Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City
| country: | Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam |
| location: | Indochina holidays |
| trip type: | A small group adventure. |
| departures: | Departs selected Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the year. |
| price: | From £485 (9 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $150. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Combine the history and diversity of Cambodia with the excitement of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
With magnificent ancient ruins to explore, a rich history to contemplate and two of Asia's most energetic cities to dive into, this is an exciting overland journey from Thailand into southern Vietnam.
With magnificent ancient ruins to explore, a rich history to contemplate and two of Asia's most energetic cities to dive into, this is an exciting overland journey from Thailand into southern Vietnam.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Bangkok. The capital of Thailand pulses with energy. Tap into it at the Chatuchak weekend market or by taking a longtail taxi through the khlongs. Otherwise drop by Ratchadamnoen Stadium to catch an adrenaline-filled bout of 'muay thai'. |
| Day 2-4: | Siem Reap. A drive into Cambodia leads us to Angkor, the former kingdom of the Khmers. Our guide reveals the symbolism behind the intricate bas-reliefs as we wander between the temples from sun-up to sun-down. We might also be able to visit the Gecko Conservation Centre or a local school for a demonstration of traditional dance. |
| Day 5-6: | Phnom Penh. Reflect on the chilling events of Cambodia's recent past at the Tuol Sleng Museum and Choeng Ek Killing Fields. Discover a brighter side to Khmer history and culture at the Royal Palace and National Museum, or hunt for a traditional krom scarf in the Russian market. |
| Day 7: | Chao Doc. Journey down the Mekong across the border to Vietnam and Chau Doc, a bustling frontier town. Check out the floating houses for a glimpse of the local fishing industry or sit down to a steaming hotpot. If there is time, embark on a pilgrimage to nearby Sam Mountain for sublime views of the region. |
| Day 8-9: | Ho Chi Minh City. Discover sights including the beautiful French-colonial opera house and Notre Dame Cathedral or head to a rooftop bar and observe the city's frenetic street life from on high. |
travellers' tales
Excellent! (more)
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Traversing three countries and many different communities, it is important for travellers to learn as much as possible in advance about the many cultural differences so that we can travel respecting these differences and minimising any negative impacts. Your group leader and the local guides we use along the way will help to break down barriers in your interactions with local people.
The ruins of Angkor are protected under UNESCO World Heritage listing and as such, part of the money received from entrance tickets contributes to the amazing site’s conservation. Your local guide will also give you plenty of guidance on what is appropriate when visiting the ruins and you will have the chance to interact with many of the local kids. This trip includes lunch at Friends – a restaurant and training school set up for less fortunate kids, helping them to gain some practical skills. Travellers will have the option of visiting the land mine museum in Siem Reap and any donations are gratefully accepted. Also in Siem Reap, there is a local children’s hospital where the local kids put on a show on some nights. All money and blood donations are for the hospital and provide free services for children from the area. At the end of our journey, travellers may donate any unwanted clothing, medicines and bandages, which are distributed to appropriate local charities. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |