Best of Vietnam & Cambodia 12 Days Day 1 Australia - Siem Reap Depart Australia today for Siem Reap. Upon your arrival to the airport, we will pick you up and transfer to your hotel for check-in. You have the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city. Day 2 Siem Reap Today is Siem Reap s jewel - Angkor Wat! Start today with a visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Temple, Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. We also visit Ta Prohm temple, set among of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of mans creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. It is now time to visit one of the great wonders of the world, symbol of the heart and soul of the Cambodia, Angkor Wat. The temple was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. Afterwards we head back to the hotel for an evening at leisure. Day 3 Siem Reap - Ho Chi Minh City Meals Breakfast Today you will have free time to explore Siem Reap before being transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. Day 4 Ho Chi Minh City, lunch Pick up today is around 8.00am from hotel and we head to visit the Re-Unification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. This building now is a museum and venue for Government official receptions. The next stop is the 2 landmarks of the city, the Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in between 1863 and 1880 with materials imported from France, is also referred to as Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. Continue to visit the War Remains Museum, where the Vietnam War crimes are in
displayed. This is the most popular museum in Vietnam with approximately half a million visits annually. We will the have lunch before heading back to the hotel for an afternoon of leisure. Day 5 Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels, Lunch We start our tour at 8 am from the hotel and make our way to the to Cu Chi tunnels about a 1.5 hour drive. Cu Chi is a network of more than 120 km under the ground and were built by sweat and blood of Vietnamese guerrillas to hide and fight against the rival forces. You will be introduced to many kinds of booby traps used during Vietnam war and also the methods of creating, maintaining and living in these tunnels as well as the special technique of hiding smoke invented by the guerrillas along with different types of underground halls, secret working & meeting rooms. Afterwards, enjoy traditional tea and try cassava (guerrilla s food during the war) before return to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch at around 2.30 pm. Day 6 Ho Chi Minh City - Hoi An (Danang) Today you will have free time until your airport transfer in the afternoon for flight to Da Nang. On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An. Day 7 Hoi An - My Son, lunch Today you will be picked up from the hotel at around 8:00am and taken to My Son, a World Heritage site, 50 km southwest of Hoi An. Here you will learn about the Cham history and how thismassive sanctuary was built. My Son is a complex consisting of more than 65 architectural towers and temples dating back to 4th century. The site was used for religious ceremonies for Kings of the ruling dynasty as well as burial site for national heroes and royal family up to the 19th century. My Son is considered to be of same historical significance as Southeast Asia s greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. After the visit, you will be taken about 30km by bus and embark on boat for the trip back along the Thu Bon River back to Hoi An. Enjoy your evening at leisure and explore Hoi An s vibrant nightlife.
Day 8 Hoi An - Hanoi This morning you will have free time until being collected for your airport transfer for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the evening is yours. Day 9 Hanoi - Halong Bay, lunch, dinner Pick up this morning is around 8.00-08:30 am to head to the UNESCO world heritage site, Halong Bay. Enjoy the journey through Red River Delta with lush rice fields, water buffalos and everyday Vietnamese rural life. Upon arrivel we ll board our overnight boat and set out on Halong Bay. After we set sail there is a bit of free time before lunch is served. During lunch we cruise through the most beautiful and quiet area in Bai Tu Long Bay to visit Cua Van Fishing Village. Cua Van Floating Fishing Village is one of the largest fishing village on the Bay. You may then choose between sea kayaking through the village or opt to take a small bamboo boat (sampans) rowed by the villagers. Back on board after visiting the village there will be free time before a local Cooking Demonstration by the head chef showing how to make some traditional Vietnamese food. There is then time for a relaxing drink on the deck before dinner is served. Overnight onboard the ship. Day 10 Halong Bay - Hanoi, lunch Wake up on Halong Bay! For the early rises Tai Chi lessons are held on deck before we take a walking tour of Titov Beach Island. Head up to the peak of Titov for a breathtaking 360 degree view of the Bay (there is also an expansive viewing deck half way up). After the climb there is time left to relax on the beach and have a swim. Back on board it s time for final packing and freshening up before enjoying a full breakfast buffet. After breakfast there is time to relax before disembarking at 11:00am. We then head back to Hanoi. The afternoon is yours to explore Vietnam s capital city.
Day 11 Hanoi - Australia After breakfast there is free time to take in Hanoi one last time before we pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Day 12 Australia Arrive home this morning.
3-star Hotels: Desire Park Boutique Hotel Superior Room http://www.desireparkboutique.com/ Sunland Hotel http://www.sunlandhotel.vn/ Kiman Hoi An Hotel & Spa Page Romance hotel Deluxe Majestic Cruise Oceanview Cabin http://halongmajesticcruise.com 5-star Hotels: Sokha Angkor Resort Deluxe City View Room http://www.sokhahotels.com/siemreap/ Equatorial Hotel https://hochiminhcity.equatorial.com/ Palm Garden Resort Superior Garden View www.palmgardenresort.com.vn Hilton Hanoi Opera http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/vietnam/hilton-hanoi-opera-hanhitw/index.html