Vietnam & Cambodia
9 days/8 nights
HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNELS - MEKONG DELTA/MY THO - PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP/ ANGKOK COMPLEX
Transfer to hotel for check in and time of rest. Please note that standard check in time is 14.00, check out at 12.00. Early check in or late check-out is subject to room availability. Hotel would probably guarantee early check in or late checkout as an extra surcharge on depend to the rooming's status at that time. On the way to hotel, take photo-stop at Neo-Roman Notre Dame Cathedral - one of the most splendid and typical of the beautiful French-built churches in Ho Chi Minh city, next Municipal Post Office - Saigon's French-style main post office to admire and take photos of its nice architecture that is one of the Ho Chi Minh City's symbolizing images, then drive slowly along a historical boulevard which the impressive buildings as the old US Embassy the Prime Ministerial building and many more, there are like the historical witnesses to the ups and downs, political upheavals of a Nation and its generations.
Later, pass by Ho Chi Minh City People Committee (also the old French City Hall before 1975), and Municipal Theatre built in 1899. Proceeding to visit Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, mean Emperor Jade Pagoda, as to be known as the Tortoise Pagoda, this figurine-filled place of worship is considered by many to be Saigon's finest.
The Jade Emperor Pagoda is one of the most attractive pagodas in the city. Dedicated to various Chinese- Vietnamese divinities, in a mixture of Taoist and Buddhist styles, the Pagoda houses numerous statues and delicate oodcarvings with intricate tiles on the roof.
Evening, we highly recommend a good dinner cruise on Saigon River in a floating restaurant and getting the admirable feel of the charming views of Saigon river and city-by-night during a short river-cruising. Back to your hotel for free at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Opportunity to crawl into the tunnels for discovering and hearing all things of it. You can also try shooting with real bullets here (your own account). Back to Ho Chi Minh City then visit the Reunification Palace - a symbol of Saigon old Government before 1975, (also called former President Palace) to learn the sorrowful historic of Vietnam Ideology War from 1954-1975. Left time is saved for you to do shopping at Ben Thanh Market - a most typical market of Vietnam, is a big marketplace in the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, with how many things are available for your choice. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and today is considered one of symbols of Ho Chi Minh City, popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, textiles, áo dái (traditional long-dress for female Vietnamese), and souvenirs, as well as local cuisine. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. (B)
Arrival My Tho and transfer to the bank of Mekong River, take a motor river-boat which to be rent exclusively for the group then crossing the Upper River and cruising along Tan Long Peninsula, let’s enjoy this golden moment to relax the verdant luxuriant sceneries of the watery region, taste very fresh coconut milk, disembark and visit a island, stop-over a handicraft village that produces house-hold items from materials of coconut trees.
Walking on the quite country roads, you will reach to local lush orchards, taste delicious fresh fruits, drink hot tea with honey during the traditional melodies and folk music surround you. From here you can observe the life of the Mekong River Delta, the main source of rice and many other agricultural products of Vietnam. Enjoy also a short Tilbury carriage tour on the village road. Take boat trip along the canal network with a bit of adventure mood in Ben Tre Province to visit a bee farm and then a coconut candy workshop. Till now rivers and artificial canals are an important circulation system of the Mekong Delta.
After that, take boats to come back to My Tho city. You will have a lunch in a garden restaurant with the specialties of the Delta. Drive then back to Ho Chi Minh City. Free leisure at hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. (B)
After completing some Vietnam and Cambodia border formalities, drive straight up to Phnom Penh. Welcome to Phnom Penh - the city retains its traditional Khmer and colonial charm. French villas along tree-lined boulevards remind the visitor that the city was once considered the gem of Southeast Asia. Recent political changes have triggered an economic boom of sorts, with new hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs springing up around the city. Transfer to hotel for check in and a moment of rest.
In the afternoon, you will have opportunity to visit the Royal Palace compound, was built by King Norodom in 1866, inside its gleaming yellow walls are most conspicuous feature and impressive colourful Khmer-style Halls for the Royal family, then visit Silver Pagoda, located in the compound of the Royal Palace. Inside its floor is constructed of 5000 silver tiles.
In the centre of the pagoda there is a magnificent 17th-century emerald Buddha statue made of baccarat crystal and its walls enclosing are covered with frescoes depicting episodes from the Khmer version of the Ramayana. Left time of the day is saved for shopping at Toul Tompong Market (called Russian Market), so-named because of the prevalence of items from the Eastern Bloc in past times, the Russian Market today is a treasure trove for tourists, that you will feel a bustling daily life of local people with Cambodian’s special character through local specialties, their houses, their face.
Overnight in Phnom Penh. (B)
After that, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the charming city with the most attractions of Cambodia including Independence Monument - the Independence Monument commemorates the end of Cambodia’s ruled by France in 1953, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony. Then visit National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was build since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, Copper, wood and others. They are really the cultural treasure of Cambodian. Overnight in Phnom Penh. (B)
Siem Reap - The Cradle of Angkor Civilization - Where Cambodian were Born, this is also a famous Archaeological City, as named as one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the World. Covering approx 600 sq km, it contains more than 100 fabulous ancient monuments and over dozen major compound Temples, which were built during the most splendid Era of the Khmer Dynasty between the 9th - 13th century and were the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. Express check in your hotel and a moment of rest.
After that, you will enjoy the floating village of the Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia and the largest in Asia, its extraordinary bio-diversity and hydrology make it an ecological wonder of the world, offer visitors an insight into the old tradition of riparian life and natural splendor of Cambodia. If enough time, you will enjoy shopping at Old Market & colonial quarter, take your time to enjoy a busy market day, communicating with the local sales and all sorts of their products. It's quite a sight to see, to give somewhat a picture of Cambodian social living. You shall not miss a welcoming buffet dinner with 'Apsara Dance'
For those travelers thirsting for cultural highlights of Cambodia, No visit to Cambodia is complete without attending at least one traditional Khmer dance performance, often referred to as 'Apsara Dance' after one of the most popular Classical dance pieces. Traditional Khmer dance better described as 'dance-drama' in that the dances are not merely dance but also meant to convey a story or message.
We would strongly recommend a Cultural Show-Dinner on buffet, with the most traditional surrounds accompanied with the best of regional Cambodian cuisine in a local restaurant. Your clients will enjoy able the tradition Royal musical instruments of Cambodia. A traditional music band will sow in your mind the most memorable moments of lifetime thru the folk music, folk-singers, folk songs and folk-dances of Apsara dancers during dinner. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B)
Afternoon, you will visit the wonderful Angkor Wat - one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world, as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of 12th, Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples, with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. The central monument represents the mythical Mount Meru, the holy mountain at the centre of the universe, which was home to the Hindu God Vishnu. The whole complex covers 81 hectares, a rectangular wall measuring 1025 meters by 800 meters borders the inner edge of the moat, and temple's greatest sculptural treasure is its 2 km-long bas-reliefs around the walls...
In the late afternoon coming to the Phnom Bakheng temple, is the first temple in Angkor region build by the Yacovarman I King in the first of 9th century, located on a slope gently hill where thousands tourist are grouping on the hilltop to catch a memorable lifetime when viewing the marvellous sunset on Angkor Wat and on the other sites. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B)
Then visit Kravan & especially Ta Phrom Temple, was a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been controversially left to the destructive power of the jungle by French archeologists to show how nature can destroy man's work.
It has been largely overgrown by the jungle and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. Ta Prohm looks as many of the monuments did when European explorers first laid eyes on them.
After that, excursion to Grand Circuit, visit Pre Rup, traditionally believed to be a funerary temple, but in fact the state temple of Rajendravarman II. Mebon, architecturally and artistically superior temple-mountain. Beautifully carved false doors on upper level as well as an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. Tasom, the most distant temple on the grand circuit. Small but classic Jayavarman VII temple, Neak Pean, which means "coiled serpents", from the encoiled nagas that encircled the temple. The temple is faced by a statue of the horse, Balaha, saving drowning sailors and Preah Khan, 'Preah Khan' means 'sacred sword.
In harmony with Ta Prohm, which was dedicated to Jayavarman VII's mother, Preah Khan is dedicated to his father.
Overnight in Siem Reap. (B)