Best of Vietnam Tour 20 day tour of Vietnam and Cambodia including Halong Bay 8 days/7 nights Mekong River Cruise Flying with Cathay Pacific ex Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Perth Departing on 16 Oct 2015
Itinerary: Day 1: 16 Oct Australia Hanoi Today you will fly to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, the tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the Church Boutique Hotel (classic room) or similar for 2 nights. Day 2: 17 Oct Hanoi Meal: B/L/D Today you will take city highlights tour of Hanoi, which includes the West Lake, Lake Hoan Kiem, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh s Former Residence, the One-Pillared Pagoda and Ethnology Museum. You also enjoy a Cyclo tour (1 hour) to the old quarters of Hanoi and visit the local markets. Day 3: 18 Oct Hanoi Ha Long Bay Meal: B/L/D Today you will drive to Halong Bay, 170km from Hanoi (it takes approximately 3 hours). You stopover at the ceramic and hand embroidery workshops en route. Board your deluxe cruise-image Cruise (charter this cruise) for a beautiful cruise along Halong Bay, a world heritage site recognised by UNESCO in 1994. You will also visit some magical grottoes and relax in the best scenic beauty Vietnam has to offer, overnight on onboard the cruise. Day 4: 19 Oct Halong Bay Hanoi Danang Hoi An Meal: B/L/D This morning is at leisure, where you can explore more of the city at your own pace. This afternoon a transfer direct to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport for your flight to Danang, then transferred to Hoi An, the very beautiful charming small town in the middle of Vietnam. Stay 3 nights at Hoi An Riverside Resort & Spa Hotel (Deluxe room) or similar. Day 5: 20 Oct Hoi An Meal: B This morning your guide will take you to the Ancient Town for lunch and a city tour. Hoi An, so called a living Museum City because of its well-kept original historical buildings and ancient backstreets. Visit one of the three city s oldest homes, each built over 200 years ago and still occupied by descendants of the
families that originally built them; then tour to the Chinese Assembly Hall followed by a traditional Hoi An Church and the unique Japanese Bridge. Afternoon is at your leisure lunch and dinner are on your own. Day 6: 21 Oct Hoi An Meal: B Today is at leisure or join the optional Cooking class. Optional Tam Tam Cafe Cooking Class with lunch In Hoi An just for fun! The staff from the restaurant will show you around the market in the morning; then take you to the restaurant and teach you how to cook the simple and healthy Vietnamese food. You will enjoy your cooking, plus another two courses from the chef. Talk to your local guide and ask them to book this for you the first day when you arrive Hoi An. The cost is US$ 75 per person. This is subject to final confirmation, minimum 2 participants. Day 7: 22 Oct Hoi An Danang Ho Chi Minh City Meal: B/L/D Today you will board you flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formally called Saigon, the economic and commercial center of Vietnam, met and transferred to Liberty Saigon Central Point Hotel (brand new, deluxe room) or similar for 2 nights. Afternoon tour around the city. Day 8: 23 Oct Ho Chi Minh City Meal: B/L/D Morning tour to Cu Chi, 70km north of Saigon, famous for its 200-kilometre-long tunnels. Afternoon is at leisure. Day 9: 24 Oct Ho Chi Minh City Cruise My Tho Meal: B/L Morning is at leisure, afternoon transferred to check into the Cruise to Siem Reap. 15:45 Toum Tiou II is open for embarking. 16:00 Clearance of departure formalities. 16:30 Departure for My Tho and security briefing. 19:00 Welcome drink and information meeting about the cruise with a crew introduction. Welcome dinner. Overnight on board. Day 10: 25 Oct My Tho Cai Be Vinh Long Early morning departure of the Toum Tiou. 07:00 Breakfast during navigation. 08:00 On arrival at My Tho, Toum Tiou anchors in the river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island. On the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong, My Tho, which translates to "fragrant herb", is where tourists go to discover the beauty of the delta. A quiet and prosperous city of about 100,000 inhabitants, famous for its variety of fruit orchards, gardens and the huge rice fields that surround it. The climate is warm and pleasant year round. The surrounding countryside is home to one of the most luxuriant gardens of Vietnam, with its coconut palms, banana and mango trees. Local boats come alongside Toum Tiou to pick up passengers and transfer to the mainland.depart for a short panoramic tour of My Tho town on the
way, then stop for a visit of My Tho market. Return to the pier Passengers cruise on the river to Dragon Island by local boat to visit the island, explore the local peoples daily life and enjoy locally seasonal fruits. 11:00 Passengers re-embark Toum Tiou and leave My Tho for Cai Be. Lunch and leisure on board. 14:00 Toum Tiou anchors at Cai Be. Local boats come alongside Toum Tiou, picking up the passengers and cruising around Cai Be Floating Market. Continuing for Vinh Long - a brick and pottery factory, the Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet Nursery of Fruit Trees as well a typical house and a show room of traditional farming tools. Vinh Long, which translates as "Majestic Dragon", is right in the middle of the delta, between two arms of the Mekong. The soil of Vinh Long is enriched by silt deposits, making it ideal for growing mandarins and other citrus fruits. Life is organized around the water. Houses on stilts, hawkers in boats, hundreds of small craft crisscross in all directions. The hospitality of the locals makes it a tourist destination par excellence. 16:30 Return on the Toum Tiou, departure for Sa Dec. 19:30 Arrival at Sa Dec, Toum Tiou anchors on the river. Dinner and overnight on board. Day 11: 26 Oct Sa Dec Chau Doc 05:45 Coffee and tea will be served in the restaurant. 06:30 Sa Dec - Short panoramic tour and walk to Trung Vuong primary school. Continuing to Kien An Cung Pagoda.Stroll around Sa Dec Market along Sa Dec River bank. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating in its unspoiled authenticity and undisturbed by tourists. It provides a glimpse of the delta where a few colonial housesstill remain, including the "Chinaman's house" (from Duras' novel "The Lover", also made into a movie). 08:00 Passengers re-embark; Toum Tiou leaves Sa Dec for Chau Doc, breakfast. 13:00 Lunch and leisure on board. 17:30 Arrival at Chau Doc jetty. Time permitting, watch the sunset on the Sam Mountain which peaks at 237 meters. Its well-known Buddhist sanctuaries offer an unobstructed view over the mosaic of glistening rice paddies below. To the left is Cambodia, the flow of the Mekong on the horizon breaks into an infinity of silver ribbons. Visit the Lady Chua Xu temple and Tay An Pagoda. 18:30 Return to the boat, depart for the border 20:00 Dinner on board. 1:00 TOUM TIOU II arrive to Vinh Xuong.
Day 12: 27 Oct Vinh Xuong Phnom Penh 08:00 Formalities clearance for Toum Tiou to cross the border while the passengers enjoy breakfast. 10:30 Toum Tiou leaves Vinh Xuong check point for Phnom Penh. 13:00 Lunch during the navigation. 17:00 Arrival at Phnom Penh. Passengers free to enjoy evening in Cambodian capital. Dinner and overnight on board. Day 13: 28 Oct Phnom Penh 07:00 Breakfast. 08:00 Half day city sightseeing tour including the Royal Palace, National Museum and What Phnom 12.00 Return to Toum Tiou II. Lunch at a local restaurant. 14:00 Depart for Tuol Sleng Museum, old centre of detention, torture and execution between 1975 and 1979.Visiting this place is essential to understand what could be the fatal madness perpetrated by the Khmer Rouges. In the same area, passengers will stop at the Russian Market. 19:00 Return to the boat. Enjoy a local group performance on-board. Traditional APSARA show for 45 minutes.dinner on board Day 14: 29 Oct Phnom Penh Koh Chen Kompong Tralach 07:00 Breakfast. Rest of the day free at leisure. Suggestions can be made up on the interest of passengers. FCC,Central Market, other boutiques (antiques), etc. 12:00 Depart Toum Tiou II. Lunch on board. 14:00 Arrival in Koh Chen. Visit the local village. 16:00 Arrival at Kampong Tralach to visit its wonderful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. We cross Kampong Tralach Krom village along a small road perpendicular to the river, crossing some gorgeous stretches of emerald rice paddies as we leave the river behind. The Vihara dates back to early last century. It was probably built on an older site, as indicated by the latérite foundations, and is home to some outstanding mural paintings. These, however, are starting to suffer from weathering. They remain one of the last survivors of cultural destruction that continues unabated due to widespread indifference. Standing by itself in the middle of rice fields, it is a modest pagoda that receives very few visitors. Its isolation may well be its undoing, as was the case for Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot. 18:00 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou anchors a few miles away. Dinner and overnight on board. Day 15: 30 Oct Kampong Chnang Chnok Tru 07:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou II early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Chnang. Breakfast during navigation. 08:00 Arrival to Kampong Chnang. Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonlé Sap. Fish farming is also widely practiced in the area. The area has been unchanged in style for centuries and is famous for its pottery ware, which is produced in sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. Not to be overlooked are the products of the Thnot tree (sugar palm a real national symbol) that abounds in the area: a mellow tasting, caramelcoloured sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine. 11:30 Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou II. Lunch on board on the way to Chnok Tru. 14:00 Arrival at Chnok Tru. Local boats come alongside the Toum Tiou II, picking up passengers for a visit of the biggest floating village on the Tonlé Sap River. 17:00 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou II stays overnight in the proximity of Chnok Tru. 19:30 Farewell cocktail (1 glass of local liquor or juice) with Master of Ship & Cruise Manager Captain s farewell dinner. Overnight on board. Day 16: 31 Oct Chnok Tru Siem Reap Departure of the Toum Tiou II early in the morning. Time to pack and relax for half a day by crossing the Tonlé Sap Lake. 11:00 Arrival at Phnom Krom pier (approximately 5 miles from Siem Reap).
Siem Reap Day 16: 31 Oct Siem Reap Today you will disembark the cruise, and your tour guide will meet you and transfer you to Siem Reap Prince D Angkor hotel 4* for 3 nights. Day 17: 01 Nov Siem Reap Angkor Wat Meal: B/L/D Today you will explore the amazing temples of Angkor. In the morning take elephant ride from South Gate in Angkor Park to Bayon Temple to visit the Bayon Temple, Elephant Terrace Temple and other attractions. After lunch, you will visit Angkor Wat and watch the beautiful sunset. Free time in the city before dinner served at Nest Angkor Café Bar. Day 18: 02 Nov Siem Reap Meal: B Today is leisure. Day 19: 03 Nov Siem Reap Hong Kong Australia Meal: B Today you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Hong Kong KA249 1210/1545, then connect the flight back to Australia. Day 20: 04 Nov Australia Arrive in Australia in the morning. Package Price: $6399.00 per person twin share $8699.00 per person single room / Cabin Inclusions: 1. Cathay Pacific economy class airfare departing from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Adelaide and Perth (Departing from Cairns or Perth might need to stopover in HK and accommodation is not included in HK) 2. Twin share room at the hotels mentioned in the itinerary or similar class 3. Twin share cabin on Toum Tiou II Cruise for 7 nights. 4. Fully inclusive tour with entrances fees and meals as per itinerary. 5. English speaking tour guides service 6. Air con private coach transfers. 7. Tipping for the tour guide and drivers. 8. Vietnam Single entry visa and Cambodia Visa Exclusions: Personal Expenses; travel insurance.