Vietnam & Cambodia Cultural Odyssey – 14 Days

After breakfast, travel to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta. Explore Tan Phong Island by biking or walking through village paths, observing orchards, schools, pagodas, and traditional homes. See artisans weave dried water hyacinth into baskets, hats, and more. Cruise smaller canals by rowboat for a serene experience, then cross the Mekong River to An Binh Island. Visit a homestay, sip tea while enjoying traditional music, and tour workshops crafting rice paper, coconut candy, and pop-rice. Discover brick kilns where locals create pottery from clay. Drive to Can Tho for the night. Overnight in Can Tho. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Rise early for a boat trip to the vibrant Cai Rang Floating Market, the largest in the Mekong Delta, where locals trade goods from colorful boats. If time permits, visit the historic Binh Thuy Ancient House. Return to your hotel for free time until checkout, then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City with lunch en route. Arrive in the afternoon and relax at your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Begin with a morning visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a 60-km underground network known as the “Iron Triangle.” Watch an introductory video on their wartime construction, explore widened sections, and see mantraps, bomb craters, and an American tank remnant. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch, then tour the Reunification Palace, former home of South Vietnam’s president, and the War Remnants Museum, showcasing artifacts from the Vietnam War. Visit the French-colonial Notre-Dame Basilica, Old Post Office, and bustling Ben Thanh Market. Transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for a flight to Hue. Check into your hotel upon arrival. Overnight in Hue. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Board a Dragon Boat at 8:30 AM for a scenic cruise along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, a symbol of Hue’s Buddhist heritage with stunning river views. Visit the ornate royal tomb of Khai Dinh or Tu Duc. After lunch, explore the Imperial Citadel, the Nguyen Dynasty’s seat from 1802 to 1945, and the Hue Royal Fine Art Museum in the former Dien Long An Royal Palace. Conclude at Dong Ba Market to observe local life. Try Hue specialties like Bun Bo Hue, Banh Beo, or Che (sweet soup) on your own. Drive along Highway 1A to Hoi An, stopping to admire Lang Co Beach and Danang’s skyline. Check into your hotel in Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Join a Farming & Fishing Eco Group Tour at Tra Que Village, assisting farmers with land preparation, seaweed fertilization, and watering. Cycle through the countryside, observing rural life, then board an eco-tour boat for a river cruise. Try traditional net fishing and paddle a bamboo basket boat through coconut palm-lined waterways. Enjoy lunch onboard, featuring vegetables from Tra Que. In the afternoon, explore Hoi An Ancient Town on a walking tour, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, Pottery Museum, Tan Ky Old House, Cantonese Congregation, and Chinese-style pagodas. Savor Hoi An street foods like Cao Lau or Banh Mi on your own. Overnight in Hoi An. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Start with a Cooking Class Tour at Hai Café, beginning with a vibrant tour of Hoi An’s main market to interact with local vendors and sample fresh produce. At the Cooking School, explore the herb and vegetable garden, then learn to prepare Vietnamese dishes like fresh rice paper rolls, Hoi An pancakes, seafood salad, and Mi Quang noodles under the chef’s guidance. Master food decoration techniques, such as tomato roses and cucumber fans. Enjoy your creations for lunch, including BBQ lemongrass beef. Return to your hotel, collect your luggage, and transfer to Danang Airport for a late flight to Siem Reap. Check into your hotel upon arrival. Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, explore Angkor Thom, the 12th-century Khmer capital, entering via the South Gate with its churning ocean statues. Visit the Bayon Temple, famed for 54 towers adorned with over 200 smiling Avalokitesvara faces, and see Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, Elephant Terrace, and Terrace of the Leper King. After lunch, discover Ta Prohm, a mystical temple entwined with jungle roots, and the iconic Angkor Wat, a 12th-century masterpiece spanning 81 hectares. End with a sunset view from Phnom Bakheng Temple. Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit Banteay Srei, the “Citadel of Women,” renowned for its intricate pink sandstone carvings, and Banteay Samre. Explore the Grand Circuit, including Prasat Kravan’s unique brick sculptures, Srah Srang (Royal Baths), Banteay Kdei with its concentric walls, Neak Pean, a fountain symbolizing a Himalayan lake, and Preah Khan, a well-preserved temple with towered enclosures built by King Jayavarman VII. Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cruise Tonle Sap Lake to Kompong Phluk Village, a stilted community with floating schools and a police station that shifts with water levels. Explore this vibrant “floating village” by boat, marveling at its unique ecosystem. Transfer to Siem Reap Airport for a flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and relax briefly. Embark on an evening street food walking tour in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, sampling Pho, Banh Xeo, egg coffee, and more. Visit Dong Xuan Market to see local ingredients and end at a hidden café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, immersing in Hanoi’s lively weekend vibe. Overnight in Hanoi. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Discover Hanoi’s heritage at the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the Mausoleum, Stilt House, Presidential Palace, and One Pillar Pagoda. Visit the Temple of Literature, a historic tribute to Confucius. After lunch, explore the Museum of Ethnology, showcasing Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, and Hoa Lo Prison Museum, known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” where John McCain was held. Enjoy a 1-hour cyclo tour through the French-inspired Old Quarter, browsing markets and boutiques, and watch a traditional Water Puppet Show. Overnight in Hanoi. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Travel by shuttle bus to Tuan Chau Marina and board the Paradise Cruise in Halong Bay. Enjoy welcome drinks and a briefing while cruising past stunning islets. Savor lunch onboard, then visit the Tung Sau Pearl Farm to learn about pearl cultivation or opt for kayaking. Explore Titop Island, hiking for panoramic views or swimming at its beach. Watch the sunset during “Happy Hour,” join a Vietnamese cooking class, and enjoy a Western set dinner. Relax with squid fishing, drinks, or movies. Overnight on the cruise. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, followed by a light breakfast. Visit Sung Sot Cave, Halong Bay’s largest, with magnificent stalactites. Enjoy brunch while passing Thien Cung, Dau Go Cave, and Fighting Cock Islet. Check out at 10:15 AM and relax on the sundeck before returning to Tuan Chau Marina. Drive back to Hanoi (2.5–3 hours) and check into your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi. Meals: Breakfast, Brunch

After breakfast, enjoy free time until your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your departure flight, concluding this unforgettable Vietnam and Cambodia odyssey. Meals: Breakfast