ITINERARY
Day 1: Saigon ArrivalWelcome to Vietnam’s financial hub: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our guide and driver who then transfer you through Saigon’s bustling streets on route to the hotel located in the city center.
Meals: N/A.Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.Day 2: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels – City TourAfter breakfast at the hotel, visit Cu Chi Tunnels, where you will visit the vast underground network of tunnels built first as a defense against the French, and later expanded during the American war. See secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms. Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime.
In the afternoon, explore Saigon, Vietnam’s largest city, a vibrant, modern metropolis, converging East and West. Visit the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office and Ben Thanh Market.
Meals: Breakfast.Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.Day 3: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Can ThoToday you leave Saigon and travel to the Mekong River Delta. Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before driving to the riverside town, Cai Be. Along the way, stop at a candy factory and orchard garden, where you have an opportunity to listen to traditional music. Enjoy a relaxing lunch at a riverside restaurant, then cross the river by motorized boat to visit some fluvial islands and explore the countryside by bicycle. Your driver will meet you at Vinh Long pier and take you to Can Tho City for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho. Day 4: Can Tho – Tra Su Forest – Chau DocWake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motorized boat. Continue the boat ride to visit the Mekong Delta’s famous fruit orchards and sample the fresh, exotic fruit. Then venture deeper into the country-side, passing traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves as you observe the activities of the local people.
Leave Can Tho for visiting Tra Su Forest which is renowned for not only its almost-untouched natural beauty but also its sanctuary of flora and fauna. Taking a boat trip into the forest and harmonizing oneself with nature. The impressive pictures of cajuputs, the fragrance of flowers and the music-like noise of birds, insects and animals will definitely make travelers do not want to leave. From the observation post, the forest can be seen with an area of nearly 900 ha, home of many birds and animals, including some rare ones.
You will arrive in Chau Doc in late afternoon. Check in your hotel and free for relaxing.
Meals: Breakfast.Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc.Day 5: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh by speedboatAfter breakfast, check-out the hotel then travel by speedboat up the Mekong to Cambodia’s capital: Phnom Penh. The total trip takes about four and a half hours (including visa formalities). Visas are easily obtained at the border between Vietnam and Cambodia and cost $32 (including the processing fee). Your guide will meet you at the dock in Phnom Penh and take you to the hotel. Despite its recent turbulent history, Phnom Penh’s wide tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial mansions hold an undeniable charm. After lunch at a downtown restaurant, start by learning about the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia’s recent, bloody history on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Choeung Ek “Killing Fields”.
Meals: Breakfast.Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh. Day 6: Phnom Penh – Fly to Siem ReapSpend the morning on a tour of Cambodia’s vibrant capital city. Visit the National Museum and the Royal Palace – home to the royal family and the opulent Silver Pagoda.
Afterwards, transfer to Phnom Penh airport for your in-country flight to Siem Reap, the primary access point for the Angkor Archaeological Park. On arrival, meet your guide and driver then transfer to hotel for check-in. Rest of the day is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.Day 7: Siem Reap – Angkor TemplesAfter breakfast at the hotel, your guide and driver will pick you up for visiting Angkor Thom’s imposing South Gate, topped with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Followed by Preah Khan (Sacred Sword): one of Angkor’s largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII.
Afternoon, continue to visit the jungle-entwined temple, Ta Prohm. Then, to Banteay Srei, home to Angkor’s finest stone carvings.
Meals: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap. Day 8: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat – Tonle Sap LakeEnjoy an entire day dedicated to discovering the mysterious Angkor temples. Wake before dawn and take a “tuk-tuk” ride to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat - the largest Khmer temple and finest example of Angkorian art and architecture.
Drive back to your hotel for breakfast and relaxing.
In the afternoon, we will drive to Cambodia’s largest natural body of water, Tonle Sap Lake. You will visit the local floating villages until sunset.
Meals: Breakfast.Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.Day 9: Siem Reap DepartureToday is free at your leisure for last minute shopping or sight-seeing before driving to Siem Reap International Airport to catch your departure flight home.
Bon Voyage!
Meals: Breakfast.Accommodation: N/A.Note: 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.
