Vietnam and Cambodia Express, Vietnam
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival in Hanoi in Vietnam, Xin Chao "Hello"
Arrival at Noi Bai airport (Hanoi). Meeting with the guide for the transfer to the city center and hotel accommodation. Free day to rest or make a first discovery of the city.
Overnight at the hotel (Hanoi)
DAY 2
Visit of Hanoi
Full-day tour to Hanoi; in the morning visit to the Ba Dinh Square to see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and its “house on stilts”; visit the famous Pagoda resting on a pillar of Hanoi, similar to a lotus flower. The visit continues to the Temple of Literature of 1070 dedicated to the culture of Confucius and a visit to the Museum of Ethnology, where we will observe the fascinating cultural diversity of this ancient land. In the afternoon visit to the infamous Hoa Lo prison, known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War and then to the National History Museum of Vietnam. In the evening, a cyclo ride through the historic center of Hanoi, a network of narrow alleys, houses and shops, also known as “The 36 streets”. In the late afternoon you will witness the delightful spectacle of water puppets.
Overnight at the hotel (Hanoi)
DAY 3
From Hanoi to Halong Bay
Morning departure for Ha Long Bay. You will pass through the rich farms of the Red River Delta. Arrived at the Ha Long pier, boarding a cruise on the beautiful islands that emerge from the tranquil emerald sea. Seafood lunch and exploration of the Sprise cave, one of the most beautiful caves in the bay.
Dinner and overnight on board the junk.
Stages:
Overnight at the Cruise (Hạ Long Bay)
DAY 4
From Halong and Hanoi to Saigon
In the morning, coffee and tea will be served on the terrace following a Tai Chi course and then we will return to explore the beautiful Ha Long bay and the floating village. Lunch based on Vietnamese and Western cuisine. Transfer to Noi Bai airport for a short flight to Saigon. Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh International Airport, you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Free time available.
– Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight at the Hotel (Ho Chi Minh)
DAY 5
The Cu Chi Tunnel and City Tour
Today, there will be a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels, an incredible network of underground tunnels of about 200 kilometers built by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. We will pass in front of the American embassy in time of war, demolished, before visiting the Reunification Palace, residence of the President of South Vietnam until 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor’s Pagoda and the War Remains Museum, we will continue our journey to the lively Ben Thanh market where everything and nothing is for sale.
– Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 6
The Mekong Delta and Chau Doc
After breakfast, we will leave Saigon and go to the Mekong River Delta. Arrival at Cai Be around 11:00 to start our delta tour with a private cruise on the floating market of Cai Be, passing through a beautiful cathedral. You will then see how rice noodles, rice biscuits and coconut candies are made, along with the drying process of longan fruit. The navigation proceeds along some of the innumerable branches and inlets of the Mekong and the visit to the local orchards. Then you will cross the Tien Giang River, one of the two large “arms” of the Mekong, by motor boat to visit some river islands and explore the countryside by bicycle. The driver will wait for you on the other side of the river to take you on a 45-minute journey to the largest city of the Mekong: Chau Doc,
Overnight at the hotel (Chau Doc)
DAY 7
Departure to Cambodia, Sour Sdey "Hello"
After breakfast, transfer to the pier for departure to Phnom Penh (without guide)with the motorboat (from 7:00 am arrival in Phnom Penh around 12:00 pm). Meeting with our guide and transfer to the hotel. Visit to the Royal Palace complex built in 1866 by the predecessors of King Norodom, one of the impressive colorful Khmer style buildings. Near the Royal Palace visit the Silver Pagoda (the temple of the Emerald Buddha), which shows many statues of Buddha that have been decorated and made with diamonds, emeralds, gold and silver. The visit continues to the National Museum, the characteristic red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture that contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others. Travelers will proceed to visit the Independence Monument,
Overturning at the Hotel (Phnom Penh)
DAY 8
From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Today transfer by car from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (without guide). Along the way you will have the opportunity to stop on the road to take photographs and observe the daily life of Cambodians as you pass through interesting provincial towns, between villages and enchanting landscapes. This is not a highway and it will often slow down to allow cows and buffaloes to roam the streets, to pass horse-drawn carriages and children going to school on foot. We could choose to stop at Skoun, also known as “Spider Vile” because of the local delicacy: the fried tarantula! Will you try one? Departure for the Tonle Sap, along the eastern side of the lake. Arrival in Kampong Phluk, the “flooded forest” accessible by boat only during high water. Nearby is a fishing village,
Overnight at The Hotel (Siem Reap)
DAY 9
Banteay Srei and Ta Prohm
We will head towards the rural countryside to the small but beautiful temple of Banteay Srei, mostly built of pink sandstone, a harder rock that survives better than the rigors of time. We will also visit the Landmine Museum of Mr. Akira. Stop in a local village to visit the families that produce palm sugar.
Don’t miss the Banteay Samre: its pink sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs among the most interesting of Angkor. We will continue towards the famous Ta Prohm, abandoned to nature, remembering that as empires rise and fall, the unrestrained power of nature proceeds, unaware of the dramas of human history. In the afternoon we will return to the main Angkor Park and go to Tasom. The day will end with the sunset over the rice fields of the royal crematorium of Pre Rup, a classic view of the Cambodian countryside.
Overnight at The Hotel (Siem Reap)
DAY 10
Visit of Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat
After breakfast we will start the visit of Angkor Thom, starting from the South Gate and the Bayon Temple, famous throughout the world for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. We will also visit the Baphuon temple, a pyramidal representation of the mythical Mount Meru, and the Phimeanakas temple, a huge complex that was used by the king in the past. We will continue with the Elephant Terrace and, hidden in the forest, Ta Prohm, famous for the movie “Tomb Raider”. The tour continues to the Mother of all temples, the Angkor Wat, which is believed to be the largest religious building in the world. This temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength for all Khmer. Towards evening we recommend enjoying a Apsara show.
Overnight at The Hotel (Siem Reap)
DAY 11
End of The Program
After breakfast transfer (without guide) to Siem Reap airport and departure for the next destination.
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