19 Days | Discover the tastes of the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia
Chop, slice and chomp your way through the diverse flavours of South East Asia on this mouth-watering adventure into Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnam’s prized cuisine is bursting with fresh, spicy and complex flavours, while across the border, Cambodia’s food is humble, often unexplored and no less delicious. Drink in cafes and beer halls that sprawl out over city streets, buy fruit from wicker baskets draped over a vendor’s shoulders and sit at market stalls as aromatic noodle soups are whipped up in front of you. From a sunset cruise on Ha Long Bay and a cycle past herb farms near Hoi An to discovering the French influence of Phnom Penh and meeting charming local communities at Preah Dak, these South East Asian powerhouses will fill you with great food and even more memorable experiences.
Trip overview
- Start
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Finish
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Theme
- Food
- Destinations
- Vietnam, Cambodia
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- TVZKC
- Embrace your adventurous side on a tour of Hue’s imperial monuments from the back of a motorbike (the local way of getting around). Then be treated to lunch, specially prepared for you by a chef who is the descendant of the royal family in the garden of their family home.
- Don’t just taste your way around this foodie haven, don your chef hat and learn the recipes behind these incredible eats, too. Learn the secret spices directly from local chefs (often in their own homes) and be guided to the freshest ingredients in authentic local markets.
- Explore the Mekong Delta – known as ‘Vietnam’s rice bowl’ for its abundance of rice paddies, fruit and flower orchards. Cruise on a traditional sampan, then meet fresh produce vendors along the way to your veranda-wrapped homestay for the evening.
- Visit Ha Long Bay – a truly bucket list experience – and set sail on the emerald-green waters, gliding between limestone karsts and staying on a traditional junk boat for the evening.
- Head to a small village for a traditional homemade breakfast of Khmer noodles, then spend the day roaming the Angkor complex – maybe the most important site in all of Cambodia and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- The cuisine of Vietnam and Cambodia includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Vietnam which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
- Depending on where you come from, the weather in Vietnam might be hotter and more humid than what you are used to. Please consider your suitability for the season you wish to travel in. Check out https://www.intrepidtravel.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam for more info.
- In order to see as much as possible, this trip involves some long journeys, including by overnight train where the amenities are shared and basic. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam/.
- The motorbike tour of Hue has been assessed for safety and is closely monitored (helmets are provided and drivers are licensed). However, alternative transport can be arranged for those who would prefer not to travel by motorbike.
- Facilities at the Mekong Delta homestay are quite basic. But an authentic, heartwarming experience of local Mekong life should more than makeup for the lack of creature comforts.
- Cambodia can get very hot, and even temple-hopping can take it out of you quickly. Remember to use sun protection and drink plenty of water.
- The bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge is a painful but essential part of Cambodian history to confront. If you would rather not visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, just let your leader know.
- You will visit several temples on this trip, and this requires modesty. Be sure to bring clothes that cover the arms and pants or skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it's hot.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 May 2024 - 31 December 2024
Itinerary
Inclusions
15 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
Overnight Sleeper Train, Plane, Private Vehicle, Taxi
Homestay (1 night), Hotel (14 nights), Overnight Boat (1 night), Overnight Sleeper Train (2 nights)
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure
- Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
- Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike
- Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
- Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
- Hoi An - Cao Lau dinner + lantern orientation walk in Hoi An
- Hue - Salt coffee
- Hoi An - Tea Tasting in Silence
- Hoi An - Cooking class with local chef
- Hoi An - Market tour
- Nha Trang - Seafood dinner
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
- Ho Chi Minh City - Banh mi
- Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Thanh market visit
- Mekong Delta - Boat cruise with visits to local producers
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cooking Class with local chef
- Phnom Penh - Welcome Dinner
- Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
- Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- Kampot - Phnom Chhnork
- Kampot - Food tour and lunch
- Kampot - Pepper plantation & salt field visit
- Phnom Penh - Khmer Cooking Class and Market Tour
- Battambang - Rural food by bike tour
- Siem Reap - Street food tour
- Siem Reap - Cocktail class
- Siem Reap - One day Angkor Pass
- Siem Reap - Village breakfast
- Siem Reap - Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000
Dates and availability
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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