PLAN A: Classic Touring To Southern Vietnam And Cambodia

Time		Place	Activity	Meal
	Day 1	Ho Chi Minh	Arrival in Ho Chi Minh. Transfer to hotel. Rest of the day is your leisure in Ho Chi Minh. Evening, Evening, dinner and enjoy Vietnamese traditional music on Bon Sai Restaurant Cruise. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.	D
	Day 2	Ho Chi Minh	Morning, visit the most famous places in Ho Chi Minh. Afternoon, leave Ho Chi Minh for Cu Chi. Explore the legend Cu Chi tunnel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.	B,L
	Day 3	Mekong Delta	Leave Ho Chi Minh for Ben Tre. Take a boat trip on mekong river to a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, walking through the fruit plantation village. Overnight in Can Tho.	B,L
	Day 4	Mekong Delta	Phong Dien floating market, rice noodle making village, Cai Rang floating market. Overnight in Chau Doc.	B,L
	Day 5	Phnom Penh	After breakfast, transfer to a speed boat for Phnom Penh. Arrival in Phnom Penh, transfer to hotel. After a refreshment, visit Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. Overnight in Phnom Penh.	B,L
	Day 6	Siem Reap	Morning, transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Afternoon, visit some famous temples in Siem Reap including: East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Panan, Preah Khan, Pre Rup. Evening, enjoy buffet dinner and watch Khmer Traditional Dance Show at a local restaurant. (Alternative: Visit the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Fields & Wat Phnom in the morning. Afternoon transfer to Siem Reap.) Overnight in Siem Reap.	B,L,D
	Day 7	Siem Reap	Morning, visit to the antique capital of Angkor Thom. Continue your visit to Ta Prohm. Afternoon, visit Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. Enjoy a wonderful sunset scenery from the Top of Phnom Bakhen Hill. Overnight in Siem Reap.	B,L
	Day 8	Siem Reap	Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake for sightseeing, see the local life on the lake. After that, transfer to airport for your departure flight home.	B

PLAN B: Cruise from Mekong, Vietnam to Cambodia

Time		Place	Activity	Meal
	Day 1	Ho Chi Minh	Arrival in Ho Chi Minh. Transfer to hotel. After a refreshment, visit some famous places in Ho Chi Minh. Afternoon, visit Cu Chi tunnel. Evening, Evening, dinner and enjoy Vietnamese traditional music on Bon Sai Restaurant Cruise. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.	L,D
	Day 2	Mekong Delta	Morning, transfer from Ho Chi Minh city to Cai Be. Boarding the wooden boat for sightseeing. Afternoon, disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Overnight on boat – Mekong eyes.	L,D
	Day 3	Mekong Delta	Sunrise, watch the local daily life. After breakfast, board a sampan boat to visit Cai Be floating market and Visit nearby villages. Back to the Cruise for lunch. Afternoon, another side trip to one of the exotic villages. Overnight on boat.	B,L,D
	Day 4	Mekong Delta	After breakfast, visit another floating market. Take another sampan side trip right into the lush rural landscape, the fertile fields, the exuberant green. Pack up and return to the pier. At 11.30, desembark. Lunch in the Ancient Anh Kiet House in Cai Be. After lunch, transfer to Chau Doc and stay overnight in Chau Doc.	B,L
	Day 5	Phnom Penh	After breakfast, transfer to a speed boat for Phnom Penh. Arrival in Phnom Penh, transfer to hotel. After a refreshment, visit Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. Overnight in Phnom Penh.	B,L
	Day 6	Siem Reap	Morning, transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Afternoon, visit some famous temples in Siem Reap including: East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Panan, Preah Khan, Pre Rup. Evening, enjoy buffet dinner and watch Khmer Traditional Dance Show at a local restaurant. (Alternative: Visit the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Fields & Wat Phnom in the morning. Afternoon transfer to Siem Reap.) Overnight in Siem Reap.	B,L,D
	Day 7	Siem Reap	Morning, visit to the antique capital of Angkor Thom. Continue your visit to Ta Prohm. Afternoon, visit Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. Enjoy a wonderful sunset scenery from the Top of Phnom Bakhen Hill. Overnight in Siem Reap.	B,L
	Day 8	Siem Reap	Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake for sightseeing. After then, transfer to airport for your departure flight home.	B

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh.

Arrival at airport in Ho Chi Minh. Transfer to hotel. Checkin and take your leisure time.

Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh – City tour & explore Cu Chi Tunnel (B,L)

Morning, Ho Chi Minh City tour. We start the trip by visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, followed by exploring the Reunification Palace, and the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum, (Drop you off at Ben Thanh Market for shopping if we have enough time).

Afternoon, leave Ho Chi Minh for Cu Chi. Explore Cu Chi Tunnels. Located 60km from HCMC, Cu Chi is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists – the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. Finish the tour at around 05.30pm.

Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong delta (B,L,D)

Around 8.00, leave Ho Chi Minh city, enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields. On arrival at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank.

Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shade of water coconut trees along natural canals. Have a short cycling tour (applied for private tour/if time permitted) then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by the locals. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantations and villages.

Continue to Can Tho. Free time to visit the bustling Can Tho market.

Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.

Day 4: Mekong delta – An exotic world of its own (B,L)

Take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river (Bassac River), then proceed to Cai Rang floating markets (Alt: Visit Phong Dien floating market) which are the liveliest in the whole religion.

Have you ever tasted Vietnamese vermicelli soup? Well, now go and see how it is made. Then wander around the village and meet the friendly local people and experience how to pass a “Monkey bridge” which is built by only one stem of bamboo. Visit the orchard garden. Stop for lunch.

Proceed to Chau Doc, continue the tour to visit Tra Su, getting to the wild birds Sanctuary, cruising smoothly with small boats to discover the arrays of splendid canals deep into the forest, watching storks, cranes and other tropical birds. Back to the Town, hotel check in.

Overnight at hotel in Chau Doc.

Day 5: Mekong delta – Phnom Penh, Cambodia (B,L)

After breakfast, transfer to a speed boat for Phnom Penh. Arrive at Sisowath tourist dock in Phnom Penh at around 2.00pm.

Transfer to hotel in Phnom Penh. After a refreshment, visit to the Royal Palace. The palace was built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town. Continue your visit to the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles.

Continue your visit at the National Museum. This is one of Phnom Penh’s true architectural gems. The Museum is instantly recognizable with its warm red terracotta and its gracefully cured roof topped by dozens of guardian nagas. It was designed in Khmer style in 1917 by famed French architect Georges Groslier & Ecole Des Arts Cambodgiens.

Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 6: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B,L,D)

Morning, transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, check-in the hotel and have lunch.

Afternoon, visit some famous temples in Siem Reap including: East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Panan, Preah Khan, Pre Rup.

• The East Mebon is a 10th Century temple at Angkor, Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Rajendravarman, it stands on what was an artificial island at the center of the now dry East Baray reservoir.
• Ta Som is a small temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built at the end of the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. It is located north east of Angkor Thom and just east of Neak Pean.
• Neak Pean at Angkor, Cambodia is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Preah Khan Baray built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is the “Mebon” of the Preah Khan baray.
• Preah Khan is a temple at Angkor, built by the King Jayavarman VII. Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. However, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.
• Pre Rup is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built as the state temple of Khmer king Rajendravarman and dedicated in 961 or early 962. It is a temple mountain of combined brick, laterite and sandstone construction.

Stay overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Alternative: Visit Choeung Ek Killing Fields & Wat Phnom – Transfer to Siem Reap (B,L)

Morning, visit the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Fields 15km southwest of Phnom Penh. This one is the site of brutal executions of more than 17,000 individuals, most of whom first suffered through interrogations, torture and deprivation in Toul Sleng Prison during Pol Pot regime (From 1975–1979). Continue your visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison). This prison was a high school, and used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the rule of the Khmer Rouge.

Back to the city and visit Wat Phnom – the most famous buddhist temple in Phnom Penh. It was built in 1373, and stands 27 metres above the ground. It is the tallest religious structure in the city. The pagoda was given the name of Wat Preah Chedey Borapaut.

Afternoon, transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.

Stay overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 7: Siem Reap – Explore Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat (B,L)

In the morning, visit to the antique capital of Angkor Thom (literally: “Great City”), located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Continue your visit at the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Continue your visit to Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in Angkor. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som, built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic.

In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture.

Before ending the tour today, enjoy a wonderful sunset scenery from the Top of Phnom Bakhen Hill.

Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 8: Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lake – Departure flight (B)

After breakfast at hotel, take a boat trip for sight-seeing on Tonle Sap Lake, the Great Lake of Cambodia. It is one of the largest lakes in Asia. Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals.

After that, back to downtown to visit Artisan’s D’angkor, the caving art school. Continue your visit to Wat Thmei. Wat Thmei near Charles de Gaulle Boulevard in Siem Reap, Cambodia where you will find a small memorial stupa which contains the skulls and bones of victims killed during the regime of the Khmer Rouge during 1975 – 1979.

Transfer to Siem Reap airport for your departure flight.

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh – City tour and explore Cu Chi Tunnel (B,D)

Arrival at airport in Ho Chi Minh. Transfer to hotel. Checkin and take a rest. After a refreshment, visit some famous places in Ho Chi Minh including Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, followed by exploring the Reunification Palace, and the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum.

Afternoon, visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Located 40km from Ho Chi Minh city, Cu Chi is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists – the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. Back to Ho Chi Minh.

Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 2: Mekong delta – Panorama River Cruise

In the morning we take you to Cai Be. You board your comfortable wooden river cruise vessel around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink we show you our on-board facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served, the boat starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.

In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits.

Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong river. The cruise boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. You stay overnight on board your floating hotel in the Mekong Delta.

Day 3: Life on the water and floating markets (B,L,D)

Wake up well rested to the sound of the river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 6.30h the cruise vessel sets off for a sunrise cruise. Watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast.

After breakfast, we will board a sampan boat to Cai Be or Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively markets. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits and vegetables. We will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. We will also visit some of the local candy and cake making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards.

Later in the morning your can boat through the green water landscape on a little rowing sampan to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards. Alternatively you can discover the nearby town by foot or explore the small side canals of the Mekong river on a bicycle.

The cruise boat then resumes its journey as lunch is served. In the afternoon there will be another side trip to one of the exotic villages along the way. Stay one more night on boat.

Day 4: Mekong delta – An exotic world of its own (B,L)

After breakfast and an early start through the glorious morning atmosphere on the Mekong river we will visit another floating market. Be sure not to miss the great photo opportunities for authentic snapshots of the Mekong people and their life.

Take another sampan side trip right into the lush rural landscape, the fertile fields, the exuberant green. Then it’s time to pack up and return to the pier from which we started.

The Mekong Delta cruise boat tour ends at around 11.30 on the pier. After lunch in the Ancient Anh Kiet House in Cai Be, transfer to Chau Doc. Stay overnight at hotel in Chau Doc.

Day 5: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (B,L)

After breakfast, transfer to a speed boat for Phnom Penh. Arrive at Sisowath tourist dock in Phnom Penh at around 2.00pm.

Transfer to hotel in Phnom Penh. After a refreshment, visit to the Royal Palace. The palace was built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town. Continue your visit to the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. Then continue your visit at the National Museum. This is one of Phnom Penh’s true architectural gems. The Museum is instantly recognizable with its warm red terracotta and its gracefully cured roof topped by dozens of guardian nagas. It was designed in Khmer style in 1917 by famed French architect Georges Groslier & Ecole Des Arts Cambodgiens.

Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 6: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B,L,D)

Morning, transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, check-in the hotel and have lunch.

Afternoon, visit some famous temples in Siem Reap including: East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Panan, Preah Khan, Pre Rup.

• The East Mebon is a 10th Century temple at Angkor, Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Rajendravarman, it stands on what was an artificial island at the center of the now dry East Baray reservoir.
• Ta Som is a small temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built at the end of the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. It is located north east of Angkor Thom and just east of Neak Pean.
• Neak Pean at Angkor, Cambodia is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Preah Khan Baray built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is the “Mebon” of the Preah Khan baray.
• Preah Khan is a temple at Angkor, built by the King Jayavarman VII. Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. However, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.
• Pre Rup is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built as the state temple of Khmer king Rajendravarman and dedicated in 961 or early 962. It is a temple mountain of combined brick, laterite and sandstone construction.

Stay overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Alternative: Visit Choeung Ek Killing Fields & Wat Phnom – Transfer to Siem Reap (B,L)

Morning, visit the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Fields 15km southwest of Phnom Penh. This one is the site of brutal executions of more than 17,000 individuals, most of whom first suffered through interrogations, torture and deprivation in Toul Sleng Prison during Pol Pot regime (From 1975–1979). Continue your visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison). This prison was a high school, and used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the rule of the Khmer Rouge.

Back to the city and visit Wat Phnom – the most famous buddhist temple in Phnom Penh. It was built in 1373, and stands 27 metres above the ground. It is the tallest religious structure in the city. The pagoda was given the name of Wat Preah Chedey Borapaut.

Afternoon, transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.

Stay overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 7: Siem Reap – Explore Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm and Tonle Sap lake (B,L)

In the morning, visit to the antique capital of Angkor Thom (literally: “Great City”), located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Continue your visit at the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Continue your visit to Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in Angkor. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som, built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic.

In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture.

Before ending the tour today, enjoy a wonderful sunset scenery from the Top of Phnom Bakhen Hill.

Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 8: Siem Reap – Departure flight (B)

After breakfast at hotel, take a boat trip for sight-seeing on Tonle Sap Lake, the Great Lake of Cambodia. It is one of the largest lakes in Asia. Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals.

After that, back to downtown to visit Artisan’s D’angkor, the caving art school. Continue your visit to Wat Thmei. Wat Thmei near Charles de Gaulle Boulevard in Siem Reap, Cambodia where you will find a small memorial stupa which contains the skulls and bones of victims killed during the regime of the Khmer Rouge during 1975 – 1979.

Transfer to Siem Reap airport for your departure flight.