The temptation to combine these two neighbouring is great but ultimately, they are different countries. We give you some ideas to prepare for your future Vietnam-Cambodia tour of 3 weeks, an optimal duration to discover these two countries with exceptional cultural, historical, natural and gastronomic heritage. 

1. First trip to Vietnam and Cambodia

For a first trip to Vietnam-Cambodia, it may be interesting to discover Vietnam on a North-South axis before joining Cambodia. The starting point for this magnificent 3-week Vietnam Cambodia trip is Hanoi, the captivating thousand-year-old capital of Vietnam. An endearing city, marked by the imprint of history which is full of cultural curiosities, and certainly has the most beautiful colonial architectural heritage in South East Asia, which is one of the most attractive culinary destinations in the region. Then there is the unmissable Halong Bay. It’s hard to miss a cruise with a night aboard a junk in the middle of its limestone wonderland.

The temptation is then great to go to the majestic mountains of Northern Vietnam to admire the fantastic rice terraces tumbling down from the mountains and to meet the numerous ethnic minorities who inhabit these grandiose natural settings. Hikes and nights with locals will allow you to experience a successful travel immersion in these wild lands.

By train or plane, head to Central Vietnam to discover two cities listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. First of all, you can visit Hue, the ancient imperial city of the Nguyen dynasty. This city is full of poetry seduces with its historical remains, notably its ancient royal citadel and the majestic tombs of the emperors located along the gentle Perfume River. From its imperial past, Hue has inherited a refined, subtle and precise cuisine. Further south, along the coast, passing through Cloud Pass and Danang you reach the delightful Hoi An, a museum town which was a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to the 19th century and which has managed to preserve an exceptional heritage of Asian culture with its succession of old wooden frame buildings built more than a century ago.

Your 3-week Vietnam Cambodia tour continues in the South of Vietnam with a visit to Ho Chi Minh City, which is also full of museums, colonial architecture, and captivating markets and offers interesting excursions in its surroundings such as the famous tunnels of Cu Chi or the Caodaist temple of Tay Ninh. It will then be time to head towards the aquatic labyrinth of the Mekong Delta to discover the astonishing floating markets, to stroll by boat and by bike in the beautiful countryside covered with rice fields and where tasty tropical fruits are grown.

By land or river, you enter Cambodia to visit Phnom Penh, the capital of the Khmer kingdom. You can visit the Royal Palace, the National and Genocide museums, and typical markets, discover Apsara dancers with their magnificent costumes adorned with a headdress of a thousand splendours and Cambodian gastronomy will make your stay in this fascinating city more enjoyable. Your 3-week Vietnam Cambodia tour will end in style by exploring the fabulous temples of Angkor, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

SOME IDEAS FOR VIETNAM – CAMBODIA TOUR ITINERARIES IN 3 WEEKS TO RECOMMEND TO YOU

Option 1: Vietnam Immersion and Extension to Cambodia - 21 Days

This great Vietnam-Cambodia combined tour in 21 days will reveal to you all the magic of these two countries: the unmissable sites of the North, the coastal heritage towns of Hoi An and Hue, the dynamic urban life of Saigon, the Mekong Delta, the history of Phnom Penh and the mysterious Angkor temples of Siem Reap.

Route: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Pu Luong - Ninh Binh - Halong – Hue – Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Sa Dec- Long Xuyen - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

Option 2: Off-the-beaten-track discovery: From North-East Vietnam to the temples of Angkor - 21 days

This tour is intended for those who want to hike in the still remote regions of North Vietnam, but without forgetting the essential places from North to South Vietnam and the Angkor temples. The North-East of Vietnam, the land of many ethnic minorities fiercely attached to their ancestral traditions, is undoubtedly a true paradise for hikers. From Ha Giang to Ba Be, you will have the opportunity to blend into these grandiose natural settings, as well as to immerse yourself in local life by spending a few nights with locals. Let yourself be seduced by this sensational region which never sinks into monotony!

Route: Hanoi – Ha Giang – Dong Van – Meo Vac – Bao Lac – Ba Be – Hanoi – Halong – Hue – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh – Ben Tre – Tra Vinh – Long Xuyen – Ho Chi Minh – Siem Reap

2. If you have already travelled to Vietnam

In this case, we recommend that you discover sites that you had not visited during your last stay in Vietnam and take more time to travel to Cambodia than ending your Vietnam Cambodia 21 days tour with a seaside stay in Cambodia in the lovely seaside resort of Kep, in Sihanoukville or on the paradise islands of Koh Rong or Koh Kong.

Vietnam Cambodia thematic tour

- Cultural & History

It will be necessary to include Hanoi, Tam Coc, Hue, Hoi An, the archaeological site of My Son, and Ho Chi Minh City for Vietnam. For Cambodia, Phnom Penh and of course Siem Reap, we must add the temple of Preah Vihear, Battambang, Kratie, the sanctuary of Kulen and the temple area of Sambor Prei Kuk. No less than 8 UNESCO classified sites for this circuit!

- Hiking & nature

Northern Vietnam and its spectacular landscapes of rice terraces are essential for such a theme. We will add Cat Ba island in addition to Halong, the discovery of the fantastic national park of Phong Nha Ke Bang with the world's largest underground network of caves including the Son Doong cave, which is considered the largest cave in the world with its 9 kilometres long and its uninterrupted gallery 200 metres high and 100 metres wide. The adventure can continue in the Cat Tien National Park in the South of Vietnam, recognised as a Ramsar site for the importance of its wetlands and its abundant biodiversity. In Cambodia, we will set our sights on the provinces of Ratanakiri and Mondolkiri, neighbouring each other and located in the North-East. Two wild lands, populated by ethnic minorities, elephants, and rich fauna and where the waterfalls lurking in the jungle sing.

- Relaxation

During the cultural stages, we will enhance our Vietnam Cambodia 21-day trip with seaside interludes. Vietnam has no shortage of them. Depending on the season, we can relax on the beaches of Cat Ba Island, those of Danang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Mui Ne or the wonderful island of Phu Quoc. If, in Cambodia, the choice is more limited, we do not shy away from the pleasure of splashing in the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand, in the places mentioned above.

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