Saigon - Angkor along mekong river 8 days

Traditional boat in Mekong delta and speed boat Vietnam cambodia

Day 1: Ho chi minh arrival
Arrival at Tan Son NhatAirport, you will be warmly welcomed and transfer ed to hotel by  Asia View Travel’s guides  with signboard, check in, relax. Overnight at hotel in Ho chi minh.
 
Day 2: Ho chi minh city tour ( B, L )
 Pick up at  hotel, take city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. We visit 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. War Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, we continue to visit  the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. On the way back bustling Chinatown is not be missed as well.
 
Day 3 : Ho chi minh – My tho – Ben Tre  - Can Tho (L)
8:00 AM You will be picked up at your hotel, transfer to My Tho, 84km from Ho chi minh city. This trip provides a look at a wide variety of the life and scenery on Vietnam River from the peaceful Mekong Delta region. The huge ships, which come from many different countries moving slowly, quietly along the river is what you will see at the Saigon River. Do not miss this sight! On the way you will see daily activities of local people along the river sellers and buyers bargaining, exchanging fish, the products that they got from their working on the sea. From My Tho, you will ride on a local motor boat around Dragon Island, Unicorn Island, Phoenix Island, Turtle Island and stop at the famous Unicorn Island. While at the Unicorn Island, you will take a short trek and go for a rowing boat trip. You will also enjoy lunch, tropical fruit and free time  bike ride in the rural village.
From there, you will continue your motor boat trip to Ben Tre province to visit a handmade coconut candy workshop. Then transfer to a small motor boat and travel along the lush, green canals that are so beautiful for photography. We continue drive to Can Tho. Overnight at the hotel in Can Tho.
 
 Day 4:  Can Tho   - Chau Doc (B, L)
Cruising along the small and picturesque tributaries by machine boat, we will see the Cai Rang floating market (the nicest one with heaps of rowing boats). Take in the beautiful scenery and the daily life in Mekong River and you will roam through the , village to visit a rice husking mill and a rice noodles making shop. We now travel by land to Chau Doc, on the way we will pass Crocodile Farm. On arrival at Chau Doc, visit the Sam mountain to enjoy the a breath-taking view and enjoy the sunset on the top of Sam Mountain. Over night at hotel in Chau Doc. 
 
Day 5:  Chau Doc - Phnompenh (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to the boat pier to take the speed boat to Phnompenh. The boat  leaves Chau Doc around 7:30 AM and arrive in Phnompenh around 12:00 PM. The boat takes us  along the MekongRiver. It continues on to the Vietnamese (Vinh Xuong) - Cambodian (Kaom Samnar) border and then to Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.. Arrival transfer our hotel in  Phnompenh, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia, check in, relax.  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,  silver Pagoda and RoyalPalace. Overnight  at hotel in Phnom Penh.
 
Day 6:  Phnompenh – Siem reap ( B, D)
After your sumptuous breakfast, take an interesting speed-boat ride to Siem Reap (around 5 hours). On the way, see the scenic scenery of the Cambodian rural life-style along the riverbank (optional by air). Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for a short relaxation.
In the afternoon, start  your temple tour. 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 enjoy the Apsara Show.
 
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 )
Breakfast at hotel.
Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle SapLake, the "GreatLake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End or tour.

Tour includes:
Tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicles
All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
Speed boat Chau doc – Phnompenh, Phnompenh – Siem reap
Private English speaking guide during guided time
Meals as indicated in the itinerary  at local restaurant with local foods (B= breakfast; L=Lunch; D = Dinner)
Boat cruise as stated
Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
Mineral Water and towel
Government taxes & Service charges
 
Tour excludes:
International flights not mentioned above
Vietnam visa arrangement (upon request visa on arrival at 15 USD, not including stamping fee at 25 USD)
Visa in Cambodia ( available at the border at 20 USD )
Meals not indicated in the itinerary
Surcharge on Christmas, New Year and our Lunar New Year
Personal travel insurance (Compulsory).
Personal expenses such as  Telephone and Laundry bills, soft drink, wine during meals
Tips and gratuities