South Vietnam & Cambodia 9 Days

Destinations: Ho Chi Minh City - Tay Ninh - Mekong Delta - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
Starts in/Finishes in: Ho Chi Minh City/Siem Reap

Highlights:
Visit Saigon, the former name of Ho Chi Minh City which was once also called “the Pearl of the Far East”.
Get some basic knowledge of the Cao-Dai religion at Tay Ninh Holy See Temple
Explore the famous Cu Chi Tunnels with amazing underground tunnels built by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam war
Hop on the cruise will take you to visit the vibrant floating markets to experience a special type of market in the Mekong Delta
Take some peaceful time at a laid-back Phnom Penh – the capital city of Cambodia
Marvel at Angkor Wat- the place that captures the hearts of travelers all over the world

DAY 1  Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City (no meal)
Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, meet and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Meals:
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

DAY 2  Ho Chi Minh City Discovery Tour (B, L)
After breakfast, start your 9-day tour to Southern Vietnam and Cambodia with a guided city tour starting with the War Remnants Museum – a real eye-opener to a part of Vietnam’s proud history, followed by the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post office to get good shots for our memory of the big, modern city of Vietnam.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you will continue by heading to Chinatown with a walking tour through the back streets of Chinatown near Cho Lon to view the local daily life. Stop off for a visit of Thien Hau temple, which was built in the early 19th Century dedicated to Thien Hau, the goddess of seafarers. We delve deeper into Chinatown visiting the amazing Cholon and Binh Tay Market (or Ben Thanh Market) for an insight into where locals shop. Then you’ll be back to the hotel at around 17:00.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

DAY 3  Visit Cu Chi Tunnels & Tay Ninh Temple (B, L)
An 1,5-hour drive will take you to the Cu Chi Tunnels where you will visit the amazing network of underground tunnels was used during the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong. This huge construction was a habitation for villagers in the war time. With 3 levels of depth, it was never discovered by the US during the Vietnam War despite its proximity to Saigon. Visit the fighting tunnel system with your local guide.

Drive to Tay Ninh which was once the historical center of the Cao-Dai religion. Founded in 1926, Cao-Dai is a combination of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. At the Holy See Temple, you will have the chance to watch the worshipers in their long white tunics during noon mass. From Tay Ninh, you will return to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

DAY 4  Explore the Mekong Delta by Boat and Bicycle (B, L)
This morning you’ll head south to visit of Cai Be colorful floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, and pop-rice, pop-corn …Visit a handicraft village where you can see how they make rice-net for spring-rolls, fish sauce & soya sauce, cooking salt, sewing coconut-leaves for cottage roof. Later, a rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy peacefulness of the Delta. You will also see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to interact with them and see how they catch fish or pick up fruits by ancestral ways in the Mekong Delta. A tasty lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Afternoon walk around and then enjoy some fresh fruits while listening to the traditional music. The trip today also takes in some gentle cycling along village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong Delta. The cruise will end at Vinh Long city where you will drive to Can Tho in the heart of the Mekong Delta for overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

DAY 5  Boat Trip to Visit Colorful Cai Rang Floating Market – Return to Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
Today an half-hour boat cruise will take you to visit the vibrant Cai Rang floating market to experience a special type of market in which all purchasing activities take place on boats and ships. Then continue to small a canal to visit a fruit garden where your guide will show you around before having a plate of delicious fruits. Return to Can Tho and observe the rural life and the lush vegetation along the riverbanks. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City with lunch en route, arriving in the late afternoon.

Note: Cai Rang market is one of the three biggest markets (Cai Be, Phung Hiep, Cai Rang) in the Mekong Delta. You can visit the market at any time of the day but it is most crowded and busy from sunrise to 6:00 am.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

DAY 6  Ho Chi Minh City – Morning Flight to Phnom Penh & Afternoon City Tour (B, L)
Your time will be free till being picked up for a regional flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival, you be picked up to your hotel for check-in.

Afternoon embarked on a guided city tour including the National Museum, home to the world’s best and probably the largest collections of Khmer art. You will then visit the Royal Palace and the attached Silver Pagoda, a symbol of Cambodia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Plane

DAY 7  Phnom Penh - Siem Reap Sightseeing (B, L)
Take a morning flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, you will be met and driven to your hotel. Free time at leisure.

In the afternoon, you will visit Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all the other Khmer temples in that it faces west, and is inspired by 12th Century Hinduism. Its symmetrical towers are stylized on the modern Cambodian flag. Conceived by Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat took an estimated 30 years to build. It is generally believed to have been a funeral temple for the king. It has been occupied continuously by Buddhist monks and is well preserved. Intricate bas-reliefs surround Angkor Wat on four sides. Each tells a story. The most celebrated of these is the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, which is located on the east wing. In it the Naga serpent, is twisted by demons and gods to spurt out the elixir of life. Sunset at Angkor Wat.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Plane

DAY 8  Continue Exploring Temples (B, L)

Today you will continue with a guided tour of the Angkor Temple complex. Visit Angkor Thom, starting with the Bayon, a bizarre structure of several architectural changes reflecting a switch from Hinduism (the foundations) to Buddhism (the superstructure). Next, visit the Elephant and Leper King Terraces, followed by the Baphoun Temple, which is now nearing the end of an eight-year multi-million dollar restoration program.

After lunch, a short drive will take you to Ta Prohm, strangled by massive tree roots and typical of the condition of the whole complex when French naturalist Henri Mouhot discovered it in 1860. You’ll also visit the Prasat Kravan (also known as the Cardomom Sanctuary) and Srah Srang Lake and landing terrace. The Srah Srang is less visited and could be sunrise alternative to Angkor Wat.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

DAY 9  Cruise Tonle Sap Great Lake – Departure (B, L)

Inclusion:

Accommodation with daily breakfasts
All pick-ups and transfers by private vehicle with experienced drivers.
The use of private boat cruises in Vinh Long & Can Tho
Private boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake in Siem Reap
English speaking guide as indicated in the itinerary
Meals as indicated in the programme
All entrance fees as mentioned in the programme
All government taxes

Exclusion: 

Personal expenses are not noted in the program
Insurance
Tip