Tailormade tours to Vietnam and Cambodia
| country: | Cambodia, Vietnam |
| location: | Indochina holidays |
| departures: | This trip can be tailor made throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary |
| price: | From US $1800 - US $1950 (20 days) per person based on minimum of 2 people, excluding flights. Single supplements apply |
| more info: | Price includes: transfers, local English speaking guides, meals, admission fees, drinking water, accommodations (3 star), internal flights and trains |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
After an introduction to the highlights and flavours of Hanoi, drive into the countryside for an insight into Vietnam’s rural life and ethnic minority hill tribes. Mai Chau (pronounced ‘My Chow’), the little known option to Sapa – less tourists, closer to Hanoi, and hands down stunning.
Mai Chau is only a 4 hour drive from Hanoi instead of a long overnight train journey to and from its alternative, Sapa. Check into our boutique Mai Chau Lodge for a relaxing overnight stay. Involving the surrounding community in initial consultations when building, the lodge was created with local materials and hires only from the hill tribes of this region, providing them with language, hospitality training & opportunity. Equipped with a pool, sauna & spa you can enjoy a little luxury, as well as the option of hiking or cycling to local farms, villages and craft markets.
Return to Hanoi for one night and then head to Halong Bay - a ‘must see’ when visiting Vietnam. However here is an insider’s tip – avoid the main cruise route. Our junks use an exclusive, alternative route through a different section of Halong Bay (peaceful ‘Bai Tu Long’), and offer private one or two cabin junks and four to ten cabin shared junk options.
To truly unwind, this trip offers a two night cruise in the Bay. Visit floating fishing villages & caves, kayak & watch the sunset as you meander through 1000’s of jungle covered islands, a cool beverage in hand and a camera in the other to capture this amazing scenery. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site and our junks & crew are actively promoting & funding environmental initiatives with local floating villages – unique to this region.
Upon arrival back to Hanoi, have an early dinner and board the overnight sleeper train to the ancient capital of Hue. Arrive early the next morning and explore the Citadel, Pagodas and temples. The following morning drive to the quaint town of Hoi An where you can spend the next couple of days shopping up a storm in the tailor shops, dining on fabulous street food or in gourmet restaurants, participating in cooking schools, or cycling to the beach.
From Hoi An fly to Ho Chi Minh City where you will explore the highlights including the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. From HCMC drive to the Mekong Delta for a boat cruise and overnight stay in the heart of the Delta. From the Mekong board a speed boat and cross the border into Cambodia where you will get to explore Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Best time to go
Vietnam is hot during late April to October with cooler months from December to March in the north. The wet season is during the summer months. The south of Vietnam and Cambodia are typically warm year round.
Mai Chau is only a 4 hour drive from Hanoi instead of a long overnight train journey to and from its alternative, Sapa. Check into our boutique Mai Chau Lodge for a relaxing overnight stay. Involving the surrounding community in initial consultations when building, the lodge was created with local materials and hires only from the hill tribes of this region, providing them with language, hospitality training & opportunity. Equipped with a pool, sauna & spa you can enjoy a little luxury, as well as the option of hiking or cycling to local farms, villages and craft markets.
Return to Hanoi for one night and then head to Halong Bay - a ‘must see’ when visiting Vietnam. However here is an insider’s tip – avoid the main cruise route. Our junks use an exclusive, alternative route through a different section of Halong Bay (peaceful ‘Bai Tu Long’), and offer private one or two cabin junks and four to ten cabin shared junk options.
To truly unwind, this trip offers a two night cruise in the Bay. Visit floating fishing villages & caves, kayak & watch the sunset as you meander through 1000’s of jungle covered islands, a cool beverage in hand and a camera in the other to capture this amazing scenery. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site and our junks & crew are actively promoting & funding environmental initiatives with local floating villages – unique to this region.
Upon arrival back to Hanoi, have an early dinner and board the overnight sleeper train to the ancient capital of Hue. Arrive early the next morning and explore the Citadel, Pagodas and temples. The following morning drive to the quaint town of Hoi An where you can spend the next couple of days shopping up a storm in the tailor shops, dining on fabulous street food or in gourmet restaurants, participating in cooking schools, or cycling to the beach.
From Hoi An fly to Ho Chi Minh City where you will explore the highlights including the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. From HCMC drive to the Mekong Delta for a boat cruise and overnight stay in the heart of the Delta. From the Mekong board a speed boat and cross the border into Cambodia where you will get to explore Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Best time to go
Vietnam is hot during late April to October with cooler months from December to March in the north. The wet season is during the summer months. The south of Vietnam and Cambodia are typically warm year round.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Hanoi arrival: Arriving in Hanoi, your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Enjoy a half day city tour including the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake and a one hour cyclo (rickshaw) tour through the Old Quarter. Later attend a traditional water puppet show in the evening before heading to dinner. (D) |
| Day 2: | Hanoi – Mai Chau: We leave Hanoi at 8am for the scenic drive to Mai Chau. On arrival, a welcome briefing on the activity options and Lodge facilities is followed by lunch. At 1pm you can check into your room and take a shower. There is then an option to hike to the nearby Thai villages of Pom Coong and Lac. Here we have time for handicraft shopping from the local artisans or enjoying a coffee with the friendly villagers. At about 4pm there is an optional trip to a private cave attached to the Lodge. The cave, which used to be a military base, is looked after by a team of local hill tribe people. During the cave tour you will learn more about the limestone karst cave and its history in the local region. A fabulous dinner is served at 7pm, accompanied by a traditional dance performance by the local Thai tribe. (BLD) |
| Day 3: | Mai Chau – Hanoi: In the morning cycle or hike through the beautiful valley of Mai Chau. You will meet the local hill tribes going about their daily routines such as planting rice, herding buffalos or building traditional houses. After lunch return to Hanoi for an overnight stay. (BL) |
| Day 4: | Hanoi – Halong - Bai Tu Long: In the morning you will enjoy a shared transfer (private available on request) from your hotel in Hanoi to Halong City (the drive takes about 3 hours but you will stop off for a refreshment break en route). Meet the crew at the dock and get off the main cruise route, passing through the famous islands of Ha Long Bay and onto the quiet, less travelled area of Bai Tu Long Bay. Aside from a cave visit and swimming (weather permitting), there is a chance to explore this stunning area by sea kayak. Return back to the junk for a scrumptious dinner (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Bai Tu Long: Spend the morning at Bua Cua beach for swimming, sunbathing etc (weather permitting). Lunch will be a delicious barbecue on the beach and there will be plenty of opportunities for kayaking. In the afternoon visit floating villages and a local school. Retire back to the junk for the night. (B,L,D) |
| Day 6: | Bai Tu Long – Halong - Hanoi: Enjoy fresh air & gentle breeze of the bay in morning. Cruise through Bai Tu Long, visit the floating fishing village of Vong Vieng and learn about daily life here. Cruise back to the dock arriving in Ha Long around noon then transfer back to Hanoi, arriving at your hotel at about 4pm. (B,L) |
| Day 7: | Hanoi - Hue: Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hue at 10:10. A guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. In the afternoon visit the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial Palace. The Citadel was closely modelled along the lines of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Later take a cruise on the Perfume River to see the Thien Mu Pagoda. (BL) |
| Day 8: | Hue – Hoi an: Transfer to Hoi An via the cloudy Hai Van pass. After lunch our guide will take you on a walk through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting the various Chinese Assembly Halls, ancestral homes, the Japanese Covered Bridge and well-preserved Pagodas that make Hoi An a fascinating town. (BL) |
| Day 9: | Hoi An: Free day. (B) |
| Day 10: | Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh: This morning we take a morning flight to Saigon and in the afternoon there will be a half day Saigon city tour including the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, and Notre Dame Cathedral (time permits). We also can drop you at Ben Thanh Market for some shopping in the late afternoon.(BL) |
| Day 11: | Ho Chi Minh: Free day at leisure. In the evening, spend 2 -3 hours experiencing delicious and traditional Vietnamese dishes, served in a typical Saigon home dining room. Vietnamese food is very fresh, simple but tasty and healthy. After dinner, bid farewell to your hosts and be driven back to your hotel. (BD) |
| Day 12: | Cu Chi Tunnels: Leaving Saigon we drive through pleasant countryside before arriving at Cu Chi. Before entering the tunnels we watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. We then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers. We then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City arriving at approximately 2pm. (B) |
| Day 13: | Ho Chi Minh – Can Tho: Our tour starts with a drive through the Mekong Delta to Cai Be floating market and from here we board our river boat for a cruise along the endless waterways of the mighty Mekong. One of our stops will be to a small restaurant serving the local delicacies. After having lunch, we bid farewell to our hosts and cruise further to visit a Bonsai Garden and handicraft village to see how pottery items are made. Upon arrival in Vinh Long Town drive to the city of Can Tho, which is considered to be the heart of the Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho (BL) |
| Day 14: | Can Tho – Chau Doc: Today we visit a local village which specializes in making bamboo baskets. You will have a unique opportunity to discover a side of Delta life that few travellers experience. Continue on to the nearby Stork Sanctuary where you can see thousands of storks nesting in a beautiful natural environment. Arrive Chau Doc around lunchtime, enjoying typical rural scenery en route. After lunch, take a walk around the town and see the bustling market, then continue to Sam Mountain, with its breathtaking views over the rice paddies to the Cambodian border. (BL) |
| Day 15: | Chau Doc – Phnom Penh: Board a boat for a 5-hour morning cruise to Phnom Penh. In the afternoon our guide will meet you at the dock and transfer you to the hotel before a half day tour of Phnom Penh, including the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Free time to discover the city in the evening. (B) |
| Day 16: | Arrive Siem Reap: In the morning fly to Siem Reap wehre you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Time to freshen up and relax. This afternoon, board our tuk tuk and begin your discovery of the Angkor Complex with a visit of Angkor Thom City. Explore the centrepiece of the ancient city - The Bayon. The Bayon contains 54 towers decorated with more than 200 enigmatic smiling faces. Also included in the afternoon tour are the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings, as well as The Ta Prohm Temple. The evening is free at leisure. Note: check in from 2 PM. |
| Day 17: | Angkor Temple visit and National Museum: Enjoy a unique sunrise over Sra Srang, a 12th century reservoir used for ceremonies and royal bathing. Breakfast will be served on the stone steps which surround the basin. We will then head to Angkor Wat, easily the most famous and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. Spend most of the morning wandering around this fascinating temple before transferring back to the hotel to rest or relax by the pool. After lunch, visit the Angkor National Museum offering numerous artifacts and multimedia presentations of Angkorian history and culture. The rest of the day is free at leisure. (B) |
| Day 18: | Angkor Temple visit – Sunset Boat Trip on Tonle Sap Lake: After breakfast head to the exquisite Banteay Srey (“Citadel of the Women”). This temple displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. The visit will be combined with the discovery of Banteay Samre. The afternoon is free at leisure until your transfer to Tonle Sap Lake for a unique sunset boat trip. Fruit and soft drink will be served on board while you relax back and soak up the scenery. |
| Day 19: | Siem Reap: Free day at leisure (B) |
| Day 20: | Depart Siem Reap: Free time until your transfer to the airport. (B) |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
Halong Bay: The junks we use in Halong Bay actively fund & implement environmental initiatives with a specific local floating fishing village in Bai Tu Long Bay that you will visit and learn more about on your tour. The Halong Bay project takes place in Vung Vieng fishing village, where many families live. The campaign is to encourage local people and nearby businesses to collect litter and protect the appearance and ecology of Ha Long Bay at the community level. On the day the campaign was launched, 50 rubbish bins were given to families living in this village. More importantly, the project focuses on education and communication in hopes that all the locals will soon realize the benefit of conservation. In addition to the environmental issues, they are working hard in seeking support to help build schools and create job opportunities for the local people here. A community house in Vung Vieng fishing village was built in order to accommodate tourists and provide local people with jobs. Community Mai Chau Lodge involved the local community in its initial planning stages, and hires only from the hill tribes of this region, providing them with language, hospitality training & opportunity. Mai Chau Lodge was built with local materials and its restaurant serves food that is grown in the local region. Traditional dance performances by the locals help to provide employment and preserve their cultural heritage. This is a private tour so group size is kept to a small number so as not to be too intrusive on the local villages. We provide income to local families and villages by using their homes for accommodation, and all our guides are locals. All guests are emailed our Responsible Travel guidelines policy prior to travel and guides are also fully trained in this. We donate to many local charities, such as funding a nutrition program at Binh Luc Orphanage and sponsoring an annual trip to Halong Bay for underprivileged disabled children & their families from ‘Blue Dragon’. We hold an annual medical trek with local & international doctors and medical students into the hill tribes of Northern Vietnam, and organise many volunteer projects such as building wells & housing in Agent Orange affected communities and teaching English. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |