GENERAL INFORMATION
Tour Route: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Lao Cai – Sapa – Halong Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Can Tho – Vinh Long – Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap – Battambang – Phnom Penh
Duration: 22 Days/ 21 Nights
Date: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
Start/ End: Hanoi/ Phnom Penh
Tour Customizable: Definitely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
Accommodation: Listed below or equivalent
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Experience Hanoi’s charm with cyclo tours, water puppet shows, and a culinary journey through its bustling streets
- Explore Vietnam’s past at key landmarks like the Vietnam Military History Museum and Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi
- Discover the scenic beauty of Ninh Binh with boat rides through limestone caves
- Immerse yourself in the diverse cultures of Sapa and Bac Ha through vibrant markets, ethnic villages
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – Cyclo & Water Puppet Show – Walking Tour with Street Foods (D)
Day 2: Hanoi – History Tour (B, L)
Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Trang An – Hoa Lu – Hang Mua – Night Train to Lao Cai, Sapa (B, L, D)
Day 4: Lao Cai – Bac Ha Market – Sapa (B, L)
Day 5: Sapa – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho – Tavan (B, L, D)
Day 6: Tavan – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Lao Cai (B, L)
Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on board (B, L, D)
Day 8: Halong – Hanoi – Fly to Hue (B, Br)
Day 9: Hue – DMZ Tour (B, L)
Day 10: Hue – Heritage Tour – Hoi An (B, L)
Day 11: Hoi An – Son My Memorial & ½ Day Walking Tour (B, L)
Day 12: Hoi An – Free Time – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho (B)
Day 13: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Vinh Long – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City – Cooking Class & Investigating Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City – From Past to Present (B, L)
Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City – Fly to Siem Reap (B)
Day 17: Siem Reap – Angkor Temple Tour (B)
Day 18: Siem Reap – Floating Village – Banteay Srei (B)
Day 19: Siem Reap – Battambang (B)
Day 20: Battambang – Phnom Penh (B)
Day 21: Phnom Penh – City Tour (B)
Day 22: Phnom Penh – Departure (B)
FULL ITINERARY
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – Cyclo & Water Puppet Show – Walking Tour with Street Foods (D)
Welcome up on arrival by local tour guide and on our way, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology, which is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. Then, we transfer to hotel and spend the day here to relax before enjoying a 1-hour cyclo tour of the French inspired “old quarter”. We will be free for shopping in the old quarter ranges from markets through to designer boutique stores to amazing contemporary art galleries. We will then sit down to enjoy a performance of the city’s famous Water Puppets. Then, we transfer back to hotel and start a walking tour around the old quarter of Hanoi along different streets, try to taste many kinds of local food such as beef/chicken noodle soup, oil-fried pastry, tofu, rice pancake, pillow cake, sweet soup, stuff pancake with pork, draught beer… and one of our best surprised is a stop at Dong Xuan whole sales market where we know many kinds of ingredients being sold.
Last but not least is our happy ending at a hidden coffee in the Old Quarters enjoy its famous ‘egg coffee’ in a pleasant surrounding overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. Fortunately, as it’s Friday so there’s night market and walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake. It would be a great chance to immerse in the local life of the local at weekend here. After the tour, we return back to hotel in old quarter Hanoi.
These are the famous street foods that you can try in Hanoi:
- Bánh Cuốn – Steamed rice paper rolls
- Bún Ốc – Vietnamese freshwater Snails Noodle
- Bún Riêu Cua – The Hearty Crab Soup Noodle (Not suitable for people allergic to crustacean shells)
- Bún Cá – Noodle soup with fish
- Bánh Xèo & Nem Lụi – Crispy pancakes and lemongrass pork skewers
- Miến Xào Lươn – Glass noodles with eel
- Bánh Đa Trộn – Mixed flat rice noodles
- Bánh Tôm – Hanoi shrimp cakes
- Chả Rươi – Fried Worm (Based on season)
- Bánh Gối – Crispy ’empanadas’
- Mỳ Gà Tần – Chicken noodles in herbal broth
- Chè – Colourful Sweet Dessert Soup
- Lẩu – Vietnamese Hot-pot (Such as Thai Hot Pot, Hearty Crab Hot Pot, Beef Hotpot, Mixed Hot Pot, …)
- Steaky Rices – Corn Sticky Rices, Green Sticky Rice Sticks, sticky rice with caramelized pork and eggs, etc)d
- Egg Coffee or Green Bean Egg Café
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: Dinner with street foods
Day 2: Hanoi – History Tour (B, L)
Pick up at a hotel in Hanoi, we will have a full day exploring some of the most interesting museums in Hanoi. We first visited the Vietnam Military History Museum which is located in the opposite site of Lenin Park with a commanding statue of Lenin. Continue to the Hoa Lo Prison, where Vietnamese, American, and French prisoners of war were imprisoned. To conclude the morning, pay a visit to the Huu Tiep Lake – better known as “B-52 Lake” where there lies US B-5 bomber wreckage. After the tour, we then transfer back to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (visit outside) which houses his corpse everlasting so that Vietnamese people and friend countries can come to pay expect to him as the greatest president ever in Vietnam; his stilt-house described as Ho Chi Minh’s final resting accommodation since he died in 1969, and One Pillar pagoda with a long history back to 1049 during Ly dynasty in Vietnam- the period that Buddhist was most magnifically prosperous. The architecture followed special meanings as well. Followings we visit the Temple of Literature, which originally built as a temple to Confucius.
Remarks:
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is not opened on every Monday & Friday.
- Museum of Ethnology is closed on every Monday.
- The Museum can be moved to your favourite museum in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Trang An – Hoa Lu – Hang Mua – Night Train to Lao Cai, Sapa (B, L, D)
Pick up at your hotel at 8 AM, we will drive Southward of Hanoi to Ninh Binh province. We will take a pleasant boat rowing in Hoang Long River to visit Trang An Eco-Tourism complex. The complex is surrounded by picturesque landscape with thousands of hectares with more than 100 caves which can be explored by boat. It is also a home of 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna that many of them in the Red book of Vietnam. It is also a gathering of 31 valleys, 48 cross-water caves and we will visit 3 to 6 of them. On the rowing boat, we can enjoy the fresh air, clean and clear water with under water grass. Experience ourselves the feeling and emotion when we are on the water caves… After the tour, we will eat lunch in the local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital dated back from 10th and 11th centuries. The area is one of rice fields broken by picturesque limestone mountains. It features se Departuveral dozen monuments, including King Dinh and King Le Temple & Tombs… Then, we will spend time to visit Hang Mua – Dancing Cave is where you can get the impressive panoramic view of Tam Coc and NinhBinh city when you reach the top point of Ngoa Long mountain (about 500 stone steps). In the late afternoon, we will have early dinner before moving to train station for night train to Lao Cai – Sapa.
Overnight on Livitrans Train – 2-berth Cabin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Lao Cai – Bac Ha Market – Sapa (B, L)
Bac Ha market, located in the heart of Bac ha small town is the largest one in the area. Every Sunday, the different and colorful ethnic minority come all here to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be met in any other areas. The highlights of this trip is to live yourself in Bac Ha colorful market that happens only on Sunday and also to take a wonderful boat trip upstream Chay River, to have some pleasant walks through Tay village.
You will be met by local guide and driver upon your arrival at Lao Cai station then transferred to a local restaurant for breakfast. Then start our drive to Bac Ha town. The road is relatively flat from Lao Cai to Bao Nhai bridge. After crossing the bridge, we begin our journey up to Bac Ha. Bac Ha market, located in the heart of Bac ha small town is the largest one in the area. Every Sunday, the different and colorful ethnic minority come all here to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be met in any other areas. Your lunch will be provided in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we drive downhill towards Lao Cai for about half an hour. We stop on the way (before reaching Lao Cai) to take a short walk to Trung Do village inhabited by Tay people. Tay villages are always set up at the foot of a mountain or along a stream and are named after a mountain, a field, or a river. Each village contains about 15-20 households. A large village is divided into many small hamlets. The houses are built on stilts or level with the ground. Stop by a traditional Tay house for a cup of tea before taking a boat cruise upstream the Chay River. The scenery is very beautiful on both sides of the river. The boat trip will end at Bao Nhai bridge where your vehicle will be waiting for you for the journey back to Sapa.
Overnight in Sapa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5: Sapa – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho – Tavan (B, L, D)
Highlights:
On this trip you will trek along Muong Hoa River sneaking through the valley nearby Sapa town, which is surrounded by huge rice paddy terraces. On the way you will learn more about how is the rice cultivating, from when the seed sowed to harvested, until being served as cooked rice on your dinner table. The night you spend in Tavan village, the unique village in Sapa area where Giay minority live, will be an excellent experience.
Met up at your hotel in Sapa by local guide and driver for a short road transfer heading to Cat Cat village. After a couple of minutes, you will follow a road going downhill to Cat Cat village. You will stop by a waterfall and a hydroelectric station for a while before you trek on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraces. You will also enjoy spectacular scenery while walking along a narrow river. You eventually arrive in Y Linh Ho village of Black Hmong minority, where you can take a rest while you are served lunch nearby the river.
After lunch, you head Muong Hoa valley. You will pass through Lao Chai village of Black Hmong minority and then Tavan village of Giay minority by following a very popular trekking route. You will spend the night in local house of Giay minority. You will be able to take a walk to enjoy the valley view as well as swim in the river nearby.
Approx: 5 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.
Overnight in homestay (shared bathroom)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Tavan – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Lao Cai (B, L)
Once you get energy for your last day trek by having a delicious breakfast, you leave for Giang Ta Chai village of Red Dao minority. You will trek through bamboo forest, which belongs to Hoang Lien National Park. On the way you will pass by a waterfall where you will have time to take a rest and enjoy the surroundings. You will find a nice place to enjoy lunch. After lunch, you continue toward Su Pan, a small village located by the road. Here you start your journey back to Sapa by car before we depart the train back to Hanoi.
Approx: 1-hour driving/ 3 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.
Overnight on Livitrans Train – 2-berth Cabin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on board (B, L, D)
This morning, the train will arrive at 5:30 am and our guide will pick you up at Hanoi Station and we all will transfer to eat Pho Cham as a breakfast. After breakfast, we will take a cup of coffee at the Ca Bop Cofee Shop while waiting the shuttle bus pick you up to start our journey. After breakfast, we pick you up at the hotel in Hanoi by shuttle bus to start our journey. When we arrive at Tuan Chau Marina, you will get checked in at Paradise Suites Hotel and transferred to the Paradise Cruise via Electric Cart. Once arrived, you will be given a short briefing about your cruise itinerary and safety regulations while you enjoy some complimentary welcoming drinks. Shortly after, enjoy your lunch at the Restaurant while viewing the beautiful islets of Ha Long Bay.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Tung Sau Pearl farm where you will have the chance to learn about the process of pearl cultivation or you go kayaking instead. Afterward, your next stop will be at Titop Island, an island named after the Russian Cosmonaut “Gherman Stepanovich Titov”. You can choose to either hike the island’s mountain to get a majestic view of Ha Long Bay or swim at the beach.
After that, we return to the cruise and enjoy the Bay sunset while enjoying the “Happy Hour” special. You may also join our chef in the kitchen to learn how to make a Vietnamese Dish. After a Western Set Dinner, enjoy some night activities on the boat like: squid fishing, drinks, or movies. The rest of night will be relaxing on the cruise.
Overnight on cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Halong – Hanoi – Fly to Hue (B, Br)
Start your day with a Tai Chi Session at the Sundeck. Then, we enjoy a light meal with some fresh pastries, coffee, and tea at the restaurant. Next destination will be the Sung Sot Cave, the largest and most magnificent cave in the bay where ySE22:15 – ou can see the stalactites in different forms. Afterward come to enjoy breakfast while the cruise passes by Thien Cung, Dau Go Cave, and the Fighting Cock Islet. After breakfast, you will check out and are free to enjoy the rest of your trip at the Lounge or on the sundeck looking at the astonishing view of Halong Bay. At 10:15 AM, Paradise Cruise returns to Tuan Chau Marina. Finally, we disembark and farewell the crew then get back to Hanoi by our shuttle bus/D-car in 2.5 to 3 hours driving.
We then transfer to Noi Bai Airport for the flight to Hue. On your arrival, our car will pick you up at the ariport and transfer to hotel in Hue for accommodation.
Overnight in Hue
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
Day 9: Hue – DMZ Tour (B, L)
The DMZ lay at the 17th parallel and was created by an agreement known as the Geneva Agreement. In reality, the DMZ extended 10 km on either side of the Ben Hai River and ran west to east from the Laotian border to the South China Sea. The DMZ was breached by the North Vietnamese Army when they constructed the Ho Chi Minh Trail that allowed for the transport of troops and supplies to the National Liberation Front in the south. The U.S, in an attempt to stop the flow of troops and supplies, built a series of fire bases including Camp Carroll, Fuller, The Rockpile, Con Tien, Vandergrift, Khe Sanh Combat Base, Lang Vei Special Forces Camp…. along Route 9, about six miles south of and parallel to the DMZ. That series of bases became known as the “McNamara Line,” so named for Robert S. McNamara”, then U.S. secretary of defence. Some of the war’s fiercest fighting and bloodiest battles occurred along that line. Such areas as Khe Sanh, Con Tien, are forever etched into the minds of the soldiers who fought there and survived.
Pick-up in Hue, head north on Highway One toward Dong Ha, stop at sites along the way, such as Highway of Horror, Quang Tri Citadel, the Ai Tu Airfield. Continue to Dong Ha, the former headquaters of the elements of the U.S Marines, head west on Route 9. The first stop is the Rockpile, a look-out of the U.S Marine Corps, visit Van Kieu ethnic minorities people in the Central of Vietnam. Continue to Khe Sanh village, visit Khe Sanh Combat Base. Lunch in Dong Ha. After lunch, head north to visit the Hien Luong Bridge over the Ben Hai river at the middle of the DMZ ( Demilitarized Zone ), the river that was the only true physical demarcation between North and South Vietnam . Continue to Vinh Moc tunnels, the refuge of some 400 north Vietnamese inhabitants during the bombing operation “ Rolling Thunder “. After the tour, we transfer back to Hue and relax.
Overnight in Hue
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10: Hue – Heritage Tour – Hoi An (B, L)
Pick up at hotel at 8:30 AM, we visit the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, after exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument. We will then depart to the Hue Royal Fine Art Museum, which is housed within the former Dien Long An Royal Palace. Then, we will board the Dragon Boat 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. We 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, we rejoin our van and go visit King Khai Dinh’s Tomb.
After the tour, we will visit Thuy Xuan Incense Village is one of the famous Hue tourist attractions that almost every tourist stops to visit. The address of Thuy Xuan incense village is on Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, near Vong Canh hill, Royal Tomb of Tu Duc, 7km southwest of Hue city center. According to the oldest artisans in Thuy Xuan incense village, incense making appeared here about 700 years ago under the Nguyen Dynasty. In the past, the village was the place to provide incense sticks and frankincense for the court, mandarins, and high-level people in Thuan Hoa and Phu Xuan areas.
After the tour, we travel by vehicle to Hoi An along scenic highway 1A. Along the way, we will stop to contemplate the stunning views North of Lang Co Beach, and South of Danang city. We will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon. The rest of the day will be free for strolling in the town, lazing on the beach, or whatever takes our fancy. We’ll spend the night in Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11: Hoi An – Son My Memorial & ½ Day Walking Tour (B, L)
Start the tour at 8 am, our tour guide will pick up you at your hotel in Hoi An and we will transfer you to My Lai Massacre Village. It is about 130 km and takes 2.5 hours to go to My Lai Village. Upon arrival at My Lai. you watch an emotionally charged video that demonstrates about Viet Nam – American War. Then, you walk into the Museum to experience the horrible results of war before visiting the sites in the surrounding gardens to see many wooden houses that were fired by American soldiers. You also can see some vestiges from the event. Our Professional guide will take you around and answer many questions in English about the war and what happened before in this village. A day trip to My Lai will provide sad memories and give unique insights into Vietnam’s history. After the tour, we transfer back to Hoi An Ancient Town and we will calm our hearts down with a walking tour around the ancient town to visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky’s old house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An, the temples, and pagodas of Chinese appearance. Then we went back to our hotel to relax.
These are the famous Hoi An Street Food that you should know and try
- Bánh Mì Thập Cẩm | Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich
- Cao Lầu | Pork Rice Noodle |
- Bánh Bao Bánh Vạc | White Rose Dumpling
- Cơm Gà Hoi An | Hoi An Chicken Rice
- Mì Quảng | Quang Seafood Noodle
- Bánh Xèo | Vietnamese Pancake
- Bún Thịt Nướng | Grilled Pork over Vermicelli
- Thịt Xiên Nướng | Grilled Pork in Rice Paper
- Vietnamese Spring Rolls
- Xí mà phủ | Black sesame sweet soup
Overnight in Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12: Hoi An – Free Time – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho (B)
After breakfast, we will be free until your driver arrives to take you to Danang International Airport for your next flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, welcomed upon arrival by a local tour guide and driver then we transferred to Can Tho in the next 3.5 hours. The rest of the day will be relaxing in these places.
Overnight in Can Tho
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Vinh Long – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
Early morning today, we will take the boat trip to visit the famous Cai Rang Floating Market with the busy sense right at the time. This is a biggest floating market in Mekong Delta where we can see the daily life and local people selling their products on boats. Then, we come to Ninh Kieu Quay of Can Tho before crossing the Lower River and arriving in Binh Minh where we can stop for a walk to visit My Hoa village where people are making many products from soya beans & tofu.
On the way to Vinh Long, we will have a stop at Duong Chua Bridge. From here, we will have 1 hour of biking and visiting Phuoc Hau village. This village is famous for its vegetable plantations. We can see the process of planting, watering, harvesting… After that, we come back to the boat to continue our wonderful boat trip.
After lunchtime, we will continue our tour to Vinh Long. The first stop will be Vinh Long’s busy market of fruits, vegetables, freshwater fish… After that, we have the boat trip to the Cai Ca canal to make a stop at a handicraft village and see how they are waving to make bamboo baskets to contain rice, fruits, fish… After the tour, we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City and spend the rest of the night there.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City – Cooking Class & Investigating Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
Pick up at the hotel in the morning, we will take a 50-minute drive to Ho Chi Minh Agricultural Villages. On arrival, we will have a tour around the village, visiting cow areas, buffalo areas, rice fields, Fish, prawn, chicken, and duck areas, and then Big Herbs, Spices, Vegetables, and Mushrooms areas. We then challenged the garden and became real Vietnamese farmers in Vietnamese traditional conical hats. Pick many kinds of herbs, spices, vegetables, and mushrooms in the garden and start our hands-on cooking with three dishes and 1 dessert. After each dish, we will sit down and sample our effort.
After the class, we will get a nice certificate, recipes, and souvenirs before continuing to a Cow Milk farm and understanding the process of getting milk. Try your hands in getting milk from the cows, making coffee with fresh cow’s milk, and relaxing in pleasant surroundings with a special coffee.
Continuing to Cu Chi Tunnels, otherwise known as the “Iron Triangle” or “Iron Land“. On our way there, we will drive through pleasant countryside; rubber plantations, and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers. After the tour, we return to the city center in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City – From Past to Present (B, L)
After breakfast, we visit all the highlights in Ho Chi Minh City like the Reunification Palace. It is a palace of the old President in South Vietnam during the American war. Next, head to the War Remnants Museum where the poignant display of the futility of war is. After that, we visit Notre Dame Cathedral & Old Post Office, the two sites that we can’t miss when we visit the city.
After lunch, we traverse to District 5 to head to Cho Lon (China Town) and FITO Museum which is the first and the most interesting museum on Vietnam traditional medicine. We then go back to the center to do shopping at the renowned Ben Thanh market. This market is very prevalent with tourists, primarily due to its central location.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City – Fly to Siem Reap (B)
Time will be free until our car arrives at the hotel to take us to the airport in good time to board our flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival to Siem Reap International Airport, a private driver will transfer you to your hotel for check in.
Overnight in Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast
Day 17: Siem Reap – Angkor Temple Tour (B)
A tour guide and private driver will pick you up and take on a visit to Angkor Archaeological Park. The adventure begins with a visit to the antique capital of Angkor Thom, where you’ll marvel at the South Gate’s colossal statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk. Discover the intricacies of the Bayon Temple, adorned with 54 towers featuring over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara. Explore the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King, each revealing a chapter of Cambodia’s rich history.
In the afternoon, venture to Ta Prohm, a temple untouched by time and shrouded in mystery, followed by the iconic Angkor Wat. Spanning 81 hectares, Angkor Wat is a masterpiece of classical Khmer art and architecture, boasting distinctive five towers that adorn the Cambodian flag. As the day concludes, savor the enchanting sunset from the summit of Phnom Ba Kheng Mountain, providing a perfect ending to your temple exploration.
Overnight in Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast
Day 18: Siem Reap – Floating Village – Banteay Srei (B)
In the morning, a private driver and tour guide will take you on a boat trip on the Tonle Sap Lake at Kampong Phluk Village. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fisherman’s “floating village” with floating schools, floating police station, etc. Witness the unique lifestyle of locals dwelling on stilted houses, offering a glimpse into the vibrant culture that thrives on the water. On the way back, we will take you on a visit to Banteay Srey, known as Citadel of Women or a Pink Temple, and Banteay Samre Temples.
Overnight in Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast
Day 19: Siem Reap – Battambang (B)
In the morning, a tour guide and private driver will take you on a short drive from Siem Reap to the beautiful town of Battambang, the first Cambodian city to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. In the evening, you will be taken to the famous Battambang Bat Caves. Every evening at around 4:00-5:00pm during sunset, a crowd gathers at the base of Phnom Samoeou to watch millions of bats rise from their slumber and burst of out the network of caves to spend the night hunting at the surrounding countryside.
Overnight in Battambang
Meals: Breakfast
Day 20: Battambang – Phnom Penh (B)
A driver and tour guide will take you to the famous Bamboo Train, an open train track that offers bamboo platform rides through the beautiful Khmer Paddy Fields, and Khmer Villages. Afterwards, you will be taken to Battambang’s popular Killing Caves, an Angkor era temple that sits on top of a hill nearby the Sanker River. Climb the 365 stars to marvel at the beautiful Wat Banan that was built in the 11th century.
In the afternoon, take a 5-hour drive from Battambang to Phnom Penh. Along the way, take a fascinating detour to Kampong Chhnang, where you’ll visit Andong Russey village to witness the traditional art of pottery-making. Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, check into hotel.
Overnight in Phnom Penh
Meals: Breakfast
Day 21: Phnom Penh – City Tour (B)
A tour guide and driver will take you on a tour of the capital city. Start your day at the Choeung Ek Memorial, where a haunting stupa made of 8,000 human skulls stands as a somber reminder of the Killing Fields’ atrocities. Next, delve into Cambodia’s history with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, formerly a school turned Khmer Rouge torture center where over 20,000 people were held captive and tortured.
In the afternoon, explore Phnom Penh’s highlights. Firstly, visit Wat Phnom, a large hillside park in the middle of the city that showcases the beauty of Khmer architecture. We continue along the river to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, where you can see where Cambodian royalty resides. A few blocks away is the beautiful National Museum, the country’s leading historical and archaeological museum full of ancient Khmer artifacts dating back centuries. You can browse around the many attractions within the museum.
Overnight in Phnom Penh
Meals: Breakfast
Day 22: Phnom Penh – Departure (B)
A driver will pick you up and transfer you to Phnom Penh International Airport to await departure for your following destination. Thanks for choosing Vietnam local tour operator!
