Itinerary

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1. DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HO CHI MINH CITY

   Welcome to Vietnam, one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast Asia. Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City, still often called Saigon by many locals, the local guide will greet you at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and then transfer you to your hotel by private transfer. Experience Vietnam’s chaotic biggest cities, Ho Chi Minh City with its vibrating energy and fascinating culture. This dazzling city still proudly boasts French colonial charm from its architecture to its food.
   Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
   Meals included: No meals.

2. DAY 2: HO CHI MINH – CITY TOUR & CU CHI TUNNEL

   Start your day with visiting the wholesale flower market. The alleys are filled with fresh flowers ranging from endemic ones in Vietnam to imported ones. You can walk the vibrant and bustling streets, as you stop from one colorful shop to another.
   Next, you’ll make images of many of Saigon’s icons including the fantastically ornate Hotel de Ville which serves as Saigon’s city hall, the turn of the century Opera House, the Notre Dame Cathedral (1880), the spectacular turn-of-the-century Colonial French Post Office and Reunification Palace, the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and Presidential residence. The historical building reminisces the fall of Saigon regime in April 30th 1975. Subsequently, the next worth visiting building is the former US embassy where the last American helicopters fled.
   After lunch, transfer about 75km Northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City to visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the two wars against the French and the Americans. The tunnels, entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel passageways at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totaling over 120km in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination containing meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches and emergency exits, all airms for guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlas prolonged sieges. Afterwards, transfer back to your hotel.
   Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

3. DAY 3: HO CHI MINH - MEKONG DELTA - TRA VINH - CAN THO

   After breakfast and check out of hotel, your guide and driver will meet you at hotel and heading down to the Delta, with our first stop being Ben Tre.
   Start your exploration of the Delta along a narrow canal lined with mangrove trees, before returning to land for by taking a sampan along a narrow canal lined with mangrove trees, before returning to land for a stroll ride through dense coconut plantations. We then return to the quayside in Ben Tre, where the bustling market and streets full of commercial activity provides a vibrant tableau for street photography.
   In the afternoon, you'll visit the Khmer cultural heartland of Tra Vinh, where we will visit some of the 141 Khmer temples practicing the Theravada branch of Buddhism – a wonderful opportunity to experience these serene, peaceful places and get some wonderful portraits of the young monks in their saffron-coloured robes.
   Continue your journey to Can Tho – the capital of Mekong Delta. In the evening, take the short walk to the night market by your own way.
   Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

4. DAY 4: CAN THO - CHAU DOC

   Rising early to take a boat trip along the endless waterway of the mighty Mekong River to Cai Rang Floating Market, the largest floating market in Vietnam to get to know how people here do trading on the water. You will enjoy the view of the floating market at the same time. Later, our boat heads to visit the local rice noodle factory to learn how local people make noodles by hand in the traditional way.
   Back to hotel for breakfast and refresh.
   Next, taking the bicycles at An Binh Market and going along Rau Ram canal.
   The village road is so nice. During the tour, you can know more about local people’s activities, the scenery of the countryside and the beauty of a canal. On the way to Ba Cong fruit garden to know more about a variety of fruits, you will see an ice factory, monkey bridge, some farms, etc…
   Afternoon, travel to Chau Doc where a sunset journey up Sam Mountain provides sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. You also visit Lady Xu and Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple if time permits.
   Overnight at hotel in Chau Doc.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

5. DAY 5: CHAU DOC - CROSS BORDER TO PHNOM PENH

   Early breakfast at your hotel then depart to Chau Doc pier where you take a speedboat along Mekong to Phnom Penh, through floating villages.
   Arrive Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. Cambodian visa on arrival is easily done on site. Your guide will meet you at the dock in Phnom Penh and take you to the hotel.
   Begin with a leisurely walk through the French Quarter, which will open your eyes to Phnom Penh’s colonial-era architecture. Admire Belle Epoque and Art Deco design, a train station built during colonial times as wells as the Buddhist Temple, Wat Phnom, the tallest religious structure in the city.
   Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

6. DAY 6: PHNOM PENH – HERITAGE & FOODIE TOUR

   In the morning, you will meet your guide and head out to visit the most remarkable sights of Phnom Penh.
   You will visit the Royal Palace Compound built-in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, the most conspicuous feature and also one of the most impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is the Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), which displays plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold, and silver. After touring the pagoda, take you back to your hotel for your rest during the mid-day heat.
   Gain insight into Cambodia’s recent dark history on a visit to the infamous Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as Prison S21) and listen to English commentary en route. The prison comprises 4 buildings with exhibitions in several rooms. During your visit, you will barely meet a single person who didn’t lose a member of their family during these years, yet they are all willing to talk openly about it with you. They wish you to hear about it and see these places, to ensure that it never happens again.
   After visiting the museum, take a 40-minute drive to the Killing Fields, see a documentary on the Khmer Rouge regime. Under the leadership of Pol Pot, his government caused the deaths of more than two million people. There will be around 1 hour and 15 minutes to explore the site. An audio guide is available in 15 languages along with a map of the fields.
   The rest day, sip on a cup of coffee or a refreshing cocktail and enjoy a spectacular sunset over the Phnom Penh skyline.
   Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.
   Meals included: Breakfast.
   
   

7. DAY 7: PHNOM PENH - DRIVE TO SIEM REAP

   Have a breakfast and check out of hotel, you will be transferred to Siem Reap by a private car for 314km and the journey takes about 6 hours. Once arrival, check in hotel & relax.
   Indulge in a scrumptious Cambodian dinner with the classical Apsara dancers depicting scenes from Khmer mythology at Angkor Village Theater.
   Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.

8. DAY 8: SIEM REAP - A FULL DAY OF ANGKOR TEMPLES

   A very early start today for one of the highlights of our tour. Start your day by  TukTuk to experience Sunrise at Angkor Wat Temple, the most wonderful remains of a disappeared civilization which between the 8th and 13th century, built the splendid Temple of Angkor, partially annihilated afterwards by invasion and hidden for centuries by forest. Angkor is the biggest attraction not just for Cambodia but for all over the world. This temple, dedicated to Vishnu, was constructed at the beginning of the twelfth century. It is remarkable for its powerful architecture and for the richness of its sculptures. Dawn is one of the most beautiful and haunting times to visit the temples, whose ancient sandstone blocks are gilded gold by the early morning rays.
   Return to the hotel for breakfast then free at leisure.
   We will enjoy a tour in the afternoon to discover more of Angkor Thom (the Great City) including the Southern Gate, Bayon temple, Baphuon temple, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King & Phimean Akas: “Celestial Palace”, dedicated to Hinduism. Then visit the jungle-entwined temple, Ta Prohm – a hauntingly beautiful temple where the roots of giant banyans and strangler figs enfold much of the stonework, creating scenes little changed since the French Adventurer Henri Mouhot re-discovered Angkor in the 1850s. This temple makes the ‘Tomb Raider Temple’ one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.
   Evening you are free at leisure.
   ***Option Experience:
   Your guide and driver will take you out to watch Phare – the Cambodian Circus, an amazing blend of traditional and modern heatre, music, dance, acrobatic, juggling and contortion beautifully choreographed and performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society.
   Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

9. DAY 9: SIEM REAP AIRPORT - DEPARTURE

   Your driver will meet you at hotel and take you to Siem Reap International Airport to catch your departure flight home.
   Meals included: Breakfast.