Classical Vietnam & Cambodia

Welcome to Hanoi. On arrival, meet our representative outside the Airport, who shall guide you to your coach. Check into the Hotel. Later visit Ho Chi Minh’s complex, the final resting place of Vietnam’s greatest father; his house-on-still and One pillar pagoda – modeled after a lotus flower, a symbol of Hanoi. Leave for a legendary, you will visit Hanoi Old Quarter by cyclo visit Hoan Kiem lake and Ngoc Son Temple dedicated to a former general commander Tran Hung Dao for his struggle against Mongolians. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, check out from the Hotel and you will be transferred to Halong Bay to cruise amongst the bay’s spectacular scenery. After check-in and security briefings, you will set sail, enjoying lunch while cruising through fishing village and visit a beach area. The vessel will stop at an island, you can feel free to go swimming during summer time, go kayaking (optional with small charge), at night, you can ask the cruise to go on squid fishing at night. Enjoy a cooking demonstration with the chef as he prepares traditional Vietnamese food. Dinner is served on board. Overnight on cruise.

Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, visit beautiful limestone grottos then back to the boat for a final glimpse of the Halong Bay. Have the brunch while cruising back to the dock. Back to the wharf. Transfer to Hanoi. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Morning, driver will come to pick you up to the airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh city. You are greeted by your driver at Tan Son Nhat International airport. In the afternoon, start the trip to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Morning, driver will come to pick you up to the Moc Bai Border. Pick up by tour guide at border Bavet and transfer to Phnom Penh with taking around 3 hours. Lunch on the way and upon arrival you will visit the impressive colorful Khmer-style royal palace complex build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom. Nearby is Silver pagoda (the emerald Buddha temple), where contain plenty of Buddha Statues decorated and made by gold, diamond, gemstone and silver. We will stop at Independence monument and we pass through the riverfront park where 4 rivers met at a junction include mystical Mekong. Walk up to sacred hill Phnom Daun Penh – also the name of a pagoda and name of the capital nowadays. Enjoy the night time and overnight in Phnom Penh.

Morning after breakfast, we will go overland to Siem Reap this day, with first stop at Skuon town to see (or even try) sautéed spiders, a local food. Lunch at Prek Pros restaurant! Then we will arrive at Siemreap with last stop at archeological “Naga Bridge” at Kampong Kdei. Arrival in Siem Reap, check in hotel. Then we will visit Wat Thmei (Killing Field) contains a unique glass-walled stupa containing the bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge. Some of the bones were recovered from a nearby well while others are the remains of soldiers who died on a nearby battlefield. Come back to visit the “Les Artisans d ‘Angkor – Chantiers École” the Finest Authentic Khmer Arts and Crafts. Dinner and have funny time at bars and pubs at Angkor night market. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel, explore South Gate of Angkor Thom known as Big Angkor, 3km2 walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire, The famous Bayon Temple was an architectural muddle, in part because it was constructed in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for over a century. Terrace of the Elephants is an impressive, two and a half meter tall, 300 meter long terrace wall adorned with carved elephants and gradual that spans the heart of Angkor Thom in front of Baphuon – huge temple mountain in the heart of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace Area and Phimeanakas – impressive rite and sandstone pyramid. Terrace of the Leper King is at the north end of the Terrace of the Elephants, a double terrace wall with deeply carved nag as, demons and other mythological beings. Last you will visit Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty! Giant trees have grown here for centuries and lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon visit Angkor Wat temple, the founder of the temple was Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century to dedicate to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys, ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction. It is time to visit Pre Rup temple for a romantic sunset view. After the short rest we would have welcome dinner with Apsara, the traditional Khmer dance – drama performance, which are not merely dance but also telling a story. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel, morning transfer to visit Floating Villages, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap! Take a ride in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia and the largest in Asia. Here you’ll see plenty of examples of the Khmer way of life on the Tonle Sap. Then visit Wat Bo founded in the 18th century, a highly respected pagoda contains very unique wall paintings of the Reamker (Ramayana) that are said to be late 19th century. We continue to one of the cities lively open markets, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market”, where anything and everything is for sale. Lunch at local restaurant!

Afternoon visit West Baray Bigpond, a “baray” is a water reservoir built by the ancient Khmer people. Then we will visit Puok, the real and original place of the Artisans d’Angkor silk, where you will see the full process of silk producing, from the silk worms munch on the Mulberry leaves to spin their cocoons which used to make silk warp. You of course will see the weaving work and purchase the high quality silk products as a beautiful Cambodia souvenir. Dinner and overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, the day is free at leisure to do your own activities in and around Siem Reap, Later you will be transferred to Airport for your onward journey with Beautiful memories.