Vietnam - Cambodia In Depth - 21 Days - IOB02

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by our guide and brought to your hotel. Hanoi is one of Asia's most charming cities, with its romantic tree-lined boulevards and colonial houses. The day is free for your own exploration and shopping. Overnight at hotel.

A full day spent touring Hanoi – the political, economic and cultural capital of Vietnam. Starting with the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays), which offers informative and well-documented information on the country’s 54 ethnic groups, including elaborate and colorful hill-tribe costumes. The display continues in the outside garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses from the Kinh’s to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. We will then visit the Temple of Literature - a temple built in honor of Confucius in 1070, and served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam founded in 1076. This temple and its beautiful garden provide an opportunity to learn more about the Mandarin education that has shaped Vietnam for 1000 years and to relax in this tranquil setting. The afternoon is spent exploring the alleys of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple or the Jade Mountain Temple situated in the heart of Hanoi. A delightful water puppet show will perfectly wrap up our day. Overnight at hotel.

Depart from Hanoi to Mai Chau, a picturesque valley, home to many hill tribes including the Dzao, Muong and Thai. We will arrive in Mai Chau around noon and check into the Thai ethnic homestay in Van village. A village of the ‘White Thai’, who predominantly inhabit this area. A typical Thai meal will be served for lunch at the homestay. In the afternoon, you can take a short walk around the village where you will encounter friendly local people, and get the chance to communicate with them and get to know their traditional lifestyle. Enjoy a traditional dance show at night while tasting Ruou Can, the local rice wine. Overnight at homestay

After brekafast, drive to Ninh Binh via Nho Quan with its peaceful countryside settings. After lunch, taking buffalow cart or cycling through the village, stop to take some shots. Board a small rowing boat to explore the Van Long Nature Reserve which covers some 3,000 hectares of picturesque water landscape. You will enjoy two hours rowing through spectacular scenery made up of limestone mountains reflected in emerald water and lush rice fields. The forest is home to  Delacour Langur - an endangered spiece with only 200 individuals remaining globally. Disembark and walk to visit  two temples dedicated to King Dinh and Le in Hoa Lu- the ancient capital of Vietnam in 10th century. Overnight at the hotel in Hoa Lu.

After breakfast depart to Halong Bay via Thai Binh and Nam Dinh, passing a peaceful countryside typical of Red River Delta with endless rice fields and winding river. We will arrive at Halong’s tourist wharf around noon and embark an elegant wooden junk. Lunch will be served while the boat gently cruises past numerous islands and limestone structures rising from the emerald water. It is also an ideal opportunity to enjoy the sea breeze and refresh your soul. A fresh seafood dinner will be prepared by an experienced chef and served on deck.  A peaceful night on board in your private cabin.

Enjoy breakfast and savor the incredible sunrise from the sundeck while the boat sails to Luon Cave and one of Halong’s floating villages then back to the harbor. On the way back to Hanoi, we will stop at Phu Lang pottery village in Bac Ninh province. Drive to Hanoi for overnight.

You will fly to Saigon in the morning, the largest and most dynamic city in Vietnam. Upon arrival, check into the hotel. The rest of the day is free for your own exploration and shopping. Overnight at hotel.

In the morning, we will visit Cho Lon, Vietnam’s largest China Town where you can shop to your hearts content and sample the fabulous cuisine. We then visit Thien Hau Temple, the most lively temple in Ho Chi Minh City, dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, and Giac Lam Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in the city. Back to downtown Saigon to visit Notre Dame Cathedral (built in 1877) and the Central Post Office.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Reunification Palace formerly known as Independence Palace. It served as the residence and working place of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam war. The tour ends with a visit to Ngoc Hoang Temple dedicated to the Jade Emperor, the supreme deity in Taoism. Overnight at hotel.

Leaving the bustling city of Saigon behind, we depart to the Mekong Delta considered Vietnam’s biggest rice basket. Arrive at Hung Vuong pier in Ben Tre and embark our boat to cruise along Bến Tre River, a tributary of the great Mekong, to explore the local lifestyle and the daily hustle and bustle. Stop at the brickfield belonging to Mr. Tu Lo to see how bricks are made by hand in Vietnam and a coconut candy home factory located along the canal to witness the process of making this local candy and other souvenirs. You will then have the opportunity to taste bee honey tea at a local honey farm and a variety of tropical fruit that grow amply in the orchards of the Mekong Delta. You can then walk or cycle hrough the coconut groves and green rice paddies to soak up and relax in the tranquil countryside atmosphere.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon we will take a trip on small rowing boats through a maze of waterways lined by two rows of palm tree. Cruise back to the pier and disembark. We continue to Long Xuyen passing Sadec where we will visit Kien An Cung Pagoda, built by the family of Huynh Thuy Le, the main character in the novel “L’amant” by French novelist Marguerite Duras, and Trung Vuong primary school where her mother taught. We will continue our trip to Long Xuyen where we will arrive in the late afternoon. Overnight at hotel.

In the early morning, we embark a sampan to explore Long Xuyen floating market, the least visited yet most authentic floating market in the Mekong Delta. It is crowded with thousands of boats jostling for space. We then take a boat trip to visit a floating fish farm where you have the chance to feed the fish yourself. After disembarking the sampan we will visit a village of  the Cham ethnic minority.
Our last stop of the day is Cu Lao Ong Ho also known as "Tiger Island", home of Vietnam's first president. We will then drive to Chau Doc, atown on the border of Cambodia and Vietnam, where we will spend the night. 

In the morning we will take a speed boat to Phnom Penh and arrive in the capital city of Cambodia around noon. Time to rest and have lunch. The afternoon will be spent exploring Phnom Penh. We commence our tour with a visit to the National Museum, then on to the  Silver Pagoda situated inside the Royal Palace complex and lastly  Wat Phnom Pagoda considered the spirittual heart of the city. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast we will drive 168km to Kampong Thom-a picturesque town situated on the banks of Tonle Sap Lake. En route, we will stop at Skun Market- a unique place selling spiders and Kuhak Nokor Temple built during the reign of King Suryavarman I (1002-1050). This temple was built out of laterite and decorated with sandstone lingtel and pillars. Arrive in Kompong Thom, check into the hotel for a short rest. In the afternoon, by passing through the beautiful landscape of the Cambodian countryside, we reach Sambor Prei Kuk, which served as the ancient capital of Chenla built in the early 7th century. Drive back to Kompong Thom for overnight.

After breakfast we will drive 2,5 hours to Siem Reap. We will stop at the the old bridge in Kampong Kdei for a visit and photos. After arriving in Siem Reap you will have time to relax and discover the small town in your own. A welcome dinner with a special Aspara dance show will be served in the evening. Overnight at hotel

We start our trip by visiting the Roluos Temple Group built between 877-889, situated 13km outside Siem Reap. They were constructed during the first Angkor settlement of the ancient Khmer. The group boasts three temples:
- Bakong is the most impressive of the three, much older than Angkor Wat it features beautiful carvings on its lintels that remain in good shape
- Preahko Temple is close to Bakong and consists of six elegant brick towers with exquisite decorations and statues of Nandi, Shiva's sacred bull.
- Lolei Temple constructed in 893, is an island temple dedicated to members of the royal family and the Hindu god Shiva.
The afternoon is spent exploring the amazing World Heritage "Angkor Wat", the world's largest religious building, and Phnom Bakheng  on Bakheng Hill the first major temple to be constructed in the Angkor era, marking the move of the Khmer empire's capital from Roluos to Angkor in the late 9th century AD. Overnight at hotel.

We will continue our discovery of Angkor with a visit to Banteay Srei built when the Khmer Empire was gaining significant power. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It’s a masterpiece of Khmer Art with intricate sandstone construction and ornate design. We will then head back to visit Banteay Samre Temple built in the Angkor Wat style.
In the afternoon, we will visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephant, Phimean Akas and the Terrace of the Leper King. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap

Morning visit to the “Small Circuit” group of temples including Ta Prohm overgrown with the roots of enormous fig trees. This is one of Jayavarman VII's first major temple projects dedicated to his mother, Thommanon built at the same time as Angkor Wat and Chau Say Tevoda Temple, Banteay Kdei surrounded by four concentric walls, Srah Srang or “The Royal Baths" which was used for bathing rituals and Ta Keo known as “The Mountain with Golden Peaks” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
The afternoon will be spent visiting the “Grand Circuit” including Pre Rup, a temple mountain with beautiful bas reliefs and excellent views of the surrounding countryside, East Mebon a large temple mountain dedicated to Shiva in honor of the king’s parents, Tasom the most distant temple of the Grand Circuit, Neak Pean a small island temple originally dedicated to Buddha, it is most photogenic during the wet season and finishing off the tour will be Preah Khan dedicated to Jayavarman VII's father. Overnight at hotel

SWe will start our morning with a visit to Beng Melea temple located 60km east of the city, a 2 hour drive. The temple was constructed around the same time as and in the style of Angkor Wat. It is hidden in the middle of a lush jungle, an ideal place for those looking for an off the beaten track adventure in Cambodia. Picnic lunch on the way. We will then visit Koh Keh, which used to be the most remote and inaccessible Angkor temple complex, but thanks to reconstruction, the road is now in good condition. Overnight in Siem Reap.

In the morning, we will explore Tonle Sap lake, the largest natural lake in Indochina, by boat. One or two hours of cruising will bring you closer to the floating villages and discover Cambodian life on the water. We then continue our drive to Battambang (3 hours). A famous tourist-spot, sporting numerous ancient temples, Buddhist shrines and the infamous bamboo railway. Upon arrival we will check into the hotel and relax. Overnight at hotel in Battambang

After breakfast we will visit a traditional house at Phum Wat Kor and Wat Ek Phnom Temple which was built in the 11th century during the reign of Soriyavaraman I (1002 – 1050), but now sits within the ground of a modern pagoda. On the way back we will visit the Buddhist temple Wat Slaket and Prahoc Market famous for selling Prahoc, a kind of fermented fish paste, which is a popular cooking ingredient with Khmer people, which they use to add a salty flavor to a dish or just eat by itself.
In the afternoon we will drive to the Bamboo Railway Station. The Bamboo Train was set up by the villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods and people. The train itself is very basic, one platform on four wheels activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform we will travel 8km to the next station through beautiful landscape and past rice paddies. On arrival, we will visit a village and take a walk to discover rural Cambodia. Overnight at hotel in Battambang

We will depart early in the morning to Pursat province, famous for its marble stone carvings, colonial architecture and floating market. From there we continue to Kompong Chanang province 100km north of Phnom Penh, a centre for pottery founded some 5,000 years ago. The next stop is Phnom Oudong, the former Cambodian capital during the latter stages of the Khmer Empire and crowning site of many past kings. Consisting of a series of stupas atop a large hill, the site offers outstanding views across surrounding plains. Phnom Oudong was bombed and desecrated by the Americans and then the Khmer Rouge, but still possesses a beauty that no war has been able to destroy. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Free time for your own shopping and exploration before we bring you to the airport for your return flight. The hotel room is available until noon only. Asiatica Travel’s services end at the airport.