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Experience The Real Vietnam

Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip

Price from
990 USD
Duration
09 Days
Distance
Leisure Holiday
Difficulty
Leisure Holiday
Tour Code
Trip start in
Hanoi,Vietnam
Trip Finish in
Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Trip Type
Leisure Holiday - Private trip
Group size
Small Group size: 02 -10

OVERVIEW

Indochina Trip Combining the two countries of Vietnam and Cambodia would be a great experience to discover all the highlights of the Indochina region. The trip starts in the Hanoi capital of Vietnam and ending in Siem Reap city of Cambodia.
Day 1: Arrival Hanoi Vietnam
Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise & stay overnight on Board (B, L, D)
Day 3: Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi. (Breakfast, Lunch included)
Day 4: Hanoi City Tour – Depart to Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City Tour – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
Day 6: Mekong Delta Cruise full day. (B, L)
Day 7: Conclude Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City depart Siem Reap Cambodia. (B, L)
Day 8: Siem Reap sightseeing full day (B, L)
Day 9: Conclude Siem Reap/Cambodia (B)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Hanoi: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; water puppets performance; visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Presidential Palace, and Temple of Literature; take a “cyclo” ride through the Old Quarter
  • Halong Bay: Overnight cruise in a traditional Junk boat, discover caves & fishing villages, explore the lagoon.
  • Ho Chi Minh City: City tour including entry to the War Remnants Museum
  • Mekong Delta: Take an excursion to Mekong Delta, with a boat trip on the Mekong River to visit Cat Be floating market.
  • Angkor Temples: Temple complex at Angkor, Angkor Thom (Bayon), Beautiful wall carvings. Discover the awe-inspiring sights of Cambodia. Highlights include the magnificent temple complex at Angkor Wat, as well as other stunning Khmer architecture at Angkor Thom (Bayon) and Banteay Srei, the jewel of Khmer art, beautifully hand-carved 10th Century wall friezes.
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip
  • Vietnam -Cambodia Highlight Trip

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi Vietnam
Today you’ll land in Hanoi. Warmly welcome by Tour Guide & Car Driver at the airport then transfer to Hanoi Downtown, a city of lakes, shaded boulevards, public parks, and the capital of Vietnam. Check into your hotel. Stay overnight in Hanoi.


Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise & stay overnight on Board (B, L, D)
Early this morning, we’ll drive from Hanoi to one of the most magnificent scenic environments in the world, Halong Bay. Covering 577 square miles, this vast bay is filled with more than 3,000 limestones “peaks” or karsts that jut from the deep blue water as far as the eye can see. We’ll spend a day and a half, including an overnight with dinner and breakfast onboard, exploring this overwhelming seascape from the decks of a traditional Vietnamese boat. Comfortable and intimate, your boat features hand-crafted wooden interiors including a dining room and pleasant air-conditioned cabins with private baths. Since we’re overnight on the water, we’ll be able to explore Ha Long Bay’s most beautiful spots with time to swim and even visit some of the largest rock formations and caves. This promises to be one of your most memorable travel experiences in Asia. Stay overnight on Boat.


Day 3: Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi. (B, L)
Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay.
After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave, swim, and relax. Cruises back to the jetty while brunch are served while you are cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Cruise check-out. Rejoin car drive back to Hanoi for overnight. Arrive in Hanoi at 3:00 pm. Check-in hotel & free time to go sightseeing in the Old Quarter. Overnight in Hanoi.


Day 4: Hanoi City Tour – Depart to Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
You have a full day of sightseeing ahead, including a visit to One Pillar Pagoda, which was built by Ly Thai Tong, and the Temple of Literature, founded by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong. Stop in the heart of Hanoi at Hoan Kiem Lake, which contains an islet with a tiny Tortoise Pagoda. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Opera House, and St. Joseph Cathedral. Conclude with a visit to Bao Tang Lich, once the museum of l’Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient, which includes artifacts from Vietnam’s turbulent history. Water Puppet Show, Cyclo visiting Old Quarter. Transfer to Airport for Ho Chi Minh City departure. Arrive Ho Chi Minh City in the evening. Pick up from the airport then transfer to hotel for check-in. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.


Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City Tour – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
Today you will visit the largest Vietnamese city. There are street markets, sidewalk cafes, and sleek new bars. This teeming metropolis offers 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. To the west of the city is the huge Chinese neighborhood called Cho Lon, which means “Big Market.” Notre Dame Cathedral, in the heart of Saigon’s government quarter, is of neo-Romanesque architecture with two high square towers and iron spires. The Central Post Office is French-style and City Hall, known as “Hotel de Ville,” is typical of the French architecture that would be seen in any village in France. Visit the War Remnants Museum, featuring collections of weapons and photographs from the two Indochina wars. Leave Saigon for Cu Chi Tunnels to learn about Vietnam history & Vietnam War. Return to the hotel for free. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.


Day 6: Mekong Delta Cruise full day. (B, L)
Today takes you to My Tho, the capital of Tien Giang Province. Situated on the Mekong River, 75 kilometers southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, the city is surrounded by orchards and rice fields, which produce grain for the entire country. Visit one or two of the islands that produce traditional handcrafts, coconut candy, and bee farms. Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, the oldest ones in the delta on your boat trip on the Mekong River. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Check-in hotel & stay overnight in Saigon.


Day 7: Conclude Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City depart Siem Reap Cambodia. (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel then transfers to the airport for flight to Siem Reap Cambodia. Arrive in Siem Reap at noontime. Warmly welcome by Tour Guide & Car Driver at the airport then transfer to Siem Reap City then visit AngkorComplex:
Visit Angkor Thom
The fortified city of ANGKOR THOM covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor’s most popular sights. Enter by the monumental SOUTH GATE over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS and the TERRACE OF THE LEPER KINGS, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined BAPHUON, ROYAL ENCLOSURE and PHIMEANAKAS before continuing to the mysterious BAYON TEMPLE. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle.
Visit a temple for sunset
Watch the sunset over the Cambodian countryside from the upper terraces of an ancient Angkorian temple. Return to hotel for check-in. Overnight in Siem Reap .


Day 8: Siem Reap sightseeing full day (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel. Visit Angkor Wat – the crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, ANGKOR WAT is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best-preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stone carvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along with the outer gallery, walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.

Visit Ta Prohm
TA PROHM: one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them.

Visit Banteay Srei Temple
Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, BANTEAY SREI is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Built-in pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy. Because of its small size, fairy-like atmosphere and extraordinary examples of Khmer sculpture, this temple is often a favorite with visitors. Transfer to hotel for check-in. Overnight in Siem Reap.


Day 9: Conclude Siem Reap/Cambodia (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, continue the temple tour to Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, and taproom, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them.
After lunch, transfer to Siem Reap International airport for departure to your homeland. Finish the unforgettable trip arrange by Countryside Adventures!

Goodbye & see you again! You also return to Ho Chi Minh City for your flight!


Countryside Adventures Team

Inclusions
Local Guide
Ground Transportation
Accommodation in Hanoi
Drinks: Water
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Entrance fees
Meals:B.L.D
Drinks: Water. Coffee
Halong Boat trip
Accommodation in Halong
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water.
Accommodation in Hanoi
Ground Transportation
Entrance fees
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water.Coffee
Water Puppet show
Flight to Ho Chi Minh city
Accommodation in HCM City
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Entrance fees
Meals:B.L
Drinks: Water. Sugarcane
Accommodation in HCM
Accommodation in HCM
Drinks: Water.Coconut
Ground Transportation
Mekong Boat trip
Local Guide
Meals: B.L
Ground Transportation
Flight to Siem Riep City
Entrance fees
Meals:B.L
Drinks: Water
Accommodation in Siem Riep
Local Guide
Ground Transportation
Entrance fees
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water
Local Guide
Accommodation in SIem Riep
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Entrance fees
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Entrance fees
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water. Local Beer

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi Vietnam
Today you’ll land in Hanoi. Warmly welcome by Tour Guide & Car Driver at the airport then transfer to Hanoi Downtown, a city of lakes, shaded boulevards, public parks, and the capital of Vietnam. Check into your hotel. Stay overnight in Hanoi.


Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise & stay overnight on Board (B, L, D)
Early this morning, we’ll drive from Hanoi to one of the most magnificent scenic environments in the world, Halong Bay. Covering 577 square miles, this vast bay is filled with more than 3,000 limestones “peaks” or karsts that jut from the deep blue water as far as the eye can see. We’ll spend a day and a half, including an overnight with dinner and breakfast onboard, exploring this overwhelming seascape from the decks of a traditional Vietnamese boat. Comfortable and intimate, your boat features hand-crafted wooden interiors including a dining room and pleasant air-conditioned cabins with private baths. Since we’re overnight on the water, we’ll be able to explore Ha Long Bay’s most beautiful spots with time to swim and even visit some of the largest rock formations and caves. This promises to be one of your most memorable travel experiences in Asia. Stay overnight on Boat.


Day 3: Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi. (B, L)
Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay.
After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave, swim, and relax. Cruises back to the jetty while brunch are served while you are cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Cruise check-out. Rejoin car drive back to Hanoi for overnight. Arrive in Hanoi at 3:00 pm. Check-in hotel & free time to go sightseeing in the Old Quarter. Overnight in Hanoi.


Day 4: Hanoi City Tour – Depart to Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
You have a full day of sightseeing ahead, including a visit to One Pillar Pagoda, which was built by Ly Thai Tong, and the Temple of Literature, founded by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong. Stop in the heart of Hanoi at Hoan Kiem Lake, which contains an islet with a tiny Tortoise Pagoda. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Opera House, and St. Joseph Cathedral. Conclude with a visit to Bao Tang Lich, once the museum of l’Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient, which includes artifacts from Vietnam’s turbulent history. Water Puppet Show, Cyclo visiting Old Quarter. Transfer to Airport for Ho Chi Minh City departure. Arrive Ho Chi Minh City in the evening. Pick up from the airport then transfer to hotel for check-in. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.


Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City Tour – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
Today you will visit the largest Vietnamese city. There are street markets, sidewalk cafes, and sleek new bars. This teeming metropolis offers 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. To the west of the city is the huge Chinese neighborhood called Cho Lon, which means “Big Market.” Notre Dame Cathedral, in the heart of Saigon’s government quarter, is of neo-Romanesque architecture with two high square towers and iron spires. The Central Post Office is French-style and City Hall, known as “Hotel de Ville,” is typical of the French architecture that would be seen in any village in France. Visit the War Remnants Museum, featuring collections of weapons and photographs from the two Indochina wars. Leave Saigon for Cu Chi Tunnels to learn about Vietnam history & Vietnam War. Return to the hotel for free. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.


Day 6: Mekong Delta Cruise full day. (B, L)
Today takes you to My Tho, the capital of Tien Giang Province. Situated on the Mekong River, 75 kilometers southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, the city is surrounded by orchards and rice fields, which produce grain for the entire country. Visit one or two of the islands that produce traditional handcrafts, coconut candy, and bee farms. Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, the oldest ones in the delta on your boat trip on the Mekong River. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Check-in hotel & stay overnight in Saigon.


Day 7: Conclude Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City depart Siem Reap Cambodia. (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel then transfers to the airport for flight to Siem Reap Cambodia. Arrive in Siem Reap at noontime. Warmly welcome by Tour Guide & Car Driver at the airport then transfer to Siem Reap City then visit AngkorComplex:
Visit Angkor Thom
The fortified city of ANGKOR THOM covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor’s most popular sights. Enter by the monumental SOUTH GATE over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS and the TERRACE OF THE LEPER KINGS, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined BAPHUON, ROYAL ENCLOSURE and PHIMEANAKAS before continuing to the mysterious BAYON TEMPLE. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle.
Visit a temple for sunset
Watch the sunset over the Cambodian countryside from the upper terraces of an ancient Angkorian temple. Return to hotel for check-in. Overnight in Siem Reap .


Day 8: Siem Reap sightseeing full day (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel. Visit Angkor Wat – the crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, ANGKOR WAT is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best-preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stone carvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along with the outer gallery, walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.

Visit Ta Prohm
TA PROHM: one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them.

Visit Banteay Srei Temple
Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, BANTEAY SREI is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Built-in pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy. Because of its small size, fairy-like atmosphere and extraordinary examples of Khmer sculpture, this temple is often a favorite with visitors. Transfer to hotel for check-in. Overnight in Siem Reap.


Day 9: Conclude Siem Reap/Cambodia (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, continue the temple tour to Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, and taproom, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them.
After lunch, transfer to Siem Reap International airport for departure to your homeland. Finish the unforgettable trip arrange by Countryside Adventures!

Goodbye & see you again! You also return to Ho Chi Minh City for your flight!


Countryside Adventures Team

Inclusions
Local Guide
Ground Transportation
Accommodation in Hanoi
Drinks: Water
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Entrance fees
Meals:B.L.D
Drinks: Water. Coffee
Halong Boat trip
Accommodation in Halong
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water.
Accommodation in Hanoi
Ground Transportation
Entrance fees
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water.Coffee
Water Puppet show
Flight to Ho Chi Minh city
Accommodation in HCM City
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Entrance fees
Meals:B.L
Drinks: Water. Sugarcane
Accommodation in HCM
Accommodation in HCM
Drinks: Water.Coconut
Ground Transportation
Mekong Boat trip
Local Guide
Meals: B.L
Ground Transportation
Flight to Siem Riep City
Entrance fees
Meals:B.L
Drinks: Water
Accommodation in Siem Riep
Local Guide
Ground Transportation
Entrance fees
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water
Local Guide
Accommodation in SIem Riep
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Entrance fees
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water
Ground Transportation
Local Guide
Entrance fees
Meals: B.L
Drinks: Water. Local Beer

Tour Cost included:
7 nights hotel accommodation on a twin-share basic with daily breakfast
1 night stay overnight on Board in Halong Bay in twin-share cabin.
Internal flight tickets: Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City (economy class) Vietnam Airlines including fuel charge & Airport taxes.
International flight ticket: Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap (economy class) Vietnam Airlines including fuel charge & Airport taxes.
Meals as mentioned in the itineraries: Vietnamese food, Asian Food basic.
All landed transfers within the tour by air-conditioned vehicle, including pick-up and drop-off at airports on arrival and departure days
English Speaking Tour guide. Other languages %on request
Boat trips in the Mekong Delta
All entrance and sightseeing fees
Water Puppet Show & Cyclo Tour in Hanoi Old Quarter.
Approval letter for landing visa to Vietnam: single entry, one month valid
All taxes & services charge.


Tour Cost Non-Included:
International airfare and airport tax in Vietnam
Beverages and other meals do not indicate in the program
Visa fees to Vietnam & Cambodia.
Early check-in and late check-out at all hotels
Kayak, Massage onboard
Travel insurance
Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, shopping…)
Tipping/ Gratuities
Single supplement
Any additional expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as natural calamities (typhoon, floods), flight delays, rescheduling or cancellations, any accidents, medical evacuations, riots, strikes etc.


 

Package cost per person quoted in U.S Dollar:


Group size 02 persons: 1260 USD per person.

Group size: 03 -05 persons: 1160 USD per person.

Group size: 06 -10 persons: 990 USD per person.


Countryside Adventures Team.

TRIP PROFILE


Best time to travel to Vietnam & Cambodia

Vietnam is long and slender, with different regions subject to different weather conditions at any one time, which makes figuring out the best time to visit Vietnam somewhat tricky.

The country has a tropical monsoon climate. If you’re visiting the south of the country the driest months tend to be between December and April, while the north of the country is typically driest in spring and autumn.

Within this broad weather, the picture is regional variations, with differences in altitude also key to varying temperatures. Whereas the south tends to have a year-round tropical climate, the north is considerably cooler in winter.


Climate of Vietnam

The weather in Vietnam is defined by the monsoon season. The southern summer monsoon brings rain to the two deltas and west-facing slopes. At the same time, the cold winter monsoon picks up moisture over the Gulf of Tonkin and dumps it along the centralcoastal the eastern edge of the central highlands.

There are marked differences according to altitude and latitude; temperatures in the south of Vietnam remain calm all year round, while the north experiences distinct seasonal variations.


Weather in Cambodia

Cambodia has two distinct seasons – wet and dry. The dry season usually lasts from October to April. The wet season starts in May until September. Within each season there are variations in temperature. The coolest being 24C around November/December and the hottest hitting 35C around April/May.


When is the best time to visit Vietnam and Cambodia?

If you intend to see a bit of everything, you need to work around the regional weather differences. Overall, autumn/winter (September – December) and spring (March and April) are probably the most favorable seasons if you’re planning to cover the whole country.

Most of Vietnam enjoys dry conditions and basks in the sunshine by December. Central Vietnam is the exception, which is gradually emerging from its rainy season. So it’s a good time to head to the southern coast if you want to soak up some rays and rack up some time on Vietnam’s gorgeous beaches. Beaches such as Mui Ne, or on the island of Phu Quoc and Con Dao are great this month.

It’s also a good time to visit Ho Chi Minh City, with temperatures averaging a comfortable 26ºC.

If you’re planning a Christmas getaway be aware that things get booked up way in advance, so plan ahead.

Outdoor activities in the north are good in December. It is somewhat chilly, however, especially in the mountains – so pack extra layers.

The best time to visit Cambodia is between November and April, when it sees very little rain. During this time you’ll see clear blue skies making it a great time to enjoy a relaxing getaway on the southern coast.

Outside of this period, humidity increases and the rains come, assisting Cambodian farmers in the growing of their crops. However, you shouldn’t be deterred from travelling – the countryside is lush and green, rivers are full and flowing, and the temples are quiet. This is the best time to visit some of the outer-lying temples, which will often be deserted.

At the end of the summer one of Cambodia’s true wonders comes to life – The Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and home to Cambodia’s floating villages.


Vietnamese food

The staple of Vietnamese meals is rice, with noodles a popular alternative at breakfast or as a snack. Typically, rice will be accompanied by a fish or meat dish, a vegetable dish, and soup, followed by a green tea digestive. Seafood and fish – from rivers, lakes, canals, and paddy fields as well as the sea – are favored throughout the country, either fresh or dried. The most commonly used flavorings are shallots, coriander, and lemon grass. Ginger, saffron, mint, anise and a basil-type herb also feature strongly, and coconut milk gives some southern dishes a distinctive richness.

Even in the south, Vietnamese food tends not to be over-spicy; instead chilli sauces or fresh chillies are served separately. Vietnam’s most famous seasoning is the ubiquitous nuoc mam, a nutrient-packed sauce which either is added during cooking or forms the base for various dipping sauces. Nuoc mam is made by fermenting huge quantities of fish in vats of salt for between six months and a year, after which the dark brown liquid is strained and graded according to its age and flavour. Foreigners usually find the smell of the sauce pretty rank, but most soon acquire a taste for its distinctive salty-sweetness.

The use of monosodium glutamate (MSG) can be excessive, especially in northern cooking, and some people are known to react badly to the seasoning. A few restaurants in the main cities have cottoned on to the foibles of foreigners and advertise MSG-free food; elsewhere, try saying khong co my chinh (without MSG), and keep your fingers crossed. Note that what looks like salt on the table is sometimes MSG, so taste it first.

The most famous Vietnamese dish has to be spring rolls, variously known as cha gio, cha nem, nem ran or just plain nem. Various combinations of minced pork, shrimp or crab, rice vermicelli, onions, bean sprouts and an edible fungus are rolled in rice-paper wrappers, and then eaten fresh or deep-fried. In some places they’re served with a bowl of lettuce and/or mint. In addition, a southern variation has barbecued strips of pork wrapped in semi-transparent rice wrappers, along with raw ingredients such as green banana and star fruit, and then dunked in a rich peanut sauce – every bit as tasty as it sounds.


Drinks

Giai khat means “quench your thirst” and you’ll see the signs everywhere, on stands selling fresh juices, bottled cold drinks or outside cafés and bia hoi (draught beer) outlets. Many drinks are served with ice: tempting though it may be, the only really safe policy is to avoid ice altogether – dung bo da, cam on (“no ice, thanks”) should do the trick. That said, ice in the top hotels, bars and restaurants is generally reliable, and some people take the risk in less salubrious establishments with apparent impunity.


Tea and coffee

Tea drinking is part of the social ritual in Vietnam. Small cups of refreshing, strong, green tea are presented to all guests or visitors: water is well boiled and safe to drink, as long as the cup itself is clean, and it’s considered rude not to take at least a sip. Although your cup will be continually replenished to show hospitality, you don’t have to carry on drinking; the polite way to decline a refill is to place your hand over the cup when your host is about to replenish it. Green tea is also served at the end of every restaurant meal, particularly in the south, and usually provided free.

Coffee production has boomed in recent years, largely for export, with serious environmental and social consequences. The Vietnamese drink coffee very strong and in small quantities, with a large dollop of condensed milk at the bottom of the cup. Traditionally, coffee is filtered at the table by means of a small dripper balanced over the cup or glass, which sometimes sits in a bowl of hot water to keep it warm. However, places accustomed to tourists increasingly run to fresh (pasteurized) milk, while in the main cities you’ll now find fancy Western-style cafés turning out decent lattes and cappuccinos. Highland Coffee has become Vietnam’s very own Starbucks-style chain, while out in the sticks you’re best off going for cafés with a Trung Nguyen sign.


Money

Vietnam’s unit of currency is the dong, which you’ll see abbreviated as “đ”, “d” or “VND” after an amount. Notes come in denominations of 500đ, 1000đ, 2000đ, 5000đ, 10,000đ, 20,000đ, 50,000đ, 100,000đ, 200,000đ and 500,000đ, coins in 200đ, 500đ, 1000đ, 2000đ and 5000đ (though coins are rarely seen). In addition to the dong, the American dollar operates as a parallel, unofficial currency and it’s a good idea to carry some dollars as a back-up to pay large bills. On the whole, though, it’s more convenient to operate in dong, and you’ll often find dong prices are slightly lower than the equivalent in dollars. For the latest exchange rates go to xe.com.

Dong is not available outside Vietnam at present, so take in some small-denomination American dollars to use until you reach a bank or ATM. Most banks and exchange bureaux don’t charge for changing foreign currency into dong; banks in major cities will accept euros and other major currencies, but elsewhere may only accept dollars. Some tour agents and hotels will also change money, and most jewelry shops in Vietnam will exchange dollars at a slightly better rate than the banks, but watch out for scams. Wherever you change money, ask for a mix of denominations (in remote places, bigger bills can be hard to split), and refuse really tatty banknotes, as you’ll have difficulty getting anyone else to accept them.

There’s also a comprehensive network of ATMs, many open 24 hours: most accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards issued abroad. The maximum withdrawal is two million dong at a time, with a charge per transaction (in addition to whatever surcharges your own bank levies). In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City you’ll also find ATMs operated by ANZ and HSBC. These accept a wider range of cards, including those in the Cirrus and Plus networks.


THE NITTY GRITTY


Passports and Visas

All nationalities require a visa and a passport valid for 6 months after their planned exit from Cambodia. A 30-day visa on arrival is available at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Airports and at some land border crossings. You can also obtain a visa online through e-Visa. There is a 3-day processing time and you’ll need a scanned copy of the passport. Not all border crossings accept the e-Visa, please check this port of entry page which provides a list of which checkpoints support the e-Visa service. For a list of consulates/embassies abroad go to this page.


Health

We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus, and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.


Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups. Cambodian cuisine is a mixture of Thai, French, and Chinese dishes and we make sure you can sample a wide variety. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.


Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Coldwater, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere but is NOT included in the price.


Money

Thai baht and US dollars are widely used in Cambodia, especially in larger cities and towns. In smaller towns and villages, Cambodian riels are usually preferred. There are ATMs in most areas, however, machines dispense US dollars. The guides will be able to show you where the ATMs are. Spend riel before departing as no one will exchange them for you once you leave.


GENERAL BOOKING INFO


Booking

If this is the tour for you here’s what you need to do to confirm your place: Read our Booking Conditions.


Deposit

When booking your tour, you’ll be required to pay a deposit to guarantee your place. For tours less than 7 days, the deposit amount is 100% of the tour price, per rider. For tours 7 days or longer, the deposit amount is 30% of the tour price, per rider.


Balance

Day tours and tours shorter than 7 days require full payment at the time of booking. For tours 7 days or longer, full payment must be paid 45 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights. Our confirmation will include personal details you provided us (including your flight information), visa application advice, a packing suggestion list, and a detailed tour itinerary. It will also include a checklist to ensure you get everything ready for your holiday.


Cancellation Policy

On the rare occasions when we, Countryside Adventures, must cancel a trip, all payments received to date will be 100% refunded, which constitutes full settlement. There will be absolutely no deductions. If you, the client, must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to when you cancel. For full details, please read our cancellation policy.


Countryside Adventures Team