VI06 Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia ( 13 days / 12 nights )
Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
Day 1 Hanoi – Arrival
Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 2 Hanoi – Sightseeing – Ha Long bay
Take part of the day to explore Hanoi’s illustrious history before driving to Ha Long Bay. In the morning, visit the imposing marble edifice housing the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (CLOSED ON MONDAYS and FRIDAYS) before moving onto his wooden stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. You will then explore the first university of Vietnam, the Temple of Literature, which is imbued with the profound philosophies of Confucianism. The tour includes stops at the Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and Hanoi’s Old Quarter before proceeding to Ha Long bay.
Overnight in Ha Long Bay. [Breakfast]
Day 3 Ha Long Bay - Boat Cruise - Hanoi
In the morning take a delightful cruise through the limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a seafood lunch onboard and then return to the dock. Drive back to Hanoi with stop en route at a ceramic factory.
Overnight in Hanoi [Breakfast, Lunch]
Day 4 Hanoi - Hue - Sightseeing
Fly to Hue, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam. Arrive in Hue and enjoy a river cruise on the peaceful Perfume River to the Thien Mu pagoda. In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel which was built in accordance with strict principles of geomancy and the poetic mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc.
Overnight in Hue [Breakfast]
Day 5 Hue – Da Nang - Hoi An – Sightseeing
Drive along the coast via mountain passes to Hoi An with a stop en route at the photogenic village of Lang Co. Upon arrival in Hoi An, pay a visit to one of Hoi An’s famous lantern workshops and learn how to make one yourself before setting out on a walking tour to explore this World Heritage Site. Highlights include an ancient merchant house, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the vibrant riverside market. Take a peaceful boat trip on the Thu Bon River and afterwards enjoy free time to further explore the old town.
Overnight in Hoi An. [Breakfast]
Day 6 Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City
Depart for Da Nang and catch your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City [Breakfast]
Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels – Sightseeing
This morning you will visit the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels where 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 8 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 their produce from laden vessels. Visit a village where you will see some family run businesses that produce rice cake and rice paper. After eating lunch at a local house, 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 9 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 10 Chau Doc - Phnom Penh by Boat – 1-hour Foot or Khmer Traditional Massage
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 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 11 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, visit the magnificent Angkor Wat where its extraordinary architecture offers an opportunity to experience a spectacular sunset over the monuments.
Overnight in Siem Reap. [Breakfast]
Day 12 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 13 Siem Reap - Departure
Free until transfer to the airport for departure flight.
[Breakfast]
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