Best of Vietnam & Cambodia – 18 Days Premium Private Tour Led By Women
18-Day Vietnam & Cambodia Premium Private Journey
Experience the highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia on an immersive 18-Day Premium Private Tour Led By Women, combining Hanoi’s historic streets, Ninh Binh’s limestone landscapes, Halong Bay, Hoi An’s ancient architecture, Ho Chi Minh City’s vibrant culture, the Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh and the extraordinary temples of Angkor. This private journey is designed with a comfortable pace, allowing time for cultural discovery, regional cuisine, local communities and carefully selected premium experiences rather than rushing between attractions. Private Tour Led By Women means the itinerary is privately operated and accompanied by women tour leaders and local guides; it is not a women-only tour.
Day 1 – Hanoi | Arrival & Old Quarter
Arrive in Hanoi and meet your private female tour leader at Noi Bai International Airport. Transfer by private vehicle to your premium hotel in the Old Quarter and enjoy time to settle in. In the afternoon, take a gentle introduction to Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and the historic streets surrounding the lake. Discover Hanoi’s distinctive combination of traditional shophouses, French colonial architecture and modern cafés. Finish your first evening with a private welcome dinner featuring Northern Vietnamese specialties.
Day 2 – Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh Complex & Cultural Heritage
Begin at Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area and Stilt House. Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda before visiting the Temple of Literature, one of Hanoi’s most important historical and educational landmarks. After lunch, explore the Old Quarter through its narrow streets and traditional craft areas. Stop for a cup of Vietnamese egg coffee and observe local life around Hoan Kiem Lake. Enjoy dinner at a carefully selected Vietnamese restaurant before returning to your hotel.
Day 3 – Hanoi → Ninh Binh | Hoa Lu & Trang An
Leave Hanoi and travel south toward Ninh Binh, one of northern Vietnam’s most spectacular natural regions. Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and learn about the Dinh and Le dynasties that shaped early Vietnamese history. Continue to Trang An and board a private sampan through waterways surrounded by enormous limestone cliffs. Pass beneath natural caves and through peaceful valleys filled with rice fields and vegetation. Check into your premium countryside resort and enjoy a quiet evening surrounded by Ninh Binh’s karst scenery.
Day 4 – Ninh Binh → Halong Bay | Premium Overnight Cruise
After breakfast, continue toward Halong Bay and board your premium overnight cruise. Enjoy lunch while sailing among thousands of limestone formations rising dramatically from the emerald sea. Spend the afternoon choosing between kayaking, visiting a cave, swimming or relaxing on the sundeck. As evening approaches, watch the changing colors of the islands while enjoying a sunset drink. Dinner is served onboard before an overnight stay surrounded by the tranquil waters of Halong Bay.
Day 5 – Halong Bay → Hanoi → Hoi An
Wake early to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Halong Bay before continuing the cruise through the limestone islands. After breakfast, disembark and transfer toward Hanoi Airport for your flight to Da Nang. Meet your private driver on arrival and continue to Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s best-preserved historic trading ports. Check into your premium hotel and relax before exploring the Ancient Town after sunset. Walk beside the Thu Bon River and enjoy a dinner featuring Central Vietnamese specialties.
Day 6 – Hoi An | Ancient Town & Tra Que Village
Explore Hoi An’s historic center with your private female guide, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, traditional merchant houses and Chinese assembly halls. Continue to Tra Que Vegetable Village, where local farmers cultivate herbs and vegetables using traditional methods. Meet farming families and learn how agriculture remains closely connected to Hoi An’s culinary culture. Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch using fresh local ingredients before returning to the Ancient Town. Spend the afternoon shopping, visiting tailor shops or relaxing at your hotel before dinner.
Day 7 – Hoi An | Countryside, Crafts & Local Life
Spend a slower day discovering the countryside around Hoi An and experiencing a different side of Central Vietnam. Travel through rice fields and rural villages before visiting local artisans who preserve traditional crafts and handmade products. Continue to the Thu Bon River and observe fishing and agricultural communities that have supported Hoi An for generations. Enjoy a relaxed local lunch before returning to the city. The evening is free for another walk through Hoi An’s lantern-lit streets or a private culinary experience.
Day 8 – Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City | Southern Vietnam
Transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Meet your private female guide and begin exploring the city’s historic center, including the Central Post Office and the former French colonial quarter. Continue along Nguyen Hue Walking Street and through surrounding neighborhoods where traditional markets stand alongside modern cafés and restaurants. Enjoy lunch featuring Southern Vietnamese dishes before checking into your premium hotel. In the evening, experience Saigon’s vibrant food culture through a private dinner or carefully selected local food experience.
Day 9 – Ho Chi Minh City | Cu Chi Tunnels & Saigon Heritage
Travel outside the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels and explore selected sections of this remarkable underground network. Learn about its construction, engineering and historical role while walking through the surrounding forest landscape. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch before continuing with the city’s cultural highlights. Visit the War Remnants Museum or another museum according to your group’s interests. Spend the evening around District 1 and enjoy a refined Vietnamese dinner before returning to your hotel.
Day 10 – Ho Chi Minh City → Ben Tre → Can Tho | Mekong Delta
Leave Ho Chi Minh City and travel deep into the Mekong Delta. Arrive in Ben Tre and board a private boat through narrow waterways lined with coconut palms and tropical vegetation. Visit local family businesses producing coconut products, traditional foods and handmade goods. Continue through orchards and rural villages before traveling toward Can Tho. Check into your riverside hotel and enjoy a relaxed dinner overlooking the Mekong waterways.
Day 11 – Can Tho → Phnom Penh | Cai Rang Floating Market & Cambodia
Wake early and board a private boat to Cai Rang Floating Market, where vendors trade tropical fruit, vegetables and local products directly from their boats. Return for breakfast before beginning your journey toward the Cambodian border and Phnom Penh. Meet your Cambodian female guide on arrival and transfer to your premium hotel. Spend the late afternoon walking along the Tonle Sap and Mekong riverside area. Enjoy your first Cambodian dinner featuring traditional Khmer flavors and regional specialties.
Day 12 – Phnom Penh | Royal Heritage & Khmer Culture
Begin your Phnom Penh exploration at the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, discovering Cambodia’s royal traditions and Buddhist heritage. Continue to the National Museum, home to an impressive collection of Khmer sculptures and historical artifacts. After lunch, explore the city’s older neighborhoods and contemporary streets to understand the contrast between traditional Phnom Penh and its rapidly developing modern side. Visit a local women-led artisan or community business where possible. End the day with a private Khmer dinner and a relaxed evening.
Day 13 – Phnom Penh → Siem Reap | Gateway to Angkor
Travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by private flight or comfortable private transfer. Upon arrival, check into your premium resort and take time to relax after the journey. In the afternoon, begin discovering Siem Reap’s historic and contemporary character around the Old Market and riverside area. Browse Cambodian handicrafts, textiles and locally produced goods while learning about the region from your female guide. Enjoy a traditional Khmer dinner before an optional cultural performance.
Day 14 – Siem Reap | Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon & Ta Prohm
Begin early with a sunrise visit to Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s most celebrated temple complex. Continue to Angkor Thom and explore Bayon, famous for its monumental carved faces and intricate bas-reliefs. Visit the Terrace of the Elephants before continuing to Ta Prohm, where enormous tree roots grow through the ancient temple structures. Take time to appreciate the architecture and history rather than rushing between sites. Return to your resort in the afternoon and enjoy a relaxed evening in Siem Reap.
Day 15 – Siem Reap | Banteay Srei & Khmer Countryside
Travel beyond the main Angkor circuit to Banteay Srei, celebrated for its detailed pink sandstone carvings. Continue through the Cambodian countryside, passing rice fields, traditional homes and small villages. Meet local women artisans involved in silk weaving, handicrafts or other traditional activities and learn how these skills support families and preserve Cambodian heritage. Enjoy lunch using authentic Khmer recipes before returning to Siem Reap. Spend the evening exploring the local markets or relaxing at your premium resort.
Day 16 – Siem Reap | Tonle Sap & Floating Communities
Travel to Tonle Sap Lake and board a private boat to explore the floating communities along the lake. Observe homes, schools, fishing boats and family businesses adapted to the changing water levels of Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. Learn about fishing traditions and the daily lives of communities whose livelihoods depend on the lake. Return to Siem Reap in the afternoon with time for shopping or a traditional Cambodian spa treatment. Enjoy a special dinner featuring Khmer cuisine before your final full day.
Day 17 – Siem Reap | Temples, Culture & Farewell
Spend your final full day in Siem Reap at a comfortable private pace. Visit additional Angkor temples or return to a favorite site for a quieter experience away from the busiest hours. Continue with a cultural activity such as traditional Cambodian cooking, handicrafts or a meeting with a local artisan. Enjoy your final afternoon exploring Siem Reap’s markets and independent shops. In the evening, celebrate the journey with a farewell Khmer dinner and traditional Apsara performance.
Day 18 – Siem Reap | Departure
Enjoy your final breakfast at the hotel and take a relaxed morning before departure. Depending on your flight schedule, spend some time shopping for Cambodian handicrafts, enjoying a final coffee or taking a peaceful walk through Siem Reap. Your private tour leader coordinates the final arrangements and airport transfer. Depart Cambodia with memories of Vietnam’s cities, countryside, coastline and Mekong waterways alongside Cambodia’s extraordinary Khmer heritage. Your 18-Day Best of Vietnam & Cambodia Premium Private Tour Led By Women concludes at the airport.
