Charming City-Center Hotels
Comfortable properties offering modern amenities, hospitable service, and swimming pools in prime locations.

This ten-day journey offers a seamless and spectacular crossing linking the historical energy of southern Vietnam to the sacred stone cities of Cambodia along the great natural corridor of the Mekong River. From Saigon and the wartime memories of Cu Chi to the lush coconut groves of Ben Tre, the floating commerce of Can Tho, and the multicultural crossroads of Chau Doc, the itinerary immerses you in the watery heart of the delta.
A memorable upstream voyage aboard a scheduled express boat brings you into Phnom Penh, the royal capital of Cambodia. Scenic overland countryside roads then lead toward the majestic gates of Angkor: three full days of immersion among the enigmatic smiling stone faces of the Bayon, the classical harmony of Angkor Wat, the untamed jungle atmosphere of Ta Prohm, and traditional stilt life on Tonle Sap Lake.
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you are warmly welcomed by your private French-speaking guide and driver, who transfer you to your charming hotel in the historical center of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Depending on your arrival time, an introductory walking tour allows you to take in the unique pulse of the city.
Stroll along famous Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), admiring French colonial facades including the Municipal Opera House and the elegant City Hall, before discovering the Central Post Office, an architectural masterpiece with an iron-vaulted roof engineered by Gustave Eiffel's workshops. In the evening, enjoy free time to sample southern Vietnamese culinary specialties.
Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
In the morning, travel northwest to the historical site of Cu Chi, an extraordinary subterranean network extending over two hundred kilometers of hand-dug galleries created during the Indochina and Vietnam wars. Your guided visit explores living quarters, kitchens, meeting halls, and field hospitals. Entering enlarged tunnels is optional and all areas can be viewed from the surface.
Returning to Saigon in the afternoon, visit the poignant War Remnants Museum and the historic Reunification Palace. Conclude your day amidst the vibrant scents and stalls of Ben Thanh Market, exploring displays of local coffee, spices, and silks.
Driving time: approximately 1.5 hours each way (60 km). Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Depart early heading south into the lush Mekong Delta. Arriving in Ben Tre, renowned as the kingdom of coconut palms, embark aboard a traditional wooden boat to cruise along expansive river waterways. Stop ashore for a pleasant bicycle or motorized cart ride through quiet village trails, visiting artisan workshops that craft coconut milk candies and handwoven reed mats.
Board small hand-rowed sampans for a peaceful glide through narrow arroyos shaded by water coconut fronds. Following a delicious lunch of delta specialties (including crispy fried elephant-ear fish), continue by private vehicle to Can Tho, the regional capital of the Mekong Delta.
Driving time: approximately 3 hours for 130 km. Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.
At daybreak, set sail to the spectacular Cai Rang Floating Market, the largest and most vibrant wholesale river market in the Mekong Delta. Hundreds of wooden boats loaded with watermelons, pineapples, mangoes, and root vegetables gather on the water, each boat displaying its goods from a tall bamboo pole.
After a fruit tasting in an orchard, continue west to the border city of Chau Doc, a fascinating cultural mosaic where Vietnamese, Khmer, Cham, and Chinese communities live side by side. Ascend Sam Mountain to visit the sacred Ba Chua Xu Temple and enjoy sunset over vast rice fields stretching towards the Cambodian frontier.
Driving time: approximately 3 hours for 120 km. Overnight at hotel in Chau Doc.
Early in the morning, transfer to Chau Doc pier and embark on a comfortable scheduled express boat for a remarkable international river journey ascending the mighty Mekong into Cambodia. Pass stilt fishing villages and river life while the crew handles border immigration formalities at the Vinh Xuong / Kaam Samnor river crossing.
Arrive in late morning at the river port of Phnom Penh, the royal capital of Cambodia. Warmly welcomed by your Cambodian French-speaking guide, transfer to your hotel. Enjoy an evening at leisure walking along Sisowath Quay where the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers meet.
Riverboat journey: approximately 5 hours. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.
Dedicate a full day to Cambodia's rich history. Begin at the magnificent Royal Palace, the official residence of the Khmer monarchs built in classical Khmer architectural style, and the glittering Silver Pagoda, paved with five thousand silver tiles and sheltering the sacred Emerald Buddha.
Continue to the National Museum of Cambodia, an elegant terracotta building housing the world's premier collection of Angkorian bronze and stone sculpture. In the afternoon, explore recent history with a dignified visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) (content adaptable to travelers' preferences), before concluding at sacred Wat Phnom, the hilltop sanctuary where the city was founded.
Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.
Leave Phnom Penh traveling northwest across the vast central Cambodian plains toward Siem Reap. This overland journey provides a genuine window into rural Khmer life, framed by wooden houses on stilts, sugar palms, and oxcarts.
En route, pause at Skun village, famous for tropical fruit stalls and exotic snacks, then admire the ancient laterite bridge of Spean Praptos, a monumental 12th-century engineering feat built under King Jayavarman VII. Arrive in Siem Reap in late afternoon and check in to your charming hotel.
Driving time: approximately 5.5 hours for 315 km. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
An unforgettable day exploring the supreme monuments of the Khmer Empire. Enter the monumental walled city of Angkor Thom through its South Gate, flanked by stone statues of gods and demons. At its center stands the astounding Bayon Temple, famous for 54 stone towers adorned with more than two hundred serene smiling faces. Explore the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
In the afternoon, dedicate your visit to magnificent Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. Walk through concentric galleries filled with intricate bas-reliefs illustrating Hindu creation epics, then gaze upon its iconic five towers reflecting in lotus ponds as the sun sets.
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Set out early to experience magical Ta Prohm Temple, deliberately preserved as 19th-century explorers discovered it. Gigantic roots of silk-cotton trees and strangler figs wrap tightly around stone towers, mossy galleries, and carved devata reliefs in an awe-inspiring union of jungle and architecture.
Continue to the sanctuary of Banteay Kdei, the ancient royal reservoir of Srah Srang, and the atmospheric monastery maze of Preah Khan. In late afternoon, visit the craft workshops of Artisans d'Angkor, supporting local communities through the revival of traditional wood and stone carving, lacquerware, and silk weaving.
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Dedicate the morning to magnificent Tonle Sap Lake, the ecological heart and freshwater lifeline of Cambodia. A traditional boat cruise brings you to the stilt village of Kompong Khleang, where homes perched atop tall wooden pillars rise above the water, followed by a canoe trip through flooded mangrove forests.
Return to Siem Reap for leisure time to purchase handcrafted souvenirs or relax at your hotel. At the scheduled hour, your private driver transfers you to Siem Reap International Airport for your departure flight.
Airport transfer included. End of services by Sensations Vietnam.
Travel Log
Selected moments to experience the landscapes, encounters, and rhythm of this itinerary.

Originaire de Nam Dinh, berceau de traditions au cœur du delta du fleuve Rouge, j’ai grandi avec un amour viscéral pour le Vietnam : pour la poésie de ses paysages — des pitons karstiques du Nord aux méandres fertiles du Mékong —, mais surtout pour l’infinie bonté, le sourire et la résilience de son peuple.
Du souffle majestueux des pitons calcaires du Tonkin à la douceur nonchalante des arroyos du Mékong, le Vietnam est une terre de contrastes poétiques. Mon bonheur est de vous ouvrir les portes de nos adresses confidentielles et de dessiner pour vous un itinéraire fluide, vivant et profondément humain.
Designing together
A simple and transparent process to design your dream journey together, step by step.
By clicking "Request a quote", you will access a detailed form. Provide us with all the necessary details to design a tailor-made itinerary.
Upon receiving your request, your local expert will carefully study your wishes and suggest an itinerary tailored to your preferences.
Even with an established program, you can make adjustments. Your travel designer will always be on hand to offer relevant advice.
Your advisor accompanies you from preparation until the end of your trip on site. They will remain fully available to assist you whenever needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about this tour here.
The express boat journey from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh is very well organized. The boat crew collects your passports and arrival forms before docking at the Vietnamese border post in Vinh Xuong and the Cambodian post in Kaam Samnor. You are accompanied ashore for passport control while your baggage remains secure on board.
Your project
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