Tour Highlights:
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Travelling by cycle through the old quarter of Hanoi - absorbing the endless bustle of activity.
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Cruising aboard a traditional junk amidst the majestic limestone cliffs and emerald green waters of magnificent Ha long Bay
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Touring the former imperial capital Hue, home to successions of imperial dynasties
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Wandering the charming streets of Hoi An town -lined with centuries old houses and quiet boutiques
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Exploring vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, the dynamic heart of Vietnam
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The colorful floating markets, emerald rice fields, lush back waterways; these are the things that make the Mekong so interesting
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Travelling by cycle through the old quarter of Hanoi - absorbing the endless bustle of activity.
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The incomparable temples of Angkor
Itinerary’s brief:
Day 1: Arrival Phnom Penh
Day 2: Phnom Penh departure
Day 3: Siem Reap
Day 4: Siem Reap - Luang Prabang
Day 5: Luang Prabang
Day 6: Luang Prabang
Day 7: Luang Prabang - Hanoi
Day 8: Hanoi - Halong Bay
Day 9: Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An
Day 10: Hoi An
Day 11: Hoi An - Hue
Day 12: Hue city tour
Day 13: Hue flight to Ho Chi Minh city
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh city - Cai be- Vinh Long - Ho Chi Minh city
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh departure
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Phnom Penh ( D )
In the morning, visit Phnom Penh including the Royal Palace complex. This palace dates from 1866 and was the last one built during the French colonial period. The same complex houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. Continue on to the National Museum, built in 1917. Housed there are over 5000 statues, lingas and others artifacts arranged according to pre- Angkor and post -Angkor periods of Cambodia history and visit Wat Phnom.
In the afternoon, visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes. The museum is housed in a former school which was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as a detention and torture center. You will also visit Cheung Ek, better known as the Killing Fields, located 15 kilometres outside of the city. Late afternoon boat cruise on Mekong River. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 2: Phnom Penh departure ( B, L )
Free at leisure until transfer to airport for flight to Sieamreap. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. After check in at the hotel, start your tour with a visit
to the Khmer ruins of Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most impressive historic sites. The magnificent temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by King Suryavarman II. It was constructed over a period of 30 years and features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. In 1992 the UNESCO declared the monument and the whole city of Angkor a World Heritage Site. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 3: Siem Reap ( B , L )
After breakfast, continue your exploration with a visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the Baphou, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace and the Royal Place area. Also visit the picturesque Ta Prohm ruin that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown. Other visits include Ta Keo, Chay Say Tevoda, Thammanon, Bantey Kdei and Srah Srang. These exquisite temples depict Khmer history and myths. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Cambodian dinner and dance. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 4: Siem Reap - Luang Prabang ( B, L )
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, an enchanting town filled with historic temples and colonial style buildings, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring Luang Prabang at your leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 5: Luang Prabang ( B, L )
Start the day with a tour of Luang Prabang. The entire town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Visit the National Museum, also called the Royal Palace, a modest but graceful building that combines traditional Lao and French beaux-arts motifs. Afterwards visit Wat Mai and Wat Visoun, the oldest living temple in Luang Prabag containing a collection of antique wooden Buddhas. Visit the nearby Wat Aham before continuing to Wat Xieng Thong, the crowning jewel of all the monasteries and temples in the city. From there, stroll down the main street of Luang Prabang, stopping at some of the many temples that line its sides, including Wat Sibounheuang, Wat Si Moungkhoun, Wat Sop and Wat Sene, Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 6: Luang Prabang ( B , L )
Travel by boat to the Pak Ou Caves, a magnificent group of caves that are noted for their impressive Lao style Buddha sculptures assembled over the centuries by local people and pilgrims. There are two caves, Tham Thing the lower cave and Tham Phum. Also visit Ban Xang Hai village, once a Jar-Maker Village. The community fills the jars with Lao Lao, the local rice whisky. Return back to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 7: Luang Prabang - Hanoi ( B , L )
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight. Arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, where you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
After check-in the hotel. Start the day city tour with the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Your next stop will be the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Constructed in 1070, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Continue to West Lake and one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Hanoi, Tran Quoc, and the nearby Toaist temple of Quan Thanh which dates from the Ly Dynasty. Have lunch in one of the cities finest restaurants before taking a tour by cyclo, a chauffeur- pedalled tricycle, through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the ‘36 streets’. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It's a great place to explore, especially by cyclo, with plenty of photo opportunities all around you. In the afternoon the Ethnology, Army or National Fine Arts Museum, will be visited next, time will only allow for one to be visited so decide which one you would most like to see. According to availability: Finish the day with a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 8: Hanoi - Halong Bay ( B, L)
0800 depart for the 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay. Journey there through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work the rice fields, take pigs to the market on motorbikes and plough the fields with their water buffaloes. Arrive in Halong and board your day junk for the cruise on the emerald green waters of Halong Bay, among the 3,000 spectacular limestone islands. A fresh seafood lunch will be served on board.
In the afternoon your boat will start the cruise back to Halong City where your vehicle will be waiting for you to take you back to Hanoi; arrival time will be in the early evening. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 9: Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An ( B )
After an early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival in Danang, drive past the Marble Mountains to Hoi An, a charming small town with an eccentric mix of western and eastern-influenced architecture. Upon arrival, check-in to the hotel
Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 10: Hoi An ( B , L )
Enjoy a walking tour on Hoi An’s narrow cobblestone streets and visit the Phuc Kien Pagoda, the 400 year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the colourful bazaar, and the local market. Later on, enjoy a boat trip down the Thu Bon River to Kim Bong Village on Cam Kim Island. The residents of this village are woodworkers and boat building families. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 11: Hoi An - Hue ( B, L )
Breakfast at hotel. Your tour guide & driver pick up at hotel for transfer to Hue. Along the way, stop in Danang for a visit to the Cham Museum, , which houses the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. The museum, which is a replica of Cham architecture, displays about 300 original sandstone and terra cotta artefacts, dating back to between the fifth and the sixteenth century.Arrive in Hue in the afternoon. Overnight in Hue.
Day 12: Hue city tour ( B,L )
Breakfast at hotel. Start visit to the former imperial capital of Vietnam, begins with a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River. From here you will visit Hue's Thien Mu Pagoda and the Imperial Citadel, from which the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. In the afternoon, visit the
mausoleums of two of Hue's former emperors. The mausoleum of Tu Duc features tranquil gardens and lakes, whilst Emperor Khai Dinh's is designed in an elaborate European-influenced style. Overnight in Hue.
Day 13: Hue flight to Ho Chi Minh city ( B, L )
After breakfast, be transfer to airport for short flight to Ho Chi Minh city
This afternoon, visit the War Remnants or the History Museum and the former Presidential Palace. Finish the day with a stroll around the colonial sights of the city including the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Saigon Post Office amongst others. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh city - Cai be- Vinh Long - Ho Chi Minh city ( B,L)
The colourful floating markets, emerald rice fields, lush back waterways; these are the things that make the Mekong so interesting. Journey to Cai Be and Vinh Long to cruise the many tributaries of the Mekong, walk along the famous ‘Monkey Bridges’ that link the villages together and wander amongst vibrant tropical fruit gardens.
At 0730 depart for the 3-hour drive to Cai Be, deep in the Mekong Delta. The tour begins with a visit of the colourful Cai Be floating market, followed by a visit to some locale home factories that produce rice paste, rice popcorn and coconut candy. Proceed to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through a large network of meandering tributaries, crisscrossed with countless arroyos. Lunch is eaten before the cruise to Vinh Long to discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong Delta rural life. Following head back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh departure ( B )
The day is at your leisure for last minute sight-seeing or shopping until your transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your onward flight to Siem Reap.
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CATEGORY |
Price per person in USD in the party of 01 Jun 2009 - 30 Jun 2010 |
| 2p |
3-4 |
5-6 |
7-8 |
9 -10 |
|
Superior 3* |
2450 |
2250 |
2120 |
2020 |
1900 |
|
First Class 4* |
2850 |
2750 |
2600 |
2500 |
2350 |
| Deluxe 5* |
3550 |
3450 |
3320 |
3150 |
300 |
Vietnam Tours 
