- -Hanoi street food tour
- -Walking tour of Hanoi with Trip Leader
- -Overnight junk boat cruise in Halong Bay
- -Overnight train to Hoi An
- -Overnight train to Nha Trang
- -Visit Marble Mountains
- -Domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City
- -Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels
- -Boat trip through the Mekong Delta
- -Visit Cai Be Floating Market
- -Local cookery demonstration
- -Overnight stay in a local homestay in the Mekong Delta
- -Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- -Sunset cruise on the Mekong River
- -Visit the Angkor complex with a local guide
Your dream trip starts here
Delve Deep: Vietnam & Cambodia
Trip overview
TRIP VIBE = iconic sights and in-depth adventures with a local Trip Leader. 17 days. Two of the most slap-you-in-the-face-unbelievable countries you’ll ever experience. Who’s ready to go exploring? You know it, we know it – even the carved faces at the Bayon temple know it. Vietnam and Cambodia are famous the world over for their mind-blowing natural beauty, ancient architecture and unique cultures. And this trip? It's here to help you see the very best that both have to offer. We’re talking amazing cities. Fascinating history. Tropical scenery. Food that could actually change your life. Need we go on?
Tales from Topdeckers
Trip itinerary
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Hanoi
2Ready to delve deeper into this incredible city? We thought so. Slip on the Birks and explore with your Trip Leader – ticking off the likes of One Pillar Pagoda, Lenin Park, Northern Gate, Cua Bac Church, B52 Lake and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (you can visit later, if you like). Then, we’re heading to a local bún cha eatery for lunch. How many spring rolls is too many? Stupid question. What you do this afternoon is 100% up to you, but if you’re chasing that off-the-beaten-path experience – jump aboard a locally guided Vespa tour. History buffs should check out Hoa Lo Prison. Catch a water puppet show at Thang Long theatre. Or stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake before hunting down a local hole-in-the-wall for a bowl of pho.
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Activities
- Walking tour of Hanoi with Trip Leader
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
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Your Options
- Locally guided Vespa tour of Hanoi: from 2,100,000 VND
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Activities
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Hanoi – Halong Bay
3Halong Bay: World Heritage Site. The jewel in Vietnam’s crown. One of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’. Whichever way you look at it, Halong Bay is pretty damn special. So, today we’re gonna do it properly with an overnight junk boat cruise. Spend the day swimming in glittering turquoise water, exploring limestone islands, digging into freshly made meals, and dancing into the sunset with your travel buds. This? This is what makes the memories. *Heads up! If you selected twin-share accommodation for this trip, you might be bunking with an extra trip mate for the duration of the cruise. All part of the experience, right?
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Activities
- Overnight junk boat cruise in Halong Bay
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
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Activities
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Halong Bay – Hanoi – Hoi An
4Rise and shine, sailors! Kick off the day with a refreshing dip and hearty brunch. Then: we’re dropping anchor back in Hanoi, where there’s free time to get your explore on. Afterwards, we’re moving on to ancient Hoi An the traditional way – by overnight train! This is your chance to catch up on some zzzs and swap tales with your trip mates. It doesn’t get more authentic than this.
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Activities
- Overnight train to Hoi An
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Hoi An
5Hop off the train and wave chào to the locals – after a short drive from Da Nang prepare to be SERIOUSLY charmed by the ancient city of Hoi An. This stunner is a patchwork of all the civilisations to leave their imprint here. Expect: rustic Chinese shophouses, multicoloured French Colonial villas, and one helluva spectacular Japanese bridge. Want help discovering this gem of a place? We got you. There’s an optional basket boat ride followed by a delish local cooking class up for grabs – your mad new gastro skills are sure to impress the Tinder matches back home. Or soak up views of the forest and surrounding villages on a sunset paddle boat adventure along the river. Dreams = made.
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Your Options
- Basket boat ride & cooking class: from 1,000,000 VND
- Sunset paddle boat experience in Hoi An: from 974,000 VND
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Your Options
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Hoi An
6You wanted more free time to explore. So, here it is. Need some suggestions? Opt for a full day private tour of the Ba Na Hills. You’ll head up into the clouds in a cable car and tick off several epic sights, including the Insta-worthy Golden Bridge (Google it and get excited). Rather do your own thing? Explore the buzzing Central Market. Get a custom piece made by the city’s famous tailors. Or cycle to An Bang Beach for chilled boho vibes. Tonight, we’ll have free time to explore the lantern-filled magic of Hoi An Old Town. There’s also a delish evening street food tour to get stuck into. You’ll wanna come with an appetite (and probably an elastic waistband).
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Private tour of Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge: from 3,549,000 VND
- Evening street food tour of Hoi An: from 891,000 VND
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Meals
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Hoi An – Da Nang – Phan Rang
7Great news guys: you’ve got another free morning to soak up Hoi An. Take one last pic of the Japanese bridge and pick out your fave silk lantern souvenirs before we hop back on the bus. Our next stop? The Marble Mountains. These spellbinding limestone rock formations are like being dropped into a screensaver. Just: wow. Lunch is included today, so prepare for more lip-smacking Vietnamese goodness. Later: grab some snacks for tomorrow’s brekkie cos we’re choo-choosing the overnight train once more as we make tracks for Phan Rang. Shotgun top bunk!
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Activities
- Visit Marble Mountains
- Overnight train from Da Nang to Nha Trang
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
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Activities
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Phan Rang
8Jump off the train in Nha Trang like the local pro you now are. Then, it’s onwards to Phan Rang where the rest of the day is yours to explore. Hunt down some banh canh noodle soup and show off those expert chopstick skills (or not). Head to the local beach, sink your toes in the powdery white sand and relax. It’s pretty dreamy. Or glide across the water during an optional kite surfing lesson. And this evening? Gather your trip mates and find a local haunt for some DElish banh xeo – pancakes filled with your fave veggies or meat. Plus dipping sauces of dreams. Mmm...
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Your Options
- 2 hour beginner’s kite surfing lesson in Phan Rang: from 110 USD
- 1 hour intermediate kite surfing lesson in Phan Rang: from 55 USD
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Your Options
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Phan Rang – Ho Chi Minh City
9You wanted more time to explore, and we LOVE making you happy. So here it is! What will it be today? Opt for a half-day tour of the nearby sand dunes and a traditional Cham village. Channel your inner Lara Croft and discover the incred ruins of ancient Po Klong Garai Temple. Or just chill with the coconut trees along Phan Rang Beach – these guys are living their best lives. This afternoon, we’re taking to the skies. Our destination? Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) – a capital with nearly 9 million people, it’s a bubbling pot of energy, excitement and hidden gems. Aka your perfect match.
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Activities
- Flight from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Half-day tour of sand dunes and a Cham village: from 1,060,000 VND
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Activities
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Ho Chi Minh City, including Cu Chi Tunnels
10This morning, it’s time to pull out your history hat – we’re off to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Surrounded by jungle that was once a stronghold of the Viet Cong, take a guided tour of the area and learn all about how this underground network was used by guerilla fighters during the Vietnam War. Then: we’ll drop into an organic farm for a lesson in local produce and a traditional homemade lunch. Tasty times. Back in the city, the evening is up to you. Grab the whole group for dinner at a rooftop restaurant. Get lost in the streets and find yourself along the way. Or there’s an optional beer tasting on the cards at the Saigon Skyview observation deck – the highest point in HCMC.
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Activities
- Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
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Your Options
- Visit Saigon Skyview with beer tasting: from 2,365,000 VND
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Activities
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Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta
11This is not over Ho Chi Minh – we’re coming back for you later. Today’s all about the wet stuff as we set our sights on the 'rice bowl’ of Vietnam: the Mekong Delta region. This tropical maze of rivers and swamps looks like it's dropped straight outta The Jungle Book. For real. Wanna know how to make markets more fun? Put them on boats, obvs. We’ll check out the world-class pineapple tossing skills of the traders at the traditional floating market in Cai Be. Then: time to take to the waterways with a pit stop at a local bonsai gardener’s home for an included lunch. Hope you like leafy greens. And tonight? We’re hunkering down in a traditional homestay with a local family, where our host will give us a masterclass in Vietnamese cooking. Heads up: rooms are shared here, so settle in and swap notes on the adventure so far.
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Activities
- Boat trip through the Mekong Delta
- Visit Cai Be Floating Market
- Local cookery demonstration
- Overnight stay in a local homestay
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
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Activities
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Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City
12Wake to the sound of the village stirring to life, and catch sight of the locals preparing for a new day. After a group brekkie at our homestay, we’ll jump back on a boat towards the waterfront city of Vinh Long for an included lunch – stopping along the way to see how some of the locals make their living. Afterwards: it’s time to return to HCMC where there’s an optional motorbike tour on the cards. Soak up allll the city''s highlights, including Saigon Central Post Office (designed by the same guy as the Eiffel Tower), Dong Khoi Street, Gia Long Palace and the Old Central Market. And tonight? Seek out some shellfish, rice paper pizza, and the city’s specialty – com tam *wipes drool from chin*.
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
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Your Options
- Saigon motorbike tour: from 1,797,000 VND
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Meals
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Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
13No lies, it’s an early wake-up call this morning. But you’ll have plenty of time to catch up on some zzzs as we roll into Cambodia! Ancient wonders. Serene landscapes. And a fascinatingly diverse history – Cambodia delivers on all fronts. We’ll kick off in Phnom Penh, where the evening’s yours to sample some sizzling street food along Sihanouk Boulevard. OR go full-out with an optional cocktail tour of the city. Be rude not to, right?
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Evening cocktail tour: from 69 USD
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Meals
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Phnom Penh
14We’ll begin the day with a sobering visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – documenting the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge during their ‘revolution’. There’s a lot to take in, but learning about this devastating period of the country’s history is important to fully understand modern Cambodia. Later on, quiz your expert Trip Leader on the best bargains to sniff out at the iconic art deco Central Market. And this evening? We’ll take to the water for a sunset cruise on the mighty Mekong. This is what you came for.
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Activities
- Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Sunset cruise on the Mekong River
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
15We’ll swap Phnom Penh for Siem Reap this afternoon, with time to spare for some immense optional activities. Wanna do some good? There’s an optional half-day tour around some local social enterprises. Learn about a range of awesome projects that are helping make Cambodia a better place. Or discover the treats on the streets with a finger-lickingly good evening food tour. There’s even a night under the big top with the Cambodian Circus on offer. Can’t say we don’t spoil you! Later, immerse yourself in the neon-jungle of Angkor Night Market or experience the crazy that is Pub Street. Go steady – tomorrow is packed with memory-makers that you’re not gonna want to miss.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Social enterprise tour in Siem Reap: from 82 USD
- Siem Reap evening street food tour: from 39 USD
- Phare Circus show: from 39 USD
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Meals
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Siem Reap
16Ready for a real-life temple run? This is it. First up: we’ll explore the Angkor Thom complex with our local guide. Venture through statue-lined South Gate, the intricately decorated Bayon Temple and check out the Elephant Terrace. Then it’s onto Ta Prohm – a ruin filled with crumbling towers and overgrown tree roots. Think: Tomb Raider. Refuel and rehydrate – next we’re headed for Angkor Wat temple. The biggest temple complex in the world, ‘otherworldly’ doesn’t even come close to describing this place. Afterwards, soak up an epic sunset during an optional quad bike tour. Then, we’ll settle in for our final group dinner at a local eatery. WHAT an adventure it’s been.
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Activities
- Visit the Angkor complex with a local guide
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
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Your Options
- Sunset quad bike tour of Siem Reap: from 45 USD
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Activities
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Siem Reap
1717 days of incredible adventures with a pack of strangers who are now like family. Get down to breakfast and swap those socials – you’ll need them for next year’s reunion trip. Not ready for The End? There’s a final chance to flex your chef skills with an optional cooking class at a local farm. Or why not set off on an e-bike tour and immerse yourself in the beauty of the local countryside? Ngl, it’s pretttty dreamy. Then, it’s time to really say goodbye. Unless you’re gonna keep the adventure going on our Delve Deep: Northern Thailand trip? We love your style.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Local cooking class and farm tour (including lunch): from 45 USD
- E-bike ride through the Siam Reap countryside: from 45 USD
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Meals
Your Inclusions
Activities
Accommodation
-12 nights in hotel-style accommodation (twin or double), 1 night in a homestay (multi-share), 2 nights on an overnight train (multi-share), 1 night on an overnight cruise (twin or double)
Transport
Private vehicle, domestic flight, overnight boat cruise and overnight train
Your Options
FYI: these are optional activities available locally. Things might change – prices are here to give you a rough idea.
-Locally guided Vespa tour of Hanoi: from 2,100,000 VND
-Basket boat ride & cooking class: from 1,000,000 VND
-Sunset paddle boat experience in Hoi An: from 974,000 VND
-Private tour of Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge: from 3,549,000 VND
-Evening street food tour of Hoi An: from 891,000 VND
-2 hour beginner’s kite surfing lesson in Phan Rang: from 110 USD
-1 hour intermediate kite surfing lesson in Phan Rang: from 55 USD
-Half-day tour of sand dunes and a Cham village: from 1,060,000 VND
-Visit Saigon Skyview with beer tasting: from 2,365,000 VND
-Saigon motorbike tour: from 1,797,000 VND
-Evening cocktail tour of Phnom Penh: from 69 USD
-Social enterprise tour in Siem Reap: from 82 USD
-Siem Reap evening street food tour: from 39 USD
-Phare Circus show: from 39 USD
-Sunset quad bike tour of Siem Reap: from 45 USD
-Local cooking class and farm tour (including lunch): from 45 USD
-E-bike ride through the Siam Reap countryside: from 45 USD
Other information
Accommodation
This Delve Deep adventure’s all about experiencing the REAL Vietnam and Cambodia. Meaning? Some flexin’ when it comes to sleeping arrangements. We're talking two nights travelling the authentic way – aboard a sleeper train! The 4-person cabins are communal only, and bathrooms are basic but functional.
Rooms are also shared at our homestay in the Mekong Delta. And on our Halong Bay overnight cruise, there’s the possibility that you might be bunking with an extra trip mate if you selected twin-share accommodation.
Views & reviews
Latest reviews
Average rating based on 20 reviews-
Anonymous July 2024
Great itinerary, terrific guide.
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Christian Ma June 2024
2 overnight trains are excessive, but otherwise our tour guide was amazing and the group was amazing.
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Jason Mc April 2024
The only thing that stopped this from being a 5 was the fact that half the time our tour guide had no idea what was going on and was usually unorganised ,at times we’d organise events our self or just take charge ie, a girl ended up fainting due too heat exhaustion and food poisoning at a temple so naturally I carried her around ,I know these temples like the back of my hand so it was easy too...
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