Highlights of Cambodia

Welcome to Phnom Penh - the city retains its traditional Khmer and colonial styles with French villas and large tree-line sidewalk. After the short rest you will visit the impressive colorful Khmer-style royal palace complex build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom. Nearby is Silver pagoda (the emerald Buddha temple), where contain plenty of Buddha Statues decorated and made by gold, diamond, gemstone and silver. We will stop at Independence monument and explore the National museum, a beautiful Khmer architecture building contains more than 5000 art antiques made by bronze, wood, gold, silver, copper, sandstone and others. We pass through the river-front park where 4 rivers met at a junction include mystical Mekong. Walk up to sacred hill Phnom Daun Penh - also the name of a pagoda and name of the capital nowadays. Enjoy the night time and overnight in Phnom Penh

In the morning we visit Tuol Sleng prison now is Genocide Museum, the most secret part of the Khmer Rouge regime. It’s also called S-21 (abbreviated for Security Office 21), a Khmer Rouge's premier security camp, specifically designed for the interrogation and extermination of anti Angkor elements. We continue to Choeung Ek museum, where between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants detained and tortured at S-21 were transported for the extermination. Leave the relics of the bad history of Cambodia we will go shopping around Russian market, enjoy the bustling daily activities of the locals. We will take a cruise to see the sunset on the Mekong and Tonle Sap river in the “Four Arms” section where the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap river before splitting into two branches. Dinner and overnight in Phnompenh.

We take the morning flight to Siem Reap. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy the first day in Siemreap with Angkor, the UNESCO World Heritage. We visit sacred Ta Prohm famous by choosing for major activities of Tomb Raider acted by Celebrity Angelina Jolie.  We continue to Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures, Srah Srang - “The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing and Banteay Srei, a temple with remarkable preservation of excellent carving art. We will discover at Banteay Samre, a rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated by carvings and bas-reliefs. We stop at one of oldest pagoda - Wat Bo and local mark before having dinner with Apsara, the traditional Khmer dance - drama performance, which are not merely dance but also telling a story.

We continue exploring the Angkor by an easy biking on the roads-less-traveled. Ride along the jungle on well-paved trails, passing through local villages, you will reach Angkor Wat, highlighted by the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, carved on the walls and tell the stories of Hindu legends. We will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples including: The ancient capital of Angkor Thom, the South Gate, Bayon Temple - unique with its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces, Baphuon temple, north of Bayon represented of holy Mount Meru the residence of the gods in Hindu tradition. We will go around The Royal land, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. We will return to Siemreap downtown for dinner, enjoy 1-hour foot massage and have funny time at bars and pubs at Angkor night market. Overnight in Siemreap.

Today we get up early to enjoy sunrise over ancient land of Angkor area. Return to hotel for breakfast before taking boat trip to explore Tonle Sap, the biggest fresh-water lake in South East Asia. Enjoy the bustling life of local people in floating villages with floating schools, floating restaurants, and even floating hospitals. 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. You will be transferred to Siemreap airport for your departure. End of services.

After breakfast, we will trek down Cao Pha valley to visit Lim Mong village- the home of Black H’mong ethnics. Lunch before taking the long transfer back to Hanoi (7 hours). 
Arrive in Hanoi, check in your hotel and relax. Overnight in Hanoi.
 

After breakfast at hotel, we can join the Hanoians in their early exercises, esp. nearby the lakes, diversified from jogging, yoga, sword dance, fan dance, and taichi-quan. After breakfast and a short relax, we will go on to Halong Bay via Bat Trang ceramic village. Located by the Red River, the village has gained long time reputation since 15th century of making refined porcelain in many styles such as celadon, crackle-glazed pottery, and raw terra cotta products. The pottery of Bat Trang is found everywhere from Asia to Europe and excellent for souvenir. Overland to Halong, one of the two earliest World Heritages as recognized by UNESCO for Vietnam twice in 1994 and 2006. Check-in our boat and enjoy a lunch of fresh seafood while the boat goes about unusual seascape with thousands picturesque rocks and islets, beaches and hollow islands. We can stop to visit some karst grottoes or just go swimming, or stop at a beach and enjoy the sunset on the sea. Dinner and overnight on the boat.

You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the "East Sea" by a point-oriented name "Eastern Sea", so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Take our car back to Hanoi International Airport for a short flight to Danang. Welcome at the airport then transfer along the coast to reach Hoi An Ancient Town. Check in hotel. Overnight in Hoian.

After breakfast at hotel, you take interesting walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls, enjoy the attractiveness of ancient houses or listen to folk music of Central Vietnam at old club-houses. Later we can stop at shrines or stroll into the market located by Thu Bon river, where you may find the same feelings of the artists, who see the rooftops of Hoian a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or get your clothes tailored within a day. Rest of day will be free on your own to discover the town or cycling along Thu Bon to Cua Dai Beach. Overnight in Hoian

After breakfast and check-out hotel, we will depart from Hoian to Hue by the Hai Van Pass (the “Ocean Cloudy Mountain Pass”) and enjoy the beauty of Lang Co Beach before reaching Hue. Being recognized by UNESCO as the 1st Cultural World Heritage for Vietnam, Hue is highlighted by the old royal architectural works and the most traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. We will discover the charm of the city from the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City, Hue Royal Museum. Go on to Thien Mu pagoda and visit the Tombs of King Tu Duc – the best-reserved monuments of the Nguyen Emperors since early 19th and early 20th centuries. Overnight in Hue.

Relax till transfer to Hue Airport to take the midday flight to Saigon. You will be welcomed at the Tan Son Nhat airport and transfer to the hotel to check-in. 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 your own arrangement. 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, etc. 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 through 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 pagoda in the area that its architecture is a mix of Chinese, Cambodian, and French culture. 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, your free time for shopping in the downtown where you can choose many lovely stuff at the very reasonable price. A few places to be mentioned to visit during your shopping is Ben Thanh Market – the center and typical market of Saigon; Saigon Square where is a few minutes walking from Ben Thanh Market; An Dong Plaza and its nearby Market; or Diamond Plaza if you are seeking the high qualified and brand name goods.  Overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at the hotel. If your flight is in the  afternoon, you will have a half day more for the sightseeing and shopping before the departure till check out time and transfer to the airport for the departure flight back to your sweet home. End of our services.
Please note: Hotel Check-out time is around 12.00.