Vietnam & Cambodia
Vietnam & Cambodia
Our most popular Vietnam & Cambodia Tours
Check what you can expect to do and see day-to-day. All our tours are private tours and 100 % customisable and can be combined with other local countries.
Our Vietnam Specials
If you want to add some extra excursions or you want to change something in you programme or tour, feel free to contact us and add them to your travel. Non listed activities like cycling or motorbiking, ZIP lines or kayaking can be organized as well. Just drop us a line to know more about it.
Street Food
Hanoi Street Food tour is the best choice to explore real Hanoi with charming French corner, ancient Old Quarter, bustling local market and indulge in local atmosphere while tasting amazing authentic Hanoi street food.
Photo Tour
We can organise photo tours in any part of the country, led by a foreign professional photographer. This mostly involves early wake-ups to catch the best light of the day. You will learn a lot of tricks on the way.
Cooking Class
Hoi An Cooking Class can be done in a number of ways. You can explore the rice fields or vegetable village, the local market before cooking several local dishes and eat them at the premises.
Easy Rider or Vespa
Our Vespa tour of modern-day Ho Chi Minh City will give you a view of the city unlike anything on a package tour, and much more than you could find on your own.
Or you can book an Easy Rider to drive you from Hue to Hoi An via the Hai Van pass or any other itinerary.
GOLDEN TORTOISE NEWS
Golden insider tips
Let our carefully selected local experts help you create your own adventure with our fully personalised itinerary booking service. Our bespoke trips are made by local experts to take you off the beaten track with ease.
Big, bigger, biggest in Vietnam!
On April 5, 2020 Vietnam will host the Formula 1 Grand Prix 2020. The race will take place on a dazzling new street circuit in the beating heart of its iconic and culturally rich capital city Hanoi. Attend the most exciting event of the year and contact us to purchase your tickets for the Formula 1 Vietnam Grand Prix 2020 ! As an official reseller we sell tickets for one, two or three days.
Interesting facts about Vietnam & Cambodia
Two Southeast Asian nations, Cambodia and Vietnam both hold a special place in every traveller's heart. While Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam boasts impressive French colonial architecture and the Vietnamese War Museum, Siem Reap in Cambodia is home to the famous Angkor Wat temple complex. As for the capital cities, both Phnom Penh and Hanoi offer astounding restaurants and sights for travellers to experience.
Beliefs
Largely 'folk beliefs' derived from a combination of Taoism, Confucianism & ancestor worship with Buddhism & Christianity important minorities & the unique Caodaism in the far south
Food
Despite strong Chinese influences the unique, usually mild, subtle & varied flavours of Vietnamese cuisine make it a consistent favourite among visitors to Southeast Asia
Geography
A long thin coastline broken by river valleys stretches from a northern bulge of the Tonkinese Alps rising to over 3,000m, to the waterways and rice paddies of the Mekong Delta in the far south
Climate
Highly variable as you'd expect from a 2,000 km long country from the steamy, tropical heat of the Delta to high mountains in the far north where even snow & ice are not unheard of
ABOUT VIETNAM
Some 1,600kms separate the dramatic mountains along the Chinese border – reaching over 3,000m and where snow is not unknown – to the tropical Mekong Delta lying between the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea.
Vietnam boasts not only some of Southeast Asia’s best natural sites, with the ‘Tonkinese Alps’ and incredible Halong and Bai Tu Long Bays of the north, past the stunning, pristine beaches and fascinating Central Highlands region to the picturesque beauty of the Delta, but in bustling Saigon and graceful Hanoi, 2 of the regions great cities and in imperial Hue and well preserved Hoi An, 2 of it’s most historic towns.
The country’s improving, but still often basic, transport infrastructure and relative lack of tourist facilities outside of the most popular destinations can make Vietnam relatively difficult for independent travel and indeed the sheer size of the country makes even organized tours less than easy. It would take months to try and see everything!
Vietnam boasts not only some of Southeast Asia’s best natural sites, with the ‘Tonkinese Alps’ and incredible Halong and Bai Tu Long Bays of the north, past the stunning, pristine beaches and fascinating Central Highlands region to the picturesque beauty of the Delta, but in bustling Saigon and graceful Hanoi, 2 of the regions great cities and in imperial Hue and well preserved Hoi An, 2 of it’s most historic towns.
The country’s improving, but still often basic, transport infrastructure and relative lack of tourist facilities outside of the most popular destinations can make Vietnam relatively difficult for independent travel and indeed the sheer size of the country makes even organized tours less than easy. It would take months to try and see everything!
ABOUT CAMBODIA
Cambodia has a land area of 181,035 square kilometers in the southwestern part of the Indochina peninsula, about 20 percent of which is used for agriculture. It lies completely within the tropics with its southern most points slightly more than 10° above the Equator. The country capital city is Phnom Penh.
International borders are shared with Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on the West and the North, and the Social Republic of Viet Nam on the East and the Southeast. The country is bounded on the Southeast by the Gulf of Thailand.
Angkor Wat is on everyone's list. Find out what else you should do in this popular Southeast Asian destination, famous for its stunning temples and its fish curry.
International borders are shared with Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on the West and the North, and the Social Republic of Viet Nam on the East and the Southeast. The country is bounded on the Southeast by the Gulf of Thailand.
Angkor Wat is on everyone's list. Find out what else you should do in this popular Southeast Asian destination, famous for its stunning temples and its fish curry.
Country info Vietnam
Official Name
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Capital City
Hanoi
Population
c 93 million
Timezone
GMT +7
Currency
Vietnamese Dong
Banking Services
ATMs readily available
Power/Electricity
110/220V; sockets usually 2 pin, flat or round
Internet
WiFi available in all hotels
Phone/Mobile
3G SIM cards easily available
Dialling Code
+84
Language
Vietnamese
Religion
Mixture of ancestor worship, Buddhism, Animism & Christianity
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Capital City
Hanoi
Population
c 93 million
Timezone
GMT +7
Currency
Vietnamese Dong
Banking Services
ATMs readily available
Power/Electricity
110/220V; sockets usually 2 pin, flat or round
Internet
WiFi available in all hotels
Phone/Mobile
3G SIM cards easily available
Dialling Code
+84
Language
Vietnamese
Religion
Mixture of ancestor worship, Buddhism, Animism & Christianity
What inoculations do I need?
For most of Southeast Asia, there are no compulsory inoculations – however, Hep A , Polio, Typhoid and Tetanus are recommended. If you are considering anti-malarials we recommend you consult a health professional, but whatever you do or don’t do about anti-malarials, we recommend a 50% DEET based insect repellent. A useful resource for information on travel health is http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/
Do you only sell tours in North Vietnam?
No, of course not. Our offices are in Hanoi, but we cover the North, the Center and South regions of Vietnam, as well as Cambodia. We can count on guides, friends and business partners virtually all over these countries to help us out, which enables us to guarantee you a smooth tour wherever you go.
We only have 10 days to visit Vietnam. Where should we go?
If your time is limited, I think you should focus on discovering one region rather than try to see it all (less is more!). There are so many differences between North and South Vietnam that you can almost regard them as 2 different countries. With the exception of Hoi An, most visually interesting places are in the North. The South might be less spectacular but on the other hand, people are friendlier, the food is better, the climate milder and so on…. In general, we like to start our tours in Hanoi and make our way down to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh-City), but we can offer tailor-made itineraries anywhere anytime.
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
Usually, March, April and early May are dry, warm and a good time to visit Vietnam. But during this period in Cambodia, it’s very hot and wet. Late October early November are fine if you avoid the central region (Hue-Hoi An), where it’s typhoon season and might well be flooded then. July and August are okay if you can support the heath, and a good time to take pictures, as the skies are usually bright and blue, untill the afternoon showers begin.
Can I drive a car or motorbike in Vietnam?
Currently tourists are not allowed to rent and drive themselves a car in Vietnam. This might change soon. Personally, I would discourage people to drive in Vietnam because traffic rules might be the same but are interpreted totally differently than at home and many deadly accidents do happen every day. Renting a motorbike to explore the scenic north is a good idea though, and generally traffic police will not bother you. In case of an accident it is always handy to show them your national or international driving license (even if not valid) and you can always negotiate the fine and damages with the police.
Do I need to take malaria tablets?
Personally I would not recommend taking anything against malaria, as prevention does not always help and many side-effects might occur. Moreover, chances are actually very small if even non-existent that you might be bitten by mosquitoes carrying malaria.
Should I bring a mosquito net?
No. Most hotels have air-con and/or mosquito nets.
What should I pack?
As little as possible. You can always buy what you need locally at much cheaper prices than at home. And maximum allowed check-in luggage weight on internal flights is 20 kg.
Is it safe to eat raw vegetables, put ice-cubes in my drink or eat at local foodstalls?
In Vietnam it’s quite safe to do this, and often very tasty. As long as raw vegetables or fruits are peeled or if the food is cooked, there is no problem. Be careful though with raw meat and mineral water in refilled bottles. But in Cambodia, I would recommend not to be too adventurous because hygiene standards are much lower.
How much should I tip the guide or driver?
This is always a tricky question. If you are not satisfied with their services, you should not tip. On the other hand, if you tip, then tip well because they might be offended otherwise. 1 USD per person per day can be used as a guideline.
FAQ Vietnam
When’s the best time to go to Vietnam?
The weather in Vietnam is complex – its such a long thin country that if you are touring the whole country, you are almost always going to get good and bad weather. In Spring (February to April) and Autumn (August to October) the temperatures are more moderate and rainfall is lighter.
The weather in Vietnam is complex – its such a long thin country that if you are touring the whole country, you are almost always going to get good and bad weather. In Spring (February to April) and Autumn (August to October) the temperatures are more moderate and rainfall is lighter.
Should I bring cash in USD or Euros? Are there any ATM’s?
USD and Euros can be easily changed anywhere, so if you live in a EU country, bring Euros. These days you can find ATM’s almost anywhere.
Can I arrange hotel and transport by myself and only buy a 2-day trip to Halong Bay with your company?
Requests like this will be answered on a case by case basis. Generally, in order to assure overall satisfaction, we prefer to take care of your trip as a whole.
How clean and comfortable are the trains in Vietnam?
If you want to visit Sapa or avoid taking too many flights, you might have to travel on the night train. Trains in Vietnam are not as plush and clean as in your own country, but for one night they might be a good deal.
Is the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) a good time to visit Vietnam?
Since the whole country is off for about 1 week to celebrate the Tet at home with the family, I would avoid this period if possible. Services are minimal and overpriced and many shops and restaurants are closed.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
You can easily get a visa on arrival at the airport in Cambodia. But you can get a visa on arrival at the airport in Vietnam only if you have an authorization stamped by the Immigration Department of Vietnam. You can obtain this through a travel agent in Vietnam. You should also know that you can’t get a visa on arrival at an overland border crossing.
Is Sapa too crowded with tourists?
Sapa is indeed very popular with local and foreign tourists, and the local minority people are very much used to see tourists. However, it’s still a very charming small mountain town that is well worth the visit if you have enough time. It is also a hub to access many locations in the area. Best too avoid during the summer and week-ends though.
Can I go diving in Vietnam?
Yes, in the South there are some good diving spots, like Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang where you can dive all year long. In Hoi An you can dive at Cham Island from April to September.
Which company to choose for Halong Bay?
There are many local agents offering tours to Halong Bay and other places. Quality and prices differ. You can always contact us for advice. Be careful though with info on websites like “Trip Advisor” and others, since many recommendations and testimonials are placed by local operators, especially in Hanoi.
What is the best souvenir to buy in Vietnam?
Lacquerware, local paintings, embroidery and other craftwork might be a good deal. But there are no such things as antiques, which you can’t take out of Vietnam anyway, and many items are fakes or copies, so you should bargain hard.
Can we pay you by credit card?
It’s possible but not the best solution. We prefer you transfer the total amount shortly before your arrival date in Vietnam or Cambodia. We will only ask for a deposit if we need to issue tickets in advance.
Do we get a refund if any activity canceled or delayed?
This will be examined on a case by case basis. If we cannot offer any alternative or if our standards did not meet your expectations due to our mishandling, we most likely will refund or compensate you.
Vietnam & Cambodia Gallery
Stunning photos that will make you travel to Vietnam & Cambodia.
