Southern Vietnam and Cambodian Adventure

Southern Vietnam and Cambodian Adventure

South Vietnam and Cambodian Adventure

The Southern Vietnam and Cambodian Adventure is the  perfect teenage family adventure from Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia’s ancient temples in Siem Reap! Explore Ho Chi Minh City, home to delicious street food and fascinating history, cruise the Mekong Delta, and wander the colourful streets of Hoi An. In Siem Reap, Angkor Wat awaits, and Battambang offers a chance to explore beyond the tourist trail. Get ready for epic discoveries!

Duration:
12 days
Places:
7 places
Meal:
11 Breakfast

3 Lunches

4 Dinners
Transport:
Private air conditioned vehicle
Motor Boat
Bamboo Boat
Push Bike
Speed Boat
Duration:
12 days
Places:
7 places
Transport:
Private air conditioned vehicle
Motor Boat
Bamboo Boat
Push Bike
Speed Boat
Meal:
11 Breakfast

3 Lunches

4 Dinners
Group Size:
Tour is on an individual basis
Dates:
01/01/2025 - 31/12/2025

Map

map (11)

Itinerary

On arrival at Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be greeted by our airport representative who will provide the private vehicle transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Included Activities

Arrival airport transfer

Transport

Private air-conditioned vehicle

Today begins at 8:00 am when you meet your local, accredited, English-speaking guide and set off on a day tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Begin at a buzzing local market for the start of this insightful walking tour, and browse the stalls, watching the vendors peddle their wares and shoppers bargain for the freshest goods.

Walk onwards, stepping into the narrow yet safe alleys off the tourist trail. See family-run businesses lining the street, and learn how the city’s residents live – using their ground floors as shops or food stalls and residing upstairs. See vendors cooking fresh morning treats and locals queuing up to buy their breakfast.

Continue through neighbourhood alleys into a small temple honouring Vietnam’s five ‘mother goddesses’ and hear more about this unique belief.

Following this insight into the city’s spiritual side, wander onto wide streets lined with charming French-era villas and towering mahogany trees. Then step back onto the main boulevards to soak up the city’s contrasts of old and new before returning to the hotel.

This afternoon, depart from your hotel at 1:30 pm and with your guide, hop aboard a jeep then drive to a shophouse restaurant that played a significant role during Vietnam’s ‘American war’ years.

Once visited, drive past a shrine outside of the US Consulate before heading to the Central Post Office for a view of the former CIA building, where one of the last helicopter evacuations took place in 1975. Discover more about the story behind the iconic “Fall of Saigon” photo taken that day by Hubert Van Ess.

Continue to perhaps the city’s most famous landmark – the Reunification Palace. It was here another iconic photo was taken, tanks crashing through the gates of what was an important government building, signalling the end of the war. Now preserved as a museum and tourist attraction, the ‘war rooms’ in the basement plus the opulent lifestyle on display of former leaders are fascinating.

Continue past the memorial of Thich Quang Duc, a monk who immortalised himself in protest against the persecution of Buddhists in Vietnam. End the tour at a former ‘revolutionary’ hideout, once the secret base operations of the Viet Cong now a museum with hidden tunnels.

 

Visit the hideout, then sit for a refreshing drink whilst your guide explains the incredible story of this important house, including the failed attack on The Independence Palace during the Tet Offensive in 1968. Optional, try a local rice dish that Korean soldiers put their culinary twist on, by adding kimchi. The jeep will then return you to your hotel to enjoy the evening at leisure.

Included Activities

Guided day tour of Ho Chi Minh City.

Included Meals

Breakfast

Transport

Easy grade walking tour

Open air jeep

This morning begins at 7:00 am and enjoy a short drive to the banks of the Saigon River. Here you will board a speedboat for a scenic ride to the Cu Chi tunnels. Gaze upon the modern skyline of the city while enjoying a light breakfast.

After 90 minutes arrive at Cu Chi and explore the incredible network of 200 km underground tunnels. Crawl underground and get a better sense of what life was like living and fighting in the labyrinth of caves and tunnels. Hear remarkable stories of the residents’ resilience and see relics of wartime weapons.

Following the visit, return to the boat and relax while cruising back to the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

(This tour is a non-private Cu Chi Tunnels cruise. Groups are small with up to 15 people maximum per tour.)

This evening activities begins at 6:00 pm. Meet your driver with your motorbike and enjoy a ride on the busy city streets. The first stop of the evening is a vibrant rooftop with sweeping city views. It’s a great opportunity to take some photos and sip a refreshing cocktail, or drink of choice, whilst enjoying the evening breeze.

From the city heights, back down at street level, cruise through the busy streets and pass some of the famous landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City. At the first food stop, dive into local culture at an authentic seafood restaurant. Groups of people gathering to eat seafood and drink beer is the way Saigonese wind down after a busy day.

Continue by pillion across town to one of the city’s institutions, a ‘bánh xèo’ restaurant. This savoury pancake is highly favoured by Vietnamese from Saigon and beyond and is a must-try for any food enthusiast.

Once started, continue with your driver to a vibrant live music venue featuring live performances. Fuelled with delectable food and catchy tunes, hop back on the Vespa for the final ride back to your hotel.

Included Activities

Speedboat transfer to and from Cu Chi Tunnels.

Evening Vespa Tour of Ho Chi Minh City with a strong Foodie essence.

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Transport

Private air conditioned vehicle

Speedboat

Vespa

 

Today’s tour starts at 8:00 am with a pickup from the hotel and leave the streets of Ho Chi Minh City behind to drive 2 hours south of the city to the verdant Mekong Delta.

On arrival, board a local boat for a first glimpse of life on the Mekong Delta’s maze of waterways. View the life of locals and how they make their living on floating fish farms as the boat winds through the maze of canals.

En route visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut – a material found in abundance in the Mekong region. Watch a traditional folklore performance while enjoying some of the freshest tropical fruits the region has to offer.

As an option, switch gears and hop on a motor-tricycle, once the iconic vehicle and main means of transportation in southern Vietnam in the 1960s (Please note: motor-tricycle to be requested in advance). Explore the riverside promenade and narrow lanes to a lush garden. Taste the honey that is harvested by the residents and famous throughout Vietnam.

To get a closer look at delta life in the delta, board a sampan boat, and be rowed through a hidden maze of small, water palm-draped canals. After enjoying a delicious lunch featuring the unique flavours of Mekong Delta cuisine.

Before returning to the big city, stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda. This massive Buddhist pagoda boasts impressive architecture and an incredible collection of statues.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City late this afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure.

 

Included Activities

Mekong Delta full day tour.

 

Board a local Sampan on the Delta

 

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Transport

Private air conditioned vehicle

Sampan Boat

Motor-Tricycle on request

After breakfast, meet your driver who will provide the private vehicle transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for the short flight to the central port city of DaNang. On arrival at DaNang Airport, you will be greeted by our airport representative who will provide the private vehicle transfer to the old port town of Hoi An.

Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s most picturesque towns and UNESCO-heritage listed, once was a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries now draws international visitors to its streets, for both the history and the surrounding scenes.

Depart at 2:00 pm for a half-day Hoi An discovery with a local guide, exploring the ancient town. Explore former merchant homes, colourful communal halls, narrow lanes lined with traditional houses and the iconic Japanese Bridge. You will also visit charming backstreets and tiny alleys to discover lesser-known gems.

Meander down a small alley to a traditional-style house where the art of healing through martial arts has been practised by a local family for generations. This healing method is the master’s invention, combined with Qigong, Tai Chi, and traditional Vietnamese martial arts called Vo. Here you can enjoy an opportunity if you choose to learn some basic steps under the guidance of the master.

To conclude the cultural exploration, visit a cosy local home to taste a typical dessert before heading back to the hotel to enjoy the evening at leisure.

Included Activities

Private air conditioned departure transfer in Ho Chi Minh City

 

Private air-conditioned arrival transfer in DaNang

Half day afternoon walking tour of Hoi An

 

 

Included Meals

Breakfast

Transport

Private air conditioned vehicle

Walking tour

This tour is operated on a joint basis. Private option available on request at additional costs.

 

Leave the town centre behind at 8:00 am and on a push bike, pedal along quiet laneways and country roads, passing rice paddies and lush vegetable farms.

Greet friendly locals with warm smiles and waves, observe water buffalo lazing through the fields, and capture the breathtaking scenery with your lens.

Arrive at the pier and get on a motorised boat for the next part of your journey, fishing like a local. The boat will take you to a village where you can immerse yourself in the local life of Hoi An’s fishermen. Climb into a small, round bamboo basket and drift onto the tranquil waters. These quirky boats are a great opportunity to see the remarkable innovation and skills of the Vietnamese people. Cast a fishing net in the traditional way – a challenging task that the locals will be happy to assist with.

Continue to a region teeming with water palms and coconut trees, learning about the rich history of this part of Hoi An.

Back to the main boat and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on board before returning to the hotel via the nearest pier.

Included Activities

Bike tour of Hoi An and surrounding area.

Local fishing boat and local Bamboo fishing boat experience.

Included Meals

Breakfast

Transport

Push Bike

Motor Boat

Bamboo Fishing Boat

 

 

 

Enjoy this morning at leisure before meeting your driver who will provide the private vehicle transfer to DaNang Airport for your International Flight to Siem Reap.

Welcome to Siem Reap, the charming gateway to the famed temples of Angkor. On arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you will be greeted by our local English-speaking guide who will accompany you to your hotel for check-in.

The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Included Activities

Departure transfer in private air conditioned vehicle from Hoi An

Arrival transfer in private air conditioned vehicle in Siem Reap

Included Meals

Breakfast

Transport

Private air conditioned vehicle

This morning meet your guide in the hotel lobby and be ready to depart at 9:00 am.

Get to know Siem Reap’s artistic side through the town’s best workshops and galleries including a visit to Senteurs d’Angkor, where training and job opportunities are offered to disadvantaged young people and women who specialise in preserving traditional Khmer local handcraft including Smok and Candle making. The workshop takes around 2 hours.

 

Afterwards, depart from Siem Reap by road in your private vehicle, travelling through the beautiful Cambodian countryside and past rural villages to Battambang (transfer time 3 hours). Upon arrival, you will be taken directly to your hotel for check-in. Even though Battambang is Cambodia’s second-largest city, you will find that the atmosphere is very laid-back in a charming and relaxed river town full of fine examples of French-colonial architecture.

Included Activities

Siem Reap half Day tour.

 

Private vehicle transfer to Battambang.

Included Meals

Breakfast

Transport

Private air conditioned vehicle

Today’s tour starts at 8:00 am. Begin the morning with a fun morning cycle ride around the local villages surrounding Battambang with SoksaBike, a social enterprise set up to provide scenic and informative bike rides through the local countryside. During the 30km cycle tour, there are plenty of stops to learn how the locals produce rice paper, prahok (typical Cambodian fish paste), grolan (sticky rice stuffed in bamboo), and other Cambodian treats.

After the ride enjoy a rest break at your hotel.

 

In the afternoon, visit Phare Ponleu Selpak, a non-profit arts and circus campus that empowers young people through artistic, educational, and social support programs.

Immerse yourself in Cambodian culture:  Join a traditional Cambodian dance and music workshop led by qualified teachers and learn the art forms and have the chance to exchange experiences with the performers themselves!

Enjoy dinner at the campus and conclude your evening by watching the circus show.

Included Activities

Morning bike tour of Battambang.

In the afternoon visit the a Cambodian dance and music workshop

Evening at Cambodian Circus.

 

Included Meals

Breakfast

Dinner

 

Transport

Push Bike

Private air conditioned vehicle

After breakfast at your hotel, meet your driver and enjoy the return journey to Siem Reap, after a few stops along the way for refreshments, you will reach Siem Reap around 3 hours.

The afternoon is free at leisure.

This evening, bring an appetite and sense of adventure on this unique Siem Reap nightlife tour. After sunset, travel by remork (Cambodian tuk-tuk) to Street 60 on the outskirts of town. Busy most every night of the week, this street has the feel of a night market with locals throwing down bamboo mats to enjoy a smorgasbord of freshly cooked dishes. It’s an evening picnic of barbecue heaven. The aromatic smells will certainly make the mouth water. Make a stop at a stall famous for its pickled fruit and fried insects, these are popular snacks for the Cambodian people. Taste the contrasting flavours of sour fruit dipped in a salty and spicy dip, or try a selection of crispy crickets, grasshoppers, or silkworms. As you walk down the street past various stalls selling everything from clothing to toys, stop to sample some barbeque or exotic local treats such as roast pork belly, snails, and grilled frogs. Mingle with the locals as they watch their evening meal being prepared over the hot coals and join them on bamboo mats for a picnic-style meal.

Continue the culinary adventure to Wat Damnak to the handful of smoke-filled corrugated-iron roofed shacks and fancier open-sided eateries on Wat Damnak Street, for one of Siem Reap’s most popular street food snacks, sach ko ang jakak, (beef skewers) marinated in palm sugar, soy and kroeung (a paste of lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, kaffir lime, garlic), and then barbecued over coals on a traditional clay grill. Cambodians love barbecue. All is well and delicious, but what truly qualifies this barbecued beef is its accompaniment: a sweet-sour pickle salad of thick cucumber slices finely shredded green papaya and ginger.

Next, explore the streets around Psar Chas (Old Market), which are lined with various stalls selling pancakes, fruit shakes, fried bananas, waffles, coconut rice cakes, and various fried rice and noodle dishes. Take your time to sit down anywhere and enjoy anything you like! Make sure to stop at one of the many fresh fruit stalls to try a range of exotic local fruits, including dragon fruit, longans, mangoes, mangosteens, snake fruit, and the smelly but very tasty durian! This stop will mark the end of the tour and your driver will bring you safely to your hotel or, at your choice, drop you off at Pub Street or in the city centre of Siem Reap.

Note: This food tour is not vegetarian-friendly.

Included Activities

Private vehicle transfer to Siem Reap.

Evening tuk-tuk tour of Siem Reap.

Included Meals

Breakfast

Dinner

Transport

Private air conditioned vehicle

Tuk-tuk

 

This morning enjoy a cycling tour over the beautiful back roads to Angkor Wat and marvel at its grandeur. Learn about the reign of King Suryavarman II who built the iconic monument in the early 12th century and listen to the tales of the construction process which took 30 years of intensive labour to complete.

Take a closer look at the intricately carved gallery walls and learn about the Hindu myths and historic tales they represent. View some of the 2000 “Apsara” carvings, each one a unique representation of female guardian spirits adorning the temple walls.

If time permits, visit Ta Prohm or Bayon Temple before returning to the hotel.

Late in the afternoon head deeper into the jungle for the next adventure: an Angkor zipline course, where you will enjoy the afternoon in the canopy, zipping from tree to tree.

Offering 9 zip lines at different heights, suspended sky bridges and the chance to abseil from a tree this is an excursion for those with a sense of adventure who want to soar over the jungle canopy like a gibbon!

Transfer to the zipline site before receiving a safety briefing and being outfitted. Commence with the easiest zip lines before proceeding to the highest and most exhilarating. The highest zip lines are 50 metres above the canopy and the longest is 350 metres. From the last zip line, the final adventure is to abseil down before a soft trek through the forest takes you back to the starting point. (Note – max 9 people in a single group, latest start time is 12 noon, the excursion lasts 2 – 2.5 hrs, maximum weight 125kg, not suitable for children under 5 years old or 1m height, no sandals permitted.)

 

Following this fabulous adventure, you will be transferred back to your hotel, or a location in Siem Reap of your choice to enjoy the evening at leisure.

Included Activities

Early morning bike tour of Temples of Angkor.

Afternoon visit to Ta Prohm and Bayon Temple.

Afternoon Angok Zipline tour.

Included Meals

Breakfast

Dinner

Transport

Push bike

Private air conditioned vehicle

Enjoy your last few hours at leisure in Siem Reap before you meet your driver who will provide the private vehicle transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Included Activities

Private vehicle departure transfer.

Included Meals

Breakfast

Transport

Private air conditioned vehicle

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