- ✓ Drift between limestone karsts on a Bai Tu Long Bay junk boat
- ✓ Ride a vintage Vespa through Saigon’s buzzing night streets
- ✓ Travel across the Vietnam / Cambodia border by boat
- ✓ Explore Cambodia’s jungle temples of Angkor with a local guide
Mixing the very best of Cambodia and Vietnam in 3 weeks. From floating market mayhem to lantern-strewn Hoi An and awe-inspiring Angkor at sunrise, it’s an epic itinerary with plenty of local experience along the way. Authentic and eye-opening, it’s double the adventure, double the fun and double the local flavour. Now that’s what you call an adventure.
Days 1 & 2 – Flavours of Hanoi
Your epic Indochina adventure begins in Hanoi - Vietnam’s capital city, that’s crammed with character. Motorbikes zip through tangled streets, food hawkers serve up steaming bowls of pho and fruit stalls spill onto shady boulevards.
You’ll stay in the heart of the atmospheric Old Quarter and during your stay you’ll embark on a culinary and cultural journey through Hanoi with your private guide. You’ll learn all about local legends, admire the ancient architecture and taste a range of delicacies from grilled pork to vermicelli dumplings as you wander the streets of the Old Quarter.
Day 3 – Drift between limestone peaks
Early the following morning, you’ll travel by minibus to the coastal town of Halong, where your traditional junk boat awaits. From here, you’ll cruise into beautiful Bai Tu Long Bay, a turquoise sea dotted with jungle-clad limestone islands. It’s every bit as spectacular as neighbouring Halong Bay, but with fewer crowds, making it a more peaceful place to enjoy the scenery. Your traditional Chinese junk is your floating home for the night, with the gentle rhythm of the water rocking you to sleep.
During the cruise, there’s plenty of time to relax on deck, kayak between the islands, swim in secluded coves and explore hidden caves. Enjoy fresh seafood, watch the sunset over the bay and soak up the scenery, with optional activities such as Tai Chi and squid fishing adding to the experience.
By choosing Bai Tu Long over the busier Halong Bay, we’re helping to spread tourism while giving you the chance to experience this spectacular landscape at a slower pace.
Days 4-6 – Classic Hoi An
When you step off the junk boat in Halong, a minibus transfer will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi from where you’ll take a 90 minute flight to Danang, an airport close to enchanting Hoi An. Here, you’ll be collected by a private driver and transferred a further 45 minutes to your hotel.
Watch lanterns twinkle along the river and meet the local tailors in Hoi An, Vietnam’s most atmospheric town. A jumble of crumbling Chinese shop houses, artist studios and riverside restaurants, it’s crammed with charm. The pace is slow and the food is scrumptious. In recent years, Hoi An has become something of a national treasure with its day dreamy, timeless atmosphere.
During your time in Hoi An, you’ll have the opportunity to whip up some authentic Vietnamese dishes in the kitchen. You’ll meet up with a small group of fellow travellers before you head into the colourful Hoi An market with your guide to purchase the fresh ingredients required. This is the best possible way to learn all about local cuisine as you become acquainted with the friendly vendors at the market. You’ll then head down river to the cookery school where you’ll be taught all you need to know, before having a go at preparing your own dishes and enjoying the fruits of your labour for lunch.
Days 7 & 8 – Scooting through Saigon
We’ll arrange your transfer from your hotel back to Danang airport where you’ll take a quick 90 minute domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the heart of District 1, an area of Ho Chi Minh popular with tourists and locals alike. It might be hectic, but it’s packed with character and you’ll find something fascinating happening on every street corner. There’s an eclectic mix of cafes, bars and restaurants right on your doorstep.
Scoot through Saigon on a vintage Vespa, searching for hidden street food hotspots. Zip through the backstreets after dark, sample the best traditional snacks in the city and listen to live music as you sip on Vietnamese coffee. It’s a night tour and foodie adventure rolled into one. After all, Ho Chi Minh is a city that comes alive as night falls.
Days 9 & 10 – Along the Mekong to Cambodia
You’ll be collected from your hotel and travel by minibus to the pier, where you’ll board a boat and set off into the Mekong Delta. Over the next few days, you’ll pass riverbank villages, bustling floating markets and tiny islands, watching everyday life unfold along the water. Along the way, you’ll stay in two of the Mekong’s key cities and explore Tiger Island by rickshaw, giving you a glimpse of life beyond the main tourist trail.
As you drift further south, the scenery changes from busy waterways to quieter stretches of river, with fishing boats, stilted houses and lush green banks lining the route. Take in the views as the sun sets over the Mekong, before crossing the border into Cambodia by boat. It’s a memorable way to travel between the two countries, with the journey itself becoming part of the adventure.
During the trip you'll spend one night in a hotel close to the famous floating markets of Can Tho, and one night in Chau Doc, close to the Cambodian border.
Days 11 & 12 – Past and present in Phnom Penh
Welcome to Cambodia! This morning you’ll travel from Chau Doc by small ferry into Cambodia, stopping at the border to buy your Cambodian visa. When you moor up at the harbour in Phnom Penh, you’ll be transferred to your hotel.
Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s lively capital, where grand colonial buildings, bustling markets and a fascinating history come together on the banks of the Mekong. The rest of the day is free to settle in and explore at your own pace.
The following day, you’ll explore Phnom Penh with a local guide, visiting the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields just outside the city. These moving sites offer a sobering insight into Cambodia’s tragic past, with powerful photographs, stories and memorials helping to bring this difficult period of history to life.
Day 13 - Travel to Sihanoukville
After breakfast you’ll make your way to the bus station, in time to catch the bus to Sihanoukville - Cambodia’s gateway to the coast, with sandy beaches, turquoise waters and a relaxed seaside vibe. The journey takes around 5 hours and there’s lots of interesting countryside along the way to pass the time. When you arrive you’ll make your way to your hotel for the night.
Days 14-16 – Escape to Castaway Island
Time for some R&R! Catch the boat to Koh Rong, a tropical island off Cambodia’s coast with clear waters, soft sandy beaches and swaying palms. You’ll spend three nights in a beach bungalow or beachside resort, with plenty of time to slow down and enjoy island life.
Fancy being active? Head into the jungle-thick interior for a trek, explore the coastline or simply find a patch of sand and settle in for the day. It’s the perfect place to switch off, go barefoot and enjoy a few days away from it all.
Days 17-19 – Amazing Angkor!
Today it’s time to say goodbye to paradise and head to the airport in Sihanoukville for the hour-long flight to Siem Reap. On arrival, you’ll be picked up and taken to your hotel. Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor, but there’s more to it than temples, with colourful markets, local cafés and plenty of Cambodian food to tempt you.
Over the next couple of days, you’ll head out with a local guide to explore the incredible temples of Angkor. Wander among ancient ruins, jungle-covered walls and some of the complex’s most impressive temples, while learning about the history and stories behind them. You’ll also have some free time to explore Siem Reap at your own pace
Day 20 - Depart Cambodia
Your epic three-week adventure through Vietnam and Cambodia has come to an end. There’s just time for some last-minute souvenir shopping before you’re transferred to the airport in time for your flight home. Hopefully, you’ll be heading back with a suitcase full of memories
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
Highlights of Indochina – Vietnam & Cambodia - In Style accommodation
For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.