Vietnam and Cambodia travel guide

Why Vietnam and Cambodia travel is put together? It's simply because these two countries are neighboring and convenient to travel between cities that travelers often combine in to a journey. Here below are some tips for a Vietnam and Cambodia tour itinerary.

Main places to visit in Vietnam and Cambodia travel

What might comes up first when planning a trip is where to see in Vietnam and Cambodia? For me, it's where to travel in Vietnam and Cambodia. Because when you have input all destination of your interests, you can decide how many days to visit in each countries as well as go further to check each specific services in each places.

Here below are cities that I suggest you to visit. The places are put in a priority from my most interested ones. I will write each of them in another single title. Just click on the attractions for a detailed introduction about these travel places in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The best 10 places to visit in Vietnam

Hanoi City Hanoi is the first place to suggest for your Vietnam travel route as you can learn a lot about Vietnam culture, history, landscape and nature when include Hanoi and its neighboring places in your travel bucket list. Hanoi is among the city with longest history in Vietnam which begins in 1010. Therefore, it's an awesome place to learn about the culture and history. Hanoi also offers the best food in Vietnam in my personal taste. This city also is the second most developed city of Vietnam that you can enjoy the vibrant nightlife with beer corners, pubs and bars.

Halong Bay

This fantasy bay features a pristine nature of karst islands emerging from the sea water. Halong Bay Cruise is so relaxing and chilling for a relaxation in nature as well as exploring cave and joying of kayaking and swimming.

Hoi An Hoi An ancient town is a charming and cozy place offering a pleasant visit. Travelers can stroll around the old quarter up to hundred years old houses. The houses were residing home for traders from other countries coming to trading ports in Hoi An to do business in Vietnam. Besides, you can visit some of handicraft villages in Vietnam and enjoy beach resort in Hoi An.

Ho Chi Minh City

The most vibrant city in Vietnam is nominated to Ho Chi Minh City. This young city is in the southern part of Vietnam which is around 2 hour fly from Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh City is an impressive place to learn about local lifestyle, culture and Vietnam history. There are historical building kept intact in Ho Chi Minh City after the country unification such as Reunification Palace, Cu Chi Tunnels and Vietnam beach holiday in Phu Quoc, Con Dao with less than one hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City.

Hue This unique travel place in Vietnam is where offer a time travel to the feudal time in Vietnam under Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. The architecture as well as history at the time can be revealed when explore the Imperial Citadel, Kings' tombs and ancient houses.

Sapa

The next one to see after famous places of Vietnam is a mountainous region. Vietnam is a multiethnic country with 54 ethnicity groups scattering over the country. People who you will see in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and big cities are mainly Kinh group. The other hill tribes are normally reside on high mountain. Travel to Sapa, you will meet up with these tribes who appear in their colorful traditional costumes. Additionally, the weather and landscape of terraced rice field on Sapa is jaw-dropping.

Mekong Delta Mekong Delta is the region of southern provinces next to Mekong River. Local people from these provinces such as Can Tho, Cai Be, Ben Tre, Chau Doc are mainly attached with water. The weather also provide a privilege of fruitful orchard gardens and rice planting. This make Mekong Delta the rice basket of Vietnam and a huge fruit providers of Vietnam. Cruising on Mekong delta, learn about local lifestyle and enjoy their tasty food is an exciting Vietnam travel experience.

Quang Binh Quang Binh is an incredible travel destination for Vietnam active travel. The Son Doong Cave which is the largest one in the world is located in Quang Binh Province of Vietnam. Besides, there are so many caves in Quang Binh for climbing, hiking and trekking. The fact that Quang Binh tourism is less popular than other parts of Vietnam because it requires a physical health to explore stunning places in Quang Binh. Additionally, these adventures also ask for a well preparation and supporters during the tour that make the price a bit high to embark on the trekking tours to jungle in Quang Binh.

Mai Chau — Pu Luong Travel route Mai Chau — Pu Luong from Hanoi is an impressive journey to explore another mountainous part of northern Vietnam. If Dao and Hmong ethnic groups mainly live in Sapa, Thai and Muong enthic people will live in the area of Mai Chau and Pu Luong. The mountains are less high than Sapa but still incredible for hiking and photo taking.

Ha Giang Ha Giang is an incredible high mountain area to travel in northern Vietnam that make is among highlighted places to visit in Vietnam. The scenes on traveling route are captivating. Ha Giang Karst Plateau Geopark is famous and jaw-dropping. What make this destination is behind other travel destinations of Vietnam as it take long driving hour to travel from Hanoi to Ha Giang. Travelers need to arrange more traveling days for a trip to Ha Giang from Hanoi. It takes at least 4 days for driving and explore the main spots. Meanwhile, foreign travelers can arrange a Vietnam travel itinerary 5 days to see the highlights of Northern Vietnam.

The best 8 places to visit in Cambodia

Siem Reap The most highlighted place to visit in Cambodia is Siem Reap where is famous with giant Angkor Temples. The Temples were constructed from 7th — 12th century by Angkor Emperors. Depending on your interests in the architecture, religion and temples, you can visit the Angkor Temples in 1 day, 3 days or 7 days which go with different entry costs. Beside, the countryside and floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake is also appealing to visit.

Phnom Penh Phnom Penh is the capital city in Cambodia. It's the next capital of Cambodia after Siem Reap is no longer safe from invaders from Siam. You then, will learn more about Cambodia stories and art from 14th century to modern time. You can visit the Royal Palace where showcase a combining architecture of Khmer and colonial. The National Museum also introduce Khmer finest art. You also can visit some prison and killing fields to get to know more about Cambodia history.

Koh Rong Islands Cambodia beach tour call for islands in Koh Rong. You can travel to Sihanouk Ville then take speed boat to islands with tranquil beaches such as Koh Rong Island, Koh Rong Saloem Island.

Battambang Battambang is around 3 hour driving from Siem Reap. This province is the biggest rice producer in Cambodia; also the place where remained with colonial relics on architecture and culture. Bamboo train is an exciting experience of Cambodia travel where you can observe more of local lifestyle and landscape.

Preah Vihear Preah Vihear is a region at the frontier between Cambodia and Thailand. This place was once claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia which finally belong to Cambodia territory. Preah Vihear Temple on the 500m high mountain is the most famous place to see in Preah Vihear. Its is a religious pilgrimage destination in Cambodia.

Kep — Kampot Kep and Kampot travel is another route in south-east part of Cambodia. These provinces were holiday destinations for the elite in Cambodia and French colonials. Travel to Kep and Kampot, you will enjoy a pristine landscape and have chance to taste scrumptious seafood and durians.

Mekong River overnight cruise Mekong River cruise is a luxury travel experience in Cambodia. The crews sails along Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia part. You can sail from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap to go upstream or vice verse with downstream. Travelers have private cabins with all meals as well as sightseeing are included. Despite it's cost an amount, this cruising experience on quiet and calm river is worth a life time experience.

Kratie Have you thought of the idea about border crossing between Cambodia and Laos? If you plan so, you will meet Kratie. This is a less touristy travel destination in Cambodia. When travel to Kratie, you shall have chance to observe the authentic local lifestyle, enjoy river landscape, waterfalls and watch the Irrawaddy fresh water dolphin.

Vietnam visa and Cambodia visa

To enter each country, you need to sort out your visa. Depending on your nationality on passport that you might need to arrange a visa days prior to your trip or simply can get your visa upon arrival.

Vietnam visa for foreigners

These 80 nationalities can achieve e-visa which take only a couple of days to process online with a fee of USD 25/person. Also, check out this list of ports that allow foreign passport holders enter and exit Vietnam.

Blow foreign nationalities get Vietnam visa exemption and details of allowing days to stay:

• 90 days Visa Exemption for citizens from Chile.

• 30 days Visa Exemption for citizens from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Kyrgyzstan.

• 21 days Visa Exemption for citizens from Philippines.

• 15 days Visa Exemption for citizens from Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

• 14 days Visa Exemption for citizens from Myanmar, and Brunei.

If you are belong to these nationalities, you will need to arrange visa in advance which normally with the assist of reputable travel companies: Afghanistan, Algieria, Angola, Saudia Arabia, Bahrain, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bostwana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameron, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait , Lesotho, Liban, Liberia, Lybia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malpies, Mauritius, Marocco, Mozambique, Nambia, Nepal, Niger, Nigieria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestin, Qatar, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somali, South Africa, Srilanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

If you travel from Vietnam to Cambodia or via verse, you can achieve visa at frontier borders as well. Have a look again at the list of allowing entry ports mentioned above to assure you have no difficult to get through.

Cambodia visa policy

Cambodia visa exemption is applied for below 10 countries. Most of these nationalities can stay up to 30 days, otherwise will be noted.

Brunei (14 days), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (14 days), Philippines, Seychelles (14 days), Singapore, Thailand (14 days), Vietnam.

Cambodia e-Visa

Almost all of nationalities can achieve Cambodia e-Visa with single entry for stay up to 30 days except for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Syria. The cost to arrange Cambodia e-visa is USD 36/person.

If you are one of these nationalities, you shall need to short out visa in advance are Cambodia visa is required for your travel: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

The best ways to travel around Vietnam and Cambodia

How to get around is another important matter in regards of Vietnam and Cambodia travel experience. The transportations, in fact decide significantly on your travel budget to spend in Vietnam and Cambodia as well as timing. If you have a limited days to travel around and want to see as many places as possible, you can take flights to save the time. On the other hand, local transfers and buses take more hours to travel but offer local cost.

How to travel around Vietnam

Vietnam travel is basically come with 3 main regions the north, center and south. There are many flights operated by both national airlines Vietnam Airlines and low-cost carriers such as Bamboo Airways, Jetstar pacific, Vietjet Air. After one to two hours you can move from one to another city for your Vietnam travel trip.

Besides, there are local trains with options for sleeping cabin, soft seaters, hard seats to travel throughout Vietnam. The most popular train ride that foreign tourists experience when travel in Vietnam include:

• Night train Hanoi -Sapa in 8 — 8.5 hours

• Night train Hanoi — Hue in 14 hours

• Train Da Nang to Hue passing Hai Van Pass in 2 — 2.5 hours

• Night train Hanoi — Ho Chi Minh in 34 — 37 hours

One night on train is normally an optimal option for a budget travel in Vietnam. Travelers can save one night at hotel as well as travel time. On the other hand, the sleeping bed on train is less comfy as hotels'.

For other parts with less than 200km (130 miles), car is optimal as it's comfortable with air-conditioner and convenient. Those intrepid travelers who are not in a tight travel schedule, can look for local bus which is a bit messy, crowded and lack of understanding as locals don't speak English.

How to travel around Cambodia

The most common cities to travel between in Cambodia are Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. These 3 cities are available with international airports that convenient to fly over by air.

There are overnight bus with good services for travelers to travel between the main cities in Cambodia. The bus tickets are at moderate prices. These buses are available with online reservations as well. The most popular might be Giant Ibis who arrange bus for Phnom Penh — Siem Reap, Phnom Penh — Kampot, Phnom Penh — Sihanouk Ville and Siem Reap — Bangkok.

Local train is also available in Cambodia. Royal Railway is the national train operators. Train tickets are at pretty low rate for Cambodia budget travel. Train commuting in Cambodia is available for southern part with below routes:

• Train Phnom Penh — Ta Keo in 2 hours

• Train Phnom Penh — Kampot in 3 — 4 hours

• Train Phnom Penh — Sihanouk Ville in 5 — 6 hours

Beside taking private cars to travel in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and neighboring attractions, you might try tuk tuk around Angkor Temples which is an exciting thing to do in Siem Reap.

Local food and drink in Vietnam and Cambodia

Vietnamese food is always impressively tasty

Been to a couple of countries and I found that Vietnamese food is my most favorite choice so far. The food are absolutely delicious with and really cheap. To buy a stir fried squid at China Town in Singapore, it costs SGD 30; meanwhile I can buy a big hotpot with meat, some seafood and many fresh vegetable in Hanoi.

Below are the famous dishes to try when you travel in Vietnam.

• Vietnamese noodle

• Deep fried spring roll

• Fresh spring rolls

• Fresh noodle rolls

• Banh Mi

• Xoi (Vietnamese sticky rice)

• Bun Cha (BBQ pork with rice noodle)

• Grilled fish

• Vietnamese sweet dessert

Cambodia cuisine is all about Khmer cuisine

Khmer cuisine is so popular in Cambodia which go with curry. Put in your list to try these Cambodia famous food:

• Fish

• Khmer noodle

• Sweet and sour fish soup

• Insects at local market

I hope above information is helpful to you when plan your trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Let me know in comments if you have any wonderings.