MCL11: Pakse - Saigon along mekong river 9 days

Itinerary :

Day 1: Pakse – Champasak – Wat Phou – Don Khong (L)
Upon arrival in Pakse, pick up and transfer to prier where we then embark on a motor boat for one and half hour ride to Champasak. From here, we take a tuktuk to Wat Phou. Wat Phou is a pre – angkorian temple complex occupying a dramatic mountainside site over looking the Mekong valley. The wat is divided into lower and upper parts and is joined by a steepstairway. We return to Champasak and continue our boat cruise Khong Island for overnight.
Khong Island is the largest island of 4000 Island (Si Phan Don), one of nature’s marvels. Here the Mekong suddenly fans out, forming an intricate, beautiful network of channels, rocks and sandbars and island of 14km wide.

Day 2: Don Khong - Don Khone - Khone Phapheng - Boat to see dolphin – Veun Kham (B, L)
We are excited about islands discover by boat today. We take a boat cruise to Done Khone for 3 hours. A lunch stop is made in this island. We’ll visit the old railway and Sompamit Waterfall. Afterward we cruise to Don Det and continue to Ban Nakasang. Here, we take a short tuk tuk drive to Veunkham. We stop at Khone Phapheng Waterfall for a drink before continuing on boat cruise to see dolphin. Si Phan Don is home to the rare Irrawady dolphins, which can often be spotted at the southern tip of Don Khon, along with tow impressive waterfalls. We spend the night at Khone Phapheng Resort.

Day 3: Vern Kham - Stung Treng - Kompong Cham (B, L)
After a short transfer, we arrive at the border. You will meet our guide from Cambodia Pick up clients at Dong Kalor (land border between Lao & Cambodia) at early morning around 8:00am, take boat to Stung Treng. Continue on boat to Kompong Cham province. Overnight stay at Kompong Cham province. We will see the daily people life along the Mekong River, from Vern Kham – Laos border to Phnom Penh need to go through three provinces. Stung Treng province, Kratie provice, and Kompong Cham province where we will spend one night stay overnight at hotel.
Stung Treng province, a real out post town on the bank of the San and Mekong River, is the first province that meets Mekong River in Cambodia. Kratie province is a charming town taking off as a strategic stop on the over land route to Laos. Kompong Cham province is set on the banks of the Mekong River and within easy reach of both Phnom Penh and Vietnam.

Day 4: Kompong Cham - Phnom Penh (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, early morning leave Kompong Cham banks to Phnom Penh we will spend about 5 hours. Up on arrival we will have lunch at local restaurant then check in hotel. In noon we will visit Royal Palace; Silver Pagoda named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles, the treasures are a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilos and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha; and National Museum also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1920. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art – notably sculptures, most of the exhibits dating from Angkor period and pre-Angkor era.  Overnight  in Phnom Penh.

Day 5: PhnomPenh – Chau Doc (B, L, D)
8:30am Pick up at your hotel and transfer to the boat pier for boarding to Chau Doc by Hang Chau Express boat or Victoria Express Boat. Arrive Chau Doc around 13:00am. Pick up and transfer to your proposed hotel. Afternoon, visit the Sam Mountain with the caved pagoda, enjoy the sunset down the Vietnamese – Cambodian border from the summit of the mountain over the flat rice field. Welcome dinner and overnight at hotel in Chau doc.

Day 6: Chau Doc – Long Xuyen – Can Tho (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel. Take the motorized boat trip to visit the floating fish farm and the floating village, visit the local Cham minority village and her traditional weaving village. Depart for Long Xuyen, visit the bird Sanctuary in Thot Not and the incense stick making village. Check in upon arrival in Can Tho. Free for exploring the city on your own in the afternoon. Overnight at  hotel in Can tho.

Day 7: Can Tho – Saigon (B, L, D)
After breakfast. Visitors first take the boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river . The boat trip later takes you to the Cai Rang floating markets, which are the most original ones and bustling places of the region. Visitors will have the most probably tried the Vietnamese vermicelli soup? so, they will now go and see how it is made. Visitors then roam into the village to get in touch with the local people. Here, they have a chance to experience how to pass a "Monkey bridge" which is built by only one bamboo. Depart for Saigon city with stop over at Vinh Vong and My Tho town. Overnight hotel l in Saigon.

Day 8: Saigon – Cuchi tunnel (B, L)
Morning we continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war. Afternoon we spend a half day seeing some major sights of the city. 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. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!. Overnight at hotel in Ho chi minh.

Day 9: Saigon Departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel, free time until  transfer to  the airport for your  departure flight. Say goodbye Vietnam.

Thank you for travelling with Asia View Travel.
 

Accommodation Options

Tour includes:
• Tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicles
• All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
• Speed boat  Phnompenh – Chau Doc
• Private English speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary at local restaurant with local foods (B = breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Boat cruise as stated
• Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
• Mineral Water and towel
• Government taxes & Service charges

Tour excludes:
• International flight
• International departure aiport tax
• Vietnam visa 
• Laos visa
• Visa in Cambodia
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory).
• Personal expenses such as  Telephone and Laundry bills.
• Tips and gratuities