Summary of Itinerary:
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival ( No Lunch )
Upon Arrival to Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh city. Our driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer to the city center for checking in the hotel.
Free time for leisure!
Hotel: ELIOS (3*) / BLUE DIAMOND (3*) / SUNRISE (3*) or similar
Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels Tour (B)
8:30am: We will pick you up from your hotel and depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels for 60 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Cu Chi is now considered a heroic district for its role in the anti – American war in Vietnam. It is legendary for its tunnels system of over 220 km and is a popular spot for both the locals and foreigners.
The peacefully rural rice paddy scenery contains ducks and water buffaloes swimming in the rivers along the side of road. You will find it hard to imagine the destruction, damage and defoliation all over the area caused by bombing and mines when Cu Chi was “A Free Target Zone.” The remnants you will see that Cu Chi still has evidences to prove the fierce battleground that took place there. Ever wonder what it feels like to fire an AK-47? Visit Cu chi tunnels and you have a chance to find out!
2:30pm: Ride the bus back to Ho Chi Minh.
Hotel: ELIOS (3*) / BLUE DIAMOND (3*) / SUNRISE (3*) or similar
Day 3: Mekong Delta Tour (B, L)
Get a chance to see the beautiful side of Vietnam and let the splendid views amaze your senses. This trip allows you to visit the local factories and see how local products are made. Also, you will meet the friendly locals and have a lot of wonderful experiences on land and at the river while you see the floating fish market and fish farm. Let’s discover a hard-working land with traditional people which will let you appreciate life!
8:00am: Our bus will pick you up at your hotel to take a 2-hour ride to Tien Giang province (roughly 75 km west of Saigon) followed by a smooth one and half hour motorboat ride passing rice fields and stopping over National Highway 1 that leads visitors to the beautiful rural district of Trung Luong. The bus stops at Cao Dai temple in the town of Ben Luc for taking pictures.
Upon arrival to My Tho City, cross the Tien River by motorboat on the upper part of the Mekong River to see the fish market and visit the floating fish farm. Enjoy the view of Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn, and Turtle islands as well. Cruise along small creeks through Mekong River estuaries to Rach Xep natural canal, which is fully covered with water coconuts. Visit orchards and farms to taste natural honey and honey wine. Enjoy!
Visit old houses and see local people made hand working coconut tree. Take a walk around the fruit garden and taste the seasonal fruits as you enjoy a traditional South Vietnamese musical performance. After visiting traditional houses, enjoy a memorizing rowing boat trip through small canals.
Take a motorboat cruise along more natural creeks and peaceful villages. Satisfy your sweet tooth by stopping by a coconut candy mill to indulge in this tasty snack while seeing how it is made. Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch in a restaurant located in a local home. Ride your bike (about 0.5 hour) around the village shaded by coconut trees as you pass immense green rice fields and admire the beautiful scenery. We will return My Tho by boat.
Bus back to Ho Chi Minh City and visit Vinh Trang Pagoda.
Hotel: ELIOS (3*) / BLUE DIAMOND (3*) / SUNRISE (3*) or similar
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh (B)
7:00 am: Pick up at the hotel and transfer to the bus for a bus trip to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our tour guide and be transferred to the hotel.
Hotel: 3-star hotel or similiar or similar
Day 5: Phnom Penh Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, you will explore the capital city, the bustling Central Market, the Independence Monument and Wat Ounalom. Enjoy a set lunch at a local restaurant.
Then we continue our trip to the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious “Killing Fields” of Choeung Ek, which provides a deep insight into the painful rule of the Khmer Rouge. You will also visit Royal Palace, the sacred Silver Pagoda, which is well known for its 5000 silver tiled floor.
Hotel: 3-star hotel or similiar or similar
Day 6: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. You will be transferred by bus (tourist’s public bus) from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (314 Km=6 Hours) passing by three provinces, Kandal, Kampung Cham and KomPung Thom.
On arrival, you will be met by our tour guide in Siem Reap and be transferred to the hotel.
Late lunch will be served at the local restaurant.
Free time in the afternoon.
Hotel: 3-star hotel or similiar or similar
Day 7: Angkor Wat Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
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, a forest of heads, built in late of 12th century by king Jayavarman VI as a Buddhist state temple.
Then, visit the terrace of elephant, which used to be the base for the king’s grand audience hall, Terrace of Leper king that was supposed to be a terrace that housed the royal crematory. Then, you will visit an amazing view of Ta prohm temple which has been deliberately left as it was discovered. At Ta Prohm, kapok trees clasp the sanctuaries in their mighty roots.
Set lunch at local restaurant
Afternoon, visit Pre Rup temple, a classic example of temple-mountain, and the last without continuous galleries; Eastern Mebon, Ta som, NeakPean, a unique ancient hospital built in the reign of king Jayavarman VI (1181-1220) which has been seen as a representation of Anavatapta, a miraculous lake in Himalayas that cures all illnesses and Preah Khan, a large temple built on the site of the battle that ended in Ankor’s downfall at the land of the Cham.
Preah Khan was also a kind of a university, housing a number of masters and students.
Hotel: 3-star hotel or similiar or similar
Day 8: Siem Reap (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Free at leisure until transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure.
