Sua s’dei and welcome to Siem Reap!
You will be welcomed at the airport by the driver and guide who will transfer you to your hotel in the city centre (rooms are available from 2 pm). Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure, absorbing the various atmospheres of Siem Reap.
Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
FD Visit Angkor Wat - Ta Prohm - Angkor Thom
Today is dedicated to the discovery of the essentials of Angkor temples. Let’s first explore Angkor Wat, easily the most famous and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. It is a massive three-tiered structure crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65-metres from ground level. Next, visit the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Bayon Temple, Baphuon, the royal enclosure, and the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King are the main elements of this 12th century masterpiece. A lunch break will be arranged in a local restaurant and will be at your own expense.
We continue to Ta Prohm Temple, which, unlike most of other Angkor temples, has been left just as it was when rediscovered: a photogenic and atmospheric maze of trees growing out of the ruins. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure.
Note: Appropriate attire when visiting Angkor temples is long pants (covering the knee) and shirts that cover shoulders. Skirts, small shorts, tank tops, and other items of revealing clothing are not allowed within temple grounds. Visitors can and are frequently turned away from temples when wearing revealing clothing.
Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Visit Kompong Khleang floating village - Fly to SAI GON
Today, you will head out to Kampong Khleang, aka “floating village”, which is a settlement of stilt-houses called home by over 20,000 people. Depending on the season and the water level, structures can tower up to ten meters above the water or be totally immersed and give visitors the impression that houses are actually floating. Greeted by waves of the friendly locals, here you can glimpse Cambodia’s countryside culture and traditional family lifestyle.
The rest of the day is free at your leisure until transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh (Sai Gon).
Xin chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh city. You will be greeted by the guide and driver at Tan Son Nhat International airport for your transfer to the hotel.
Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city of Vietnam. It is the bustling economic capital and cultural trendsetter of the country, yet holds the timeless traditions of an ancient culture.
Note: From February to August/September the water level of the Tonle Sap Lake is very low. It’s muddy and the boat can get stuck. If clients are still keen on having a boat trip on the lake we’ll change to Chong Kneas floating village instead of Kompong Kleang where the condition is a little bit better for the boat trip.
Overnight at the hotel in Saigon
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half-day Saigon City Tour
The guide will meet you at your hotel. Hop in the van and depart Saigon with a first stop enroute to visit a family producing rice paper. Share a bit of time with them and then continue to Cu Chi Tunnels, getting to the site in the mid-morning.
The guide will take you first through an introductory video before visiting the relics. Along the visit, you will have the chance to see various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters. The next hour is dedicated to exploring the maze of tunnels and to understand better how the Viet Cong survived in this underground network. Back to Saigon.
In the afternoon, visit the Independence Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam with the “War Room”, where the South Vietnamese forces were controlled, and the room where the North Vietnamese army finally took control in the Fall of Saigon in 1975.
Next, visit the War Remnants Museum, which was previously known as the “Museum of American War Crimes” and contains countless artifacts and photographs documenting said crimes - the killing of civilians, spreading of chemicals, torturing of prisoners, and the effects of the war on the north. Planes, tanks, bombs, and helicopters displayed, and outside the museum are some rooms displaying cultural products of Vietnam.
Then, head to Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built between 1877 and 1883 with materials mostly imported from France. Neo-Romanesque in form, it is a major centre of Catholicism in modern Vietnam, and one of the city’s major landmarks.
Overnight at the hotel in Saigon
After breakfast at hotel, embark on your flight to Danang, where you will be greeted upon arrival and driven to visit the gigantic Han market, a place certainly not to be missed if you crave immersive experiences into the local daily life.
Slowly continue along Bach Dang’s riverfront to the Cham Museum. Marvel at the extensive and diverse displays of Hindu-influenced Cham sculptures dating back from the 7th to the 15th centuries, as your guide shares with you more about this ancient civilization.
Proceed to drive to Hoian. Stop to visit Marble Mountain, a famous landscape that according to legend, a king even left his kingdom to stay there.
Rest of the day is free at your leisure in Hoi An.
Overnight at the hotel in Hoi An
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Hoi An - My Son - Hoi An Ancient Town
Visit My Son Holy Land of the Cham, one of the most important examples of Hindu influence in Southeast Asia. Although largely in a state of ruin today, My Son is often compared with other historical temple complexes in Southeast Asia, such as Angkor Wat of Cambodia or Ayutthaya of Thailand. You will be given a brief introduction to Cham history and culture, its Hindu influence, and then will visit the remains of the carefully-crafted red brick temples replete with beautiful monuments and epitaphs. Drive back to the hotel.
In the afternoon, start your walk across the enchanting ancient town of Hoi An. Follow the guide as you meander your way through the beautiful streets and narrow alleys, which are bordered by ancient yellow-walled houses. We reach a market where you can spend some time exploring the colourful stalls, and the variety of foods and souvenirs they offer. Try some local delicacies before venturing further into the town. The guide will show you various places of interest and will also arrange some spontaneous food tastings as you walk. Food, drinks and culinary legends are all on the menu today.
Overnight at the hotel in Hoi An
After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Da Nang airport for your flight to Ha Noi. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the guide and driver at Noi Bai International Airport for your transfer to the hotel.
City Highlights - Private Water Puppet show at artist’s home
In the afternoon, head out to The Ethnology Museum, which gives an excellent overview of the country's ethnic groups, their customs, and ways of life. The highlight here is the large, beautiful outdoor area featuring genuine houses and compounds as built and used by the many different ethnic groups.
After that, transfer to the Old Quarter, the bustling heart of Hanoi, which has been a commercial centre since King Ly Thai To built his palace there in the 11th century. Skilled craftsmen started to migrate and artisan guilds were formed on the famous "36 Streets". Previously, each street carried the name of the item produced and sold there, and many still have the same names. This is a place you must see to experience Hanoi, where you will find shopping, cultural, and historical sites all wrapped into one.
Visit the home of artist Phan Thanh Liem – a 7th generation descendant of a family specializing in Water Puppetry. Be introduced to this 1,000-year-old traditional art of Vietnam and the process of making the puppet, followed by a private show performed by the artist himself.
Overnight at the hotel in Ha Noi
After breakfast at hotel, gather in the lobby for departure by shuttle bus of cruise to Ha Long. drive across the Red River delta and reach the coast a little before noon. Then, embark on a beautifully crafted junk for an overnight cruise in the untouched and magical seascape of Lan Ha Bay – a twin sister of the legendary Ha Long Bay.
Once on board, you will be served a delicious seafood-based lunch, while the surrounding limestone outcrops make for a truly magical setting. In the afternoon, reach a less-travelled area, where we will devote ourselves to pure relaxation. Tra Bau area is famous for its unspoiled, poetic, natural beauty and attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. This is the best time for kayaking to discover the truest beauty of the limestone islands. Immerse yourself in the emerald green water of the bay or enjoy the Jacuzzi pool on Cruises. We end the day on the sundeck as the sun sets on this magical seascape. This evening, you can attend a cooking demonstration before dinner. Overnight in a comfortable private cabin with an en-suite bathroom.
Note: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather. No private guide for Ha Noi - Ha Long - Lan Ha - Ha Noi, only English-speaking guide in-house onboard the cruise.
Overnight onboard the cruise
For those early birds, start the day with a proposed Tai Chi session, while tea and coffee are served as the sun rises and illuminates the surrounding seascape.
Then, continue your exploration to Trung Trang – one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba island by transshipment.
Upon returning to the boat, check out of your cabin and enjoy a light brunch while cruising back to the pier. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi by shuttle bus of cruise.
Overnight at the hotel in Ha Noi
The day will be free at your leisure until you transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for your departure flight home. We wish you a pleasant flight!