience with a boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes on the continent. Surrounded by floodplains and swamps, the lake boasts rich vegetation, with scenic mountain views in the distance. Visit a floating fishing village, watching locals on faded wooden boats focus on chores amid flying fishing nets. Later you will be transferred to the airport in time for your onward journey.