Vietnam and Cambodia Tour 13 Days: Hanoi to Siem Reap with Angkor Wat

After breakfast, begin your Hanoi city tour with a visit to the area around the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an important national landmark dedicated to Vietnam’s founding president. Your guide will introduce key moments in Vietnam’s modern history before you continue to Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi, located beside West Lake.

Next, visit Hoa Lo Prison, a historical site that offers insight into Vietnam’s colonial and wartime periods. During the war, part of the prison became known to American prisoners of war as the “Hanoi Hilton.”

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, where you can learn about the diverse cultures, traditions and daily life of Vietnam’s ethnic groups. After the visit, stop at a local café for an egg coffee experience, where you will learn how this famous Hanoi drink is prepared and enjoy tasting it yourself. Later, attend a traditional water puppet show, one of Northern Vietnam’s most distinctive cultural performances. Dinner is not included and can be arranged independently.

Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, leave Hanoi and travel through the countryside of the Red River Delta toward Halong Bay, one of Vietnam’s most celebrated natural landscapes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Upon arrival at the pier, board your Halong Bay overnight cruise and receive a welcome drink and safety briefing from the crew. As the cruise sails into the bay, enjoy lunch on board while admiring limestone islands, calm emerald waters and peaceful bay scenery.

In the afternoon, visit Sung Sot Cave, also known as Surprise Cave, one of the largest caves in Halong Bay. Continue to Ti Top Island, where you may relax on the beach, swim in the calm water or climb to the viewpoint for panoramic views across the bay.

Return to the cruise in the late afternoon and spend time on the sundeck as the sun begins to set over the limestone scenery. You may also join a short Vietnamese cooking activity before dinner is served on board. The evening is free for you to relax or try squid fishing with the crew.

Overnight in Halong Bay.

Begin the morning with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, surrounded by the peaceful scenery of Halong Bay. Afterward, enjoy a light breakfast while the cruise continues through the bay.

Later, visit Luon Cave, where you can explore a quiet lagoon by kayak or traditional bamboo boat. Passing beneath limestone cliffs and along calm waterways, this gentle excursion offers a closer look at Halong Bay’s natural setting.

Return to the cruise for check-out, followed by brunch as the vessel sails back to Tuan Chau Harbour. After disembarkation, transfer back to Hanoi Old Quarter. Please note that the cruise itinerary may change depending on weather, tide levels and operational conditions.

After returning to Hanoi, enjoy free time and arrange dinner independently. In the evening, transfer to the railway station for your overnight train to Lao Cai, the gateway to Sapa.

Overnight: Overnight train in an air-conditioned soft sleeper cabin, shared by up to four passengers

Arrive at Lao Cai Railway Station in the early morning and transfer by road to Sapa, a mountain town known for its terraced fields, cool climate and ethnic minority communities. Upon arrival, enjoy breakfast at your hotel or a nearby local restaurant, depending on the arrangement.

After breakfast, your driver will take you to the entrance of Cat Cat Village, home to the Black H’mong community. Enjoy a gentle village walk through mountain scenery, traditional houses and local pathways while learning about daily life, handicrafts and cultural traditions in the region.

After the visit, return to Sapa Town and check in at your hotel. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant or nearby venue. The afternoon is free for you to relax, explore the town, visit local shops or simply enjoy the mountain views.

Dinner is not included and can be arranged independently.

Overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed morning in Sapa before starting your Fansipan Mountain cable car experience, one of the most iconic highlights of Northern Vietnam. Comfortable walking shoes and a light jacket are recommended, especially around the summit area where the weather can change quickly.

Your guide and driver will accompany you to the Fansipan Cable Car Station. From here, ride the cable car over the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, with sweeping views of forested valleys, terraced hillsides and cloud-covered peaks.

Arrive at the upper cable car station, located at approximately 2,800 meters above sea level. You can explore the spiritual complex with pagodas, temples, Buddha statues and panoramic viewpoints. Travelers who wish to reach the highest point may continue walking up approximately 600 steps to Fansipan Peak, at 3,143 meters, widely known as the Roof of Indochina.

This section requires a moderate level of fitness due to the altitude and stairs, so it can be adjusted for travelers who prefer a gentler pace. Enjoy buffet lunch during the excursion, depending on the operating schedule and your selected package. Return to Sapa Town afterward and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast, leave Sapa by express bus and travel back to Hanoi. This overland journey covers about 330 kilometers and normally takes around 5.5 hours, depending on local road conditions. Along the way, enjoy mountain and countryside views as you descend from Northern Vietnam’s highlands.

Upon arrival in Hanoi, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s dynamic southern hub. When you arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the city center.

This travel day connects the mountain landscapes of Northern Vietnam with the urban energy of Southern Vietnam, preparing you for the next part of your Vietnam and Cambodia itinerary. The evening is free for you to rest or explore nearby dining options at your own pace.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, depart Ho Chi Minh City for Ben Tre, a peaceful province in the Mekong Delta known for coconut gardens, local workshops and river-based daily life. Travel time is around 2–2.5 hours each way, subject to traffic conditions.

Upon arrival at Ham Luong Pier, board a local boat and cruise along the Ben Tre waterways. Observe riverside activity, small boats and local communities whose lives remain closely connected to the river.

Continue with a visit to a traditional brick kiln and a coconut processing workshop, where you can see how local materials are used in everyday products and small-scale family businesses. Later, visit a family-run workshop producing traditional sleeping mats by hand. Enjoy seasonal fruit and tea while gaining insight into rural life in Southern Vietnam.

Continue through the countryside by xe loi or bicycle, depending on the operating arrangement, passing village paths, gardens and coconut groves. Enjoy lunch at a local family venue featuring regional dishes. In the afternoon, take a gentle rowing boat ride through nipa palm-lined canals before returning to the pier and driving back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Dinner is not included and can be arranged independently.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, depart the city center for the Cu Chi Tunnels, one of Southern Vietnam’s most significant wartime historical sites. On arrival, learn about the underground network and how it was used for movement, shelter, communication and daily survival during the war period.

The visit offers a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s modern history and the experiences of local people during a difficult chapter of the country’s past. After exploring Cu Chi, return to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue your sightseeing at the Reunification Palace, a landmark closely associated with the conclusion of the Vietnam War. Next, visit the War Remnants Museum, where exhibitions present perspectives on the conflict and its lasting effects.

Continue to the Saigon Central Post Office, one of the city’s most recognizable French colonial buildings. Depending on timing and local conditions, you may also stop near other historic landmarks in the city center before visiting Ben Thanh Market, where you can browse local products, handicrafts, coffee and souvenirs.

Return to your hotel after the tour, with the evening free at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, enjoy free time until your transfer to the airport for the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, the gateway to Cambodia’s Angkor temples.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Take time to relax after the journey or explore the nearby surroundings at your own pace.

In the evening, enjoy a traditional Apsara Dinner Show, combining Khmer cuisine with classical Cambodian dance and music. Inspired by ancient Khmer stories and temple carvings, the performance offers an engaging introduction to Cambodia’s artistic heritage before your temple exploration begins.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, begin your temple exploration at Angkor Thom, the last great capital of the Khmer Empire. Enter through the ancient city gates and visit Bayon Temple, famous for its serene stone faces and richly carved galleries.

Continue to other important sites within the Angkor Thom complex, including Baphuon Temple, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Your guide will explain the history, symbolism and daily life connected with these remarkable Khmer monuments.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant close to the temple complex. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s most iconic monument and one of the greatest masterpieces of Khmer architecture. Built in the 12th century, the temple is known for its grand scale, elegant towers, long galleries and detailed bas-reliefs depicting Hindu epics, historical scenes and celestial figures.

As the afternoon light softens, take time to admire the temple surroundings and capture memorable photos. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for today’s temple visits. Dinner is not included and can be arranged independently.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, continue your exploration of the Angkor region with a visit to Ta Prohm Temple, one of the most atmospheric monuments in the archaeological park. Known for its ancient stone structures intertwined with enormous tree roots, Ta Prohm offers a striking impression of nature and Khmer architecture existing side by side.

Continue through the Cambodian countryside to Banteay Srei Temple, built from pink sandstone and admired for its exceptionally detailed carvings. Though smaller in scale than Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei is considered one of the finest examples of classical Khmer decorative art.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before traveling to Kampong Phluk Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake. Board a local boat and explore a community shaped by seasonal water levels and traditional fishing life. Depending on the season, you may observe stilt houses, waterways, local boats and areas of flooded forest.

After the boat trip, return to Siem Reap and enjoy your final evening at leisure. You may visit the night market, dine locally or relax at your hotel.

Note: The scenery and boat route at Kampong Phluk may vary depending on the seasonal water level of Tonle Sap Lake.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, enjoy free time at leisure until your scheduled transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Depending on your flight time, you may relax at the hotel, take a short walk nearby or do some last-minute shopping in Siem Reap.

Your 13-day Vietnam and Cambodia tour ends today. Thank you for traveling with us, and we hope this journey from Hanoi to Siem Reap has given you a meaningful experience of Vietnam’s culture, landscapes and local life, as well as Cambodia’s remarkable Angkor heritage.