VI03 Southern Indochina Discovery ( 8 days / 7 nights )

Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City – Arrival

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels – Sightseeing

In the morning you will visit the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels where the Vietnamese guerrillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels as hideouts during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon for a half-day city tour. Highlights include the Reunification Palace (photo stop), the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Chinatown, the Binh Tay Market and either the Thien Hau Temple or the Quan Am Pagoda.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City [Breakfast]

Day 3 Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be – Vinh Long – Can Tho

Drive to Cai Be and take a boat cruise to the Cai Be area. You will have a chance to observe the lively activities of local merchants trading produce from fully laden vessels. Visit a village where you will see some family run businesses that rice cakes and rice paper. After eating lunch at a local house, you will proceed to Binh Hoa Phuoc islet for a sampan ride before disembarking at Vinh Long for your drive to Can Tho.
Overnight in Can Tho. [Breakfast, Lunch]

Day 4 Can Tho – Chau Doc

Enjoy a morning boat cruise to the Cai Rang Floating Market full of small boats and vessels that deliver goods from all parts of the Mekong Delta. You will have a chance to observe lively activities of merchants trading their produce. Continue cruising to Ba Lang canal; stop at an orchard to visit and enjoy seasonal fruit before proceeding to Chau Doc, a trading port near the Cambodian border. Upon arrival, enjoy a boat cruise to the Chau Giang fish farm - where fish are raised in cages beneath floating houses - as well as the Cham village.

Overnight in Chau Doc. [Breakfast]

Day 5 Chau Doc - Phnom Penh by Boat

A half day cruise to Phnom Penh gives you a chance to appreciate the immensity of the Mekong River and to witness how locals live and work along the river. Arrive in Phnom Penh and check-in to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit some of the capital’s most impressive sites including the National Museum, the Silver Pagoda containing the Emerald Buddha statue, the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh’s oldest shrine.  Ending the tour by having an-hour relaxing as you get pampered with a rejuvenating traditional Khmer massage at La Rose Spa.

Overnight in Phnom Penh. [Breakfast]

Day 6 Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Angkor Complex

After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in. Afterwards, access Angkor Thom via the Southern Gate to explore the ancient city and then proceed to visit the ruins at Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, the Royal Palace, the Elephant Terrace and the Leper King Terrace. In the afternoon, a visit to the magnificent Angkor Wat with its extraordinary architecture offers an opportunity to experience a spectacular sunset over the monuments.

Overnight in Seam Reap. [Breakfast] 

Day 7 Siem Reap – Banteay Srei – Banteay Samre – Ta Prohm – Visit Local Monastery for Blessing Ceremony

After breakfast, visit the graceful 11th century Temple of Shiva – Banteay Srei – and the Banteay Samre Temple. On the way back, swing by the Ta Prohm Temple which is mystically enveloped in the jungle.  In the afternoon, we drive to a local monastery and meet the resident monks and participate in a private good luck blessing ceremony and wishing you good health and a safe journey, performed by local monks. Sit on the mat while the monks chant blessings and sprinkle holy water on you – a traditional way which is believed pass on the good luck of the gods. Afterwards, a sacred thread will be tied around your wrist. This will protect you from any evil spirits or accidents – a memorable experience! Ending the tour by relaxing after a long day of climbing around temple ruins as you get pampered with a rejuvenating traditional an-hour Khmer or foot massage.

Overnight in Siem Reap. [Breakfast]

Day 8 Siem Reap - Departure

Free until transfer to the airport for departure flight.

[Breakfast]