Itinerary in Brief:
Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Day 2: Hanoi – Halong bay – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 3: Hanoi – Hue (B, L)
Day 4: Hue – Saigon (B, L)
Day 5: Saigon – Mekong delta – Caibe floating market (B, L)
Day 6: Saigon – Siem reap (B, D)
Day 7: Siem reap – Angkor tour (B, L)
Day 8: Siem reap departure (B)
Itinerary in Details:
Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport. Welcome and transfer to hotel by Asia View Travel guides with signboard. Short city tour to the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple. Take a cyclo tour around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Enjoy water puppet show - a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi. (The first day’s program can be re- arranged according to your arrival time in Hanoi).
Day 2: Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi (B, L )
Breakfast at hotel and depart for Halong bay from your hotel. Halong is located in Quang Ninh province, 170 km north-east of Hanoi. (Listed by UNESCO as natural heritage site in 1994, Halong bay has been a famous tourist destination in Vietnam). We will take some stop-overs on the way for photo or refreshment. Boarding upon arrival. Lunch will be served on board with welcome drink. Cruising around the Bay with famous sites such as: Fighting cock's islet, Stone dog or Joss stick bowl islet. Visit Thien Cung cave - the Cave of the heavenly palace. Round walking to visit beautiful stalactites which have been formed millions of years ago. Back to the Junk boat and keep cruising to view fabulous scenery of Halong bay. After a 4 hour boat trip. We will take a coach trip back to Hanoi. We will be back in Hanoi around 19:30, check in, relax. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi – Hue (B, L)
Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Hue. The guide in Hue will pick you up, transfer to city center. We then set out for the exploration of Hue's famous highlights, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. In the surrounding countryside there is the picturesque Thien Mu, or Heavenly Lady Pagoda. One of the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. Disembark the board for a visit the elaborate mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc, Emperor Khai Dinh. Transfer back to Hue center, do the walking and shopping in Dong Ba Market to enjoy the speciality of Hue city.
Day 4: Hue – Saigon (B, L)
Morning after breakfast transfer to airport for the flight to Saigon. Pick up at Tan Son Nhat airport, transfer to city center,. Today we spend full time to discover dynamic city with the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. On the way back, bustling China town is not be missed as well. Overnight at hotel in Saigon.
Day 5: Saigon – Mekong delta – Caibe floating market (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Cai Be, stop for photos at Tan An town over the flat rice fields. Arrive to Cai Be, start the motorized boat ro visit the Cai Be floating market, see how river life goes on, experience how people exchanging goods, fruit and many other commodities on their vessels. Visitors then roam into the small villages to visit the orchard, fruit plantation. Keep cruising to Vinh Long through small canals to enjoy the charm of the Upper Mekong Delta. Visit some hand made family business products such as the coconut candy mill, the crispy rice popcorn. Arrive in Binh Hoa Phuoc village the green pearl of Vinh Long town where you can indulge yourself into the nature. Have lunch with fresh river food served in the heart of the garden. Take a nice walk through the bonsai garden. Meet the car/van in Vinh Long. Back to HCMC.
Day 6: Saigon - Siem Reap (B, D)
Breakfast at hotel, free to relax or do the shopping until transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel.
In the afternoon, visit Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures and Ta Prohm. One of the area's most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. Visit as well Takeo, Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
Day 7: Siem reap – Angkor tour (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Lunch at restaurant.
Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara)
Day 8: Siem Reap departure (B)
Morning, visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport your departure flight. End of tour.
Accommodation Options
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Location
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Standard
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Superior
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First class
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Deluxe
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Hanoi
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Hanoi Paradise3 *
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Hanoi Imperial 3*
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Hanoi flower garden4*
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Moevenpick 5*
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Hue
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Hue Holiday 2*
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Asia hotel 3*
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Huong Giang 4*
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Imperial 5*
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Saigon
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Le Duy 3 *
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Tan My Dinh 3*
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Norfolk 4*
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Majestic 5*
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Siem reap
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Casa Angkor 3*
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Steung Siemreap 3*
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Angkor Century 4*
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Sokhar Angkor 5*
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Tour includes:
• All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotel
• All tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Private English or French speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary at local restaurant with local foods (B = breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Boat cruise as stated
• Flight Ticket Hanoi – Hue, Hue – Saigon, Saigon – Siem reap
• Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
• Mineral water & towel
• Government taxes & Service charges
Tour excludes:
• International flights that not mentioned above
• Vietnam visa arrangement (upon request visa on arrival at 15 USD, not including stamping fee at 25 USD)
• Cambodia Visa (available at the airport at 20 USD/person)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Surcharge on 24,31 December and Lunar New Year
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
• Personal expenses such as Telephone and Laundry bills
• Tips and gratuities