Asia
Vietnam and Cambodia
Ancient history and everyday life, face to face
On this trip I combine the street life of Hanoi, the cultural richness of Hue and Hoi An, the canals of the Mekong Delta, and, as a close in Cambodia, the temples of Angkor.
Vietnam is traveled from north to south, from the street life of Hanoi — charcoal-grilled noodles, motorbikes, incense — to the canals of the Mekong Delta. In between, Ha Long Bay wakes in silence over emerald waters, and in Hue a three-generation family opens its garden home to cook with visitors, between herbal foot baths and recipes found in no restaurant. Cambodia closes the trip with Angkor: stone carved by human hands, roots reclaiming it, a sunrise that must be watched standing and in silence. It's an itinerary of sharp contrasts — city and jungle, monument and village, colonial history and thousand-year-old temples — designed for those who want to understand a place, not just photograph it. It suits the curious traveler, willing to wake early for a view and to sit on the floor of someone else's home to eat whatever is served.
Datos del viaje
Experiences
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Street food in the Old Quarter
Salads, rice rolls, and noodles eaten standing alongside locals.
View experience: Street food in the Old Quarter
A walking tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter, stopping at street stalls that have served the same dish for generations: green papaya salad with dried meat, steamed rice rolls filled by the fire, and charcoal-grilled pork noodles eaten standing or seated on low stools, shoulder to shoulder with neighborhood locals. Northern Vietnamese cuisine is best understood this way, chewing in the street, rather than reading a translated menu in a restaurant for tourists.
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Cooking in a three-generation garden home
A three-generation family opens its kitchen and its history, with a foot bath to finish.
View experience: Cooking in a three-generation garden home
In a village on a riverbank, a three-generation family opens its kitchen and garden to share a full day: you cook alongside them, following recipes found in no restaurant, and eat at their own table. The experience ends with a foot bath using herbs gathered from the garden, a traditional Vietnamese gesture of hospitality that closes the visit on a note of calm after hours of conversation and shared cooking.
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Sunrise aboard in Ha Long Bay
A cruise among limestone islets, caves, and emerald waters.
View experience: Sunrise aboard in Ha Long Bay
An overnight cruise among the limestone islets of Ha Long Bay, with natural caves and emerald waters that change shade several times a day depending on the light. Those who want can paddle a small bamboo boat to coves not visible from the main ship's deck, surrounded by rock walls that rise straight out of the water. Sleeping on board, with the engine off and the landscape in complete silence, is the part most travelers remember best.
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Angkor Wat at dawn, in private
Leaving before sunrise to reach the temple while it's still empty.
View experience: Angkor Wat at dawn, in private
Leaving the hotel before dawn to reach Angkor Wat while no one else is there yet. The temple, carved in the 12th century and considered one of the largest religious monuments in the world, is explored unhurriedly while the low light of dawn highlights the detail of the stone bas-reliefs. It's a radically different experience from visiting mid-morning with the rest of the groups: the silence and absence of people make the place feel newly discovered.
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Villages and trades of the south: orchards, canals, and workshops
Cycling among orchards, a sampan through narrow canals, and water hyacinth workshops.
View experience: Villages and trades of the south: orchards, canals, and workshops
A full day in the Mekong Delta, by bicycle among organic tropical fruit orchards, and then by sampan — a narrow traditional boat — along canals that narrow until barely fitting the vessel. The visit includes family workshops where bags and mats are hand-woven from water hyacinth, an invasive plant repurposed as a craft material, and trades passed down from parents to children that have never been written in any manual.
Itinerary ideas
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13 days
Grand Indochina Route
Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon and Mekong Delta, Siem Reap
View itinerary idea: Grand Indochina Route
The complete north-to-south route: Hanoi's street life, a cruise through Ha Long Bay, the former imperial capital of Hue, the colonial charm of Hoi An, and the contrast between Saigon and the Mekong Delta, closing with Angkor in Cambodia.
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9 days
Essentials: Northern Vietnam and Angkor
Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Siem Reap
View itinerary idea: Essentials: Northern Vietnam and Angkor
The compact version: Hanoi and a cruise through Ha Long Bay, a breather in Hoi An, and several days devoted to the temples of Angkor in Siem Reap.
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18 days
Vietnam and Cambodia in Full
Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon and Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap
View itinerary idea: Vietnam and Cambodia in Full
The same grand north-to-south route, extended with the terraced rice fields of Sapa at the start, a stop in Phnom Penh — with its recent history and the Royal Palace — before crossing into Cambodia, and more days in Siem Reap to explore the temples of Angkor unhurried.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to travel to Vietnam and Cambodia?
From November to April, in the dry season. It is the period with the least rain, ideal for exploring cities, temples and bays in comfort. Since Vietnam is long, the climate differs between north and south, so I adjust the order of the route to the month you go.
How long should a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia last and how long does it take to get there?
Between 12 and 14 days lets you combine Vietnam and Angkor without racing. The flight from Spain takes 15 to 16 hours with a connection, so it isn't worth travelling so far for only a few days. With two weeks I recommend few bases and a free day in the middle of the route.
Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam from Spain?
Not for stays of up to 45 days: Spanish citizens are exempt under a unilateral decision by Vietnam, valid until 14 March 2028, and the passport must be valid for six months. As of November 2026 that is what Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese tourism state; for longer stays, apply for a visa.
Do I need a visa to travel to Cambodia with a Spanish passport?
Yes, a visa is compulsory, with no exceptions. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends the electronic visa (e-visa) on the official website rather than the visa at the border, which also exists at airports and is usually paid in cash dollars. As of November 2026; confirm fees and conditions at the official source.
What currency is used in Vietnam and Cambodia?
In Vietnam, the dong (VND); in Cambodia, the riel and also the US dollar. The languages are Vietnamese and Khmer, and English is understood on the tourist circuit. For Cambodia it is wise to carry cash dollars in good condition.