Off the Beaten Path in Northern Vietnam & Cambodia - 10 Days

Highlights

• Try Vietnam's famous street food in Hanoi
• Get a local view of the countryside by overnight train
• Visit hill tribes in the northern Sapa mountains
• Tour the highlights of Phnom Penh by cyclo
• Explore the temples of Angkor Wat and visit floating villages

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi (Vietnam), Optional Activities

Chao ban! Welcome to Vietnam! This gorgeous and romantic Southeast Asian country is a heady mix of deep culture, vast natural beauty, and a long history that includes ancient dynasties, French colonialism, and a devastating war. You'll arrive in the cultural and historical heart of Vietnam's north: the nation's capital of Hanoi.

At the airport, a driver will pick you up for the transfer into the city. After settling in, you can venture out on a self-guided tour to stretch your legs. Hit the streets of the Old Quarter and browse the silk shops on Hang Gai Street. You can also stop in at a spa for a massage to take the edge off the long flight. 

Day 2: Pottery Workshop & Food Tour

Today, you'll visit Bat Trang Pottery Village, a short drive from Hanoi, to learn about the traditional handicrafts of the Red River Delta. Your guide will take you through the village, where you can peruse its many pottery shops. Stop for a workshop where you'll learn to make a piece of pottery yourself, from turning the clay on a wheel to drying and decorating. You can take away your masterpiece as a souvenir.

As dusk falls, meet your guide and head back to Hanoi's Old Quarter for a delicious evening of culinary exploration. Stroll through the historic district's hidden lanes, savoring the city's best street food. Try local favorites like pho sot vang (noodle soup with pork and herbs), banh beo (steamed rice cakes), and of course, the famous banh mi sandwich. Wash it all down with some sugar cane juice or perhaps a local rice wine. Afterward, head back to your hotel.

Day 3: Hanoi City Tour, Overnight Train to Lao Cai

This morning, embark on a guided tour of Hanoi's top sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where Vietnam's revered revolutionary leader, Ho Chi Minh, lies embalmed in a mausoleum. Wander the serene grounds to see the humble wooden stilt house where he once lived, as well as the ornate One Pillar Pagoda, which sits in the middle of a lake and resembles Vietnam's national flower, the lotus.

Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first national university built in the late 11th century. Then, visit the fascinating Museum of Ethnology, which houses an expansive collection of artifacts from Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority groups—a precursor to what you'll experience later on this itinerary. The tour ends at Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple (Jade Mountain Temple). It was built in the 18th century to honor Tran Hung Dao, a famous military commander, and is situated on an islet accessible by an arched red bridge.

Take the rest of the afternoon to stroll the Old Quarter and do some shopping. Then transfer to the station, where you'll board an overnight train bound for Lao Cai. This northern region is known for its beautiful mountain landscapes, diverse ethnic cultures, and its role as a gateway to the famous town of Sapa and its iconic terraced rice fields. Upon arrival, you'll transfer to your hotel.

Day 4: Transfer to Sapa, Visit Hill Tribe Villages

On arrival at Lao Cai station, you'll have breakfast and take a scenic transfer to Sapa. During the trip, you'll pass winding rivers and gorgeous mountain valleys dotted with rice and cornfields, gardens, bamboo forests, and humble villages populated by Vietnam's ethnic minorities. These groups originated in southern China and emigrated to places like Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand over several centuries.

After arriving in Sapa, you'll check into your hotel, freshen up, and then head out to a few nearby villages. First up is Sa Seng, a village home to the Black Hmong people. You'll know them by their traditional dress of colorful turbans, blouses, leg wraps, aprons, and scarves, all made by hand, often from hemp cloth. On a village tour, you'll meet locals, learn about their traditional way of life, and browse their artisanal items and handicrafts.

Continue hiking along terraced rice paddies to Ta Van, a village home to the Giay people. They're known for their rich culture and traditional wooden stilt homes rising above the rice fields. This area marks the beginning of the expansive Muong Hoa Valley, and from a high point on the main road, you'll be treated to panoramic views of the villages and soaring mountains surrounding them. At the end of the afternoon, you'll transfer back to Sapa. 

Day 5: Visit Fansipan & Heaven's Gate, Overnight Train to Hanoi

Start the day with a cable car ride to the top of Mount Fansipan, Vietnam's tallest mountain, nicknamed the "Roof of Indochina." The cable car ends at a garden complex dotted with pagodas and Buddha statues, from which you can either hike or take a funicular train journey to the top of the mountain. From the 10,212-foot (3,134 m) peak, you'll enjoy 360-degree views of cloud-topped mountains and can see across the border into China. 

Afterward, meet your driver and continue to the O Quy Ho Mountain Pass in the Hoang Lien Son range. Also known as Heaven's Gate, it's the highest mountain pass in Vietnam at 6,676 feet (2,035 m) and contains some of the north's most epic scenery. During the ride, you'll make several stops to take photos and admire sweeping views of Fansipan and the Sin Chai Valley. The area is often shrouded in blankets of mist and clouds, which complements the dramatic scenery. Later, you'll transfer back to Sapa and board an overnight train from Sapa to Hanoi.

Day 6: Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)

After an early breakfast, you'll transfer to the airport in Hanoi and catch a 1.5-hour flight to Siem Reap. This resort town in northwestern Cambodia is the gateway to the 12th-century ruins of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. Upon arrival at the airport, your driver and private guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel, where you can rest up for tomorrow's epic day out.

Day 7: Discover Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom

It's time to see the star of the show. After breakfast, meet your guide and head out to visit one of the most famous temples in the world: Angkor Wat. This 12th-century complex covers a whopping 200 acres (81 ha), and its five towers are so iconic they're emblazoned on the Cambodian flag. On this walking tour, you'll immerse yourself in the ruins as you stroll through its galleries, libraries, pavilions, and courtyards.

The tour continues in Angkor Thom (literally "Great City"), once the most impressive royal city of Cambodia's Angkor period, home to the standout Bayon Temple. Comprised of 54 Gothic towers, Jayavarman VII commissioned it in the 12th century, and his smiling face and glaring eyes are represented in its 216 stone sculptures. Other structures you'll visit include the Terrace of the Elephants (featuring sculptures and bas-reliefs of elephants), Phimeanakas (a three-tiered pyramid), and the Terrace of the Leper King, known for its carvings of demons and mythological figures.

End the day with a visit to Ta Prohm, a 12th-century Buddhist temple whose crumbling towers have been all but absorbed by the surrounding jungle. Here, you'll receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk wishing you prosperity, happiness, and a safe trip. Afterward, you'll return to Siem Reap.

Day 8: Visit Floating Villages, Transfer to Phnom Penh

This morning, you'll transfer 11 miles (18 km) south to Tonlé Sap. This "Great Lake of Cambodia" is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems. Here, you'll board a traditional wooden boat and travel to the famous floating villages—communities comprised of wooden stilt houses over the water. On a visit to one such village, you'll visit Les Chantiers Écoles. Since 1992, this group of artisans has been providing training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting.

After Tonlé Sap, transfer by vehicle south to Phnom Penh, the dazzling capital of Cambodia. It's about a five-hour scenic drive, during which you'll stop to visit historic landmarks like the 12th-century Naga Bridge and the Santud district for a tour of a stone-carving workshop. When you arrive in Phnom Penh, check into your hotel and enjoy some free time.

Day 9: Phnom Penh Cyclo Tour, Evening Mekong River Cruise

Wake up early for a guided tour of Phnom Penh. Your first stop is in the city center at the Independence Monument, built in 1958 to memorialize Cambodia's independence from France. Here, you'll hop on a traditional cyclo (three-wheeled bicycle taxi) and zip along the streets to the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866. Explore the grounds and the Silver Pagoda, so-named because of its floor, which is adorned with 5,000 silver tiles. Inside are Buddha statues encrusted with gold and emeralds.

After lunch, you'll visit the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. Designed in the Khmer style and opened in 1917, the museum contains a collection of Khmer art and sculptures spanning different eras. Continue on to Psar Toul Tom Pong, known as the Russian Market. This large municipal market is a great place to hunt for souvenirs, curios, and silks. End the day with a one-hour sunset cruise on the Mekong River.

Day 10: Depart Phnom Penh

Alas, you've reached the end of the trail. After breakfast at the hotel, your driver will pick you up for the transfer to the airport, where you'll catch your flight home. Come back soon!

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