Siem Reap, Phnom Penh & Southern Vietnam

The day has arrived to fly from your selected airport to the charming town of Siem Reap in Cambodia. There will be connecting flight(s) along the way.

Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will pass through immigration and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall, wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, making them easy to find. From here, you will be driven to your hotel, which is approximately an hour and a half away by car.

After arriving and checking in at the hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Siem Reap is a laid-back and charming town, perfect for relaxing strolls through the French Quarter or along the shady paths beside the Siem Reap River. You will find small shops, cafés, and several markets here. You can also explore the Siem Reap Night Market, where the aromas of the many Khmer delicacies are sure to make your mouth water. Pick up a delicious piece of grilled meat or a noodle dish, then settle down on one of the many stools alongside the locals, enjoying a meal or a snack.

Today brings one of the absolute highlights of the tour, as you'll visit the magnificent Angkor Wat temple complex in the ancient city of Angkor, which is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list.

You will be picked up at your hotel in the morning and driven around 15 minutes outside Siem Reap, where the impressive temple complex is located. The area is vast, so you will be driven between the various temples and explore them on foot with your guide.

The ancient city lies amidst lush surroundings, encircled by jungle and ancient moats. Here, a sense of tranquillity settles over you, and it almost feels as though you have stepped into a completely different world.

You'll begin by visiting Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. During the cool morning hours, you can explore the impressive temple at your leisure and admire the intricate stone reliefs, endless friezes, and stunning carvings, while the morning sun highlights its unique architecture. You will also have the opportunity to climb the central towers, from where you can enjoy wonderful views across the surrounding jungle.

The tour then continues north to the ancient, fortified city of Angkor Thom, where you’ll visit the fascinating Bayon Temple. Located in the heart of the city, it is known for its 54 towers adorned with more than 200 enormous, smiling faces carved directly into the stone. Explore the maze-like terraces and experience one of Angkor’s most iconic temples.

Next, you’ll visit Ta Prohm, one of Angkor’s most atmospheric temples. Here, nature has been allowed to take over, with enormous silk-cotton trees and strangler figs taking root around the temple over the centuries, creating a truly unique scene where nature and ruins merge. Sunlight filtering through the treetops creates a very special atmosphere, making this an unforgettable experience.

You’ll now leave Angkor and head towards Tonle Sap Lake. Along the way, you’ll stop at a local restaurant to enjoy a well-deserved lunch before the day’s experiences continue.

The final stop of the day is Kampong Phluk, located around a 45 minutes’ drive south-east of Siem Reap in the floodplain of Tonle Sap Lake. Here, you’ll board a motorised long-tail boat and sail through narrow river channels, gaining an insight into everyday life in the local fishing village. The houses stand on wooden stilts up to 6 metres high to withstand the considerable changes in water levels between the rainy and dry seasons. Along the way, there may be an opportunity to take a canoe trip through the peaceful, flooded mangrove forest before the boat continues out onto Tonle Sap Lake. Here, you can enjoy the view across the lake in the late afternoon before being driven back to your hotel.

Please note: During the low-water period (mid-February to July), when the water level is too low for boating at Kampong Phluk, you will visit the floating village of Chong Kneas instead. Here, you will also gain fascinating insight into life on Tonlé Sap Lake and the daily lives of local fishermen. However, the experience differs from Kampong Phluk, as the village consists of floating houses rather than the characteristic stilt houses and flooded mangrove forest.

After breakfast, a special excursion awaits to one of our social sustainability projects, established by our local partner. The tour will take you into the countryside surrounding Siem Reap, where you will get close to authentic Cambodia and gain unique insight into life in small village communities.

Trei Nhoar is a traditional Khmer village where daily life still follows the rhythm of nature. Many families make their living from farming, while community, craftsmanship, and age-old traditions continue to play an important role. In the middle of the village stands Wat Thipadei, a pagoda built on the remains of a 10th-century temple. It bears witness to the area's long history and remains an important meeting place for the villagers.

Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed by local residents, and a representative will show you around the village. You will visit small farms and fields, where you will see how families cultivate the land and make a living from what it provides. Along the way, you will gain an insight into everyday life and meet people who proudly share their culture and traditions.

You will also experience some of the crafts and culinary traditions that have formed part of the village's culture for generations. Local residents will demonstrate how traditional baskets are woven from natural materials and how classic Khmer desserts are prepared according to age-old recipes.

One of the highlights of the day is lunch, served in the home of a local family. Here, you will enjoy a home-cooked meal prepared with fresh ingredients from the local area, while experiencing the warm hospitality Cambodia is known for.

By taking part in this excursion, you will also help make a difference to the villagers. A percentage of the tour price goes directly to the project, supporting the local community and helping to create better opportunities for families in the area. At the same time, the project helps preserve local traditions and crafts for future generations. Read more about the project here.

After a day filled with authentic cultural encounters and fascinating experiences, you will return to Siem Reap.

Today is free for you to relax by the pool, explore the city, or join one of our exciting optional tours.

If you choose to explore the city, you could, for example, visit the small Royal Gardens park. Or why not take a leisurely stroll through the city’s charming side streets, where small temples with golden roofs and lush gardens are tucked away between the houses? You could also settle down at one of the many welcoming cafés and restaurants along the river and watch the city go by.

In the evening, Pub Street truly comes alive. With its wealth of restaurants and bars, it is the city’s natural meeting place, where locals and visitors gather over delicious food and cold drinks.

Today, you'll leave Siem Reap behind. You will be picked up at your hotel and driven south towards Cambodia’s vibrant and historic capital, Phnom Penh. Along the way, you can enjoy views of the Cambodian countryside, with its rice fields, small villages, and lush plantations.

Your first stop will be Kampong Kdei Bridge, also known as Spean Praptos, which dates all the way back to the 12th century. This impressive stone bridge is a fine example of Khmer engineering from the Angkor era. The bridge is decorated with naga, the mythical serpents you will recognise from many of Cambodia’s temples.

You will then visit a local village known for its stone carvers, who create Buddha statues and other intricately carved stone figures. Here, you will gain an interesting insight into traditional craftsmanship and see talented artisans transform raw stone into beautiful sculptures. You will also have the opportunity to buy a handmade souvenir to take home.

The tour then continues to the town of Skuon and the famous Spider Market, which is particularly known for its rather unusual Cambodian delicacies. Among other things, you will find deep-fried tarantulas and other insects, which locals are happy to travel long distances to buy. You can simply admire these exotic specialities – or try them yourself, if you are feeling adventurous.

From here, the tour continues to Phnom Penh, situated at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac, and Tonle Sap rivers. The city buzzes with life, from its busy boulevards, charming side streets, and markets to its wealth of cafés and restaurants. At the same time, you will encounter a fascinating blend of French colonial architecture, modern high-rises, pagodas, and the beautiful Royal Palace.

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be driven to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish.

Today’s full-day sightseeing tour promises an exciting and moving experience, bringing you closer to Cambodia’s culture, history, and one of the darkest periods in the country’s past.

After breakfast, the day will begin with a visit to Phnom Penh’s impressive Royal Palace. With its distinctive rooftops and beautiful buildings, it stands close to the Tonle Sap River. The palace remains the official residence of the King of Cambodia, and during your visit, you’ll see the Throne Hall and the famous Silver Pagoda, among other sights. The pagoda takes its name from its floor, which is covered with more than 5,000 silver tiles.

From here, you’ll continue to Wat Phnom, located on a small, verdant hill in the heart of the city. The temple is closely connected with the story of Phnom Penh’s founding and remains an important religious site where local people come to pray and make offerings.

Your next visit will take you to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S-21. The buildings originally housed a school, but after the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975, the site was turned into Security Prison 21. Thousands of people were detained, interrogated, and tortured here under Pol Pot’s regime. Today, the site serves as a museum and memorial, offering a powerful insight into the crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge.

Approximately 15 km outside Phnom Penh, the tour continues to Choeung Ek, one of the sites now known as the Killing Fields. More than 17,000 men, women, and children are believed to have been executed here, and traces of the mass graves can still be seen in the landscape. At the centre of the site stands a memorial stupa, which serves as a powerful reminder of the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime.

After a day filled with stark contrasts and plenty to reflect on, you’ll be driven back to your hotel.

Today, you'll have Phnom Penh at your own pace and can spend the day exactly as you wish.

You might start the day with a stroll along the promenade beside the Mekong River, taking in the city life along the waterfront. From here, you can continue through the city’s streets, lined with small shops, cafés, and restaurants, or visit the National Museum to learn more about Cambodia’s history and culture.

You can also explore the distinctive Central Market, Phsar Thmey, where the grand art deco building houses a wealth of stalls selling everything from clothing and jewellery to souvenirs and local specialities.

If you would like to experience even more of Phnom Penh and its surroundings, you can choose to add one of our optional tours.

Today, you'll leave Cambodia and set course for Vietnam.

After breakfast, you'll have time to enjoy your final hours in Phnom Penh at your own pace. Afterwards, lunch awaits before you are driven to the boat terminal, where you'll board the speedboat to Chau Doc in Vietnam.

The boat departs from Phnom Penh at midday, and around six hours of sailing lie ahead. Sit back and enjoy the views along the river as small villages, lush landscapes, and local boats drift past.

During the tour, you'll cross the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, where the necessary border formalities are completed. You can read more about this under our Practical information section, “Passports and visas”.

When you arrive at Chau Doc’s boat terminal, your guide and driver will meet you and arrange your transfer to the hotel.

The rest of the evening is free for you to spend as you wish. You could, for example, take a stroll through the town and find a local restaurant where you can enjoy your first dinner in Vietnam.

After breakfast, you’ll check out of the hotel and your guide will come to pick you up. From here, you’ll head to Tra Su Forest, an 850-hectare nature reserve with a rich variety of flora and fauna. More than 100 different species of water birds inhabit the area, which is also home to colonies of bats. One of the day’s most memorable experiences awaits as you board a small sampan and travel through the forest’s narrow waterways. The boat glides quietly through the lush landscape, surrounded by dense vegetation, while you keep an eye out for birds and other wildlife.

After visiting Tra Su, you'll return to Chau Doc, where you will explore the town’s local markets and atmospheric backstreets. On foot, you'll walk along the river and continue towards the town centre. Chau Doc is an important trading centre for the surrounding agricultural region, and its narrow streets offer a vivid insight into everyday life, with bicycle repairers, traders, and local vendors bringing the streets to life.

You'll continue to the town’s covered market, where you will learn more about the area’s agriculture and have the chance to sample some local specialities. Among other things, you can try the sweet juice made from palm fruit, a local favourite.

Afterwards, you'll have lunch at a local restaurant before saying goodbye to Chau Doc and setting off for Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. The drive takes around five hours.

Upon arrival in Ben Tre, you'll check in at the hotel and have the rest of the day to yourself.

Ben Tre is a lush province in the Mekong Delta, particularly known for its many coconut palms, which have earned the area the nickname of Vietnam’s coconut capital. Here, a peaceful everyday life awaits, while the town centre is home to small shops and local street-food stalls.

After breakfast and check-out, another day of experiences in the Mekong Delta awaits. You’ll be picked up at your hotel and driven to Phong Nam Pier, where you’ll board a traditional boat and set sail along Chet Say, one of the Mekong River’s many tributaries. Along the way, you can observe life along the river and gain an insight into everyday life in the delta.

Your first stop is a traditional brickworks, where you’ll see how bricks are still made using age-old methods. You’ll then continue by boat to a small workshop where coconut sweets are produced. You’ll hear about the process and have the chance to sample fresh tropical fruit accompanied by a cup of sweet honey tea.

From here, the tour continues along narrow paths to a village surrounded by lush greenery. You’ll visit a family who make traditional reed mats before boarding a motorised cart resembling a tuk-tuk. You’ll travel through peaceful villages and verdant surroundings, drawing closer to the everyday life and traditions of the Mekong Delta along the way.

You’ll then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, where some of the area’s characteristic dishes are served.

The day’s experiences end with an atmospheric ride in a small sampan. At a leisurely pace, you’ll be taken through the Mekong Delta’s narrow canals, surrounded by dense, green vegetation.

Back at the pier, your driver will be waiting, and you’ll set off for Ho Chi Minh City. Here, you’ll be driven to your centrally located hotel in District 1, the heart of the city. Ho Chi Minh City is still often referred to as Saigon in everyday conversation, and District 1 in particular forms the city’s historic and cultural centre.

Encountering Vietnam’s largest city is quite a contrast to the peaceful surroundings of the Mekong Delta. Ho Chi Minh City is home to around 10 million people, as well as an impressive number of scooters and motorbikes that fill the streets with life from morning until evening. Behind the hectic traffic lies a modern and fascinating city developing at a rapid pace. This is clearly reflected in the cityscape, where glass-clad skyscrapers stand side by side with elegant buildings from the French colonial era.

After checking in at the hotel, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. Perhaps you’re ready for a relaxing drink by the pool? Or how about a Vietnamese iced coffee at one of the city’s many cafés? Ho Chi Minh City has a strong coffee culture, and you’ll find everything from trendy coffee shops to small local spots with plastic chairs and coffee brewed using the classic Vietnamese drip method.

If you’re curious about the city’s food scene, head out to explore the streets of Districts 1 and 3. Here, you’ll find everything from steaming bowls of pho and cơm tấm – the popular Vietnamese dish made with broken rice – to crispy bánh xèo pancakes and freshly prepared bánh mì.

Today, an exciting half-day city tour of Ho Chi Minh City awaits.

Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel, and from there you’ll be driven to the elegant Dong Khoi Street, one of Saigon’s most iconic boulevards. The street runs through the heart of the old colonial quarter, where French architecture, fashion boutiques, art galleries, and charming cafés stand side by side. It is steeped in atmosphere and history, and has played a central role in the city’s story – from the heyday of the colonial era and the turmoil of wartime to today’s vibrant metropolis.

You’ll pass the Saigon Opera House, an architectural masterpiece dating from 1901 and a living symbol of the city’s cultural heritage. Having served first as a shelter and later as the home of the South Vietnamese parliament’s lower house, the opera house has had a remarkable history.

Next, you’ll visit the Old Post Office, designed by the world-famous French engineer Gustave Eiffel. With its beautiful arches, elegant ironwork, and historic atmosphere, the building stands as a testament to the French influence on Ho Chi Minh City.

Directly opposite the Old Post Office stands the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, built between 1863 and 1880. With its distinctive red bricks and soaring spires, the cathedral is an impressive relic of the French colonial era.

When you stand facing the church, you’ll have a grey building behind you. Some may recognise it as the ‘Pittman Apartments’ at 22 Gia Long Street, shown in the famous photograph taken on 29 April 1975 by Dutch photographer Hubert van Es during the fall of Saigon. This was where a helicopter landed on the roof – a scene many people mistakenly believe took place at the American Embassy. Your guide will tell you the dramatic story of the evacuation and the hidden role the building played during the final hours of the war.

The tour will then continue to the historic Reunification Palace, where the Vietnam War – or the American War, as it is known in Vietnam – officially came to an end. On 30 April 1975, a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the palace gates, bringing to a close a bloody conflict that claimed the lives of around 58,000 Americans and as many as 3 million Vietnamese people. Here, you’ll see, among other things, war rooms, reception halls, and the president’s office.

The tour will continue to the War Remnants Museum, where you’ll gain a moving insight into Vietnam’s recent history. The exhibitions portray the harsh realities of war and the human consequences it has left behind.

The next stop is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s lesser-known places, which few travellers find on their own: the Saigon Commandos Museum. Here, you’ll gain a rare insight into everyday life during the war, told through the stories of the people who operated undercover in the heart of the city.

The museum is housed in a modest building dating from 1963 which, at first glance, looks like an ordinary home. Behind the façade, however, lies a former secret base used by the Saigon Commandos, who fought against the South Vietnamese government and American forces. The base was run by Tran Van Lai, a communist resistance fighter who led a double life as a contractor and furniture maker, carrying out work for the Independence Palace among others. In secret, he helped the Saigon Commandos conceal weapons and support their operations.

At the museum, a guide will show you around, sharing stories about the site’s history and what life was like as part of the Saigon Commandos. Through original artefacts, historical photographs, and hidden passageways, you’ll get a close-up look at a life shaped by meticulous planning, risky operations and the constant danger of discovery. To round off your visit, you can enjoy a drink in the museum café, where you’ll have the chance to sample the distinctive ‘butter beer’.

You’ll then be driven back to your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. Perhaps you fancy relaxing by the pool with a drink? Or how about a Vietnamese iced coffee at one of the city’s countless cafés? Ho Chi Minh City has a strong coffee culture, and you’ll find everything from trendy coffee shops with minimalist designs to small local establishments with plastic chairs and coffee brewed using the traditional drip method. 

Today, you'll have the opportunity to explore Ho Chi Minh City at your own pace.

The city has many faces, and you have the whole day to discover whichever aspects interest you most, whether that’s history, creative urban life, or local flavours.

If you want to experience the city’s modern pulse, you could visit Café Apartment, located directly on Nguyen Hue promenade, the city’s wide pedestrian street. Café Apartment is a former residential block that now houses small independent coffee shops, design boutiques, and creative studios. Each floor has its own charm, offering a local introduction to the young, creative side of Ho Chi Minh City.

You could also cross the river to District 2, a rapidly developing neighbourhood where modern architecture, green spaces, and creative cafés shape the cityscape. Here, you’ll find peaceful surroundings alongside a mix of international restaurants, speciality shops, and small galleries. The trendy Thao Dien area is particularly popular, with a relaxed atmosphere that attracts both locals and travellers.

Around dusk, you could take a stroll along Nguyen Hue promenade, surrounded by flowers, fountains, and atmospheric architecture. This is where you can experience the city’s distinctive urban life, as locals gather alongside street performers, dancers, and young families in a charming bustle. The atmosphere is relaxed yet lively, reaching its peak around the city’s illuminated city hall.

A perfect way to round off the day is to admire Ho Chi Minh City’s impressive skyline from the top of one of the city’s skyscrapers, such as Bitexco Financial Tower or Landmark 81. From here, you can watch a sea of city lights spread out before you as the sun sets and the city truly comes alive.

Today, your Asian adventure comes to an end – for now. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to Ho Chi Minh City International Airport, where you’ll fly to your selected airport with connecting flights along the way.

You’ll land at your selected airport with luggage full of memories after a wonderful tour through Cambodia and southern Vietnam.