ESSENTIAL VIETNAM & SIEM REAP IN 19 DAYS

Day 1: Arrival – Ha Noi – Overnight in Ha Noi 

Our driver will meet you in Ha Noi and transfer you to your hotel in the old quarter of Hanoi. After check in you will have free time to take a rest or start exploring the area around the hotel and take a walk around the famous Hoan Kiem Lake.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Ha Noi City Tour – Overnight Train to Lao Cai – Sa pa (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.

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 Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake

The Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets, is a bustling area of narrow streets home to literally thousands of small businesses and street vendors, selling a wide variety of goods. Originally each of the 36 streets names’ were related to the products being sold there. Hence you can walk from Fish Street to Tin Street to Bamboo Street and you will enjoy exploring the area while riding in a traditional cyclo.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

1700h: Back to your hotel

2030h: your driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to Hanoi railway station where you board an evening train to Lao Cai.

Overnight on train in soft sleeper cabin.

Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Ta Van – Overnight Bungalow in Ta Van Village(B/L/D)

0600h: Arrive at Lao Cai railway station where you will be met and transferred by shuttle bus to the township of Sapa which takes approx one hour.

0800h: After breakfast, a morning shower and leaving your main luggage at the hotel, we will walk from Sapa towards Muong Hoa valley. Here you will discover the wonderful scenery of the Hoang Lien mountain range and meet people of the Black H’mong tribes before Trekking through terraced rice paddies and minority villages along the Muong Hoa River.

We then cross the suspension bridge towards the Zay village, arriving at Ta Van, where we have dinner cooked on a wood fire and enjoy the hospitality of a local Zay family.

Overnight in Home stay accommodation.

Day 4: Ta Van Village – Lao Chai – Ha Noi – Overnight in Ha Noi  (B/L/D)

Enjoy views of the magnificent landscape with your sunrise coffee and enjoy a delicious breakfast.

Once we have said our goodbyes, we will set off to trek through bamboo forests towards Giang Ta Chai waterfall, cross over a rattan suspension bridge and enter Giang Ta Chai village which is inhabited by the Red Zao minorities.

Here we will experience daily life before crossing over Muong Hoa River up walk up the mountain to visit Supan village, the home of the H’mong people. We then board the bus back to Sapa where you can take the Limosine back to Ha Noi at 14.30h.

2100h: Arrival to Ha Noi – Overnight in Ha Noi .

Day 5: Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay – Overnight on Cruise (B/L/D)

0745h-0830h: Your transport will pick you up at your hotel and you will depart for |Ha Long Bay. You will stop for a short break at the Humanity center situated approximately half way on to the bay and enjoy local specialties.

12.00: Arrive Ha Long Bay and transfer by tender to your luxury Junk where the captain will welcome you on board the boat.

A delicious lunch will be served for you as the boat passes through many of the thousands of islands and islets within Ha Long Bay.

1530h: You will have the opportunity to explore what is commonly thought to be the biggest and most amazing cave in Halong Bay, the Surprise Cave.

1700h: Kayaking for an hour around the fishing village and observe the daily life of the local community there. Then back to boat for Sunset Party.

1930h: Enjoy a dinner of local or western food and spend a romantic night on board the Junk.

Day 6: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi – Fly to Hue  – Overnight in Hue (B/L)

Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave, swim and relax. Cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served while you are cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations.

Cruise check-out and transfer to Hanoi

1700h: Arrive Hanoi and transfer to Hanoi airport to board flight to Hue.

Arrive Hue and transfer to your hotel for check in.

Day 7: Hue City day tour – Overnight in Hue (B/L)

0800h: Your day of discovering the wonders of Hue will begin when your English speaking meets you at the Hotel.

As part of your Hue city tour 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 the famous Forbidden City in Beijing and is not to be missed.

1200h: A delicious set menu lunch will be served at a local restaurant and after lunch you will take a cruise on the famous Perfume River and visit Tu Duc and Minh Mang tombs.

Tu Duc Tomb is one of the most beautifully designed tombs of the Nguyen dynasty. Embedded in a lush pine forest, the tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc (1848-83) who had the longest reign of all emperors of the Nguyen dynasty.

Return to your hotel at approximately 1630h.

Day 8: Hue – Hai Van Pass – Da Nang – Marble Mountains – Hoi An – Overnight in Hoi An (B/L)

0830h: Your guide will meet you at the hotel and travel with you in an air conditioned private vehicle from Hue to Hoi An driving over Hai Van pass. The scenery from the top of Hai Van pass is spectacular and offers some great photo opportunities.

You will arrive in Da Nang at approximately 1130h and after having lunch at a local restaurant you will visit the Cham Sculpture Museum. Next stop will be at the Marble Mountains and Non Nuoc village where you will ride the new twin glass elevators to the main area for a visit before continuing onto Hoi An.

1400h: After checking into your hotel .

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 9: Hoi An – My Son Tour – Overnight in Hoi An  (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.

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 .

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 10: Hoi An Cooking Class – Overnight in Hoi An (B/L)

0830h – Your guide will meet you at your hotel ready for you to start your tour.

You will walk to the local market to see and select the fresh produce.

Next you will take a covered boat to Cam Thanh Village where you will arrive to a local house in Cam Thanh.

After arriving to the coconut

At the cooking class you will prepare and make dishes selected from the menu. After the class we sit down and enjoy all the dishes you cooked.

Afterwards you will have free time to participate in some fun activities such as sailing the basket boats around the pond, learn how to make rice paper and decoration vegetable and fruit flowers.

1430h– Back to your hotel.

 Relaxing day and overnight in Hoi An

Day 11: Hoi An – Da Nang  Flight to  Ho Chi Minh (B)

Free time for you to finish your shopping or try on the new clothes you have had made. After you have checked out of your hotel we will transport you to the airport flight to Ho Chi Minh.

Overnight in Ho Chi minh

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh Cu Chi –  City Tour – Overnight in Ho Chi Minh (B/L)

0830h – The driver will pick you up travel 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.

Back to Ho Chi Minh for lunch

After lunch and you will visit many interesting and famous places including, Ben Thanh Market,War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace,Notre Dame Cathedraland 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.

Approx time end from 16.30h to 17.00h

Overnight in Ho  Chi Minh

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh – My Tho – Can Tho / Mekong Delta – Overnight in Can Tho (B/L)

0730h: Check out of your hotel and depart for My Tho where you will begin your cruise on the mighty Mekong River . Travelling through the green vegetation of the canals to a local orchard, where you will be treated to a delicious lunch in a restaurant in the heart of the Mekong complete with tropical fruits. There is also a visit to the Dong Tam snake farm where snakes are bred for snake wine and a variety of other uses. Visit VinhTrang pagoda, built in 1849 is a combination of Asian and European architecture before travelling to Can Tho city in the heart of the Mekong Delta.

Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 14: Can Tho  – Travel to  Ho Chi Minh – Overnight in Ho Chi Minh(B/L)

0600h: After enjoying breakfast, your guide will take you by boat to the Cai Rang floating market which is one of the busiest floating markets in Mekong Delta. Be amazed by hundreds of small boats barging and jostling for space to sell their goods and experience the Mekong rural lifestyle. After sampling local fruits, your guide will escort you back to the hotel through a myriad of interesting canals.

Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in HCMC.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh – Fly to Siem Reap – Overnight in Siem Reap (B)

Free day until time to checked out of your hotel and transfer to the airport to board your flight to Siem Reap

Upon arrival at Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by your English speaking tour guide at the airport and then transfer to your hotel for check in.

Stay overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 16:Siem Reap – Angkor Thom – Angkor Wat – Tonle Sap – Overnight in Siem Reap (B/L)

0530h – In the morning you will start your tour with a visit to the ancient capital of Angkor Wat’s

Next you will visit 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). ( The hotel will pack the breakfast for you take away )

After will visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor, Angkor Wat.

Next is a visit to the Bakheng Temple which was built in the 9^th century .

Then we will taket you visit the Khmer Village and enjoy the views of rice fields & palm trees while you take in the fresh air.

Next you will take a ride in a boat on Tonle Sap Lake, Known as the “Great Lake” of Cambodia and one of the largest in Asia. During the short cruise you be able to observe life on the water as you pass by floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals.

Back to the hotel and Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 17:Natural waterfall + Remote Temple & Hero Rats –  Overnight in Siem Reap 

*In the morning: Leaving from the hotel at 8:00 am, then traveling through beautiful countryside to visit Banteay Srei which is fantastic with excellent carvings in pink and yellow sandstone, continue to Kulen Mountain which is the most sacred place for Cambodian as well as the most important place for visitors. You can enjoy a combination of natural beauty and Cambodia culture in relaxing atmosphere. It is the place where in the year 802 Jayavarman II was crowned as Devaraja (God King) and announced the independence from Java. Cambodia as we know it today was born. What we can see at the mountain are the most beautiful waterfall in Cambodia, thousand of Shiva Linga carvings along the riverbed, Preah Ang Thom ( Giant reclining Buddha statue), and footprint of Buddha. Then we are taking a break for lunch at local restaurant.

*In the Afternoon: After lunch, we continue to visit Landmine Museum, Palm Sugar Village. Next, continue to discover tithe APOPO center. Visitor Center and experience the realities of humanitarian demining and how we train rats to save lives. You will learn about landmines, how we clear them, and see a live demo of the HeroRATs. Learn about how Cambodia became one of the most mine-affected countries in the world.

End of the day. You will be dropped back at your hotel in Siemreap .

Day 18:  Siem Reap – Relaxing – Overnight in Siem Reap (B)

Free day in Siem Reap and Overnight in  Siem Reap

Day 19: Departure (B)

Free day for you until time to check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport or train station where your time with us will sadly come to an end.