Cambodia & Vietnam Experience

26 days4.67 reviews
Explorer
From
NZD $3,065

Get the ultimate South East Asian experience

Prepare for an epic adventure loaded with ancient sights and natural beauty as you travel from the hustle of Bangkok to the bustle of Hanoi. In Cambodia, call into the ancient temples at Angkor, take on beguiling Phnom Penh and get a taste of Khmer hospitality with a village homestay in Chambok. Then veer into Vietnam to trace its coastline from south to north, visiting the chaotic Ho Chi Minh City all the way up to old-world Hanoi, with historic Hoi An and Hue at its centre. Along the way, revel in the sheer beauty of the landscape, the friendliness of the locals and the social organisations that are providing brighter futures for this region. Oh, and did we mention the food? To die for.

Map of Cambodia & Vietnam Experience including Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam
Trip code: TKRNC
Start
Bangkok, Thailand
End
Hanoi, Vietnam
Destinations
Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
Meals
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus, Taxi, Tuk tuk, Bicycle
Accommodation
Guesthouse (4 nights), Homestay (3 nights), Hotel (16 nights), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)
Days
26
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Ages
Min 15
Theme
Every trip caters to specific interests and activities, such as wildlife or family.
Explorer
Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: 4+ star accommodation, exclusive premium inclusions, our most experienced leaders
Basix
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
This trip generates 55 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip

Enjoy the guidance of a local expert as you temple-hop around the dazzling Angkor complex – one of South East Asia's premier sites.

Confront the sobering but important Khmer history in Phnom Penh, with included visits to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek.

Experience local life during homestays in Chambok in Cambodia and the Mekong Delta and Da Bac in Vietnam. Get to know local families, participate in their activities and enjoy a homestyle meal.

Hoi An is another idyllic pocket of Vietnam that's best experienced from the seat of a bike. Take a guided bicycle tour through the rolling countryside and see local life pass you by.

Kayak around the limestone karsts and shimmering waters of Lan Ha Bay and help out the locals’ environmental efforts along the way.

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Itinerary

Map of Cambodia & Vietnam Experience including Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam

Inclusions and activities

Meals

4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus, Taxi, Tuk tuk, Bicycle

Accommodation

Guesthouse (4 nights), Homestay (3 nights), Hotel (16 nights), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)

Included activities
  • Siem Reap - One day Angkor Pass
  • Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
  • Battambang - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Chambok - Traditional dancing
  • Chambok - Homestay and activities
  • Chambok - Khmer Dinner
  • Kampot - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Kampong - Chambok Watefall Trek
  • Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
  • Phnom Penh - Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
  • Mekong Delta - Boat Cruise, Lunch and Homestay
  • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
  • Hoi An - Countryside bicycle hire
  • Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour
  • Hanoi - Vun Art center visit
  • Pu Luong - Homestay and Village Walk
  • Cat Ba Island - Kayaking
  • Cat Ba Island - Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay
  • Cat Ba Island - Lan Ha Bay Lunch

Optional activities
  • Bangkok - Grand Palace - THB500
  • Bangkok - Wat Pho - THB300
  • Bangkok - Thai Massage - THB250
  • Bangkok - Jim Thompson's House - THB200
  • Battambang - Countryside tour of local producers - USD29
  • Battambang - Cooking class in a local home - USD12
  • Battambang - Phnom Sampov bat caves - USD15
  • Kampot - Sunset cruise (join-in) - USD5
  • Kampot - Phnom Chhnork - USD1
  • Kampot - Kep National Park hike - USD1
  • Kampot - Khmer massage - USD5
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD45
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Ho Chi Minh Mekong Discovery Urban Adventure - USD63
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000
  • Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000
  • Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD44
  • Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD77
  • Hoi An - Cooking class - USD33
  • Hue - Imperial City Full Day Tour - USD69
  • Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda - Free
  • Hue - Emperor Tu Duc's Tomb - VND105000
  • Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (without lunch) - USD23
  • Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (with lunch) - USD28
  • Hanoi - Army Museum - VND20000
  • Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000
  • Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
  • Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29
  • Hanoi - Temple of Literature - VND70000
  • Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND50000
  • Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000

Is this trip right for you?

  • Lots of time allocated for optional activities means freedom and flexibility, but it does require a level of independence. Only a few meals are included, so mostly you'll find your own (with plenty of suggestions from your leader of course) – a great way to mingle with locals and discover unexpected delights!
  • This trip involves a lot of public transport and some long days of driving, so some patience will go a long way towards your enjoyment here. Sit back, relax, watch the scenery go by, and embrace travelling like a local. You’ll cover a lot of distance on this trip, including on overnight trains. Amenities are shared and basic, but the experience of rubbing shoulders with the locals makes it all worthwhile. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight.
  • You'll be spending three nights with local families on this trip. While the accommodation is shared and basic, this is a great opportunity to connect with the local people, and enjoy some delicious home-cooked meals! Read more about the experiences here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/community-based-tourism-vietnam/
  • You will need a moderate level of fitness to take part in some experiences on this trip. Your visit to Hoi An includes a bicycle tour of the surrounding countryside. Plus, there's kayak activity included in Lin Ha Bay.
  • You will visit a number of temples on this trip, and this requires modest clothing. Be sure to bring clothes that cover the arms and pants or skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot.

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 6, 13 & 21 (Homestays) and Days 14 & 19 (Overnight trains) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Day use rooms are also excluded.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 based on 7 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Mary · Traveled February 2024
Review submitted 19 Mar 2024

Raymond · Traveled November 2023
Review submitted 01 Dec 2023

John · Traveled August 2023
Review submitted 15 Sep 2023

Hannah · Traveled April 2023
Review submitted 13 May 2023

John · Traveled April 2023
Review submitted 11 May 2023
Cambodia & Vietnam Experience
From
NZD $3,065