PRIVATE Amazing Vietnam and Cambodia 11 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

1. Hanoi
   45m
   Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by our experienced English speaking guide and transferred to downtown. Check into your hotel and refresh after a long-haul flight. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Highlights

1. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
   8h · Admission ticket included
   Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, his house on stilts and garden. A short walk from the mausoleum is one of the great symbols of Hanoi, the One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th-century wooden temple built on a single stone pillar in the water. It was designed to resemble a blooming lotus. Visit Tran Quoc, one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam, meaning “protecting the country”.
   
   In the afternoon, visit the venerable Temple of Literature built in 1077 – Vietnam’s first university. Continue with the Museum of Ethnology where display artifacts of 54 minority groups in Vietnam.
   Late afternoon, take a rickshaw ride (cyclo) around the Old Streets which were named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Stop at Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple to learn about legend of the lake. Browse through art galleries, handicraft shops and cafes. Enjoy a Water Puppet Show, typical traditional performance created by Vietnamese wet-rice farmers in Red River Delta in 10th century.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Overnight on boat

1. Hạ Long Bay
   8h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, depart by road to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. Travel through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the landscape of rice fields, water buffalo, the daily life of the Vietnamese village. Board a traditional Junk. Lunch on board. The cruise passes by many rocks and islets in many funny shapes. The cruise may stop for a while for visiting one of the best caves on the bay. Later on, the Junk will anchor in a peaceful bay for relaxing and overnight. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – fly to Danang - Hoi An

1. Hoi An
   8h · Admission ticket included
   Breakfast is served while the Junk cruises around Ha Long Bay, passing by many islets named by their shapes such as Dog, Incense Urn, Fighting Cock, Finger, etc. Stop for a while to explore a cave - one of the most beautiful caves of the bay. The Junk then continues cruising towards the wharf. Ready to disembark about 10:30AM. Drive back to Hanoi and continue to Noi Bai Airport for a flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our guide and drive to Hoi An, around 35 kilometers away. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 5: Hoi An Ancient town – Walking tour

1. Hoi An
   3h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, you will walk around the tiny town of Hoi An with your guide to visit a 400 year old Japanese Bridge, a 300 year old Chinese temple, and a 200 year old Vietnamese former merchants’ house, local market.
   There are numerous art galleries, souvenir and tailor shops where you can get some express made-to-order clothes if you like! Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 6: Hoi An - Travel to Hue by road

1. Hue
   8h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, you will drive along the most beautiful coast of Vietnam to Hue. Stop at Hai Van pass for a panoramic view of white sand beach, blue sea and green mountains.
   Arrival in Hue, visit the Imperial Citadel where Kings of Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945, including Flag Tower, Nine Holy Cannons, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Dynastic Urns, Forbidden Purple City, etc.
   
   In the afternoon, take a Dragon boat Cruise upstream of the peaceful Perfume River (Huong River) to Thien Mu Pagoda. Our car will pick you up there to King Tu Duc Tomb. The tomb is set in an elegant garden with a magnificent lake and pavilion complex. Overnight in Hue.

Day 7: Hue – fly to Ho Chi Minh City

1. Ho Chi Minh City
   4h · Admission ticket included
   Breakfast at your hotel and then drive to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
   Upon landing, you’re met by our guide and visit the moving War Remnants Museum which presents a partial, but riveting, view of the American War, as it is known in Vietnam. Continue to the Reunification Palace, former residence of the Indochina Governor General and later President of the Republic of Southern Vietnam until the fall of Saigon in April 30, 1975. The day ends with visits to the charming Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, one of the oldest buildings Ho Chi Minh City built around 1886-1891, the elegant Saigon Opera House, and the bustling Ben Thanh Market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City

1. Ben Tre
   8h · Admission ticket included
   It is a 2 hour drive to Ben Tre province. On arrival, hop on a motorized boat on the Ben Tre River – one of the tributaries of the mighty Mekong river - while sight-seeing lively activities along the river such as fishing and boats transferring fruits, flowers and rice to local markets. Our first stop is at a brick kiln to see how to make bricks traditionally by printing and baking. Those brick kilns are open in dry season when there is enough sunshine to dry the bricks. Continuing on, we’ll visit a coconut processing workshop located along the canals. When we return to the boat, we’ll motor through natural scissors creeks to a village, see some local houses, sleeping mat making & enjoy some local fruits.
   Take a Tuk-Tuk (motorized cart) or bicycle along shady paths, pass by green rice fields & vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life. Lunch at a local riverside restaurant.
   Next, we’ll take a rowing-boat along a beautiful water palm creek before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City - Siem Reap - Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake

1. Siem Reap
   20h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for a morning flight to Siem Reap.
   Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you’re met by our guide and transferred to hotel for check in.
   In the afternoon, we embark and enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" move from place to place following water levels and current. Visit “Les Artisans d’Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles”, this centre is working with young artisans; the team creates, produce and market a unique collection of ornamental sculpture, lacquer ware, silk weaving and silk painting. The company promotes fair, sustainable development in order to provide benefits to the rural communities. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 10: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Other Temples

1. Angkor Archaeological Park
   8h · Admission ticket included
   Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
   Next, visit to Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.
   Afternoon, visit to the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Enjoy wonderful sunset from the top of Pre Rup Temple.

Day 11: Siem Reap – Departure

1. Siem Reap
   20m
   Breakfast at hotel and be free at leisure until transfer to Siem Reap airport for your departure flight.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels