CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM TOUR 9 DAYS

Destination: Siem Reap/Hanoi/Ha Long

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide

Day 1: Siem Reap arrival (D, G)

Arriving at the airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a welcome dinner at a colonial building. Your overnight stay will be in Siem Reap.

Day 2: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel. Then, we’ll visit the rest of the visiting at the “Chantiers Ecoles – Les Artisans d’Angkor” which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting.

Then continue to Wat Bo, a large, highly respected pagoda, founded in the 18th Century. Like the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, the vihear of Wat Bo contains unique wall paintings of the Reamker that are said to be late 19th Century. We also visit Wat Thmei (Killing fields) and we walk up to Phnom Bakheng Hill for a view of the spectacular sunset over these sandstone monuments

Day 3: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel: We start the sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with colums, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. We explore this masterpiece as well as some of the surrounding temples including Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevado. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 4: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel: We visit the floating village of Choueng Kneas, where you can find schools, restaurants, hospitals and much more on the great lake of Tonle sap. On the way back we visit Crocodile Farm. Afternoon, we start the tour to the Pouk district about 15 Km in the West of Siem Reap town you visit the silk farm, a fascinating farm/workshop where you can see the entire silk creation process including growing the food for the silk worms, breeding the worms, silk extraction and refinement, traditional kit dying pattern creation and looming. Retail silk and souvenir shop. On the way back we also visit War museum and continue to one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market”, surrounded by elegant French Colonial colonnades. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 5: Siem Reap/Hanoi (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until transfer to the airport for your international flight to Hanoi. On arrival, pick up from the airport and transfer to the hotel for check in.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the stilt house of a famous Vietnamese artist to view his antique collection and restoration work. Next, you’ll visit the home of another talented painter to enjoy his lacquer and oil painting artwork. Finally, you’ll meet another artist who brush- paints Vietnamese traditional calligraphy. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi City tour (B, L, G)

An all day city tour, possibly including the Temple of Literature, (the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th C), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ethnology Museum and the centre of Hanoi, including the Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son temple and the bustling Old Quarter with a complex of architecture – traditional tube houses, religious buildings and the colonial houses. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of Cheo (an traditional music typical for the northern Vietnam). Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

A morning drive to Ha Long Bay, (one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas – the world’s largest marine “karst” landscape). Travel by traditional-style boat to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Includes swimming, fishing, hill (not mountain) climbing for Bay overviews, exploring sea level caves in a small sampan, etc. All meals will be provided on board and your accommodation will be on the boat in a twin room with en suite toilet and shower.

Day 8: Ha Long/Hanoi (B, L, G)

Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for an overnight stay.

Day 9: Hanoi departure (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until transfer to airport for your departure flight.