Vietnam & Cambodia Tour 13 days 12 nights
Code: IT1
Departure: Daily
Tour Type: Private
Destinations: Vietnam, Cambodia
Itinerary in brief:
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B,L)
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise (B,L,D)
Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Hue (B,L)
Day 5: Hue city tour (B,L)
Day 6: Hue – Hoi An via Danang (B,L)
Day 7: My Son – Danang – Flight to Sai Gon (B,L)
Day 8: Sai Gon – Cu Chi tunnels (B,L)
Day 9: Sai Gon – My Tho – Chau Doc (B,L)
Day 10: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh via speed boat (B,L)
Day 11: Phnom Penh – Flight to Siem Reap (B,L)
Day 12: Siem Reap (B,L)
Day 13: Siem Reap – Departure (B,L)
Itinerary in detail:
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Upon your arrival at international airport, you will be picked up by your English speaking and then transferred to city centre with a brief introduction before arrival to hotel for check in.
Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B,L)
After breakfast, we will start to explore Hanoi city with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the preserved body of “Uncle Ho” can be viewed. Continue visiting the lotus-shaped One-Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot), whose origins date back to the foundation of city, then visit to Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we follow with the wonderful Ethnology Museum to understand about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Then, get on a cyclo for a 1-hour ride to through the Old Quarter with 36 streets and 36 wares and be dropped off to visit of infamous “Hanoi Hilton” following by enjoying the Water Puppet Show, the unique art of Northern Vietnam. Drive back to your hotel. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise (B,L,D)
After breakfast, pick up at the lobby of your hotel, depart for Halong Bay. En route we have a short stop at the Sao Dao center run for and by handicapped children for short break. Upon arrival at Bai Chay Whalf, we will be met by captain and board your traditional wooden junk. and start cruising out to the mystic bay while a seafood lunch is served on board.
In the afternoon, we cruise to the inside of magical landscape and admire the Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Binh Phong mountain. And stop to visit the Surprise cave (Sung Sot cave), visit Luon cave for swimming or mountain climbing to Titop peak for panoramic view of the bay. Have dinner on board. Late tonight, join with the junk crew for squid fishing on board if interested. Overnight on junk.
Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Hue (B,L)
Rise to the sound of the ocean coming to life for another lovely day. Before breakfast, you may have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, we cruise to the Bai Tho Mountain in the other beautiful Bai Tu Long Bay and we cruise back to the Halong dock. Lunch/ Brunch buffet breakfast is served on boat before checkout. Boat arrive at harbor then transfer directly to Noi Bai airport for the flight to Hue.
On arrival at Phu Bai airport, pick up and drive to hotel for check-in. Balance of time is free at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Hue.
Day 5: Hue city tour (B,L)
Today you will explore Hue city by enjoying the boat cruise on Perfum River, viewing the city and the tranquil villages on the riverbank. Then walk up to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, a nicely located pagoda, overlooks the Perfume River and the beautiful scenery beyond, where you get to learn more about the Buddhism in Vietnam. Next, take a short ride to visit the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen emperors once ruled Vietnam. Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, drive to visit the Tomb of King Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Then, walk with your guide around Dong Ba Market to experience local commercial life activities and shopping opportunities. Transfer back to your hotel.
Day 6: Hue – Hoi An via Danang (B,L)
After breakfast, check out of hotel and drive to Hoi An via Hai Van (Ocean Clouds) Pass, where a spectacular panorama of the central coastline can be viewed from the summit. Upon arriving in Danang, have a stop to visit the Cham Museum and China Beach before heading to Hoi An.
Afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town centre. Follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the local fish market. Back to your hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 7: My Son – Danang – Flight to Sai Gon (B,L)
After breakfast, pick up at your hotel then depart to My Son, a World Heritage site, 40 km southwest of Hoi An. Located in a lush valley, My Son was a capital and religious center of Cham people, with red brick towers and sanctuaries, considered to be in the same league as some of Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor-Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. These towers and sanctuaries were built from the 7 to 13 centuries. Lunch at local restaurant.
This afternoon, free time until time to transfer airport for your flight to Sai Gon. On arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel for relaxation. Overnight in Sai Gon.
Day 8: Sai Gon – Cu Chi tunnels (B,L)
Morning, pick up at your hotel then drive to visit to Cu Chi Tunnels (70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City), an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam war by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters. Next, return back to Sai Gon for lunch.
This afternoon, explore the city tour including the visit to the Reunification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today this building is a museum and venue for official receptions. Nearby is the Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Neo-Romanesque in form, Notre Dame is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern Vietnam, and end the day with shopping opportunities at Ben Thanh market. Back to your hotel.
Day 9: Sai Gon – My Tho – Chau Doc (B,L)
This morning, pick up at your hotel then heading out of the bustling city, we ride along rice field to My Tho, one of Mekong Delta province. Upon arrival in My Tho, we embark on a boat navigating around the small canals in the delta region, which passing My Tho fruit market. Joining in with daily activities of local people and enjoy the atmosphere of water world along the canal and along the Tien river. The exciting cruise continue to Unicorn island, here you can taste many seasonal fruits and enjoy the local traditional music, performed by the islanders. Having lunch at a typical country garden house. Next stops are the coconut candy “mill” and some other local industries in Ben Tre province.
Then, route direct to Chau Doc. Tonight, you will spend the night at hotel in Chau Doc.
Day 10: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh via speed boat (B,L)
This morning, you will take the speed boat to Phnom Penh. On arrival in the midnoon, you will be picked up and transfer to hotel.
This afternoon, you will visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art – notably sculptures – from throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Drive back to hotel.
Day 11: Phnom Penh – Flight to Siem Reap (B,L)
Morning flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Then start to visit the Angkor National museum known as the grand entrance to a world-class heritage that reveals the glory of Angkor Civilization. Lunch at local restaurant.
This afternoon, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Afterwards, visit Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in the area. Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Visit also Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon. Back to your hotel.
Day 12: Siem Reap (B,L)
Morning, visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara).
Then, visit Preah Khan, built by the King Jayavarman VII and, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain (built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), the temple of Ta Som, as well as the unique brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan. Lunch at local restaurant.
This afternoon, drive to visit Tonle Sap Lake, , also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia for a visit to the whole bunch of community on floating houses and boats such as school, market, police station, children playing and swimming and fresh water aquariums with different fish species displayed. You will have a wooden boat cruise on the river. After that, drive back to hotel for your relaxation.
Day 13: Siem Reap – Departure (B,L)
Today, you will be free until transferring to airport for your departure flight. End of our services.
Inclusive
• Private English speaking guide
• All accommodation on twin/ double share basis with daily breakfast
• Meals as indicated at local restaurant with local foods (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• All tours & transfers in private car/van/bus
• Boat cruise as indicated
• Domestic airfare & airport taxes: Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Sai Gon, Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
• Speed boat Chau Doc – Phnom Penh
• Entrance fees and permits during guided time
• Service charge & government taxes
Exclusive
• Vietnam & Cambodia Visa
• International airfares
• Early check in/ Late check out
• Meals not indicated
• Drinks & beverage…
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
• Personal expenses
• Tips and gratuities.
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