10-Day Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia Tour: Hanoi to Siem Reap

Welcome to Hanoi – Vietnam!
The driver will be welcoming you at Noi Bai airport; it takes us 35 minutes driving to the centre of Hanoi. Based on your arrival time, you could choose the morning or afternoon joining city tour with lunch.

Morning option:
Embark on a captivating exploration of Hanoi City as our friendly guide picks you up between 8:00am and 8:30am. Your journey begins with a visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda, nestled on the picturesque Golden Fish Island in West Lake. This ancient pagoda, dating back to the 6th century, is a testament to Hanoi's rich history. Next, you'll discover the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you'll have a remarkable opportunity to view the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh himself. Stroll through the lush garden, which once served as his residence and workplace from 1954 to 1969. Your next stop is the One Pillar Pagoda, an architectural marvel dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy. It stands as one of the world's most unique pagodas. Please remember to dress modestly, covering your shoulders and knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, temples, and pagodas. Keep in mind that the mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays, if you travel on closing dates of this place, our guide would replace this to another attraction.
By 11:15am, we would visit the Vietnam Ethnology Museum, where you'll gain valuable insights into the diverse cultures of the country's 54 ethnic groups. On Mondays, when the Ethnology Museum is closed, we'll take you to the Women's Museum for an equally enriching experience. By lunchtime, savor a Vietnamese lunch at local restaurant. Your morning half-day city tour concludes here, leaving you with a deeper understanding of Hanoi's cultural and historical treasures.

Afternoon option: Starting around 12:30pm
Your adventure begins with our friendly guide extending a warm welcome as they pick you up from your hotel. You're about to embark on an enriching afternoon exploration of Hanoi, one of Vietnam's most culturally vibrant cities.
Your culinary and cultural journey kicks off with a visit to a local restaurant, where you'll have the pleasure of indulging in a Vietnamese lunch. The first stop on your itinerary is the esteemed Temple of Literature, known as Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam. Founded in the year 1070, this historic complex holds immense significance in Hanoi. Stroll through its picturesque gardens, marvel at the time-honored architecture, and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of the country's educational heritage.
The journey continues with a visit to Hoa Lo Prison, a site that holds historical weight and was famously known as the "Hanoi Hilton." Explore its thought-provoking exhibits, each narrating stories from different chapters of the nation's past.
As late afternoon approaches, you'll find yourself at the tranquil Ngoc Son Temple, gracefully positioned on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake. To reach this sacred sanctuary, you'll cross the iconic red bridge, adding to the experience.
This is where your adventure through Hanoi's rich cultural and historical tapestry comes to an end and you will return back to your hotel.
O/N in Hanoi
 

07:30am – 08:00am: Get picked up by our friendly guide then depart for Ninh Binh province.
09:15am: Have a short break for 15 – 20 minutes to relax.
10:30am: Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital of Vietnam between 968 and 1010. You have a chance to learn about Vietnamese history in the feudal system under Dinh, Le, and Ly Dynasty.
11:45am: Have a buffet lunch in the restaurant with many local foods such as goat meat, fish, chicken, and fried rice…Vegetarian foods are always available in the buffet lunch.
13:00pm: Visit Tam Coc by 1.5-hour bamboo boat. You will be surprised by the charming beauty here with paddy fields, river, water, cloud, sky, and a stunning cave system during the boat trip. All make a masterpiece that the Vietnamese people called "Ha Long Bay on land".
14:30pm: Continue the tour for 45 mins - cycling around the village to discover the life of the local people.
15:30pm: Get back to Limousine Bus then leave for Mua Cave (Dancing Cave). Walk up almost 500 steps, you can reach the top of Lying Dragon Mountain & have an amazing panoramic view of Tam Coc from here.
16:30pm: Get on the bus to return to Hanoi.
18:30pm: Get dropped off at Hotel in Hanoi.

From Hanoi, at 8:00am, head East for more than 3 hours to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994. The road will pass by the Red River delta with green paddyfields and rural villages, where hard-work farmers are busy with their farming jobs, ploughing buffaloes or planting seedling.
Upon arrival in Halong, we'll take a big boat to cruise the Bay to discover the magnificent beauty of this "Descending-dragon" bay, created by thousands odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes.
After a lunch of fresh seafood on board, we can visit the Surprising Grotto, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating villages and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the boat for dinner late afternoon.
Evening attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the boat near Titov Beach. 

After breakfast, visit by boat to Luon Cave, a ring-shaped pool inside an island in Halong with absolutely tranquil landscape and emerald water. Back to the Wharf of Halong passing the most densely area with many islands that have been named like the Cock-Fighting Rock, Sail Island, Incense burner rock or Sea Dog Rock.
Arrive at Halong Wharf around 11:00 am. Return to Hanoi, then you'll transfer to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Welcome at the airport then transfer to hotel for checking-in(Evening Flight). Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. 

After breakfast at hotel, picked by at hotel and drive heading to My Tho the homeland of coconut and family factories with local products like coconut candy, rice paper,… Upon arrival, embark on the boat cruising on the mighty Mekong River viewing the life to the local people live along the banks. We stop at one of 4 island in the area for sightseeing. Enjoy the fresh tropical fruits served in the heart of the garden accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music at the plantation. After that you will embark on the small boats rowed the the local people thru the small cannels with water coconut tree to visit the local factories. There you will taste the honey tea and see the local people produce the coconut candy milk and of course you also can try it or stroll in the garden where the locals feed honeybee. After that enjoy the horse-cart trip throught the tranquil road of the village. We continue getting on the big boat to visit the vast area. Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant nearby Mekong River with the Elephant Ear fish. Afternoon, drive back to Saigon with stop to visit Vinh Trang pagoda, a famous pogoda in the area that its architecture is a mix of Chinese, Cambodian, and French culture. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel. You will be picked up from pick-up point in District 1 at 07:30am-08:00am. Take the morning city tour to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, a witness to the fierce Vietnam War that ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall for official receptions. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only) built between 1877 and 1883, the historic Central Post Office - one of the city's major landmarks. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum, one of the most famous historical attractions in Ho Chi Minh. Coming to the War Remnants Museum, you can learn a part of how Vietnamese struggled and fought for their independence, freedom, and peace of the nation, as well as the locals' perspective of the Vietnam War. Have lunch with Vietnamese food at local restaurant. 
Afternoon drive to Cu Chi Tunnels: the network of over 200 km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the war. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities, including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers, and kitchens. After a short introduction video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Experience the thrill of firing an M15, AK-47, and carbine rifle  (at guests own extra cost). 

Breakfast at the hotel, you'll transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for a midday flight to Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel, explore South Gate of Angkor Thom known as Big Angkor, 3km2 walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire, The famous Bayon Temple was an architectural muddle, in part because it was constructed in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for over a century. Terrace of the Elephants is an impressive, two and a half meter tall, 300 meter long terrace wall adorned with carved elephants and gradual that spans the heart of Angkor Thom in front of Baphuon - huge temple mountain in the heart of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace Area and Phimeanakas - impressive rite and sandstone pyramid. Terrace of the Leper King is at the north end of the Terrace of the Elephants, a double terrace wall with deeply carved nag as, demons and other mythological beings. Last you will visit Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty. Giant trees have grown here for centuries. 
Afternoon visit Angkor Wat temple, the founder of the temple was Suryavarman II who reined Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century to dedicate to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys, ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction. Have funny time at bars and pubs at Angkor night market. Overnight in Siem Reap.

It is your free day to discover Siem Reap around. 
You will then have a buffet dinner with many different Khmer/Cambodian food options, including classic Amok Cambodian curry and Khmer BBQ. Once you are seated, the Apsara show will begin. This is a truly, purely Cambodian atmosphere. The show offers the widest variety of religious and folkloristic performances. This is a great chance for you to learn more about Cambodia rich long culture with other partners from over the world.
After the show, you will be transported back to your hotel. Tour ends.

Breakfast at hotel, free leisure on own arrangement until time transfer to airport for flight onwards.