1
ARRIVE HANOI
Welcome to Vietnam – upon your arrival at Noi Bai airport, you’ll be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel – relax, settle in, you’re here for the night. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Show and share a welcome dinner.
Dinner
2
HANOI – HALONG BAY
This morning we’ll leave Hanoi at 8:30 and head for Halong Bay. Boarding a junk, we’ll cruise the bay, passing Dog Island, Incense Urn Island, Ga Choi Island, Finger Island and Hoa Cuong Island. We’ll visit Surprise Cave, share a delicious local seafood lunch and, weather permitting, enjoy a short swim at Titov Beach. Tonight we’ll stay on board, take our dinner and enjoy a bit of night fishing.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3
HALONG – HANOI
In the morning, we’ll cruise to the magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay, Fire Island, Bo Nau Island and a traditional fishing village before we head back to Hanoi and our hotel for the night.
Breakfast
Lunch
4
HANOI – DANANG – HOIAN
Our tour today will begin with a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake, the “Lake of the Restored Sword”, a focal point of Hanoi’s city life. You’ll explore the architecture and way of life along the winding streets of the “Old Quarter”, visiting Tran Quoc Pagoda and the Quan Thanh Temple along the way. We’ll break for lunch at a local restaurant and visit Van Mieu, the nation’s first national university and the fascinating Museum of Ethnology. In the late afternoon, we’ll proceed to Danang to board a flight for Hoi An (included). On arrival we will share dinner at a local restaurant. We’re here for the night….
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
5
HOI AN CITY
After breakfast, we’ll take a walk and explore this ancient trading town, Hoi An. You’ll visit a Japanese covered bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, and typical Vietnamese houses of the 18th century. We’ll leave time for shopping or relaxing on the bank of Thu Bon River or Cua Dai Beach. We’ll take lunch at a local restaurant and then return to the hotel to allow for some free time in the afternoon. Tonight we sleep here….
Breakfast
Lunch
6
HOI AN – DANANG – HO CHI MINH CITY
This afternoon, we will depart Hoi An for a short drive to Danang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City (included). Here we’ll meet our guide, have dinner at a restaurant and settle in for the night.
Breakfast
Dinner
7
HO CHI MINH CITY – MEKONG DELTA
Today’s journey down the Mekong Delta provides an unequalled look at the varieties of life and scenery on the Mekong River and its banks. We’ll start with a drive to Vinh Long, passing rice paddies that seem to stretch to the horizon. Here we’ll embark on a boat and cruise the Mekong River to the floating Cai Be Market, exploring the local life and handicraft production along the way. We’ll end the day’s tour with a stop in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling China town. Tonight we’re back in Ho Chi Minh City.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
8
HO CHI MINH CITY– CU CHI TUNNEL – CITY TOUR
Start the day with an unforgettable visit to the Cu Chi Tunnel complex, the incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. Later, our city tour encompasses the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the imposing Ben Thanh market. Tonight we’ll share dinner in a local restaurant and spend the night here.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
9
HO CHI MINH – SIEM REAP
After breakfast, we fly to Siem Reap (included)– gateway to Angkor. After we check in at our hotel we’ll have lunch – our first taste of Khmer cuisine. This afternoon we’ll begin our exploration of the Cambodia’s world famous antiquities – monumental Angkor Wat, the expansive fortified temple-city dating back to the 9th century. Tonight you’ll sleep in Siem Reap.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
10
ANGKOR WATT TOUR
After breakfast, we’ll continue our exploration of Angkor – visiting the famous South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of Leper King and the Phimean Akas Temple. After a break for lunch we’ll take in yet more of magnificant Angkor at the ruins of Chao Say Tevoda, Takeo and Taprom (setting of the movie Tomb Raider). Tonight we’ll relax over Dinner and enjoy a Traditional Khmer Dance (Apsara) performance. We’ll sleep in Siem Reap.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
11
SIEM REAP – PHNOM PENH
Today will find us cruising on Tonlé Sap Lake, visiting a floating village and experiencing the lifestyle of the traditional fishermen. Afterward, we’ll visit Chantier Ecole-Artisant d’Angkor – a tour of the classes and workshops offered here provides a glimpse of modern Cambodian artistry. After lunch we fly to Phnom Penh (included), the capital of Cambodia, where we’ll stay overnight.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
12
DEPART PHNOM PENH
Our last day – just enough time to hit highlights of the city with visits to the impressive Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. Our tour will end at the famous Russian Market for a last chance to buy Khmer products and souvenirs and then it’s off to the airport for our flight home.
Breakfast
Lunch