From scenic Halong Bay to the temples at Angkor: the best of Vietnam and Cambodia
Days: 12 | From: $4,230/per person
- Accommodations at best-in-class luxury hotels
- Curated tours with superb private guides
- From scenic Halong Bay to the temples at Angkor: discover the best of Vietnam and Cambodia
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We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
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At a glance
- Ho Chi Minh City
2 nights: Visit the bustling modern city formerly known as Saigon - Hoi An
2 nights: Meander through this delightful town with art and architecture at every turn - Hanoi
2 nights: Enjoy history and culture in Vietnam's capital city - Halong Bay
1 night: Cruise overnight through scenic Halong Bay - Siem Reap
3 nights: Discover the temples of Angkor - Phnom Penh
1 night: Explore Phnom Penh's Royal Palace and learn about its painful past
All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.
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Sample itinerary
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City!
Fly into Vietnam’s largest city, a sprawling metropolis comprising everything from narrow alleyways to new world skyscrapers. Home to over 9 million people, Ho Chi Minh City is still known to many as Saigon, and features remnants of French colonial charm alongside busy street food stalls and neon lights.
Set out with your private guide to explore the city’s main landmarks, including the Museum of Vietnam History. The museum features exhibits on the Vietnamese culture and its development, partly as a struggle for independence from Chinese domination and partly as the march southwards by the Viet people from the Red River Valley, absorbing ethnic groups and territory along the way. Stop to see the Reunification Palace, French colonial Notre Dame cathedral, and the Main Post Office.
Later, enjoy a private walking tour of the thematic streets of Saigon. From birds to bonsai to antiques, there is a street for everything. Browse local markets selling everything from decorative flowers to wartime objects.
Accommodations: Hotel Des Arts Saigon, 2 nights
Embark on a journey back in time to Vietnam in 1930s with Hôtel des Arts boutique lifestyle hotel in Saigon. Combining the classical charm of French Indochina with a sense of timeless chic, the hotel is as much an art museum as it is a 5-star hotel. The Social Club restaurant and rooftop bar on the 23rd floor pays homage to an era of speakeasy gatherings, while Saigon Kitchen offers a stylish and unique design inspired by classic Asian street food markets. The Café des Beaux Arts takes a detour from French elegance on its journey to old world glamour, with a light and airy interior where you can take your afternoon tea to the soft sounds of piano music while enjoying a book from our library.
*Includes: BreakfastUpgrades and alternatives: Park Hyatt Saigon, The Reverie Saigon, Caravelle Hotel, and others
Tunnels of Cu Chi
Journey through the lush countryside northwest of Saigon to Cu Chi, where you will learn about the vast underground network of tunnels (totaling 155 miles!) used during the war. These tunnels, once used by the Viet Cong as shelter to infiltrate the city during the Tet Offensive of 1968, are now maintained as a museum. Afterward, return to Saigon and tour the War Remnants Museum, depicting the Vietnamese perspective of French occupation and the “American War.” This evening, enjoy a food and nightlife tour of Saigon by Vespa. Zip around the city like a local with stops at a rooftop bar, Vietnamese street food stalls, artsy cafes and more.
Explore the architecture of Hoi An
Fly to Danang and drive to Hoi An, famous for its classic immigrant architecture and thriving artist colony. Today a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, Hoi An is filled with small streets, shops, markets and cafes. Explore the local market, Tan Ky House, Fukien Assembly Hall, and the 400-year old Japanese covered bridge. Here you can also see local residents raising silkworms to produce silk for Hoi An’s burgeoning textile industry. Local tailors abound, and you can have clothes tailor-made during your stay here.
Accommodations: Allegro Hoi An, 2 nights
Situated in the heart of town, Allegro Hoi An exemplifies the heart of Hoianese people: hospitable, honest, and welcoming. They love to share the hidden beauty of this ancient town while providing you with upscale comforts and the ideal ambience to unwind and absorb Hoi An’s peaceful pace of life.
*Includes: BreakfastUpgrades and alternatives: Anantara Hoi An, Intercontinental Danang, TIA Wellness Resort, The Nam Hai, Hotel Royal Hoi An MGallery, and others
Free day to explore Hoi An
Tour the capital city of Hanoi
Hop a morning flight to Hanoi. Vietnam’s capital is located along the Red River, and is known for its tree-lined boulevards, hordes of motorbikes, and French colonial architecture. This morning, visit Ba Dinh Square, site of Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and his nearby spartan wartime residence. Continue to the unique One Pillar Pagoda, then on to the Confucian academy known as the Temple of Literature, considered Vietnam’s first university.
This afternoon, enjoy a cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Guild District, where each of 37 small streets and alleyways feature one traditional craft or profession and its wares. This excursion concludes at the city’s traditional center, Restored Sword Lake, with a tour of Ngoc Son Temple.
Accommodations: The Oriental Jade Hotel, 2 nights
Located on Hang Trong Street, in the heart of the bustling Old Quarter, you'll be steps away from Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Cathedral, and local markets. Choose from rooms and suites offering classic decor, modern furnishings, and stunning city views. Unwind by the rooftop pool or at the on-site spa. For dining options, Thang Long Signature restaurant offers a wide range of Vietnamese and Western cuisine that promises to impress your taste buds at the first bite. Guests can also chill out at the O'Sky Bar, taking a sip of signature cocktails while enjoying a mesmerizing view of the lake.
*Includes: BreakfastUpgrades and alternatives: Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, Capella Hotel Hanoi, InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, Silk Path Hotel
Explore Hanoi by Vespa
Cruise the emerald waters of Halong Bay
Journey by car to Halong Bay to board your cruise and set sail into the beautiful scenery. Here, limestone “karst” formations create an archipelago of over one thousand pinnacle-shaped islands dotting the sea. Enjoy lunch, dinner, and an overnight onboard your ship.
Accommodations: Paradise Elegance Cruise
A sleek, modern vessel that fuses contemporary styling with Vietnamese design concepts, the Paradise Elegance is a meticulously designed steel boat that has reimagined luxury cruising on Halong Bay. Boasting a piano bar, day spa and wellness center, butler service, and the full range of dining options, the Elegance is fully equipped for your Halong Bay adventure.
*Includes: Lunch, Dinner, BreakfastUpgrades and alternatives: Orchid Premium Cruise, Violet Cruise Heritage, Emperor Cruises Legacy, and others
From Halong Bay to Siem Reap
Cruise through Halong Bay and enjoy swimming, kayaking, or exploring the local caves. Around midday, you will disembark and transfer by private car to the Hanoi airport for your flight to Siem Reap.
Accommodations: Jaya House River Park, 3 nights
Peacefully located alongside the Siem Reap river and surrounded by fully grown trees, Jaya House River Park is a hidden gem. The hotel is located about a 6-minute tuk-tuk journey from town in the direction of the magnificent temples of Angkor Wat. Each of the 36 rooms has either a balcony or direct garden & pool access.
*Includes: BreakfastUpgrades and alternatives: Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Phum Baitang, Shinta Mani, Anantara Angkor Resort, and others
Discover the wonders at Angkor
The ruined capital of the powerful Khmer kingdom, Angkor flourished from the 10th to the 15th centuries and comprises some 400 sandstone, brick and laterite temples, walls, tombs and other structures surrounded by jungle. Begin your temple exploration with Preah Khan, “The Sacred Sword” temple dedicated by Jayavarman VII to his father and Neak Pean, the temple built as a sort of healing center, with pools representing water, earth, wind, and fire.
Finish the day at Ta Prohm and experience the feeling of a modern day “Indiana Jones” in this temple which is slowly being swallowed up by the jungle.
Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat await
Set out for Angkor Thom, royal city of the 12th century god-king Jayavarman VII. Explore Bayon, with its 54 symmetrical towers topped by giant stone faces, the Terrace of the Leper King, and Phimeanakas, where the god king made a nightly rendezvous with the sex goddess! Enjoy an afternoon rest at your hotel during the heat of the day, then continue your temple exploration with the jewel of Cambodia: Angkor Wat, whose temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. This 12th century masterpiece is considered the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture, and combines Buddhist and Hindu imagery on a vast scale.
Phnom Penh - Royal Palace and Tuol Sleng
Fly to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s bustling capital city of over 2 million residents. Today, set out to explore the extensive Royal Palace grounds, including the Silver Pagoda, paved with floor tiles of solid silver. Learn about the grim history of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot era with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Prison, used for “processing” prisoners. Afterward, wander the nearby markets or enjoy a walking tour exploring the alleys of Phnom Penh.
Accommodations: La Rose Suites
La Rose Suites is a luxurious 5-star boutique hotel in the heart of Cambodia's bustling capital. Nestled on a quiet street near Independence Monument, the Royal Palace and National Museum, La Rose Suites is the perfect location for a walk in the local park or a stroll along the riverside promenade. Dually inspired by the charming architecture of French Indochina and the grandeur of Angkor Wat, La Rose Suites aims to please aesthetically while tempting your other senses.
*Includes: BreakfastUpgrades and alternatives: Raffles Le Royal, Rosewood Phnom Penh, Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, and others
More Photos From This Trip
Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary
Add a few days to explore the Mekong Delta region. With vibrant merchants and vibrant markets, this is one of the country’s liveliest places to spend time.
Extend your trip on the pristine white sand beaches of southern Cambodia or Thailand.
Speak to your Vaya Specialist about restaurant recommendations and reservations in both Saigon and Hanoi, and experience some of the world’s most interesting culinary destinations.
Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip!
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