BEST OF VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

Transcription

1 BEST OF VIETNAM & CAMBODIA Tour Code:CT-VC04 Price From:US$1,349/ VND 28,329,000 Discount:10% off for booking departure before 30 Sep Highlights:Siem Reap, Banteay Srey, Phnom penh, Angkor Wat, Hanoi,Halong, Danang, Hoian, CuChi Tunnels, Saigon, Mytho, Myson Travel style:history & Culture Duration:15 Days/14 Nights Overview With 15 days, you will have chances to see from a graceful Hanoi; a charming Hue & Hoian; a bustling Saigon to a mild Cambodia. Cruising on glimmering Halong Bay; discovering historical sites of Vietnam; seeing the difference of the south part of this coutry; passing the boundery to Phnom Penh and continuing with Seam Reap, Tonle Sap... to watch a peaceful & simple life of Cambodians... all will make this trips unforgetable. Highlights Day 01: Hanoi Arrival Day 02: Hanoi Day 03: Hanoi Halong The World Heritage Day 04: Halong Hanoi Hue Day 05: Hue Day 06: Hue Hoian Day 07: Hoian Myson Day 08: Hue Saigon (Hochiminh City) Day 09: Saigon Cuchi Tunnels City tour Day 10: Saigon Mytho Day 11: Saigon Phnom Penh Day 12: Phnom Penh Siem Reap Day 13: Siem Reap Angkor Wat Day 14: Siem Reap Banteay Srey Day 15: Siem Reap Departure Day 01: Hanoi Arrival Upon arrival at the Airport, you will meet our guide and transfer to hotel for check-in. Enjoy welcome dinner at a specially selected restaurant with traditional music. Accommodation: In Hanoi Meals: Dinner Day 02: Hanoi

2 Enjoy Hanoi city tour today to visit Hochiminh Mausoleum and his former residence (Closed on Monday, Friday and the whole of Oct & Nov), One pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature the first University in Vietnam, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or Vietnam History Museum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and take one hour Cyclo tour. Finish your day off at the Thang Long Opera Theatre for a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Accommodation: In Hanoi Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 03: Hanoi Halong The World Heritage Start at 8am with private transfer to Halong City. This takes around 3 hours. We may stop enroute to admire the local scenery. Arrive at the port around 11:30 and board the ship. Begin sailing and pass through a magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons teeth. After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbath on the sundeck. Later in the afternoon, visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with local people who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, enjoy a lavish dinner. Accommodation: on board in Halong Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 04: Halong Hanoi Hue Wake up with Tai Chi exercises (a kind of light exercises) on the sun deck and continue cruising the bays. Enjoy breakfast buffet in the restaurant, then visit the limestone grotto. Disembark in Halong City around 11 and get back to Hanoi with your private vehicle, guide and driver. When we arrive in Hanoi you have the rest of the afternoon free to explore the colorful streets of the Old Quarter, sip on coffee in the French Quarter and admire the architecture of the city before transferring to Airport for flight to Hue. Arriving Hue, enjoy a private transfer with your local guide to hotel for check in Accommodation: In Hue Meals: Brunch Day 05: Hue Enjoy a fullday city tour to visit Hue Citadel - Vietnam s former imperial capital and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. With an area of 500ha and a system of three circles of ramparts, namely from outside to inside: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel) and Khai Dinh Tomb, Hue Citadel is the result of the interminglement of many architectural trends: European and Asian, as well as ancient and modern. Take a cruise along the Perfume River, visiting Minh Mang Tomb (one of Nguyen Emperors). Back to the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda - an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to Accommodation: In Hue Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

3 Day 06: Hue Hoian Morning, meet our guide and transfer to Hoian Ancient Town in your private vehicle. The overland journey will take you through the most beautiful scenery in Vietnam as you traverse the Hai Van, or Cloudy Pass. There will be plenty of photo opportunities and stops at beaches en route. Stop at Danang, meet our guide and go to visit the Cham Museum offering a glimpse of the ancient and artistic Kingdom of Champa that ruled Vietnam for a thousand years before driving southward to Hoian which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. Afternoon, check in and free at leisure for sightseeing Accommodation: In Hoian Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 07: Hoian Myson Morning, transfer to visit My Son Holy Land named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in My Son was a notable religious center and an imperial city during the Cham dynasty in the late 4th century and lasts till 13th century a longest period of development of any monument in Southeast Asia. Afternoon, take a half day walking tour of Hoian Town, discovering the historic town which used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries. Visit Hoian s colorful local market, Tan Ky old house, Fukien Assembly Hall, and the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge. You can also see local residents raising silkworms and producing silk for Hoi An' burgeoning textile industry. Accommodation: In Hoian Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 08: Hoian Saigon (Hochiminh City) Morning, transfer to airport for flight to Saigon. Arriving at Saigon, enjoy a private transfer with guide to hotel for check-in. Afternoon, take city tour to visit War Remnants Museum, which features a comprehensive collection of the machinery; weapons; photos; and documentation of Vietnam's wars with both the French and Americans. The tour continues to the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of Southern Vietnam until end of April Afterwards, stop at Ben Thanh market for shopping. Accommodation: In Saigon Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 09: Saigon Cuchi Tunnels City tour Morning, meet our guide and drive to visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Cu Chi was an important base during the American War because of its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelters and weapon factories. Dug out of hard late-rite by hand tools without the use of cement, this amazing network was never discovered. After lunch, continue to visit Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office, a neo-romanesque cathedral

4 constructed between 1877 and 1883 using bricks from Marseilles and stained-glass windows from Chartres, the Chinatown of the City with the Emperor Jade Pagoda (Phuoc Hai), one of the most interesting pagodas in Vietnam. Accommodation: In Saigon Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 10: Saigon Mytho Enjoy a full day tour traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Known as the rice bowl of Vietnam, the Delta is the most fertile region in the country, and the main producer of rice and tropical fruits. From My Tho, take a boat and travel to one of the islands located in the middle of the Mekong River. On the island visit a fruit orchard and sample some of the local produce, before boarding a smaller sampan that winds along narrow canals. You ll also have the opportunity to visit a local family s house and enjoy their hospitality and share with them some tea or rice wine. After lunch in My Tho return to Saigon. Accommodation: In Saigon Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 11: Saigon Phnom Penh Morning, free at leisure until transferred to Airport for flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, meet our guide and transfer to hotel for check-in and refreshment. Afternoon visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum - also called Musee des Beaux-Arts (designed by a French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier in Khmer style in 1917). The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures from throughout the ages. Then visit the Royal Palace (built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town) and 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. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit to the Central market, viewing over the tree-lined avenues of the city during sunset. Accommodation: In Phnom Penh Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 12: Phnom Penh Siem Reap Morning, free at leisure until transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport and departure to Siem Reap Arriving at Siem Reap International Airport and transferred to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon). In the morning, visit Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures and Ta Prohm. As one of the area's most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle. Visit Takeo, Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon as well. Afternoon, continue to visit Preah Khan temple (built by the King Jayavarman VII). Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulders-hanging corridors. However, Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts to maintain and even improve the heritage. Continue your visits to Neak Pean (a fountain built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake) and visit the temple of Ta Som as well as Srah Srang ("The Royal Baths",

5 undoubtedly used in the past for ritual bathing). Accommodation: In Siem Reap Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 13: Siem Reap Angkor Wat Breakfast at hotel then visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. 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. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. Lunch at local restaurant then visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), then back to Prasat Bey Temple - located in the north of Phnom Bakheng south gate of Angkor Thom in TONLE OUM and behind Prasat Bey temple. Enjoy romantic traditional music and history stories during the visit. Stopover at Prasat Chrung visiting Tadev Hole and temple with the best Sunset before driving to hotel. Accommodation: In Siem Reap Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 14: Siem Reap Banteay Srey Morning (starting by 8:00am), visit an ancient Hindu temple at the countryside, Banteay Srey (citadel of women, 35km to the north of Siem Reap). Banteay Srey is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It was built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. These factors have made the temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a "precious gem", or the "jewel of Khmer art. Afternoon: visit Beng Mealea. Beng Mealea temple was built in the 12 cetury, the layout and style of Beng Mealea is very similar to Angkor Wat. Its current state, however, is dominated by jungle. Trees have grown out of the towers and vines entangle columns. Lintels and others building blocks lay around in a tumble and require visitors to climb up and down as they approach the completely collapsed central towers. Then take a tour to ancient capital of Khmer Empire of Rolouse group such as Lolei, Bakong and Preah Ko temples. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap. Accommodation: In Siem Reap Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 15: Siem Reap Departure After your final breakfast in Cambodia, you are free to do some last minute shopping and exploring before transferring to the airport for your flight departure.

6 ***All of the itineraries may be customized as you wish, adding extra days, changing a hotel, seeing different sights... Just contact one of our expert consultants at sales@cosianatour.com to get the best offer for your holiday in Indochina Notes: All prices are quoted in VND/US dollar per person All prices are quoted based on Double/Twin occupancy and 3-star hotel Prices may change according to unexpected fuel increasing or other reasons. Private services & daily departure Domestic airfare for flight from Hanoi to Danang & from Hue to Saigon Internaional airfare for flight from Saigon to Phnom Penh Included Accommodation in a double or twin room with daily breakfast One night accommodation on board in Halong based on twin sharing Services of a driver and private air-conditioned vehicle during all tours and transfers Experienced English-speaking guide during all tours and transfers Private boat for sightseeing as stated in the program. Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary Lunch & Dinner as specified in the itinerary Mineral water is available. Vietnam Traditional Gift & Visa approval letter on arrival (free) Excluded Vietnam visa stamping fee at the airport Cambodia visa stamping fee at the airport Meals, if not specified in the itinerary Travel insurance (we highly recommend that you purchase adequate insurance) Gratuities for guides and drivers Personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc. All other services not specified in the itinerary