Essential Vietnam & Cambodia
Experience Overview
A wide-ranging adventure showcasing the region’s natural wonders and fascinating cultures, this 17-day trip offers a combination of guided excursions and free time to explore beaches, ruins, urban culture, and awe-inspiring landscapes. Cruise overnight on a traditional sailing junk boat in Halong Bay. Witness the heights of Cambodia's past at Angkor Wat, and contemplate its lows by walking the infamous Killing Fields. Although many activities are included, there is still plenty of time to explore on your own and create the ultimate adventure.
Highlights
- Sail on a junk boat through Halong Bay
- Sip iced coffee in Ho Chi Minh City
- Float through the Mekong Delta
- Enjoy sunrise over breathtaking Angkor Wat
Trip Details
Product Code: 1656
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Train, air-conditioned bus, plane, walking, tuk-tuk, cyclo, boat.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Classic
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: AVEV
Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam
Finishes: Bangkok, Thailand
Duration: 17 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles, Hoi An Your G for Good Moment: Local Khmer Meal, Siem Reap Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Hoi An Your Discover Moment: Ho Chi Minh City
- Halong Bay caves entrance
- Halong Bay boat cruise with seafood lunch and dinner
- Imperial Citadel and Tomb entrance (Huế)
- Cu Chi Tunnels entrance and tour
- Cyclo tour (Phnom Penh)
- Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) entrance and guide
- Two-day Angkor Wat complex entry and guide, including sunrise tour (Siem Reap)
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (14 nts), sleeper train (1 nt), junk boat (1 nt).
- 15 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
- Train, air-conditioned bus, plane, walking, tuk-tuk, cyclo, boat.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2651 ($156 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities today until an evening welcome meeting. After the meeting, opt for dinner out with the group.
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - Chalcedony Hotel
Day 2: Hanoi/Ha Long
Enjoy a Ha Long Bay cruise on a junk boat with visits to a cave and an island lookout. Savour a seafood lunch and dinner.
Drive to Bai Chay harbour, the jumping off point for Ha Long Bay. Thousands of islands with intricate cave systems rise dramatically from the waters. Sail past limestone karst mountains in the junk boat and stop to visit some of the islands and caves.
In the evening, devour a seafood dinner, then opt to enjoy a drink on deck under the stars.
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.Transport - Skim across the water aboard this iconic traditional Asian sailboat.Activity - Board a traditional junk boat at Ha Long Bay harbour and cruise out onto serene waters. Marvel at massive limestone karst mountains jutting out of the water, creating unforgettable spectacular scenery. Swim, kayak or go cave exploring on one of the islands, if conditions are right. Indulge in fresh seafood meals with a variety of dishes to sample. Drift to sleep in a cozy cabin on board.
On rare occasion Halong Bay is closed to tourist vessels by the government authorities due to extreme weather conditions. Should this occur, an alternate activity will be provided.Accommodation - Ha Long Bay Overnight Boat
Day 3: Ha Long/Huế
Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board before sailing back to the port and return to Hanoi. Enjoy some time in the city before an overnight train to Hue.
Interested in local cuisine? Opt to pre-book the "Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour" activity on the checkout page to include this optional on your tour.
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Spend a few hours exploring this beautiful capital city. Visit some shops, have a bia hoi on a street corner or grab a coffee in a lakeside café.Transport - Drive about 15 mins to the station and then board the southbound train for the overnight journey.
Day 4: Huế
Pull into Hue early in the morning and dive right into the city, starting with a guided tour of the Imperial Citadel, Royal Tomb and Tien Mu Pagoda. The rest of the day, you are free to explore the city how you'd like.
Arrive early to Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. Start the day with a visit to the Tien Mu Pagoda followed by a visit to the tomb of one of Vietnam's former emperors. After, opt for a vegetarian lunch at a local nunnery.
While in the city, try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). Wash it all down with a Hue beer.
Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Visit Tien Mu, one of the tallest and, perhaps, most elegant pagodas in Vietnam, at seven storeys high. Take a step back in time touring this historic temple - built more than 400 years ago along the north shore of the Perfume River, it has been the site of many political protests.Activity - Tour this one-time capital city and UNESCO World Heritage site. See the walled fortress and former palace, which has many palaces, gateways, courtyards, and gardens to explore. The Forbidden Purple City (modelled on China's Forbidden City) inside the citadel was once home to the imperial family and was significantly damaged during the Vietnam War.Activity - Visit the Royal Tombs along the Perfume River in Hue. Embracing the concept of Feng Shui, these tombs are extremely ornate and provide fantastic insight into the lives of the former rulers.Accommodation - Asia Hotel
Day 5: Huế/Hoi An
Drive the Hai Van pass. Take advantage of Hoi An's many options over the 2.5 days in town. Opt for a cooking class, riverboat trip, bike ride, beach time, tailor visit or My Son ruins.
Cross the Hai Van Pass (weather permitting), with fantastic views in all directions, before arriving to Hoi An in the afternoon.
With three nights here, there's plenty of time to explore all this charming town has to offer.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Use free time in this quaint town to explore any way you like.Accommodation - Uptown Hoi An Hotel
Day 6: Hoi An
Explore all Hoi An has to offer. Dive into the culture, hang out on the beach or get clothes tailor-made in one of the many shops around town. Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project.
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Try some of the oodles of noodles (more than 26 types!) available in the city in this tasty cooking class. Run by our G for Good partners, STREETS International, this class was developed exclusively for G Adventures. Former street youth that are part of this hospitality training program, will help you prepare and cook a number of different types of noodles. This program helps these youth practice their English, increasing their skill-set and opportunities available to them in the tourism industry. Enjoy your yummy creations while learning more about the local cuisine and this initiative which empowers street youth through skills and employment training.Free_time - Explore this charming city.Accommodation - Uptown Hoi An Hotel
Day 7: Hoi An
Spend a free day exploring all Hoi An has to offer.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy free time in this charming town.Accommodation - Uptown Hoi An Hotel
Day 8: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City
Fly from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City with free time to explore this hectic and amazing city.
Drive to Da Nang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam and the country's commercial centre. Start exploring the small alleys and busy streets, keeping an eye out for laquerware shops and delicious local food stalls.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.Accommodation - Amory Hotel
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
Take a guided tour of famous Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy free time.
Use free time to visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and stroll through the immense Ben Thanh Market. The Reunification Palace, the city's Chinese quarter of Cholon, and the War Remnants Museum are also well worth a visit.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Take a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex network of tunnels that the Viet Cong lived in to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War. Try crawling through some of the tunnels (if you’re not claustrophobic). These tunnels stored ammunition, had underground hospitals, and served as a hidden base for attacking allied forces.
Free_time - Enjoy free time to explore this hectic city any way you like.Accommodation - Amory Hotel
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City
Spend today free in Ho Chi Minh City. Opt to take a boat cruise through the villages, islands, and markets of the Mekong Delta, and visit traditional candy factories. Or if you prefer, head to the famed Cu Chi Tunnels for an underground tour.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy a free day to explore Ho Chi Minh City.Accommodation - Amory Hotel
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City/Phnom Penh
Travel day with border crossing from Vietnam to Cambodia. Enjoy a cyclo tour through the city.
Drive to the border and cross into Cambodia. Continue on to the capital, Phnom Penh, and enjoy a cyclo ride through the city for a street-level perspective.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Activity - Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Settle in a traditional cyclo and depart from Wat Phnom. Tour busy streets to soak up the real vibe of the city. Pass the post office and Van's restaurant, both stunning colonial buildings, and make your way to the Royal Palace and National Museum. Go along the riverside road and take in the atmospheric cafes that line the street.Accommodation - Pacific Hotel
Day 12: Phnom Penh
Guided tour of Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison) and Choeung Ek (Killing Fields). Opt to visit the Royal Palace, the National Museum or the Central Market.
Meet a local guide to learn more about the dark side of Cambodian history. Visit to Choeung Ek, the site of the infamous Killing Fields. After, visit Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison), the notorious Khmer Rouge prison where thousands of Cambodians perished.
Enjoy a free afternoon to sightsee. Opt to explore the city's many sights: the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum. With time, choose to visit the Russian Market, Wat Phnom or sip a drink at a riverside café.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Learn more about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge visiting the killing fields of Choeung Ek; the grounds now stand as a powerful memorial filled with victims’ skulls and mass graves. Tour this sombre, yet serene, site with a guide.Activity - Learn about the dark history and devastation that occurred at Security Prison 21 (S-21); the prison, used by the Khmer Rouge regime, is now Tuol Sleng Museum. Take a guided tour to hear the stories behind the sombre photos lining the museum walls.Free_time - Use free time to customize your experience and see the sights that interest you most.Accommodation - Pacific Hotel
Day 13: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap
Drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the home base for exploring incredible Angkor Wat.
Opt to pre-book the "Phare Circus" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Drive through the beautiful Cambodian countryside.Accommodation - Grand Bayon Siem Reap Hotel
Day 14: Siem Reap
Watch the sun rise over the massive Angkor temple complex with a guided tour. Opt to visit the Tonlé Sap floating village and the Angkor National Museum. Enjoy a traditional meal of Khmer food at a G Adventures for Good-supported project.
Spend two days exploring Angkor, the former capital of the Khmer kingdom and one of the wonders of the archaeological world. See some of the highlights of this ancient capital, like sunrise at the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat, the enigmatic Bayon within the walled city of Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm, also known as the 'Tomb Raider' temple.
Enjoy a traditional meal to learn about Khmer food and meet some friendly locals. Alternating locations of our included local meal means we can support multiple small businesses and projects in the area. Each experience is truly unique and memorable.
Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Follow a local expert through the massive grounds of Angkor Wat for 2 days. You'll have the opportunity to go in and out of the complex, resting at the hottest part of the day.Free_time - Enjoy free time in Siem Reap.Activity - Depending on the day of the week your tour visits Siem Reap, you will either enjoy a traditional meal at the G Adventures-supported New Hope project or in a local home in a nearby village. With so many travellers coming through this area, alternating experiences helps to allow multiple small businesses to flourish. Both experiences are truly unique and memorable.
The New Hope Vocational Training Restaurant, an initiative kickstarted by G Adventures, provides skill-building opportunities to marginalized community members. The project also funds the adjacent free community school and health centre. Meals at Phila's house support the education of underprivileged children in the area. Visit either project – both run by locals – and see how they have supported positive change in the community.Accommodation - Grand Bayon Siem Reap Hotel
Day 15: Siem Reap
Spend another day exploring the temples of Angkor. In the afternoon, opt to going further afield in Siem Reap.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Enjoy another day touring the impressive ancient ruins with a local guide.Free_time - Get out and explore.Accommodation - Grand Bayon Siem Reap Hotel
Day 16: Siem Reap/Bangkok
Fly from Cambodia to Thailand. Enjoy the rest of the day to explore bustling Bangkok as you wish.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.Free_time - Spend the rest of the day at leisure in Bangkok.Accommodation - Hotel Royal Bangkok @ Chinatown
Day 17: Bangkok
Depart at any time.
Not ready to leave this vibrant city? Extend your stay with post-tour accommodation – your CEO can give you a hand.
Meals included: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Peter P. - Traveled, November 2023
G Adventures provides well-organized tours, hassle-free and with good experiences.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Janette W. - Traveled, November 2023
I would certainly recommend G Adventures, but would make sure they look into travel times between each destination.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Mark C. - Traveled, December 2023
Tour had plenty of free time at each location, other tour groups seem to rush through with little or no relax time
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Bryant H. - Traveled, December 2023
Had great trip. Expect for getting sick
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Mukesh G. - Traveled, December 2023
Well organized. reliable. financially stable
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Venitha S. - Traveled, December 2023
well organized and run tours. CEO looks after individuals and any problems they may encounter
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Khavish G. - Traveled, November 2023
The CEO and the organization (quality of transport, hotels used and optional activities and guides used)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Martin O. - Traveled, November 2023
Reliability is the first thing that comes to mind. I love your attention to detail and overall execution of the trip. I really appreciated the sense of safety that was provided and overall feeling of inclusion.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Sylwia L. - Traveled, November 2023
The quality of organization, content covering all main 'attractions' and availability of options allowing the change of pace if needed and the overall feeling of safety provided by the CEO. And the fact that all practicalities and local quirks are clearly explain and pointed in advance.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Jack H. - Traveled, November 2023
Really enjoyed the trip and Vinh our guide was fantastic
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Martina G. - Traveled, December 2023
Seeing a country such as Vietnam or Cambodia it is essential to have a well informed and educated guide. G tours provided this.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Natalia S. - Traveled, December 2023
Great overall experience. It was great to have travel, accommodation and the key trips all organized so that I could sit back and enjoy the experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Montana Jaye D. - Traveled, December 2023
Very well organized and the tour guide was superb!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Valerie L. - Traveled, November 2023
We had an excellent time some years ago on your boat in the Arctic but the overall communication and response to questions pre-travel was less than perfect. I had to request the vouchers for various things which should have been automatically sent and every query I made had to be referred back from one of your agents (?in South Africa) to head office.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/28/2023
Carlos N. - Traveled, October 2023
Good itinerary, superb CEO and made great memories with new friends.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/28/2023
Khrystyna P. - Traveled, November 2023
The trip was well planned, travel was hassle free and the guide super helpful.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/28/2023
Christian W. - Traveled, November 2023
The experience is unparalleled, you get to see so much of the country and people through the various destinations/itinerary/activities
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/27/2023
Maryna P. - Traveled, November 2023
I love small groups and itineraries of G Adventures
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/27/2023
Sandra B. - Traveled, November 2023
Very organized when down to minute details. Fantastic itinerary that immerse you in the culture. Great sense of community building.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/27/2023
Morgan M. - Traveled, December 2023
The whole trip has been amazing and tam are CEO was the best tour guide ever
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/25/2023
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