18 Days | Travel into the heart and soul of South East Asia
Take an unforgettable adventure through two of the most colourful yet contrasting cultures in South East Asia. Starting off in Vietnam, cruise through dramatic karst scenery on a boat tour of Ha Long Bay, step back into the world of the country's last emperors in Hue, soak up the old-world charm of Hoi An and be awed by the endless energy of Ho Chi Minh City. In Cambodia, discover the country's fascinating history and culture in Phnom Penh's heaving streets and in the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor. This is a journey that draws you away from the crowds and into heart and soul of this captivating region, and its equally enchanting people.
Trip overview
- Start
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Finish
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia
- 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
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- TVSKC
- Sail through Ha Long Bay’s limestone karsts and island caves, visit a centre that turns the bay’s discarded trash into treasures and spend the night checking out the stars on an overnight cruise.
- Travel like a local on a motorbike tour, riding pillion and taking in the historical pagodas, bridges and villages of Hue.
- Watch the sun rising over Angkor Wat as it did over 800 years ago with your leader. Wander through the amazing ancient temples on a guided tour and with a three-day Angkor pass to cover your whole time in Siem Reap, you can explore this incredible temple complex as much and as often as you like.
- Discover the countryside around Battambang on a bike ride around rural farms to meet with local producers, through an Intrepid partner and social enterprise that supports the local communities.
- Experience life on water on a boat tour visiting the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake and understand the deep bond between the late and the local communities.
- In order to see as much as possible, this trip involves some long journeys, including by overnight train where the amenities are shared and basic. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here:
- intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam/
- Depending on where you come from, the weather in Vietnam might be hotter and more humid than what you are used to. Please consider your suitability to the season you wish to travel in. Check out intrepidtravel.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam for more info.
- There are some long travel days by both private and public transport (up to 10 hours on the road), including the days that you cross from Vietnam to Cambodia and Cambodia to Thailand. Your leader and local guides will assist with the border crossings, but plenty of patience is advised.
- Some travellers enjoy Siem Reap so much that they decide they want to stay there longer, rather than continuing with the group to Bangkok. You are welcome to sign off the trip to enjoy more of Cambodia, however we aren’t able to reimburse any unused services or provide alternate onward travel arrangements.
- At times your accommodation may not have continuous hot water. Most travellers don’t find this a problem however, and are often keen to cool down from the heat with a refreshing cold shower.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
16 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Boat, Motorbike, Overnight sleeper train, Plane, Private minibus, Taxi
Hotel (15 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
- Hanoi - KOTO dinner
- Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
- Halong Bay - Cave entry
- Halong Bay - The Green Life Visit
- Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
- Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike
- Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
- Hue - Motorbike Tour Lunch
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
- Mekong Delta - Mekong Delta Day Trip & Village Tuk-Tuk Tour
- Mekong Delta - Lunch
- Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
- Kampong Chhnang - Pottery village visit
- Battambang - Soksabike social enterprise countryside cycling & local snack tour
- Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass
- Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
- Siem Reap - Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Chong Kneas - Tonle Sap floating village visit
- Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000
- Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000
- Hanoi - Hanoi Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD40
- Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000
- Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD44
- Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD77
- Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000
- Ho Chi Minh City - A O show - VND1050000
- Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD36
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000
- Phnom Penh - Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda - USD10
- Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2
- Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10
- Phnom Penh - Cyclo tour - USD4
- Phnom Penh - Khmer massage - USD8
- Battambang - Cooking Class - USD12
- Battambang - Phnom Sampov bat caves - USD15
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour - USD54
- Siem Reap - Landmine Museum - USD5
- Siem Reap - Phare Circus Ticket - USD18
- Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Gold Tour - USD87
- Bangkok - Chinatown Sights and Bites Urban Adventure - THB1960
- Bangkok - Jim Thompson's House - THB200
- Bangkok - Temple & River of Kings Urban Adventure - THB2900
- Bangkok - Tuk Tuk Experience Urban Adventure - THB2500
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 2 (Overnight Boat) and Day 3 (Sleeper Train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Rooms booked only for day use are also excluded.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train and flight tickets. 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 new tickets.
3. This trip includes a domestic flight. Checked luggage allowance is a maximum of 20 kilograms, plus up to 7 kilograms carry on luggage. Any excess luggage charges will need to be paid directly to the airline at check-in.
4. As this is a combination trip made up of two of our most popular itineraries, the composition of your group and your leader may change.
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.
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