Compare Vietnam and Cambodia Discovery by APT Touring vs Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam in 18 days - Bangkok, Angkor Wat & Ha Long Bay - Luxury by Exoticca

Day 1: Hanoi

Meals: Dinner

On arrival in Hanoi, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel located in the heart of the city. Later this evening, you’ll get to know your fellow travellers and your local guide during a Welcome Dinner.

Stay: Two Nights, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Freedom of Choice™

Perhaps tour the 500-year-old village of Bat Trang, world famous for its pottery. Or, relax and enjoy a foot massage back at your hotel. Embark on a walking tour to observe Hanoi’s French colonial architecture, and explore the interior of the Hanoi Opera House, or take in a water puppet show. Another option is a leisurely bicycle ride past Hanoi’s lush rice paddy fields.

Freedom of Choice™

Tonight, you’re invited to choose from a vast range of superb restaurants that have been carefully selected for you.

A guided tour of Hanoi takes you to the city’s most famous historical and cultural sites. Highlights include Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square and the Temple of Literature. You’ll also enjoy a cycle ride through the Old French Quarter. Then, explore more of this vibrant city on your selected Freedom of Choice experience. Tonight, choose your dining experience.

Day 3: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Stay: Two Nights, Ha Long Bay, The Au Co

Signature Experience

Embark on your three-day cruise on the World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay.

Travel by coach to Ha Long and set sail among thousands of limestone islets this afternoon, gliding slowly over the waters towards Ba Ham Lake while enjoying lunch on board. Take some time to enjoy a swim in the emerald waters, paddle in a kayak, or find a stretch of white sand at a nearby beach and soak up some sun. Tonight, perhaps take in a fun Vietnamese cooking demonstration on board your ship. The evening is yours to spend how you wish. You might like to watch a film in the onboard open cinema or order a cocktail to enjoy on the sundeck.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Awake early and as the sun rises, perhaps rejuvenate your body and soul with a Tai Chi class. A secluded swim or chance to sunbathe is on the cards with a stop at Ba Trai Dao beach. After lunch back on board, gain a first glimpse of Cat Ba island before disembarking to discover Cat Ba National Park and Viet Hai Village. A barbeque dinner aboard The Au Co caps off an exciting day.

Aqua water and lush mountainous peaks

Day 5: Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Visit the Cua Van Floating Culture Centre, considered the most idyllic spot on the bay. Take part in a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony on board as your ship makes its way back to port. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi airport for your included flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, be transferred to your hotel.

Stay: Three Nights, Siem Reap, Hotel Sofitel Angkor

Day 6: Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

In World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, discover the last capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom, and the 12th-century temple of Bayon. This afternoon, explore the temple of Ta Prohm, a World Heritage-listed site famous for its intertwined trees. Later, visit ‘Opportunities of Development thru Art’ (ODA), a Siem Reap organisation that provides education opportunities for disadvantaged children. Tonight, enjoy an Apsara dance show before dinner.

Day 7: Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Signature Experience

At Angkor Archaeological Park, enjoy a special sunrise experience at Angkor Wat.

Freedom Of Choice™

Perhaps visit the temple of Wat Preah Prom Rath for a Buddhist blessing or enjoy a tuk tuk ride to the Senteurs d’Angkor workshop. If you’re feeling energetic, join a quad bike adventure or take a leisurely bicycle tour through the Cambodian countryside. Other options include a horse and cart ride, a traditional Khmer cooking class, a shopping adventure, or why not indulge in a relaxing spa treatment.

Freedom Of Choice™

Tonight, take the opportunity to savour a taste of Cambodia with a choice of local restaurants for dinner.

Rise early this morning and travel back to Angkor Archaeological Park for a Signature Experience. Afterwards, join a guided tour of the temple, before breakfast back at your hotel. This afternoon, set out on your included Freedom of Choice activity. It’s up to you where you’d like to dine this evening.

Day 8: Kampong Cham, Embark Ship, Koh Pen

Daily: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Journey through remote Cambodian villages to Kampong Cham, where you’ll board the Mekong Serenity, your home for the next seven nights. Following lunch on board, take a tuk tuk to explore the island of Koh Pen with its wooden stilt houses and local farming culture. Tonight, an exclusive Luke Nguyen welcome dinner awaits, showcasing the diverse regional flavours of the celebrity chef’s heritage.

Stay: Seven Nights, Mekong River, Mekong Serenity

Day 1: US - Night on board

Arrival at your US departure airport * ready to check-in for an overnight flight to Bangkok. Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Bangkok

Arrive in the capital of Thailand and transfer to your hotel. Bangkok is one of the most influential, modern and lively cities in Southeast Asia due to it's economic, political and social development. Make the most of your time in the city by exploring the bustling street markets or enjoying some of the exotic street food on offer. Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 3: Bangkok

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy a fascinating tour of Bangkok's temples. Head to Yaowarat Road, in Chinatown, to visit magical Wat Traimit temple, which houses the largest solid gold Buddha in the world, almost five meters high and an amazing five and a half tons in weight. Continue to Wat Pho, the largest temple in Bangkok where the famous Reclining Buddha is kept. After admiring the sheer size of the temple, continue to the astounding Wat Benchamabophit or The Marble Temple, a Buddhist sanctuary built in white Italian marble in the 18th century, with elegant and intricate designs. Finally, enjoy a visit to the State Factory of Precious Stones, for the opportunity to buy local jewellery, crafts and silks. Overnight stay in Bangkok.

Day 4: Bangkok

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend a day exploring Bangkok at your own pace. We recommend visiting some of the emblematic temples dotted around the city and soaking up the atmosphere of the famous night markets. Overnight stay in Bangkok.

Day 5: Bangkok - Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart the hotel this morning, ready for a scenic journey of 6-7 hours to Siem Reap. Bid farewell to Thailand at the Poi Pet Border Crossing, where you will clear customs on your own and walk to the meeting point to meet your Cambodian driver. Continue through rural Cambodia until you reach vibrant Siem Reap, known as the gateway to the ruins of Angkor. Check-in at the hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure, exploring the city and perhaps shopping in its lively night market or stopping for a drink at the famous 'Pub Street'. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Day 6: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat - Angkor Thom - Preah Khan Temple - Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel. Today explore the most significant temples in the Angkor Complex. Visit the ancient capital, Angkor Thom and enjoy the unique decorative towers of the Bayon Temple. At Preah Khan Temple, wonder at the 12th-century splendour before you continue to Ta Prohm in the afternoon, home to the enormous iconic fig tree roots that grow through the middle of the temple. Admire Bayon architecture at Banteay Kdei temple before you finally arrive at Angkor Wat, the world heritage site and most revered of all the Cambodian temples. It features the longest bas-relief in the world and is the perfect place to watch the sunset over the entire temple complex. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Day 7: Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure, soaking up the ambience of Siem Reap, or perhaps exploring the sights at your own pace. We recommend an optional excursion to Phnom Kulen Mountain, a sacred pilgrimage site home to remote temples.* Overnight stay in Siem Reap. * Optional Half-Day Phnom Kulen Mountain Excursion: Enjoy a 1-hour scenic drive to Phnom Kulen Mountain, considered by Khmers to be the most sacred mountain in Cambodia. Visit a modern pagoda, which offers stunning views over the Angkor area, and be amazed by the eight-meter tall statue of a reclining Buddha. Continue to the River of One Thousand Lingas and the magnificent waterfall nearby, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. Return to Siem Reap.

Day 8: Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, exploring the lively city centre. We recommend enjoying an optional excursion to Tonle Sap Lake and an optional Tuk-Tuk Street Food tour.* Overnight stay in Siem Reap. * Optional Morning Tonle Sap Lake Excursion: Transfer to Tonle Sap Lake, a huge freshwater body of water, known for it's floating villages. Enjoy a boat ride through the villages, complete with floating farms, schools, gardens and temples. Return to dry land and visit the Old Market of Siem Reap. * Optional Evening Tuk-Tuk Street Food Tour: Set off in the evening to the local night market and discover the wide array of regional cuisine and snacks. Take a tuk-tuk to a local Cambodia restaurant to enjoy a traditional dinner.

Day 9: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, catch the Giant Ibis/Mekong Express bus* headed for the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure to explore this vibrant city, filled with beautiful French colonial architecture and situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. We recommend an optional city tour to get to know Phnom Penh's most emblematic sights.** Overnight stay in Phnom Penh. * The Giant Ibis/Mekong Express bus ride from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, is 320 km long and will take approximately 6 hours. Alternatively, you can take an optional flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh with Cambodia Angkor Air (approximately 1-hour flight time). This can be purchased in the next step of the booking process. ** Optional Phnom Penh City Tour: Explore the landmarks of Phnom Penh such as the fascinating Silver Pagoda and the moving Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, for a poignant look at the country's tragic history. End the tour in the colourful Central Market.

Day 10: Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off on a poignant excursion to The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, for a moving insight into the bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge. Realise the horror and tragedy of this period in Cambodian history at the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and visit the notorious Killing Fields. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Phnom Penh.

Day 11: Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, cross the border between Cambodia and Vietnam on the Mekong Express/Giant Ibis bus* headed for Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to many of the locals. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore the city and its famous night market, perfect for picking up some authentic souvenirs. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh. * The Giant Ibis/Mekong Express bus ride from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City is 280 km long and will take approximately 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take an optional flight from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City with Cambodia Angkor Air (approximately 1-hour flight time). This can be purchased in the next step of the booking process.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a Full-Day Tour to soak up the rich tapestry of history and culture in Ho Chi Minh City. Visits Dong Khoi Street, home to many of the city's most important sites from the French colonial period, when the city became known as the 'Paris of the Orient'. Appreciate the restored Opera House, based on the Petit Palace in Paris and visit the Grand Hotel de Ville, now formally re-branded as the People's Committee Hall. Be amazed by the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the impressive Central Post Office, designed by the architect Gustav Eiffel. In District 5 visit China Town and the iconic Thien Hau Temple, built in honour of the goddess of the sea. Conclude your day discovery at the bustling Ben Thanh market. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a free day in this exciting city. We recommend an optional excursion to discover the magical Mekong Delta.* Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City. * Optional Mekong Delta Excursion: Depart to Ben Tre province crossing Rach Mieu bridge. On arrival in Hung Vuong Pier, hop on a motorized boat on the Ben Tre River, one of the tributes of Mekong River while witnessing the lively activities of local life along the way. Stop at a brick kiln and visit one of the many coconut processing workshops located along the canal. Take a motorized cart or bicycle along the shady paths and pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to discover everyday life on the river. Take a rowing-boat along a beautiful water palm creek before you return to the pier.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel. You will have this morning free or join the optional half-day excursion to visit Cu Chi tunnels*. The afternoon, transfer to the airport for a flight to Hanoi. Transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free to explore the city. Overnight stay in Hanoi. * Optional Cu Chi Tunnels Excursion: Spend the morning exploring the impressive tunnel complex of Cu Chi, dug in 1948 for guerrillas to escape the bombardment of French forces. Explore the underground villages and understand the history of the tunnels.

Day 15: Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy an action-packed city tour of Hanoi. Stop at Huu Tiep Lake, home to the famous downed US B-52 bomber and wander through the lively local market. Next, visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (viewed from the outside on Monday & Friday due to closure), and the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of the city. Continue to Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam, the Temple of Literature and Vietnam’s first university, dating from the 11th century. Explore, on foot, Hanoi’s Old Quarter streets to see local people trading and going about their daily lives. Take a relaxing seat at a local café for a refreshing cup of coffee or green tea. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and the rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 16: Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Hanoi, experiencing the hustle and bustle of Vietnam's busiest city. We recommend an optional excursion to the beautiful natural area of Ninh Binh.* Overnight stay in Hanoi. * Optional Full-Day Ninh Binh Excursion: Set off in the morning to the region of Ninh Binh, famous for its karst mountains and misty caves. Take a rowing boat along the natural canals of the Thung Nham Valley and explore the mystical caves along the way. Stop at a local restaurant for lunch before continuing to Mua Cave, where a 20-minute climb rewards you with breathtaking views of the Tam Coc landscape. Admire the natural beauty of Vietnam.

Day 17: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart by road to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage area of outstanding natural beauty known for its limestone islands and glistening waters. Travel through the rich farmlands of the delta and witness the daily life of the Vietnamese villages. Arrive in Ha Long and board a traditional junk boat, to begin your cruise on the bay with a welcome drink. Lunch on board. The cruise passes by many fascinating islets and may stop for a while to visit local fishing villages, caves and limestone islands. Relax at your leisure on the sun deck. Dinner and overnight on board. * There will be no guide on board.

Day 18: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi

Brunch on board as the junk continues to cruise around the idyllic landscapes of Ha Long Bay. Soak up the natural beauty before returning to Ha Long port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, perhaps picking up some last-minute souvenirs or revisiting your favourite city sights. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 19: Hanoi - US

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. * Arrive in the US and end your trip. * If your return flight departs early in the morning, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast.