20 DAYS, JEWEL OF VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

Itinerary

 ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

 

DAY 1 : ARRIVE HANOI
Welcomed by driver at Noi Bai Airport ( Ha noi ) and transfer to your hotel. The rest of your time is at leisure before starting your trip the next day. Dinner will be arranged on your own to have your leisure time. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

 

 

DAY 2 : HANOI CITY TOUR (B,L)
Today, we have full-day tour of Vietnam?s capital city. You will visit the house on - stilts of Ho Chi Minh ( this is where our uncle Ho spent the rest of his life ) and the One Pillar Pagoda ( it was constructed in 1049) and the Litterature Temple ( a habitual symbol of Hanoi ), the Museum of Ethnology. After lunch, pay a visit to the Hoan Kiem lake with its Ngoc Son temple. Continue to visit  the Old Quarter of Hanoi by cyclo.  Enjoy a kind of traditional Vietnamese stage-art: Tonight we will take the train to Lao Cai Station (310km northwest of Hanoi) Note : A/C soft - sleeper cabin with wooden wall is used for night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai and vice - versa, one of the best train to Sapa at the present.

 

 

DAY 3 LAO CAI - ETHNIC MINORITY MARKET (B,L)
Arrive at Lao Cai Station at 06.00. Have a breakfast of local foods before departing to Sapa ( about 40 km from Lao Cai ). Arrival in Sapa and leave your luggage at the hotel. We will have breakfast  and embark on a lovely walk to  Cat Cat stream and waterfall ,visit Cat Cat village of the Black H'Mong to explore their routine life, walk around the village to enjoy the scenery of forests and continue to Sinchai village where we enjoy folk music by local people. Return to Sapa. At leisure. Overnight  at your hotel in Sapa.

 
DAY 4 SAPA -LAO CHAI -TAVAN - LAO CAI -OVENRIGHT ON THE TRAIN  (B,L)
After breakfast we will take a jeep along the valley to Rose Garden. From here we will trek into the verdant villages and rice field to Lao Chai and Tavan villages. Ta Van is the village in northern Vietnam inhabited by the colourfully-dressed Dzay ethnic minority. Opportunity to learn and see H?mong people working with natural weaving and dying .This village is supposed to be one of the most beautiful area in this regions. Your car will pick you up at Tavan and take you back to Sapa  Lunch will be at Hoasu restaurant, afternoon walk to Hamrong mountain for a birth eye view to Moung Hoa valley and Fansipan mountain. Transfer to  to Lao Cai station for night train back to at 21.15. Overnight  on soft sleeper  train.

 

DAY 5 HANOI CRAFT VILLAGE - HALONG BAY (B,L)
Pick up from the station and transfer to the hotel for breakfast. We then enjoy the journey through the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and daily village life of the Red River Delta. Visit the ancient Temple of Dinh Bang and the traditional village of rice cracker Tho Ha. Lunch in Bac Ninh . We continue our journey to Halong bay. Visit the  embroidery workshop  and ciramic village. Arrival Halong overnight at hotel in Halong bay.

 

DAY 6 : HALONG BAY CRUISE - HANOI(B,L)
Breakfast at he hotel and then we embark on the boat for a cruising amongst the stunning Halong bay. We visit the cave and explore countless ilsands rising out from the emerald water. We visit limestone island, fishing village and beach and have opportunity to swim.  Enjoy seafood lunch on boat. Return to Hanoi. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.

 

DAY 7:  HANOI - COUNTRY SIGHT & NINHBINH (B,L)
Morning drive bout 2 hours we arrive at Kenh Ga village . This is Vietnamese rural life at its best. The landscape is stunning with hundreds of limestone peaks jutting out of the emerald green paddies  Vietnamese fishermen rowing boat with their legs , kids herding ducks & buffaloes and people living  in the houseboats are all daily scenes. We drive to Kenhga and then have boat trip along the small river to visit floating fish farm, floating village, limestone formation, and local people. Opportunity to see rural life of peaceful hidden village by the river. We have picnic lunch there before  drive back to Hanoi.

 

DAY 8 : HANOI  - DANANG - HOIAN(B)
Transfer to the airport for the flight VN315, 11.45/13.00 to Danang. Visit the excellent Cham Museum which has much relevance to your later visit of the Cham ruin of My Son.  Late afternoon, we ascend Marble Mountain with a Buddhist cave and a wonderful view of the surrounding. Also, visit the China Beach. Arrive in Hoi An and check into Hoian hotel. Overnight at Golden Sand resort.

 

DAY 9 : DANANG – HUE – DANANG(B)
Breakfast in the hotel
This morning, drive about 1 ½ hour to visit My Son, one of the most important Cham site in the country and it’s set amongst lovely hills. My Son is another of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Hoi An.This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An. . Hoi An is a lovely riverside township with narrow streets and old buildings. It’s also a great place for ethnic crafts. UNESCO has listed Hoi An as a World Heritage Site in Dec 1999. Overnight at Golden Sand resort.

 

DAY 10 : HOIAN(B)
At leisure to enjoy Hoian. Whether it be a stroll about the old quarter or  a bike ride throught the scenic country side to the beach or shop amongst the famous silk shop in town Hoian has all to offer. Overnight at Golden Sand resort.

 

DAY 11 : HOIAN - HUE(B)
 Drive to Hue and visit the Hue famous Citadel. Visit the Thien Mu pagoda and boat ride on Perfume river. Visit TuDuc royal tomb. Visit Dong Ba Market. At leisure.
Overnight at at hotel in Hue.

 

DAY 12 : HUE - HO CHI MINH CITY(B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for the flight to Saigon. On arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport, you will be met and transferred to hotel. Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling metropolis ,contradiction of its northern counterpart,  excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. A half day tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Sai gon by many locals takes in the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Sai gon Post Office, a lacquer ware factory. At leisure to stroll around Sai gon down town.  Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

 

DAY 13 : CUCHI TUNNELS
Am:  explore Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
AM: Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the city and shopping  shopping
(Breakfast and Lunch included)

 

DAY 14: SAIGON - MEKONG RIVER CRUISE (B,L,D)
Transfer to Mekong Delta. Board  LE COCHINCHINE boat. Enjoy welcome drink
-          Explore the lively Cai Be floating market. Cruising amongst the mazes of waterway to  visit the handicraft villages  and meet with local people. Sightseeing the old house and sample various tropical fruits.
-          Arrive  in Vinh Long island we  then embark on  a walk or bike for sightseeing tour of the Culao BINH HOA PHUOC
-          Le Cochinchine sets sail  to Cantho via Cho LACH and TRAON.
-          Disembark Cho LACH village. Embark on  a  pleasant walking or biking on the footpaths of the countryside to discover tropical fruit orchards and the local people's activities. Enroute to visit a cottage industry , a local farm  and sample seasonal fruits.
-          Cruise to continue to Mang Thit  . Enjoy the magnificent sunset on the
river. Leisurely cruise up the Mekong River while enyoying the beautiful scenery and the
aperitifs, sunset cruise .
-          A wonderful day with picturesque ferry crossings over Mekong River branches . Dinner and nite on Le Cochinchine boat in TRAON.

 

DAY 15 : MEKONG RIVER CRUISE - SAIGON (B)
-          Rising up to the sound of River and Mekong Delta coming to life for another lovely day we enjoy the sunset.
-          After breakfast, we cruise along the cannels and visit a village on the bank of Co Chien or, an opportunity to appreciate the way of life of the local inhabitants, and their hospitality
-          Leisurely cruise up the Hau river while enjoying the beautiful scenery
-          Arriving Cantho, we explore the CaiRang market, one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats ladden fruits barging and jostling for space as owners attempt to sell their goods. Boat through the palm-shaded creek to see local houses and green orchards,ship building yards, local markets in full swing.  Check out and disembark the boat. Continue our way to Chaudoc. Overnight at Victoria hotel in Chaudoc

 
DAY 16 : SAIGON - PHNOMPENH(B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for the flight to Phnompenh . Arrival transfer our  hotel in  Phnompenh, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia. A visit to Phnom  Penh is a very interesting experience indeed. It is a city with an  interesting pulse and it gives you a very true taste of Asia. We  will visit the Wats Phnom, National museum, silver Pagoda and Royal Palace. Overnight  at Sunway hotel in Phnom Penh.
 

DAY 17:  PHNOMPENH - SIEMREAP (B,L)
Breakfast at the hotel and  transfer to  airport for the flight to Siemreap . Arrival transfer to the hotel. Visit famous Angkor Wat Temple, the largest and undoubtedly the most breathtaking of the monuments of the Angkor Archeological Park.  It was constructed as a funerary temple for Suryavarman ll ( ruled 1112-52)  to honor Vishnu, the Hindu deity who the king identified with. Continue to visit the Ta Prohm, the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor. Enjoy the sunset over the Angkor complex on the top of Phnom Bakheng Mt. Overnight at hotel  in Siem Reap

 

 

DAY 18: SIEMREAP (B)
Wake up early to view sunrise from Phnom Bakheng, one of the two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and the surrounding plain. Return to the hotel. Breakfast at hotel and continue to visit of Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Phrom temple, oriental Mebon, Pre Rup temples. Lunch between visit. In the afternoon, we will visit to group of Rolous temples: Lolei, Preahko, Bakong. Overnight in Siemreap

 

DAY 19 SIEM REAP (B,D)
After breakfast, visit Floating Village of Chong Khneans and take a boat trip to Tonle Sap. Then, back to the hotel. The rest of your time is at leisure with your own activities to have spa at your hotel or hang around Siemreap etc or visit craft weaving village. Evening enjoy typical traditional Apsara dance performane with diner.  Overnight at hotel  in Siemreap.

 

DAY 20 : SIEMREAP DEPARTURE (B)
Free at leisure before transfer to the airport for your next flight to Bangkok .The trip concludes.