MULTI-COUNTRY

IMMERSION IN THE THAI AND KHMER PEOPLE

Combined tour 16 Day(s)

Means of transport:
From $0

Day 1
HANOI ARRIVAL

On arriving at Noi Bai Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel in the city centre. Hotel check-in is available at 2 pm. You will have free time to take a rest after a long flight or head out to get a first impression of the city. 

Day 2
HANOI WALKING TOUR & STREET FOOD TOUR (B, D)

Starting the day trip with a visit to the Tran Quoc Pagoda. We will then visit the Temple of Literature, constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which also served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. There are 82 stone steles, carried by tortoises, engraved with names, birthdates, and birthplaces of honoured doctorates from 1442 to 1779. Local people believed that touching the head of these tortoises would bring luck. The green and neatly maintained gardens and lotus ponds make this place a peaceful hideaway from the city’s hustle and heat. 
Our afternoon exploration begins with the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative on this day being the History Museum). The museum offers a wide range of informative and well-documented displays of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, including colourful hill tribe costumes. The outdoor display is an impressive collection of traditional houses of various minorities from the north to the central Highlands.
We will drive to the Old Quarter, also known as “36 streets and guilds”. Now time for a street food tour and to get lost in the labyrinth of lanes in which each street once specialized in a specific type of manufacturing or trade. Most of the houses in the area were built towards the end of the 19th century. There is no better way of exploring this commercial district than on foot to capture all aspects of local daily life: crafts, Buddhism, temples, gastronomy, local markets, traditional tube-houses (a Vietnamese particularity), medicine… and perhaps most special, delving deep into the culture of the capital through local food will be a memorable experience.
The street food tour ends with a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) before watching a traditional water puppet show. 

Day 3
HANOI – MAI CHAU, HOMESTAY (B, L, D)

Today we escape the busy city and head to Mai Chau - a beautiful and quaint valley mainly occupied by the White Thai. We get to the town around noon and a special lunch prepared by the Thai people will be waiting for you. 
The afternoon visit will continue with a nice bike ride, to immerse yourself in the authentic countryside untouched by mass tourism. You will be charmed by the friendly and welcoming smiles of the White Thai people, their traditional houses on stilts, green rice fields and vegetable gardens. Glide by bamboo forests along our cycle path passing through Chieng Sai, Cha, Cha Long, Na Tang, Tong Dau villages. Return to the lodge in time to enjoy its beautiful natural surroundings when the sun sets. After dinner you will enjoy a traditional music show. Night at the homestay.

Day 4
MAI CHAU – NINH BINH (B)

This morning we drive 170km to Tam Coc also known as “Dry Halong Bay”. We will pass by some of the most picturesque scenery in Vietnam. Arrive in Tam Coc right on time for lunch. In the afternoon, you will board a rowboat for a peaceful navigation along Ngo Dong River. Tam Coc literally means “three caves”. During the boat trip you will cruise among limestone mountains reflected in the emerald water, between rice fields and through three beautiful limestone caves beautifully decorated with stalactites and stalagmites of all sizes and shapes. We will spend the rest of the day riding a bicycle and getting lost on winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples, and cottages. We will visit Bich Dong pagoda, which hides among the trees on a lush hillside. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5
NINH BINH – HALONG BAY (B, L, D)

Today you have breakfast at the hotel and we depart early for Halong Bay. We take the road via Thai Binh and Nam Dinh, passing through typical countryside of the Red River Delta with endless rice fields and meandering rivers. Arriving at Halong tourist harbour around noon, you will board an elegant wooden junk. A delicious lunch is served on board while the boat gently navigates through countless islands and limestone structures arising from the turquoise water. In the evening, a fresh seafood dinner prepared by a skillful chef awaits you. Enjoy a peaceful night on board in the middle of the quiet sea. 
Please note that the itinerary is subject to change according to the cruise and weather conditions.

Day 6
HALONG BAY – HANOI - FLIGHT TO SIEM REAP (B, L)

Nothing can be compared to waking up to a serene morning surrounded by karsts. You can have an early morning dip and then breakfast on board. We will continue to sail through the bay during the morning to explore hidden areas. The junk will always stay close serving as a backup vessel for those who need it. Around midday we will return to the main harbour then drive back to Hanoi airport. Flight to Siem Reap
Meet your guide and driver at Siem Reap airport and transfer to the city center to check-in at your hotel. Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor temples, is considered as the “tourist capital" of Cambodia, travelers staying there for the millennial temples, a must-see. The rest of the day will be free for you to discover Siem Reap at your leisure. 

Day 7
SIEM REAP, ANGKOR VAT AND ANGKOR THOM TOUR (B)

Today, venture into the two main temples of Angkor Complex: Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. In the morning, head to the temple of Angkor Thom (Great City). Entering the southern gate, admire the famous Bayon dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, and the 11th century Baphuon, dedicated to Brahmanism (ancient Hinduism). Continue your visit with the Elephant Terrace or the Leper King Terrace. Your journey goes on with the wonderful temple of Angkor Wat, a World Heritage Site, and will come to a breathtaking end with Phnom Bakheng (the mountain temple) where you shouldn’t miss out on the beautiful sunset. Back to the hotel.

Day 8
SIEM REAP – ROULOS - KAMPONG KLEANG, DISCOVERY OF LAKESIDE LIFE (B, L)

After breakfast, a short transfer will show you the surroundings of Siem Reap along a beautiful country road. Venture into Roulos, the oldest temple complex in Angkor, called "Roluos Group", located 12km east of Siem Reap. These temples are the remains of Hariharalaya, which was for 70 years (and under four successive kings) the first Khmer capital.
●    The Preah Kô is dedicated to Jayavarman II, first king and founder of the kingdom of Angkor
●    Bakong is by far the largest temple of the Roluos group and the first "state temple" supposed to mark the center of the capital
●    The remains of Lolei, four dilapidated brick towers laid on a two-level basement
Continue your journey to Kampong Khleang, a lakeside village. After lunch at a local’s home, hop on a traditional wooden boat. Cruise gently on the river and the great Tonle Sap Lake, discover the lakeside Khmer life: everybody’s fishing, 70-year-old women and 6-year-olds included! Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.

Day 9
SIEM REAP - HIKING ON THE SACRED MOUNTAIN OF PHNOM KULEN (B)

After breakfast, short transfer via the foot of Mount Phnom Kulen (Lychee Tree Mountain). There, like Khmer pilgrims, climb the staircase and follow a lush path to reach the summit of this sacred mountain. At the top, explore the River of a Thousand Lingas, the main pagoda and its huge stone statue. Seize the opportunity to swim in the river next to a beautiful waterfall. On the way back, explore Banteay Srei temple (Citadel of Women), dedicated to Shiva, whose architecture and pink sandstone sculptures are a Khmer masterpiece. The temple turns a beautiful shade at sunset.

Day 10
SIEM REAP – PHNOM PENH (B)

This day is dedicated to your transfer (no guide) to Phnom Penh, the capital of the country. Make a stop along the way and take a look at the Skun Market, better known as the Insect Market, where the adventurous ones will dare taste unusual specialties much appreciated by Cambodians: cicadas, spiders, grasshoppers, grilled crickets… Arrival in Phnom Penh mid-afternoon. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 11
PHNOM PENH CITY TOUR (B)

From Phnom Penh, go on a day trip to Koh Dach Island. This island houses 20,000 souls in the middle of the Mekong River, very close to the capital Phnom Penh. Hop on a bike, the best way to explore the island. This ride promises pleasant and authentic moments, in a peaceful nature, between fruit trees, fields and the banks of the Mekong. A postcard scenery lulled by the regular sound of looms at work in all traditional stilt houses. Enjoy at lunch break a typical flavoured meal prepared by a local family. Back in town, visit the National Museum and Silver Pagoda within the Royal Palace.

Day 12
PNOM PENH – SHIHANOUK VILLE (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Preah Sihanouk (no guide), a seaside town located 230 km from Phnom Penh, offering one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Several stops are planned along the way, in beautiful countryside landscapes. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and seize the day with some free time and an amazing beach. Overnight in Sihanoukville.

Day 13
KOH RONG ISLAND (B)

Two seaside days to discover the island of Koh Rong with brilliant white sand, endless turquoise sea and unspoiled jungle: a marvellous postcard landscape.

Day 14
KOH RONG ISLAND (B)

Two seaside days to discover the island of Koh Rong with brilliant white sand, endless turquoise sea and unspoiled jungle: a marvellous postcard landscape.

Day 15
KOH RONG ISLAND – PHNOM PENH (B)

In the early morning, fast boat to Shihanouk City then transfer to Phnom Penh (no guide). Installation at your hotel.

Day 16
PHNOM PENH DEPARTURE (B)

Free time then transfer to the airport (no guide) for your return flight. End of our services.

OVERVIEW
This lovely trip allows you to discover the culture of two important ethnic groups of Vietnam and Cambodia: the Thai and the Khmer. You will have the opportunity to walk in tropical forests, and stroll through uncharted hamlets to discover the everyday life of the local ethnic Thai of Mai Chau. Learn more about the Khmer people in the areas surrounding Siem Reap and relax on the white sandy beaches of Koh Rong Island. Spend an unforgettable night in Lan Ha Bay, less frequented by mass tourism.

HIGHLIGHTS
•    Cycling in Mai Chau valley
•    Homestay in Ban Van village
•    Cultural exchange with the Thai minority people
•    Sampan cruise on the Ngo Dong River to Tam Coc
•    Immerse yourself in the enchanting panorama of Halong Bay.
•    The historical sites of Phnom Penh
•    The pristine beaches of Koh Rong Island
 

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

  • Accommodation with breakfast on a Double/Twin Basis in Homestay/Hotels listed or similar
  • 2 days/1 night cruise in Halong Bay
  • All entrance fees and sightseeing as mentioned in the program
  • Experienced English speaking tour guides except on free days (for other language guides supplements will be applied)
  • Meals as mentioned in the program (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
  • Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles with driver
  • Domestic flight Hanoi - Siem Reap in economy class
  • Bottled water during the tour day

OUR SERVICES DO NOT INCLUDE:

  • Rates and Hotels are subject to availability 
  • Domestic & International flights when not mentioned
  • Drinks and meals other than those mentioned 
  • Gratuities to guides, drivers, boat crews, wait staff... We recommend you allow USD$3-6 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture.
  • Personal expenses of any nature like, laundry, telephone calls, shopping, incidentals at hotels etc.
  • Visa Stamping Fee for Vietnam and Cambodia
  • Travel Insurance 
  • Peak season or Public holiday surcharges if any
  • Other services not mentioned in the itinerary
IMMERSION IN THE THAI AND KHMER PEOPLE

OUR RELATED TOURS

From 0 $ HERITAGE OF INDOCHINA

MULTI-COUNTRY - 14 days

HERITAGE OF INDOCHINA

Destinations : Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Lan Ha Bay - Hue - Hoi An - HCM - Can Tho - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

From 0 $ BEST OF INDOCHINA

MULTI-COUNTRY - 16 days

BEST OF INDOCHINA

Destinations : Ha Noi - Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay - Luang Prabang - Champasak - Siphadone - StungTreng – Kampong Thom - Siem Reap

From 0 $ IN THE MEKONG BASINS

MULTI-COUNTRY - 10 days

IN THE MEKONG BASINS

Destinations : Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Can Tho – Chau Doc – Phnom Penh – Battambang – Siem Reap

From 0 $ HISTORICAL SITES OF VIETNAM AND LAOS

MULTI-COUNTRY - 14 days

HISTORICAL SITES OF VIETNAM AND LAOS

Destinations : Hanoi - Halong Bay - Sapa - Dien Bien Phu - Muong Khua - Muang Ngoi - Luang Prabang

From 0 $ A LITTLE VIETNAM AND LAOS

MULTI-COUNTRY - 13 days

A LITTLE VIETNAM AND LAOS

Destinations : Hanoi - Mai Chau - Pu Luong - Ninh Binh - Lan Ha Bay - Luang Prabang - Pakse - Siphadone

From 0 $ HIGHLIGHTS OF CAMBODIA & LAOS

MULTI-COUNTRY - 10 days

HIGHLIGHTS OF CAMBODIA & LAOS

Destinations : Phnompenh - Siem Reap - Luang Prabang