Cambodia & Vietnam, From Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh

Cambodia & Vietnam - From Temples to the Mekong Delta

Arrival at Siem Reap Airport. Welcome by your local driver, then private transfer (without guide) to your hotel. Check in at the hotel, then time at leisure (rooms available from 2 p.m.).

Evening at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Angkor Complex – from Angkor Thom to Srah Srang by bicycle:

Meet your guide at the hotel. You will leave early in the morning to reach the starting point of the excursion. First, you will visit the magnificent South Gate of Angkor Thom, the former capital of the Khmer Empire. Then, you will cycle to the centre of the Angkor Thom complex to discover the mysterious Bayon Temple. Once the state temple of the Khmer capital, it is now considered one of the most beautiful temples in the archaeological park, thanks to its 54 finely carved faces of Buddha.

After exploring Bayon at your own pace, you will continue to discover the ancient capital, admiring the Terrace of the Elephants and other temples overgrown by the jungle. Then, you will take a path to the majestic Ta Phrom, often called the 'Tomb Raider temple'. This is undoubtedly one of the most iconic temples, where vegetation has become intertwined with the ruins over time to create a site of exceptional beauty that is popular with both tourists and film producers.

You will continue your excursion to Srah Srang, the ancient reservoir of Angkor, where you can enjoy the exceptional view and rest before enjoying a delicious local lunch.

(Distance and duration of the cycling activity: 20 kilometres - 2 hours (half-day activity excluding temple visits); easy level).

Picnic lunch in a private house in Angkor Park:

Angkor Archaeological Park is home to many people from the Siem Reap region. As we wander along the paths and visit the temples, we will discover small villages containing pretty traditional houses. Escape the tourist crowds and enjoy a picnic in one of these private homes, surrounded by authentic local life.

Return to the hotel and free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch.

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel.

Morning: Visit of Angkor Wat by local tuk tuk:

Begin your day with a visit to Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This masterpiece of Khmer architecture is dominated by five majestic towers and took around 30 years to complete. To see how the colours of the stone change with the light, you should visit Angkor Wat at different times of the day.

Afternoon: Tuk tuk tour of the countryside:

Travel by tuk tuk through rice fields, past farms and through small rural villages, and learn how the locals live. Your tuk tuk will also take you to a pagoda, where you can admire its beauty before continuing on to meet a family who produce the famous Cambodian rice noodles. Participate in the different stages of production to discover their daily way of life. These noodles form the basis of the traditional and delicious dish Nom Bahn Chok, which you will have the chance to sample on site. Next, you will travel to another village to learn about sugar palm production. The villagers will demonstrate how they process the fruit in various ways. Don't be shy — give it a try!

Duration: 4 hours including visits.

Cocktail hour and sunset over the countryside:

Just a few kilometres from the temples of Angkor and Siem Reap, travellers can enjoy a peaceful, green setting at the end of a day of exploration, where they can relax with a drink and some appetisers. As the day gives way to dusk over the beautiful Cambodian countryside, it is the perfect time to enjoy an unforgettable moment.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast.

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel.

Visit a floating village on Tonlé Sap Lake - Kompong Khleang:

From Kompong Khleang, you will board a local boat and gently meander along Tonlé Sap Lake, observing the small floating villages along the way. This will allow you to easily navigate the various canals that lead to the large lake. Once you reach the river's mouth, where there is nothing but water as far as the eye can see, you will realise just how immense the lake is! During the dry season, you can stroll around with the locals before setting off on your cruise.

Distance between Siem Reap and Kompong Khleang: 52 kilometres (1 hour and 30 minutes) each way.

Boat trip: The boat follows the same route there and back, taking about an hour each way. This may vary depending on the water level.

Picnic lunch in a traditional stilt house:

You will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch at one of the most beautiful houses in the village. There, you can enjoy a delicious picnic in a truly exceptional setting. Although traditional Cambodian stilt houses are common throughout the country, the floating and stilt villages of Kompong Khleang are unmissable. Here, yo u can observe the daily lives of the fishermen who live there and learn how they have preserved their traditional way of life for generations.

After lunch, departure by road to Kampong Thom. Check-in and overnight stay at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch.

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel.

Visit Sambor Prei Kuk:

Discover the splendid ruins of the temples at Sambor Prei Kuk, which was the capital during the Chenla period. Located in Kampong Thom province, the site was recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Spanning 25 square kilometres, it comprises a fortified city and numerous temples dating from the 6th to 9th centuries. Take in the peaceful atmosphere as you stroll through the various sites nestled in the forest.

Distance from Kampong Thom city: 18 kilometres - approximately 40 minutes (each way). Duration of visit: 1.5 to 2 hours.

Journey to Phnom Penh.

Stop to visit Skun market (insect market).

Rest of the day at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast.

Breakfast, then meet your guide at the hotel.

Tour of Phnom Penh:

Today, you will explore the city of Phnom Penh. First, you will visit the Independence Monument, followed by Wat Phnom, a pagoda built on an artificial hill topped by a monastery housing sacred relics. Next, you will visit the impressive National Museum. This splendid building, with its traditional Khmer architecture, houses exceptional examples of Khmer art and craftsmanship. After that, you will head to the Royal Palace, home to the famous Silver Pagoda, which is richly decorated and contains many masterpieces.

After getting a taste of luxury and opulence, you will delve into a darker period of the country's history: the Khmer Rouge regime. Start with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former secondary school turned prison by the Khmer Rouge where thousands of prisoners were detained, tortured and killed. To lighten the mood, you will then have time to visit the Tuol Tumpoung market, also known as the 'Russian Market', where you can browse for souvenirs, antiques and fabrics.

Sunset cruise on the magnificent Mekong River:

You will pass the spectacular Royal Palace and arrive at the confluence of the Tonlé Sap, the Bassac and the two branches of the Mekong. During the trip, you will see fishermen at work and locals gathering at historical monuments and along the river. Take in the pleasant atmosphere and enjoy the sunset over Phnom Penh.

Duration: 5:00 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. (approximate schedule).

Rest of the day at leisure and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast.

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel.

In the early afternoon, you will set off from Phnom Penh by boat, heading for the Vietnamese border. Once you arrive at the border post, you will need to complete customs formalities on both sides.

You will then continue your cruise to the town of Chau Doc in Vietnam, where you will arrive in the late afternoon. You will then be welcomed and taken to your hotel.

Duration of customs formalities: 1 to 1.5 hours (approximate time).

Journey from Phnom Penh to Chau Doc: 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Rest of the day at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast.

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel.

Morning: Cycling tour in the Chau Doc countryside:

After collecting your bicycles, you will begin your tour on a small road leading out of the city. You will then cycle through the picturesque countryside, surrounded by rice fields. There will be several stops, where you can try crossing a rope bridge, learn how lotus fields work or simply watch buffalo resting in a canal. You will also see some of the largest rice fields in the Mekong Delta along the way. Finally, you will stop at a local café to enjoy some refreshments.

Distance and duration: 8 kilometres - 1 hour 30 minutes or 15 kilometres - 2 hours 30 minutes.

Afternoon: Excursion to Tra Su Forest:

Exploring Tra Su Forest offers the chance to experience harmony with nature. Restored in 1983, the forest now covers more than 700 hectares. This enchanting place is home to many protected species. You will also see small stilted houses where the inhabitants live in harmony with the surrounding vegetation. Finally, you can climb a 10-metre tower in the middle of the site to enjoy a 360-degree view of the entire forest park. You may also spot storks and egrets perched in the trees.

Distance: Chau Doc – Tra Su: 20 kilometres – 35 minutes.

Return to your hotel, evening at leisure.

Included meals: Breakfast.

Notes:

• It is best to visit the forest between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., as the birds return to their nests in groups in a vast daily migration.
• The best time to visit Tra Su is during the rainy season (May to October).

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel. Depart by road for Can Tho.

Guided tour of Can Tho:

This tour will take you on a journey of discovery through Can Tho, as you stroll past the city's famous sites and temples. Your first stop will be a bustling wholesale market near the Mekong River, where you will see many Vietnamese traders going about their business. Here, you will see a variety of local produce, including fresh fish and seafood, which arrive by boat.

As you continue along the Mekong River, you will reach the beautiful Ong Pagoda, a famous Chinese pagoda which reflects the influence of people from Guangdong in this region. You will also pass through a residential complex where many families live, playing an important role in the development of modern cities.

After enjoying a drink at a local café, you will finish with a visit to a Khmer pagoda. The Khmer are another ethnic group living in Can Tho.

Distance and duration of the walk: 2 kilometres – 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.

Rest of the day at leisure and overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast.

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel.

Morning: Depart for the Go Cong region in Tien Giang Province (distance: 141 km; journey time: approx. 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours). Visit the Hoang Gia Mausoleum, which is dedicated to an ancient family of mandarins from the Nguyen dynasty. Next, discover the charming atmosphere and well-preserved monuments, including the harmonious blend of Vietnamese and French architecture at Hai Palace and the vibrant Cao Dai Temple, dedicated to Caodaism — a unique Vietnamese religion combining elements of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Hung Duc Pagoda outside the city, where you can enjoy a complimentary health assessment and receive traditional Vietnamese herbal remedies.

In the afternoon: visit to a local chocolate factory.

We will then continue on to My Tho. Check-in and overnight stay at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, local lunch.

Have breakfast, then meet your guide at the hotel in My Tho. You will then set off to explore Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. When you arrive, you will board a boat and start sailing along one of the Mekong River's branches. You will stop briefly at a coconut candy factory before walking to a brick factory and then on to a coconut processing factory.

You will then board the boat again and travel along a smaller canal lined with coconut trees, before visiting a local house and its coconut grove, where you can sample tropical fruits. Next, you will take a boat driven by a local rower.

Once ashore, you will take a bicycle to explore the surrounding countryside, then stop for lunch at a nice local restaurant to sample specialities from the Mekong region.

In the afternoon, you will return to the boat, which will take you back to Ben Tre. At the end of the tour, you will return to your hotel in My Tho.

Distance and duration of the bike ride: 6 kilometres - 30 minutes.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Breakfast, then meet your guide at the hotel. You will set off for Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Afternoon: Visit the bustling capital of the South:

During your visit to Ho Chi Minh City, you will discover that its central architecture is still very representative of the colonial era and Chinese influence. District 1 is home to many of the city's historic sites, including the large central post office with its metal framework designed by Gustave Eiffel, the red brick Notre-Dame Cathedral (which is somewhat reminiscent of Notre-Dame de Paris), the Opera House and Dong Khoi Street.

Duration of the activity: 4 hours.

Please note that the cathedral is closed for renovation until 2027. Only views of the exterior are possible.

Saigon Experiences – A drink on the top floor!

At the end of the afternoon, you will visit one of Ho Chi Minh City's many rooftop bars to enjoy a drink and panoramic views of the city. These places have a trendy atmosphere, music and a mix of Vietnamese locals and expats, and will show you another side of the city.

Notes:

• 1 beer, mocktail or cocktail is included during happy hour.
• Access to these venues is not possible with tank tops, sports shorts or flip-flops.

Evening at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast.

Day at leisure. Check-out (your room is available until noon). Then, depending on your flight, meet your driver at the hotel and take a private transfer (without a guide) to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN) to catch your departure flight.

Included meals: Breakfast.

TRANSFERS

Included in the programme:

• Return transfer between the airport and hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Transfers between stops as specified in the programme in a private air-conditioned vehicle

No vehicle/driver during free time.

GUIDING

During the tour, travellers will benefit from the services of local English-speaking guides during the visits and excursions included in the programme.

No guide is provided during free time or during transfers between the airport and hotel.