SOUTH VIETNAM & SIEM REAP 11 DAYS

Day 1: Arrival HCMC

Driver will welcome you on arrival at HCMC ‘s Tan Son Nhat International airport and transfer you to your hotel in the exciting district 1 area of HCMC.

Overnight in HCMC.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour – Dinner Cruise (B/D)

0900h: After breakfast your guide will arrive at your hotel and you will begin your tour of Ho Chi Minh City visiting the attractions in District 1 such as:

The Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office and the War Remnant Museum before continuing to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where everything and anything is for sale

1400h: Return to your hotel to your hotel or continue exploring the area around district 1.

1800h: Driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to join your peaceful sunset river cruise where you will enjoy a set menu dinner and cultural concert. You will enjoy an elaborately prepared Vietnamese dinner served on board the boat before returning to your hotel by car at approximately 2130h.

Over night in the hotel in HCMC

Dsy 3: Cu Chi – Cao Dai Temple (B/L)

0800h – After breakfast your English guide will meet you at the hotel and drive with you to Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh.

Cao Dai Holysee Temple is the cathedral of the Cao Daism religion with the Divine Eye as the official symbol of Cao Daism. Cao Dai followers worship Jesus Christ, Confucius, Taoism, and Buddha.

Your visit will allow you time to observe the midday service.

After lunch you will explore the Cu Chi Tunnels which is an incredible underground network of tunnels approximately 200 km in length. The tunnels were constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence and contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war.

Stay overnight at the hotel in HCMC.

Day 4: HCMC – Cai Be – Vinh Long – Tra On (B/L/D)

0800h: In the morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel and you will travel by road to Can Tho or Cai Be.

1200h: You will board your wooden river cruise vessel and after a refreshing welcome drink you will be shown the on-board facilities and taken to your cabin.

You will get under way as lunch is being served and you can sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.

In the afternoon you will stop for a guided walk through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. You will also have the opportunity to meet some of the locals and sample some of the local produce and fresh fruit.

Back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong River.

The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. You stay overnight on board .

Day 5: Tra On – Cai Rang – Can Tho – Chau Doc (B/L)

Wake up well rested to the sound of the Mekong river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta

0630h: You will set off for a sunrise cruise. While enjoying an early breakfast you can watch the locals go about their daily work doing everything from drying exotic fruits to building wooden ships in yards on the banks of the river.

After breakfast, you will transfer to a smaller sampan boat and visit Cai Be or Cai Rang floating markets which are the region’s busiest and most lively markets. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skillfully handcrafted regional products.

You will have the opportunity to talk and bargaining with the merchants. Next is a visit to some of the local candy and cake making factories & cruise through the green water landscape to see local houses and fruit orchards.

1130h: Lunch will be in a local restaurant and afterwards you can sit back in the shuttle bus and watch the water landscape from a land perspective until you reach Chau Doc where you will overnight in your hotel.

17.00h- Arrival to Chau Doc and overnight in Chau Doc.

Day 6: Chau Doc – Cross the Border – Phnom Penh (B)

0700h: A driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you to the pier where you will board a speed boat for an exciting ride to Phnom Penh.

1400h: Arrive Phnom Penh and transfer to your hotel and over night in Phomphenh

Relax day in Phnom Penh

Day 7: Phnom Penh Day Tour (B)

0900h: Your guide will meet you and together you will travel to the Russian Market which is one of the premier shopping destinations in the Cambodian capital. Known as Psar Tuol Tom Pong, it earned its nickname in the 1980s, when Russians were the only tourists in Cambodia.

After some time at the markets to browse or buy, you will travel to the impressive Central Market which is one of the city landmarks. Originally completed by the French in 1937, the striking structure is known as Psar Thmei in Khmer or New Market. The huge dome is wonderfully ventilated and a testament to the design. The market is loaded with anything and everything available in Cambodia but buy with caution, as the market has a reputation for overcharging or ‘shaving your head’ as Cambodians like to call it.

Overnight in your hotel.

Day 8: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B)

Your tour guide and the driver will pick you up from the hotel drive to Seamreap

Overnight in Siem Rep.

Day 9: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Temple – Angkok Thom (B/L)

0730h: After breakfast 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 and 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). Dinner is at a local restaurant where you will be entertained with a traditional Khmer folk performance of Apsara.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 10: Siem Reap – Prasat Kravan – Srah Srang (B/L)

0830h: Start your city tour by visiting Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples and Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool representing a Himalayan mountain-lake which is a paradise. You will also visit Ta Som, built in late 12th century is the most distant temple on the grand circuit an. Preah Khan temple, Built by the King Jayavarman VII.

After lunch you will visit the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang (“The Royal Baths” was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls) and Ta Keo, constructed in late 10th early 11th century

Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 11: Departure (B)

Your time is free until for your driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the airport .

Tour The End.