SOUTHERN INDOCHINA ALONG MEKONG RIVER

 (8 days / 7 nights)

Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi - Vinh Long - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

Day 1: ARRIVE IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh city, the biggest commercial city of Vietnam. Transfer to the hotel. Free time for refreshing.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 2: CU CHI TUNNELS (B)

Excursion to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels (60 km), visit the incredible underground tunnel network of over 200 kilometers hand-constructed by Vietnam Communist guerrillas, virtually underneath the U.S. bases, to stage surprise attacks.

Return to Ho Chi Minh city, visit the former Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 3: HO CHI MINH CITY - VINH LONG (B, D)

Depart Ho Chi Minh city to Vinh Long, the heart of Mekong Delta (128 km). Upon arrival visit orchards, rice paper making workshop, rice crisp cake producing process..., enjoy diverse types of tropical fruits. Ride a bicycle around the village to see local daily activities, continue to a bonsai garden, boat building workshop, coconut candy and girdle cake shop. Evening enjoy Mekong Delta’s traditional music and songs performed by villagers.

Overnight in local house in Vinh Long.

Day 4: VINH LONG - CHAU DOC (B)

Take an early morning boat trip for an exciting excursion around the tributaries of Mekong River to visit Cai Be floating market. Then drive to Chau Doc, a riverside trading port near the Cambodian border (125 km). Upon arrival, visit Cham community where colorful textiles are woven traditionally on wooden looms.

Overnight in Chau Doc.

Day 5: CHAU DOC - PHNOM PENH (B)

Board the speed boat for a 4-hour cruise to Phnom Penh. Enjoy the immensity of Mekong River and view the daily lives of local people living and working on the river. . We visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and also one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver. Travelers will proceed to visit  Independence Monument which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony, continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was build since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others. We pass through the River Front park whose scenery is much worth shooting, and continue to the only one hill in town with sacred sites called Wat Phnom Wat. Phnom Daun Penh – the name of a pagoda, was built by lady Daun Penh in 1372 on a little hill, Legend has it that after a particularly heavy flood, a wealthy Khmer woman named Daun Penh found a tree on the banks of the Mekong with four statues of Buddha hidden inside.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 6: PHNOM PENH – U DONG - SIEM REAP (B, D)

Depart from Phnom Penh for Udong. En route, visite a Cham Muslim village, Silver craft Village. Drive to Udong, visit the various temples and the three large Stupas where the ashes of three former Kings are preserved. Next, visit the most impressive structure of the site, the "Vihara of the 18-Cubit Buddha". En route to Phnom Penh, stop to visit a silver craft village. On route you will witness the everyday lives of Cambodians as you pass through interesting provincial towns, bucolic villages, and delightful scenery. This is no freeway dash as you will often slow down to let cows and water buffalo wander across the road, pass horse drawn carriages, and school kids walking and cycling to/from school.

Not far from Phnom Penh you may choose to stop at Skoun, also known as ‘Spiderville’ due to the deep fried tarantula that is the local delicacy, are you adventurous enough to try one?

Last you may wish to stop off in Kompong Kdei, to look at Spean Prahtos – an ancient Angkorian bridge built by the Khmers 1,000 years ago. Then continue to Siem Reap town for hotel check in.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 7: SIEM REAP (B)

We start on our bike and cycle (45 minutes for cycling) to world heritage areas on the roads less traveled. Ride among the jungle passing local village and local shop. It’s a very special and acting day as you will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples. You will visit the West Gate of Angkor Thom -  undiscovered by mass tourist: the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), the South Gate, Bayon Temple - unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King

The tour continue with the visiting to the famous temple: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology, visit Bakheng Temple and enjoy a romantic sun set view form Bakheng hill.

Enjoy foot massage 1 hour before transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 8: DEPART SIEM REAP (B)

We board on boat in Tonle Sap Lake. Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals. Then free at leisure until transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure. End of services.

Inclusion:

•    All transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver

•    6 nights hotel in twin sharing room, 1 night home stay in Vinh Long

•    Meals as mentioned in program.

•    English speaking tour guide, all entrance fees

•    Boat trips in Vinh Long and Siem Reap

•    Speed boats Chau Doc / Phnom Penh.

•    Bicycle ride in Vinh Long

•    1 hour of foot massage

•    Show of Mekong Delta’s traditional music and songs

•    Show of traditional Apsara dance

•   1 FOC for group of 15 paying pax up, base on twin sharing room, for landcost only.

Exclusion:

•    Visa to Vietnam and Cambodia

•    International and domestic flights

•    Drinks

•    Other meals

•    Single room

•    Travel insurance

        •    Tip

•    Personal expenses

•    Any optional tours or activities during free time