7-Day Private Tour Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh, Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta

Day 1: Welcome To Siem Reap

1. Siem Reap
   12h
   Fly to Siem Reap, CAMBODIA
   
   Welcome to Cambodia. Upon arrival in Siem Reap Airport, obtain your Cambodia visa, and then clear Immigration and Customs. After collecting your baggage, exit the airport arrival gate to meet the local guide outside. He/she will be holding a sign with your names on it.
   
   Meet your English-speaking guide for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and driver. Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire.
   
   Settle in and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Day 2: The Wonders of Angkor

1. Angkor Thom South Gate
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Angkor Thom South Gate
   Spend the early morning visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). This huge walled complex was the centre of the world’s largest city in 1200. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the King Jayavarman VII decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. The scale is simply staggering and we are immediately overwhelmed by the audacity of Jayavarman on arrival at the city’s gates. The causeway is lined by an intricate bridge depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk from Hindu mythology in which the devas (gods) and asuras (devils) play tug of war with a naga (seven-headed serpent) to obtain the elixir of immortality. Its vast walls, some 6m wide, 8m high and 13km in length contain many monuments.
2. Bayon Temple
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Bayon Temple
   Next, visit Bayon temple surrounded by faces on all sides, visitors never forget the enigmatic and enchanting temple of the Bayon. At the exact centre of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Its 54 towers are each topped off with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), which bear more than a passing resemblance to the king himself. These colossal heads stare down from every side, exuding power and control with a hint of compassion, just the mix required to keep a hold on such a vast empire.
   
   Unlike his predecessors who had worshipped the Hindu deities of Shiva and Vishnu, Jayavarman VII adopted Mahayana Buddhism as the fount of royal divinity. This sets the Bayon apart from many other Angkorian monuments. The bas-reliefs here depict intricate scenes of ancient battles against the Chams and offer a wonderful snapshot of daily life during the Angkor period.
3. Baphuon Temple
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Baphuon
   You’ll then continue to visit Baphuon. It is located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain built as the state temple of Udayadityavarman II dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva.
4. Terrace of the Elephants
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Terrace of the Elephants
   Stroll to the Terrace of the Elephants is part of the walled city of Angkor Thom. The terrace was used by Angkor's king Jayavarman VII as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army. It was attached to the palace of Phimeanakas, of which only a few ruins remain.
5. Terrace of the Leper King
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Terrace of the Leper King
   We also visit, Terrace of the Leper King is located in the northwest corner of the Royal Square of Angkor Thom, Cambodia. It was built in the Bayon style under Jayavarman VII, though its modern name derives from a 15th-century sculpture discovered at the site. The statue depicts the Hindu god Yama, the god of death.
6. Phimeanakas
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Phimeanakas
   Next, visit Phimeanakas or Vimeanakas, is a Hindu temple in the Khleang style, built at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman, and then completed by Suryavarman I in the shape of a three tier pyramid as a Hindu temple.
7. Ta Prohm
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Ta Phrom
   Next, you’ll continue to Ta Phrom this temple is perhaps the most atmospheric of all Angkor’s treasures. The temple was a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been left to the destructive power of nature by archaeologists to demonstrate the awesome power of nature.
   
   It has been largely consumed by the jungle and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. At every turn you expect to see Indiana Jones or Lara Croft step out from behind a fallen pillar. It is one of the most regularly visited temples, with visitors often arriving during the middle of the day to take advantage of the protective forest canopy above the ruined temple. Ta Prohm looks as many of the monuments did when European explorers first laid eyes on them. This was one of the settings for Lara Croft’s adventures in “Tomb Raider”.
   
   Afterwards, enjoy your lunch at a delicious local restaurant.
8. Angkor Wat
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Angkor Wat
   Take a break for lunch at local restaurant and afterwards, you’ll be dazzled by what you see this afternoon at the vast, 12th-century Angkor Wat temple; the bas-reliefs and many devatas (guardian spirits) that cover its walls inspire awe and admiration. This example of classical Khmer architecture has been a significant religious center for Hindus and then Buddhists through the ages.

Day 3: Beng Mealea & Koh Ker

1. Prasat Beng Mealea
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Beng Mealea
   Today, meet your personal guide and driver and travel to the lost temple of Beng Mealea, the titanic of temples, a slumbering giant lost for centuries in the forests of Cambodia. It is the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples, a mirror image of Angkor Wat, but utterly consumed by the voracious appetite of nature. Constructed by Suryavarman II (1113-1150), the builder of Angkor Wat, the forest has run riot here and it is hard to get a sense of the monument’s shape amid the daunting ruins. Here it is possible to enjoy an Indiana Jones experience clambering about the vast ruin. For those who want a more gentle adventure, there is also a sturdy wooden walkway running right into the heart of the temple. It is also possible to visit a nearby Angkor-era quarry from where stone was cut to build these massive monuments.
2. Koh Ker Temple
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Koh Ker
   We then head into the bush to the remote Angkor capital of Koh Ker is an Angkorian site in northern Cambodia 70 miles northeast of Siem Reap; it was briefly the capital of the Khmer empire between 928 and 944 under king Jayavarman IV and his son Hasavarman II. After the Khmer empire had been established in the Angkor area (Roluos), Jayavarman IV moved the capital in 928 to Koh Ker. Here a vast number of temples were built under his reign, until his successor returned to the Angkor area about twenty years later. The Koh Ker site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30-meter-tall temple-mountain raising high above the plain and the surrounding forest. Great views await the visitor at the end of an adventurous climb. The area was only recently de-mined and the road improved. This makes Koh Ker very attractive for anyone who would like to experience what Angkor must has been like half a century ago.
   
   After exploring Koh Ker through the afternoon, begin the drive back to Siem Reap.

Day 4: Khmer Temples & a Tonle Sap Lake cruise, Say hello to Ho Chi Minh City

1. Banteay Srei
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Banteay Srei
   This morning, journey north to visit Banteay Srei. This jewel of Angkor was built by a Brahman in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The famous pink sandstone structure bears a series of exquisite sculptures, lintels and friezes. These, it is said, must have been carved by women as the detail is too fine for the hands of a man. This gives the origin of the Khmer name, Fortress of the Women. While it may be a small temple complex, the beauty of Banteay Srei is found not in the scale, but the detail. Many believe the intricate carving is the best example of Khmer classical art in existence. Stop at a local village to visit families who are producing palm sugar.
2. Preah Khan Temple
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Preah Khan
   Next, continue to visit Preah Khan, built in the same style as Ta Prohm, Preah Khan is a much better state of preservation. Meaning The Sacred Sword, this temple was also built by Jayavarman VII and is famous for its immensely long cruciform corridors and delicate carvings, including the spectacular hall of dancers. Look out for the curious two-storey structure that is almost Grecian in inspiration. This is one of the few temples originally dedicated to both Buddhism and Hinduism. The original eastern entrance was for Mahayana Buddhists, while the other cardinal points represented the Hindu trinity of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. After visiting the temples, you will receive a monks blessing for good luck and good health.
   
   Afterwards, enjoy your lunch at a delicious local restaurant in town.
3. Kampong Phluk Floating Village
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Kampong Phluk Floating Village
   After lunch, you’ll continue for a tour of the surrounding countryside and take an ox-cart ride through the villages and the rice fields. At the end of your ride, have a fresh coconut drink with the family and do not hesitate to talk with the local people to get to know more about their lives. Later, you may wish to join us for drive to the fishing village of Kompong Pluk near Siem Reap and board a private boat. Visit Kompong Pluk village with its houses standing on stilts and board a pirogue to discover the seasonally flooded forest. Visit the floating village and discover the centuries-old lifestyle of the inhabitants of the lake.
4. Ho Chi Minh City
   12h
   After leisurely afternoon, you'll be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM.
   
   Board a flight from Siem Reap with direct service to Ho Chi Minh City.
   
   Flight: Siem Reap – Ho Chi Minh City 18.25 - 19.30
   
   Welcome to VIETNAM. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City Airport, obtain your Vietnam visa, and then clear Immigration and Customs. After collecting your baggage, exit the airport arrival gate to meet the local guide outside. He/she will be holding a sign with your names on it.
   
   Meet your English-speaking guide for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and driver. Formerly known as Saigon, today’s Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling and vibrating economic centre of the South. Over the past few centuries, Saigon was called the “Pearl of the Far East” and was an important trading centre for Chinese, Japanese and Western merchants who travelled along the Saigon River.
   
   Settle in and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Day 5: Discover Ho Chi Minh City & the Cu Chi Tunnels

1. Cu Chi Tunnels
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Cu Chi Tunnels
   This morning, travel to the infamous Viet Cong stronghold at Cu Chi. The hundreds of miles of Underground Tunnels in this area confounded first the French and then the American troops during the Vietnam War. Sections are open to visitors where you can climb in and get a feel for the terrible conditions faced by the tenacious Vietnamese who lived and fought in these tunnels, defending their land against invaders who possessed vastly superior technology. This excursion provides amazing insight into how the Vietnamese won the “American War” (as it is known in Vietnam). Many traps and weapons were made merely of bamboo and netting, yet the American forces, equipped with modern supplies, proved no match for these primitive, yet effective, armaments over the long haul.
2. Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
   After lunch at a favorite local restaurant, continue to discover Saigon's historic landmarks visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, where French colonial presence is immediately felt. The Neo-Romanesque Catholic Basilica was constructed from 1877 to 1833 entirely of imported French building materials.
3. Saigon Central Post Office
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Central Post Office
   Next, head across the street to the Saigon Central Post Office, a stunning architectural marvel with rich Gothic, Renaissance and French influences as well.
4. The Independence Palace
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Reunification Palace
   Next, visit the Reunification Palace, also known as the Independence Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975 during the Fall of Saigon. It was here that the Vietnam War ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates and led to the formal reunification of the two sides.
5. War Remnants Museum
   1h · Admission ticket included
   War Remnants Museum
   Continue to the War Remnants Museum, intended as a call for peace with the hopes that the horrors of that war will never be repeated. The museum features a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons and photos of the Vietnamese side of the war, and includes a moving tribute to the journalists, civilians and soldiers lost during the war.
6. Ben Thanh Market
   45m · Admission ticket not included
   Ben Thanh Market
   Afterward, stop for shopping at the French-built Ben Thanh Market, a great place to shop for souvenirs.
7. Ho Chi Minh Square (Quảng truờng Hồ Chi Minh)
   30m · Admission ticket not included
   Ho Chi Minh Squares
   You’ll then stroll the Ho Chi Minh Squares this historic area is bordered by City Hall, the beautiful Rex Hotel and numerous French and Vietnamese restaurants.

Day 6: Riverside Life In The Mekong Delta

1. Cai Be Floating Market
   2h · Admission ticket included
   The mighty Mekong River is the lifeblood of Vietnam and its neighbors. Originating high up in the Tibetan plateau in China, it winds across Southeast Asia for over 2700 miles and reaches its Delta on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. The Mekong Delta is a veritable biological treasure trove of unique species found nowhere else, the area is also integral to agricultural production in southern Vietnam.
   
   This morning, meet your guide and transfer to the Cai Be jetty together. Your crew welcomes you with cold towels and a refreshing drink while your Cai Be Princess sampan sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways. On the river, boat traffic is endless and the activity never ceases. From the comfort of your sampan observe life as it plays out on the riverbanks - the people, the stunning landscapes – while your attentive crew serves you tea and seasonal fruit.
2. My Tho
   2h
   We’ll make stops along the way to provide glimpses of local microidustries: coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn), products that provide a living for the river people.
   
   Your cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite colonial-style villa set in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit trees, giving you a sense of life during Indochinese times. After lunch, take a short walk along the nearby canal system towards the Ba Bon Bridge where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you back to Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy the afternoon and evening as you please.

Day 7: Saigon / Home Or Extend

1. Ho Chi Minh City
   8h
   Tour ends: Saigon. A transfer from Hotel des Arts Saigon MGallery to Ho Chi Minh International Airport is included. Please allow 3 hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
   
   Fly home or begin a wonderful customized private extension.

Pickup details

Fly to Siem Reap, CAMBODIA

Welcome to Cambodia. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, obtain your Cambodia visa, and then clear Immigration and Customs. After collecting your baggage, exit the airport to meet outside your local Guide. He/she will be holding a sign with your names on it.

You will be privately transferred between the airport and your hotel by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide for a three-night stay at the Shinta Mani Shack, the closest hotel to the treasures of the fabled archaeological site at Angkor. Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire.

Settle in and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels