The best of the south of Indochina is waiting for you on the Ho Chi Minh to Cambodia 9-day Tour, designed by the best tour company in Vietnam to show you the best of Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh and the surrounds of Siem Reap. Cambodia and South Vietnam are intertwined through their awe-inspiring histories and this trip to Vietnam and Cambodia offers you a conclusive look at all of the past, present and future of the various and vibrant regions found within.
We will start in Ho Chi Minh City, the bustling metropolis of southern Vietnam, discovering the historic and current sites that comprise much of the city’s rich culture. We see examples of its recent turmoil at the Cu Chi Tunnels and visit the Mekong Delta at its southern doorstep, with a humble culture of floating markets, rice farming and fruit-picking that has been the backbone of Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon before it.
After this, the Ho Chi Minh to Cambodia 9-day Tour heads via speedboat to Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia and an embodiment of the dichotomy between peaceful Buddhist principles and the callous hand of the Khmer Rouge. We tour the city’s attractions and drive to Siem Reap, our dynamic base for exploring the biggest religious site in the world, Angkor Wat, with its hundreds of buildings and ruins dedicated to the commemoration of Buddhism and the Khmer rulers of the time. We finish the Ho Chi Minh to Cambodia 9-day tour with a relaxing day at Tonle Sap Lake before you catch your flight home.
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Activities: Arrive Ho Chi minh City, check-in the hotel and be free to discover the city.
Our guide will collect you from Ho Chi Minh City’s airport and take you directly to your hotel. Once you are checked in, you are free to discover the delights of Vietnam’s fast-emerging metropolis and the many roots that keep it grounded in Vietnamese tradition and culture.
Notes: No meals are included on the first day. Check-in time at the hotel is available from 14:00
Activities: Explore Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning, and then visit some highlights of Ho Chi Minh City including Giac Lam Pagoda, Thien Hau Pagoda, and Ben Thanh Market.
Leaving Ho Chi Minh City at 08:00, we arrive at the Cu Chu Tunnels after heading 2 hours northwest past farmland and jungle. We will see a short introduction video explaining the layout of all 250km of this underground web, which essentially acted as a secretive city during the American War, housing hospitals, living quarters, meeting rooms and vast stockpiles of weapons.Â
We will take a tour of the outside of the tunnels, trying our best to spot entrance points and some of the brutal booby traps that showcase the lengths to which the Viet Cong went to defend their homeland. We head inside the underground maze to look at the horrific conditions endured by the Viet Cong, returning to the surface afterwards to find evidence of fighting via the burned-out American tank and the craters of 500lb bombs that were dropped by B-52 bombers.
We eat lunch at a nearby restaurant and head back to Ho Chi Minh City. We begin our city tour in the west side, at Giac Lam Pagoda, a beautifully tiered building standing as the city’s oldest pagoda since 1744. We then head to Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City’s ancient Chinatown, where we see some of the significant advancements of Chinese culture in the city through Thien Hau Pagoda, a beautifully ornate devotion to the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu.
We finish the day at Ben Thanh Market in the centre of the city, where we will help you to find great deals and food before we leave you to enjoy the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Notes: Make your own arrangements for dinner and stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Activities: Visit Cai Be Floating Market, cycle to visit orchards, humble churches, ornate pagodas and beautiful traditional houses on Tan Phong Island, and experience the daily life of the locals.
Today, we will depart from your hotel at 07:00 and head 100km southwest to the riverside of the Mekong at Cai Be, where we will enjoy the uniqueness of its floating market. Boarding a local sampan boat, we glide across the smooth waterways, looking out for great produce, clothing, electronics and many more; there are no limits to the merchandise at Cai Be.
After this, we head onto Tan Phong Island for cycling or walking along the local paths leading to abundant orchards, humble churches, ornate pagodas and beautiful traditional houses. We can stop along the way to see examples of traditional cooking and crafts, specifically the creation of netted rice paper for spring rolls, the thatching of cottage roofs out of coconut leaves and the drying of water-hyacinth to make several products such as shoes, belts, bags, etc.
We head back out onto the water to discover some of the verdant estuaries of the Mekong River, where narrow channels of water are lined with lush nipa palm, creating the scene of an unadulterated tropical paradise. We return to the Mekong afterwards and travel to An Binh Island, where we will visit the gorgeous abode of the Ut Trinh Homestay for lunch. This ancient house has an attached orchard and many relaxing areas to drink tea and listen to traditional Vietnamese music.
On An Binh Island, we visit a village to discover some of the delicious trades that have established themselves here, namely coconut candy, rice popcorn and rice paper. The locals here are also experts in pottery and we can watch them creating beautiful works before we take the cruise to Vinh Long City and the transfer to Can Tho City. We will check into the new hotel here and relax for the rest of the day.
Take your time to discover the various culinary and touristic delights of Vietnam’s fourth-largest city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Notes: Make your own arrangements for dinner tonight and stay overnight in Can Tho.
Activities: Visit Cai Rang Floating Market, and head to Chau Doc - a small town on the border with Cambodia.
We rise early to visit one of the most active floating markets in the country at Cai Rang, where we can start our morning with some of the delicious local fruit sold from atop the water. We cruise in the shadows of swaying coconut trees along watery alleyways, tasting more fruit directly from the orchards and meeting the welcoming locals of the region.
We return to land and head to Chau Doc, a small town on the border with Cambodia. We arrive in the afternoon for lunch and check into our hotel for one night. Feel free to check out the majesty of San Mountain, a place of pilgrimage for devout Buddhists and a wonderful 230-metre hill that provides stretching views of the rice paddies around. There are many pagodas, shrines, statues, tombs and temples here containing a strong Chinese influence, including the ornate and stunning ‘Sam Mountain Temple’.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Notes: Make your own arrangements for dinner and stay overnight in Chau Doc.
Activities: Take a speedboat on the Bassac River to arrive Phnom Penh, and then visit historical attractions at the Choeung Ek Killing Fields and S-21 Prison.
We have breakfast together then board the speedboat for transport up the Bassac River, eventually arriving in Phnom Penh at about 12:30. There are lovely views of abundant vegetation and far-off mountains along the way and the border crossing is a simple, stress-free experience. A car will await our arrival at Sisowath Quay in order to transfer us to your hotel in Cambodia’s capital city.Â
Take the rest of the day to discover Phnom Penh and the different ambiance and pace of life here when compared with Vietnam. We advise you to check out the historical attractions at the Choeung Ek Killing Fields and S-21 Prison to get an important understanding of the harrowing recent history of Cambodia and the brutal regime of the Khmer Rouge.
Meals: Breakfast
Notes: Make your own arrangements for dinner and stay overnight in Phnom Penh.
Activities: Make your own arrangements for dinner and stay overnight in Siem Reap.
After breakfast, we begin our city tour of Phnom Penh at the Royal Palace; current home of the Cambodian Royal Family with stunning grounds and an accompanying masterpiece of Khmer religious architecture in the Silver Pagoda. Following this, we head to Wat Ounalom; a beautiful site with a long history dating back to 1443, serving as the head of Cambodian Buddhism for the 97% of the country that practice the religion.
We have a traditional Cambodian lunch and transfer you to Siem Reap, taking 6 hours through quaint villages and Cambodia’s unique and wild countryside. Upon arriving, you can check into your hotel and relax into the evening at your leisure. Maybe check out Siem Reap’s lively bar scene, take a massage after your transfer or discover the wonders of Cambodian street food.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Activities: Discover Angkor Wat and many other sites in Cambodia such as Baphuon Temple, the Royal Palace, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.
You will take breakfast early this morning to allow for a full day at the resplendent Angkor Wat, the largest religious site in the world. We leave at about 07:00 and head straight to Ta Prohm, an eerie ruined temple covered in snaking vines from banyan trees, which have taken back much of the jungle once cleared to make space for this now-ancient relic.Â
We drive further into the 400-acre area of Angkor Wat, passing countless examples of Angkor architecture, both intricate and sweeping in its presentation, standing as one of the pinnacles of human accomplishment throughout the world. We head to the Great City of Angkor Thom, the final capital of the powerful Khmer Empire and once home to up to 150,000 citizens. Within its walls, we find Bayon Temple, noticeable by the hundreds of well-preserved stone faces created to honour the Buddhist deity of infinite compassion, Avalokitesvara.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will round off the rest of the afternoon by visiting many other sites, including Baphuon Temple, the Royal Palace, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. We return to Siem Reap after this for another pleasant night in the lively town.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Notes: Make your own arrangements for dinner and stay overnight in Siem Reap.
Activities: Cruise on boat to discover Tonle Sap Lake
Enjoy a slightly later breakfast today until our guide takes you south to Me Chrey Village, one of the floating enclaves sitting atop Tonle Sap Lake that rises and falls with the water levels, capable of quadrupling in size over the wet season. Heading out onto a boat, we discover the crafting of traditional fishing tools and see how the locals utilise them to catch their dinner in these beautiful surroundings. We pass village pagodas where monks practice their faith adorned in traditional orange Buddhist garb.
Spend the final afternoon and evening of the Ho Chi Minh to Cambodia 9-day Tour in effervescent Siem Reap. This will be one of your last chances for a massage or to buy attractive souvenirs from the small, enclosed markets around the town.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Notes: Make your own arrangements for dinner and stay overnight in Siem Reap.
Activities: Take the flight to home or the next destinations.
Enjoy breakfast at your own pace and await transfer for your flight at Siem Reap’s international airport. You may use the services of the hotel until 12:00.
Thank you kindly for joining Incredible Asia Journeys - the trusted Vietnam travel agency on the Ho Chi Minh to Cambodia 9 Day Tour. It is always an absolute pleasure to serve our guests and we hope that you enjoyed yourself enormously.
Meals: Breakfast
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Sanouva Saigon is a newly renovated hotel (in Dec 2018), at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, one block away from Ben Thanh market, the most famous traditional market in Saigon. Our 53 elegant rooms are all equipped with center air-conditioning system, cable LCD TV, IDD Telephone, reading lights and free Wireless Broadband Internet at your fingertips. Each room also has its own bathroom with shower and built in hair dryer, a well stocked mini-bar, safety box to guarantee comfort during guest’s stay. Our hotel provides our guests with a luxurious restaurant with professional chefs to deliver you the finest cuisine. We put our very best effort to ensure guest stay at our humble establishment, Sanouva, a pleasurable, comfortable and enjoyable one. We wish to make guest’s experience with us as mesmerizing as their visit to our city.
The location of the Silverland Central Hotel lives up to its name, just 100m from Ho Chi Minh City’s central Ben Thanh Market and a 5-minute walk to Bui Vien Walking Street and downtown Saigon. This luxurious hotel provides comfort through its choice of 6 well-appointed rooms, spanning from the 20m2 Superior room to the capacious 38m2 Family Suite. All of the rooms at the Silverland Central Hotel contain a simple yet attractive design, with luxurious flourishes added through the chaise lounges and elegant bathtubs. The Silverland Central Hotel is your all-encompassing home for discovering the beauty of Ho Chi Minh City. The city’s lights come alive from our ultra-modern rooftop bar, which offers uncompromised views of Saigon’s gorgeous skyline. Our restaurant and café add a pristine touch of practicality, with gourmet fusion food served throughout the day, along with Western beverages and iconic Vietnamese coffee.
Steeped in modern history through its vital role played during the Vietnam War, the Rex Hotel Saigon carries a certain class and prestige unparalleled by other hotels in Ho Chi Minh City. The fine blend of ancient Vietnamese elegance set among modern Western convenience is a philosophy that provides you with a highly comfortable stay, but one that also keeps us in touch with our ancestral roots. This is most evident in our rooms, where you will find a highly compatible décor amidst ostentatious furnishings, all amounting to a piece of Saigon accommodation draped in fine style.Outside the rooms, the numerous facilities of the Rex Hotel Saigon keep you entertained and provide excellent refreshment for your time with us. Our Rooftop Bar Garden crowns the entire hotel with sweeping views over glittering Ho Chi Minh City, while two restaurants, two swimming pools, a gym, tennis court, spa, and a unique vertical garden space complete the hotel with a decadent flourish.Our location right next to the central City Hall puts the Rex Hotel Saigon squarely in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Exiting the hotel, you will find yourself on Nguyen Hue Walking Street, while Ben Thanh Market lies just about 500m away. Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum can be reached in under 1km, and the nightlife centre of the city, Bui Vien street, in under 2km.
Rediscover your spiritual self at Victoria Nui Sam Lodge Located on the side of Sam Mountain (Nui Sam in Vietnamese), the three star Victoria Nui Sam Lodge is the latest addition to the suite of Victoria Hotels and Resorts. The 26 stone bungalows and villas nestled on the side of this spiritual mountain, home to dozens of pagodas and temples, offer guests and visitors a unique experience in a truly magnificent location. Our brand new facilities are designed to highlight the surrounding environment as well as the pursuit of wellness and fitness. To that end, guests can reconnect with nature by strolling the extensive grounds complete with vegetable and herb gardens and hiking our scenic "health" trail. At 284m (931 feet), Sam Mountain offers stunning unobstructed views into the surrounding valley with its lush rice paddies and beyond, stretching deep into Cambodia. The layout of the Victoria Nui Sam Lodge takes advantage of those same vistas, the perfect en-route stop for discerning travelers looking for more than just a glimpse of the Mekong Delta. While only 7km (4 miles) from the hustle and bustle of Chau Doc, you might as well be a world away.
The beautiful Double Leaf Boutique Hotel is situated in Phnom Penh, offering a break from the central rush of the city but still the convenience of its Russian Market and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum nearby.The mixture of modern and traditional at the Double Leaf Boutique Hotel is our biggest asset. All of our rooms feature traditional Cambodian scenes portrayed in a modern style, lit beautifully with chic lighting and accompanied by a highly comfortable bed, sofa, balcony and bathroom.Throughout the rest of the hotel, guests can find a lovely swimming pool and luxuriant garden, both of which aid your relaxation immeasurably. A tranquil spa and stately restaurant complete the hotel in perfect style.
The beautiful Double Leaf Boutique Hotel is situated in Phnom Penh, offering a break from the central rush of the city but still the convenience of its Russian Market and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum nearby.The mixture of modern and traditional at the Double Leaf Boutique Hotel is our biggest asset. All of our rooms feature traditional Cambodian scenes portrayed in a modern style, lit beautifully with chic lighting and accompanied by a highly comfortable bed, sofa, balcony and bathroom.Throughout the rest of the hotel, guests can find a lovely swimming pool and luxuriant garden, both of which aid your relaxation immeasurably. A tranquil spa and stately restaurant complete the hotel in perfect style.
At the confluence of the Mekong and Bassac rivers, the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra Hotel offers new luxury in the capital of Cambodia, found across 201 elegant rooms and suites. Cambodian style and colonial elegance sweeps throughout our 5-star hotel, providing the most grand of homes for visitors to our fabulous city to return to each day.Whether for relaxation or business, the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra Hotel has our guests covered across all of our rooms. In the luxuriant hotel grounds, a pool, spa, fitness centre and sports courts can be found, adding another element of opulence to your stay.The Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra Hotel is located in a quiet corner of the bustling capital, offering you a reclusive stay but also one of convenience, as the AEON Mall lies close by and there is easy access into the city centre.
Angkor hospitality and grace takes centre stage at the Tara Angkor Hotel, a 4-star offering in ancient Siem Reap. The grand design of the building and its gorgeous grounds offers you the perfect escape, conveniently located just outside of the town for maximum quietness.All of our rooms contain high-quality amenities and a décor that harks back to ancient Angkor and its beautiful art. Comfortable furnishings and chic bathrooms throughout bring Angkor tradition into the 21st century.In our lounges, restaurants, bars and at our spa and pool, you will find many ways to enjoy the serenity of Angkor, the civilisation of which was centered a mere 5.5km up the road. The centre of the town is just 1km away, providing convenience but also seclusion from the hustle and bustle.
5-star opulence awaits you in Siem Reap, at the Sokha Angkor Resort. Our grand establishment has a long history in Cambodia, and our roots are still deeply entrenched in everything that we do. Even in this new age of luxury, you will find our ancient Angkor heritage manifested across ornate wood, elaborate décor and a service of the most perfect display of hospitality.In each of our rooms, you will find a level of luxury unreached by many other hotels in Cambodia. Enormous beds and comfortable colonial features, like the chaise lounge, will provide the relaxation while charming wooden furnishings and exquisite garden and pool views from the window keep you grounded in luxury.Despite offering the perfect retreat from Siem Reap’s busy streets, the Sokha Angkor Resort is within easy walking distance of Pub Street, the Old Market and other central Siem Reap attractions. The largest attraction of all, Angkor Wat, is a mere 5.5km away, while the airport lies just 7.5km to the west.