22 days Explore Vietnam and Cambodia

After landing, head to Pillar 10 in the airport. Your driver will be waiting there to take you to your hotel. The journey takes about 40 minutes, and it's a great way to experience the vibrant energy of Hanoi. Prepare to be amazed! As you drive, you'll see a bustling city filled with scooters, street vendors, and the mouthwatering aroma of grilled pork chops. It's a feast for the senses. Once you check in, take some time to explore the neighborhood or relax in your room.

At 6:00 PM, we'll embark on a delicious street food adventure. Your guide will lead you through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, sharing stories about Hanoi's rich culinary heritage. Get ready to savor some of the city's most iconic dishes. We'll return to your hotel around 9:30 PM, full and satisfied.

Private tour

You might think, "Who bikes in Hanoi?" But cycling through this bustling city and its surrounding countryside is surprisingly easy and rewarding. Join our 4.5-hour bike tour and uncover hidden gems. Explore famous landmarks while venturing off the beaten path. Discover narrow alleyways where locals have been serving delicious food for generations. Witness a train track running through people's front yards and find peaceful oases in the countryside. Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby around 8:00 AM. Cycle past iconic landmarks like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Old Quarter gates. Pedal through narrow alleyways, past B52 Lake, and along the scenic West Lake. Cycle through the "Banana Plantation," a serene area filled with lush greenery. Cross the iconic Long Bien Bridge and return to the Old Quarter. End your morning adventure with a delicious lunch. You'll be back in the city by 1:00 PM, free to explore at your own pace.

Tour type: small group

Today you will travel to the west. Around 08.00 our driver will pick you up for the ride to Mai Chau, one of the most beautiful valleys in Northern Vietnam. An area with vast rice fields, rock formations, and peaceful villages. You will arrive at the accommodation around noon. Time for lunch. After lunch, the guide will take you for a bike tour through the valley. Discover the culture of the White Thai minority in the villages: Nà Thia, Chiềng Sại, Cha Village, Cha Long, Tong Dau, and Văn Village. Enjoy the quiet daily life by watching the farmers at work. They cultivate rice, vegetables, raise fish, and graze livestock depending on the seasons. You will also have the chance to visit the family of Mr. Điệp (where four generations live under the same roof) and experience both daily life and work on the farm. In the late afternoon, the driver will take you to Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
Pu Luong Nature Reserve has a beautiful landscape characterized by rice terraces, vast fields, forests, and streams. The ethnic minorities living in this area belong to the 'White Thai'. Pu Luong can be considered one of the most beautiful destinations in Northern Vietnam. Travelers are ecstatic about this destination. The definition of 'paradise' is appropriate. You will stay in an ecolodge for the next two nights, located by the rice terraces with a fabulous view. 

Tour type: private

This is one of the most diverse treks in Pù Luông, where visitors can enjoy terraced rice fields, explore villages, hike through forests, and learn more about the Pù Luông Nature Reserve with its abundant and varied flora and fauna. Departing from the accommodation, our local guide will lead you to Ươi Village - a village hidden in the valley, concealed in the natural palm forest along the hill.
Continue the trek through the forest on a path over 6 km long and you will arrive at Kho Mường, known for its majestic Kho Mường cave. Make a stop at the orange orchard to enjoy the refreshing green surroundings (if in season, you can pick oranges in the orchard), before having lunch with a local resident.
The afternoon is dedicated to exploring the vast Kho Mường cave, adorned with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites, which provide habitat for at least 4 species of bats. You will then walk about 2 km on a paved road and arrive at the village exit, where our vehicle is waiting to take you back to the accommodation for relaxation.

Tour type: Private

• Note: Tourism in Pu Luong is still relatively new and guides generally do not speak any or very little English. However, they know the area like no other and will show you the most beautiful spots.
• Note 2: The walk is typically around 10km after which we will arrange for a car to bring you back to the accommodation. For the avid hiker, the trek can be extended. A full route is about 24km.

After yesterday's long journey, you can use this morning to relax by the pool. After lunch, the driver will take you to Tam Coc, the next fantastic destination on this trip. The beautiful nature just keeps on coming.
Tam Coc is also known as Halong Bay on land, and you will see that as you enter Ninh Binh province. Vast rice fields and limestone rocks provide a contrasting horizon. The journey from Pu Luong to Tam Coc takes about 3 hours.

Today you will be picked up at 08:30 and go on a 25-kilometer bike tour through the beautiful surroundings with the guide. You will cycle along quiet paths through the rice fields flanked by the impressive karst rocks.
During the tour, you will also take a beautiful boat trip of about 1.5 hours through the fabulous landscape of Tam Coc. Other attractions you will visit are the Thai Vi Temple, the Bich Dong Pagoda, and the Hang Mua Viewpoint.

Tour type: private

• Note: It is possible to do this tour on an electric bike. We need to order these in advance so please indicate on time if you want to use them. Extra cost: €10 per bike.

Today you will be picked up at the hotel to enjoy two days relaxing on the water. The cruise sails from Halong Bay to the more peaceful Lan Ha Bay. This is the bay adjacent to Cat Ba Island. Here, fewer boats are allowed, avoiding mass tourism. After checking in on the boat, the first part of the cruise and lunch, the activities can begin.
Today, various small islands and caves will be explored. The best way to experience the tranquility of the beautiful landscape is from a kayak. At 5:00 pm, we will return on board for a drink on the deck and wait for the BBQ dinner to begin. The dinner will be served on the deck or in the restaurant area. The rest of the evening is free to spend, with the possibility of squid fishing.

Wake up early today, around 6:00 if you want to, to join a Tai Chi session on deck. A relaxing way to start the morning and a time when the bay slowly becomes beautifully lit. Around 7:00 there is a light breakfast and the ship slowly sails to the next spot.
After breakfast, you will visit the Tra Bau area, the place that served as a film set for ''Kong - Skull Island''. You can explore this area by swimming and kayaking. Lunch will be back on board the ship. After lunch, you will arrive at the port where our driver is waiting to take you to Noi Bai Airport. You will fly to Hue and be picked up there again.

Discover the best of the ancient imperial capital of Vietnam. Hue is known for its imperial tombs, the Citadel, and the Thien Mu pagoda. Today, you can let your camera work overtime because Hue is very photogenic.
In the morning, you will visit the Dong Ba Market. Here, you will see the hustle and bustle of the local people. After the market, you will see the city from the water and sail over the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, an interesting structure. After the pagoda, it's time for the Citadel, the home of the Nguyen Dynasty, after which we will end the morning with lunch.
After lunch, we will leave the city and visit the impressive tombs of Emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. These are not just small graves but huge complexes that span over several hectares. At the end of the afternoon, you will be dropped off at the hotel again and you can spend the rest of the evening as you wish. 

Tour type: small group

Today, another great tour is on the agenda. You will be picked up by the Easy Riders for an unforgettable ride on the back of a motorcycle. The journey will take you to Hoi An in a day with some beautiful stops along the way.
The Hai Van Pass is the most eye-catching and gained worldwide fame when it was mentioned in the Top Gear program as one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world. In addition to the Hai Van Pass, you will also visit beautiful places such as Lap An Lagoon, the long Lang Co Beach, the Elephant Springs, and the Marble Mountains. Along the way, you will have lunch in a beautiful setting. You will arrive at the hotel in Hoi An around 4:00 PM.
Don't worry about your luggage. It will either be placed on the back of the motorbike or transported separately by car.

This day is completely at your disposal. In the center, you can find the super interesting Precious Heritage Museum where photographer Rehahn beautifully captured all the ethnic minorities of Vietnam. A short taxi ride will take you to An Bang Beach, a beautiful stretch of beach with cozy bars and restaurants. Some interesting excursions include a visit to My Son Sanctuary, Cham Island, or the My Lai Memorial.

"Enjoy a day off in Hoi An. The beaches Cua Dai and An Bang are nearby and the old town is just a stone's throw away."

Today you say goodbye to Central Vietnam and fly south. You will be picked up at the hotel and taken to the airport in Da Nang. The flight to Ho Chi Minh City takes about an hour. Upon arrival, you will be picked up again and taken to the hotel in the city. The rest of the afternoon and evening you can spend as you please.

Today you have a day off in Ho Chi Minh City. There is so much to do, so making choices is necessary. I suggest that you at least visit the War Remnants Museum. From there, you can walk further to see the Reunification Palace. Just around the corner, you will find the Notre Dame Cathedral.

For a great view of the city, it is recommended to go up to the roof of Chill Skybar around 5.30 pm. It's happy hour then, and you can slowly see the sun setting over the hustle and bustle of motorbikes. Dining at Secret Garden would be the perfect way to end the day, but be sure to reserve a table in advance as it is always busy.

Over the next two days, you will get an excellent picture of life in the Delta and stay overnight at the guide's home among the rice fields. The rooms are basic but have air conditioning and a private bathroom with toilet. After lunch, you will explore the area around the homestay by bike. It's a fantastic area where no other tourists come. This way, you will really get to know the local life well.
In this area, there is also a fairly large Khmer community. You will visit a beautiful Khmer temple, and if you can distinguish the languages a bit, you will notice that some people speak Khmer instead of Vietnamese. You will also visit the local market where ingredients are bought for dinner. Together with the guide, you will prepare dinner before being taken back to the hotel.

Tour type: small group or private, depending on whether the guide has more guests that day.

Early start today (5.30 departure) to visit the famous floating market around Can Tho. It's a constant flow of boats selling mostly fruit. There are also boats selling breakfast. You will enjoy a delicious 'banh mi op la' or a warm bowl of 'hu tieu'. And of course a cup of coffee or tea to wake up even more. After the market, you will visit a noodle factory. Here you will see the whole process from starting with a large sheet of rice paper to coloring and cutting the noodles. And you will go through the steps yourself.
You will also cruise through narrow channels with overhanging palms and visit an organic cocoa plantation. The father of the current owner brought a cocoa seed from Malaysia 30 years ago and after much study learned how to make chocolate. You will end the morning with lunch before continuing your journey to the next destination.

Today you will travel by boat to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, a remarkable city with a rich but turbulent history. Once known as the Paris of the East, it fell victim to the Khmer Rouge takeover.

Over the next few days, you will gain an excellent understanding of the city and its history.

The boat will depart around 07.30 today and is expected to arrive around 13.30. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and taken to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for your own leisure. Visit the lively boulevard in the evening or explore the BKK1 district, where you can find charming restaurants and boutiques.

Time to explore the city with the tuktuk! You will start with a visit to the Royal Palace and the famous Silver Pagoda. This name is due to the silver floor which is now largely covered for protection, but you can still visit the pagoda. Phnom Penh is mainly known for the atrocities that took place during the Pol Pot regime that lasted from 1975 to 1979. You will learn more about the backgrounds of these horrific events at the Tuol Sleng Museum, also known as S21 prison, and The Killing Fields where the prisoners were executed at night. If time allows, you can also visit a local market.

You will be driven to Siem Reap by private car. On the way, you will stop at the pre-Angkorian temple complex of Sambor Prei Kuk. This is the oldest complex in Cambodia, dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries, and is beautifully situated in the forests of Kampong Thom. Upon arrival, you will be provided with a bike by our local guide. Together with him, you will visit the three main temples. Cycle along the narrow paths through the forest and discover a completely overgrown temple around every corner. If you do not enjoy cycling, we can also make the tour on foot or by car. Then continue driving towards Siem Reap. In Kampong Kdei, we will make a brief stop to admire one of the largest Angkorian bridges. It is still in use but only pedestrians, cyclists, and mopeds are allowed to cross it. Just one more hour of driving and you will be in Siem Reap.

After a delicious breakfast and a good night's sleep, this morning you will journey by tuk tuk to one of the world's most famous architectural masterpieces of all time; Angkor Wat. This world heritage site dates back to the 12th century and is a mystical complex of beautiful temples, stunning relief art, and ancient statues. First, you will visit Angkor Wat itself, the most important of the more than 100 temples in the complex. Time for a refreshing coconut in the shade of the trees to re-energize! Your next destination is Angkor Thom, where another highlight awaits, the Bayon temple. The 54 Buddha heads in various sizes make this structure one of the most impressive temples in the complex. Later in the day, you will also visit the Ta Phrom temple. This is one of the few temples preserved as archaeologists rediscovered it at the beginning of the 21st century, overgrown by the jungle and clearly reclaimed by nature from humanity. It became world famous through the movie 'Tomb Raider' starring Angelina Jolie.

There are plenty of possibilities in Siem Reap. You can take a cooking class, explore the surroundings on a Vespa, cycle through the community, visit Kampong Kleang (floating village), take a jeep tour to the jungle temple Beng Melea, go horseback riding, take a hot air balloon ride, and many other options. We can of course arrange everything for you on the spot.

We hope you have enjoyed this beautiful country with its welcoming people. This special journey has taken you to some unique places, but Cambodia is a country in development and has much more to offer than what you have seen in the past two weeks. We welcome you to visit for a second time! By private transfer, we will take you to Siem Reap Airport.