UPSTREAM MEKONG RIVER TO CAMBODIA

Upon arrival at Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi, welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel in the city center to check in. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, the day starts with visit to the complex dedicated to Ho Chi Minh – the nation’s founder, containing Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (viewed from outside on Mondays, Fridays and afternoons due to closure), and the house on stilts, One Pillar Pagoda. Next up visit Tran QuocPagoda – Hanoi’s oldest pagoda on the bank of West Lake.

In the afternoon, visit Temple of Literature, the Vietnam’s first university which was constructed in 11th century. Later on, take a cyclo ride around the Old Quarter streets which were named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Stop at Hoan Kiem Lake to learn about legend of the lake and visit Ngoc Son Temple, followed by the Water Puppet show – a uniquely Northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history. Overnight in Hanoi.

In the morning, take 4 hour drive to Ha Long Bay (167km), a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. Boarding time is around 12:00-12:30. Enjoy welcome drink before check in your room. The cruise starts right afterward with a delicious lunch served on board. The cruise passes by many rocks and islets in many funny shapes. Again your dinner served on board. In the evening, enjoy night fishing, watching Indochina film or massage, spa etc.

In the morning, Tai Chi class available for “early birds”, then enjoy tea/coffee before visiting Cave. Buffet breakfast/brunch will be served from 9 to 10am while the cruise returning back to the pier. Disembark and our guide picks you go to Hanoi and straight to the airport for a flight to Danang. Upon landing, meet our guide and proceed 35km further to Hoi An. Check in your hotel and overnight in Hoi An.

Breakfast at the hotel. We explore Hoi An with a walking tour of the ancient part of town to include visits to the Chinese Assembly Halls, The Japanese Covered Bridge, the Merchants Houses or the local market. Hoi An is full of tailor shops, so if you get in quick you can have your clothes made here. It truly is an intimate town with superb cultural as well as shopping opportunities and Vietnamese haute cuisine.

Afternoon is free at leisure! Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, you will be free in Hoi An until being transferred to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, meet your guide and proceed to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, visit Cu Chi Tunnels, which is 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, created since 1948 to assist the Viet Minh to combat the French. This is an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapon shops, field hospitals and command centers. During the Vietnam War the entire area of Cu Chi was designated a fire free zone and was heavily bombarded. From 1988, two sections of the tunnels have been opened for visitors. Back to your hotel after 4 hour tour

In the afternoon, visit the moving War Remnants Museum which presents a partial, but riveting, view of the American War, as it is known in Vietnam. Continue to the Reunification Palace, former residence of the Indochina Governor General and later President of the Republic of Southern Vietnam until the fall of Saigon in April 30, 1975. The day ends with visit to Notre Dame Cathedral and the bustling Ben Thanh Market.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, depart from your hotel at 08:00, it takes only 2 hours pleasant drive to Ben Treprovince. On arrival in Hung Vuong Pier, hop on a motorized boat on Ben Tre River – one of the  tributaries of the Mekong river while sight-seeing lively activities along river as fishing, water transferring. Our first stop is at brick kiln to see how to make bricks traditionally by printing and baking. Continue to visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. Return to the boat and go through natural scissors creeks to a village and see some local houses making sleeping mats and enjoying some fruits. Take a motorized cart (tuk tuk) or bicycle on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about tropical culture from peasants. Have lunch at local a riverside restaurant.

After lunch, we take a rowing-boat along beautiful water palm creek before meeting up the motorized boat and transfer you back to the pier. Our car will be picked you up there and drive further to Can Tho. Overnight in Can Tho.

Early morning cruise along the small and picturesque tributaries to visit Cai Rang Floating Market. Walk around a village and visit a rice husking mill. Disembark at Ninh Kieu quay, then continue driving to Chau Doc. Closed to Chau Doc, you will visit the flooded forest of Tra Su Bird Sanctuary. Take a rowing boat between the narrow green cannels to see many kinds of birds. If time is permitted, you will climb up to the fire observation stand. From the top, you can have panorama view of the forest. Arrive in Chau Doc late afternoon, check in your hotel and overnight.

After early breakfast, proceed to the pier to take a speedboat to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel for check in.

In the mid-afternoon, you will visit Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum, and Toul Sleng, also called Prison 21. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Today you travel by road from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. On route you will witness the everyday lives of the Cambodians as you pass through interesting towns, bucolic villages, and delightful scenery. This is no ‘freeway dash’ as you will often slow down to let cows and water buffalos wander across the road, pass horse-pulled carriages, and school kids walking and biking to/from schools. You will stop at Skoun, also known as ‘Spider Ville’ due to the deep fried tarantula that is the local delicacy. Are you adventurous enough to try one? Later you will visit Ku ha Nor KorTemple, Cambodia’s oldest temple built in the 6th century. Closer to Siem Reap, you may wish tostop at Kompong Kdei to witness Spean Pratos – an ancient Angkorian bridge built in the 12th century. Visit the Artisan D’Angkor before arriving in Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, you will start to explore Angkor complex with:

Banteay Srei: nearly everyone’s favorite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its compact size,remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of its decorative carving

Banteay Samre: Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, whichare among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.

We continue to visit the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. Ta Prohm was built in the 12th century. It’s a Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of King Jayavarman VII.

Pre Rup temple was built in the 10th century during the reign of King Rajendravarman II. Overnight in Siem Reap.

We start a very special and busy day as you will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples. You will visit from the West Gate of Angkor Thom – undiscovered by mass tourist.

The ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), see the South Gate, Bayon Temple- unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, Baphuon Temple: lying just to the north of Bayon, a pyramidal representation of mythical Mont Meru, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

In the afternoon, you will visit the famous temple: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. Evening is your free time for walking at busy pub street. Pop up at a bar for cool drink or shopping at Angkor Night Market. Overnight in Siem Reap.