VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA TOUR 15 DAYS

Destination: Ho Chi Minh City/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi/Mekong Delta/Phnom Penh/Siem Reap/Battambang

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

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City 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. Your overnight stay will be in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh city tour (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 3: 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). 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 4: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long (B, L, D, G)

Drive to Vinh Long, cruise on Mekong River to visit traditional family-run brick kilns and a wide range of varied cottage industries, e.g. Overnight stay in an orchard house of local people beside canals.

Day 5: Vinh Long/Ho Chi Minh (B, L, G)

Morning boat cruise to visit a bonsai garden, the old house, local houses making confectionery and Cai Be floating market. You’ll also have chance to enjoy the Mekong Delta music performed by local people. Afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh City for an overnight stay.

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh/Phnom Penh (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until transfer to the airport for your international flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival, you are met and transferred to hotel. Free. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 7: Phnom Penh (B, L, G)

With your professional guide and private car we start to visit Phnom Penh. Situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers, the Cambodia’s capital city look like a big village – town where French colonial influences can still be seen in old buildings restored. We will first go to see Wat Phnom Temple. Then we will visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda . The Palace is a magnificent example of Khmer architecture, it was built in 1866. You will see the Throne Hall and the Napoleon III Pavilion. Silver Pagoda is one of the richest shrines in the world . The floor is made of 5.000 silver tiles. Afternoon, visit of the National Museum, a Khmer red pavilion, which is dedicated to Khmer art and sculpture. The majority are from the Angkor period (9th to 15th century), and some from the 4th century. Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 8: Phnom Penh (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at the hotel. Heading out of town we visit the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek, which will give us a deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, take boat cruise on the Mekong river to visit Silk Falm village. We have time this afternoon, exploring Psar Toul Tom Pong, also called the Russian Market”, where anything and everything is for sales. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 9: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (B, G)

An early morning transfer to airport for flight to Siem Reap. This town is our base for exploring the world famous temples of the ancient city Angkor, which was the capital of the powerful Khmer Empire from 802 AD to 1350 AD. Pick up from the airport and transfer to the hotel check in. Pre-orientation of Siem Reap will be conducted at Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chom, where is the holy place for worship at every religious day that Cambodian consider as important part of their life. Dinner at local restaurant with Apsara Show. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 10: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Breakfast at the hotel: 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 columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. We end our trip at 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. If time permitted, we also walk up to Phnom Bakheng Hill for a view of the spectacular sunset over these sandstone monuments. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 11: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel, Heading out of town we make our way by traveling on a newly paved road to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei. Along the way we make stopover at the Preah Dark village and we follow these with a visit the Banteay Samre Temple adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu as well as Krishna legends. Afternoon, we will take Tuk Tuk (the locally common taxi in Cambodia) to get the whole view of Siem Reap town and its outskirt. we will visit the local market and artisan dangkor workshop. Continue to the local pagoda for blessing ceremony by Buddhist monks for propensity, happiness and safely etc, during your holiday in Cambodia. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 12: Siem Reap/Battambang (B, L, G) by speed boat

Breakfast at the hotel: This morning, you will be transfer to the Choueng Kneas village, where you will take the boat to Battambang province passing the floating village of Choueng Knease, where can visit the way of life Cambodian poor people along with schools, restaurants, hospitals and much more floating on the great lake of Tonle sap. Upon arrival, our private car will transfer us to the Battambang town, where you can find many of the French Colonial architectures. The same afternoon, we will experience the sliding bamboo train. Overnight at the hotel in Battambang.

Day 13: Battambang (B, L, G)

Breakfast at the hotel: we will drive along the bank of Stueng Sangke towards ancient remains of Wat Ek Phnom. This morning you visit the striking hilltop pagoda of Phnom Sampeau. This massive limestone outcrop is dissected by a number of caves some more accessible than others, with some containing unexpected reminders of Cambodia’s history. During the Khmer Rouge era, some of the pagoda buildings were used as a prison and interrogation centre – victims were then pushed through a hole in the roof of a cave to fall to their deaths. After lunch you will drive to the village of Ksach Puoy on the banks of the Sangker River. As well as being home to many well preserved traditional Khmer wooden stilted homes, this area grows a variety of tropical fruits and after the rainy season farmers plant all kinds of vegetables along the fertile river banks, here you can learn about traditional agriculture – Phnom Banan, Battambongalso a great opportunity to taste juicy oranges, sweet pineapples, and many other fruit… Not far from Ksach Puoy is Cambodia’s first vineyard – Prasat Phnom Banan Vineyard – you can pop in if you like, learn about producing wine in the tropics and of course enjoy a spot of wine tasting! A few kilometers further south you arrive at the well preserved 11th century mountaintop Angkorian temple of Phnom Banan. After climbing the 350+ steps you are treated to a wonderfully peaceful setting with superb views across the surrounding countryside, with small villages dotting the endless rice paddies, punctuated with the characteristic sugar palm trees – a wonderful sunset location… Overnight at the hotel in Battambang.

Day 14: Battambang/Phnom Penh (B, L, G)

Breakfast at the hotel: Drive to Phnom Penh. Our driving from Battambang to Phnom Penh will take around 5 hours. We will arrive in Phnom Penh around noon time. Lunch at local restaurant in Phnom Penh. The same afternoon, we will start our visit 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 and genocidal museum of Toulsleng (also know as S21). Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 15: Phnom Penh departure (B, G)

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