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From Halong Bay to Angkor temples
Highlights of tour:
Discover from the fantastic Halong bay until majestic Angkor temples by passing the Vietnamese heritage line: citadel of Hue and ancient town of Hoi An.
Day 1: HA NOI (D)
Upon arrival, pick-up and transfer to your hotel.
Walking down on the city and a tour of the city’s Old Quarter aboard a rickshaw trip called cyclo (1hrs). Enjoy Water Puppet Show in the evening.
Welcome dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: HA NOI – LAO CAI (B/L/D)
In the morning, we will tour the capital city to visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda, the hallowed Van Mieu “Temple of Literature”. Van Mieu, as it is known in Vietnamese, is the country’s most renowned temple complex. A combination of Confucian sanctuary and academy, the centre also housed the country’s first university, founded in 1076. We have time to wander through the stone tablets and soak up a thousand years of learning with our local guide. After lunch, continue visiting a very beautiful Museum of Ethnology to enhance your understanding of Vietnam’s diverse culture through its unique presentation of objects & dress from daily life. Transfer from your hotel to the Hanoi train station for an overnight train ride to Lao Cai.
DAY 3: LAO CAI – COC LY – SA PA (B/L/D)
Arrive in the early morning at Lao Cai station, near the Chinese border; take a scenic drive to the hill station to visit Coc Ly hill tribes Market. Drive back to Lao Cai to visit Tran Hung Dao temple, the century banyan tree, the 12 zodiac-signs park, and the Chinese Vietnamese borderline…
After that we will head up to Sapa, enjoy the spectacular views of rice-terraced mountains and Black Hmong and Red Dao hill tribe people dressed in their colorful wares walking along the roadside. Lunch & Dinner at local restaurant.
DAY 4: SA PA – LAO CAI (B/L/D)
After breakfast at hotel, we begin a walking tour to Lao Chai and Ta Van to witness the real life of hill tribe’s people. Go back to town for lunch. In the afternoon, we will take a trip to Ta Phin home to the Red Dao hill tribe. Transfer to Lao Cai train station to take an overnight train back to Hanoi. Lunch & Dinner at local restaurant.
DAY 5: HA NOI – HA LONG (B/L/D)
Early arrive in Hanoi. After breakfast at local restaurant, drive 160 km to Halong City with a coffee break en route at the Sao Do handicraft village. Arrive by noontime at the dock; we board on our junk to begin cruising through spectacular Halong Bay, visiting the amazingly beautiful cave of Surprises, “Sung Sot”. Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch served on board exploring different interesting caves and grottoes. Lunch and dinner on board.
Note: The cabins on board are simples, comfortable, clean, air-conditioned, and outfitted with their own and hot shower. This is a join-in cruise (possibility to take a private junk).
Day 6: HA LONG – HA NOI – HUE (B/L/D)
You will begin this morning with a sunrise breakfast before your exploration of Luon Cave (Tunnel cave) by small bamboo boat paddle. Then continue to visit another part of Bay (Bai Tu Long Bay). Lunch on board. After lunch, we return to Hanoi, transfer to the airport, flight to Hue.
Upon arrival, you will be met and privately transferred to your hotel. Dinner and stay overnight in Hue.
Day 7: HUE – HOI AN (B/L/D)
Enjoy the breakfast at hotel, visit Emperor’s tomb Tu Duc (1848-1883) then you’ll take a cruise along the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu (Heavenly Lady) pagoda, Hue’s most revered religious monument.
After lunch in the city, visit the majestic Imperial Citadel of Hue with 13 reigns. Drive to the Ancient town of Hoian, check in to your hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 8: HOI AN – SAI GON – SIEMREAP (B/L/D)
Your guide will offer to lead you around Hoian’s historic Old Town The picturesque riverside town of Hoi An, a major international trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries, has an enchanting Old Quarter full of mansions built by prosperous Japanese, Chinese, and European merchants.
Transfer to the airport of Danang, flight to Siemreap via Saigon.
Arrival at airport of Siemreap, you will be met by professional tour guide and transferred from airport to the hotel. Overnight in Siemreap.
Day 9: SIEMREAP (B/L/D)
Morning, visit Angkor Wat, the most balanced, the most harmonious, and the most perfect Khmer temple. It shows Khmer art, which reached the height of it glory in the 12th century. The temple was built by king Suryavrman II and dedicated to god Vishnu.
Afternoon, visit south gate of Angkor Thom with two rows of its huge statues of demons and gods depicting the churning of the ocean of milk arranged on both sides of stone bridge and Bayon temple. Visit the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, terrace of elephant, which used to be a base for the king’s grand audience hall; Terrace of Leper king supposed that it was a terrace housed the royal crematory. Then, visit an amazing view of Ta prohm Temple which has been deliberately left as it was discovered. Kapok trees clasp the sanctuaries in their mighty roots.
Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Siemreap.
Day 10: SIEM REAP (B/L/D)
Visit Banteay Srei Temple, a tiny temple complex consider by many visitors to be the highest achievement in art and architecture of the Classic Angkor civilization. The glory of Banteay Srei is the beauty of its sculpture and decoration. The pink sandstone used in its buildings makes this temple more beautiful. On the way back to the town you will visit Banteay Samre. Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, visit Roluos Group, dating from the late ninth century. In Roluos Group you will visit three temples: Bakong, the first temple-mountain in Khmer architecture initiated by Jayavarman II on his discent from Kulen hill; Preh Ko, which means in Khmer “The sacred ox”, the funerary of Jayavarman II and of the ancestors of his second successor, Indravarman; Lolei, the last brick temple in the group located on an island in the middle of the Indratataka – a large ancient reservoir. Enjoy sunset view at Lolei temple.
Dinner with traditional show at local restaurant.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 11: SIEMREAP – PHNOMPENH – SIHANOUKVILLE (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will be transferred to Siem Reap airport for taking domestic flight to Phnom Penh 11:10-12:00 noon.
Upon arrival Phnom Penh, you will be picked up and transferred by private coach (no tour guide) to Sihanouk Ville (4 hours drive).
Upon arrival in Sihanouk Ville, transfer to hotel for check-in and relaxing.
Overnight in Sihanouk Ville.
Day 12+13: SIHANOUKVILLE (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free at own leisure (no guide, no car).
Overnight in Sihanouk Ville.
Day 14: SIHANOUKVILLE – PHNOMPENH – DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free at own leisure till suitable time to transfer to Phnom Penh and forward directly to airport for departure flight.
