ADVENTURE VIETNAM & CAMBODIA IN 13 DAYS

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 City Tour (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.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3 – 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 4 – 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 5 – Hanoi – Hoi An (B)

0900h – Our driver will arrive to your hotel and transfer you to the airport where you can check in for your 1110h flight to Da Nang.

1230h – Arrive to Da Nang where you will be met and driven to your hotel in Hoi An.

1400h – Your English speaking guide will meet you at your hotel and 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.

You will then have free time to continue exploring the old town, go shopping for those special items or visit the tailor to arrange your new wardrobe.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6 – Hoi An (B)

Enjoy a relaxing day exploring the old town area with no planned activities.

Some suggestions: Cooking class, Backstreet tour, Bicycle tour, Lantern making etc.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 7 – Hoi An – Hoi An – Da Nang – HCMC (B)

1000h – Our driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Da Nang airport to board your 1210h flight to HCMC

1330h – Arrive to Ho Chi Minh where our driver will meet at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the exciting district 1 area of Ho Chi Minh.

After check in you can walk to the famous Ben Thanh markets, explore the streets around your hotel or simply relax and take it easy in the fascinating city.

Overnight in HCMC

Day 8 – HCMC – Cu Chi Tunnels – City Tour (B/L)

0800h – 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.

Lunch will be in HCMC and after you have enjoyed your meal you begin your guided HCM City tour

You will visit many interesting and famous places including, Ben Thanh Market, War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883, and the stones used to create it were exported in its entirety from France. The Central Post Office, finished in 1891 is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam’s largest post office.

1630h – Return to your hotel and overnight at the Hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 9 – Ho Chi Minh – Phnom Penh (B)

Your driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Ho Chi Minh airport to board your morning flight to Phnom Penh

Arrive to Phnom Penh where our driver will meet at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

After checking in to your hotel, you can explore the area around your hotel or take a short Tuk Tuk ride to the river area and night markets.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 10 – Killing Fields – Tuol Sleng Museum (B/L)

0800h – Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you will drive approx 15 km south to the killing fields of Choeung Ek. In the short period between 1975 & 1978 approximately 17.000 men, women and children were detained and tortured at the notorious S-21 prison and transported to the extermination camp of Choeung Ek. Prisoners were often bludgeoned to death to avoid the cost of bullets and fragments of human bone are scattered around the area.

After lunch in a local restaurant, you will return to Phnom Penh and visit the Notorious Tuol Sleng Museum. In 1975, Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and became the infamous S-21 prison. S-21 became the largest detention centre and torture facility in the country where more than 17.000 people were held prior to being executed. Some detainees who died during torture were buried in mass graves in the prison grounds. Covering the walls of the museum from floor to ceiling are photographs of men, women and children and unfortunately, virtually all the people pictured were killed by the security forces.

1600h – Return to your hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 11 – Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B)

0915h – Check out of your hotel ready to meet our driver who will transfer you to the airport to board your 1130h flight to Siem Reap.

1210h – Arrive to Siem Reap where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

In the afternoon you can relax around the hotel pool or hire a Tuk Tuk to take you into the famous Pub Street and night markets.

Some other suggestions are; take an early evening Quad bike tour, attend a performance of the popular Phare circus or for the more adventurous, visit the Flight of the Gibbons.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 12 – Siem Reap And Angkor Wat (B/L)

0830h – Depart your hotel for a visit the monuments of Roluos, which are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmer. Preah Ko, erected by Indavaraman 1st in the late 9th century and dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakhong, the largest and the most interesting of the Roluos group of temples. Lolei, the four brick towers are replicas of the ones at Preah Kho, built on an islet in the center of large reservoir by Yasovarman 1st, the founder of the first city of Angkor.

Lunch at local restaurant.

After lunch, you will visit Angkor Thom, Bayon, Phimeanakas temples and the Terraces of the Elephants and Leper King.

In the early evening enjoy a walk to the top of Phnom Bakheng to view the sunset over Angkor Wat.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 13 – Departure (B)

Free time until our driver arrives transfer you to international airport in time for yourr departure.

Tour ends in Siem Reap

Thank you for choosing Laughing Roo Travel.