Classic Vietnam and Cambodia holiday

Itinerary in brief: 

• 3 nights Hanoi 
• 1 night Halong Bay 
• 3 nights Hoi An 
• 2 nights Ho Chi Minh City 
• 3 nights Siem Reap 
• 2 nights Phnom Penh 
• 3 nights Koh Rong 

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport. 

Included: International flights

Day 2: Arrive Vietnam

On arrival in Hanoi, you'll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel, checking in for three nights. 

Included: Transfers, 4* hotel 

Day 3: Hanoi 

After breakfast you’ll enjoy a half day tour of the city, beginning with a visit to the famous Temple of Literature. Wandering around this 1,000-year-old compound, you’ll get a glimpse into the past when it served as a university and temple. Next, you’ll wander through the Old Quarter, where the narrow streets are alive with traditional Vietnamese life. Continue through Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake, snapping photos and chatting with locals as you go.

In the afternoon, you’ll have time to visit either the fascinating Ethnology Museum or the highly acclaimed Vietnam Women’s Museum. Both are an amazing way to gain insight into the lives of Vietnamese women and their traditions. Finish your day with a water puppet show – a uniquely Vietnamese art form, depicting the scenes from rural life and national history.

Included: Breakfast, touring, 4* hotel 

Day 4: Ninh Binh

Leaving the city behind today, you'll head out after breakfast into the quiet countryside. After a couple of hours, you'll reach the Tam Coc Rivers, meaning Three Caves in Vietnamese. Here you'll board a private sampan to drift along the river, admiring the views of enormous limestone karsts and soaking up the lush landscape. Enjoy a delicious lunch of Vietnamese specialities before continuing onwards to Hoa Lu, the ruins of Vietnam's first capital. Gaze up at the ancient tombs and the once-imposing Citadel. If you're feeling fit, there's a half hour hike to a spectacular viewpoint over the hills before heading back to Hanoi for a final evening in the city. 

Included: Breakfast, lunch, touring, 4* hotel 

Day 5: Hanoi to Halong Bay

The stunning Halong Bay awaits you today – you'll be driven over to the jetty before boarding your junk boat, where you’ll be sleeping tonight. Lunch and dinner are served on-board, and the afternoon will be spent cruising the bay amongst the karst formations in the iconic Halong Bay. 

Included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner, transfers and private cabin on Orchid cruise

Day 6: Halong Bay to Hoi An 

This morning you'll head back, weaving through the karst peaks as you enjoy your breakfast, heading towards the dock. You'll be driven back to Hanoi, ready for the flight to Danang. On arrival, you'll be driven to Hoi An, checking in to your hotel for three nights. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, internal flights, 4* hotel 

Day 7: Hoi An 

Spend the morning discovering the ancient town, visiting merchant homes, colourful, narrow lanes, traditional houses and the famous Japanese Bridge. You'll visit a local's house, where the art of healing through martial arts has been practised for generations. You'll have the chance to learn some basic steps under the guidance of a true master. 

The rest of the day is yours to carry on exploring - strolling past the colourful lantern stalls and visiting the local tailors? However you spend the afternoon, you’ll want to finish with a dish of cao dao - fat noodles, soft pork, crispy crackling and a handful of fresh herbs like lemon basil and coriander – delicious.

Included: Breakfast, touring, 4* hotel 

Day 8: Cycling tour along the river

Today you'll head out of Hoi An to explore the surrounding countryside. Stroll through Thanh Ha Pottery village, a charming spot before climbing onto your bike to cross the bridge to Cam Kim Island. Depending on the time of year, you might witness the lush green paddy fields or the golden plants as they are gathered at harvest. 

Next you'll explore the Kim Bong carpentry village, where their ancestors built the incredible temples and pagodas of Hoi An. Enjoy a quick coffee break before continuing your cycling tour, meeting locals who make mats from sedge grass and fishermen hauling in their catch from the river. Tuck into a home-hosted lunch before floating along the river in a boat, cruising back towards the vehicle. Head back to Hoi An to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. 

Included: Breakfast, touring, 4* hotel 

Day 9: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City 

Today you’ll have the morning at leisure to finish off your shopping, before being driven to the airport in the early afternoon for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you will be taken to your hotel where you will check in for two nights.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, internal flights, 4* hotel

Day 10: Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City

This morning you’ll be up early to head to the Cu Chi Tunnels before the crowds. Driving away from Ho Chi Minh City you’ll watching the skyscrapers fade away as you go deeper into the countryside where villages and rice paddies abound. You’ll spend the morning exploring the Cu Chi tunnels, an underground network constructed during the French and American wars. It’s a very interactive way to teach your kids about the Vietnam war – imagining living in the tunnels and hearing stories of the food that was eaten and even a baby born under the ground will get them really interested in this era.

In the afternoon you’ll all head back into the city to enjoy a tour of the main highlights of Ho Chi Minh, from the former Presidential Palace to the colonial Opera House.

Included: Breakfast, touring, 4* hotel

Day 11: Fly to Siem Reap 

After breakfast, you'll be driven to the airport for the short flight to Cambodia, arriving into Siem Reap. On arrival, you'll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel, checking in for three nights. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, internal flights, 4* hotel

Day 12: Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat

You'll have two full days to explore the famous ruins of Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples from the city of Siem Reap. 

On Day 12, you'll begin your day of discovery at Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire, where you’ll enter the city from the ancient South Gate, carved with huge elephants. In the centre of the city you’ll discover Bayon Temple, well known for the 54 towers showing enigmatic faces that gaze down upon the people who visit.

 In the afternoon, you’ll hop in a tuk-tuk to Angkor Wat, where you can explore to your hearts content. Your guide will tell you all about the construction and history of this beautiful building and you can wander around until the sun sets, when Angkor Wat is less busy and the Apsara dancers decorating the temple shine in the evening light.

Included: Breakfast, touring, 4* hotel

Day 13: Bantray Srei & Tonle Sap Lake 

Day 14: Travel to Phnom Penh

After breakfast, you'll spend the day being driven through the Cambodian countryside, past small villages and lakes towards Phnom Penh, the capital city. You'll stop on the way to enjoy a local lunch somewhere, before arriving into the city and checking into your hotel for two nights. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, 4* hotel 

Day 15: Phnom Penh

This morning you’ll tour to the most remarkable sites of Phnom Phen in a cyclo - an original Phnom Pehn means of transportation and a fun way to explore the lively city. First, learn about Cambodia’s dark history on a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in the former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main destination and torture centre names ‘S-21’. 

You’ll continue along this lively riverfront to the Royal Palace which dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda. In this temple you can admire a collection of shimmering buddhas in gold, silver, crystal and bronze. After this, you’ll stop in at Wat Phnom to see some examples Khmer art and architecture. After lunch, you will continue to the National Museum, which houses a collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the centuries.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, transport, guiding, 4* hotel

Day 16: Phnom Penh – Koh Rong

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up by your local guide and driven to Sihanoukville, around 3 hours away. On arrival at the pier, you’ll hop on a speedboat to the island, which will take around 45 minutes. On arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Included: Breakfast, transport, 4* hotel

Days 17 & 18: Koh Rong

Enjoy your day at leisure exploring the pristine island of Koh Rong. Relax on the beach, snorkel in the turquoise water or simply sip cocktails by the pool.

Included: Breakfast, 4* hotel

Day 19: Depart Cambodia

Enjoy your final morning in paradise before taking the speedboat back to the mainland, and being driven back to Phnom Penh. Here you’ll catch your international flight back to the UK.

Included: Breakfast, transport, international flights

Day 20: Arrive UK