Vietnam & Cambodia
These two countries are filled with intriguing cultures, friendly people and fascinating histories. With their rich and varied cultures and abundance of things to do, both ancient and modern, between them they cover almost everything you could want in a tour of Asia.
Unforgettable experiences are everywhere in Vietnam and Cambodia. These are two countries that are on the top of almost everyone’s must-visit list in Asia, and are two of the most popular tourist destinations for western travelers. Experience the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and Saigon, cruise Halong Bay and the Mekong Delta, wander through charming Hoi An, discover life on Tonlé Sap Lake and explore the temples of Angkor.
Highlights
Ocean & beaches
Splendid beaches, magnificent sceneries, and glorious sun! That is what sums up Vietnam, well, almost. The country is a slice of heaven for those who can’t stay away from beaches. No beach lover would like to miss out on those the superb sceneries and peaceful space on the beaches of Vietnam. Boasting some 2,000 miles of coastline plus a handful of renowned island destinations, Vietnam naturally has no shortage of beautiful beaches. Sure, you could just stick to cities, what with the colonial architecture and history of Hanoi, the imperial charms of Hue, and the bustling nightlife of Saigon. But you'd be remiss to plan a Vietnamese vacation without hitting the water at least once—plus, most cities are just a day-trip from the coast, if not on the coast already.
Angkor Wat
The legendary temple complex near Siem Reap contains one of the most famous temples in the world, Angkor Wat. And no trip to Cambodia would be complete without visiting it to watch the spectacular sunrise over this abundant temple complex. Originally built as a Hindu temple, it was converted to Buddhism in the 14th century. The temple contains thousands of examples of ancient Asparas carvings, and each one is unique and different from all the others. Angkor Wat is the most well-preserved of all the temples in Siem Reap, but it is nice to pay a visit to some of the less well known and well kept temples, as the differences in architecture are astounding across the whole temple complex.
Sand dunes
The sand dunes of Mui Ne are two of the most amazing geological wonders on the planet. incorporating huge areas of sand dunes of two different colors – red and white – it is a place best visited in the morning or late evening, as the days get too hot to handle. The White Dunes are the larger of the two by far, and are known to the locals as Bau Trang, which means “White Lake”. Unusually, the area also has a huge number of pine trees growing within it, which seem to thrive despite the incredible heat of the day and the apparent lack of surface water. The Red Dunes, feature sand that is reddish-brown in color, which makes them a great place for photography. Smaller and easier to reach, they are also higher dunes, which makes them popular for the local sport of sand sledding.
Phong Nha-ke National Park
Set in the Quang Binh Province of north-central Vietnam, this beautiful natural park is a UNESCO World heritage Site, and the result of 464 million years of crust development that has produced the oldest karst formations in Asia. The park features an impressive cave and grotto system that extends for 70 kilometers underground, and its biggest chamber is more than five kilometers in length. This tropical rainforest area is one of the most important eco-regions in the Indo-Pacific area, and offers many unusual and astounding geomorphic features, including underground rivers, dry caves, dendritic grottos, and suspended cave formations. It is also the home to many endangered species of animals, including the black bear, tigers, and Asian elephants.
Ba Na Hills
Something of a cross between Disney’s Epcot, a French ski resort, and a Buddhist mountain retreat, the surreal Ba Na Hills complex is like no place I have seen before. And while you have likely never heard of it, you may very well have seen its most famous attraction - the Golden Bridge (aka the “Hand Bridge”), a 500-foot long arced pedestrian bridge that appears to be held up over the world far below by two giant stone hands.
Cruise Halong Bay
No trip to Vietnam is complete without an visit to Halong Bay where unusual rock formations rise out from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin to make up the exquisite UNESCO World Heritage Site. A simply spectacular setting.
We suggest you spend the night drifting through the islands on a luxury junk boat to experience this incredible natural phenomenon and its mesmerizing beauty.
