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Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia

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4.7 stars(3 reviews)
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Explore the wonders of two fascinating nations

You are viewing the 2023 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
14 days From £2,295 £1,995 per person
Operated by our sister company Great Rail Journeys
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2023 Tour code: VIS23

About the tour

Explore the wonders of two fascinating nations on a tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. Delve into the history and rich culture of Vietnam, visit breathtaking UNESCO-listed attractions and in Cambodia, explore the incredible temple city of Angkor Wat.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London and Hanoi

Our holiday begins with a flight from London Heathrow to Hanoi, via Bangkok.

Please Note: For departure 03/11/2023 you will fly directly to Hanoi and transfer to you hotel on arrival.

Day 2 - Hanoi

We arrive in Hanoi and transfer to our hotel. Vietnam's exciting capital is filled with vibrant culture and a host of beautiful, centuries-old buildings. We head out into the city, enjoying a guided walking tour of Ngoc Son temple, which translates to 'Temple of the Jade Mountain' and is situated on a small island north of Hoan Kiem Lake. Following this, we enjoy a unique cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, an exciting way to see this area's buzzing hub of activity, set amongst traditionally Vietnamese buildings.

Day 3 - Exploring Hanoi

We continue exploring Hanoi. First, we explore the area around the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing structure where Vietnam's revolutionary leader is interred. We continue to the One-Pillar Pagoda, where Ho Chi Minh once lived, as well as the Quan Thanh Temple, an 11th-century Taoist structure. This afternoon, the focus shifts to food, with a visit to the Old Quarter to experience Vietnam's famous street food. Our local guide introduces us to delectable treats including Bun Cha, delicious vermicelli served with fried pork and herbs, and Banh Goi, dumplings stuffed with meat and vermicelli. Our tour ends at 'international crossroads', a lively part of the Old Quarter where we enjoy a glass of Bia Hoi, a popular Vietnamese beer.

Day 4 - Halong Bay

We leave Hanoi and head to the stunning waters of Halong Bay, where we take an overnight cruise. This area of outstanding natural beauty is a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its deep turquoise waters and unusual rock formations. On board, we sit down to a delicious seafood lunch, before spending the afternoon visiting Halong Bay. Sailing through the spectacular waters, we're treated to amazing views of some of the stunning caves and island here. In the late afternoon, we begin to wind down as we admire the stunning sunset over the bay, perhaps as we enjoy happy hour onboard or attend a cooking demonstration.

Day 5 - Halong Bay

We start the day with a relaxing Tai Chi class on the sun deck before we continue cruising the bay, taking in more breathtaking views as we sail back to the mooring point. After disembarkation, we transfer back to Hanoi, making a short stop at Dai Viet Craft Centre along the way for an insight into local crafts. This evening, we visit a Water Puppet Theatre, enjoying a performance of this amusing and unique art form. We join the overnight Reunification rail service to Da Nang tonight and settle down as the train whisks us through the rural landscapes.

Day 6 - Da Nang

After breakfast on board the train, our journey ends in Da Nang. We join a coach to Hoi An, a coastal port city filled with criss-crossing canals and known for its incredible preserved Ancient Town. We stop on the way at the Museum of Cham Sculpture, a museum that is home to many fascinating artefacts made by the indigenous Cham people. The rest of your day is free to discover the faded grand architecture and atmospheric streets of one of Vietnam's most intriguing cities, Hoi An. Perhaps shop for local art and handicrafts in the central market, or you could grab a coffee - Vietnam is famous for its wonderful coffee, and Hoi An has some excellent coffee shops.

Day 7 - Hoi An

We discover the best of Hoi An on a walking tour. We explore the colourful Old Quarter, seeing Tan Ky old house, the Fukien Assembly Hall, and the stately looking Japanese covered bridge, which has stood for over 400 years. Next, we visit the Precious Heritage Museum and Art Gallery, where we admire images from all around Vietnam from a host of talented artists. The gallery is also home to a permanent exhibition showcasing the work of famous French photographer Réhahn, who's based in the city and is known as the photographer who 'captures souls' due to his moving portraits. The rest of your afternoon is free.

Day 8 - Ho Chi Minh City

We transfer to Da Nang airport for our morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once a small fishing village, Ho Chi Minh City is now Vietnam's largest city, with a dizzying blend of modern 21st-century skyscrapers and charming lanes lined with ancient temples. This afternoon, we explore the city, which was famously known as Saigon under French colonial rule. We see the Reunification Palace, which occupies an important place in Vietnamese history as the site of the end of the Vietnam War. We also see the General Post Office and City Hall before we continue to the War Remnants Museum.

Day 9 - Cu Chi Tunnels

We visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an intricate underground network created during the Vietnam War. This fascinating complex of tunnels are part of a network which stretches across much of the country, and were built as protection from air raids in the 1940s. This afternoon, you have time to enjoy lively Ho Chi Minh City at your own pace. Stroll down the wide boulevards filed with grand historic buildings, or take the time to sample some authentic street food. You could try pho, a tasty noodle soup that's one of Vietnam's most popular dishes, or bánh mì, a traditional Vietnamese crusty sandwich.

Day 10 - Phnom Penh

We cross into Cambodia today, taking a short flight to its capital and beating heart, Phnom Penh. As with many cities across South-East Asia, Phnom Penh has a distinctly French feel to much of its grandest buildings, with French colonial mansions standing alongside newly emerging designs. We're introduced to Cambodia's exciting capital on a guided tour. First, we visit the Royal Palace, a gorgeous building that looks almost gilded in the right light and serves as the home of the current King of Cambodia. We also visit the Silver Pagoda, before checking into our hotel for the night.

Includes
  • Day 10 - Breakfast
  • Day 11 - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 - Phnom Penh and Siem Reap

We enjoy a visit to the buzzing Central Market. A striking, yellow Art Deco landmark in the heart of the city, the market offers a feast for the senses. You could take the opportunity here to sample some delicious local delicacies. We also visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a poignant museum that chronicles the history of the Cambodian genocide. This afternoon, we transfer by coach to Siem Reap, a vibrant city at the gateway to the Angkor region.

Day 12 - Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat

We discover the ancient architectural wonders that Cambodia is renowned for as we explore Angkor Archeological Park. First, we visit Angkor Thom. Translated as 'Great City', Angkor Thom was the last and longest-serving capital of the Khmer Empire, once home to as many as one million people. We explore the hauntingly beautiful abandoned city before continuing to Angkor Wat, the most celebrated of the former Khmer capitals. Built in the 12th century, Angkor Wat is a symbol of Cambodia and appears on the national flag. We have time to admire complex, where pinecone-shaped towers peak through thick rainforests that are steadily reclaiming the ancient structures.

Day 13 - Siem Reap

Spend the day relaxing or exploring further. You could visit the Old French Quarter, with its blend of colonial and Chinese influences. We bid farewell to Cambodia this evening. We transfer to Siem Reap airport for the flight home, via Bangkok.

Day 14 - London

We land at London Heathrow today, and your holiday comes to an end.

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We will write to you around 10 weeks before your departure date with the precise meeting times for your tour group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Sunway Hotel, Hanoi

Sunway Hotel, Hanoi

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Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon

Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon, Ho Chí Minh

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Little Hoi An Central Boutique, Hoi Ann

Little Hoi An Central Boutique, Hoi Ann

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Palace Gate Hotel & Residence, Phnom Penh

Palace Gate Hotel & Residence, Phnom Penh

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Royal Angkor Resort

Royal Angkor Resort, Siem Reap

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Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Flight upgrades
UK rail connections
London hotels

Reviews

4.7 stars4.7 / 5 · 3 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (2)
  2. 4 stars
    (1)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Mr P Wade

5 stars

Submitted 18 Apr 2019

As the title suggests, this was a swift tour of the highlights, and covered a lot of ground in a short time

Collected by Rail Discoveries

Miss J Smart

4 stars

Submitted 15 Nov 2018

Previous holidays have been with Great Railway Journeys so relatively it was good value for money. I booked this trip as the one I was interested with GRJ was fully booked. This one with RD was shorter and I think it could have benefited with a few extra days to include at least one more rail journey, during daylight hours! It was an unexpected bonus that on the last day we did not have to book out until 6 pm

Collected by Rail Discoveries

Mr G Wiggins

5 stars

Submitted 18 Oct 2018

Stunning tour..Great Tour Guide..Great Accommodation and just brilliant all around..

Collected by Rail Discoveries

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