Angkor & Vietnam Discovery 16 days

Our local guide will welcome you at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) on arrival. Transfer (30km - 45mins - 1 hour driving) to the city for hotel check in. Room is at your disposal from 2.00PM. You are free to relax at the rest of the day. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: N/A

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

We will spend a full-day tour to explore Vietnam’s capital city, including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (closes on Monday and Friday morning. And closes during October), his traditional stilt house, the One-Pillar Pagoda, and the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature also known as the First University of Vietnam. In the afternoon, visit to the Ethnology Museum (closed on every Monday) where you can learn about the costumes, people and daily life of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups; Old Quarter Streets and Hoan Kiem Lake vicinity of Hanoi. In the evening, enjoy a traditional water puppet show – a unique Vietnamese Art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.
Remark: Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum closes from 08 September to 08 November for annual maintenance. 

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Leave Hanoi this morning and head straight to Halong bay a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with its 3,000 islands of towering limestone dotting the bay and Gulf of Tonkin (180km – 3.5 - 4 hour driving). After arriving at noon, you will board a beautiful boat for an overnight cruise on Halong Bay with an excellent menu of fresh seafood. Lunch and dinner will be served on boat. Overnight on board.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

Wake up early in the morning to enjoy aquamarine water of the bay at its best. After tea break, the boat continue to cruise quietly through spectacular limestone formations of Halong Bay. Enjoy this more isolated bay’s spectacular and unique islands of the bay. Return to Halong harbour after a brunch for transfer to Hanoi station for your overnight train to Hue.
Local train - shared cabin of 04-soft sleepers.

Meals: B, D

Accommodation: Train

Upon your arrival Hue station, meet your local guide and drive to your hotel for a short rest. Room is at your disposal at 1.30pm. Have breakfast at a local restaurant and then start to explore Hue city by visiting the Imperial Citadel of Hue and the traditional Thien Mu Pagoda on the banks of Perfume river. In the afternoon, visit Tu Duc tomb - one of the most beautiful tomb in Hue. If time permitted, visit a garden house to learn more about the culture of Hue. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Depart by car from Hoi An (145km – 3.5 hours journey) via the scenic Hai Van Pass, where we will enjoy the spectacular panorama of the central coastline from the summit. Stop at Lang Co to stretch your legs on the white sands of this peaceful beach.
Upon arrival in Hoi An, check in your hotel and free at your leisure. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

In the morning, you will hop on your bike for cycling through the countryside to Tra Que village (about 20 minutes biking) – transfer by cyclo or by private vehicle are also the options. This village has been known for its special aromatic herbs, mint and basil; leaves of those plants are smaller than usual, however they have a very particular aroma. Together with local people in their daily work, you will learn how to plant and water vegetables.
Then learn to cook some local specialities, for example “Tam Huu” – set of shrimps, pork and aromatic herbs. Of course you will get the opportunity to enjoy your creations after cooking. Enjoy a local foot massage. In the afternoon, take a stroll to visit Hoi An town, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site because of its unusually well-preserved ancient streets and homes. Set out to explore the quaint cobblestone streets of the town with the more than two-century-old Chinese houses. Sites include the Japanese Bridge, the Chinese Temple, and Phung Hung Chinese-trading house.
At the end of the day, you will have memorable time for enjoying a cup of tea or coffee at "Reaching Out Tea House" - a very special and unique ancient house where offer you not only a fabulous drinks and snack but also the soul values.
Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Free at your leisure in the morning.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Danang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Meet your local guide on arrival and drive to your hotel for check in. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Under the guidance of your local guide, we set out on a city tour of the former capital of French Indochina, once known as Saigon. Historic landmarks include the Old Saigon post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Opera House, and the War Museum. In the afternoon, visit the ethnic Chinese district of Cholon with Binh Tay market and Thien Hau pagoda. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

This morning we will leave the city by private vehicle to visit the amazing tunnel network of Cu Chi. This incredible system, covering almost 250km in length was shelter to over 16,000 Vietcong guerrillas during the wars. Initially started in 1948 to provide shelter against the French air and ground sweeps, the network went on to serve as communication routes, storage facilities, hospitals and living quarters for Vietnamese fighters throughout the American war. If you are interested (and game) you can even descend into the tunnels to learn more about the harsh conditions faced by Vietcong guerrillas who lived there. Lunch at a local restaurant.
After that, transfer to Vietnam - Cambodia border and cross the Cambodian border. We will drive to the capital of Phnom Penh. Once deemed the ‘Pearl of Asia’, Phnom Penh offers a bustling mix of Asia’s past quickly taking its place amongst the trendy capitals of the region with super restaurants and a number of attractions. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Discover the Phnom Penh City, capital of Cambodia located at the conjunction of four branches of Mekong River “Chaktomuk”, historical capital more than 600 years after Angkor. Visit Wat Phnom, an ancient pagoda stand up on the hill, built by a wealthy Khmer woman named Penh 1372 to house the sacred relics, National Museum built in 1917-18 is exclusively dedicated to Khmer arts. There are many artifacts from the Pre-Angkor as well as Angkor Period on display.
They are made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood, ceramic and other materials. Continue to the Royal Palace built in 1866 and Silver Pagoda located within the Royal Palace compound, the majority of treasures on display have been supplied by the King of Cambodia as a gift from various other countries. Among the treasures are a solid gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and weight of 90 kilos and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. In the afternoon, we will visit Toul Sleng, an ancient school which used to be a prison under the Khmers Rouges time and we will walk around the Russian market built in 1937 where you will admire the splendid architecture of colonial style. Meal on your own. Overnight at the hotel

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

In the morning, you will leave Phnom Penh to Kampong Thom. On the way you will pass a number of villages and visit the temples of Sambor Prei Kuk, which is Angkor’s oldest capital. After lunch, start to visit the pre Angkorian temples to get an ideal introduction to Angkor. After visiting, transfer to Kampong Thom where you will arrive in the afternoon. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel

In the morning, you will leave to Kompong Khleang. Here all the houses are on stilts offering an exceptional natural environment and showing breathtaking views of floodplains, rice fields and water views as far as the eye can see. Walking through the village meeting the locals and their lovely children. Afterwards, travel by boat over the canals to a large lake where Vietnamese people live when they are displaced from their homes because of the seasons. Return to the village and have a picnic lunch in a villager’s home. In the afternoon, continue to Siem Reap and transfer to your hotel. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Your day starts with a visit to Angkor Wat, a world heritage site with soaring towers and extraordinary bas-reliefs. It is one of the most amazing man-made monuments in the world, erected in the 12th century in honour of Vishnu. In the afternoon, transfer to Banteay Srei where the most impressive jewel of Khmer art is. Erected in the 10th century, this small pink sandstone temple is known as the Citadel of Women. On the way back, visit the ancient Ta Prohm Monastery where immense branches have taken root in the stones – hence the nickname of the Jungle Temple. You will find some splendid sculptured Devatas and an atmosphere that is unique. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel

n the morning leave by tuk-tuk to the northern gate of Angkor, we will begin the visit with Preah Khan Temple, built by Jayavarman VII in 1191 in honour of his father. This monument was both a city and a place for Buddhism studies. Of the same era is Neak Pean, the only island temple of Angkor, and also known as Entwined Nagas. The large central basin is linked with four smaller basins which represent the four great rivers flowing from the earth’s four cardinal points. One of the most interesting features of this site is the superb statute of Balaha, representing the legendary saviour of shipwrecked boats.
Continue your exploration of Angkor by heading further south to visit the two very beautiful temples – Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda – dating from the 12th century and built during the reign of Suryavarman II. They stand out because of their very beautiful sculptured images honouring Shiva and Vishnu. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Thom (the Great City) beginning by the south gate and the famous Bayon of the 12th and 13th centuries, dedicated to Buddhism and composed of 54 gigantic towers featuring 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. Then, visit the Elephant Terrace, which was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king’s grand audience hall; and the raised Leper King Terrace, built in the 12th century and which features many beautifully sculptured Apsaras. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel

Free at your leisure until be transferred to the airport for your departure flight. Room is at your disposal until noon time. Meals on your own. End of services.

Meals: B

Accommodation: N/A