11 DAYS VIETNAM & ANGKOR

Day 1 – Arrival Hanoi
Our driver will meet you at Hanoi airport and transfer you to your hotel in the famous Old Quarter area of Hanoi.

After check in, you can explore the exciting Old Quarter or simply relax until morning.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2- Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B/L/D)
0800 to 0830h – You will be picked from your hotel and start your scenic 3.5 hr drive through the Red River Delta and passing by many small villages on the way to Ha Long Bay.

You will stop for a short comfort break at the Humanity center situated approximately half way on to the bay. There you can purchase souvenirs from a vast selection items, enjoy a drink or simply stretch your legs.

1230h – On arrival to Ha Long Bay, your guide will complete all the required paperwork for you and show you to the shuttle boat for your short trip to the cruise boat.

1300h – After checking in and short cruise briefing, you will be served a delicious lunch in the dining room while you enjoy the passing scenery of the bay.

1530h –You will have the opportunity to Kayak around the Bo Nau Cave area which has a 5 – 7m wide arch shaped entry. The cave covers an area of approximately 200 sq metres and standing at the entry gives visitors a unique view of the bay as if from the mouth of a monstrous beast.

1630h – Time to return to your cruise boat and take a short trip to SoiSimIsland where you can go swimming in the calm waters, lay on the beach or climb to the top of the hills on the island to enjoy a panoramic view of Ha Long Bay.

1730h – Return to the main boat where you can refresh or watch the sunset before dinner.

1900h – A delicious dinner will be served in the dining room and after you have finished your meal, you can relaxing and share stories with other guests while you enjoy a drink from the bar. For the adventurous, you can try your hand at squid fishing from the rear of the boat.

Overnight on cruise boat.

Day 3 – Ha Long Bay – Hanoi (B/L)
0630h – If you put your name down the night before, you can join the early morning Tai Chi class on the sun deck or simply take advantage of the amazing photo opportunities presented by watching the sun rise.

0730h – Enjoy a nice breakfast in the dining room while you watch the scenery of the bay slide past the windows as you cruise toward towards Bo Hon Island

0830h – You will visit the truly amazing SungSotCave which is also known as SurpriseCave. The cave is reached by climbing approximately 100 stone steps and the journey up allows some excellent views of the bay below.

0930h – Return to your cruise boat and time to freshen up before checking out of your cabin.

While slowly cruising back toward the port, you will pass by Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet and many more of the wonderful formations found only on Ha Long Bay. You will also be given a short Vietnamese cooking demonstration before being served lunch on board.

1200 – 1230h – Arrive to the harbour and begin your journey back to Hanoi.

1700h – Arrive to your hotel in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 4 – Hanoi City Tour Flight to Hue (B/L)
0800h – Guide will meet you at your hotel & you will depart to visit: Ho Chi Minh Complex: Completed in 1975 the complex contains Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh museum. Next stop is a visit to the Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius.

1200h – A delicious set menu lunch will be provided for you in a local restaurant.

1300h – Your tour recommences with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology which is widely acknowledged as the best in Vietnam and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. Then it is on to the NgocSonTemple and HoanKiemLake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the HoanKiemLake and was erected in 18th century. The temple is reached by crossing the HucBridge which literally means “Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams”. HoanKiemLake is a focal point of the city and the source of many legends including the legend of the returned sword which dates back to the 15th century and refers to a magical sword used to free Vietnam from Chinese rule.

1630h – Return to your hotel

1700h – The driver will arrive to your hotel and transfer you to the airport where you can check in for your flight to Hue.

Arrive to Hue where you will be met and driven to your hotel in Hue

Overnight in Hue

Day 5: Hue City Tour – Hoi An (B/L)
08.00h – Your English speaking guide will meet you at the Hotel and take you on an interesting tour of the city and perfume river. You will visit the impressive complex of the Imperial Citadel. Built in the 19th Century and surrounded by high stone walls and moat, the Citadel was once the exclusive home of the Nguyen Imperial Family. It is similar to Chinas’ Forbidden City and is not to be missed. You will also take a cruise on the famous Perfume River and visit Minh Mang and Tu Duc tombs.

15.00- Pick up by private car and depart from Hue & transfer to Hoi An. Travel via Hai Van pass

1800h – Arriving Hoi An and check into your hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6: My Son – Hoi An Ancient Town (B/L)
0800h: Start from your hotel and travel 50km from Hoi An to My Son holy land in a private air conditioned vehicle with your English speaking guide. My Son was a major religious site for the people of the ancient Champa Kingdom which flourished between the 4th and 13th centuries The Champa people ruled Central Vietnam until it was finally annexed by the Vietnamese in the 19th Century.

The Champa King lived in the political capital of Tra Kieu (whose commercial capital was the port of Hoi An) and so the My Son complex became the most important temples of the Champa Kingdom. Bricks were used to build the temples without the aid of mortar and sculptures of gods, priests, animals, and scenes of mythical battles adorned the walls. The temples were places of worship to the Hindu God Vishnu.

My Son was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

After exploring the ruins and history of My Son and viewing a short traditional Champa Peoples music concert, you will start your journey back to Hoi An .

Lunch in town .

After lunch Your English speaking guide will take you on a two hour walking tour of Hoi An Old Town. Famous for its quant mixture of Chinese, Japanese and European architecture, the old town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. You will visit, the Japanese bridge built in the 16th century and famous for being the only covered bridge known to incorporate a Buddhist pagoda, the 200 year old Tan Ky house, museum of trade ceramics and several other historical sites.

Over night in Hoi An

Other option in Hoi An you can choose – Cooking Class – Famer tour – Bicycle or fishing tour

Day 7 – HCMC – Flight to Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi Tunnel (B)
In the morning the driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Hồ Chí Minh .

1300h – You will be picked from your hotel and travel out of Ho Chi Minh City to visit the famous Vietcong tunnels at Cu Chi. The incredible system of tunnels, covering nearly 250km, was shelter to over 16,000 communist guerillas during the American war. You will gain an insight into the tenacity of the soldiers and have the opportunity to go inside the tunnels.

1730h – Return to your hotel and overnight at the Hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 8: HCMC – Mekong (B/L/D)
0800h – The day begins with pick-up at your hotel for your Mekong delta tour.

During the ride, you will see many interesting sights that your personal tour guide will be able to explain. Once you arrive in the Mekong Delta you will begin your excursion, visiting a local riverside market, an authentic village with colonial architecture, a local pagoda, various workshops, and narrow lush jungle canals.

1700h – Returning to your hotel in HCMC for overnight

Overnight in HCMC

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh Flight to Siem Reap (B)
Free time untill the driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap

Arrive Siem Reap and check in to your hotel where you will overnight.

Overnight in Siem Reap .

Day 10: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Temple (B/L)
0530h – Your English speaking guide will meet you at your hotel and you will leave to 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 and the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world. The surrounding moat is to represent the ocean beyond.

Lunch at local restaurant and in the afternoon 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).

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 11: Departure (B)
Time for some last minute shopping or simply relax until your driver arrives to transfer you to the airport for your departure.

End of Tour.