Vietnam & Cambodia Tour: Romance of the Mekong Delta to Ancient Angkor Wat (13 Days Tour)

Around Lush Banks

Your Vietnam vacation begins in Ho Chi Minh City, once known as Saigon. The city buzzes with an energy that seems all at once chaotic and charming, somehow graceful and planned, where the romance of history fills the streets; local people dressed in white button-down shirts and large conical hats roam through the streets on bicycles, while collections of motorbikes are intermixed within the bustling traffic. The mixture of a millennia of culture within the still-standing French Colonial architecture becomes a delightful experience as you are met at the airport by a private transfer and taken to your accommodation at Vien Dong Hotel.

The centrally located hotel brings you the ecstasy of the city that whirls with the mixture of past and present, alive with both tradition and modernity. The spacious rooms allow you to you relax in style and comfort with a view of the drifting city below, where the luxuries of personalized service come easily to the staff. The nearness of some of Ho Chi Minh City’s fabulous landmarks, such as the Ben Thanh Market, is a short walk away. The scent of lemon grass and chili unravel throughout the evening and you begin to feel a welcomed comfort within the marvelous romance of someplace new.

What’s Included: transfer, accommodation

Passion Around the Countryside

The new morning brings along the vivacious sounds of the day within the city. After breakfast you will be met by your private guide and driver and taken out to Tay Ninh home to the church of Caodaism. The rococo architecture mixes the quintessential structural components of a French church, a Chinese temple, and a mosque, creating an unusual and stunning structure. Surrounded by Cambodia on three sides, the history between the borderlands and the region abound. From the upper balcony you can watch the noon procession where an orchestra begins to play traditional Vietnamese music while a choir joins the instrumental. The harmonious connection also blends Western and Vietnamese hymns that contain an unusual but charming assembly. You can see three glasses of wine on the altar, joined by a cup of water and tea, and the ceiling displays painted stars and a blue globe. The wonderful vision of this distinct religion is like a secret you never knew but always wondered about.

After lunch you will come to the Cu Chi Tunnels, the complex series of underground connections where the Vietcong could wander and hide freely during the Vietnam War. The sensational experience comes not just from the history that surrounds the tunnels but from the size of the complex and the width of the tunnels. Your guide is almost swallowed by the snug opening as you enter the tunnels, the air filled with the scent of rampant earth all around you. The intimacy of the experience, from the tight space to the openings filled with artifacts, is palpable. As you make your way back to Ho Chi Minh City, the details of the day, from the tunnels to the echoing harmonies of the church are unforgettable.

What’s Included: breakfast, lunch, tour, accommodation

Taking to the Water and Sky

An early morning departure has you cruising through the water once more. The air is soft and cool with a mixture of moisture stemming from the river and the surrounding greenery. On the water in the early day displays the difference in floating markets further along, where the locals continue their daily activities without remark, all with equal vigor. In the afternoon you will come to Sam Mountain outside of Chau Doc. The summit rises over 931 feet standing out amongst the surrounding patty fields. The glowing fields contrast with allure of the Sam Mountain containing a variety of pagodas and temples.

Whether making the ascent by foot or by motorbike, you will pass through shrines and tombs that emanate incense along the luster of the trees. Within the Cavern Pagoda, halfway up the far side of the mountain, you have a view over the rice fields that look as though the earth was sectioned and blossoming. The upper section contains a main sanctuary with a statue of Buddha of the Past, and a Historical Buddha, mixing with the complex of caverns and grottoes that host deities.

Venturing through the cavern is as stunning and secluded as the view from the summit. Your voices echo; the stones look as though they’re dripping from the ceiling. In the late afternoon you will return to Chau Dock and find yourself in the soothing calm of Chau Pho Hotel.

What’s Included: breakfast, lunch, tour, accommodation

Silver and Royals

The morning seems different in Phnom Penh versus Ho Chi Minh City, from the sounds of the streets to the vastness of the river. Although the energy is vibrant and energetic, the river is more lush and active. The recollection of French Colonialism retains a sense of charm within the remaining and reforming culture of the city. The scent of lush grass comes with the swaying of the palms. The city’s tumultuous past in the 1970s continues to mark the present; however, the beauty and elegance of the city remains intact and passionate. Your private guide meets you and readies you to venture out to the Royal Palace, constructed in the 19th century under King Norodom. The Khmer architecture is apparent in the roofing while the pillared colonnade wraps around the outer basin. The immaculate gardens pronounce the palace in size and luxury while a sensational temple sits adjacent.

Within the palace grounds is the Silver Pagoda, covered with five tons of gleaming silver stretched over the floor.  Five thousand tiles glisten in the light where you can also see the shimmering crystal Buddha atop a gilded pedestal. It is hard to imagine anything more lavish until you notice the life-sized golden Buddha image that weighs almost 200 pounds and is ornamented with 2086 diamonds. The glimmer from the decadence is almost enough to show dedication alone; however, the beauty within the details that make up the temple and its interior icons are nothing less than tremendous.

What’s Included: breakfast, tour, accommodation

Witnessing the Arts

Enjoy your breakfast within the glass atrium which allows the bright walls to shimmer from the natural light. Today you will step out with your guide to explore the delightful culture of Battambang, filled with forested beauty, river splendor, and surrounded by temples and villages. From ST 2 ½ to Psar Nath you will find a concentration of artistry, from galleries to shops, giving a Bohemian feel to the neighborhood that helps illuminate the present lives of the city situated within a shadow of a troubled past.

In the outer circles of the city you will find Wat Banan, one of the best-preserved temples which sits atop a hill overlooking the trees. The dates of completion and the builders are unknown. Many carvings survive along the central tower, vested in prayer, within the quiet hills at the top of the climbing stone steps. The stupas are remarkable in their size and shape, as tall as the trees and almost brighter than the bark. In the late afternoon you will return to the charismatic streets of Battambang and enjoy the little private slice of Bohemia.

What’s Included: breakfast, tour, accommodation

The Temple Lights

Before the sun begins to shine over the city you are awake and filled with the romance of a secluded dawn. Your guide meets you in the lobby and you venture out into the surprising bustle of the streets where many make their way to see the opulent sunrise over the famous Angkor Wat. You, however, understand how stunning Angkor Thom will be in its early morning emptiness and prefer to stroll through the ancient walls of the complex in unadulterated privacy. The 12th century city is known for the great Bayon Temple and may have been populated by around one million people at its peak.

The ruins run over a mile on a single side, containing stone temples and bridges lined with marvelous statues that represent gods and demons. In the early light you find the sight peaceful and ethereal. The large stupas resemble karsts rising into the air adorned with faces that watch out over the open square. As you step closer it looks to have been modeled after a mountain, rocky and textured, large and looming, each stone purposeful and elegant. The sound of gongs and chants mix with the scent of morning dew and incense. The sun has risen and your exploration of the grand temples of Angkor has just begun.

What’s Included: breakfast, lunch, tour

Finding the Delta’s End

The call of the river has subsided this morning as you are no longer situated along the Mekong and the illustrious waterways that allowed cultures and temples to thrive. After breakfast you will have the morning to explore Siem Reap and enjoy the lively Central Market where the scent of fresh baked baguettes combines with noodle soup. Whether seeing the colorful produce once again on display or enjoying last minute shopping where haggling is always encouraged, you will find the final hours of your Southeast Asian getaway filled with enchantment before your private transfer takes you to the airport to begin your journey home.

What’s Included: breakfast, transfer