VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA
ITINERARY IN BRIEF
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI
DAY 2: HANOI - HA LONG
DAY 3: HA LONG - NINH BINH
DAY 4: NINH BINH - MAI CHAU
DAY 5: HANOI - HUE
DAY 6: HANOI - HUE flight
DAY 7: HUE
DAY 8: HUE - HOI AN
DAY 9: HOI AN
DAY 10: HOI AN - DA NANG - SAIGON flight
DAY 11: SAIGON - BEN TRE - SAIGON - SIEM REAP flight
DAY 12: SIEM REAP
DAY 13: SIEM REAP
DAY 14: SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE
DAY 1 - HANOI
Arrival in Hanoi, welcomed by our guide then transfer to the city. Hotel accommodation (usually rooms are available from 14h00). In the afternoon visit the town of Hanoi — a millennial city: the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh (outside) where the ancient wooden house on stilt house and its bucolique garden are located (closed Monday afternoon), the One Pillar Pagoda, dated XIX century, linked to the legend of the Ly Dynasty, founder of the capital Hanoi, the Temple of Literature — Vietnam's first university. Free time to discover the ancient district of 36 streets and corporations. Overnight stay in Hanoi.
DAY 2 - HA LONG
Departure by private car to Ha Long. Arrive at the pier at noon and accommodation on board the cruise boat. Key delivery, comfortable cabin equipped with hot water, air conditioning and bay views. Meal served on board, prepared by sailors. Cruise through the extraordinary Ha Long Bay — one of the world's natural wonders. Special dinner and overnight stay on board. Calm night in the idyllic bay.
DAY 3 - HA LONG - NINH BINH
Early wake up to practice Tai Chi and admire the sunrise. After breakfast on board, continuation of the cruise to visit the caves. Brunch on board and leave the room free. Disembarkation and departure by car to Ninh Binh. Stop in Hai Phong for the water puppet show performed by the village farmers. Arrival in Ninh Binh, hotel accommodation. Free time to walk around and discover the daily life of the inhabitants. Overnight stay in Ninh Binh.
DAY 4 - NINH BINH - MAI CHAU
Departure for Trang An, considered the Halong Bay on land, boat trip surrounded by picturesque landscapes through the natural caves carved by the river into karst rock in an environment still untouched from mass tourism. Continuation by car to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam between the 10th and 11th century. Also in Hoa Lu, visit two important temples dedicated to two ancient Vietnamese kings: King Dinh and King Le. Transfer to Mai Chau, accommodation and dinner in hotel. Overnight stay in Mai Chau.
DAY 5 - MAI CHAU - HANOI
After breakfast, walk or cycle to visit the villages Lác and Pom Cọong where a community of Thai lives. After that, departure for Hanoi. Arrival at the capital late in the afternoon. Overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 6 - HUE
Early wake up and transfer to Hanoi airport. Departure by plane to Hue, the ancient capital of the Nguyen dynasty. Hotel accommodation (usually rooms are available from 14h00). In the afternoon, visit Thien Mu Pagoda, located on a hill near Perfumes river, and the ancient Citadel consisting of the Royal Fortress and the Forbidden City. The Citadel was partially destroyed by the Americans in 1968 during the Vietnam War. Today, numerous donations contribute to the restoration of this priceless heritage. Following is the visit of Dong Ba Market. Overnight stay in Hue.
DAY 7 - THUY BIEU VILLAGE
Departure to the village of Thuy Bieu, walk to the village to make known the daily life of the inhabitants. Possibility to participate in the realization of a traditional painting. Stop at a local house and cooking class: preparation and tasting of two typical Hue dishes. In the afternoon, visit of the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang - the best known emperor among the 13 of the Nguyen Dynasty. Free dinner. Overnight stay in the hotel.
DAY 8 - HUE - HOI AN
Transfer by car to Hoi An, crossing the Hai Van Pass, or the hill of clouds (this depends on weather conditions). Arrival in Da Nang, visit of Cham Sculpture Museum. The afternoon is reserved for visiting the ancient city of Hoi An: Hoi An Market, the ancient house of Tan Ky, the Chinese Phuc Kien Temple, the Japanese covered bridge and leisure time for shopping. Overnight stay in Hoi An.
DAY 9 - HOI AN
Free day to reach the beach located 4 Km from the city center (transport at your own cost). Night at Hoi An.
DAY 10 - SAIGON
Transfer to Da Nang Airport and morning flight to Sai Gon. Arrival after an hour and venti minutes of flight, transfer to the city. In the afternoon, discovery of the city: War Remnants Museum where the history of the Second Indochina War is traced, more known as the “Vietnam War”, Central Post office, and Ben Thanh Market . Overnight stay in Sai Gon.
DAY 11 - BEN TRE - SIEM REAP
Departure for the Mekong Delta with Ben Tre as destination. After two hours of travel, boarding a boat and cruising on the currents of the great arm of the Mekong surrounded by lush greenery. Visit of the coconut confectionery factory. Continuation to the home of a family where you can witness the production processes of the fibre sleeping mat. Return by private car to Sai Gon and transfer directly to the airport, flight to Siem Reap. Arrival in the city, hotel accommodation. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.
DAY 12 - ANGKOR WAT - ANGKOR THOM
Visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, with two rows of huge statues of demons and deities arranged on both sides of the stone bridge, depicting the transformation of the ocean of milk, visit Bayon temple, with a forest of large Buddha heads carved in stone. Visit of Baphoun, Phimean Akas, and the Elephant Terrace, once used as the king's great audience hall to listen to the complaints a problem of Angkor civils. Visit of the Leper King's Terrace that was supposedly intended for royal cremations. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat, the most famous of the Khmer temples, grand and imposing, apotheosis of Khmer art, which reached the peak of glory in the 12th century. The temple stands as a temple-mountain and was built by King Suryavrman II and dedicated to the god Vishnu. Panorama from Bakheng Hill on Angkor Wat and Baray. Overnight stay in the hotel.
DAY 13 - SIEM REAP
Visit the temple of Banteay Srei and Banteay Samrer, built in the 11th century. In the afternoon, along the way back to the hotel, visit Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm temple and Ta Keo. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.
DAY 14 - SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE
After breakfast, visit Pre Rup Temple, Eastern Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean and Preah Khan. In the afternoon, transfer to Siem Reap airport for your flight back home.