9 Days Cambodia Tour from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City

Tour Overview

Natural beauty and cultural wonders abound on this 9-day Cambodia trip through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. The itinerary is full of iconic French architecture and hidden cultural flavors. You will start from the vibrant capital Bangkok, experience a pampering massage service, enjoy an authentic Khmer dinner, and marvel at the world-wondering Angkor Wat complex. After learning about Phnom Penh’s tragic past, hop over to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam’s most prosperous city) to relax on a boat tour of the villages on the Mekong River.

Highlights of This Tour

• Tour around Bangkok’s famous landmarks and enjoy a comfortable Thai massage to relieve fatigue.
• Spend some time exploring Angkor Night Market to find Cambodian beer and snacks.
• Discover the secrets of the capital of the ancient Khmer Kingdom – Angkor Wat.
• Embark on some city adventures in Siem Reap: Zipline Tour & Cambodia Landmine Museum.
• Join a fun cocktail-making class to shake and stir with professional tools and enjoy complimentary snacks.

Itinerary

Day 1: Bangkok Arrival

Welcome to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand! It is a bustling international metropolis, with the alias of “City of Angels”.

After a short break at the hotel, explore the city at your own pace. The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha are highly recommended destinations. They won’t let you down. Enjoy a comfortable Thai massage to relieve the fatigue of travel. Don’t forget Tom Yam Seafood Soup, rich with prawns and the exquisitely balanced flavors of lime, fish sauce, and chili.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: Bangkok

Day 2: Bangkok – Banteay Chhmar
Banteay Chhmar Temple Complex

After filling your stomach with breakfast orders, we will take a minibus across the border to Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia. The journey lasts eight hours, including stops for rest and lunch. Banteay Chhmar is a vast urban temple complex, rich in treasures and shrouded in trees.

Take a village walk tour of magnificent ancient ruins and a Khmer homestay on wooden stilts. At the end of the day, enjoy a delicious Khmer dinner at the local community center, lit by torches. Tonight, you will experience the hospitality of a local family at a Khmer house.

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Accommodation: Banteay Chhmar

Day 3: Banteay Chhmar – Siem Reap
Angkor Night Market

Take a guided tour in the morning to visit the main temple in the center of town, built of grey sandstone and surrounded by a 63-meter-wide moat. The building, like other temples, shows signs of haste in its construction and appears to be unfinished. After that, take a 4-hour private car ride to Siem Reap.

Spend some time exploring Angkor Night Market on your own, where you can not only find a wide variety of goods such as Angkor wood carvings, Southeast Asian paintings, and Cambodian handmade shadow puppets, but also enjoy Cambodian beer, snacks, and relaxing massage services.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Siem Reap

Day 4: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm Temple

Today will be the culmination of a 9-day Cambodia trip – the discovery of the secrets of Angkor Wat. Once the capital of the ancient Khmer Kingdom, the mysterious Angkor Wat was rediscovered in the 1860s. The whole building is symmetrical, combining two basic elements of Khmer temple architecture – the altar and the cloister. Visitors can see huge stone carvings and exquisite reliefs everywhere.

Your guide will highlight two famous temples. Bayon Temple is a good place to watch the sunrise view. Ta Prohm Temple offers a spectacle of huge tree roots entwining the temple building.

In the evening, you will be hosted by a local family to enjoy a sumptuous dinner.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Siem Reap

Day 5: Siem Reap
A Ziplining Course, Cambodia Landmine Museum

Choose street food for breakfast based on your preferences. Today, you can enjoy whatever you want in Siem Reap. You can experience a ziplining course in Angkor, which will let you soar through the rainforest like an eagle. Your professional guide will also recommend some city adventures. If you’re interested, grab a tuk-tuk to Cambodia Landmine Museum, where you can see thousands of war remains such as landmines and grenades, and learn the story of a boy born in war who dedicated his life to keeping his country safe.

Note: Pay an extra USD 129 for Zipline Tour in Angkor; USD 5 for Cambodia Landmine Museum.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Siem Reap

Day 6: Phnom Penh
A Cocktail-making Class

After breakfast, depart for Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The bus will take you to this bustling metropolis for 6 hours. Phnom Penh sits on the Mekong and Tonle Sap deltas, where visitors can admire the spectacular French architecture lining the river.

We will arrange a fun cocktail-making class for you, where you can learn the art of making cocktails, shake and stir with professional tools and enjoy complimentary snacks.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Phnom Penh

Day 7: Phnom Penh
Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, National Museum, Royal Palace, Central Market

Enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of the city starting with the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. It was once a concentration camp during the Khmer Rouge regime. There is a stupa, housing skulls excavated from tombs in memory of innocent souls. A visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum will give you further insight into the brutal past of the Khmer Rouge.

The rest of the time is left for you to explore this city freely. The National Museum, Royal Palace, and Central Market are must-see attractions. Once you’re done, you can take an optional relaxing city cyclo tour for an extra USD 4.

Meals: N/A

Accommodation: Phnom Penh

Day 8: Phnom Penh – Ho Chi Minh City
Free Exploration

Take a bus (10 hours) from Phnom Penh to the most prosperous city in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh. Your guide will assist you with the border crossing procedures. Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, you are welcomed by buildings with a strong French style. After you’ve settled your luggage at the hotel, wander the city on your own in search of some classic Vietnamese food, including Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguettes), Pho (rice noodles), and mellow drip coffee.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: Bangkok

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City Departure

We are not planning any events for you today. You can choose to visit some free landmarks and set off straight away or try some one-of-a-kind experiences: a cruise on the Mekong River, a Cu-Chi tunnel crawl, and a visit to the War Museum.

That’s it for your 9-day Cambodia itinerary. The driver will transfer you to the airport for your return flight.

Optional:

If you would like to stay longer in Cambodia, we will be glad to arrange subsequent tours for you.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: N/A