Vietnam and Cambodia - Road of World Heritage Sites 18 Days

Vietnam and Cambodia - Road of World Heritage Sites 18 Days
 
Destinations: Hanoi, Trang An, Halong Bay, Phong Nha, Hue, Hoian, Saigon, Can Tho, Chau Doc, Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat
   
Highlights:

• Taking an overnight cruise around the stunning limestone karst filled waterways of Ha Long Bay
• Discover the hidden beauty Trang An, which called as an 'outdoor geological museum' with numerous caves, mountains, valley water, trees and the historic relics.
• Exploring Phong Nha Cave & Paradise cave, a World Heritage Site of incredible natural beauty
• Visit Hue Imperial City, discover its historical and cultural riches
• Stroll through Hoi An’s ancient town and savor the local cuisine
• Explore the busy and crowded Ho Chi Minh City and experience its dynamic nightlife
• Discover the Mekong Delta waterways, its colorful floating markets and old houses
• Tour around the major spots in Phnom Penh city, discovering the city's history and treasures
• Explore the World heritage of Angkor, overwhelmed by its mystery and divine inspiration.
• Take a boat trip on beautiful Tonle Sap Lake, visiting floating villages to integrate into the local life

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi                
On arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi
 
Day 2: Hanoi Full Day City Tour (B/L)
Today's full day of touring takes in the highlights of Hanoi. In the morning, we first drive to Ho Chi Minh's complex, including the mausoleum of the nation's founder and leader. Here, large crowds gather to pay there respects to the man they simply call Uncle Ho as they silently file past his glass sarcophagus. The Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho's wooden stilt house can also be seen here. One of must-see places in the complex is One Pillar pagoda dating back 11th century. From far view its shape looks like a huge lotus flower. The next stop is the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's oldest university and dedicated to one of the world's most famous scholars, Confucious. Inside the temple grounds, huge steles rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnam's culture, the turtle represents longevity). The stele recorded the names of the successful candidates who later became mandarins in the Emperor's court.
 
In the afternoon, you will visit to the very impressive Museum of Ethnology, among the finest of Vietnam's museums. You will see many exhibits, photographs and actual houses inhabited by some of the 54 ethnic people in Vietnam. It will offer a truly colorful introduction to these ethnic tribes. Then we enjoy one hour cyclo tour of Hanoi 's vibrant Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the focal point of the city. This is great fun! Lastly, in the late afternoon, you will be enchanted by the legends and stories told at the Thang Long Water Puppet show that no one should miss while visiting Hanoi.
 
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise & stay overnight on Board (B/L/D)
Depart from Hanoi and travel by shuttle bus to the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin (approximately four hours). Arrive at jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After your welcome onboard, a lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board. Overnight aboard on Halong Bay
 
Day 4: Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi (B)
Enjoy your fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards Ha Long port. Disembark and travel back to Hanoi by shuttle bus.
 
Note: 2 days cruise itinerary is subject to change bases on each cruise company, transfer by cruise’s shuttle bus (driver pick-up, there is no tour guide on the bus), english speaking guide is available on board.
 
Day 5: Ninh Binh - Trang An (B/L)
8h00 depart from Hanoi for Ninh Binh province (100 km ), enjoying the rural scenery along the road. We spend one hour visiting the Dinh and Le sanctuaries. These are the two remaining temples of the ancient citadel of Hoa Lu. The first is dedicated to Dinh Tien Hoang (also known as Dinh Bo Linh), an Emperor from the Dinh Dynasty. The second commemorates the rulers of the Le Dynasty. Dinh Bo Linh successfully conquered Vietnam’s first independent rulers, the Ngo Dynasty. On his death in 980, General Le Hoan wisely married Dinh’s widow and established the Le Dynasty and enlarged the citadel.
 
Next stop is Trang An Landscape Complex (Ninh Binh province), has just been inscribed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List, proudly being the Viet Nam’s first site to be acknowledged as a mixed natural and cultural heritage. Tour by local sampan along the stream. The limestone, valleys and rivers gather together constituting a mysterious and amazing scene. Visit 11 caves with stalactites of all shapes and colors. Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi.
 
Day 6: Ha Noi - Dong Hoi - Phong Nha (B/L)
This morning, you will be transfer to airport for the flight to Dong Hoi. Upon arrival, you will be met by a local guide and drive to the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.
 
This afternoon you will have the opportunity to take a mountain bike to explore the countryside, and visit a local village famous for producing rice wine. Enjoy the scenery and landscape of this unspoilt part of Vietnam before returning to your homestay for an evening at leisure. Tonight there is the option to have dinner with the local family who run the homestay. Overnignt at Jungle Boss Homestay or similar
 
Day 7: Phong Nha National Park (B/L)
Today you will spend some time exploring the National Park and some of the caves hidden within. Phong Nha Cave was the first cave in the area to be opened to tourism, and is still one of the most popular sights today. Take a boat ride from town past some gorgeous rural scenery and into the cave itself, before making your own way back out on foot. Another unmissable sight is Paradise Cave, the longest dry cave in Asia and only discovered a few years ago. Once you get past the unassuming entrance and down into the cave’s interior, it is one of the most stunningly beautiful caves in the world. Sturdy wooden walkways have been set up for tourists to explore the first km of the cave, but anyone continuing further than that must be part of an organised tour. The entrance to Paradise Cave is located up a hill, and a visit here involves a large number of steps, and should only be attempted by those who have a reasonable amount of fitness. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then the rest of the day is free for you to relax and explore the captivating surroundings at your own pace.
 
DAY 8: Phong Nha – Hue (B/L)
After breakfast this morning meet your guide for the drive to Hue via Quang Tri province, a journey of approximately 4 hours. Today's drive will pass through beautiful countryside scenery on the way. This narrow province borders Thua Thien-Hue to the south, Quang Tri in the middle, Laos to the west and the East Sea to the east.
 
Upon arrival you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to hotel. This afternoon you embark on a tour of the Imperial City, which is located in the Citadel. The Imperial City was built in the early 19th century. Explore the Thai Hoa Palace, with its spacious hall and ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns. See the Halls of the Mandarins, the Nine Dynastic Urns and the site where the Forbidden Purple City once stood. Overnight in Hue.
 
Day 9: Hue – Danang – Hoian (B/L)
After breakfast at your hotel, you will board a private traditional boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River as you head out to the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded by ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. Continue along the river to the Royal Tombs of Minh Mang, the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynesty who reigned until 1841. The tomb blends traditional architecture with a magical natural setting, and consists of 40 constructions (palaces, temples, and pavilions).
 
Afternoon, drive to Hoi An ancient town. The drive takes approximately 3 hours and passes through some of Vietnam’s most breathtaking landscape. En route, visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture, which contains one of the finest collections of Indo-Hindu carvings and documents the history and culture of the Cham people. Also visit the handicraft villages on the foot of Marble Mountain. Upon arrival in Hoi An, settle into your hotel. Overnight in Hoian.
 
Day 10: Hoian (B/L)
This morning, enjoy a walking tour of this enchanting town visiting an old merchant house, the Hoi An Museum, a Chinese Assembly Hall and the Japanese Covered Bridge. There may be many interesting things waiting for you here, lanterns, clothes shop, Hoian calligraphy, night foods…Afternoon is at your leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
 
Day 11: Hoian – Ho Chi Minh (B)
After a morning at leisure in Hoian, you will be transferred to the airport in Danang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh, where you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
 
Day 12: Cu Chi Tunnels - Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B/L)
Embark on an early morning visit to the world famous Cu Chi Tunnels. Having never been discovered by American Forces during the Vietnam-American War, these tunnels stretch over 200 km and was an important base for the Viet Cong. This underground network sports hand connected command posts, a hospital shelter and former weapon factories.
 
In the afternoon, tour starts at District One, you will see such landmarks as the Cathedral of Notre Dame as well as the Centre Post Office and pass by the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville) and old Opera House (both can only be visited from the outside). Next, stop at the War Remnants Museum, featuring collections of weapons and photographs from the two Indochina wars. Conclude the day with a visit to Thien Hau, arguably the most important Buddhist pagoda in Saigon, and then spend some time shopping at Binh Tay market in Cholon (Chinatown) before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
 
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta - Can Tho (B/L)
After breakfast, a two hour drive to Ben Tre will expose you to the colorful outskirt life as well as picturesque rice fields along the journey. On arrival in Hung vÆ°Æ¡ng Pier, boating on Ben Tre river – one of tributaries of Mekong river- is along mangrove tree from town to country. Witness lively activities in morning as fishing, coconut cargo boats carrying on river.... Stop at traditional brickwork to see how to make bricks by hand. Go on by boat to My Long village, walking to hamlet to see making rice paper and enjoy some rice cake. Turn on Cai Son canal winding through coconut jungle, visit coconut workshop, have a look stages of coconut processing from husk off, prize out to peel out by hand. Go on small waterway and stop at a bee garden, enjoy some fruits, honey tea and listen to local music as well. Visit candy mill and enjoy some sweet by the way. Continue short walking to visit farmer house who making sleepmats.
 
Cycle rural tracks or drive tuktuk through coconut grove, vegetable plains (cucumber, bitter melon...). Keep going by row boat on shady palm tree canal and stop for lunch at Green Garden riverside restaurant. Boating back Hùng vÆ°Æ¡ng pier by motorboat. Continue drive to Can Tho, check-in to your hotel. Overnight in Can Tho.
 
Day 14: Can Tho – Cai Rang floating market – Chau Doc (B)
Transfer to the river and board a boat to visit the Cai Rang floating market, where each morning hundreds of farmers, with their boats full of fresh fruits and vegetables, gather to trade goods. Visit a colonial home in Binh Thuy. Then set off for a three hour drive to Chau Doc - situated close to the Cambodian border. Accommodation at hotel in Chau Doc.
 
Day 15: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (B)
Depart early this morning for the boat ride to Phnom Penh, Cambodia (at 7 am). Once you reach the Cambodian border, the boat will stop to arrange your visa, which is approximately 34 USD per person (your own expense). On arrival in Phnom Penh (about 12.30), you’ll be transferred to hotel for an overnight stay. Accommodation at hotel in Phnom Penh.
 
Day 16: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B)
After breakfast, set out to explore the city's many unique highlights. Visit the elegant Royal Palace, a Khmer-styled structure constructed by the French in 1866, which stands on the site of the former citadel, Banteay Keo. Continue to the Silver Pagoda, so called because its dazzling floor is made of 5,329 silver tiles weighing one kilogram each. The Silver Pagoda houses a broad, eclectic selection of statuary and Buddhist relics, many from the Royal collection. Also learn more about Cambodia’s past tragedy with a visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison).
 
Then transfer to bus station (Giant Ibis Express Bus/ Mekong Express Bus) for departure to Phnom Penh. The trip from Phnom Penh takes about five hours. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, meet our guide and transfer to your hotel. Accommodation at hotel in Siem Reap.
 
Day 17: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat (B/D)
After breakfast, set out to explore the city of World Heritage. Begin at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, an ancient royal city that covers four square miles and is the pinnacle of the Khmer obsession with vast public works. Walk through looming gates, guarded by statues of gods and demons. At the center of Angkor Thom is the Temple of Bayon, a tremendous multi-towered temple with bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology. The central tower is covered with four gargantuan heads, depicting the king as a Bodhisattva, or Buddhist deity of compassion. This image is repeated throughout the Bayon, making it one of the most striking sites at Angkor. Continue by car past the Elephant and Leper King Terraces to Preah Khan, a remarkably preserved temple, and Ta Prohm, a temple that remains completely engulfed in vines and tree roots - this is arguably the most evocative of all Angkor's many temples.
In the afternoon, you will visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor, Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. You will enjoy a wonderful sunset from the Phnom Bakheng Hills. Dinner with dance Apsaras show at local restaurant. Overnight in Seam Reap.
 
Day 18: Siem Reap - Departure (B)
Begin the day with a drive to Chong Kneas to visit the fishing village by a private boat. Cruise through the fishing villages of the Tonle Sap Lake to discover the natural splendor and old lifestyle of the country. If time permits, we will also visit the local market and artisan d’Angkor workshop. Free at leisure till transfer to Siem Reap International airport for your onward flight.

Prices are quoted in US dollars per person base on minimum two travelers
 
Rates vary depend on group size, travel time, accommodation level, transportation and other service. Please contact us to get the best price!

- Shuttle bus transfer Hanoi – Ha Long – Hanoi (Shared bus)
- Public speed boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh (Shared boat)
- Public bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (Shared boat)

-The Hung Kings Anniversary from 6 April 2017 to 7 April 2017
- Victory Day & Labour Day from 29 April 2017 to 02 May 2017
- Independent Day from 02 September to 03 September 2017
- Christmas Eve gala dinner (December 24, 2017)
- New Year’s Eve gala dinner (December 31, 2017)
- New Year & Holiday: 24 December 2017 to 10 January 2018
- Lunar New Year from 15 Feb 2018 to 20 February 2018

 - Check in time at hotel 14:00pm -  Check out time at hotel 12:00pm