V’Explore Travel is an established company with an exemplary performance record offering fully escorted private tour packages for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and now Myanmar.

Top
Image Alt

Northern beauty with a mighty Mekong Cruise

Northern beauty with a mighty Mekong Cruise

per person

This specially designed journey features the highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia, starting from the rugged mountainous area in Northern Vietnam and continues to magnificent Halong Bay, the historic capital Hanoi, and metropolitan Saigon. You then visit the Mekong Delta and cruise along the Mekong River to Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. Our final destination is Siem Reap where we can explore the ruins of a lost civilization.

HANOI – SAPA – HALONG – SAIGON – CAN THO – CHAU DOC – PHNOM PENH – SIEM REAP

15 days / 14 nights

Travel styles: Classic and cultural

 

0 Reviews

Tour Plan

1
Day 1 Arrival Hanoi
On arrival in Hanoi, warm welcome by your tour guide and transfer to your hotel for relaxing. Overnight in Hanoi
2
Day 2 Hanoi street food and city tour (B,L)
Morning stop at Bach Ma temple and continue walking along the narrow streets to Hang Be market. Taste street foods and learn about “local cuisine culture”, such as cha que (sausage with cinnamon), banh cuon (Vietnamese rolling cakes), bun cha (rice noodles served with cha que), nem (deep fried “square-shape” spring rolls) and che (a popular dessert soup with many varieties kinds of beans). Take a rest at a local cafe. Afternoon, continue visiting the Presidential Palace (façade only), One Pillar pagoda, the Temple of Literature. Enjoy a cyclo ride through Hanoi's Old Quarter, followed is the water puppet show at Thang Long theatre. Overnight in Hanoi
3
Day 3 Hanoi –Sapa – half day tour (B,L)
Drive to Sapa (5 hour driving). Arrive in Sapa, have lunch at a local restaurant. Then embark on a lovely trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through the hill tribe villages of Lao Chai & Ta Van, home to Black H'mong, and Dzay people.
4
Day 4 Bac Ha Sunday Market - Hanoi (B,L)
Drive to Bac Ha to visit Bac Ha Sunday market. This is the largest market in the region, a place where many ethnic groups gather to buy and sell, eat and drink together. Have a short trekking to Ban Pho village (Flower H’Mong people). Drive back to Hanoi. Check in the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi The program could be changed in accordance with weekly market in Sapa
5
Day 5 Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)
Depart to Halong Bay. Enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta country side. On arrival, enjoy welcome drink on board, receive cruise brief programs and safety instructions. Then check-in and enjoy lunch while the cruise starts cruising into quiet area of Halong Bay, passing small islets. Visit caves, grottos by bamboo boat and stop at a beach for swimming or enjoy kayaking (optional). You can enjoy cruise activities such as cooking class, Happy Hour time, watching movies, or squid fishing at night. Enjoy dinner and relaxing time on board.
6
Day 6 Halong Bay – Hanoi – Saigon (B)
The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape. Visit one of the biggest caves in Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat, check-out and cruising back to the Wharf. Disembark and say farewell to the crew. Transfer back to Hanoi airport for flight to Saigon, the hustle and bustle city. Pick-up airport and transfer to hotel for relaxing. Overnight in Saigon.
7
Day 7 Cu Chi Tunnels – City tour (B,L)
8:00AM have an excursion to Cu Chi, 70km north of Saigon, famed for its over 200-kilometre-long tunnels. Cu Chi was used by guerrilla fighters during the Viet Nam War and we will understand how they managed to prolong the war in such difficult conditions. Stop at the Ben Duoc War Memorial (over 40,000 people have fallen) before testing your marksmanship with an AK rifle at local rifle range (optional). In the Afternoon, city tour includes: War Remnants Museum, features Notre Dame Cathedral built by the French in 1880 and City Post office building. Drop by Ben Thanh Market for viewing local people doing their transaction at busiest time. Overnight in Saigon.
8
Day 8 Saigon – Cai Be – Vinh Long on a private cruise (B,L,D)
Morning your driver will pick you up at hotel lobby. We will enjoy a scenic drive through the Mekong Delta to the town of Cai Be well-known for its floating market. Here we will board your private boat with your local tour guide and cruise the maze of waterways and canals to Vinh Long. A local bonsai gardener will prepare a sumptuous lunch, featuring a popular dish of 'Elephant ear fish'. With bellies full we will continue our exploration of the tributaries and canals of the delta. Towards the end of the day we arrive at a house is built on stilts over the water. There will still be some time for those who wish to bike around the village enjoying the big smiles and “hello” from the local people. A local family will be our hosts for the night. Those who wish will be able to participate in a free cooking class to prepare the evening meal. Overnight at homestay in Vinh Long.
9
Day 9 Vinh Long – Sa Dec – Long Xuyen on a private cruise (B,L)
We will make our way up the less travelled branches of the mighty Mekong River taking in the natural beauty of the surroundings. Along the route, we will stop and learn about local industry such as brick manufacturing, coconut products, and visit fruit orchards. Arrival at Sa Dec, you will visit the local market and the Trung Vuong primary school where well known writer Marguerite Duras spent her childhood… A picnic lunch will be provided on board in an area of natural beauty away from the hustle and bustle of civilization and we can enjoy the natural surroundings. The afternoon will have us continue up the Mekong stopping at other areas of interest. In the late afternoon we will arrive at Long Xuyen which is a typically peaceful provincial town lying on the Mekong’s banks, dotted with an attractive floating market. Check in hotel. Overnight in Long Xuyen. (Optional: You might join with the guide to explore local delicacies).
10
Day 10 Long Xuyen – Chau Doc on a private cruise (B,L)
After breakfast – we will visit the Long Xuyen floating market “it is amongst the biggest markets on the river which is not yet discovered by heavy tourism.” Our Sampan will continue up the river offering us glimpses of river life and offering interesting landscapes. Today we will enjoy a lunch on board prepared with traditional dishes enjoyed by the Mekong natives and after lunch time will be spent discovering the ways of a local Muslim Village. We will visit fish farms on the river and be amazed by the feeding frenzy at feeding time. The Mekong adventure will end with your arriving at your hotel. Overnight in Chau Doc. (Optional – You might join with the guide to explore local delicacies)
11
Day 11 Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (B)
This morning, take a speed boat for the journey to Phnom Penh (approximately 700AM – 1200PM). Arrive at Sisowath dock in Phnom Penh, pick up and transfer to hotel. Afternoon, have a short city tour to visit the National Museum of Khmer Art, the Silver Pagoda, in the same grounds as the Royal Palace and the renowned Central Market. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
12
Day 12 Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B,L)
Visit to Toul Sleng Museum, previously a high school. In 1975 Toul Sleng became the Khmer Rouge's S-21 prison killing fields of Choeung Ek. It is now a museum, a memorial and testament to the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime. Lunch at local restaurant and transfer to Pochentong airport to board late afternoon flight to Siem Reap. Pick up and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap.
13
Day 13 Angkor Wat - Angkor Thom - Pre Rup at sunset (B,L)
In early morning, our tour guide will transport you Angkor Wat to enjoy the beauty of the sunrise over Angkor Wat . Back to hotel for breakfast then we will have full day exploration of this vast temple complex at Angkor. Angkor Wat was built by King Suryavarman II at the height of the Khmer Empire in the 12th century dedicated to the Hindu god-Vishnu. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon we visit Angkor Thom, Bayon, Elephant Terrace, Terrace of Leper King, see Pre Rup at sunset.
14
Day 14 Siem Reap (B,L)
In the morning, visit Banteay Srei (the Citadel of Women). Covered with floral carvings and Hindu mythology, these structures are exquisite in detail near perfect preservation. Visit the Angkor Silk Farm and Les Artisan D’Angkor. Optional: visit the Ton Le Sap Lake, the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia and the lifeblood of the Cambodian fishing industry (in water season – from July to February)
15
Day 15 Departure (B)
Transfer to the airport for departure flight. End of services. Suggestion: Added to Central part of Viet Nam: Hue- Da Nang – Hoi An about 4days 3nights. For more details, please contact us.
Tour cost included:
  • Private transportation as in program
  • Accommodation on Double/Twin sharing room with breakfast
  • Meals as indicated in program (excluded drinks)
  • All sight-seeing and boat fees as in program
  • A private cruise from Cai Be to Chau Doc
  • Speedboat tickets from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh
  • Local English speaking guide
  • Complimentary 01 bottle of mineral water per person per day tour
  Tour cost excluded:
  • Drinks - private expenses
  • Travel insurance of all types
  • Tips
  • All airfares and visa
  • All types of bank fees for payment
  • Other services not mentioned