Selected: fully customisable

Vietnam & Cambodia Uncovered

If Vietnam and Cambodia are on your bucket list, look no further than this itinerary which covers the best of both.

Location
Multi-country
Suggested Length
14 days /
13
nights
Activity Level
Fully customisable
Every trip is unique
A man cycling through a lantern lined street in Hanoi
Silhouettes kayaking in Lan Ha Bay, with amazing karst rock background
the view of Angkor Wat as the sun sets
Dancer for Cambodian living arts

Ratings

Light

Light mobility requirements as sightseeing activities are done predominantly by vehicle, with light walking

Steady

Ideal for most fitness levels. Sightseeing involves walking and being on your feet for a couple of hours at a time, with down-time included too

Active

Requires a moderate level of fitness. Activities and sightseeing will generally involve walking and being on your foot for much of the day. Often includes light activities such as cycling, kayaking, or hands-on experiences

Adventure

Demands higher fitness. Most days will include a substantial amount of walking and/or activity throughout the day.  

Energetic

For people who love being active. We reserve this rating for active itineraries with substantial movement and adventure activities almost every day.  

Explore the magnificent temples of Angkor, and learn about Indochina’s troubled past at the Cu Chi Tunnels and Cambodia’s Killing Fields and S21 Genocide Museum

Visit landmarks and hidden sights on city tours and foodie safaris in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap

Soak up the scenery from the back of a vintage Vespa near Hoi An, a night aboard a traditional junk in Lan Ha Bay and a boat trip on Tonlé Sap Lake

Watch an acrobatic performance at Phare, The Cambodian Circus

Evening-Vespa-Tour-in-Vietnam-with-InsideAsia-tours

Itinerary

All itineraries are fully customisable.

Our destination experts created this trip as an example of a cultural adventure: combining remarkable sights, guided experiences and a slice of everyday local life.

Choose us, and we’ll create you a custom holiday where every detail reflects your pace, passions and preferences. Take as much or as little from this trip idea as you want, talk to us when you’re ready.
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Map showing Vietnam & Cambodia Uncovered itinerary route
Image
Map showing Vietnam & Cambodia Uncovered itinerary route
Day 1-2

Hanoi

Lady with flowers in Hanoi streets
Highlights:

Get the day started with a tai chi class in the park

Pull up a plastic stool for a typical Hanoian breakfast of pho noodles

Explore Hanoi’s historic landmarks including the Temple of Literature

Good Morning Vietnam! Wake up early on your first full day to explore two faces of Hanoi. We’ll team you up with a knowledgeable guide who’ll first introduce you to daily life in the capital. At 5.30am head to Long Bien Market to see fruit and vegetable wholesalers in full swing. Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, then do as the locals do by joining a tai chi class. Having worked up an appetite, tuck into the Hanoian breakfast of choice, a steaming bowl of pho noodles washed down with a sweet Vietnamese coffee. In the afternoon, the focus is on history at the 1,000-year-old Temple of Literature and One Pillar Pagoda. Visit the house where Ho Chi Minh lived to learn about his life and legacy.

Transport

Day 1:
Car transfer from Hanoi Airport to Hanoi (45 minutes)

Day 3

Lan Ha Bay

Halong Bay boats in the bay - Grant E
Highlights:

Cruise through stunning Lan Ha, a bay sprinkled with karst mountain islands

Spend the night in a private cabin aboard a traditional junk boat

Take an island excursion, go kayaking or try your luck at squid fishing

Head east from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay, one of the most spectacular seascapes in the world, where hundreds of limestone karsts dot the ocean. Neighbouring Halong Bay is the famous spot but these days its chock-a-block with cruise boats. That’s why we recommend peaceful Lan Ha which is just as beautiful, with the added bonus of white beaches on some of the islets. You’ll spend a day and a night aboard a gorgeous traditional junk. They’ve got a whole menu of activities for you: kayaking, squid fishing and cooking classes, as well as island excursions. Of course, nobody’s going to blame you if you opt instead to relax with a cocktail and watch the scenery drift past your cabin balcony.

Transport

Day 3:
Car transfer from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay (2.5 hours)

Day 4-5

Hoi An

Scooter in Hoi An
Highlights:

Explore the Hoi An countryside from the back of a vintage Vespa

Stop off at cottage industries in rural villages, and Cam Kim Island fishing port

Wander the riverside night market illuminated by colourful lanterns

There’s a vintage Vespa waiting for you in Hoi An. Riding pillion, you’ll zip through the old town, past 15th century merchant houses and ochre villas, before heading into the countryside. Whizz past rice paddies, boatyards and villages where the locals make rice crackers, weave baskets and tend the land using traditional techniques handed down the generations. The rest of your time in Hoi An is yours to spend as you please. Soak up the sun on An Bang beach, visit a tailor to order a made-to-measure suit or discover how silk lanterns are made. As night falls, check out the vibrant restaurant scene where local specialities include white rose dumplings and cao lau pork noodles.

Transport

Day 4:
Car transfer from Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi Airport (2.5 hours)
Flight from Hanoi to Danang (1.5 hours)
Car transfer from Danang Airport to Hoi An (45 minutes)

Day 6-7

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Highlights:

Take a walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s French colonial architecture

Chow down on local specialities including crispy pancakes and pork ribs

Get to grips with Vietnam’s military history at the Cu Chi Tunnels

By now, you’ve travelled over 1,000km from Hanoi to Vietnam’s second metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City. It’s fascinating to compare the two: one steeped in tradition, the latter forward-thinking and spontaneous. We’ve got a clued-up local guide to show you Ho Chi Minh City’s most beautiful French colonial architecture, plus hidden boutiques and cafés run by young Vietnamese creatives. In the evening, tuck into crispy pancakes, hearty Chinese soup, rice and pork ribs on a street food tour. On your second morning, you’ll head out to the Cu Chi Tunnels where the Viet Cong lived below ground to escape shelling - a moving place to get an understanding of the US-Vietnam War.

Transport

Day 6:
Car transfer from Hoi An to Danang Airport (45 minutes)
Flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City (1.5 hours)
Car transfer from Ho Chi Minh City Airport to Ho Chi Minh City (30 minutes)

Day 8-9

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh by night
Highlights:

Go bar hopping by tuk tuk on a nightlife tour of Phnom Penh

See a quieter slice of the city on a backstreet walking tour

Explore the dark side of Cambodian history at the Killing Fields

Welcome to Cambodia. Kick off with a night out of cocktails, Khmer cuisine and live music in Phnom Penh. Next morning, you’ll explore the backstreets on foot with our hand-picked local guide to see how people actually live in the capital. Wander residential streets, glimpse local markets and shops, and stroll down the waterfront. You’ll also visit the magnificent Royal Palace built in 1866. Of course, there’s a dark side to recent Cambodian history in the form of the Khmer Rouge, which you’ll discover at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Sobering yes, but visiting these places gives a vivid sense of the suffering endured by the Cambodian people.

Transport

Day 8:
Car transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (30 minutes)
Flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh (1 hour)
Car transfer from Phnom Penh Airport to Phnom Penh (1 hours)

Day 10-13

Siem Reap

Girl on boat in Tonle Sap lake
Highlights:

Hop in a boat to see the ‘floating’ stilt houses of Tonlé Sap Lake

Watch the sun rise over the ancient temples of Angkor

Catch an acrobatic performance at Phare, The Cambodian Circus

You’ll see idyllic Cambodian countryside today, stopping off for a boat trip across Tonlé Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, to explore villages built on stilts. Arriving in Siem Reap, head out for a street food safari. Try deep-fried insects if you dare, as well as pancakes in the night market, rice wine and beef skewers served from family-run shacks. But the best is still to come: the ancient city of Angkor. Catch the sunrise over Phnom Bakheng temple, then spend your final day exploring the ruins: Ta Prohm tangled in vines, magnificent Angkor Wat and the enigmatic stone faces of Bayon. Toast the end of your trip on a gondala cruise along the moat of Angkor Thom.

Accommodation
Transport

Day 10:
Car transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (5.5 hours)

Day 13:
Car transfer from Siem Reap to Siem Reap Airport (20 minutes)

Pattern

Is this trip for you?

What's great

  • We’ve designed this itinerary to showcase the crème de la crème of Vietnam and Cambodia with a strong focus on food, history and culture
  • Instead of Halong Bay, we highly recommend its quieter neighbour Lan Ha Bay. There are far fewer tourist boats but the scenery’s just as beautiful with the added bonus of a few alabaster beaches
  • We can easily lengthen your trip to include time on the beach. The Cambodian Islands have their best weather from November to March, or extend your stay in Hoi An from March to August.

Things to consider

  • This trip hits all the classic sights of Vietnam and Cambodia. It’s a well-trodden trail so there will always be other tourists around, although our guides are high-skilled at navigating busy times of day to avoid big crowds
  • Indochina has a diverse climate, so whenever you travel there will always be one destination that’s not enjoying optimal weather
  • Some of the foodie experiences on this trip are not great for people with dietary requirements. If that’s you, let us know and we’ll come up with suitable alternatives - rest assured we won’t let you go hungry!

What's included?

What's included

  • Breakfast every day
  • Two lunches: one on board the Lan Ha Bay cruise; one during the Vespa tour of Hoi An
  • Four dinners: one on board the Lan Ha Bay cruise; a street food tour of Ho Chi Minh City; dine-around in Phnom Penh; street food tour of Siem Reap
  • Two full-day experiences: countryside tour of Hoi An by Vespa; visit the temples of the Angkor Temple Complex
  • Seven half-day experiences: Good morning Hanoi; Hanoi city tour; Ho Chi Minh City backstreets tour; Cu Chi Tunnels; walking tour of Phnom Penh; Khmer Rouge sites of Phnom Penh; boat trip on the Tonlé Sap Lake
  • Four evening experiences: street food tour of Ho Chi Minh City; dine-around in Phnom Penh; street food tour of Siem Reap; Phare, The Cambodian Circus performance
  • All entrance fees to sites included in guided experiences
  • All internal transport & accommodation

Not included

  • Visas
  • International flights
  • Meals not mentioned
  • Entrance fees to any sites not included in guided experiences
  • Tips for guides & porters