Vietnam – Cambodia 10 days

The overwhelming image retained by visitors to Vietnam is that of a country blessed with an extraordinary beauty. It’s a mosaic of mist-shrouded mountains, vibrant green forests, a patch-work of rice paddies and pristine white beaches, whilst its villages and cities are custodians of the culture and monuments of a unique 2,000 year old civilisation. But Vietnam is more than just history and scenery. It also boasts a world-class gastronomic heritage: a delicious fusion of Malay, Chinese and Thai cuisines. With plenty of French-run restaurants thrown in for good measure, all at excellent prices, you really are in for a treat! The Vietnamese themselves are a wonderfully friendly people, always smiling, courteous and proud to show off their beautiful country to all. Our tour in Cambodia includes a stay in the capital, Phnom Penh. Beautifully located at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, Phnom Penh, with its vibrant riverside ambience, is one of the ‘hidden gems’ of Asian cities. After being virtually completely depopulated during Pol Pot’s regime, the city is now full of life and thriving once more. A short flight away is the town of Siem Reap, the gateway to the incredible complex of temples within the ancient city of Angkor. At its height in the thirteenth century, Angkor had a staggering one million inhabitants, larger in area than Manhattan. It was the capital of the fabulously wealthy Khmer Empire that stretched from Thailand, through Laos and Cambodia to southern Vietnam. The incredible state of preservation, the beauty of its design and artistry of its sculptures have, for many, made Angkor one of the great wonders of the world.

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

In the morning, you’ll receive cordial welcome upon arrival at Noi Bai airport at and transfer to hotel for check-in and tour briefing. In the afternoon, we take a half day tour visiting the mystical Lake of Restored Sword and the Old Quarter of 36 guild streets from a rickshaw ride. The Old Quarter is a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers still trade the way they have done for centuries. The rickshaw tour ends up at Ma May Old House, an example of dwellings in the 19^th century. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B)

After breakfast at hotel, we will pay a visit to the memorial complex to Ho Chi Minh to know his amazing life. Continue to the Single Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of the two driving forces in Vietnam culture. Afternoon we visit the Museum of Ethnology which exhibits a large collection of artifacts about the cultures of the 54 ethnic groups in the country. Later we enjoy a performance of the famed traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region – the Water Puppet Show. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong (B/L/D)

After breakfast we check out and journey east to Vietnam's greatest natural wonder, Ha Long Bay. Arriving in Halong by 12:30, we’ll board a beautiful traditional wooden junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. We also visit a floating village and a huge cave filled with eye-catching rock formations. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for fishing from the side of the boat. Overnight on board
Day 4: Halong – Hanoi – Saigon (B/L)

Wake up to fresh coffee and take a small boat to a nearby sandy beach for relaxing & swimming & sightseeing. For a great photo opportunity, it is well worth walking up to the hill top pagoda which overlooks the entire bay. Afterwards we return for a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to the shore. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to mystical dragons! Disembark at 11:00 AM and transfer back to Hanoi for a flight to Saigon. Meet up with our local guide at Saigon airport and drive to the hotel.
Day 5: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels – Saigon (B)

In the morning, from Saigon we will head northwest to Cu Chi Tunnels, one of very few monuments remained from the Vietnam War. 200km of the tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the forces of the Vietnamese guerillas, are beneath the ground here and stretches from nearby the Cambodian border to the edge of Saigon, even covering a place that once was a US airbase. We can listen to our guides’ introduction about the traces, exhibits, old weapons here or crawl by ourselves several dozen meters inside the tunnel to get the real feeling of what the War had been in this land. Gradually we will find out the reason why Cu Chi is a symbol of the ingenuity, loyalty, hard work and determination of the Vietnamese. In the afternoon, a tour of the very centre of Saigon will includes the Unification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the City Hall, the Opera House, and Ben Thanh Market. Enjoy coffee and watch the city in rush hour.
Day 6: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Saigon (B/L)

We leave the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind and journey to Mekong Delta, a world that lives and works on the waters. Arriving in My Tho, a prosperous town just 80 km from Saigon, we take a boat to an insular village to visit family workshops producing handicrafts and candy from coconut. Tasting seasonal tropical fruits in an exuberant orchard, we ride a horse cart to a typical Delta house and enjoy folk music by amateurs. Proceed by local sampan through the small canals and side arms of the river to further experience river life. For lunch we’ll sample regional specialties such as Elephant Ear Fish, Rice Ball, etc. After a pleasant break we travel back to Saigon for overnight.
Day 7: Saigon – Phnom Penh (B)

We transfer to Saigon airport for a morning/early afternoon flight bound to Phnom Penh. Met up local guide in Phnom Penh and transferred to the city center for a short city tour including the notorious Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, the infamous Cheoung Ek Killing Field and the Central Market before a leisure walk along the riverside Sisowath Boulevard to conclude the day.
Day 8: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B/D)

This morning we pay a visit to the opulent Royal Palace with the dazzling Silver Pagoda, the flowery National Museum, the hilltop temple of Wat Phnom, and the central Independence Monument. In the afternoon, we’ll transfer to the airport for a short flight to Siem Reap. Greeted at Siem Reap airport by local guide and transferred to our hotel in city center for the night. This evening we’ll enjoy dinner with entertainment from Apsara dancers.
Day 9: Siem Reap (B)

We start exploring the wonders left by a highly complex civilization. First, visit Angkor Thom – the last capital of the great Khmer Empire, taking in the sprawling Terraces of Elephant, the Leper King, the enchanting Bayon and the fascinating temple of Ta Prohm. Dedicate the rest of the day to the magnificent Angkor Wat, the largest and best-preserved of the Angkor temples. Watch magnificent sunset into the land of temples from Bakheng Hill or Pre Rup Temple.
Day 10: Siem Reap – Departure (B)

We travel south towards the great lake of Tonle. Get on a boat and ride down the Kompong Phluk River and into the main village on the waters. Free at our own leisure till the time to transfer to the airport for our homebound flight.