We travelled with Gia Linh Travel for 23 days in June and July 2010. During several months we communicated with Thuong and she helped us setting up a program with a lot of variety. During the planning phase, Thuong was very flexible and always answering to questions and ideas. We also got the feeling to have a personal friend in Hanoi.
Destinations: Bangkok/Pattaya/Ho Chi Minh City/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi/Mekong Delta/Phnom Penh/Siem Reap
Descriptions: This trip is a great introduction to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Joining this two week itinerary, you will see the highlights and gain good insight to the people and cultures.
Start the tour by having a visit to Pattaya a small beautiful coastal city which is famous for its wild nightlife. Enjoying your relaxing time with your family here is a wonderful way to explore the beaches along the Gulf of Thailand. Onward, drive to visit the vibrant Thai capital of Bangkok, Thailand with its prominent temples and its surroundings
Fly to explore Vietnam, stop at the South of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly called Saigon). Get an interesting part of the itinerary to Mekong Delta of floating market in Can Tho and then to the Cu Chi Underground tunnels, famous for the Vietnam War. Here, we take you to visit the beautiful capital of Cambodia – Phnom Penh and then the glorious Angkor Wat
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide
Day 1: Bangkok/Pattaya (G)
After your arrival in Bangkok, you will be met by our representative and we will transfer you to Pattaya in an air conditioned coach, upon arrival check in at the hotel and the remaining day is reserved for leisure activities, one can enjoy water sports(optional) and in the evening one can explore the night life of Pattaya or go for Alazar or Tiffny show(optional) or similar. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 2: Pattaya (B, G)
After breakfast, we take you to Coral islands where one can watch corals and marine life from glass bottom boats in crystalline blue waters, one can also opt for various aquatic sports at coral island (own cost), later in the day return back to Pattaya for lunch. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 3: Pattaya/ Bangkok (B, G)
After breakfast, check out from the hotel. Transfer to Bangkok in SIC Coach, timings are 0830 hrs, 1230 hrs, 1630 hrs. After arriving in Bangkok, check in at the hotel and rest of the day is at leisure, one has the option of exploring the night life of Bangkok. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 4: Bangkok City Tour (B, L, G)
After breakfast, you’ll begin your tour of Bangkok with a long tail boat ride along the Chao Phraya River to see many lively inner canals which provide some fantastic views of the local life. Along the way you will stop over at Wat Arun, the temple of dawn, before continuing to the Grand Palace which dedicated to the Thai Royal Family’s ceremonies. Nearby is the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew, which is famous for the Emerald Buddha Image. After seeing this complex, you will drive through the many vibrant streets of China Town to some of the most significant temples in Bangkok. The landmark of Wat Traimit is well known as the Golden Buddha Temple while Wat Po houses a gigantic Reclining Buddha. You will spend the night in Bangkok.
Day 5: Bangkok/Ho Chi Minh City (B, G)
After breakfast, one will be picked up from the hotel at a scheduled time and leave for Bangkok airport for your international flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you’ll be picked up to the hotel. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 6: Ho Chi Minh city tour 1 day (B, L, G)
After breakfast, you’ll start your city tour including the History Museum (special exhibition of the 5thC “Oc Eo” civilisation), the Museum of War Remnants (very partial, but riveting, recollections of the “American War”: not for the squeamish), the huge Ben Thanh market (one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City), the Jade Emperor Temple (superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries) and a lacquer workshop. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 7: Ho Chi Minh/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi (B, L, G)
Drive to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Holy See (in time to watch the mid-day ceremony), Cu Chi (intricate network of underground passages and bunkers that became legendary during the 1960′s for their role in the war of liberation). Farewell dinner and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Cao Dai is a “new” religion unique to Viet Nam with around a million followers. Both its creed and its architecture are remarkable and exotic.
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh/My Tho/Can Tho (B, L, G)
At 8:00 you’ll be picked up at our hotel to travel to My Tho. On arrival, boat cruise on Mekong river to the Thoi Son island: rowing through small canals and walking along small village road to visit fruit gardens, elementary school, spirits distilling house, and see the daily life of villagers. On your visit you’ll have chance to enjoy some of tropical fruits and traditional music show. After lunch at a local restaurant on island, you’ll continue to cruise to visit a coconut candy workshop. In the afternoon, you’ll driven further into Mekong Delta to Can Tho province. You’ll spend the night in Can Tho.
Day 9: Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)
Boat cruise to Cai Rang floating markets on the Mekong Delta (views of rural lifestyle). Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh city for overnight
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City/Phnom Penh (B, G)
Escorted departure from Tan Son Nhat airport. On arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be transferred to your hotel.(rooms may not be ready until the afternoon).
Phnom Penh city tour: Visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art – notably sculptures – throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
Day 11: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (B, L, D, G)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport and departure by Siem Reap Airways International or similar to Siem Reap. Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not ready until the afternoon).
Visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor.
Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, continue your temple tour. See the unique interior brick sculptures Prasat Kravan, the Srah Srang reservoir (known as “The Royal Baths” was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Eastern Mebon (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the mountain-temple of Pre Rup until sunset.
Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
Day 12: Siem Reap (B, L, D, G)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
Day 13: Siem Reap (B, L, D, G)
An early bird special:
Transfer to the archaeological site for the sunrise from the Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat Or sunrise at Srah Srang.
Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.
Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
Day 14: Siem Reap Departure (B, L, G)
Breakfast at hotel.
Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Visit to “Les Artisans d? Angkor – Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem Reap and time at leisure at a local market (if time permits). Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the next destination.
Visit to the Dance school of Aspeca where you can watch young children learn the ancient traditional Khmer dances. Visit Wat Inkosei built on the site of an ancient temple, which still remains. Continue to Wat Bo pagoda to view its well-preserved paintings. You will also observe monks making the various moldings, which adorn the pagodas. Visit a workshop where traditional shadow play puppets are made.
Price in US$ per person:
Our price includes:
Our price does not include:
Hotel list for Five Stars standard:
Hotel list for Four Stars standard:
Hotel list for Three Stars standard:
If, at the time of booking, any hotels or rooms in the list above are fully booked, we will endeavour to find accommodation of a similar standard elsewhere. If the only available accommodation is of a higher or lower standard, we will revise the price accordingly and consult you immediately.