DAY 1 : ARRIVAL HANOI Meals: Dinner
On arrive in Hanoi. Our Experienced local guide will transfer you to the hotel for check-in and Enjoy The special Vietnam traditional Water puppet show. Dinner at local restaurant. This evening will be free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi at a your selected hotel.
DAY 2 : HANOI – HALONG - HANOI Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Morning depart for Halong Bay, we go through the scenic countryside and will show you the diversity of the North Vietnam villages and rice fields along the journey. Heading out of the town we embark on a boat for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. This exciting four hours cruise will provide us multi-shaped rocks and visit the dramatic caves, grottos such as: Paradise Grotto and Wooden Stakes cave. Lunch of fresh seafood is served on board.
In the afternoon, return to Hanoi with stop-over at ceramic and hand embroidery workshops en route. Visit a complex of the Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple (Jade mountain Temple), But Tower (Pen - shaped tower), Dai Nghien (Ink Stand), the Red - painted wooden The Huc bridge…. Have a cyclo (pedicab) trip around with 36 streets of Ha Noi old quarter. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 3 : HANOI CITY TOUR - HUE Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
In the morning: Enjoy a 5 hours sightseeing tours to visit the city’s landmarks such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature (The first University in Vietnam built in the 11 Century), Hanoi Hilton Museum. Lunch at at local restaurant
In the afternoon: You will be transferred to Noi Bai Airport departing for Hue. Upon arrival into Hue you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Dinner at local restaurant.
In the evening take a boat trip a long Huong river (Perfume River), enjoy traditional folk songs. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 4 : HUE CITY TOUR Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
In the morning: We will take boat trip along the scenic Perfume River for sightseeing and next stop will be the famous Thien Mu pagoda and Ming Mang Emperor's mausoleum.
In the afternoon: We visit the major sites including the Imperial Citadel with Forbidden Royal City like in Beijing. Free shopping in Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 5 : HUE – DANANG - HOIAN Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
This morning we drive to Hoi An, we will cross Hai Van Pass where you will have magnificent view of the China Sea. Stop at Lang Co to have break. Visit the fascinating Cham Museum, famous China Beach and the Marble Mountains en route to charming Hoi An. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports and today it still retains that special old-world feel. Enjoy a walking tour through the Old Quarter and try some of the local specialties. Hoi An is also famous for its large number of tailor shops, so if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 6 : HOI AN CITY TOUR Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Morning tour to visit local market and boat trip on Thu Bon River to visit handicraft villages. Back to hotel and you will be free at leisure on the beach or wandering around the town for the rest of day. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 7 : HOI AN – HO CHI MINH Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Free at leisure until transferring to Danang airport to take a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam's largest city has an exciting buzz as millions of people rush around on their daily business. The tour guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer to hotel to refresh for a while and today you will visit all interesting sites and landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City. First stop is Notre Dame Catholic Cathedral and short visit to French built Post Office nearby, and then we will proceed to see the Reunification Palace, formerly the Presidential Palace governed by the US-pro government of Republic of Vietnam. Touring the building and then we will visit the War Remnants Museum, which primarily contains exhibits relating to the American phase of the Vietnam War. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi MinhCity.
DAY 8 : HO CHI MINH - CHAU DOC ~ 300 Km Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Early departing for Chau Doc by Car, on arrival you will be transferred to Victoria Chau Doc for check-in. The rest of the day if free at leisure. Overnight in Chau Doc.
DAY 9 : CHAU DOC – PHNOM PENH BY BOAT Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
7:00 am departure from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh by Victoria speed boat. The Victoria speedboats take you upstream the Mekong River to the capital of Cambodia. The journey takes 5 hours between Chau Doc and Phnom Penh. On arrival, our Vietnam Explore Holidays local guide will met you and transferred to hotel. Dinner at local restaurant and Overnight in Phnom Penh.
DAY 10 : PHNOM PENH – SIEM REAP BY BOAT Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Departure for Siem Reap by boat. Arrive at Siem Reap port and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon).
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.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, continue to visit your temple tour to the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang ("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 11 : SIEM REAP Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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.
Afternoon, visit Preah Khan. Built by King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, though, it's well preserved and ongoing restoration efforts should improve this situation. Visit as well Neak Pean a fountain built in the middle of a pool and the temple of Ta Som. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 12 : SIEM REAP Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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
Come back to hotel for breakfast.
Proceed to the Banteay Srei temple (10th century) regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer art. Then visit Banteay Samre, one of the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the method of "anastylosis". The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of mountain people, who inhabited the region at the base of Phnom Kulen and were probably related to the Khmers. No inscriptions have been found for this temple, but the style of most of the architecture is of the classic art of the middle period similar to Angkor Wat. The proportions of Banteay Samre are splendid. A unique feature is an interior moat with laterite paving, which when filled with water must have given an ethereal atmosphere to the temple.
Lunch at local restaurant
In the afternoon, continue the temple tour to Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda and Ta Prohm, one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
DAY 13 : SIEM REAP Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Breakfast at hotel Morning, drive to the remote Beng Mealea temple through the typical Khmer countryside (60Kms from Siem Reap). There is a lot to see in the approximately 2? Hours drive as it takes you through many lively villages and along kilometers of rice paddies. Explore the long abandoned temple (11th century), strangled by the jungle.
Lunch box will be provided on the site. Afternoon come back to hotel. Dinner at local restaurant and Overnight at hotel.
DAY 14 : SIEM REAP DEPARTURE Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch
Breakfast at hotel. Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a boat trip 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. After lunch, visit to "Les Artisans d'Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles" of Siem Reap and spend time at leisure at a local market (if time permits). Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the next destination
