Basic travel information
The most interesting sights of Vietnam and Cambodia in the same package.
On a combined trip to Cambodia and Vietnam in Southeast Asia, we will learn about the great achievements of ancient cultures, the living culture of the two countries, and the sometimes gloomy history of the Indochina region. On the way we will see the hustle and bustle of the big cities of Saigon and Phnom Penh, great historical attractions in Angkor and Sambor Prei Kuki, local rural life in the Mekong Delta and around Battambang, as well as of course colorful local markets and tasty food culture.
Itinerary
DAY 1 – FLIGHTS TO VIETNAM
Overnight flights to Saigon, Vietnam’s largest city.
DAY 2 – SAIGON
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. The city of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is Vietnam’s largest city and a bustling trade center in South Vietnam. Saigon once served as the administrative capital of Indochina in France and later as the capital of the American-backed government of South Vietnam. Saigon is characterized by colonial boulevards and buildings. The city has plenty of experiences for shoppers and connoisseurs. Joint welcome dinner and overnight stay in Saigon. (I)
ACCOMMODATION IN
NORTHERN HOTEL OR SIMILAR
DAY 3 – SAIGON
Full day exploration of the Saigon metropolis. We will take a city tour admiring the sights of Saigon and visit e.g. at the former Presidential Palace of South Vietnam, Ben Thanh Market and Thien Hau Pagoda. We will return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. (A, L)
ACTIVITIES
CITY TOUR
ACCOMMODATION IN
NORTHERN HOTEL OR SIMILAR
DAY 4 – BEN TRE
From Saigon, we make a day trip to the mighty Mekong River Delta, known as the Vietnamese granary. We get to know the life of the estuary in the quiet area of Ben Tren. We will return to Saigon at the end of the afternoon. (A, L)
ACCOMMODATION IN
NORTHERN HOTEL OR SIMILAR
DAY 5 – CU CHI – PHNOM PENH
After breakfast, transfer from Saigon to the southwest and explore the Cu Chin tunnel network during the Vietnam War. From there, after lunch, we continue to the Moc Bai border station, and move from Vietnam to Cambodia. After the border formalities, we will meet our Cambodian guide and continue on to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh along the Mekong River, where we will stay for the next two nights. (A, L)
ACCOMMODATION IN
FRANGIPANI ROYAL PALACE OR SIMILAR
DAY 6 – PHNOM PENH
We spend today exploring Phnom Penh’s most famous attractions, including the Royal Palace with its temples, the Cambodian National Museum built in the traditional style, and the Tuol Sleng Death Fields Museum, where we delve into the products of the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. (A, L)
ACTIVITIES
CITY TOUR
ACCOMMODATION IN
FRANGIPANI ROYAL PALACE OR SIMILAR
DAY 7 – PHNOM PENH – BATTAMBANG
After breakfast, we leave the hustle and bustle of the Cambodian capital behind us and head towards the country’s second largest city, Battambang, across the tranquil countryside. We stop along the way for lunch and explore the daily lives of local artisans. When we arrive in Battambang, we get to know the city’s attractions as well as the local food culture. (UNDER)
ACTIVITIES
CITY TOUR
ACCOMMODATION
IN CLASSY HOTEL OR SIMILAR
DAY 8 – BATTAMBANG – SIEM REAP
Even after breakfast, we will take a trip with local tuk-aids to the workshops of local artisans and the nearby village before being transported to the city of Siem Reap, next to the ruins of the ancient city of Angkor, where we will stay. (A, L)
ACCOMMODATION
IN SOMADEVI ANGKOR HOTEL OR SIMILAR
DAY 9 – ANGKOR
Today, it’s one of the absolute highlights of the trip, a full-day excursion to Southeast Asia’s most famous ancient monuments, a vast area of the Angkor Archaeological Site that spreads around Siem Reap. During the day we get to know e.g. From the Tomb Raider film to the familiar Ta Phrom temples conquered and broken by giant trees, as well as the ancient city of Angkor Thom and the Bayon Temple, while learning about the stories and history of Angkor and the ancient Khmer Empire. The afternoon will be crowned by a visit to perhaps the most famous temple in the ancient city, Angkor Wat. (A, L)
ACCOMMODATION
IN SOMADEVI ANGKOR HOTEL OR SIMILAR
DAY 10 – KAMPONG THOM – PHNOM PENH
We leave Siem Reap behind and travel southeast in the Kampong Thom area, in the middle of the jungle to the well-preserved temples of Sambor Prei Kuk, which represent the Khmer kingdom before the reign of Angkor. From Sambor Prei Kuk, we will continue our journey to Skuoni’s market, where e.g. a local delicacy of spiders, and further to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, where we arrive at the end of the afternoon. (A, L)
ACCOMMODATION IN
FRANGIPANI ROYAL PALACE OR SIMILAR
DAY 11 – PHNOM PENH –
Airport transfers and overnight flights back home. (A)
DAY 12 – ARRIVAL IN FINLAND
MEALS: [A] BREAKFAST • [L] LUNCH • [I] DINNER
Country information:
Finnish citizens do not need to apply for a visa to Vietnam in advance for trips of less than 15 days. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the beginning of the trip.
Finnish citizens can easily get a 30-day tourist visa to Cambodia upon arrival at the country’s airports or land borders. You will need a passport photo for your visa. Visa costs USD 30 at the airport or border (Note: rates may vary depending on local authorities.)
Check that your basic vaccinations are valid during the trip. Hepatitis A vaccination, possibly including malaria prevention, is recommended for all travelers to Vietnam and Cambodia based on a physician risk assessment.
The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese. Few Vietnamese speak English and learning a few Vietnamese phrases already helps in daily interaction. The official language of Cambodia is Khmer. English and French are also relatively widely spoken in the country.
The currency of Vietnam is Dong (VND). In addition to the official currency, prices are often set in dollars. Dongs should not be changed before entering the country. Today, there are ATMs in the larger cities of Vietnam that can usually be used to withdraw local currency with Finnish cards. The currency of Cambodia is the Riel (KHR). Cambodian relays cannot be exchanged in Finland. The U.S. dollar is traded in Cambodia as a parallel currency for relays. So you can make ends meet in US dollars without changing your local currency. Payment in Southeast Asia is still mainly based on the use of cash. Credit cards can be used as a means of payment mainly in international hotels and in shops and restaurants favored by tourists.
Vietnam’s climate is diverse. The climate in the south is warmer and wetter than in the north. The temperature in southern Vietnam is usually 25-30 ° C and in the north it varies between 10-25 ° C. It is often cooler in the mountains at night. The sun shines evenly throughout the country throughout the year, but the rainy seasons vary: in the north and south it rains from May to October, in the central part of the country from September to January. In Cambodia there is a broadly similar tropical monsoon climate to that of South Vietnam. However, there is clearly less moisture and rainfall in Siem Reap than in Saigon. Monsoon seasons determine the seasons for the dry and rainy seasons. During the rainy season in May-October, temperatures drop to close to 22 degrees, while during the dry season in November-April and especially at the end of it, the temperature may rise to 40 ° C.
Top culture is typical of Southeast Asia. However, it should be remembered that the provision of service money is always voluntary. If the service has been good in the restaurant, you can leave 5-15% of the total amount of the invoice to the waiters. Tips can also be left to local guides and drivers at will. It is recommended to book € 2 per day for local guides and € 1 per day for drivers in local currency.
