Guide

Local English speaking Guide

Meals

Daily breakfast in the hotel Meals as listed in the program, pre-arranged at local restaurants based on local food

Others

Entrance fees, Angkor-Pass, and boat fees where applicable • Meals as listed in the program, pre-arranged at local restaurants based on local food • English-speaking local guide • Government taxes & service charges • Fresh water and wet wipe during transfer (two bottles/person/day)

Transport

. Transfer services in an air-conditioned vehicle • Sharing boat company’s shuttle bus round trip Hanoi – Ha Long Bay for group 2-4 pax • Transfer round trip Hanoi – Ha Long Bay by private vehicle • Sharing boat in Ha Long Bay

Accommodation

Hanoi 5 Star Pan Pacific Hanoi or similar Ha Long 5 Star Indochine Cruise Saigon 5 Star Mai House Saigon Hotel or similar Phnom Penh 4 Star Poulo Wai Hotel & Apartment or similar krong siem reap 5 Star Lotus Blanc Resort or similar

Not included:

Others

• Airfare on all domestic and international flights • Drinks and surcharge for special requests on foods and meals • Entrance fees, guide service during free time & other personal expenses • Surcharge for public holidays (if any) • Travel insurance • Gratuities • Visa stamping fees • All other services not stated in the program.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Hanoi – Arrival
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hanoi – Arrival

Upon arrival at Hanoi airport and after clearing the immigration and customs, look for your name placard. Here our airport representative will welcome and meet you and later you will be transferred to the hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Afternoon, we have an overall view of the capital through a cyclo visit, which will start around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, and stop to visit Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake). From here wander on the narrow streets of the Old Quarter to experience the daily life of the local people. Note: Standard check-in time is 14:00. Early check-in is subject to availability with a surcharge from the hotel. Night activities suggestion: enjoy local beer at Ta Hien Streets, experience the ambiance of sleepless street with live music, the young people of Hanoi, and also foreign tourists. Hundreds of bars and pubs in the Old Quarter are also at your disposal. Or just simply spend your time at shopping malls or various boutique shops. Overnight: Hanoi
Day 2 Hanoi – Orientation
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hanoi – Orientation

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Ba Dinh Square – the biggest square in Hanoi where all the biggest cultural, and political events of the cities, especially demonstrations, take place. Start our visit at the Complex of Ho Chi Minh including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilts, his fish pond, and the One-Pillar Pagoda. Then, visit Hoa Lo prison, also known to American prisoners of war as the "Hanoi Hilton". The afternoon continues the tour to the Temple of Literature, which is considered the first university in Vietnam. Then drive to visit the Museum of Ethnology. This is one of the largest Museums in Vietnam with 2 exhibition areas – inside and outside. Visiting this Museum will bring you knowledge about the Ethnic groups in Vietnam and their cultures. The evening highlight will be the Water Puppet Show. Please note that Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Monday & Friday, in the afternoon as well as during maintenance time (from September to December). Optional: Home hosted-dinner with local family Instead of having dinner in a fancy restaurant with perfect service, spend your relaxing time at a local family in downtown Ha Noi to get an overview of the way of living of a real Hanoian and to sample a traditional home-style meal which is really important in Vietnamese culture. The home-hosted meal will offer an authentic experience that could not be found alone. Notes: • Tour duration: 3-3.5 hours (17.30-21.00) • Capacity: 35pax Overnight: Hanoi Meals :Breakfast
Day 3 Hanoi – Ha Long Bay/ Lan Ha Bay – Overnight Cruise
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hanoi – Ha Long Bay/ Lan Ha Bay – Overnight Cruise

Breakfast at your hotel. Be picked up by a driver at your hotel, and depart for Ha Long Bay – UNESCO World Natural Heritage – where thousands of spectacular limestone islets and grottoes rise from the clear emerald Gulf of Tonkin. Upon arrival at the port, check-in procedure. Enjoy a welcome drink on board before having lunch. Relaxing time while the boat is cruising through many stone islets, floating villages, and small beaches. Visit a floating fishing village, talk, and meet with local villagers prior to your swimming or free time at your own on the sundeck. Dinner would be ready at the time the boat anchors off at a quiet designated Overnight area. Stay overnight and stay on board in Ha Long Bay. Meals :Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 4 Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi - Flight To Ho Chi Minh City (Flight Not Included)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi - Flight To Ho Chi Minh City (Flight Not Included)

Ha Long Bay, designated a UNESCO world heritage site for its limestone rock formations, is home to about thousands of isles and islets of different shapes and sizes, creating a truly breathtaking seascape. Ha Long Bay is also attractive for beautiful beaches on the small islands. Awake early and join the Tai Chi session on the sundeck or enjoy the breathtaking views of the bay while the boat cruises leisurely in Ha Long Bay. Cave excursion after breakfast. Then go back to your cabin to freshen up and check out of your room. Enjoy brunch on board while cruising toward the pier, and disembarking around noon time. Then transfer to Noi Bai airport for a flight to Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City) – the most hectic and business city in Vietnam. Upon arrival at the airport, welcome and transfer to the city center to check in at the hotel. Overnight in Saigon. Meals :Breakfast | Lunch
Day 5 Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Saigon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Saigon

After breakfast at the hotel drive heading to My Tho the homeland of coconut and family factories with local products like coconut candy, and rice paper, … Upon arrival, embark on the boat cruising on the mighty Mekong River viewing the life of the local people living along the banks. We stop at one of the four islands in the area for sightseeing. Enjoy the fresh tropical fruits served in the heart of the garden accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music at the plantation. After that, you will embark on the small boats rowed by the local people through the small channels with water coconut trees to visit the local factories. There you will taste the honey tea and see the local people produce the coconut candy milk and of course, you also can try it or stroll in the garden where the locals feed honeybees. Later enjoy the horse-cart trip through the tranquil road of the village. We continue getting on the big boat to visit the vast area. Afternoon, drive back to Saigon with a stop to visit Vinh Trang pagoda, a famous pagoda in the area its architecture is a mix of Chinese, Cambodian, and French culture. Optional: Street Eat After Dark This evening, meet with your foodie guide and get ready for a memorable tour covering the best street food gems of Saigon. Take in the queue at a local “banh mi shop” for some of the best bread in Saigon before heading to a street coffee shop for a tour briefing. Sample “banh trang nuong”, a pizza-like snack from Dalat loaded with interesting toppings. Take a seat and join the locals at a busy eatery famous for its fresh grilled seafood to taste various snail dishes which are very popular in Saigon. Enjoy a cold beer while chatting with your guide to understand the eating habit of a real Saigonese before heading back to your hotel Notes: Tour duration: 2.5-3 hours (18.30-21.30) Overnight: Saigon Meals :Breakfast
Day 6 Ho Chi Minh City – Half Day City Tour & Cu Chi Tunnels
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ho Chi Minh City – Half Day City Tour & Cu Chi Tunnels

Breakfast at the hotel. Later start the city tour at the Reunification Palace, witnessing the fierce Vietnam War ending in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the palaces are the colonial-styled Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Have a walking tour on Nguyen Hue Street to take photos of the Opera House and the Ho Chi Minh Committee (outside). From here, walk to Ben Thanh Market one of the most typical symbols of Saigon to experience the daily life of the locals and do shopping the hand-made goods there. Afternoon visits Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the few remaining monuments to the Vietnam War. Beneath the ground lies 200 km of tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the forces of the Vietnamese guerillas during the conflict. At its peak, prior to the Tet Offensive in 1968, the tunnel complex was based on almost 10,000 troops. To this day, it remains one of the most impressive examples of how fierce the war used to be. Return to Saigon and have the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight: Saigon Meals :Breakfast
Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh (Flight Not Included)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh (Flight Not Included)

Breakfast at the hotel. Being free on your own in the morning to enjoy your last waking and shopping before saying goodbye to Vietnam. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Phnom Penh on Vietnam Airlines/ Cambodian Angkor Air. Upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, welcomed by a local guide and transferred to your hotel in the city. You will be free for the remainder of the day. Stay overnight in Phnom Penh. Meals :Breakfast
Day 8 Phnom Penh
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Phnom Penh

Breakfast at your hotel. Once known as “The Pearl of Asia”, Phnom Penh used to be one of the finest cities in the region. Situated at the junction of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been Cambodia’s capital for the majority of the last six centuries. Rich in history, the city offers several cultural and historical sites to discover. Start your day with a visit to the Royal Palace, originally built in 1866s by the grandfather of the current Cambodian King. The palace is a complex of splendid regal buildings with its classic Khmer roofs, ornate gilding, and intricate layout of defensive walls, featuring a great mixture of Khmer architecture and slight French touch. It includes the official residence of the royal family with parts of the massive palace compound, partially opened to the public. Wind your way to the nearby Silver Pagoda which houses many national treasures including many golden and jeweled Buddha statues. Perched within the Royal Palace compound, this is the most sacred temple in the country. *** Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda is temporarily closed until further notice. Instead, you will visit less common destinations for tourists such as Governor General’s House, Hokkien Chinese temple, Nagas Bridge, Wat Phnom, National Library, Railway Station, and Central Market. Visit the National Museum, which is designed in Khmer style by a French archaeologist and painter in 1917, dedicated exclusively to Khmer art and sculpture. Gain insight into Cambodian history from Cambodia’s "Golden Age" of Angkor, with an excellent collection of Khmer art and sculpture from archaeological sites across Cambodia. Take your time to learn about the turbulent Khmer Rouge years with the visit to Tuol Sleng, a high school turned interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge era and now a genocide museum dedicated to showcasing the sad story of the thousands of innocent Cambodian people who were tortured on its grounds. Tour the museum, through the narrow corridors and former classrooms of the buildings for an overview of Cambodia’s turbulent past. Stay overnight in Phnom Penh. Meals :Breakfast
Day 9 Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (Flight Not Included)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (Flight Not Included)

Breakfast at the hotel, enjoy free time until check-out and transfer to the airport for a flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport. Today, get ready to encounter the magnificent ruins of the Angkor complex. Transfer from your hotel to Angkor Wat, be amazed by the sheer size of the temple, and learn how the Khmer Empire prospered between the 9th and 13th Centuries, the time the temple was built. Spend the visit to Artisans Angkor to get an insight of traditional Cambodian handicrafts. Cap off your exploration with the ancient Rolous Temple group that refers to a collection of four Angkor-era monuments, the last remnants of the ancient city of Hariharalaya. Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals :Breakfast
Day 10 Siem Reap – Full Day Angkor Temples
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Siem Reap – Full Day Angkor Temples

After breakfast at the hotel, start the tour with the South Gate of Angkor Thom known as Big Angkor, a 3km walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire. The famous Bayon temple was an architectural muddle, in part because it was constructed in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for over a century. Terrace of the Elephants is an impressive, two-and-a-half meter tall, 300-meter long terrace wall adorned with carved elephants and gradual that spans the heart of Angkor Thom in front of Baphuon - a huge temple mountain situated in the heart of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace Area and Phimeanakas - impressive rite and sandstone pyramid. The terrace of the Leper King is at the north end of the Terrace of the Elephants, a double terrace wall with deeply carved nagas, demons, and other mythological beings. Later, you will visit Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat temple, founded by Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century to dedicate to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys, and ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction. Have an enjoyable time at bars and pubs at Angkor night market on your own arrangement. Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals :Breakfast
Day 11 Siem Reap – Full Day Visit & Tonle Sap Lake
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Siem Reap – Full Day Visit & Tonle Sap Lake

After breakfast at the hotel. Visit Wat Thmey, known as a “miniature Killing Field” in Siem Reap commemorating the victims who died there under the reign of Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. Some of the bones were recovered from a nearby well while others are the remains of soldiers who died on a nearby battlefield. Return to the downtown and pay the visit to Artisans d’Angkor, a Cambodian social business originally developed from the ambitious belief that it is possible to revive ancient Cambodian Arts and Crafts while providing training in traditional handicraft skills to unschooled rural youth and helping them find work near their home village. visit Floating Villages, located at 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a ride in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap, the ’Great Lake’ of Cambodia and the largest in Asia. Here you’ll see plenty of examples of the Khmer way of living on the Tonle Sap. Then visit Wat Bo founded in the 18th century, a highly respected pagoda that contains unique wall paintings of the Reamker (Ramayana) that are said to be from late 19th century. We will continue to one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Chars also called the ’Old Market’, where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight in Siem Reap. Meals :Breakfast
Day 12 Siem Reap – Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Siem Reap – Departure

Breakfast at hotel and free at leisure until a good time, driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. Meals :Breakfast

12 days tour

Vibrant Vietnam & Classic Cambodia

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Vibrant Vietnam & Classic Cambodia

Hanoi – Arrival

Hanoi – Orientation

Hanoi – Ha Long Bay/ Lan Ha Bay – Overnight Cruise

Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi - Flight To Ho Chi Minh City (Flight Not Included)

Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City – Half Day City Tour & Cu Chi Tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh (Flight Not Included)

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (Flight Not Included)

Siem Reap – Full Day Angkor Temples

Siem Reap – Full Day Visit & Tonle Sap Lake

Siem Reap – Departure

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