This expedition lets you experience two contrasting countries with lots to offer, especially if you are looking for adventure, history and culture! Discover remote jungles, the wild and energetic Ho Chi Minh City, crumbling imperial tombs and laid back beaches in Vietnam. Marvel at the ancient Temples of Angkor in Cambodia and give back to the community by participating in a worthwhile project where you can really make a difference.

TerrainThe terrain is predominantly jungle, but you could end up exploring coast or even dense rainforest.

LanguageKhmer and Vietnamese are the official languages of Cambodia and Vietnam alongside regional dialects. You may also hear French, English and Chinese.

ClimateCool season under 30 °C, followed by the March hot season of 32°C-35°C+. May-October is the monsoon season, which is very wet, and very warm!

Time zoneGMT +7

AccommodationTypical accommodation includes, home stays, hostels, hammocks and tents.

VietnamCambodia&

Sapa

Hanoi

VIETNAM

Ho Chi Minh City

Dalat

DanangHue

Hoi An

Yok Don N.P.

Mai Chau

THAILAND

LAOS

CHINA

South China Sea

Ha Long Bay

Gulf of Thailand

Phnom Penh

Siem Reap

CAMBODIA

Ratanakiri N.P.

Sihanoukville

MYANMAR

ExploreYou have the choice of spending a few days acclimatising in Ho Chi Minh City or to embark on a short trek in National Parks such Yok Don. Soak up the local culture as you pass through remote villages, perhaps learn about Cambodia’s dark history and the Khmer Rouge regime.

In Cambodia, rendezvous with your guides at their jungle outpost before exploring the fringes of the Ratanakiri National Park. In Vietnam’s central highlands, you and your team can scale Lang Bian Mountain, the highest peak for miles around. Your jungle trek is where you will learn key survival skills in this challenging but intriguing environment!

Challenge yourself

Our In-Country Agent for Vietnam is Khoa Dinh Nguyen. Having originally worked for many years as a guide in Vietnam, Khoa knows the country better than most! He lives in Ho Chi Minh City with his family.

In Cambodia your agents are Sarath Chhean And Lundy Chou. Sarath (pronounced ‘Sa-rat’) lives in Siem Reap with his wife and two children and helps run a hostel called Hello Paradise, which is very popular with our teams.

Lundy Chou joined World Challenge in 2013 as the new In-Country Agent in Phnom Penh, where she lives with her family.

Working with your team in the community will offer a unique chance to immerse yourself in the culture, giving an insight into ancient traditions and practices. In Cambodia - one of the poorest countries in the world - you can participate in projects aimed at meeting important needs, such as building classrooms, setting up vegetable gardens, planting trees or digging wells.

Contribute Chill outAside from visiting the mighty Temples of Angkor, you will have the option to head out from Ho Chi Minh City and explore the floating markets and one-of-a-kind lifestyle of those in the Mekong Delta. Your team may also have the chance to travel along the Vietnamese coast to visit Hoi An or snorkel in the waters of Nha Trang.

We have been working with communities in and around Battambang since 2006. Our projects have ranged from helping abused women to working with homeless families. Past teams have helped build houses, security fences and playgrounds, and were involved in teaching English, personal hygiene and other important subjects.

"Overall I had the best experience ever! I loved the project phase and the trek was really rewarding." Sam, Challenger