ID9: Beauty Vietnam Cambodia Tour 13 days

Day 1: Arrival Ha Noi
Upon your arrival in Noibai International Airport in Hanoi, you are welcomed and transferred to hotel in Hanoi center by our Asia View Travel guide, check in, relax. Tonight, enjoy water puppet show- a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
This morning we start city tour  with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh ( Close on Monday, Friday & November), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam, visit the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnology Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, do the walking tour  around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Ha noi – Ha Long bay cruise (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel and then start a 3-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Comfort stop en route for photos and coffee before arriving to Ha Long City. We then transfer to a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. Boat crew will greet you special seafood lunch while boat cruising around the bay to visit Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi island, Dog island, Sail island, Sung Sot cave and a swim at Titop beach, and enjoy sunset. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island. Overnight on Junk.

Day 4: Ha Long - Hanoi –  Danang - Hoian  (Brunch )
Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3.5hour journey back to Hanoi. Transfer directly to airport for flight to Danang. The guide in Danang will pick you up, transfer to hotel in Hoian, check in, relax.

Day 5: Hoian - Hue ( B )
We spend this morning to discover what Hoian offers. Take a walk to visit famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. Passing many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past.The town is also famous for it's shops in particular it's large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could  have a whole new wardrobe made for you here!
Afternoon, drive to Hue, the ancient capital. Along the way, we will stop to visit Cham Museum in Danang, the Danang Beach and the Marble Mountain, stop at Lang Co beach for coffee ( by your own) and refreshment. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 6: Hue city tour (B, L)
This morning we explore Hue, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. We embark on a boat for cruise upstream on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to The beautiful pagoda of Thien Mu. One of the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. Disembark the board for a visit the elaborate mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc, Emperor Khai Dinh. On return to the city, we then take a walk to the bustling  Dong Ba market and pass many fantastic eating spots where visitors have a chance to sample some local delicacies.Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 7: Hue - Ho chiminh city (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport for short flight to Ho chi minh city. The guide in Ho chi  minh  will pick you up at Tan Son Nhat airport, transfer to city center. We then start to discover dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. Afternoon, we continue to visit the War Remnant  Museum, the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale.  Overnight at hotel in Ho chi minh.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong delta - Ho chi minh (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, then drive to My Tho. After arrival in My Tho, you will ride on a local motor boat along Dragon Island, Unicorn Island, Phoenix Island, Turtle Island and stop at the famous Unicorn Island. While at the Unicorn Island, While at the Unicorn Island, you will visit natural pure honey at the bee keeping farm. Taste some honey tea, rice wine, banana wine… Walking on the village and taking rowing boat along the natural water coconut canal to see the local lifestyle in the Mekong Delta. From there, you will continue your motor boat trip to Ben Tre province to visit a handmade coconut candy workshop. Then transfer to a small motor boat and travel along the lush, green canals that are so beautiful for photography. Stop at local restaurant for lunch. After that we walk to another area on the Unicorn Island to visit the tropical fruit garden, enjoy the fruits & listening to the Southern traditional music. Then the local motorboat will take you back to My Tho, where the car/van will drive you back to Ho chi minh city.Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh - Siem Reap (B, D)
Breakfast at hotel Transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. (the room might not be ready).
In the afternoon, start your temple tour. See the unique interior brick sculptures Prasat Kravan, the Srah Srang reservoir (known as "The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Eastern Mebon (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the mountain-temple of Pre Rup until sunset. Dinner at local restaurant and enjoy Apsara show.

Day 10: Siem reap – Angkor tour (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, 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 restaurant.
Visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat.

Day 11: Siem reap – Angkor tour (B)
An early bird special:
Transfer to the archaeological site for the sunrise from the Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat Or sunrise at Srah Srang.
Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th C), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.
In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble.

Day 12: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to the airport for flight to Phnom penh. The guide in Phnompenh will pick up you, transfer to city center.
Phnom Penh city tour: Visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures - throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within 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 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Visit Central Market ( or Russian market ), end your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset.

Day 13: Phnom Penh - Departure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Then take a half-day city tour at the Killing Field and Toul Sleng Museum of the genocide Tuol Sleng Museum (Museum of Genocide): former Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975 it became the Khmer Rouge's main torture and interrogation center. It was known as Security Prison 21 - or just S-21.
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of tour.

Thank you for traveling with Asia View Travel.