ITINERARY
Day 1: Welcome to Siem ReapWelcome to Siem Reap, the provincial capital and gateway to the ancient Angkor temples. Recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srei and the legendary Angkor Wat. Upon arrival, our driver and a tour guide will welcome you at the airport and take you to the hotel to check in.
Afterward, meet your guide at the hotel lobby for the short tour briefing followed by the orientation tour by tuk tuk- the typical local means of transportation. The tour is to highlight Siem Reap. You’ll be driven along the main bustling streets, channel, passing by Preh Prohm Roath pagoda, Wat Bo or Wat Damnak. Disembark at the PsarChass that’s a kind of Baza – Old City Market where you’ll walk around and learn the local art of how to bargain when purchasing items. Proceed further to the most exiting pub street for city over view then get back to your home away from home.
Meals: N/AAccommodation: Hotel in Siem ReapDay 2: Angkor Tours: Visiting Angkor Thom, Angkor WatGet up early for a transfer by tuk tuk to the magnificent Angkor Wat. The trip is designed for you to see “the spiritual Temple reflex on the water” at dawn- the haunting, cooler and less crowded moment. As the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat where the Hindu God Vishnu is dedicated was constructed by Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys and ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction.
For your most convenience, a table with hot tea or coffee and breakfast box arranged by Travel Cambodia will be served right on site of Angkor Wat.
This is our way to avoid the crowd when they go back to their hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, we continue to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its majestic doors and artifacts. Next, visit the monumental temple of Bayon, the heart of Angkor Thom and known for the hundreds of smiling faces that grace its towers. Move to the Terrace of the Elephants, a platform where King Jayavarman once surveyed his army. Close by is the Terrace of Leper Kings, which includes a statue depicting Yana, the Hindu god of death. Leaving Angkor Thom by its North Gate for Preah Khan (Sacred Sword), one of Angkor’s largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII. Then it’s a short drive to one of the most loved temples of all - Ta Prohm, a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty with its giant trees that have grown there for centuries.
Later this afternoon you will return to your hotel where you spend the rest of time at your leisure.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 3: Siem Reap – Phnom PenhAfter breakfast you will depart for Phonm Pehn via private car. This city was once considered one of the most beautiful in the Orient and despite its recent turbulent history it still retains a colonial charm.
The journey offers an excellent opportunity to observe Cambodian rural life up-close. Stop along the way and visit a market, where every assortment of street food is available, including the Khmer favorite: deep-fried spiders, where we will offer you a complimentary spider snack! Once we arrive in Phnom Penh you will check in have some time for refreshments. The rest of the afternoon will be filled with visits to the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek . A visit to these sights provides deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge.
Round up this busy day with a visit the Russian Market – a good place for bargain hunting and good spot to observe Cambodia daily life.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Hotel in Phnom PenhDay 4: Phnom Penh – Chau DocAfter breakfast, enjoy the morning visiting the Royal Palace which now is a home to the royal family, around 10am check out and board the speed boat trip along Mekong River to Vietnam. Visa formalities may take up to 45 minutes at the border. Continue by river to Chau Doc, where you will meet up with our guide and you will be taken to the hotel.
Later in the afternoon, time permitting, feel free to take some time and explore the area surrounding the hotel.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Hotel in Chau DocDay 5: Chau Doc – Mekong Delta Tour – SaigonLeave the hotel early in the morning crossing Mekong Delta to Cai Be along the way the group will see the Mekong Delta (Nine Dragon River Delta). This is special experience on the Mekong Delta. Visit a candy factory, orchard garden, listen to traditional music of South Vietnam and have lunch in an ancient house.
After lunch, cross over to an island on the Mekong River by rowboat and learn more about the life of local people along this magical river.
Return to Saigon late in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast and LunchAccommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 6: Saigon City Tour – Flight to Danang - HoianAfter breakfast, we explore Saigon on a brief tour to famous landmarks such sites as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Post Office and Ben Thanh Market. Then we will drive to the airport for the flight to the city of Danang where our driver will be waiting for you and take you to your hotel in Hoian.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Hotel in Hoian Day 7: Hoian After breakfast our guide will take you to the ancient town of Hoian where you will visit the local market.
During the walking tour you will explore Hoi An and the places that makes it famous; Hoi An Museum, Old Merchants' House, Assembly Hall and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Walk along the bank of the lively Thu Bon River, once prosperous and famous as a one of the world’s famous trading port.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Hotel in HoianDay 8: Hoian – HueDepart Hoi An in the morning and head northward to the ancient city of Hue; driving through the 21 km HaiVan Pass over the Annamite Mountain Range which historically divided the Champa and Dai Viet kingdoms. Stop at scenic beach of Lang Co for a drink before reaching our destination.
The afternoon sightseeing agenda in Hue – the ancient capital city of Vietnam includes:
-Royal Citadel and Imperial Purple Citadel
-Thien Mu Pagoda.
-Mausoleum of King Tu Duc – a replica of the king’s palace built purposely for the next carnation of the King.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Hotel in Hue
Day 9: Hue – Hanoi Immediately after breakfast we will depart for our flight to Hanoi. In the afternoon, we have a half day Hanoi city tour. Start with an orientation walk around Old quarter of Hanoi and visiting Hanoi’s main attractions: the Opera House, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Later in the afternoon, we get back to your hotel.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Hotel in HanoiDay 10: Hanoi City Tour – Night train to Lao CaiToday we set out for a full day city tour of the ever bustling Hanoi. The visit includes most of the city’s outstanding historical and cultural sites.
- Hanoi Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake- Temple of Literature, built in 11th Century: the country’s first university.
- The complex of Ho Chi Minh historical sites, also called the political center of Vietnam.
- HCM’s Stilt House and One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit one of the museums in Hanoi (Museum of History, Museum of Ethnology,
Museum of Fine Art, Hoa Lo Prison which is also known as the “Hanoi Hilton”).
This evening’s highlight is a Water Puppet show – the traditional performance dated back to the 11th century. After dinner our driver will take you to the railway station for a night train to Sapa.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: On Train (Shared 4 berths A/C cabin)Day 11: Lao Cai – Market Your train arrives at the Lao Cai station in the early morning. Lao Cai is a charming hilltop town near the Chinese border. Explore downtown Lao Cai and have breakfast at a local noodle house. After breakfast our driver and a guide will take you to one of the local markets (Bac Ha Fair Market on Sun/ Coc Ly on Tue and Can Cau on Sat). Wander through the stalls packed with handcrafted goods peddled by the various hill tribe people who come here to trade their wares. In the afternoon, continue on your way to Sapa, Northwest Vietnam’s premier travel destination, famous for its breathtaking views of cloud-woven mountaintops and gaping valleys.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Hotel in Sapa
Day 12: Sapa TrekkingEnjoy breakfast at the hotel, before setting out on a full day’s trek to explore Sapa’s cultural diversity and haunting natural beauty. Take a guided hike through yawning valleys decorated with terraced rice fields and pass through remote hill tribes villages. We have 3 trekking options to choose from: Easy trek (~ 3 km), Medium trek (~ 6km) and Long trek (~12km). Trekking is an excellent way to discover daily life and to become familiar with the cultures of the H’mong, Dzao and Dzay people who populate this region. Drive back to Sapa in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, LunchAccommodation: Hotel in SapaDay 13: Sapa – Lao Cai – Night train back to HanoiSpend the morning exploring the charming town of Sapa. Visit the market and get acquainted with the local hill tribe people - mostly Black H’mong. Later, we take a tour over Tram Ton Pass to Heaven‘s Gate – The highest Pass in Vietnam (over 2000m). Admire the spectacular views from the top and visit the nearby Silver Waterfall. In the late afternoon drive back to Lao Cai to catch the night train back to Hanoi.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: on train.(Share 4 berths AC Cabin)
Day 14: Hanoi – Halong Bay CruiseArrival in Hanoi in the early morning. Walk to a nearby hotel for relax and have breakfast before setting out on a 3 to 4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay.
*The following Halong Bay itinerary is a sample of our standard service 3 star junk/ cruises. Different programs are available through our luxury cruise itineraries on the Violet, Jasmine, Ginger, or Paradise. Please contact us for more details.
Spend a whole day and a night on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing Halong Bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk boat. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, we will cruise around some of Halong’s numerous islands. We will visit one of the most beautiful caves in Halong area. Stop on the island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, weather permitting. Spend the night on the junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: On Cruise
Day 15: Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast and then take advantage of the sundeck while admiring the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as we navigate back to Halong City where the driver waits to take you to Hanoi.
Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Hotel in HanoiDay 16: Hanoi DepartureAfter a breakfast at the hotel, you are free for shopping or relaxing until our driver will drive you to the airport for departure.
Meals: BreakfastNote: Please be aware that flight times, hotels and all other logistics, services and days of travel are subject to availability. If the listed hotel is fully booked, alternate accommodation will be offered.
All hotels are rated according to local standards.
All itineraries are flexible and can easily be altered to suit your needs and interests.
Please contact one of our travel consultants for more information.
: Siem Reap (Cambodia) Departure city: Hanoi (Vietnam)
