Vietnam - Cambodia Discovery

Itinerary

1. Day 01

   Hanoi – arrival – City tour (D)
   Welcome to Hanoi, the Capital City of Vietnam! Our local guide will be welcoming you at Noi Bai airport; it takes us 35 minutes driving to the center of Hanoi. Check in hotel and have a short time to freshen up. Late afternoon, have an overall view of the capital by a “cyclo” visit, which will go through the fascinating network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as ‘The 36 Streets’ – each street being named after the merchandise traditionally sold there, ranging from fabrics to crafts and from medicines to tombstones. Drop by at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake. End of the day, we will enjoy a unique fascinating show of Water Puppetry, a traditional stage art of Northern Vietnam. Welcome dinner will be followed at the fine dining restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi. Please note: The normal check-in time is 14:00pm.  
2. Day 02

   Hanoi City tour (B/L)
   Today, we will start our city tour from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his simple house-on-stilts and the One-Pillar pagoda near Ba Dinh Square, where the most solemn ceremonies of Hanoi take place. Go on to the Temple of Literature, the very first high school of Vietnam Scholars and a temple dedicated Confucious. Have lunch at KOTO Van Mieu restaurant where provides hospitality and life skills to disadvantaged youth in Vietnam.  In the afternoon, we will move on to the Museum of Ethnology, where you can find an excellent full collection of 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam and wonderful implications of artifacts and patterns from their traditional handicrafts and clothes. Continue the trip to picturesque West Lake to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi built from 6th Century. Overnight in Hanoi.  
3. Day 03

   Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on Cruise (B/L/D)
   Breakfast and a short relax before transferring to Halong Bay. At 9 am, head East for nearly 3 hours to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. Upon arrival in Halong, check in the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands of odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating houses and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the cruise, enjoy cooking demonstration before having dinner. Evening attends activities on the boat or relaxes at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise.  Please note the program may be little varied upon the cruise you choose.   
4. Day 04

   Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Hue (B/L/D)
   You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the "East Sea" by a point-oriented name "Eastern Sea", so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost every islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet, etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise coming back the pier. Disembark from the cruise, transfer overland to Noi Bai Airport for boarding the flight to Hue, the Old Capital of Vietnam before Hanoi took its role as the current Capital City of Vietnam. Upon arrival, picked up by the local tour guide, transfer to check in hotel. Dinner at local fine dining restaurant. Overnight in Hue.
5. Day 05

   Full day sightseeing in Hue (B/L)
   Being recognized by UNESCO as the 1st Cultural World Heritage for Vietnam, Hue is highlighted by the old royal architectural works and the most traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. We will discover the charm of the city from the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City, Hue Royal Museum. Go on having a boat trip on Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda, the iconic of Hue city. Lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Tombs of King Minh Mang and Khai Dinh – two important monuments of the Nguyen Emperors since the early 19th and early 20th centuries with its unique beauty. Afternoon visit Dong Ba Market. Overnight in Hue.  
6. Day 06

   Hue – Danang – Hoian (B/D)
   Have breakfast at hotel and check out. Transfer to Hoi An, an architectural combination of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese styles. The trip will take about more than 3-hour driving through Hai Van Pass (the “Ocean Cloudy Mountain Pass”), enjoy the beauty of Lang Co Beach en route. Upon arrival, check in hotel. Afternoon, you take an interesting walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls, enjoy the attractiveness of ancient houses or listen to the folk music of Central Vietnam at old club-houses. Later we can stop at shrines or stroll into the market located by Thu Bon river, where you may find the same feelings of the artists, who see the rooftops of Hoian a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or get your clothes tailored within a day. Rest of day will be free on your own to discover the town lighten up with thousands of colorful lanterns and night market by the River. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hoian.  
7. Day 07

   Hoian – My Son Sancturary tour (B/L)
   Have breakfast at hotel. Today drive to visit My Son Sanctuary where you can discover the hidden treasure of the Cham culture that once brightly developed in the area of present Central Vietnam. Thanks to the beauty and secrets of building the Cham Towers hereby, My Son had been also designated by UNESCO as one of the five World Heritages in Vietnam. It is a huge religious complex with over 70 towers and temples of different architectures. If you visit My Son early enough you will have a chance to watch Apsara Dance performance. Transfer back to Hoian Town. Have lunch at the local restaurant by the river. Afternoon free at leisure. Overnight in Hoian.
8. Day 08

   Hoian – Danang – Saigon (B/D)
   Breakfast at hotel. Time at leisure for strolling around Hoian ancient town for shopping or relax at the beach. Afternoon, transfer to the airport for the flight to Saigon. Upon your arrival to Saigon (official name as Ho Chi Minh City nowadays) – the most hectic and business city of Vietnam, welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel for check in and relax. Dinner on the cruise on Saigon River, enjoy traditional folk music on board. Overnight in Saigon.   
9. Day 09

   Saigon – City tour – Cu Chi Tunnels (B/L)
   After breakfast, your day will begin with a visit to the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883 and colonial-styled Central Post Office, one of the city’s major landmarks. Then visit Ben Thanh market, a symbol of Saigon. Lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon, transfer to visit Cu Chi tunnels – the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. After a short introduction video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Return and overnight in Saigon.   
10. Day 10

    Saigon – Mekong delta – Saigon (B/L)
    Breakfast at hotel and check out. Head to My Tho, the homeland of coconut and family factories with local products like coconut candy, rice paper,… Upon arrival, embark on the boat cruising on the mighty Mekong River viewing the life to the local people live along the banks. We stop to visit an island in the area, enjoy the fresh tropical fruits served in the heart of the lush garden accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music. Later, embark on other small boats rowed by the local people thru the small canals shadowed by water coconut trees to visit the local factories. There you will taste the honey tea and see the local people produce the coconut candy milk and of course you also can try it or stroll in the garden where the locals feed honeybee. Lunch at the local restaurant by the Riverside. In the afternoon, continue to visit Vinh Trang pagoda, a famous pogoda in the area with architecture combination of Chinese, Cambodian, and French cultures. Return to Saigon late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.  
11. Day 11

    Saigon – SIEM REAP (B/D)
    Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and transfer to the airport for the departure flight back to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to Angkor Complex Temples. Upon arrival at Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by our local tour tour guide and transferred to check in hotel. After the short rest, gear up the exploration of Angkor complex temples, the UNESCO World Heritage starting at Roluos Group of Monuments featured with the three main temples Bakong, Lolei and Preah Ko which are located about 11 km southeast of Siem Reap town, dated back from the late ninth century and is the ealiest sites of Angkor Period with simimar characteristics of architecture, decoration, materials and construction methods which combine to reveal the beginning of the Classic Period of Khmer art. Return to Siem Reap for dinner with traditional Apsara dance performance. Overnight in Siemreap.  
12. Day 12

    Siem Reap – Angkor temple complex (B/L)
    After breakfast, continue visiting the ancient capital of Angkor Thom starting with the South Gate of Angkor Thom which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone. Bayon Temple - unique with its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces, Baphuon temple located in the North of Bayon represented of holy Mount Meru the residence of the gods in Hindu tradition. Finishing the visit at this ancient city by going around The Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Afternoon, visit Angkor Wat, highlighted by the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, carved on the walls and tell the stories of Hindu legends. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th  century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. Strolling around this massive edifice, seeing many galleries with Colums, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple.  End of the day, visit Pre Rup Temple where you can calmly relax and enjoy sun set view. Return to Siemreap downtown. Overnight in Siem Reap.   
13. Day 13

    Siem Reap – Angkor temple complex (B/L)
    After breakfast we explore the Angkor temples including The Preah Khan, built by King Jayavarman VII to dedicate to his father, was a Buddhist temple at the original time and Takeo temple, a mountain temple built in pyramid shape to represent Mount Meru, the mountain of centre of the world in Hindu mythology. Continue visiting the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. This temple is famous by being chosen for major activities of Tomb Raider acted by Celebrity Angelina Jolie. The next stop is Banteay Kdei set in a peaceful and quiet place, serving as a Buddhist temple. Its name means Citadel of Chambers. Then continue to Srah Srang – the Royal bathing pool which was once used for ritual washing. Lunch at the local restaurant. Afternoon, drive to explore the less visited temples at the remote places including Banteay Srei or the Citadel of Women, a temple boasts a remarkable preservation of excellent stone carvings in pink color and Banteay Samre which is believed to be built around the same time as Angkor Wat, because the architecture is of the classic art of the same period though not much inscription has been found for this temple. Late afternoon, return to Siem Reap Town, visit the local market. Overnight in Siem Reap.  
14. Day 14

    Siem Reap – Departure (B)
    Breakfast at the hotel. Your time at leisure to relax and enjoy the services at the hotel or strolling around to visit  Siem Reap Town, shop the souvenirs at the market before going home. Check out and transfer to the airport to board the onward flight back home. Say goodbye to Indochina. The standard check out time is 12:00pm

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