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Southern Vietnam & Cambodia’s Ancient Kingdom of Angkor

12 days from £4,795 per person

This itinerary is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Cultural Holidays.

Combining southern Vietnam with Cambodia, this overland journey allows you to go beyond the traditional tourist sites, while keeping to a high standard of accommodation and services throughout.

Your journey begins in Saigon, the economic capital of Vietnam and centre of the French and American 20^th century influences. Venture off the tourist trail and board the back of a vintage Vespa for a unique guided tour of the sites, and go on a street food walk through the frenetic streets to discover local delicacy’s and delicious cuisine. After two nights in this energetic city, journey south to the fertile soils of the Mekong Delta. Board a converted ‘Sampan’ (a local canal boat) and spend an evening on the water, and experience everyday life in the farming heartland as well as the famed Cai Rang floating market, before heading to the frontier town of Chau Doc.

Crossing the border to Cambodia, a bit of rest and relaxation is on the cards. The seaside town of Kep, first established in the 1920’s as a seaside resort for the colonial administration, is a wonderfully soporific town and home to some of the finest pepper in the world, owing to plantations from past French colonialism. A short road journey from Kep will have you in Cambodia’s beguiling capital of Phnom Penh. Until recently Phnom Penh was a sleepy backwater with dirt roads and crumbling architecture, however today it is the face of the new modern Cambodia, with a laid back café culture and exceptional dining and nightlife options.

A short domestic flight from Phnom Penh will take you to Siem Reap to explore the ancient Kingdom of Angkor. Having only been accessible to researchers over the last 15 years after half a century of isolation, archaeologists and historians are only now discovering the true size and scope of what was the pre-industrial age’s most advanced civilization. With four nights here you are able to take in the remnants of this ancient kingdom at a leisurely pace, while enjoying the fine Cambodian countryside and amenities of modern day Siem Reap.

This luxury holiday is purely a suggested itinerary; it can be booked as it is or used as a starting point for creating your very own tailor-made tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. If you are feeling inspired and would like to see similar trips, take a look at our collection of Family Holidays and Epic Journeys; as well as our Beach, Culinary and Multi-Country itineraries.

Itinerary details

12 days from £4,795 per person

Day 1 - Park Hyatt Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Arrive in Saigon this morning and enjoy the day at leisure. This evening embark on a gastronomic introduction to the flavours of the city with the Saigon Street Foodies.
Day 2 - Park Hyatt Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Today take in the sights of this vivacious city aboard the back of a vintage Vespa with your guide.
Day 3 - Aqua Mekong - Mekong Delta
Head south today to the agricultural heartland of the Mekong Delta and board a private sampan to explore the waterways of this unique region.
Day 4 - Victoria Nui Sam Lodge - Mekong Delta
Rise early this morning and take in the roaring trade of the Cai Rang floating market, the largest of its kind on the Mekong. Disembark your sampan after breakfast and travel by road to the frontier town of Chau Doc.
Day 5 - Knai Bang Chatt - Kep
Today, drive south towards the coast and cross the border into Cambodia and the seaside town of Kep.
Day 6 - Knai Bang Chatt - Kep
This morning, catch a private boat and spend the day enjoying the white sands of remote island Koh Tonsay.
Day 7 - Knai Bang Chatt - Kep
Today visit the Kampot pepper plantations, said to produce some of the finest pepper in the world.
Day 8 - Raffles Hotel Le Royal - Phnom Penh
Drive north today to the capital, taking in the memorials to Cambodia's troubled cold war history at the Killings Fields and Tuol Sleng Prison.
Day 9 - Raffles Hotel Le Royal - Phnom Penh
Explore the vibrant neighbourhoods of Phnom Penh with your guide before enjoying a sunset cruise on the Mekong & Tonle Sap rivers.
Day 10 - Sala Lodges - Siem Reap
Today catch a short flight to Siem Reap, gateway to the ancient Kingdom of Angkor.
Day 11 - Sala Lodges - Siem Reap
Explore the jungle enclosed 12th century temple of Ta Phrom this morning, before enjoying a private dining experience amongst the ride paddies of the East Baray.
Day 12 - In transit.
Enjoy a day at leisure in Siem Reap before catching your flight back home.

Key

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson

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We had a wonderful holiday - everything was perfect. Thank you for helping us to make a thoughtful plan to enjoy and make most out of our trip. The places we visited, the guides, the transportation and driver, the hotels selected... Everything was great!
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Without question, you put together the best trip I have ever taken. We were shown around like visiting dignitaries, the hotels were fantastic and the itinerary was just right. Everybody I know will hear about how amazing Ampersand is!
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So many highlights to choose from! The hotels were amazing but Maya Villa was a highlight… I loved just hanging out in the hammock reading my book and watching the peacocks chase the cows!
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