Welcome to Hanoi – Vietnam!
The tour guide & driver
will be welcoming you at Noi Bai airport; it takes us 35 minutes driving to the
centre of Hanoi then check-in at hotel. Let’s start our city tour from Temple
of Literature, the 1st university in Vietnam then continue to Ba
Dinh Square - the biggest square in Hanoi where all biggest cultural, political
events of the cities for taking photos of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Later have an overall view of the capital by a
“cyclo” visit, which will start around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, stop at Ngoc
Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake). Overnight
in Hanoi.
Please note:
Standard check in time is 14:00. Early check in is subject to availability of
the hotel
Night activities suggestion: enjoy local beer at Ta Hien
Streets, experience the ambience of sleepless street with life music, the young
people of Hanoi and also foreign tourists. Hundred of bars and pubs in the Old
Quarter are also at your disposal. Or just simple spend your time at shopping
malls or various boutique Shops.
A 90km drive south of Hanoi
will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam
before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. The area is featured by
lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient
capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in
10th century. The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where
spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding
about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the
name “Halong-bay-on-land”. Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued in
the site that used to be the kings’ palace in 10th century and now famous for
the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples. Late afternoon back to
Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
From Hanoi, at 8AM, head
East for more than 3 hours to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a
Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994. The road will pass by
the Red River delta with green paddyfields and rural villages, where hard-work
farmers are busy with their farming jobs, ploughing buffaloes or planting seedling.
Upon arrival in Halong, we’ll take a big boat to cruise the Bay to discover the
magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands
odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a lunch of fresh seafood
on board, we can visit the Surprising Grotto, stop for swimming or kayaking,
passing floating villages and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close
distance. Back to the boat for dinner late afternoon. Evening attend activities
on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the boat near Titov
Beach.
Please note the program may be little varied upon the cruise
you choose. Only
Vietnamese & International food available on the boat.
After breakfast, visit by boat
to Luon Cave, a ring-shaped pool inside an island in Halong with absolutely tranquil
landscape and emerald water. Back to the Wharf of Halong passing the most
densely area with many islands that have been named like the Cock-Fighting
Rock, Sail Island, Incense burner rock or Sea Dog Rock. Arrive at Halong Wharf
around 11.00. Return to Hanoi, then you’ll transfer to the airport for a flight
to Saigon. Welcome at the airport then transfer to hotel for checking-in.
Overnight in Saigon.
After breakfast at hotel,
picked by at hotel and drive heading to My Tho the homeland of coconut and family factories with local products
like coconut candy, rice paper,… Upon arrival, embark on the boat cruising on
the mighty Mekong River viewing the life to the local people live along the
banks. We stop at one of 4 island in the area for sightseeing. Enjoy the fresh
tropical fruits served in the heart of the garden accompanied by traditional
southern Vietnamese folk music at the plantation. After that you will embark on
the small boats rowed the the local people thru the small cannels with water
coconut tree to visit the local factories. There you will taste the honey tea
and see the local people produce the coconut candy milk and of course you also
can try it or stroll in the garden where the locals feed honeybee. After that
enjoy the horse-cart trip throught the tranquil road of the village. We
continue getting on the big boat to visit the vast area. Enjoy your lunch at a
local restaurant nearby Mekong River with the Elephant Ear fish. Afternoon,
drive back to Saigon with stop to visit Vinh Trang pagoda, a famous pogoda in
the area that its architecture is a mix of Chinese, Cambodian, and French
culture. Overnight at hotel in Saigon. Overnight at hotel in Saigon.
Morning
visit Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the few remaining monuments to the Vietnam War.
Beneath the ground lie 200 km of tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the
forces of the Vietnamese guerillas during the conflict. At its peak, prior to
the Tet Offensive in 1968, the tunnel complex was base to almost 10,000 troops.
To this day, it remains one of the most impressive examples of how fierce the
war used to be. You even can try to
crawl some dozens of m on the tunnel underground to have the real experience.
Return to Saigon. Afternoon, we start the city tour at the Reunification
Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building
today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the
colonial-styled Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between
1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Have a walking tour on Nguyen Hue street to take
the photos of the Opera House and the Ho Chi Minh Committee (outside). From
here, walking to Ben Thanh Market one of the most typical symbol of Saigon to
experience the daily life of the locals and do shopping the hand-made goods
there. Dinner at local restaurants at your own arrangement. Overnight in
Saigon.
Breakfast
at the hotel, you’ll transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for a midday flight to
Siem Reap. Upon arrival, welcome by tour guide in Siem Reap, transfer to hotel
for checking-in, then you pay a visit to West Baray Big Pond, a “baray” is a
water reservoir built by the ancient Khmer people. It is time to visit Pre Rup
temple for a romantic sunset view. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Breakfast
at hotel, explore South Gate of Angkor Thom known as Big Angkor, 3km2 walled
and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire, The
famous Bayon Temple was an architectural muddle, in part because it was constructed
in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for over a century. Terrace of the Elephants is
an impressive, two and a half meter tall, 300 meter long terrace wall adorned
with carved elephants and gradual that spans the heart of Angkor Thom in front
of Baphuon - huge temple mountain in the heart of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace
Area and Phimeanakas - impressive rite and sandstone pyramid. Terrace of the
Leper King is at the north end of the Terrace of the Elephants, a double
terrace wall with deeply carved nag as, demons and other mythological beings.
Last you will visit Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human
genius and natural beauty. Giant trees have grown here for centuries. Lunch at
your own cost.
Afternoon
visit Angkor Wat temple, the founder of the temple was Suryavarman II who
reined Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century
to dedicate to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of
the temple combined with spaces, alleys, ditches is an ancient masterpiece of
architectural design and construction. Have funny time at bars and pubs at
Angkor night market. Overnight in Siem Reap.
After breakfast, we visit
Small Circuit including: visit Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination
of human genius and natural beauty! Giant trees have grown here for centuries
and Prasat Kravan was originally constructed by noblemen rather than a king.
Banteay Kdei was built in sandstone, which has deteriorated quite badly.
However, there remain some very beautiful lintels and pediments. Srah Srang is
a royal pool was the King's bathing pond, where he washed with his many
concubines each day. Takeo - King
Suryavarman I commissioned this temple in the 10th Century, but it was never
completed so has no elaborate decoration like its contemporaries. It is a
pyramid on 5 levels and is dedicated to Shiva. Thommanon - small attractive
temple in very good condition, built at the same time as Angkor Wat. Chau Say
Tevoda built during the second quarter of the 12th century opposite of
Thommanon, it was dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Afternoon overland trip to
visit the highlights of the Grand Circuit including: Preah Khan - meaning The
Sacred Sword, this temple was also built by Jayawarman VII and is famous for
its immensely long cruciform corridors and delicate carvings. Neak Pean - This
temple is a delicate highlight of Khmer art. Built by Jayavarman VII, this
temple is the perfect representation of the heavens on earth. Ta Som was a
small classic Bayon style monastic complex consisting of a relatively flat
enclosure. East Mebon was built in the 10th Century by Rajendravarman; this
temple was situated on a small island in the middle of the Oriental, or
Eastern, Baray. Last visit Pre Rup was built in the 10th Century by
Rajendravarman and view lovely sunset there. Overnight in Siem Reap!
Breakfast
at hotel, free leisure on own arrangement until time transfer to airport for
flight onwards. On the way if there is time we will visit Puok, the real and
original place of the Artisans d’Angkor silk, where you will see the full process
of silk producing, from the silk worms munch on the Mulberry leaves to spin
their cocoons which used to make silk warp. You of course will see the weaving
work and purchase the high quality silk products as a beautiful Cambodia
souvenir. Straight to Siemreap airport for your departure.
Please note: Hotel Check-out time is around
12.00.
