Cambodia and Central Vietnam - 12 Days

Welcome to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s vibrant and bustling capital city. Despite its recent turbulent history, Phnom Penh’s wide tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial mansions hold an undeniable charm. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by your tour guide and driven to your hotel for check-in. Time for relaxation.

In the afternoon, set out on a city tour to acquaint yourself with Phnom Penh’s major sites. Your visit today includes National Museum, an excellent introduction into ancient Khmer art and civilization, and the Royal Palace, home to the royal family, followed by the opulent silver pagoda.

Transfer back to the hotel where you will enjoy some free time to rest and freshen up before driving to the dock to catch a sunset cruise along the Mekong River. Savor a welcome dinner on board as you watch the sunset over the shimmering lights of Phnom Penh.

Meals: Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you to visit Koh Dach, an island of the Mekong Delta, located a short boat ride from Phnom Penh. On arrival at the village, you will cycle around the island, pass the luscious trees and fruit plantations, and visit village school  to experience the local life, daily activities at their most authenticity.

After having the picnic lunch, return by ferry to Phnom Penh where you will visit the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek. A visit to these sights provides a deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge.

Return to your hotel and spend rest of the day at your own leisure. 
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

After having breakfast at hotel, you will be picked up for the 5 hour shuttle bus drive to Siem Reap. The journey offers an excellent opportunity to observe rural Cambodia up-close. Stop along the way and visit a market where every assortment of street food is available, including fried spiders – the Khmer favorite.

Upon your arrival in Siem Reap, check in your hotel and free for relaxation.

Later this afternoon, join us on an ox cart tour (join in) to enjoy the magic sunset over the Cambodian countryside and see how the local people live in their very traditional ways. This tour starts at 4.00-4.30pm with a pick up from your hotel and travel by tuk tuk to Chreav village where you will hop on an ox- cart to start the ride throughout. As the activity is arranged at the day end, you will see people buying food for their evening meal at a local market or interact with the friendly farmers working in their fields or enjoying the company from family and friends near their homes. Enjoy the beautiful sunset from a location out in the rice field and then transfer back to your hotel at around 6.30pm (timing varies throughout the seasons).

* Note: If you want to replace the shuttle bus ride from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by the private transfer or flight, the surcharge will be applied.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Siem Reap is well known as the gateway to the many Angkor Temples ruins. Today, catch up the local spirit by spending an entire day with us discovering the mysterious Angkor temples. Start with your early wake up before dawn and take a tuk-tuk ride to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat – the largest Khmer temple and finest example of Angkorian art and architecture.

For your most convenience, a table with hot tea or coffee and breakfast box arranged by Cambodia Travel will be served at a local restaurant nearby Angkor Wat. This is our way to avoid the crowd if clients go back to their hotel for breakfast.

Continue to explore Angkor Thom, start with its imposing South Gate, topped with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon temple – the heart of Angkor Thom before going further to see the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King. Travel through the north gate to Ta Phrom Temple, another must see site. Later of the day, transfer back to the hotel where you can relax for the rest of the day.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Today we travel by car to Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city. On arrival in the afternoon, check in to your hotel then enjoy a walking tour through the city’s bustling boulevards lined with quaint French colonial buildings.  Next we will visit some of Battambang’s signature hilltop temples as well as the infamous cave, Phnom Sampov – an important religious site known throughout all Cambodia. During the Khmer Rouge period the mountain was used as a place to kill “enemies” of the regime and in what are known as the “killing caves” there is a memorial to these victims. Every evening at nightfall thousands of bats make their way out of caves in the hillside to feed before returning at dawn. 
Take a slow 30 minute ride on the bamboo train before returning to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Battambang

Today you will cycle through countryside to explore Cambodia’s rural way of life. During the trip, you will have some stops at villages to see local cottage industries, traditional scarf weaving and traditional farming. You will enjoy a traditional Cambodian lunch with a variety of Battambang’s famous fish soup, vegetables, fruit and a refreshing coconut. The cycle is easy riding on flat terrain and if you would like to opt out of the cycling and hop on a tuk-tuk instead on the way back to your hotel, please inform your tour guide at the beginning of the trip for the best arrangement.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Battambang

After breakfast, depart for a 2-hour drive to Banteay Chhmar, a charming and less visiting temple complex in the northwest of Cambodia. These temples were constructed during the reign of Jayavarman VII, at the same time when Angkor Wat was built and is possibly one of the most stunning temples in Cambodia outside Siem Reap. Your inner archaeologist will marvel at the main temple, which is currently under consideration to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Bayon-style towers and lush overgrowth will fill you with wonder as a local guide explains the history and significance of these sites as part of a community tourism project.

A simple but tasty lunch will be served at the local community center. Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the local scenery as you ride a kuyon, a local open-air vehicle that is similar to a tractor. The kuyon will take you part of the way to Banteay Top, a small but striking temple that is famed for its tower that appears ready to crumble at any time.

You’ll have time to explore this historic temples before the 3-hour drive back to Siem Reap. Spend the rest of your day at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

After having breakfast, spend the whole day to relax or explore the town on your own leisure. 
Take afternoon transfer to the Siem Reap International Airport to catch your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our local guide who then escort you to the hotel in Hue for check in. The rest of the day will be free on your own.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Begin your day with a gentle activity by boarding the local traditional boat cruising along the peaceful Perfume River toward Thien Mu pagoda, the symbol of Hue city. Continue to the Imperial Citadel for the walking tour within its inner area where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 including Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and Forbidden Purple City.

Today’s highlight is the visit to Dong Thuyen Pagoda. Located on top of a hill, the pagoda is very green, peaceful and quiet with a great view. On arrival, take a walk around and visit the main hall of the pagoda with its beautiful collection of Buddha statues. Visit the kitchen and get familiar with the nuns who will prepare your lunch on a wood burning stove. Then, sit down and experience this special vegetarian meal in the atmosphere of peace where the time seems to be much slower. After lunch, you can enjoy some dessert and interact with the nuns to know more about their lives in the pagoda, the practice of Buddhism, and how they became nuns.

In the afternoon, transfer to the tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh to admire the unusual combination of architecture that blends a traditional Chinese past with a modern Western future. Then, visit Thuy Xuan incense village, one of the last villages preserving the traditional profession, the elegant beauty of the Old Capital.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

After breakfast, check-out and take the morning transfer to Hoian which is once a thriving international port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders, who came to trade in the high quality silk still produced in the region. Today, Hoian is a relaxing resort popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, skilled tailors and numerous cafes. On the way, you will see the beautiful Hai Van Pass, visit the Marble Mountain, Cham Museum.

Spend the afternoon on a leisurely walking tour to immerse yourself in the tranquility and charm of this sleepy riverside town. Walk through the narrow winding streets of the ancient town centre, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge. Then, enjoy your sunset cruise along the romantic Thu Bon River before transferring to the hotel to check in. Time for your own afterward.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will spend your time as you wish.
* Optional tours: Perhaps, you may take part in an eco- tour, or a visit to a handicraft village specializing in ceramics, or just relax on your own. Please feel free to contact with our travel consultant for more information and arrangement.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

After having breakfast at hotel, enjoy your free time until the transfer to Danang International Airport for your departure flight home.

Goodbye & Safe Travel! 

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.