Vietnam & Cambodia

Arrive Hanoi. Transfer to the hotel. Standard check in at 1400 hrs. After a quick wash and change take a city tour of Hanoi visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, One pillar pagoda. We have organized an electric car tour around The Old Quarter of Hanoi for the senior citizens. In the evening, enjoy welcome dinner with Vietnamese music at local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.

Today you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay (a World Natural Heritage site) via the Red River Delta. Upon arrival, you will set out on the bay. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay, swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. At sunset, you can kayak or simply take a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on board, you can enjoy watching the peaceful sunset and later unwind at a restaurant. You will stay overnight onboard.

You’ll wake up on the bay to the sounds of waves and birds welcoming the new day and take part in Tai Chi Class. You will have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay and after breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto. You will have a walk back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Then you will drive back to Hanoi and stay overnight. Return to Hanoi, sightseeing at Ngoc Son temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, 36 Ancient Street and shopping. Enjoying the Water Puppet Show. Dinner at local restaurant.

After breakfast at hotel, depart for Bai Dinh –Tam Coc, enjoying the beautiful sceneries of the rural areas on the way. Arrival in Ninh Binh province, visit Bai Dinh pagoda – the largest pagoda of Indochina area. Afternoon you will get on a wooden boat – rowed by the local people – in Hoang Long river to visit Tam Coc (three caves) on the way. You pass through three enormous caves that provide a brief respite from the intense summer sun. It takes approximately two hours to go up and down the river and along the way, you witness local fisher folk, village life along the river and of course, the striking limestone karsts formation for which Tam Coc is famous.

Today visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, Museum of Ethnology which offers a deep insight into 54 different ethnic groups of Vietnam in an effort to preserve cultural heritage and promote socio-cultural diversity within the country. At the same time, you can participate in traditional games and activities such as water puppet show, calligraphy, walking on stilt or stone game. Arrive at the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh.

A full day trip to the watery world of the Mekong Delta, just a couple of hours by road from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City’s streets. Take a boat trip along narrow waterways overhung with dense vegetation and try exotic fruits in one of the many orchards on Thoi Son Island. For lunch sample the local delicacy, Elephant’s Ear Fish. Visit the beautiful VinhTrang Pagoda.

In the morning you will enjoy a half-day private excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels consist of more than 200 km of underground tunnels. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life was like during the U.S.-Vietnam War. Afternoon City tour – the Reunification Palace, Thien Hau pagoda, The Hundred Years Red Cathedral (Notre Dame Cathedral), The Old Post Office and The People’s Committee Hall the cathedral. You’ll stroll through the city’s main shopping boulevard with fashionable boutiques and hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and house-wares. Enjoy a farewell dinner from Vietnam on Saigon cruise.

Today take your flight to Siem Reap. Standard check in hours 1400 hrs. This afternoon, take a fun by Rermork “TukTuk” ride to visit the Angkor National Museum, learn about “the Legend Revealed” and see how the Khmer Empire has been established during the golden period. Continue to explore the Roluos group. The Roluos group lies 15km (10 miles) southwest of Siem Reap and includes three temples – Bakong, PrahKo and Lolei – dating from the late 9th century and corresponding to the ancient capital of Hariharalaya, from which the name of Lolei is derived. Remains include 3 well-preserved early temples that venerated the Hindu gods. The bas-reliefs are some of the earliest surviving examples of Khmer art. Modern-day villages surround the temples. Overnight in hotel.

Morning, visit to jungle Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. The temple of Ta Prohm was once used as a location to film the famous Hollywood film Tomb Raider. Begin tour to the antique capital of Angkor Thom, start from the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Afternoon, explore Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. 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. Last but not least, view a wonderful sunset from Angkor Wat or somewhere possible. Tonight enjoy buffet dinner with Apsara Traditional Dance Show. Overnight at hotel

Transfer to the Siem Reap airport