VIETNAM & CAMBODIA DISCOVERY 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 Sapa (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.

1700h: Back to the 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 Chai – 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 – Limoisine to  Ha Noi – Overnight  in Ha Noi (B/L)

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

2100h: Arrival to Ha Noi and Overnight in  Ha Noi

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

0500h: Arrive at Hanoi train station and transfer to the hotel where you can have a shower and enjoy breakfast.

0800h – 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.

1200: 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.

Day 7: Hue City – 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 1500h.

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.

The pass, which once formed the boundary between the kingdoms of Dai Viet and Champa, also forms a boundary between the climates of northern and southern Vietnam, sheltering the city of Da Nang from the winds that blow in from the northwest.

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.

1600h: After checking into your hotel and 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 Countryside – River Cruise – Free Day (B/L)

0830h: We will meet you at your hotel and depart on a Hoi An Backstreets & Village tour. The tour takes you by air conditioned vehicle down the quiet backstreets and through small villages where the locals live so you can see Vietnamese life up close.

Along the way we will take a break at a village café for a coffee, soft drink or a beer before getting on board a private boat at the nearby ferry terminal for a slow and enjoyable cruise on the Thu Bon River. At the end of the cruise you will arrive at a local restaurant on the banks of the river for a delicious set menu seafood lunch.

Arrive back to your hotel at 2 pm .

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An – Da Nang  – Flight to Ho Chi Minh – Overnight in 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: Cu Chi Tunnels – HCM City Tour – Overnight in Ho Chi Minh(B/L)

0800h: Pick up at your hotel and depart for Cu Chi and the famous system of tunnels. Hidden deep underground, the 3 floors of tunnels is a intricate labyrinth of winding ways with a total length of approximately 250 kms.

On arrival you will watch a presentation video and get to see the tunnels. It is very interesting to discover how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived.

For the adventurous, you can have the opportunity to try firing an AK-47 assault rifle which was the weapon of choice for the North Vietnamese Army during the American war. (fees not included)

On arriving back in HCMC, your city tour takes you to the major attraction sites including the Re-Unification Palace, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the War Remnants Museum.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

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

0800h: After breakfast you will meet transport at your hotel and transfer to Cai Be by road. Upon arrival in Cai Be, you will board the boat and journey along the river through the town’s floating market. You will experience how daily life on the river goes on and observe trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Then it is on to cruise through secluded canals and over the Mighty Mekong to a small island where there is a short stop to enjoy seasonal fruits before your boat takes you to Vinh Long. At Vinh Long, you board the bus and transfer to a hotel in Can Tho and over night.

Day 14: Can Tho – Travel to Chau Doc – Overnight in Chau Doc (B/L)

0600h: You will make an early start and enjoy a morning boat trip to Cai Rang floating markets which is one of the most lively and colorful markets in Southeast Asia. After experiencing the wonderful sight and sounds of the market, you will cruise back to town and enjoy breakfast in the hotel before leaving to visit the central market in Can Tho.

Then take a ride around town in a form of transport unique to the local area called a Xe Loi (Semi Loy) which is colonial-era cab pulled by motorbike.

Lunch is provided in a clean local restaurant before you depart on your trip to Chau Doc. Overnight in Chau Doc.

Day 15: Chau Doc – Speed Boat to  Phnom Penh – Overnight in Phom Penh (B/L)

0800h: After enjoying breakfast in the hotel, it will be time to board a speed boat for your journey to Phnom Penh. On reaching the Vinh Xuong border gate, passengers will be required to complete entry procedures before Continuing onto Cambodia. After cruising on Tone Le Sap River, the boat will arrive in Phnom Penh International Port (Sisowath Street) at approximately 1230h.

The rest of the day is free time to enjoy exploring your new surroundings.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 16: Day tour Phom Penh  – Overnight in Phom Penh(B/L)

Begin your tour of Cambodia’s charming capital with a visit to Wat Phnom which believed to have been built sometime between 1373 & 1422. The Pagoda was built to house 4 bronze statues of Buddha washed ashore by the river.

Next is a visit to the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom and take a stroll in its beautiful garden.

You will also visit: the Silver Pagoda so named because of its floor that is comprised of 5,000 silver tiles and houses a gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha.

Continue to the National Museum, built in 1917, it is an exceptional example of traditional architecture and is exclusively devoted to preserving and displaying Khmer art and sculptures.

Next is a visit to the notorious Tuol Sleng Museum.

Visit the Russian Market (Psah Tuol Thom Pong), a lively outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewelry, gems, silk, kramas, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, CDs and other souvenirs.

1600h : Back to the hotel and overngight in Phnom Penh .

Note: National Museum, Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace are open every day. However, the Silver Pagoda and the Royal Palace may be closed without prior notice while H.M. the King is in the residence.

Day 17: Phomphenh – Fly to Siem Reap – Overnight in Siem Reap (B)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board your flight to Siem Reap.

On arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check in.

Free time in Siem Reap.

Day 18:Siem Reap – Angkor Thom – Angkor Wat – Tonle Sap – Overnight in Siem Reap 

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

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 19: Departure (B)

Enjoy some relaxing time before you transfer to the airport to board your flight.