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Creeper-clad temples, bustling street markets, colonial-built boulevards and lush river deltas: this 12-night tour of Vietnam and Angkor in Cambodia lets you experience many of southeast Asia’s historic and natural wonders in one enjoyable adventure. In Vietnam, experience vibrant Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City —formerly Saigon, cruise around the limestone karst islands of Halong Bay on a wooden junk, and ride a boat in the Mekong Delta. Finish with two days to explore Cambodia’s crowning glory—the stunning, UNESCO-listed temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm and others, all carved out by the medieval Khmer empire.
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Itinerary at a glance:
Halong bay (1 nt) Hue (2 nts) Hoi an (2 nts) Ho chi minh city (2 nts) Siem reap (3 nts)
Depart the US on your international flight to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, today.
Arrive Hanoi and meet your expert guide and transfer to the hotel.The remainder of the day is yours to relax or start exploring this compelling city, which blends the mystique of yesteryear with modern-day architecture.
Vietnam’s second largest city, Hanoi has been occupied by the French, Chinese and Japanese through it 1,000-year history and boasts tree-lined boulevards, busy markets and colonial buildings that all demand exploration. Today, visit the Ho Chi Minh Memorial to see Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, and peer into the Stilt House where the revered Vietnamese spiritual leader lived from 1958 to 1969. Other must-sees include the 11th-century One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Museum of Ethnology. After lunch, visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple and pass colonial landmarks such as the Opera House and St Joseph's Cathedral. Finish your day with a colorful water puppet performance.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner
Today, gaze out over rural Vietnam as we drive to UNESCO-listed Halong Bay, a spectacular bay dotted with over 1,000 limestone islands. On arrival, transfer to a junk boat, your comfortable floating home for an overnight cruise. Enjoy a welcome drink and lunch on board as you sail past islands, fishing villages and craggy caves. Explore Sung Sot Cave, hiking up and down 600 steps to the magnificent limestone formations of the biggest cave in Halong Bay. Snap photos of the sublime scenery and return to the vessel to join the cooking demonstration with the cruise’s chef. Savor the meal on board tonight before retiring to your deluxe cabin.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner
Rise early for a Tai Chi session on deck: the perfect opportunity to prepare for the day and admire a breathtaking sunrise over Halong’s waters. Before breakfast , relax on board or go visit theTitov Island. Back on board to enjoy the breakfast as we cruise back to dock. Disembark and bid farewell to Halong as we travel back to Hanoi and fly to Hue, Vietnam’s former capital, for a two-night stay.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner
Today, enjoy a boat ride along the Perfume River, stopping at Hue’s iconic Thien Mu Pagoda and the Imperial Tomb of Minh Mang, a complex of temples, courtyards and pavilions in gorgeous countryside. Return to Hue to visit the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex reminiscent of Beijing’s Forbidden City, and a seat of power in ancient times. Despite war damage, there is still much to be seen here, including the Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate and the Dien Tho and Thai Hoa palaces, all framed by lotus ponds and all fascinating insights into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch
After breakfast, travel through jaw-dropping mountain and coastal scenery to Danang, one of Vietnam’s fastest growing cities. Visit the Cham Museum to admire its valuable Cham sculptures, and glimpse Non Nuoc Bay, a favorite hangout of US soldiers during the Vietnam War. Continuing southward, stop on route at the Marble Mountains: five cave-riddled hills that rear sharply from rice fields. Later, arrive in Hoi An, your base for two nights, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant tonight.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner
A thriving mercantile port between the 15th and 19th centuries, the old riverside town of Hoi An enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status for its beautifully preserved shophouses, temples, assembly halls and bridges. Enjoy cooking class in the morning.Travel to Tra Que Organic Village, walk through the market and purchase a range of local ingredients. Learn with the chef the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food at Red Bridge Cooking School. After class, you may savour the dishes that have been prepared by yourself. Take a 25 minutes boat ride back to central Hoi An for a walking tour including the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Tran Family Chapel, an 200-year-old place for worship for the Tran clan to pray for their ancestors, and the ornate Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, a 17th-century meeting place for the Fukian Chinese community. Enjoying the afternoon at leisure
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch
Transfer to Danang airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City, better known as Saigon, for two nights. Conquered by the French in the 19th century, this intoxicating city still sports boulevards and grand European buildings — colonial vestiges that contrast starkly with its now predominantly Buddhist culture and booming capitalist-driven economy. Today, our guided tour of the historic center showcases Dong Khoi Street, formerly the Rue Catinat and the ornate City Hall, Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Afterward, visit the Reunification Palace and haunting War Remnants Museum before a visit to the sparkling Emperor of Jade Pagoda.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner
Today, explore the Mekong Delta, where lush islands dot the estuary of the 3,000-mile river. Your destination is Ben Tre, a province laced with the Mekong’s tributaries and filled with orchards, rice paddies and coconut groves. Learn how the coconut juice here is considered Vietnam’s best, and discover how the locals use coconuts to make household items. Hop on a bike to cycle along leafy pathways, and visit a village home to learn about local life and work. Continue cycling before taking a rowboat ride along canals past rustic houses and fields. Lastly, transfer to a motorboat and after lunch, visit a workshop to see coconut sweets and rice paper being crafted.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to Cambodia’s temples of Angkor. Be greeted by a guide on arrival and enjoy a convenient transfer to your hotel before enjoying your first taste of Cambodian cuisine over dinner at a local restaurant.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner
This morning, explore some of the highlights of UNESCO-protected Angkor—a complex of Khmer-built temples dating to the 7th century, and a must-see on any visit to Cambodia. Start by visiting the central temple—Angkor Wat—a masterpiece of classical Khmer architecture. Admire the galleries and courtyards as you climb to its main sanctuary, pausing to inspect their intricate stone carvings. Next, travel to two lesser-known, but equally fascinating temples—Banteay Srei and Preah Khan. Delve into Banteay Srei, known as the “Citadel of Women,” and regarded as one of the prettiest of Angkor’s shrines thanks to its pink sandstone buildings and intricate carvings. In addition, wander through Preah Khan—the 12th-century remains of what was once a vast monastic complex and a home of King Jayavarman VII. Enjoy this afternoon at leisure before visiting a temple to watch the sun set over Cambodia’s countryside.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch
Today, continue your explorations with a visit to Angkor Thom: a walled, moated city containing many of Angkor’s must-sees, from the stunning Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper Kings to the Bayon Temple, famous for its monumental, smiling carved faces. Other impressive sights today include the three-tiered Baphuon, the 10th-century Prasat Kravan, and the Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda buildings—a pair of ornate Hindu temples. Also, have your camera at the ready for a visit to Ta Prohm, a semi-crumbled temple famous for being half-cloaked in jungle and twisting tree roots, which lend it a hugely evocative and exotic air.
Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch
Bid goodbye to Cambodia as you transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.
Included: Breakfast at hotel
International flights from LAX/SFO-Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh-Siem Reap, and Siem Reap-LAX/SFO on Land+Air Package
Vietname domestic flights: Hanoi-Hue, and Danang-Ho Chi Minh- Siem Reap on Land only package
Airport group transfers on arrival and departure in Vietnam and Siem Reap
11 nights’ 4- or 5-star hotel accommodation with daily buffet breakfasts
1 night’s accommodation on cruise boat in Halong Bay with breakfast
Air-conditioned coach
8 lunches and 6 dinners at local restaurants, 1 cruise boat lunch and 1 cruise boat dinner in Halong Bay
Sightseeing tours as specified in the itinerary with professional English-speaking tour guides or assistants in Vietnam and Angkor
Sightseeing to UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Halong Bay, Hoi An, and Angkor
All entrance fees and activities as specified in the itinerary
Special entertainment: Water Puppet Show in Hanoi, Boat ride on Perfume River in Hue, Paper lantern-making workshop in Hoi An, Coconut sweets workshop in Ho Chi Minh, and Tai Chi Class on Halong cruise boat
All airport/port taxes, hotel taxes, duties, and surcharges
Private airport transfers on arrival and departure in Vietnam and Siem Reap
Private air-conditioned coach
Private sightseeing tours as specified in the itinerary with professional English-speaking tour guides or assistants in Vietnam and Angkor
Private tour for 2-3 Passengers: Additional $300 per person
Private tour for 4-9 Passengers: No Additional cost
Private tour for 10+ Passengers: No Additional cost. Please Contact US for booking
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