A classic Vietnam and Cambodia tourVietnam and Cambodia tour gives plenty of opportunities to fully appreciate the top highlights of these magnificent SE Asian countries.

Typically, a classic tour will start in the ancient city of Hanoi in Vietnam and include an itinerary that passes key attractions like Halong Bay in the north to Hue and Hoi An in the central region and then to the south where it is possible to appreciate life on the Mekong Delta. Once in the south of Vietnam the progress to Cambodia is relatively straightforward. Travel by road, river or air to arrive at Siem Reap, which is the gateway to explore the world-famous Angkor Wat and surrounding temples.

Highlights of the classic Vietnam and Cambodia tour

Hanoi
Hanoi is Vietnam's capital city which is over a thousand years old and offers plenty of wonderful places and attractions to explore throughout the city. A few of the popular attractions include the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple and the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda. A wonderful way to get a real introduction to Hanoi is to take a cyclo tour around the Old Quarter. In the evening, the family is certain to appreciate watching a traditional water puppet show.

Halong Bay
Halong Bay is certain to be listed as one of Vietnam's most scenic destinations. This is a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site and appreciated for its all-round natural beauty. The stunning bay is filled with rising limestone islets that appear in every part of the clear water. Also, there are plenty of crescent beaches and stalactite-filled caves to explore.

Hue
Hue is the country's past imperial capital that is easily reached by flying for the fastest travel progress. However, a more scenic route may be possible by travelling by road. A typical city tour is likely to include the Dong Ba market, the Museum of Royal Relics and the imposing Imperial Citadel. In the evening, a cyclo ride is one of the most relaxing ways to get around before arriving at one of the high-quality local restaurants. Additionally, a river tour on the Perfume River is a unique way to see Hue with attractions to find on the tour including the Thien Mu Pagoda.

Hoi An
The next stage of theclassic Vietnam tour package is driving to Hoi An via Danang, which can take in the impressive Hai Van Pass that stands at nearly 4,900-ft in height. The peak of the pass is typically shrouded in clouds.

Once a thriving seaport, Hoi An has managed to retain its ancient town that is a wonderful combination of architectural styles, ranging from the iconic Japanese, ornate Vietnamese, French colonial, and Chinese temples.

A city tour of the narrow streets is a great way to appreciate the mix of styles of the buildings, while also visiting a few of the local businesses to see first-hand the process of making traditional lanterns. After creating and designing a lantern, this can be kept as a fun souvenir of your travels.

For the travellers with a little time to spare, a drive to nearby Danang is worth the effort to see attractions like the Cham Museum which exhibits artefacts from the 2nd to the 14th century.

Ho Chi Minh City
A visit to Ho Chi Minh City gives access to Vietnam's busiest and largest city which still has plenty of its colonial French-style and graceful structures in place. This city is very popular with tourists that means there are plenty of unique activities and tours on offer that interest all ground sizes, budgets and interests. A well-planned full or half-day tour can easily take in the most interesting landmarks throughout the city. Alternatively, a hop-on-hop-off bus gives the opportunity to explore the city at your own pace.

Cu Chi tunnels
A day-trip to the Cu Chi tunnels is certain to be a very interesting and rewarding experience for the entire family on the Indochina holiday. This vast network of tunnels was used by the Viet Cong at the time of the Vietnam War.

Other attractions to see before leaving Ho Chi Minh City include the Ben Thanh Market, the Central Post Office, the Cathedral and the former Presidential Palace.

Siem Reap
A great entry point to Cambodia is Siem Reap, which is a very popular tourist area in the county and the gateway to the ancient sites of Angkor.

Typically, a tour will start with the splendour and beauty of Angkor Wat which has been a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. However, this is far from the only worthwhile temple to see in the park. A multi-day tour is the preferred option for those on the Cambodia travel packages looking to learn the most from this historic site in Cambodia. A single day tour is great to simply see the highlights, but a full tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park is certain to need two or three days to fully appreciate the temples and history in a relaxed manner.

A visit to the spectacular Angkor Thom is well worth the effort, while other options include the Bayon temple which is one of the more unique temples that displays hundreds of smiling faces. Also, there is the Terrace of the Leper King and the Elephant Terrace. A multi-day temple itinerary can continue with famous temples like Ta Keo, Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, Krovan, East Mebon, Pre Rup and Ta Prohm, which is known for the gigantic creepers and fig trees that surround the temple.

Before departing from Siem Reap it is worth exploring a few of the other local attractions. A great way to spend a morning or afternoon is to visit the Tonle Sap Lake and relax on a boat cruise. A typical cruise of the region is likely to take in one of the many floating villages, which is sure to include many homes, hospitals, restaurants and schools.