Ancient Angkor Wat & Beyond

ITINERARY

11 Days: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh

Tour Overview:
Revel in Vietnam’s energetic capital Hanoi, cruise an azure ocean pierced by surreal looking limestone islands in Ha Long Bay and enjoy the watery landscape of green fields and sleepy villages along the Mekong Delta. While in Cambodia you’ll meander through fascinating Angkor Wat and interact with street vendors while you purchase fresh ingredients for your Khmer cooking class.

Day 1 - Arrive Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. You are welcomed at the airport and escorted to your hotel.

Day 2 - Hanoi

Start your day off by exploring Hanoi’s illustrious history. In the morning, visit the imposing marble edifice housing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays) before moving onto his wooden stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. You will then explore the first university of Vietnam, the Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, visit the Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ngoc Son Temple. A one-hour cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter allows you to catch a glimpse of ancient Hanoi, learn about traditional Vietnamese architecture and take a stop at an ancient Vietnamese
“long house.” In the evening, take delight in watching a traditional water puppet performance. (B)

Day 3 - Hanoi / Ha Long Bay

Drive through green rice paddy fields to Ha Long Bay. You will board a junk for a cruise among the hundreds of islets of Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a seafood lunch and a swim (if weather permits) before visiting a grotto of gigantic stalactites and stalagmites. Drop anchor in the late evening for an overnight stay among the dramatic limestone peaks rising out of the sea. (BLD)

Day 4 - Ha Long Bay / Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City

Spend the morning cruising through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay before returning to the wharf. You will be returned to Hanoi and transferred to the airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. (B)

Day 5 - Ho Chi Minh City

In the morning you will visit the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels where Vietnamese guerrillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels as hideouts during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon for a half-day city tour. Highlights include the Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Chinatown, the Binh Tay Market and either the Thien Hau Temple or the Quan Am Pagoda. (B)

Day 6 - Ho Chi Minh City / Mekong Delta

Depart for the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival in My Tho, enjoy a boat cruise along the river. Experience an exciting horse-drawn cart ride to visit a local house where you will enjoy tea and taste home grown fruits. Board a sampan and drift along the narrow, tree-lined canals for further exploration of the Mekong Delta. After lunch, visit a family-run business making coconut candy before returning to My Tho. On the return trip to Ho Chi Minh City, visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda if time permits. Return to Ho Chi Minh City by the late afternoon. (BL)

Day 7 - Ho Chi Minh City / Siem Reap

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. In the afternoon, enter Angkor Thom via the Southern Gate. Proceed to visit the ruins at Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, the Royal Palace and the Elephant Terrace. (B)

Day 8 - Siem Reap

After breakfast, visit the graceful 11th century Temple of Shiva – Banteay Srei – and the Banteay Samre Temple. On the way back, swing by the Ta Prohm Temple which is mystically enveloped in the jungle. In the afternoon, visit the magnificent Angkor Wat. Explore its extraordinary rchitecture for an opportunity to experience a spectacular sunset over the monuments. (B)

Day 9 - Siem Reap / Phnom Penh

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit some of the capital’s most impressive sites. End the tour with a rejuvenating traditional Khmer massage at La Rose Spa and indulge yourself with a Khmer welcome dinner. (BD)

Day 10 - Phnom Penh

You will have the opportunity to participate in a half day Khmer cuisine cooking class in a traditional Khmer setting. In the afternoon, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Khmer Rouge Killing Fields. On the way back, stop and witness the PSE (Pour Un Sourire d’Enfant), which provides support for underprivileged children. In the evening, visit the house of a local family for a home-cooked dinner. (BLD)