12-Day Tour to Vietnam and Cambodia from Hanoi

Halong Bay’s limestone islands, Hoi An’s lantern-lit streets, and Angkor Wat’s carved galleries make this 12-day Vietnam and Cambodia tour a fast-moving but well-rounded introduction to two remarkable countries. You move by road, boat, and three regional flights, while local guides and drivers handle the complicated parts.

I like the small maximum of 12 people, which should make city walks and temple visits more manageable. I also like the practical coverage: hotels, breakfast each day, eight lunches, three flights, sightseeing tickets, and airport transfers are built into the price.

The main drawback is the pace. You cover Hanoi, Halong Bay, central Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, and Siem Reap in less than two weeks, so several days involve early starts, airport transfers, or long sightseeing blocks.

Key points to know before booking

• Three regional flights save time: Fly from Hanoi to Da Nang, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap.
• Halong Bay includes an overnight boat: You have time for an early swim, breakfast on deck, and views of the limestone karsts.
• Hoi An gets two nights: The schedule allows a full town visit plus a separate morning at My Son Sanctuary.
• The Mekong Delta is a boat day: Visit My Tho, travel on the river, and see Vinh Trang Pagoda.
• Angkor receives two sightseeing days: The program includes Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei, and several smaller temples.
• Plan for extra spending: Many dinners are not included, and you pay separately for visas, insurance, drinks, personal purchases, and international flights.

What $3,390 covers

At $3,390, this is not a shoestring trip, but it covers many costly moving parts. Your package includes accommodation in single, twin, double, or triple shared arrangements, an air-conditioned vehicle, airport transfers, entrance fees, local guides, boat trips in the Mekong Delta, 11 breakfasts, eight lunches, and one dinner.

The three internal flights are especially useful. Vietnam is long, and traveling overland from Hanoi to central Vietnam and then south would take much more time. The flights from Hanoi to Da Nang, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap turn a difficult route into a workable one.

You still need to budget for several meals. Dinner is excluded on Days 1 through 5 and Days 7 through 11, while lunch is excluded on Days 6, 7, and 12. The suggested meal costs in the program range from about $4 to $10 per person, which keeps the extra food budget reasonable, but you should know about it before you arrive.

International airfare is not included. Neither are Vietnam or Cambodia visas, if required for your nationality, travel insurance, laundry, telephone charges, shopping, tips, drinks, or meals not specifically listed. These are ordinary exclusions, but the total price looks more attractive when you understand exactly what is inside it.

Day 1: Arriving in Hanoi

The tour begins with airport pickup at Noi Bai International Airport. The stated meeting time is 7:30 am, while the first-day description says you can arrive at any time, so I would confirm the arrival-transfer arrangements before booking your flight.

A driver takes you into Hanoi, where you check into the hotel and have the rest of the day to settle in. Hanoi is a good starting point because it combines lakes, shaded boulevards, public parks, French-style buildings, and the narrow streets of the Old Quarter.

Dinner is not included. The program estimates about $5 to $10 for your own meal, a useful reminder that this first day is more about getting oriented than sightseeing.

Days 2 and 3: Halong Bay by road and boat

Early on Day 2, you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay. The bay covers about 577 square miles and contains more than 3,000 limestone peaks rising from the water. Those numbers matter less than the feeling of slowly passing between tall gray islands while the boat moves through green water.

The overnight cruise is the scenic centerpiece of the northern part of the tour. You can expect time on deck, views of the karsts, and a quieter morning surrounded by water. Day 3 begins with the sound of the bay, an early swim, and breakfast while the islands come into view from the upper deck.

This is one of the tour’s strongest choices. A day trip to Halong Bay would give you the main view but less time to enjoy the setting. An overnight boat makes the journey feel less like a box-ticking stop.

The tradeoff is the early schedule. You leave Hanoi early, and the next morning starts early too. Dinner on Day 2 is also excluded, with an estimated cost of $5 to $10. Confirm the exact cruise boat and cabin details before departure, since the information provided does not name the vessel or specify cabin categories.

After leaving the bay, you return to Hanoi. Day 3 includes check-in and free time around the Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Center, followed by another night in Hanoi.

Day 4: Hanoi sights, then central Vietnam

Day 4 gives you a full morning and part of the afternoon in Hanoi. The program mentions the city’s lakes, parks, French-style architecture, and a visit to One Pillar Pagoda. This is a useful day for context before the tour shifts to central Vietnam.

The schedule then sends you to the airport for a late-afternoon flight to Da Nang, followed by a roughly 60-minute transfer to Hoi An. One itinerary label says Hue, but the transport details clearly describe a flight to Da Nang and an overnight stay in Hoi An. I would ask the operator to confirm this route in writing.

You arrive in Hoi An in the evening. Dinner is on your own, estimated at $4 to $8. The day combines sightseeing with a flight and road transfer, so do not expect a leisurely afternoon.

Day 5: Hoi An’s old trading quarter

Hoi An receives a full day, and that is a wise use of time. The town was once known as Faifo and served as a major trading port for Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and other merchants from across the region.

The value here is not just the old buildings. Hoi An gives you a chance to walk, browse shops, and see how several trading cultures shaped one town. You have time to explore at a human pace instead of arriving for a quick photo stop.

The day includes a guided excursion, but the supplied schedule does not list each stop. Ask what is covered during the walking portion and how much free time you receive. Dinner is excluded, with an estimated personal cost of $4 to $8.

Day 6: My Son Sanctuary and a free Hoi An afternoon

At 8:00 am, you drive about 50 kilometers southwest of Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary. The site sits in a green valley and was the religious and political center of the Cham people. Its red brick remains offer a different side of Vietnam from the colonial streets and market lanes of Hoi An.

My Son is a worthwhile addition because it connects central Vietnam to the Cham civilization rather than focusing only on later Vietnamese and European influences. The visit lasts about four hours, including the drive and sightseeing.

The afternoon returns you to Hoi An for free time. This is when you can shop, wander, or simply take a break after several structured days. Lunch and dinner are both excluded, with each meal estimated at roughly $4 to $8.

Day 7: Flying to Ho Chi Minh City

You have free time in Hoi An until the transfer to the airport. The flight goes from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, followed by a transfer from Tan Son Nhat Airport into the city center. The distance is listed as 7 to 8 kilometers, with a drive of about 30 minutes.

This is a transition day rather than a sightseeing day. Lunch and dinner are excluded, and the schedule gives about three hours of free time before the airport transfer. Use it for a final walk in Hoi An rather than planning a major excursion.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is Vietnam’s largest city. The next day brings a mix of markets, sidewalk cafés, newer bars, older traditions, and reminders of the city’s past.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels

The city sightseeing portion lasts about four hours. The program points to street markets, cafés, modern bars, old traditions, and the city’s long development. Since the exact stops are not listed, ask whether the city tour includes the major central landmarks that matter most to you.

Later, you travel to the Cu Chi Tunnels for about four hours. The visit focuses on Vietnam’s war history and the tunnel network used during the conflict. This is a more serious stop than the scenic parts of the tour, and a guide can help place the site in context.

You return to the hotel around 5:00 pm. Dinner is not included, with a suggested cost of $5 to $10. The day works well for someone who wants both present-day city life and a direct look at one of the country’s most important wartime sites.

Day 9: My Tho and the Mekong Delta

Day 9 takes you about 75 kilometers southeast of Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, the capital of Tien Giang Province. The city sits on the Mekong River and is surrounded by orchards and rice fields.

The boat trip is the main event. You travel on the Mekong and visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, described as the oldest pagoda in the delta. The water route gives you a break from roads and cities, while the pagoda adds a religious and architectural stop.

The excursion lasts about six hours at My Tho, followed by about two hours for the pagoda and return arrangements. You go back to Ho Chi Minh City for the night. Dinner is again your responsibility, estimated at $5 to $10.

This day is best understood as an introduction to the delta, not a full rural stay. You see the river region and its surroundings, but the schedule returns you to the city rather than placing you overnight in the delta.

Day 10: Flying to Siem Reap and Angkor Thom

After breakfast, you fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, arriving around midday. A Cambodian guide and driver meet you at the airport and transfer you into Siem Reap.

The afternoon is devoted to Angkor Thom, the fortified city covering about 10 square kilometers. Its walls and wide moats enclose several major Angkor sites, and you enter through the monumental South Gate, with a causeway lined by statues.

This is an effective first look at the Angkor complex because you begin with the scale of the ancient city rather than going straight to Angkor Wat. The visit lasts about five hours, so expect a full afternoon in the heat and sun.

The entrance fee is included. Dinner is not, with a suggested cost of $5 to $10.

Day 11: Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srei

Day 11 is the temple high point. Angkor Wat is the national symbol of Cambodia and the largest, best-preserved, and most religiously important temple in the complex. You have about four hours there, enough time to see the main areas with a guide without reducing the visit to a quick stop.

Ta Prohm follows, with about an hour at the temple. Parts of the jungle remain around the ruins, giving the site a more overgrown appearance than the carefully maintained areas of Angkor Wat.

The day continues to Banteay Srei, a smaller temple built from pink sandstone. Its scale is more compact, but its carved decoration is exceptionally detailed, which is why it is often called the jewel of classical Khmer art.

Three temples in one day make for a memorable schedule, but it is not a light one. You should be ready for substantial walking, stairs or uneven surfaces where present, and high heat. Dinner is excluded and estimated at $5 to $10.

Day 12: More Angkor temples and an unclear finish

The final morning continues the temple tour with Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, and Ta Prohm. The description repeats Ta Prohm from Day 11, so I would confirm which temple visits are planned on each day.

The program lists about four hours for the final sightseeing period, but it does not provide a clear departure transfer, airport timing, or post-tour hotel arrangement. Pre-tour and post-tour accommodation are not included. If you need to fly out on Day 12, get the exact pickup and flight timing before you commit.

This missing end-of-tour detail is the biggest practical weakness in the supplied schedule. The route itself is strong, but your final Cambodian night and departure plan need to be arranged carefully.

Guides, group size, and transport

The tour uses local guides in each city rather than one guide accompanying you everywhere. That arrangement can be useful because the guide changes with the region and can focus on local places, customs, and sites.

The group has a maximum of 12 people. That is small enough for a more personal feel than a large coach tour, while still keeping the price below a private itinerary. Staff support has also been praised for clear communication and problem-solving. Danny, in particular, has helped with delayed luggage by arranging delivery to a hotel and sending photos to confirm its arrival. Tony Bui has also been noted for handling complicated personal arrangements with care.

All road transport is by air-conditioned vehicle. The three flights reduce long overland journeys, but airports still add packing, waiting, and transfer time. Build some patience into your expectations.

Who should book this trip?

I would choose this tour if you want the major sights without arranging six hotels, three internal flights, airport pickups, guides, road transfers, boat excursions, and entrance tickets yourself.

It suits a first visit, especially if you want a broad introduction rather than a slow, specialist trip. It also suits solo visitors or couples who like meeting a small group but do not want a large bus tour.

You may want a slower itinerary if you prefer long stays in each place, independent food planning, or full control over your daily schedule. Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and Siem Reap each deserve more time than this tour can provide.

The tour also requires reasonable mobility. Most travelers can participate, but the itinerary includes early starts, airport transfers, boat travel, walking through temple complexes, and several long sightseeing days. The operator says poor weather can lead to a changed date or full refund, and cancellation terms are strict inside six days, so read those conditions before paying.

Should you book the Vietnam and Cambodia tour?

Book it if route coverage and convenience matter more to you than a relaxed pace. For $3,390, you get a carefully connected route through Vietnam and Cambodia, with three regional flights and the major entrance fees already handled.

Before booking, confirm the Day 4 reference to Hue, the exact Day 12 departure plan, hotel standards, room-sharing arrangement, cruise details, and which city sights are included. If those details suit you, this is a strong choice for seeing Halong Bay, Hoi An, the Mekong Delta, and Angkor Wat in one well-supported trip.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam. The listed start time is 7:30 am.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

Are international flights included?

No. International airfares are not included. The package includes three flights within the tour: Hanoi to Da Nang, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap.

Are hotels included?

Yes. Accommodation is included in single, twin, double, or triple shared arrangements. Pre-tour and post-tour accommodation are not included.

Which meals are included?

The package includes 11 breakfasts, eight lunches, and one dinner. Several lunches and most dinners are excluded, including dinner on Days 1 through 5 and Days 7 through 11.

Are entrance fees and boat trips included?

Yes. Entrance fees and sightseeing tickets are included, as are boat trips in the Mekong Delta.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellations made two to six full days ahead receive a 50 percent refund, while cancellations less than two full days ahead are not refunded. If poor weather cancels the experience, you are offered another date or a full refund.