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Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia

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14 days Sold out
4.3 stars(41 reviews)
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Explore the wonders of two fascinating nations

Mobility Rating 3

2024 Tour code: VIS24

About the tour

Explore the wonders of two fascinating nations on a tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. Delve into the history and rich culture of Vietnam, visit breathtaking UNESCO-listed attractions and, in Cambodia, explore the incredible temple city of Angkor Wat.

Unforgettable experiences

Hanoi
Hanoi
Experience a full-day sightseeing tour of Hanoi, including a cyclo ride through the lively streets.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay
Enjoy a stunning overnight cruise on a traditional junk boat through Halong Bay.
Hoi An
Hoi An
Discover Hoi An on a walking tour, uncovering the colourful and historic Old Quarter.
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat
Visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia's world-famous temple complex which is over 800 years old.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Explore Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, on a fascinating guided tour.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London and Hanoi

Our holiday begins with a flight from London Heathrow to Hanoi.

Day 2 - Hanoi

We arrive in Hanoi and transfer to our hotel. Vietnam's exciting capital is filled with vibrant culture and a host of beautiful, centuries-old buildings. We head out into the city, enjoying a guided walking tour of Ngoc Son temple, which translates to 'Temple of the Jade Mountain' and is situated on a small island north of Hoan Kiem Lake. Following this, we enjoy a unique cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, an exciting way to see this area's buzzing hub of activity, set amongst traditionally Vietnamese buildings.

Day 3 - Exploring Hanoi

We continue exploring Hanoi. First, we discover the area around the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing structure where Vietnam's revolutionary leader is interred. We continue to the One-Pillar Pagoda, where Ho Chi Minh once lived, as well as the Quan Thanh Temple, an 11th-century Taoist structure.

This afternoon, our focus shifts to food, with a visit to the Old Quarter to experience Vietnam's famous street food. Our local guide introduces us to delectable treats including Bun Cha, delicious vermicelli served with fried pork and herbs, and Banh Goi, dumplings stuffed with meat and vermicelli. Our tour ends at 'international crossroads', a lively part of the Old Quarter where we enjoy a glass of Bia Hoi, a popular Vietnamese beer.

Day 4 - Halong Bay

We leave Hanoi and head to the stunning waters of Halong Bay, where we enjoy an overnight cruise. This area of outstanding natural beauty is a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its deep turquoise waters and unusual rock formations. On board, we sit down to a delicious seafood lunch, before spending the afternoon visiting Halong Bay. Sailing through the spectacular waters, we're treated to amazing views of some of the stunning caves and islands here. In the late afternoon, we begin to wind down admiring the stunning sunset over the bay. You could enjoy happy hour onboard or attend a cooking demonstration with this stunning backdrop.

Day 5 - Halong Bay

We start the day with a relaxing Tai Chi class on the sun deck before we continue cruising the bay, taking in more breathtaking views as we sail back to the mooring point. After disembarking, we transfer back to Hanoi, making a short stop at Dai Viet Craft Centre along the way for an insight into local crafts. This evening, we visit a Water Puppet Theatre, enjoying a performance of this amusing and unique art form. Later, we join the overnight Reunification rail service to Da Nang tonight and settle down as the train whisks us through the rural landscapes.

Day 6 - Da Nang

After breakfast on board the train, our journey ends in Da Nang. We join a coach to Hoi An, a coastal port city filled with crisscrossing canals and known for its incredible, preserved Ancient Town. We stop on the way at the Museum of Cham Sculpture, a museum that is home to many fascinating artefacts made by the indigenous Cham people. The rest of your day is free to discover the faded grand architecture and atmospheric streets of one of Vietnam's most intriguing cities, Hoi An. Perhaps shop for local art and handicrafts in the central market or grab a coffee - Vietnam is famous for its wonderful coffee, and Hoi An has some excellent coffee shops.

Day 7 - Hoi An

We discover the best of Hoi An on a walking tour. We explore the colourful Old Quarter, seeing Tan Ky old house, the Fukien Assembly Hall, and the Japanese Covered Bridge, which has stood for over 400 years. Next, we visit the Precious Heritage Museum and Art Gallery, where we admire images from all around Vietnam by a host of talented artists. The gallery is also home to a permanent exhibition showcasing the work of famous French photographer Réhahn, who's based in the city and is known as the photographer who 'captures souls' due to his moving portraits. The rest of your afternoon is free.

Day 8 - Ho Chi Minh City

We transfer to Da Nang airport for our morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once a small fishing village, Ho Chi Minh City is now Vietnam's largest city, with a dizzying blend of modern 21st-century skyscrapers and charming lanes lined with ancient temples. This afternoon, we explore the city, which was famously known as Saigon under French colonial rule. We see the Reunification Palace, which occupies an important place in Vietnamese history as the site of the end of the Vietnam War. We also see the General Post Office and City Hall before continuing to the War Remnants Museum.

Day 9 - Cu Chi Tunnels

We visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an intricate underground network created during the Vietnam War. This fascinating complex of tunnels is part of a network which stretches across much of the country and was built as protection from air raids in the 1940s. This afternoon, you have time to enjoy lively Ho Chi Minh City at your own pace. You could stroll down the wide boulevards filled with grand historic buildings or sample some authentic street food, pho, a tasty noodle soup that's one of Vietnam's most popular dishes, or bánh mì, a traditional Vietnamese crusty sandwich.

Day 10 - Phnom Penh

We cross into Cambodia today on a short flight to its capital and beating heart, Phnom Penh. As with many cities across South-East Asia, Phnom Penh has a distinctly French feel to many of its grandest buildings, with French colonial mansions standing alongside newly emerging designs. We're introduced to Cambodia's exciting capital on a guided tour. First, we visit the Royal Palace, a gorgeous building that looks almost gilded in the right light and serves as the home of the current King of Cambodia. We also visit the Silver Pagoda before checking into our hotel for the night.

Day 11 - Phnom Penh and Siem Reap

We enjoy a visit to the buzzing Central Market. A striking, yellow Art Deco landmark in the heart of the city, the market offers a feast for the senses. You could take the opportunity here to sample some delicious local delicacies. We also visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a poignant museum that chronicles the history of the Cambodian genocide. This afternoon, we transfer by coach to Siem Reap, a vibrant city at the gateway to the Angkor region.

Day 12 - Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat

We discover the ancient architectural wonders that Cambodia is renowned for as we explore Angkor Archeological Park starting with Angkor Thom. Translated as 'Great City', Angkor Thom was the last and longest-serving capital of the Khmer Empire and was once home to as many as one million people. We explore the hauntingly beautiful abandoned city before continuing to Angkor Wat, the most celebrated of the former Khmer capitals. Built in the 12th century, Angkor Wat is a symbol of Cambodia and appears on the national flag. We admire the complex where pinecone-shaped towers peak through thick rainforests that are steadily reclaiming the ancient structures.

Day 13 - Siem Reap

Spend the day relaxing or exploring further. You could visit the Old French Quarter, with its blend of colonial and Chinese influences. This evening we bid farewell to Cambodia as we transfer to Siem Reap airport for the flight home, via Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 14 - London

We land at London Heathrow today, and your holiday comes to an end.

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Sunway Hotel, Hanoi

Sunway Hotel, Hanoi

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Little Hoi An Central Boutique

Little Hoi An Central Boutique, Hoi An

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Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon

Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon, Ho Chí Minh

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Palace Gate Hotel & Residence, Phnom Penh

Palace Gate Hotel & Residence, Phnom Penh

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Royal Angkor Resort

Royal Angkor Resort, Siem Reap

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Train

Soft sleeper

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Flight upgrades
London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.3 stars4.3 / 5 · 41 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (20)
  2. 4 stars
    (16)
  3. 3 stars
    (3)
  4. 2 stars
    (2)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Susan Gibson

3 stars

Submitted 3/Nov

Not enough days at leisure. Should have flown from Cambodia to Singapore on final day, instead of 7 hour coach journey. Ian, tour guide was frequently very stressed and pernickety !!! We should not have been expected to walk a considerable distance in torrential rain.

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Janet Hughes

2 stars

Submitted 2/Nov

Very poor in cambodia

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Sunday Girl

4 stars

Submitted 2/Nov

Excellent holiday. Slight changes to travel could improve the h for future departures

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Benita Harris

4 stars

Submitted 30/Oct

The trip was good. It could have used a few tweaks. Flying to Cambodia was not a good idea, flight cancelled and rescheduled for later, essentially wasted a day. Would have been better to go by boat or coach. Would have gotten there much sooner. Would have liked to see some animal preserves.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Benita - thank you for sharing your feedback - we're glad you had a good experience with us! We understand that a trip of this significance should be seamless, and a cancelled local flight certainly doesn't help. We'd love to hear more about it. If you’d like to discuss this further, please contact us at XXX@XXX.
1 comment

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L Davies

4 stars

Submitted 10/Oct

Overall a fantastic holiday and if you are thinking of booking don't hesitate book it now. The only issue I had was the amount of time wasted on the transfer over to Cambodia.and the time travelling between cities when we were there.This time could have been better used exporing a beautiful country.

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L Davies
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Wayne Mills

5 stars

Submitted 5/Oct

Coming from NZ to join this tour in Hanoi, we were delighted with the way in which we were able to seamlessly blend in with the British contingent and crack on with the tour schedule. It's an intensive programme of activities and sights travelling down from Hanoi to Ho Chi MInh City, and then to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Along the way we visited (among many things) ancient monuments and temples, and stunning landscapes. The three highlights for us were a night on Halong Bay, the enchanting town of Hoi An, and Angkor Wat. But along the way there were other moments of beauty, ancient history and cultural immersion. The overnight train was a test of endurance, but rewarded by morning scenes of Vietnamese countryside. The trip required a level of walking fitness and preparedness for very hot and humid weather, but overall it was well executed and a lot of fun, made more so by the group of twenty with whom we travelled.

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Wayne Mills
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