VIETNAM, CAMBODIA AND MYANMAR TOUR 17 DAYS

Destination: Ho Chi Minh City/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi/Mekong Delta/Siem Reap/Yangon/Bagan/Mandalay/Inle Lake

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

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City arrival (D, G)

Arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a welcome dinner at the good restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: 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 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/Siem Reap (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until transfer to airport for your departure flight to Siem Reap. Welcome to Siem Reap, the gateway into the Angkor temples. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srei and the legendary Angkor Wat. Upon arrival, our tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and drive you to the hotel for check-in. Start your Cambodia experience with a tour of the ancient capital of King Indravarman I (877-889), now referred to as the Rolous Group and known as the birthplace of classical Khmer art and architecture. Enjoy a lunch of traditional Khmer cuisine hosted by local villagers, then head to Banteay Srei and Preah Khan (Sacred Sword): one of Angkor’s largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII.

Day 7: Ta Prom with Tuk Tuk/Angkor Wat/Floating Village/Sunset (B, L, G)

Wake before dawn and take a tuk-tuk ride to visit the jungle-entwined temple, Ta Prohm. Sunrise is one of the most beautiful and haunting times to visit the temples, whose ancient sandstone blocks are painted gold by the early morning rays.  Return to the hotel for breakfast before going back to the temple complex to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat – the largest Khmer temple and finest example of Angkorian art and architecture.  In the afternoon, head out of town and embark on a short cruise along Tonle Sap Lake to visit the local floating villages. Drive back to the Angkor Archeological Park in the evening to watch the sunset from Phnom Krohm Mountain.

Day 8: Angkor Thom/Bayon/Terrace of Elephant (B, L, G)

After breakfast, spend the morning exploring the ancient fortified capital: Angkor Thom. Nearly 10 sq km in size, this city once housed a population of over 1 million people. Start your tour with Angkor Thom’s imposing South Gate, topped with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon temple, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Return to Siem Reap in the afternoon and explore the Psar Chass, also known as the “Old Market”

Day 9: Siem Reap/Bangkok/Yangon (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until transfer to airport for your flight to Bangkok where transits to Yangon. On arrival, the car will pick up and take you to the hotel for check-in. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 10: Yangon (B, G)

In the morning, your time will be your own. In the afternoon, start your tour of Yangon with a visit to the grandiose gold pagoda complex: Shwedagon Paya. Explore the pagoda, walking among crowds of colorful robed monks and nuns then savor the sunset from the highest spire. In the evening enjoy a delicious dinner of traditional Burmese cuisine at Karaweik Palace.

Day 11: Yangon/Bagan (B, G)  

Today we fly to Bagan, Myanmar’s archeological wonderland, where over 3,000 ancient temples blossom from the countryside.  Have an early breakfast at the hotel then drive to the airport to catch your short, in-country flight to Bagan. Start your tour with a trip to the bustling Nyang U Market in Old Bagan then explore the beautiful, gold-leaf Shwezigon pagoda and learn about the Burmese Buddhist tradition. We continue our tour with a visit to Ananda temple, stopping along the way in the Bagan plain to admire some of the surrounding temples. In the afternoon, take a tour of a local lacquer wear workshop and learn about this traditional craft. In the evening drive to Shwe San Daw pagoda and climb to the top to enjoy a sunset over the surrounding plain and winding Ayeyarwaddy River.

Day 12: Bagan Sightseeing (B, L, G)

Enjoy an entire day devoted to exploring Bagan’s magical temples. Begin your tour with a visit to Myinkaba temple, then head to the peaceful village, Manuha to get a taste for local life and culture and discover the unique 11th century, Nanphay A temple. In the afternoon you are invited to take a horse cart ride to some of Bagan’s grandest temples then head to Tayokepyay pagoda to watch the sunset.

Day 13: Bagan/Mandalay (B, G)

Known as the hub of Buddhism in Myanmar, Mandalay is a realm of stupas, monks and monasteries.Have an early breakfast at the hotel then head to the airport to catch your morning flight to Mandalay. Our driver and guide will meet you outside the arrival gate and take you to the city to begin your tour. Start the day with a visit to Mahagandaryone Monastery and watch the monks in their afternoon meal and rice ceremony.  Then take a stroll along the nearby U Bein Bridge to visit Kyautawgyi, returning by boat to enjoy cool breeze and spectacular landscape of Taungthaman Lake. After lunch, drive to Sagaing hill to learn about the different Buddhist education systems for monks and nuns and visit the local university. Climb the steps to reach the hill-top Buddhist sites, exploring Sagaing Hill on foot to see the Buddha caves and Buddha image. Conclude your tour at Son U Pon Nya Shin Pagoda, drinking in the breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Mandalay plain, Ayeyarwaddy River, Inwa Bridge and Mandalay City.

Day 14: Mandalay/Mingun/Mandalay Hill (B, G)

After breakfast, board a private boat and motor down the Ayeyarwaddy to Mingun, home to several unique pagodas, including the ruined Mingun Pahtodawgyi – the remains of a massive unfinished Buddhist stupa begun by King Bodawpaya in 1790. Visit the 90-ton bell before heading to the distinctive architectural pagoda, Myatheindan. Return to Mandalay in the afternoon and enjoy a delicious lunch at a riverside restaurant over views of the nearby floating villages. In the afternoon, take a tour of Mandalay palace – the royal palace of the last Burmese monarchy, constructed between 1857 and 1859 by king Mindon. Then head to Kuthodaw pagoda, famed as “the world’s biggest book” composed of 729 stupas, each representing a page in the “book” indicating the Buddha’s life. Conclude the day with a tuk-tuk ride up the zigzagging road to Mandalay Hill. Climb to the top of the hill and watch the sunset around the surrounding plain, river and mountains.

Day 15: Mandalay/Inle Lake (B, L, G)

Today we travel from Mandalay to the enchantingly beautiful Inle Lake. Have breakfast at the hotel then drive to the airport to catch your in-country flight to Heho. Our driver and guide will greet you at the arrival gate and take you for a scenic drive to Inle Lake. The second largest lake in Myanmar, Inle Lake is located 900 meters above sea level and is home to the unique leg-rowing, Intha people. Upon arrival board a motorboat for a sightseeing trip to Phaungdawoo Pagoda, famous for its richly gilded, five, small Buddha images and believed to be the holiest place in Inle Lake. Next visit the Ngapechaung monastery, also known as the “jumping cat pagoda”. Continue your tour with a trip to Nam Pan Village, visiting a cotton and lotus weaving factory and cigar making house to get a sense of life on the lake.

Day 16: Inle Lake/Indein/Yangon (B, L, G)

Spend the morning exploring the calm waters of Inle Lake. Start the day with a visit to the 5-day market and learn about the local life of the Pa-O tribe. Later get a taste of the traditional life of the Intha people, taking a boat trip to visit the floating gardens, a black smiths and local boat making factory. Drive to Heho in the afternoon to catch your departure flight back to Yangon. Our driver and guide will meet you in Yangon and take you to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Day 17: Yangon city tour/departure (B, L, G)

Enjoy a day touring Myanmar’s former capital-an eclectic mix of aging British colonial buildings and shimmering golden stupas. After breakfast, our tour guide will introduce you the exotic streets of Yangon, starting with a visit to Sule pagoda, before exploring China town and India streets. After lunch, head to Chautakhyi pagoda to visit Myanmar’s largest reclining Buddha, then enjoy a stroll through the Royal Lake Garden and visit Scott Market-the biggest market in Myanmar-for some last minute souvenir shopping. Then, the car will take you to the airport for your departure flight.