Best Selling Vietnam and Cambodia Tour for 16 Days

Day 01: Hanoi Arrival

Upon arrival, pick up then transfer to hotel.

At 16:00 pm you will cyclo visit local markets and Hanoi’s Old Quarter, known for its 36 streets and former craft guilds and then enjoy street food tour. visit some famous and specialized- food families or stalls/ local restaurants, shops where they run their business everyday, certainly you will watch and taste around 6- 8 particular dishes, we can customize vegetarian or special food too. Special thing that tour guide would like to introduce some popular authentic food in lovely mini restaurants (not luxury restaurants) where you feel comfortable to sit down and enjoy some favorite dishes and nice drinks too. It’s interesting to hear from tour guide about the history of the old quarter in Hanoi, it is thousand years old and today retains much of the old flavor that made the area special in earlier times, each street was the exclusive domain o f one trade (guilds) so there are whole streets of blacksmiths, silver shops, paper shops, headstone makers and more. Originally there were just 36 streets in the old quarter but today there are more than 50 streets. It’s interesting to hear from tour guide about the history of the old quarter in Hanoi, it is thousand years old and today retains much of the old flavor that made the area special in earlier times, each street was the exclusive domain of one trade (guilds) so there are whole streets of blacksmiths, silver shops, paper shops, headstone makers and more. Originally there were just 36 streets in the old quarter but today there are more than 50 streets. You will not eat during street food tour.  At the end you will enjoy dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meal: Dinner

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 02: Hanoi City Tour

8:30-09am: This full day tour takes you around Hanoi’s most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his Stilts House, the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda and, nearby, the Old Quarter also known as the 36 streets and guilds. Also on the tour, the Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, peaceful West Lake (with lovers street Thanh Nien), the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and one of the city’s museums, Ethnology Museum. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 03: Hanoi – Ninh Binh

After breakfast at Hanoi, you will leave  for Ninh Binh to continue on your journey to visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lu – the capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, admire the architecture of the two temples dedicated to the kings of the Dinh and Le dynasties. Then, hop aboard a sampan boat to explore Trang An Complex, enjoy the spectacular scenery whilst gliding along the river amongst rice paddies and ranges of the limestone mountains that tower above (2 hrs). You can cycle around paddy field and Tam Coc area. Enjoy dinner at local restaurant.  Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 04: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay

After breakfast, you will be pick up by private transfer to Ha long in the morning.

12.00: Upon arrival at Emperor Cruises, located at Hon Gai dock, our team will welcome you in our lounge before boarding.

12.30: Our Experiences Manager will assist you with boarding to start cruising in Bai Tu Long Bay. Check in to your cabin as we set sail from Vinashin dock to cruise among the many beautiful islets (scenes from the film ‘Indochine’ were filmed here). Bai Tu Long Bay has a wild beauty and the panoramas from the boat are unforgettable.

13.00: A set menu lunch will be served at our Paranoma Restaurant on the main deck. Savor delicious Vietnamese food while admiring the grace of the bay.

14.30: Explore the area of Hon Co Island and Co Cave (Grass Cave, also known as Thien Canh Son). You can revel in the breathtaking view of Bai Tu Long bay from up high, as well as the glorious long white-sand beach of Hon Co Island. Afterwards relax on the beach, go swimming in the crystal clear water and explore the cave.

16.30: Return to the cruise by small boat

17.00: Choose from kayaking, taking massage or just relaxing, do nothing or watching the sky color change as the sun sets.

18.00: Attend tea demonstration

18h30- 19h00: Attend our chef’s cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking (making spring rolls) in a truly stunning setting.

19.30: Enjoy our a la carte course menu for dinner on board as you experience the charm of Bai Tu Long Bay at night.

21.00: Evening activities: enjoy our Movie Night, Board Games or our Massage and Spa services or even go squid fishing. Overnight on board Emperor Cruises.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tour guide: English Speaking guide on board

Day 05: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Hue

6.00: Wake up to the gentle lapping of the water against the boat and as the first rays of the sun announce a new day. Before enjoying breakfast have cookies and tea and then try the Vovinam session on the sundeck as the sun rises over Bai Tu Long Bay

6.45: Have light breakfast with milk, bread, cereals, fruit juice, yogurt

7h15-.7h30: Visit Vung Vieng fishing village, the famous pearl-growing village, to view the fishing tanks of the local people. Proceed to Vung Vieng floating village to board bamboo boats so the locals can row you around their village and oyster pearl farming plots. Return to the mother boat by speedboat/tender

8.30: Return to the cruise by tender

9.30: Arrange the luggage and check out.

9.45-10.30: Enjoy brunch on board while cruising back to the mainland.

11.00 Arrive back at Emperor Cruises dock, Halong City for disembarkation where your driver waits to take you back to Hanoi  airport for flight to Hue. Upon arrival, pick up then transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

Meal: Brunch

Tour guide: English Speaking guide on board

Day 06: Hue City Tour

At 8:30 a.m., you will be greeted at the hotel by a driver and guide. You will board the Dragon Boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River heading out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to the most beautiful tombs will be on the itinerary for today.

The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. You will enjoy a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the symbol of Hue, and of Buddhism in Vietnam. From here you rejoin your car and go visit King Minh Mang’s Tomb and King Tu Duc’s Tomb. You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to visit Hue Citadel and Dong Ba Market.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 07: Hue – Danang – Hoi An

Depart Hue and drive to Hoian. On the way stop to visit Lang Co beach and Hai Van pass. Arrive Danang visit Cham Museum & Marble Mountain in Da Nang.  Enjoy a stop at Non Nuoc Beach. This afternoon arrive in Hoi An. Then free to explore Hoi An or shopping on your own. The cobblestone streets in the old French Quarter are a delight to roam with many cafes, art galleries and handicraft shops.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 08: Hoi An Ancient Town

From the 16th to 18th century, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics.

Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century.

Enjoy walking tour around the Ancient town of Hoi An with guide through its charming streets include the Japanese Covered Bridge, the local produce market, Tang Ky House and the Fukien Association.

After lunch you will take a short boat trip to a nearby island to visit a handicraft village specializing in ceramics, and you will also visit the boat building yards. Hoi An is now one of UNESCO’s five World Heritage designated sites in Vietnam.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 09: Farmer & Fishing Tour by Cycling

The very special “Farming & Fishing” tour promises to bring visitors the most beautiful scenery of the countryside around Hoi An Town.

By exploring the typical narrow roads along the countryside by bicycle, and seeing sights such as water buffalo, rice paddy fields, organic vegetables and local farming people, you will be amazed to realize how peaceful the area is and how friendly its people are.

Getting in touch with local fishing life by using the fishing nets, riding funny basket boats, visiting a water palm coconut paradise and learning about the history about the Vietnamese people are great things to experience. The Farmer to Fisherman tour will be the special and unique tour that is committed to providing you a unique cultural window into the Vietnamese way of life.

Accompanied by your tour guide, you will commence the day leisurely cycling along country roads witnessing local Vietnamese rural life first hand, discovering all manner of photo opportunities. You will see a water buffalo working in a rice paddy field, ducks swimming along the rice farm or farmers tending their crops. The photo opportunities are endless. Later you will board our Hoi An Eco-Tour boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen and enjoy the hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. You will also experience paddling the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat while exploring coconut-palm flanked waterways. This tour provides you with a cultural window into the ways of life of both our farming and fishing communities.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 10: Half Day Cooking Class – Free at leisure in the afternoon

Advanced Masterclass is a cooking class designed to suit very keen cooks and professional chefs with good knife skills, who cook often at home or work and are fast and confident in the kitchen. You will be preparing a 4 course traditional Vietnamese family style lunch; starter, main dish, side and dessert. All the dishes are made from scratch using raw ingredients. We will be prepping, cleaning, chopping, slicing, shredding and cooking together around a large kitchen table in an intimate fun hands-on class.

Highlights: Meet at “Vy’s Market Restaurant’ and visit colourful central food market. We buy all the ingredients for our class and design our menu based on the best and freshest produce available that day. We then return to Vy’s Market by boat for an interesting and informative tour of the restaurants many street food kitchens, watching live cooking demonstrations with hands on involvement and many food tastings. 2.5 hour hands on in-depth cooking class, lunch, recipes and a Vietnamese cooking utensil to take home.

In the afternoon with leisure time for shopping or visiting the local tailors who make quality clothes in a flash. You will have an overnight stay in Hoi An.

Meal: Breakfast

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 11: Hoi An – Danang – Saigon

Enjoy breakfast at hotel then you leave the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Hoian for flight to Saigon. Pick up then transfer to hotel. Overnight in Saigon.

Meal: Breakfast

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 12: Cu Chi Tunnel – Ho Chi Minh City Tour

After breakfast at hotel, you will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, which consist of more than 200 km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life was like during the U.S.-Vietnam War.

After lunch. you will embark on a city tour of Saigon, including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market. And overnight in HCMC.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 13: Mekong at a Glimpse on Cai Be Princess

Spend the day on the beautiful Cai Be Princess exploring the fascinating life on the Mekong River. Visit a floating market, a beautiful island and lunch at a superb Indochine restaurant, this trip is the ideal way to spend the day on the delta in style.

Our one day cruise excursion starts at 8:00 from the lobby of your hotel in Saigon with a drive to Cai Be – Phu An where we will board the Cai Be Princess at around 11.00 am. The tour will start with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market. We will proceed by the visit of some local home factories such as rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and longans drying processing. The trip continues along the Mekong canals to Dong Hoa Hiep Island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. During this 40 minutes cruise you will discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong delta rural life. Stops on the way can be made upon request for particular visits or photos making. These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still remain unknown to many people.

Lunch awaits you at Le Longanier restaurant at La Residence de Phu An resort, a superb Indochine style resort. After a short walk along a narrow canal, the excursion will end at around 3.30pm where the vehicle will await you for your transfer back to Saigon.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh – Siem Reap

In the morning you will take a flight to Siem Reap in Northern Cambodia to visit the fabulous ancient sites of Angkor, one of the wonders of the world. You will visit Angkor Thom (or ” Great City”), which is in some ways even more spectacular than the colossal Angkor Wat, as it has nearly disappeared into the jungle.

Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will be met and transferred to your comfortable hotel for check-in (subject to availability). The tour starts by visiting the famous temple: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat has been a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. After that, you will visit Bakheng Temple and enjoy a romantic sunset view from Bakheng hill. You will stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Meal: Breakfast

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 15: Angkor Wat Tour

Breakfast at hotel: Start your sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and explore the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. We also visit Preah Khan, Kravan, Neak Pean. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English Speaking guide

Day 16: Siem Reap Departure

There is no activity planned for today so you are free to enjoy your free time souvenir shopping until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.