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Cambodia – Vietnam Jeep Tour |  The Best selfdrive vintage jeep tour, Combined 2 Countries.

START DATE: 5 JUNE 2021

Welcome to possibly one of the most unique and memorable South-East Asia adventures on the market. Two of the pioneers of adventure travel in the region, Cambodiajeep.com and VJT tours, have combined their experience and developed a new adventure sure to satisfy anyone looking for a truly unique adventure tour.

 A self-drive vintage jeep tour through Cambodia and Vietnam combine the magic of two different countries and two different culture into one truly memorable adventure. This unique tour is only for a few privileged guests and few tourists can say that they have experienced driving a vintage jeep through Cambodia, visiting floating villages, seeing the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, majestic elephants, stunning caves, traversed the Ho Chi Minh trail and walked in the Vic Minh tunnels all in one trip. Join us for a 14 days Cambodia – Vietnam selfdrive vintage jeep tour.

Day 1:  Siem Reap airport– Siem Reap: Welcome to Cambodia!

Welcome to the magical land of Cambodia – the Kingdom of Wonder. Our team will meet you at the airport and transfer you directly to your hotel. Here you can check in and enjoy the hotels facilities getting used to your new environment before starting what will be a truly memorable journey.

In the late afternoon you will have an orientation briefing (traffic rules, staff introduction, road explanation book, Jeep instruction, etc.).

Day 2:  Siem Reap: Behind the wheels…

Today you will behind the wheels and   drive around Siem Reap  to get familiar with the jeep. You will be taken on different types of roads and in varying degrees of traffic in order for you to get completely comfortable. On the way we will stop at the Landmine museum. We will hear the importance of clearing landmines in Cambodia. With potentially millions stil in the ground, landmines have immensely impacted the history and culture of this amazing society. .

In the evening you will visit Phare, The Cambodian Circus, which tells uniquely Cambodian tales using modern circus arts and high energy music, touching on themes strong in Cambodian traditions, ethos and spirit. The performances mix theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling, aerial acts, fire and contortion with an explosion of virtuosity and sensitivity. During the hour-long shows, the Phare performers share their emotions and excitement, blowing the audience away with their integrity and power.

Day 3:  Siem Reap- Angkor Wat – Siem Reap: Explore Angkor Wat

This morning you will depart by jeep for the magnificent UNESCO world heritage site, the ancient temples of Angkor Wat. We have scouted and researched some back roads to the temples which still exist, taking you you away from the tuk-tuk and busses, giving you a much more beautiful and relaxing trip to the temples. With a little imagination, today’s journey will allow you to truly picture the lost temples the way they have lain for thousands of years. An English speaking guide will take you through the historical park where you visit majestic structures to take in the grandeur of the ancient Kingdom. Most of the temples originate from the 12th century and house some of the most anticipated bas reliefs and beautiful sculptures such as garudas and apsara dancers. First you will visit the talismanic temple of Angkor Wat, the biggest of all the temples, which has survived the sands of time and remained in marvelous condition. Here you will be able to marvel at its dominating towers and sheer presence, as you take your rime walking around inside. Next you will continue to Angkor Thom, with the spectacular Bayon temple. Here 54 intricate and visually stunning four-headed Buddha statues will eye you as you walk round this quite magnificently preserved temple, truly one of the most impressive sights of the temple complex. Lunch will be taken near the manmade lake of East Baray, designed and constructed to supply the temple complex with its water. After lunch and a short rest to recharge, you will visit the Ta Phrom temple. Made famous by the box office hit film “Tomb Raider” with Angelina Jolie, the temples iconic trees have slowly taken over with their gigantic roots embracing the walls and creating a visually striking and unique setting, providing a stunning finish to your day of “templing”.

Day 4:  Siem Reap – Kampong Thom: The floatiang village of Kampong Kleang

Today we will leave Siem Reap and head for the city of Kampong Thom First stop is at Kampong Kleang , the largest floating village of Cambodia. During the dry season we will drive with our jeep between the stilts on which the houses are built, rising up to 10 meters in the air. In the wet season, the water level reaches its peak and can rise up to 1 or 2 meters above the building floors. We will offer you a boat ride through the village and have the chance to meet the locals. After this we continue our trip and have a short stop in Kampong Kdei. Here you will see one of the finest and best preserved bridges built by the Khmer kings. This bridge dates back to the 10th century. In the late afternoon we will arrive our hotel. We can have a sundowner at Santuk mountain and watch the sunset with a cold beer in our hand

Day 5:  Kampong Thom – Chloung: The Mighty Mekong River

After a tasty breakfast we drive our jeeps through some beautiful Cambodian countryside to our first stop of the day. We will stop at to see some truly impressive carvings. From huge stone blocks, sometimes as big as 8 meters, the stone mason chisels and carves some extremely impressive sculptures. The sheer amount of detail involved in some of his work is exceptional and you will have ample time to admire his work. We will continue our scenic drive to our second stop for today is at a local rubber plantation. You will learn more about how the local rubber industry works, how they collect latex, clean and dry it before they ship it off to an outside rubber plant. After this trip, north of Stung Trong, we will take the ferryboat and cross the mighty Mekong River. The 12th longest river in the world, it flows from high up in the Tibetan Plateau, all the way to the South China Sea, some 4,500 km from its source. It provides the life blood for so many people and its impressive size and power can only really be appreciated first hand. On the east side of the Mekong lies the old French colonial city Chloung. A peaceful and traditional town, we will stay the night in the former Governors mansion dated from 1916 where we can really experience the feeling of Cambodia’s colonial past.

Day 6:  Chloung – Kratie – Chloung: Spot the dolphins

We drive our jeeps along the bank of the Mekong and pass some of the Cham Muslim villages. These sprang up when the Cham people fled the Vietnamese conquest and remained in their new home, adding new dimension to the area. In Kampi, 12km north of Kratie we will go onboard and we try to spotting the Irrawaddy dolphins. These rare, endangered freshwater dolphins make their home on a beautiful stretch of the Mekong River near a small set of rapids. There is a very high chance of seeing them play in the rapids so keep your camera stand-by. After Kampi we drive back to Kratie where we will go by ferry to the island of Koh Trong. With a local guide you will explore this island paradise by bike and you will get an explanation about the lifestyle of the residents and the products that are grown there. Back to the mainland and we drive our jeeps back to Chloung.

Day 7:  Chloung – Sen Monorom: On the way to Highlands

After Chloung  we will continue our way to the stunning province of Mondulkiri. The scenery will change from the plains of the Mekong up into the highlands. We will drive through forest and hilly landscapes reaching our destination for the next few days by afternoon. Sen Monorom, the provincial capital of Mondulkiri, is really an overgrown village, a charming community set in the spot where the hills that give the province its name meet. Inhabited by the indigenous Bunong people, tribesmen and tribeswomen can often be spotted around town. The area around Sen Monorom is peppered with minority villages and picturesque waterfalls. Many of the Bunong from nearby villages come here to trade: the distinctive baskets they carry on their backs make them easy to distinguish from the immigrant lowlanders. Set at 800m, when the winds blow Sen Monorom is notably cooler than the rest of Cambodia, so bring warm clothing. After getting acclimatized to the town and new environment, we will rest well to regain energy for tomorrow’s adventure.

 

Day 8:  Sen Monorom: Off road experience

Driving through small villages and across a mountain pass before getting the opportunity to see how the beautiful Asian elephant lives in its natural environment. There are many elephant projects in Mondulkiri, but the Elephant Community Program is one of the smaller ones, working towards a sustainable future for the local community. A large proportion of the tour price will remain in this community allowing the mahouts to make a living to support their families, and keeping the elephants away from hard labour working in the forest. You will be able to learn about how the elephants live, what they eat and how they have integrated with the local people.. As the focus of the program is elephant care, riding the elephants is not permitted. However, you will have the chance to feed them some bananas or bamboo before you say your goodbyes to the magnificent beasts. In the afternoor we will drive through minority villages and discover more of the Mondulkiri outback. As you return to Sen Monorom you will be accompanied with the memories of a unique and unforgettable trip.

 

Day 9:  Sen Monorom – Banlung: Largest waterfall in Cambodia

In the morning we will drive to the North, 30km outside Sen Monorom and stop at the largest waterfall in Cambodia. Bou Sra Waterfall is a magnificent sight, tumbling through a gorge set in the jungle near the Bunong town of Bou Sra. This three level waterfall has top level of 12m and a stunning lower tier with a massive 20m drop and before a final 4m fall providing a beautiful sight and a roaring sound. Afterwards, we will continue our way to the beautiful province of Ratanakiri with its rugged, stunning scenery. Until recently this was a tough, grueling drive, but now there is a good new road making the journey through this wonderful place much smoother. Approx. 20km after Lumphat we will leave to tarmac road onto a small and windy dirt road will bring us to Banlung, the capital of Ratanakiri. This city has a bustling market teeming with products from the local ethnic villages. The Yeak Laom Lake just outside town also boast some of the areas rarest and most exotic birds. In the evening we will have a little time to explore this simple, yet characterful, town.

 

Day 10:  Banlung – Kon Tum: Crossing border with Vietnam

The word “Ratanakiri” itself is a derivative of two Cambodian words, which are combined to mean the place of gems and mountains. These are the two features for which this province of Cambodia, Ratanakiri, is best known. Before heading to Vietnam, you will first continue in the direction of the Yaklom Lake. This is one of the few crater lakes in Cambodia and dates back to approximately 4000 years ago. The lake is nearly 50 meters deep and ensures that the water is very clean and clear. You can cool down on one of the wooden platforms and swim with the local population or just sit back and enjoy the peaceful and natural surroundings

After resting, you will drive your classic jeep approx. 70 km through the pristine Cambodian countryside to the border with Vietnam. Before crossing the border, we will all have lunch together to say goodbye to Cambodia and your trusted jeep. After crossing the border the Vietnam team will meet you to commence the next stage of your wonderful adventure.  From Le Thanh Border, you will get used to your new jeep as you drive through rolling hills to Kon Tum City, located 120km from the border. You’ll reach the city in the afternoon, giving yourself plenty of time to relax before a delicious local dinner at the hotel.

Day 11: Kon Tum – Kham Duc: The notorious Hoh Chi Minh Trail

After breakfast, your first stop will be the unique Wooden Church. Built in 1913 by a French priest, the wooden church is famous throughout the area. Built using hundreds of cubic meters of high-quality wood, the whole structure stands one meter above the ground on wooden pillars, similar to the construction of the homes for the surrounding hill tribes.

After taking in this fantastic structure and appreciating small town life, you then start the first day driving on the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Kham Duc. After a scenic morning’s driving, you will stop for a local lunch to refuel and prepare yourself for the highlight of the day. Driving the Lo Xo Pass provides you with stunning views of Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve where you can truly appreciate the splendor of this wonderful countryside. After a long, but stunning drive, you will arrive at the hotel ready for the warm welcome and local hospitality the staff are sure to provide. Here you can refresh and relax for a little bit, before heading out into the city for dinner.

Day 12: Kham Duc – Prao – A Luoi: Driving with a scenery

Today, you will head to A Luoi, via Prao. This is a wonderful drive due to its diversity. You will drive deserted roads along plains and through the rugged jungle, allowing you an unparalleled view of the local nature. As the road ascends you will soon be in the territory of the local hill tribes. Here you can make a stop and find out first hand some more information about how these fascinating people lead their day to day lives. Continuing on, your drive will take you through some more unspoiled areas of this often-ignored part of the country, before you arrive at your destination on A Luoi, tired, yet invigorated.

Day 13: A Luoi – Khe San: The legacy of the Vietnam War

The legacy of the Vietnam War left a deep scar on this country, and it is important as a visitor to learn and appreciate a little about this struggle. After a hearty breakfast you will drive to the DMZ. Here you will visit Dakrong Bridge, a crucial crossing point on the Ho Chi Minh trail. A local guide will help you understand the importance of where you are and its importance within the larger context of the Vietnam War.

After refueling with a lunch in Khe Sanh, you will visit Ta Con former US Airbase. This airfield near the border with Laos played a crucial role in the war providing a focus for the US air attacks on the Vietcong. The museum here is small, but it displays many rare photos, dioramas, and artifacts from combatants on both sides of the war. From the airfield, you will take a short drive to Vai Village, another historical site which related to the 1968 Lang Vei Battle where the Vietcong were victorious over the combined forces of USA, South Vietnam and Laos.

You will reach your hotel later in the afternoon, when you will have time to relax a little before heading out to a local restaurant to sample some more delicious, traditional cuisine.

Day 14: Khe Sanh – Chay Lap Farm stay: Impressive Paradise cave

After a satisfying breakfast, you will embark on a glorious drive along the “long and winding road”. Taking you through a pristine national park, this stunning, twisting road is often so deserted that you feel you are the only one travelling on it. The great landscape and scenery can sometimes be jaw dropping. Perhaps the most remarkable stop will be your visit to Paradise Cave. Considered one of the most impressive caves in Vietnam, if not South-East Asia, it was discovered by a local man in and later declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, in order to preserve the magical place for generations to come. After discovery, the cave was later explored by the British Cave Research Association and found to be 31 km in length. Your visit will include some of the more accessible areas of this cave, but more than enough to give you a taste of the wonders that lie deeper.

After a relaxing picnic lunch, you will continue your beautiful drive, arriving at Chay Lap Farmstay in the afternoon, after check-in, you can enjoy cold drinks and relax by the swimming pool and enjoy the wonderful, local hospitality of your hosts, before enjoying a home cooked dinner.

Day 15: Chay Lap –Cua Viet Beach: In the middle of the DMZ

This morning you will leave the Ho Chi Minh Trail and head to the coastal route which hugs the east coast of Central Vietnam. Your first fascinating stop for the day is Hien Luong Bridge which crosses the Ben Hai River. This bridge historically marked the centre of the DMZ and the border between South and North Vietnam.  From 1954 to 1972, when the North Vietnamese Army pushed the border farther south, the bridge was painted with the two different colors. While peaceful and bucolic today, this historical sight is, for many, profoundly evocative. A simple monument stands on the north side of the bridge where you can spend a few minutes in contemplation.

A pleasant drive will take you to your next destination; the fascinating Vinh Moc Tunnels. They were constructed by residents of Vinh Moc and served as an underground village during the Vietnam War. The underground labyrinth consists of three levels and served all the community’s communication, transport and infrastructure needs, with a school, hospital, etc. all located within the network.

Lunch will be taken at a lovely local restaurant by the beach where you can enjoy specialty local seafood, fresh off the boats. After lunch, your resort is located a short drive away, where you can spend the day relaxing before joining together for a hearty dinner.

Day 16: Cua Viet –Thuan An Beach: Sailing in a lagoon

After breakfast you will hop into your jeeps and drive 20 km to the beautiful Quang Tri Citadel. Originally built in 1809 by order of King Gia Long it was the scene of many important battles between 1954 and 1971. The most infamous, without a doubt, was the 81-day battle in 1972. A memorial was built in the middle of the citadel containing 81 bronze reliefs representing the 81 days of the battle.

After taking in the citadel, you will drive on beautiful rural roads through the peaceful rice fields heading to Tam Giang Lagoon. Here you will enjoy a boat trip across the scenic lagoon and have lunch, taking in the pristine views. Back to your Jeeps in the afternoon for a relaxing drive on countryside roads; reaching your beach resort in the afternoon where you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 17: Hue: Explore Hue

After seven magical days driving in your Jeeps in Vietnam, it is time to say goodbye to your trusted steed for a day. Today you will board a bus for a truly educational tour of the wonderful city of Hue. Highlights include the historical Citadel and Royal Tomb where you can learn more about the deep history of the city. Afterwards you will be taken to the soothing Zen House, where you will enjoy complete tranquility in this truly special place. You will also be served a delicious vegetarian lunch.

The afternoon is for you to do as you please. Whether you prefer to explore the city more, do a spot of shopping, or simple enjoy the beach, the choice is yours.

Day 18: Thuan An – Hoi An: City of ghosts

Back in your jeeps, your final day of driving follows scenic, peaceful back roads to Danang City. One of the highlights of the day will be the visit to the Ghost City. Here you will be in the only city that the locals believe “the dead rest at a better place than the living”. The An Bang cemetery has thousands of tombs in numerous styles such as Chinese, Catholic, Buddhist, European and even Royalty. A normal tomb cost VND300-400 million (US$14,500-20,000) and a tomb complex could cost more than VND 3 billion VND ($140,000). The graves began to grow in size and opulence when overseas Vietnamese returned home to visit and began comparing their ancestors’ graves to others around. The “grave jealousy” has increased in the community, with families renovating older graves and building new ones, each bigger and better than the others. It really does make for quite an impressive site.

The next highlight is Hai Van Pass; this is also the border of Danang and Hue. There are still some historical relics left allowing you to combine a bit of history with the stunning views their location provides.

You will reach the beach resort in the afternoon where you are free to enjoy your time at your leisure until the evening, when a mouthwatering dinner will be served.

Day 19:  Hoi An Ancient Town

After such a wonderful and expansive trip, you deserve a day at leisure. You can stay at the resort, or travel and explore the nearby ancient town of Hoi An. At 12.00, the guide will come to your resort with “the best baguette in the world”, a delicious Vietnamese Bhan Mi, which you can enjoy on the beach or by the pool.

In the evening you will all gather together as a group for the last time at the farewell dinner. This will give you a chance to reminisce with your new friends about the wonderful experience you have all had.

Day 20: Transfer to Danang international airport: Time to say goodbye!

After 20 days in Cambodia and Vietnam it’s time to say goodbye. What an unbelievable adventure. Two magical countries experienced with the freedom allowed by the beautiful vintage jeeps. The trip is drawing to a close, but the memories will last a lifetime.

Cambodia – Vietnam selfdrive vintage jeep tour:

Cambodia

Price includes:

  • Transfer airport to hotel. Meet and greet
  • Vintage jeep (2 person/1 jeep) included petrol
  • English speaking guides
  • Support car with mechanic team, walkie talkies in every jeep.
  • Lunch and dinner.
  • Free flow of drinks during lunch and dinner: soft drinks, water, beer, coffee, tea
  • Snackbox in jeeps with drinks
  • Roadbook, welcome gift, map
  • Tipping for bellboy, restaurants, porter and other services
  • Entrance fee Angkor Wat, Kampong Kleang, Kampi, Bousra, Yaklom Lake, landmine museum, Phare the circus.
  • Boat tour Kampong Kleang, Kampi Dolphins
  • Bicycle tour Koh Trong
  • Ferry boats
  • Elephant community project

 

Not Included: 

  • International airtickets
  • Visa Cambodia ($30,- p.p.)
  • Personal expenses (laundry, phone card, tipping,)
  • Drinks (see what is included) , spirits, wine
  • Travel Insurance

Vietnam:

Price Includes:

  1. Jeeps (02 passengers/Jeep) included petrol
  2. 02 Jeeps for backup
  3. English speaking local guides
  4. Accommodation (twin shared): as listed in the program
  5. Meals: local, fusion & western foods
  6. 01 bus for transporting luggage & 01 car for leading group
  7. The bus for transferring to airport (to Danang Airport)
  8. Drinks in Jeep & meals: water, café-canned ones, soft drinks; beer; soda water
  9. Snacks in Jeeps: biscuit; nuts; fruits; wet tissue
  10. Tipping
  11. Entrance fees
  12. 02 mechanics 
  13. 02 supporting drivers
  14. Personal injury insurance

Not Included: 

  1. Meals not listed in the itinerary 
  2. Drinks, other than water on activity days: wine
  3. Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, tips, etc) 
  4. All other services not listed in “Prices Include”

If you are interested in joining us on this adventure, please feel free to contact us without any obligation.