Vietnam & Cambodia Foodie - 16 Days

Day 1: Siem Reap Arrival
Welcome to Siem Reap, the provincial capital and gateway to the ancient Angkor temples. Recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Angkor Thom and the legendary Angkor Wat. Upon arrival, our driver and a tour guide will welcome you at the airport and take you to the hotel to check in.
Afterward, meet your guide at the hotel lobby for the short tour briefing followed by the orientation tour by tuk tuk- the typical local means of transportation. The tour is to highlight Siem Reap. You’ll be driven along the main bustling streets, channel, passing by Preh Prohm Roath pagoda, Wat Bo or Wat Damnak. Disembark at the PsarChass that’s a kind of Baza – Old City Market where you’ll walk around and learn the local art of how to bargain when purchasing items and enjoy some delicious street foods. Proceed further to the most exiting pub street for welcome drink before heading back to your home away from home.
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 2: Siem Reap - Angkor temples
Wake up early to be transferred for picking up the most beautiful, haunting and spiritual moment to visit magnificent Angkor Wat at dawn. This special activity is designed also to help you see “the Temple reflex on the water” when it’s much cooler and less crowded. Angkor Wat, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was constructed by Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century and dedicated them to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys and ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction.
For your most convenience, a table with hot tea or coffee and breakfast box is arranged by Travel Cambodia will be served right on site in front of Angkor Wat.
Our journey continues with visiting South Gate of Angkor Thom, with its majestic doors and artifacts. Then we visit to monumental temple of Bayon which is the heart of Angkor Thom. Later, visit the Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King and Takeo "Jewel of Crystal", which is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and was erected at the end of the 10th century. Leaving Angkor Thom by the North Gate, you travel to Preah Khan (Sacred Sword), one of Angkor’s largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII. You should not miss Ta Prohm Temple, which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty with its giant trees that have grown there for centuries.
In the evening, enjoy dinner with Apsara Dance show at Por Cuisine restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 3: Siem Reap - Cooking Class - Tonle Sap
This is the day of discovering the secrets of authentic Khmer cuisine in a half-day cooking class. Begin with a walk and talk along the country lanes in the village where you will learn about Cambodian vegetables, herbs, and other ingredients before returning to the classroom for a hands-on culinary experience. After dining on your creations, enjoy a boat ride, in a traditional wooden boat, on the Tonle Sap. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a “floating village” – boats have been converted to look like houses and the “village” move from place to place following water levels. Enjoy beautiful sunset on the lake before driving back to the town.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 4: Siem Reap - Drive to Battambang Sightseeing
Today we travel by car to Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then drive to Battambang arriving in the afternoon. Check in to your hotel then enjoy a walking tour through the city’s bustling boulevards lined with quaint French colonial buildings. Next we will visit some of Battambang’s signature hilltop temples as well as the infamous cave, Phnom Sampov, used as an execution field under the Khmer Rouge. 
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Battambang.
Day 5: Battambang - Cooking Class - Drive to Phnom Penh
This morning, you will join a morning cooking class. The lesson will start with a guided trip to the local market where you will be taught how to choose your traditional organic elements. Classes are in English and are very fun while very professional and instructive. And of course you get to eat what you've cooked, so pay attention to guide’s instructions!
Afternoon, we drive from Battambang to Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh.  Get a taste for Cambodia’s rural life. Arrive in Phnom Penh in the late afternoon and check in to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of time at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.
Day 6: Phnom Penh City tour - BBQ Dinner on Mekong Cruise
Phnom Penh was founded in the 14th century and has long been a vital trading hub at the confluence of three rivers: the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac. Start the day learning about the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia’s recent history on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Choeung Ek “Killing Fields”. Our cultural tour continues as we visit the National Museum—a journey into ancient Khmer art and civilization and the Royal Palace, home to the royal family and the opulent silver pagoda. Enjoy some free time to rest and freshen up before driving to the dock to catch an evening boat cruise along the Mekong River. Savor a BBQ dinner on board as you watch the sunset over the shimmering lights of Phnom Penh.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.
Day 7: Phnom Penh - Speedboat to Chau Doc
After breakfast just enjoy the morning, enjoy your last minutes in Phnom Penh. 10am  you will check out from hotel for the speed boat trip along Mekong River down the way to Vietnam .Visa formalities could take about 45 minutes at the border. You will continue by river to Chau Doc, where you will meet with our driver and transfer to a hotel.
In the rest of the day, if there will be enough time, we will take the walk around hotel area until late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc.
Day 8: Chau Doc - Mekong Delta - Homestay - Cooking Class
Leave the hotel early in the morning to drive to Mekong Delta.
The program will start with a visit of Vinhlong market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetable... Next stop will be the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Our boat will go along the floating village. We will learn how to farm catfish on Mekong river.  
Optional lunch can be served at local house. Then, have a cup of tea when enjoying the traditional music.
Check in Ut Trinh homestay (or other home-stay on An Binh Island).
In the afternoon, walk along the village to the local workshops where you can see how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn...
Come back homestay for a fresh shower and cooking some dishes with the owners. We enjoy diner & overnight at local house.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
Accommodation: Homestay.
Day 9: Cai Be - Saigon
Have breakfast at homestay. Check-out before having a boat trip to Cai Be floating market. Then, we’ll come to Tân Phong island for a biking/ walking on village paths will be so amazing to see the local farms, houses, real life and have an opportunity to see farmers picking up their fruits on the ancestral ways in Mekong Delta, where we can also see how they make rice-net for spring-rolls, sew coconut-leaves for cottage roof and specially see how they wave the dried water-hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes...
The rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals and to enjoy the peaceful time. It is so interesting to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to make contacts with them and see how they catch fish...The cruise will end at Cai Be town. Our driver waits for you at the dock and drive 2 hours to Saigon. Check in your hotel and free at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.
Day 10: Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnel - City tour - Vespa tour (Saigon after dark)
After breakfast at hotel, you travel outside of Saigon to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground labyrinth of passageways, used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War (or “American War” as it’s referred to here) as protection against American air raids. Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime.
In the afternoon you will visit such sites as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office and Ben Thanh Market. Enjoy some free time at hotel before taking part in Vespa tour – Saigon after dark.
This Saigon night tour is part night excursion, part street food adventure. Experience Saigon nightlife the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. Throughout the night, try a variety of food and drinks at some local restaurants and samplings of Saigon’s best authentic local food. Zoom past the famous must-see sights of Ho Chi Minh City while in the bustling traffic. We’ll also go to a Vietnamese-style coffee shop with special live music, and then wrap up the evening at an exciting music bar where the new generation of Vietnamese unwind and flaunt their unique styles.
Guests ride pillion behind our drivers to enjoy and experience the Vietnamese nightlife with friends. This tour includes free flowing drinks and all you can eat, so come with an appetite!
Back to your hotel in the late evening.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.
Day 11: Saigon - Fly to Danang - Hoian Walking tour
After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your internal flight to Danang. Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport and take you on the short drive to the sleepy riverside town, Hoian. Take a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tam Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.
Day 12: Hoian Bike and bite Street food tour - Drive to Hue
After breakfast, our driver and guide will meet you and join in the tour Bike and bite street food tour. This is interesting tour for those who love cycling and food. This is a great way to see our charming city and takes you off the beaten path to get a unique glimpse into daily life of this lovely city. This easy 10 km ride is perfect mix of great food easy exercise and sightseeing.
This tour focuses on street food in Hoi An. During each five hours cycling tour, you’ll enjoy generous samples 9 dishes. We aim to show you how real Vietnamese people live, work and eat!
After food tour, check-out and drive over the 500m-high Hai Van pass to Hue. Enjoy a stop at the scenic Lang Co Beach for a drink before continuing on to Hue - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Vietnam’s former capital. Spend the rest of time on a leisurely walking tour through the ancient city.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
Day 13: Hue - City tour - Fly to Hanoi
Spend the morning on a private boat cruise down the romantic Perfume River to visit the Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) and the ornate Khai Dinh’s tomb.
Then, we continue the day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, home to the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City – once the Emperor's private residence. The Imperial City was created in the 19th century and modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Imperial Enclosure houses many palaces and temples within its walls.
Later, our guide takes you to Phu Bai airport to catch your in-country flight to Hanoi.
Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Your driver and guide will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.
Day 14: Hanoi Cooking Class - City tour
This morning, your tour guide will take you to the cooking class. Discover a local market and learn about ingredients, flavors and see how the local prepare for meals. Next is a short talk on the art of Hanoian gastronomy, vegetables, herbs & spices & learn how to prepare & use them. The Chef will share to you her pride of Vietnamese cuisines and the secrets how to make it good. Enjoy the local food in Hanoi style.
In the afternoon you will explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Temple of Literature; Hoa Loa Prison (formerly known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War); West Lake including the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.
Day 15: Hanoi - Halong Bay
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before setting out on a 3 to 4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay.
* The following Halong Bay itinerary is a sample for our standard service on a 3 star junk/ cruise. Different programs are available through our luxury cruise itineraries (Please contact us for more details) *
Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters.
Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as you sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s numerous islands. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white sanded beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin (if the weather will be suitable). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Accommodation: Cruise on Halong Bay.
Day 16: Halong Bay - Hanoi Departure
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax watching the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore the nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for brunch then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as you navigate back to Halong City, where your driver will meet you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai Airport to catch your departure flight home.
Meals: Brunch.
Accommodation: N/A.