Journey Through Cambodia & Vietnam: Culture & Scenery
About the Trip
November 3–20, 2026 | 18 Days
Discover the beauty and spirit of Southeast Asia on this 18-day journey through Cambodia and Vietnam. Explore Phnom Penh’s stunning scenery, wander the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor and enjoy an unforgettable experience at an elephant sanctuary. In Vietnam, experience the vibrant streets of Hanoi, cruise the waters of Halong Bay and step into the charm of Hoi An’s Ancient Town. Along the way, immerse yourself in local culture through market visits, cooking classes and a shared meals with a three-generational family. From the winding canals of the Mekong Delta to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels, this tour offers a perfect balance of history, tradition and authentic encounters.
Member Exclusive Benefits
We reward all our CAA Members on our Extraordinary Explorations® tours/cruises.
- Plaza Premium Lounge pass†
- 50 CAA Dollars®^
- 25% savings on CAA Travel Insurance◊
Extraordinary Experience
CAA has curated an exceptional experience unique to your tour. Details of this experience are listed below:
Cambodian Elephant Sanctuary: An Immersive Visit
Your Extraordinary Experience takes you to a Cambodian Elephant Sanctuary for an unforgettable, immersive visit. Upon arrival, enjoy a hot welcome drink and learn about the sanctuary’s mission. Take part in a hands-on session preparing nutritious snacks that support the elephants’ digestion and overall health, then feed them the treats you’ve made. Next, join a guided two-kilometre walk through the sanctuary to observe the elephants in their natural habitat. Watch as these intelligent animals roam freely and playfully splash during bathtime in the pond. Your visit ends with a traditional Khmer-style picnic lunch.
Package Includes:
- Airfare from Toronto or Winnipeg to Phnom Penh and return from Ho Chi Minh City to Toronto or Winnipeg
- All domestic flights within Cambodia and Vietnam
- 2-night stay in first-class accommodation in Phnom Penh
- 4-night stay in first-class accommodation in Siem Reap
- 3-night stay in first-class accommodation in Hanoi
- 3-night stay in first-class accommodation in Hoi An
- 3-night stay in first-class accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City
- 1-night Halong Bay cruise in first-class cabin
- 16 Breakfast, 11 lunches, 7 dinners and 1 tasting
- Land transportation via first-class motor coach
- All bridge, ferry and road tolls
- Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour director in Cambodia and Vietnam
- Local English-speaking guides
- Prepaid gratuities
- Destination transfers
- CAA Host
Journey Through Cambodia & Vietnam: Culture & Scenery
Activity Level: Active. Experience Cambodia and Vietnam on an 18-day journey of temples, markets, boat rides, elephant encounters and vibrant culture.
Day 1
Depart Canada – Fly to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Day 2
Phnom Penh – Arrive, transfer to hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)
Day 3
Phnom Penh – Tour the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Champey Academy of Arts and National Museum. (B/L)
Day 4
Siem Reap – Drive to Siem Reap with stops at Sambor Prei Kuk Temple and Kampong Kdei Bridge. (B/L)
Day 5
Siem Reap – Explore Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm temples. Visit the Kampong Phluk Floating Village. (B/D)
Day 6
Siem Reap – See Angkor Thom sites including Bayon and Terrace of the Elephants. Visit temples and markets. (B)
Day 7
Siem Reap – Visit an Elephant Sanctuary. Prepare and feed snacks to the elephants, then see Banteay Kdei Temple. Enjoy dinner with a cultural show. (B/L/D)
Day 8
Hanoi – Fly to Hanoi. Afternoon at leisure. (B/L)
Day 9
Hanoi – Tour major landmarks, museum or citadel visit, and an evening water puppet show. (B/L)
Day 10
Hanoi – Visit Duong Lam Village and Mia Pagoda. (B/L)
Day 11
Halong Bay – Begin two-day cruise with activities like kayaking, cooking class and Tai Chi. (B/L/D)
Day 12
Hoi An – Disembark the cruise ship, fly to Danang, and transfer to Hoi An. Explore this UNESCO Ancient Town. (B/D)
Day 13
Hoi An – Walking tour includes a local market, Fukien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky House and Japanese Bridge. (B/L)
Day 14
Hoi An – Enjoy a market visit, boat trip and hands-on cooking class. (B/L)
Day 15
Ho Chi Minh City – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, formally known as Saigon. Visit Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral. (B/D)
Day 16
Ho Chi Minh City – Boat through Mekong Delta, visit a traditional village and share lunch with a local family. (B/T/L)
Day 17
Ho Chi Minh City – Speedboat trip to Cu Chi Tunnels. Farewell dinner cruise on Saigon River. (B/L/D)
Day 18
Transfer to airport for return flight to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | T - Tasting | D - Dinner
Terms & Conditions
*All CAA Member prices are per person, based on single occupancy, in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated and are subject to change without prior notice until final payment is paid. All prices are correct at press time and apply to new bookings only, based on availability at time of booking. To receive CAA Member-exclusive benefits, there must be one valid CAA Member travelling per booking. Non-members booking Extraordinary Explorations will not receive Member-exclusive benefits.
†Plaza Premium Lounge is based on one voucher per person and applies to departures from Canadian airports where applicable. Subject to availability.
^CAA Dollars awarded per adult Member. To earn and redeem CAA Dollars, you must be a current CAA Member in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). CAA Dollars will be credited at time of departure. For more information on CAA Dollars, please visit www.caasco.com/caadollars.
◊ CAA Travel Insurance, an Orion Travel Insurance product, is underwritten by Echelon Insurance. Twenty-five percent (25%) Member savings is made up of a ten percent (10%) Member savings as well as a promotional fifteen percent (15%) savings when you purchase an Extraordinary Explorations tour through CAA Travel, applies to CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba Members in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). This promotional offer is valid until December 31, 2026. Ten percent (10%) Member savings applies to Members in good standing of all other CAA clubs. Savings apply to the total premium excluding applicable taxes. Minimum premium applies. Visitors to Canada Insurance is limited to the promotional savings. Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. A Medical Questionnaire may be required to purchase travel insurance.
Extraordinary Explorations vacations are organized and booked by CAA Travel (South Central Ontario) Inc. and CAA Manitoba (“CAA Travel”) on behalf of CAA Club Group (o/a CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba). In the event of an increase in any of the cost factors, CAA Travel reserves the right to increase the price whereby the provisions of the Travel Industry Act shall prevail. Deposit is non-refundable at the time of booking. Final payment is due 120 days before departure. CAA Extraordinary Explorations packages are 100% non-refundable at final payment. CAA Travel service fee for cancellation prior to final payment varies by program. For full payment terms and conditions, please ask your CAA Travel Consultant. CAA Travel reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements (minimum number of participants) or circumstances beyond its control. Additional fees for checked luggage or other incidentals may be incurred and vary according to itinerary and airline. Air schedules with some tours are not available at press time and may include several connections or forced overnight at passenger’s expense. CAA Travel strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation and emergency travel and emergency medical insurance at the time of booking.
Please note: Participants must be able to embark and disembark cruise ships and coaches without assistance as well as have a good level of mobility for walking tours in destinations where stairs and traditional cobblestone streets can be challenging. International transportation vehicles and facilities may not meet accessibility standards.
Flight
IncludedTour Itinerary
Day 1
Depart on your flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Day 2
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Arrive in Phnom Penh and meet your local tour director before transferring to your hotel for early check-in. Enjoy leisure time before gathering with your group for a welcome dinner. (D)
Day 3
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Begin your city tour with visits to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Champey Academy of Arts (a non-profit school offering free training in Cambodian traditional arts), and the National Museum. (B/L)
Day 4
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Travel to to Siem Reap, with stops at Sambor Prei Kuk Temple to see stone carvings, and the ancient Kampong Kdei Bridge. (B/L)
Day 5
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Enjoy breakfast before exploring Angkor Wat Temple and Ta Prohm Temple, famously featured in Tomb Raider. Return to Siem Reap for leisure time and lunch at your own pace. In the afternoon, take a boat trip to visit the Kampong Phluk Floating Village. Enjoy an early dinner at Chanrey Tree. (B/D)
Day 6
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Discover the South Gate of Angkor Thom (Big Angkor), including Banyon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Baphuon, Royal Palace area, Phimeanakas and the Terrace of the Leper King. This excursion includes walking on flat paths and some stairs without railings. After a midday break, visit the 19th Century Khmer architecture at Wat Preah Prom Rath Temple, Preah Ang Chek and Preah Ang Chorm Shrine Monasteries. Continue to the Artisans Market area to see French colonial structures. You may return with the group to the hotel or stay at the market and return at your leisure. (B)
Day 7
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Today you’ll depart for your Extraordinary Experience: an immersive visit to a Cambodian Elephant Sanctuary. Learn about the sanctuary’s mission and the elephants that live there. Take part in a hands-on session where you’ll prepare snacks and feed them to the elephants. Watch as they roam freely in their natural environment and play in the pond. Enjoy a Khmer-style picnic lunch before stopping at the red sandstone Banteay Kdei Temple. The short walk is on flat, maintained pathways and very few stairs. This evening, enjoy dinner with a delightful cultural show at Angkor Theatre restaurant. (B/L/D)
Day 8
Hanoi, Vietnam
After checking out of the hotel and having lunch, you’ll transfer to the airport for the flight to Hanoi. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. (B/L)
Day 9
Hanoi, Vietnam
Take a city tour with photo stops at the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Stilt House, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple. After lunch, choose between visiting the Museum of Ethnology or the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. End the afternoon by enjoying a traditional water puppet show. (B/L)
Day 10
Hanoi, Vietnam
Visit Duong Lam Village, an ancient village representing traditional agricultural of the Northern Red River Delta. Explore Mia Pagoda (Sung Nghiem Temple), one of the oldest in Vietnam. (B/L)
Day 11
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Go to Tuan Chaul and embark on a two-day cruise of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take in the stunning scenery as you settle into your cabin — balcony cabins are available. Choose from a variety of activities such as a cooking class, tea ceremony, Tai Chi on deck, swimming, kayaking, visiting a traditional fishing village and nighttime fishing. A spa is also available for relaxation. (B/L/D)
Day 12
Hoi An, Vietnam
Start the morning with Tai Chi and breakfast as your ship makes its way back to Tuan Chau pier. From there, transfer to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Danang. A short drive then brings you Hoi An, a well-preserved Ancient Town with an intricate canal system. The city was once a thriving port. Its rich history is displayed in a mixture of architectural eras and styles, from wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colourful French colonial buildings, Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda. (B/D)
Day 13
Hoi An, Vietnam
Take a guided walking tour of Hoi An, including the local market, Fukien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Old House and the Japanese Covered Bridge. (B/L)
Day 14
Hoi An, Vietnam
Start with breakfast at a local café for traditional Vietnamese iced coffee (Cafa Sua Da). Visit a local market to learn about fresh produce, herbs and bargaining. Then, a boat trip from Dai Hiep's Wharf takes you to your cooking class, beginning with a herbal welcome drink. Explore the organic herb and vegetable gardens, try a farming or fishing activity or relax with a massage. Learn about the unique herbs and spices used to create the flavours of the area’s cuisine. Participate in the cooking class using market ingredients, then enjoy your meal. You’ll leave with the recipes from class and a Rêu Cooking School Certificate. (B/L)
Day 15
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Fly from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. A half-day city tour takes you to the Reunification Palace, Cathedral Notre Dame and Central Post Office and, time permitting, the War Remnant Museum and the Ben Thanh market. (B/D)
Day 16
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
From your hotel, walk to Bach Dang Port for a Mekong Delta boat tour. Explore a colourful riverside market and winding canals and take a rowboat amongst the green canopy of coconut palms. Visit a quaint Mekong village and traditional farmhouse to sample coconuts and Mekong whisky. Share lunch with a three-generational local family in a rural Vietnamese house before visiting a local pagoda (an orphanage run by Buddhist monks) and Cao Dai Temple. (B/T/L)
Day 17
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Take an early-morning speedboat tour to Cu Chi Tunnels, arriving before the crowds. A light breakfast is served onboard. Explore the exhibitions, weaponry and authentic Viet Cong tunnels with underground bunkers (note: tunnel entry is not recommended for claustrophobic visitors). Learn about the Vietnam War from the viewpoint of the Viet Cong, who refer to it as the American War. Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese picnic lunch by the river, before returning to Ho Chi Minh City by speedboat. Spend the afternoon at leisure before a farewell evening dinner cruise on Saigon River. (B/L/D)
Day 18
Transfer from your hotel to the airport for your return flight to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | T - Tasting | D - Dinner
Phare Circus’ Daringly Modern Cambodian Show
Optional tour for Day 6.
Enjoy the unique performance by the Phare Circus’ performers. Their performances portray distinctively Cambodian stories – historical, cultural, folk and contemporary – using theater, music, dance and circus arts. The youthful performers will astound you with their vigor, passion, energy and skill, making the Phare Circus one of the best contemporary cultural shows in Siem Reap. Minimum of two participants required, CAD$120 per person.