19 Days | Discover the tastes of the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Chop, slice and chomp your way through the diverse flavours of South East Asia on this mouth-watering Real Food Adventure into Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnam’s prized cuisine is bursting with fresh, spicy and complex flavours, while across the border, Cambodia’s food is humble, oft unexplored, and no less delicious. Drink in cafes and beer halls that sprawl out over city streets, buy fruit from wicker baskets draped over a vendor’s shoulders and sit at market stalls as aromatic noodle soups are whipped up in front of you. From a sunset cruise on Halong Bay and a cycle past herb farms near Hoi An to discovering the French influence of Phnom Penh and meeting charming local communities at Preah Dak, these South East Asian powerhouses will fill you with great food and even more memorable experiences.
Trip overview
- Start
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Finish
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Theme
- Food
- Destinations
- Vietnam, 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 12
- Trip code
- TVZKC
- See the sunrise at Angkor Wat, then head to a nearby village for a homemade traditional breakfast of Khmer noodles. Once fuelled, spend the day roaming the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor complex.
- Embrace your adventurous side on a tour of Hue’s imperial monuments from the back of a motorbike (the local way of getting around). Then be treated to lunch, specially prepared for you by a chef who is the descendant of the royal family in the garden of their family home.
- Don’t just taste your way around this foodie haven, don your chef hat and learn the recipes behind these incredible eats, too. Learn the secret spices directly from local chefs (often in their own homes) and be guided to the freshest ingredients in authentic local markets.
- Cycle through Battambang meeting locals as you stop to see the production of fish paste, rice paper and rice wine, finishing with a delicious sticky rice tasting.
- Feast on local delicacies and street food favourites, like pho, banh mi, bun cha, fish amok, num banh chok and black pepper ice cream.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Friends International. Donations help vulnerable youth in South East Asia build a brighter future with vocational training and employment readiness programs.
- The cuisine of Vietnam and Cambodia includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Vietnam and Cambodia which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
- Temperatures and humidity can be high in South East Asia, especially when walking around sites like the Angkor complex where there may be little shade. Be prepared by taking plenty of drink breaks and wearing appropriate skin protection. Some travellers find an umbrella handy to keep the sun off (this will also come in handy should it rain!).
- 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: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight....
- The motorbike tour of Hue has been assessed for safety and is closely monitored (helmets are provided and drivers are licensed). However, alternative transport can be arranged for those who would prefer not to travel by motorbike.
- Facilities at the Mekong Delta homestay are quite basic. But authentic, heart-warming experiences of local life should more than make up for the lack of creature comforts.
- This trip involves a long day of driving from Phnom Penh to Battambang (Day 16). Cambodian roads can also be rough and bumpy, and delays are sometimes unavoidable. A dash of patience will go a long way toward your enjoyment of this beautiful country!
- You will visit a number of temples on this trip, and this requires a level of modesty. 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.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Inclusions
14 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners
Overnight Sleeper Train, Plane, Private Vehicle, Taxi
Homestay (1 night), Hotel (14 nights), Overnight Boat (1 night), Overnight Sleeper Train (2 nights)
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure
- Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
- Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike
- Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
- Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
- Hoi An - Cao Lau dinner + lantern orientation walk in Hoi An
- Hue - Salt coffee
- Hoi An - Tea Tasting in Silence
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Hoi An - Cooking class with local chef
- Hoi An - Market tour
- An Nhon - Rice winemaker
- An Nhon - Home-cooked lunch
- Quy Nhon - Market visit
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cooking Class with local chef
- Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
- Mekong Delta - Boat cruise with visits to local producers
- Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Thanh market visit
- Ho Chi Minh City - Banh mi
- Phnom Penh - Welcome Dinner
- Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
- Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- Kampot - Phnom Chhnork
- Kampot - Food tour and lunch
- Kampot - Pepper plantation & salt field visit
- Phnom Penh - Khmer Cooking Class and Market Tour
- Battambang - Rural food by bike tour
- Siem Reap - Street food tour
- Siem Reap - Cocktail class
- Siem Reap - One day Angkor Pass
- Siem Reap - Village breakfast
- Siem Reap - Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000
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), Days 3 and 8 (Overnight sleeper train) and Day 10 (Homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for transport 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 if an amendment occurs.
4. This trip includes flights as indicated on the trip map. The luggage allowance is 20kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.
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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