Vietnam And Cambodia Connection , 12 days

On arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh, you are met by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. You may have free time to relax and explore at your own leisure.  The bustling   Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, still called Saigon by many locals, was originally a fishing village built up on a vast swampland, but it has developed into Saigon under the French domination. The effervescent development has bought Ho Chi Minh some cosmic changes from a war-torn city to a thriving metropolis. However, the architecture, local culture and  lifestyle in Ho Chi Minh  are still a reconciliation among French, American and Chinese influences. This metropolis rapidly becomes a commercial and cultural center of Vietnam, punctuated with elegant new international hotels and exclusive restaurants, crowded with motorbikes, cars and vociferous cyclo drivers, and excited by numerous shopping areas, sidewalk cafés and noodle stalls. They create a dynamic urban area in very special sense and make for an endless exploration.

The incredible  underground network of Cu Chi  was constructed by Vietnamese fighters during their long struggle for the independence. These extensive tunnels of over 200 km have specially contained living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, filed hospitals, accommodation, and command centers. We travel by road in the morning to Cu Chi Area where we will see an exposition hall and a widened section of Cu Chi Tunnels to get a feel of the underground life and learn a little more about the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong. There are also possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. Upon leaving Cu Chi, we make our way  back to Ho Chi Minh and  enjoy a half day tour of its major sights. The vibrant street of Nguyen Hue is always a live attraction, giving an interesting view of many eating spots and shop houses. We have a quick look at the ornate City Hall at Nguyen Hue Boulevard before we stroll around the striking European style­ landmarks of Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Sai Gon Post Office. The sightseeing tour continues with a drive past the Reunification Palace on our way to the War Remnant Exhibit. This house contains a wealth of images and real objects reflecting the notorious Vietnam- American War and the first Indochina War involving the French colonialists. They make your visit like taking a step back into the war time.  We follow this sight with the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the retail  Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts appealing to every taste!.

Heading out of the town, we travel by road to My Tho, a gateway to the Mekong Delta. This incredibly fertile plain region was formed by the mighty Mekong River, which winds its way from Tibet - China through  Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and finally into Vietnam. On arrival in My Tho, we board a private boat for a cruise along the Mekong River. The river trip will give  some fantastic views from nearby floating fish farms to many lush islands. Along the way we anchor at the Unicorn Island, one of the four famous islands in place. The village lanes are fringed with local houses, luxuriant fruit gardens, and unfolding rice fields, creating a key feature of the countryside sketch. We follow our guide to experience the traditional lifestyles, culture, and customs of the people who call the Delta their home. There are some enjoyable stops to taste many seasonal fruits, enjoy traditional music performed by a villager ensemble, and sample honey tea at a nearby bee farm. The intricately narrow canals are also a highlight of our excursion. We take a rowing sampan to explore this mazing lifeblood  of the Mekong Delta before we get back to our motor boat and  race across the water to Ben Tre, locally called “coconut kingdom”.  We embark on a walk to explore the rhythms of daily life and meet workers doing their traditional jobs at some industry cottages. The villagers are making brick-kiln ceramics, coconut candy and local handicrafts. We apprehend the more relaxed pace of the Delta, in stark contrast to the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Upon disembarking, we make our way back to Ho Chi Minh Airport for our flight to Da Nang. On arrival you are met by our guide and driven along the coastline to Hoi An, a charismatic town outside of Da Nang.

The delightful town of  Hoi An was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced by a myriad of traders from various cultures between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. We enjoy a morning walking tour to explore Hoi An Ancient Town where Japanese legacy,  Vietnamese tube houses, ornate temples and Chinese shop houses are still standing to present the unique traditional townscape . We follow  the narrow walking streets dotted with many shop houses to the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge . This structure  was first constructed in 1590s by the Japanese traders  to link them with the Chinese quarters. The ornamentation has remained relatively faithful to the original Japanese design over centuries. We continue onto the Museum of Trade Ceramics, a beautifully restored timber house where displays many relics of the bygone civilization and the origins of this port town. Upon leaving this museum, we head towards the  typical Phung Hung House, a gem with a mixture of Japanese and Chinese architectural elements. This ancient house was built by a Vietnamese family two centuries ago and has been lovingly preserved through seven generations. We follow it with the Chua Ong Pagoda and the  Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. This colorful building is  one of the five well-known halls in Hoi An. You spend the rest of this day at leisure, to relax on Cua Dai Beach, stroll around the vibrant waterfront, make some fine garments at famous tailor shops or go on one of many optional trips.

Upon leaving Hoi An, we hug the coastline towards Da Nang City. Along the way we make stop at the sensational Marble Mountain. The five rocky outcrops are said to represent the five natural elements of the universe; fire, water, earth, wood and metal. The long steep staircase may involve some hardship to see this mountain top. However, you can take an optional cable car ride with small extra fees. We continue our drive to visit the famous Cham Museum, formerly the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient. This beautiful mansion contains many exquisite limestone carvings from the vanquished Kingdom of Champa that has been in central coastal littoral prior to the march of the Vietnamese nation south. We continue our journey to Hue, hugging the coastline before climbing up the challenging Hai Van Pass, an obvious boundary between northern and southern Vietnam. The panoramic view from this pass top is nothing short of spectacular. We arrive in Hue, the last ancient capital of Vietnam feudal capital from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyen Dynasty. We spend this afternoon to visit the massive Hue Citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but partly destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive; however, it is still fascinating to walk around and see many pavilions, bridges, libraries, and great halls. They have been restored to explain the legends of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors who have built the fortress and lived within its moated walls for nearly 150 years.

The beautiful riverside pagoda of Thien Mu  is one of the oldest structures for religious work ship in Hue. We include it in a half day cruise on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside and an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang. This majestic complex of courtyards, pavilions, and temples, was built in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. The river excursion  will be left behind as we travel by road through the rolling hills to the Khai Dinh Mausoleum, a synthesis of Vietnamese and European elements. We walk across the mandarin courtyard where are standing various statues of mandarins, horses, and soldiers. They make for a real scene of the ancient royal court. The most notable place is Thien Dinh Palace housing the bronze statues and the King steles.  We keep going to an open-air Arena  which was once a  place for sacrificial ceremonies and entertainment events. This circular arena has been abandoned; however, the gruesome battles between elephants and tigers in bygone times are still narrated by local villagers. The sightseeing tour continues with the vibrant Dong Ba Market, a paradise of local goods and handicrafts. We walk past  many fantastic eating spots, all ideal places for visitors to sample some local delicacies. Today we take an evening flight to Hanoi, the capital  of Vietnam. On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met by our guide and driven to your hotel.

Today, we spend our time to explore Hanoi, taking a short drive through diverse streets encompassing a millennium of the city culture and evolution to the Ba Dinh Square. This park setting contains the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (close on Mon. and Fri. and Oct. to Nov) and the Ho Chi Minh Residence. We queue up for a walk past silent sentries, paying a homage to Ho Chi Minh before  continuing  to his residence, a simple stilt house set in a well-tended garden. He has lived and worked in this place until his final days. Nearby this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, of which the origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi City. We visit all of them and head to the Temple of Literature. This well-preserved temple is now dedicated to the scholars of Confucius but was once the first university of Vietnam. The successful candidate records are still found in various stone steles set over giant stone turtles in the temple ground. We keep going to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (close on Mon.) where display in both outdoor and indoor sections, various documents, images and objects focusing on 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. The sightseeing tour takes us past various attractions, including Tran Quoc Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, West Lake, Long Bien Bridge, and Opera House. There are no stops planned as it is simply a glimpse of the cityscape. We finish a round of city tour  with a fantastic water puppet show followed by a pleasant walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, one of the major scenic spots in Hanoi.

The incredible limestone outcroppings form a spectacular seascape of Halong Bay, making it an incomparable natural wonder in Vietnam. Today, we travelby road  to Bai Chay, a base for our exploration of Halong Bay. This journey takes anything between three and four hours, passing through the beautiful countryside  to the stone formations of Halong Bay. The cruise team will welcome us on board with refreshing drinks and provides some information about the watercraft and the activity program. We check in our private cabin and unpack for a two-day cruise. The exciting excursion begins as our boat  zigzags itself in Halong Bay. Along the way we feast on a huge lunch (veg. meals also available on request), catching some beautiful views of the bay with a blend of the sky and limestone islets jutting out from the clear and emerald water. These rocky outcrops are usually named by their distinctive shapes and littered with tiny beaches and beautiful caves. You spend this afternoon to simply admire the splendid scenery unfolding beyond your eyes or go for some activities; rowing boat excursion, swimming and kayaking (optional). We can improve our culinary skill while participating in a cooking class in the flavor of the sea. The master chef will show the guests how to make some traditional Vietnamese delicacies. We follow it  with a sumptuous dinner and enjoy some evening entertainment at the dining room. There are also possibilities to try your hand at squid fishing from our boat.

The early light begins washing the night away, unveiling the marvelous beauty of Halong Bay. You can participate in a Taichi exercise on the sundeck and may get a chance to take some wonderful photos of the sunrise over Halong Bay. The cruise continues taking us past many beautiful  islands. We spend the time at our leisure or step onto a tender to explore the Surprise Cave, one of the many beautiful sites hidden beneath towering cliffs. The  walking uphill with nearly 100 steps is somewhat arduous; however, the panoramic view from this cave mouth to the nearby boat pier and the  rocky islands in the far distance makes the hardship all worthwhile. We make a stop to enjoy this awful-panoramic landscape before we walk inside the cave to start our exploration. This grotto interior is naturally adorned  with countless  stalactite and stalagmite formations. They stretch amazingly from floor to ceiling, forming various pillars to support the cave dome. The illuminating spotlights of various colors along the walkway and within the stone formations add more enchantment to this site. We come back to our boat and can freshen up before checking out cabin. The incredible scenery of Halong Bay will be left behind as our boat heads towards Tuan Chau Marina. We disembark and drive back to Hanoi Airport for our flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. On arrival at Siem Reap Airport, you are greeted by our guide and taken to hotel by a private transfer.

The sunlight reflects a golden glow over the entire Angkor Complex. We start this day with Angkor Thom, an epic collection of striking structures, which is encompassed in quadrangle area. The best preserved South Gate comes in view with a causeway fringed with 54 demons and 54 gods pulling a giant snake. This scene is focusing on a famous Hindu story in bygone time. We walk through two ranges of status on a cosmic scale to the gate tower with colossal human faces carved in stone. The walkway will bring us an interesting  look close up at the Royal Enclosure where remains some  mysterious ruins, including the Royal Palace, Phimeanakas Temple, and  Royal Terraces. These structures built from perishable materials have long vanished. The climax of our visit is Bayon Temple  built in the centre of Angkor Thom. This enigmatic complex contains  54 towers, each topped off with the four faces of  Compassion Buddha. Upon leaving Angkor Thom Area we take a short drive to  the architectural masterpiece of Angkor Wat. The iconic monument  of the entire complex was built in the 12th century and reflects a perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry, bringing the pride and strength to all Khmers. The distinctive five towers of this temple are now emblazoned on the Cambodian flag. We stroll around this massive monument, unraveling the mysteries of the bas-reliefs from Hindu mythology to the glories of the Khmer empire. The footsteps lead through the upper levels of the inner sanctuary to the sacred heart of Angkor Wat, a blend of spirituality and symmetry. We round out day tour with a walk up the Pre Rup Temple to enjoy the spectacular sunset over these sandstone monuments.

Heading out of the town we drive beyond the towering Angkor Complex  to Banteay Srey Temple. This intricately carved temple despite the lack in size is still a jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The architecture style features a mixture of the archaic concept and the innovative materials since Banteay Srey Temple  was largely built from sandstone in pinkish hue, with brick and laterite used for the enclosure walls and some structural elements. We stroll around this beautiful landmark and admire the marvelous sculpture at every step. Upon leaving this sight we keep driving to see  Banteay Samre, which is adorned with striking relief depicting the scenes of Vishunu and  Krishna. Today we also explore in some depth the Angkor Complex with Prasat Kravan famous for the unique interior brick sculptures and Srah Srang which was once used for the royal baths and the ritual bathing. The following stop is Banteay Kdei Temple, a monastic complex of  enclosure walls, concentric galleries and towers. We venture into the jungle where is standing  Ta Prohm Temple, relatively untouched for centuries by its secluded location. There are enormous fig trees and creepers which embrace themselves in temple stone foundation, giving it a distinctive feature. The sightseeing also includes Neak Pean, which is originally designed for the medical purposes with four connected pools representing water, earth, fire and  wind. We continue onto  Preah Khan , a good counterpoint to Ta Prohm Temple.  The large ruin of Preah Khan was all but partly destroyed by the climate impact. However, it is till interesting to walk around, exploring the legends, towered enclosures and  shoulder hugging corridors.

The temple exploration is not only activity in Siem Reap Town. We spend this morning on a boat trip out, to discover Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest natural fresh water bodies in  Southeast Asia. The traditional boat navigates along a small river towards this large lake, giving us a chance to see friendly children on small boat, many vendors making a shift floating market, and fishermen pulling in day catch. Along the way we anchor to visit a floating village where are everything from schools, shop houses to police station. The village life goes on as it would anywhere else in Cambodia. This enjoyable stop gives a good insight into the lifestyle of local people who call this grand lake their home and mostly rely on the lake for their livelihood. They may move from a place to place following the water level and current of Tonle Sap Lake. You may have free time to do your last minute shopping opportunities and own exploration of  the town or simply look back upon your trip images. The holiday  comes to an end with a transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your departure.