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| Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights |
Arrive at Noi Bai airport and transfer to your hotel. The Remainder of the day is free at leisure. Optional cyclo ride through the Old Quarter to enjoy the local life.
Overnight at Thuy Tien hotel (ROH) in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi
Today is a full day city tour of charming capital Hanoi with ochre-coloured colonial style buildings, tree-lined avenues and many lakes. Set out on a visit to the Temple of Literature for an overview about Hanoi culture and history at the outset of the trip. Then visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument made of an impressive amount of marble and granite. This is where the preserved body of "Uncle Ho” lies in state. Continue visiting the One-Pillar Pagoda in the form of a lotus, it emerges from the water and rests on a single stone pillar. It contains a statue of the Goddess of Mercy with its legendary "thousand arms and a thousand eyes”. Afternoon, visit to the beautiful Museum of Ethnology, where you can grasp an understanding of Vietnam's diverse culture through its unique presentation of objects & dress from daily life. Highlight your trip with another cultural feel through another aspect – art, at Art Vietnam gallery owned by an American Art Consultant. This evening attend a traditional water puppet, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form especially designed for depicting scenes from rural life and many episodes of national history.
Overnight at Thuy Tien hotel (ROH) in Hanoi (B)
Day 3: Hanoi - Ha Long
Drive around 3.5 hours to Halong City with a coffee break en route at a local coffee shop. Arriving by noon at the quay, we board our private junk to begin a 4-hour cruise through spectacular Halong Bay stopping along the way to explore the limestone caves or just lazing about from the deck of our boat. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural wonders. The tiny limestone islands are dotted with many beaches and grottoes created by the wind and the waves that provide an excellent backdrop for swimming. Whilst on board indulge in a delicious seafood lunch. Drop off at the pier and transfer back to Hanoi.
Overnight at Thuy Tien hotel (ROH) in Hanoi (B, L)
Day 4: Hanoi/Hue (Air)
Take the early morning flight to Hue and transfer to hotel upon arrival. Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty of emperors from 1802 to 1945. Morning - take a dragon boat upstream to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s most preserved religious monument standing on the riverbank with its seven-floor tower. Continue by road to visit the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen emperors once ruled Vietnam. Afternoon, drive to visit the elaborate Tu Duc Royal Tomb which was designed to blend with the natural setting of the landscape and Khai Dinh Royal Tomb with different architecture and atmosphere that has elements of eastern art mixed with western designs
Overnight at Festival Hotel (1st class) in Hue (B)
Day 5: Hue – Hoi An
Then, drive to Danang via Hai Van (Ocean Clouds) Pass where a spectacular panorama of the central coastline can be viewed from the summit. Upon arrival in the afternoon, visit the Cham Museum and Marble mountains. Late afternoon, a further 30min drive to the ancient town Hoi An and transfer to hotel.
Overnight at Vinh Hung 3 hotel (1st class) in Hoi An (B)
Day 6: Hoi An
Enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town centre. Visit the former merchants’ houses that are a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese style; the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge constructed in 1593; Sa Huynh Museum located near the Japanese covered Bridge, it contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history and the colourful market with its stalls brimming with tropical specialties. The market is a good place to buy silk to have made into fine garments, all within a day.Afternoon, free at leisure or optional visit to the Thanh Ha pottery making village, opportunity to interact with the local villagers see how they preserve the traditional craft over generations
Overnight at Vinh Hung 3 hotel (1st class) in Hoi An (B)
Day 7: Hoi An – Danang/Saigon (Air)
Transfer to the airport in Danang for a morning flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. In the afternoon, take a walking tour ofSaigon’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 18thcentury
Overnight at Bong Sen Annex hotel (ROH) in Saigon (B)
Day 8: Saigon/Siem Reap (Air)
Early morning, set out on an excursion to My Tho in the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a 2-hour scenic drive passing paddy fields and tributaries. On arrival, board our private motorized boat for a river cruise on the upper part of the Mekong River for a taste of agricultural life on the vast Mekong River Delta visiting a fish raising village then entering Vam Xep canal withbeautiful scenery of water palm. Disembark the boat strolling around Quoi An fruit orchard visiting fruit-drying kilnsand coconut craftwares homes. Enhance your trip with a short horse-drawn cart ride along the village road. Upon arrival at Ben Truc – Phong Phu garden, sample Mekong delta fruit whilst enjoying local traditional music, and an opportunity to interact with the local people under the local daily river life. End your trip with a rowing boat ride to explore the water palm canals. Back to the main boat and transfer back to My Tho. Arrive at the dock and lunch at Mekong Rest Stop restaurant with great Mekong specialties. Drive back to Saigon and straight to Tan Son Nhat airport in time for the afternoon flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival transfer to hotel
Overnight at Angkor Star hotel (Standard) in Siem Reap (B, L)
Day 9: Siem Reap
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, and 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 at Angkor Star hotel (Standard) in Siem Reap (B)
Day 10: Departure
After breakfast, continue exploration with a visit to the enchanting Ta Prohm Temple, which remains in its original state wrapped by the roots of enormous fig trees. Make a visit to Les Artisans D’Angkor school and workshop where preserve the traditional art and craft that most of them lost from the Pol Pot regime. Afternoon, transfer to the airport for departure flight
End of services. (B)
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