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| Southern Indochina Explorer |
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon, embark on a full day trip of Saigon’s historic landmarks including the 1880’s Old Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Historical Museum (or optional War Remnants Museum) and Thien Hau temple built by Cantonese Buddhists the end of 18th century
Overnight in Saigon
Day 2: Cu Chi
Half-day excursion to the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a 1½ hour drive from Saigon, yet still within the boundaries of rural Ho Chi Minh City, to explore the amazing underground tunnel system built by Vietnamese guerilla fighters during the French and American wars. Return to Saigon in time for lunch with remaining time free for exploring shops and galleries on your own.
Overnight in Saigon (B)
Day 3: Mekong Delta – Can Tho
After early breakfast, leave Saigon at 0700am and shuttle 35 minutes to Binh Chanh district. Turn right at the intersection of HW 50 and route 11 and start biking from here toward Go Cong for a distance of 50 km, we will bike into peaceful countryside with rice paddies and villages along the road. There are many interesting stops waiting for us to take pictures, as well as to visit some families to see the local people making incense for the various religions or weaving sleeping mats, and there will be opportunities to interact with them. After 25 km, we will take a rest by taking a ferryboat to cross the Vam Co Dong River. Continue our journey when we reach Son Qui village, where we will stop again to visit a small but charming mausoleum of emperor Tu Duc‘s grand father-in-law. Our morning bike ride will be finished as we reach the busy road again and we re-board the bus here to drive to My Tho for lunch at Mekong Rest Stop restaurant. After lunch, board our private motorized boat for a river cruise on the upper part of the Mekong River for a taste of agriculture life on the mighty Mekong River. Continue your 2-hour drive to Can Tho
Overnight in Can Tho (B, L)
Day 4: Mekong Delta - Chau Doc
After breakfast, check out of hotel and board the boat for cruise to visit Cai Rang floating market, the unique style of market of the local people. There will be hundreds of boats laden with fruit, vegetables and fish, jostling for trade. Sellers advertise their wares by crying out across the waters. Then we drive to Chau Doc, if weather/climate permits, a short hike into the Bang Lang Stork sanctuary to watch the storks coming back home for the night.
Overnight in Chau Doc (B, L)
Day 5: Chau Doc - Phnom Penh
Early morning, transfer to the dock to take a 5-hour speedboat ride to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, meet and transfer to hotel and check in. Afternoon, set out on a city tour to visit the National Museum which houses Khmer art, particularly sculptures from different periods of Cambodian history; Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom; Silver Pagoda so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles and located within the Royal Palace compound
Overnight in Phnom Penh (B)
Day 6: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (Air)
Morning transfer to airport, then flight to Siem Reap, gateway to the Angkor temple complex. Arrive in Siem Reap and transfer to your hotel. Start exploring the mysterious Royal city Angkor Thom Its 50-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further visit the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Leper King Terrace and Royal Place area. Afternoon, visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat– one of the world’s most impressive ruins. The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art.
Overnight in Siem Reap (B)
Day 7: Siem Reap
Enjoy a drive to the rural outskirt 35km from the town and visit to Banteay Srei, the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture. This is a small temple but its carvings are so impressive. Afternoon, continue your exploration with a visit to the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent root of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, really makes a striking image of a ‘lost World’.
Overnight in Siem Reap (B)
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to the airport for onward departure.
End of services. (B)
