Authentic of Vietnam & Cambodia Tour – full package

Halong Bay’s limestone islands, Hoi An’s old streets, and Angkor’s great temples give this 14-day Vietnam and Cambodia tour plenty of headline moments. You move from Hanoi to Siem Reap by hotel, boat, plane, and bus, with most of the major arrangements handled for you.

I like the broad range of experiences: an overnight cruise, a Mekong River boat ride, the Cu Chi Tunnels, Royal Palace, My Son Sanctuary, and Angkor. I also like the practical package, which includes hotels, breakfast, five lunches, dinner, sightseeing tickets, one domestic flight, and bus transport between Vietnam and Cambodia.

The tradeoff is pace. You cover five cities and several long road journeys in two weeks, and some days leave little free time. The $1,950 price can be fair for a first visit, but you should confirm hotel standards, cruise details, and exactly which activities are included before paying, since the cancellation policy is strict.

Key points before you book

• A cross-border route with very little backtracking: Begin in Hanoi and finish in Siem Reap, with Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh between them.
• One night on Halong Bay: The cruise includes meals, a sunset period, morning Tai Chi, and time to see more of the bay after breakfast.
• Local guides and a small stated maximum: The tour is capped at 15 people, though some individual excursions may use different groups.
• The package handles the big transport pieces: Hotels, one Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City flight, and buses to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are included.
• Strong support during the trip: Jenny Pham and Alice are specifically praised for quick communication and custom planning, while Jhenny Pham helped arrange vegetarian meals and smooth transfers.
• A busy final week: The Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels, Phnom Penh, and Angkor arrive in quick succession, so pack lightly and expect early starts.

What $1,950 buys you across two countries

At $1,950 per person, this is not a bare-bones sightseeing pass. Accommodation, breakfast each day, five lunches, dinner, admission tickets, internal transport, airport pickup, and 24/7 hotline support are listed as part of the package. That removes the usual work of arranging hotels and comparing transport at every stop.

The value depends heavily on the standard of those hotels and the Halong Bay vessel. Those details are not supplied, so I would ask for the hotel names, room category, cruise name, and meal plan before booking. A package can look generous on paper and still feel expensive if the hotels are basic or if many meals and activities turn out to be optional.

The tour has a 4.7 rating from 11 reviews and a 91 percent recommendation figure. The most consistent praise centers on organization, friendly guides, airport and hotel transfers, and fast help from the trip contacts. Jenny Pham is singled out for staying in touch, while Alice is praised for adjusting plans. One booking also received help with vegetarian food.

There is one useful warning in the feedback: one person felt the service did not match a much higher price paid for a different trip. That is a reminder to judge this package on its exact $1,950 price and included services, not on a longer or customized version sold elsewhere.

Hanoi begins with an easy arrival

On day one, a driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free, giving you a chance to rest or walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

That first free period matters. Hanoi can feel intense after a long flight, with motorbikes, narrow streets, food stalls, and constant movement. You do not need a formal activity to start understanding the city. Use the time to adjust, eat something simple, and get comfortable with crossing streets before the sightseeing days begin.

The tour lists an 8:30 a.m. start time, but arrival-day pickup depends on your flight. Confirm the airport meeting instructions and the hotel location in advance. The package says confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability, so do not leave those details until the last minute.

Hoa Lu and the countryside near Tam Coc

Day two takes you south from Hanoi toward Tam Coc, with Hoa Lu temples included. The drive passes through valleys and rural scenery, and the excursion lasts about six hours.

Hoa Lu connects the visit to the Dinh and Le dynasties, while Tam Coc gives you a change from city streets. The route is useful early in the trip because it introduces northern Vietnam beyond Hanoi without requiring a separate hotel move.

The day is described as a Hoa Lu and Tam Coc outing, but the supplied schedule gives more detail about the drive and temples than about the exact boat program. Ask whether a Tam Coc boat ride is included, how long you will spend at each stop, and what lunch arrangements apply. The package includes five lunches overall, not lunch every day.

One night on Halong Bay

Halong Bay is the tour’s main scenic event. On day three, you leave Hanoi around 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. for the roughly three-hour drive to Tuan Chau Tourist Wharf. A tender takes you from the wharf to the cruise boat, with a welcome drink and lunch listed in the cruise program.

The overnight stay changes the experience from a quick photo stop into a slower look at the bay. You have time to watch the limestone islands from the boat, enjoy sunset, and wake up surrounded by water. The next morning begins with Tai Chi on the sundeck at 6:00 a.m., followed by light breakfast while the boat continues through another part of the bay.

The schedule is marked as customizable according to the cruise. That can be useful, but it also means the exact activities are not fixed in the information provided. Ask about cabin type, onboard meals, tender transfers, weather procedures, and any kayaking or cave visits before you commit. The day-three and day-four timings also make this a long portion of the tour, so bring medication, sun protection, and a small overnight bag if the operator recommends leaving larger luggage in storage.

Hoi An, fishing villages, and a free old-town day

After the bay, the trip shifts to central Vietnam. Day five includes a visit around An Hoi and a crossing of the Cua Dai Bridge, with views toward the river system, mountains, and Cham Islands. The program also visits a fishing village where you can see daily activity near the water.

This is a good counterpoint to the formal sites. Instead of only walking through monuments, you get a look at working communities and the river setting around Hoi An. The listed excursion lasts about four hours, leaving part of the day open.

Day six is deliberately lighter. Breakfast is at the hotel, followed by free time to explore Hoi An Old Town. I like this pause because Hoi An rewards an unhurried walk, and you can choose your own pace after several organized days.

The schedule uses both An Hoi and Hoi An, so confirm the exact meeting point. Also check if your hotel is within easy reach of the Old Town or if a transfer is needed. The tour does not specify hotel locations.

My Son Sanctuary and the flight south

The tour summary includes My Son Sanctuary among its key cultural sites, but the day-by-day details supplied do not clearly assign it to a particular day. Ask the operator to confirm when and how My Son is visited. This matters because the central Vietnam section already includes Hoi An, a fishing village, and a free day.

On day seven, you fly from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City according to the written schedule, although the route follows several days in central Vietnam. The listed flight is Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, so confirm the actual departure city. That is an important point to clear up before booking, since the itinerary places you in Hoi An immediately beforehand.

The flight saves a long overland journey and gives the tour a practical way to connect northern and southern Vietnam. Airport transfer to your hotel is included in the plan, with the rest of the day treated as a travel and check-in day.

The Mekong Delta by boat

Day eight takes you from Ho Chi Minh City toward My Tho through rice-growing areas. The excursion includes Vinh Trang Pagoda and a boat ride along the river, with views of stilt houses, fruit plantations, and fishing villages.

The Mekong visit works best as a contrast to city sightseeing. You see waterways and rural life rather than another group of monuments, and the boat gives you a different view of how people live and work along the river.

The day lasts about eight hours, so expect a full outing rather than a quick half-day. The package includes a Mekong River cruise in its highlights, but the exact boat type and stops are not specified. Ask whether the cruise is private or shared and whether lunch is included that day.

The Cu Chi Tunnels and the hard side of the past

Day nine heads northwest to the Cu Chi Tunnels. A guide provides an introduction to the tunnel system and its wartime history, and the trip continues toward the Cambodian border area.

Cu Chi is a powerful stop, but it is not a light attraction. The site shows how people lived and fought underground, and some parts may feel tight or physically demanding. The information says most participants can take part, but it does not give detailed accessibility guidance. If you have mobility concerns or dislike confined spaces, ask what portions you can visit without entering a tunnel.

The excursion lasts about five hours, which leaves some time in Ho Chi Minh City either before or after the visit, depending on the actual timetable. The city itself is not given a major sightseeing day in this package, so anyone wanting museums, markets, or more local food time should consider adding an extra night.

Crossing into Cambodia by bus

Day ten is a transfer day from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh. Breakfast comes first, followed by bus transport and hotel check-in. The listed travel time is about five hours.

This is a useful way to connect the two countries without another flight, but border crossings can make a five-hour estimate feel longer. The package includes the bus ticket, while international flight costs and departure taxes are not included. Confirm what border assistance is provided and keep your passport, documents, and valuables with you rather than in a large bag.

Phnom Penh receives a proper sightseeing day on day eleven. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda are the main stops. The Silver Pagoda takes its name from its floor of 5,000 silver tiles, and the palace grounds provide a strong introduction to Cambodia’s royal traditions.

The visit lasts about six hours. Wear clothing suitable for religious and royal sites, and expect a structured morning or afternoon rather than a free-form city walk.

Siem Reap and the Angkor temples

Day twelve moves by bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. The ride takes about six hours, followed by hotel check-in. This is another long transfer, so the trip is best for someone who prefers having transport arranged over spending extra days in each city.

Day thirteen brings the tour’s grand finish: Angkor Thom’s South Gate, Bayon, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. The program then continues to Ta Prohm, the jungle temple, before afternoon temple visits.

The listed sightseeing time is only three hours, which appears tight for the number of sites named. Ask for the exact temple sequence and start time. Angkor is a place where a rushed visit can turn into a checklist, so an extra day in Siem Reap would improve the experience if your schedule allows. The tour summary promises the world-famous Angkor temples, but the supplied details do not list every temple included.

Day fourteen is free after breakfast before the airport transfer. That gives you a final chance to rest or take a short walk, but it is not a full extra sightseeing day.

How the group and support system work

The stated maximum is 15 people, a useful size for loading buses, meeting guides, and keeping transfers manageable. At the same time, one solo visitor described the trip as a series of individual tours with different groups. You should therefore expect some variation in group size and guide from city to city.

That arrangement can be a benefit. Local guides often know their own city best, and the package uses different teams across Vietnam and Cambodia. It can also mean you do not build one fixed group relationship for the whole 14 days.

Communication appears to be a strong part of the service. Jenny Pham is praised for regular contact and problem solving. Alice is noted for customizing plans, and Jhenny Pham helped arrange vegetarian meals and smooth city transfers. Ask for the name and phone number of your main contact before departure, even though 24/7 hotline support is included.

Who should book this package?

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor who wants to see both countries without arranging every hotel, flight, ticket, and transfer alone. It suits you if you enjoy a full schedule, can manage several long drives, and want a broad sample of cities, temples, waterways, and rural areas.

It is less suitable if you want slow mornings, long stays in one place, or detailed exploration of Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, or Siem Reap. The itinerary gives you highlights, not much time to settle into each city.

The package may also suit solo visitors and couples who value support. The small stated maximum, airport pickup, local contacts, and included transport reduce the number of daily decisions you must make. Families and older couples can manage it too, but the pace and bus rides deserve an honest look. One couple in their sixties found the activity level manageable, while the tour still requires stamina for early starts and long transfers.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is coverage and convenience. For $1,950, you receive a substantial framework: two countries, major cultural sites, a Halong Bay overnight cruise, the Mekong Delta, internal transport, accommodation, meals, and support.

Before paying, get written confirmation of the hotel names, cruise category, My Son schedule, flight departure city, exact Angkor program, and what happens at the Cambodia border. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking, except for weather-related cancellation handled by offering another date or a full refund.

If those details meet your expectations, this is a practical first trip through Vietnam and Cambodia. If you prefer depth over distance, spend the same budget on fewer places and add nights in Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, or Siem Reap.

FAQ

How long is the Vietnam and Cambodia tour?

The tour lasts approximately 14 days, beginning with airport pickup in Hanoi and ending with an airport transfer from Siem Reap.

What transportation is included?

The package includes all listed transportation, one flight between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and bus tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh and from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.

Is Halong Bay an overnight cruise?

Yes. The itinerary includes an overnight Halong Bay cruise, with a welcome drink, onboard meals in the cruise schedule, morning Tai Chi, and continued cruising after breakfast.

What meals are included?

Breakfast is included for 13 days. The package also includes five lunches and dinner. Beverages and personal expenses are not included.

How many people can join the tour?

The stated maximum is 15 participants. Individual excursions may operate with different groups.

What is not included in the price?

International flights, departure taxes, drinks, personal expenses, tips, and gratuities are not included.