Essential Vietnam & Cambodia

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enquire now 17 Days From NZD $2,659 pp twinshare
 Small group
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A wide-ranging adventure showcasing the region’s natural wonders and fascinating cultures, this 17-day trip offers a combination of guided excursions and free time to explore beaches, ruins, urban culture, and awe-inspiring landscapes. Cruise the Mekong for a day and overnight on a traditional sailing junk boat in Halong Bay. Witness the heights of Cambodia’s past at Angkor Wat, and contemplate its lows by walking the infamous Killing Fields. Although many activities are included, there is still plenty of time to explore on your own and create the ultimate adventure.

  • Sail on a junk boat through Halong Bay
  • Sip iced coffee in Ho Chi Minh City
  • Float through the Mekong Delta
  • Enjoy sunrise over breathtaking Angkor Wat

Travel Style: Classic

All of the highlights, culture, access, and I-can’t-believe-we-did-that moments, all at a great price.

Service Level: Standard

Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.

Physical Rating: 2 – Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 16, Avg 12.

Age requirement: 12+

All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

ITINERARY

 

Map of the route for Essential Vietnam & Cambodia

Day 1 Hanoi

Arrive at any time.

There are no planned activities today until an evening welcome meeting. After the meeting, opt for dinner out with the group.

Day 2  Hanoi/Ha Long

Enjoy a Ha Long Bay cruise on a junk boat with visits to a cave and an island lookout. Savour a seafood lunch and dinner.

Drive to Bai Chay harbour, the jumping off point for Ha Long Bay. Thousands of islands with intricate cave systems rise dramatically from the waters. Sail past limestone karst mountains in the junk boat and stop to visit some of the islands and caves.

In the evening, devour a seafood dinner, then opt to enjoy a drink on deck under the stars.

Day 3 Ha Long/Huế

Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board before sailing back to the port and return to Hanoi. Enjoy some time in the city before an overnight train to Hue.

Interested in local cuisine? Opt to pre-book the “Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour” activity on the checkout page to include this optional on your tour.

Day 4 Huế

Guided tour of the Imperial Citadel, Royal Tomb and Tien Mu Pagoda.

Arrive early to Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. Start the day with a visit to the Tien Mu Pagoda followed by a visit to the tomb of one of Vietnam’s former emperors. After, opt for a vegetarian lunch at a local nunnery.

While in the city, try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). Wash it all down with a Hue beer.

Opt to pre-book the “Hue Motorbike Tour” activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

Day 5 Huế/Hoi An

Drive the Hai Van pass. Take advantage of Hoi An’s many options over the 2.5 days in town. Opt for a cooking class, riverboat trip, bike ride, beach time, tailor visit or My Son ruins.

Cross the Hai Van Pass (weather permitting), with fantastic views in all directions, before arriving to Hoi An in the afternoon.

With three nights here, there’s plenty of time to explore all this charming town has to offer.

Day 6 Hoi An

Explore all Hoi An has to offer. Dive into the culture, hang out on the beach or get clothes tailor-made in one of the many shops around town. Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project.

Day 7 Hoi An

Spend a free day exploring all Hoi An has to offer.

Day 8 Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City

Fly from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City with free time to explore this hectic city.

Drive to Da Nang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam and the country’s commercial centre. Start exploring the small alleys and busy streets, keeping an eye out for laquerware shops and delicious local food stalls.

Day 9 Ho Chi Minh City

Guided tour of Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning, free time in the afternoon.

Use free time to visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and stroll through the immense Ben Thanh Market. The Reunification Palace, the city’s Chinese quarter of Cholon, and the War Remnants Museum are also well worth a visit.

Day 10 Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy a boat cruise through the villages, islands, and markets of the Mekong Delta, and visit traditional candy factories.

After enjoying a day in the Mekong Delta, travel back to Ho Chi Minh City in time for an optional dinner.

Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City/Phnom Penh

Travel day with border crossing from Vietnam to Cambodia. Enjoy a cyclo tour through the city.

Drive to the border and cross into Cambodia. Continue on to the capital, Phnom Penh, and enjoy a cyclo ride through the city for a street-level perspective.

Day 12 Phnom Penh

Guided tour of Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison) and Choeung Ek (Killing Fields). Opt to visit the Royal Palace, the National Museum or the Central Market.

Meet a local guide to learn more about the dark side of Cambodian history. Visit to Choeung Ek, the site of the infamous Killing Fields. After, visit Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison), the notorious Khmer Rouge prison where thousands of Cambodians perished.

Enjoy a free afternoon to sightsee. Opt to explore the city’s many sights: the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum. With time, choose to visit the Russian Market, Wat Phnom or sip a drink at a riverside café.

Day 13 Phnom Penh/Siem Reap

Drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the home base for exploring incredible Angkor Wat.

Opt to pre-book the “Phare Circus” activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

Day 14 Siem Reap

Watch the sun rise over the massive Angkor temple complex with a guided tour. Opt to visit the Tonlé Sap floating village and the Angkor National Museum. Enjoy a traditional meal of Khmer food at a G Adventures for Good-supported project.

Spend two days exploring Angkor, the former capital of the Khmer kingdom and one of the wonders of the archaeological world. See some of the highlights of this ancient capital, like sunrise at the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat, the enigmatic Bayon within the walled city of Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm, also known as the ‘Tomb Raider’ temple.

Enjoy a traditional meal to learn about Khmer food and meet some friendly locals. Alternating locations of our included local meal means we can support multiple small businesses and projects in the area. Each experience is truly unique and memorable.

Day 15 Siem Reap

Spend another day in Siem Reap, exploring more temples of Angkor or going further afield.

Opt to pre-book the “Siem Reap Quad Biking” activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

Day 16 Siem Reap/Bangkok

Cross the border into Thailand and continue on to the bustling metropolis of Bangkok.

Day 17 Bangkok

Depart at any time.

What’s Included

Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles, Hoi An
Your G for Good Moment: Local Khmer Meal, Siem Reap
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Meeting – Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Hoi An. Halong Bay caves entrance. Halong Bay boat cruise with seafood lunch and dinner. Imperial Citadel and Tomb entrance (Huế). Cu Chi Tunnels entrance and tour. Mekong Delta day trip. Cyclo tour (Phnom Penh). Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) entrance and guide. Two-day Angkor Wat complex entry and guide, including sunrise tour (Siem Reap). Internal flight. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Images courtesy of G Adventures 

GADV – AVEV

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