This summer we had a fantastic trip for 24 days in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. There are many travel agent but we have decided to entrust to Amo Vietnam because they were very friendly, accurate and also they were able to understand exactly who their travelers are and what their travelers were looking for!
They followed us with messages, email and skype even during the trip and advised us on any topic. Mr Lam is a very nice person who also owns a Homestay in Hanoi, where we stayed and had dinner with his family.
I am very happy to recommend Amo Vietnam for any trip to Indochina and the surrounding area, especially if you want to enjoy an exclusive holiday and without of 50 people!
Group of: Mr Giuseppe Sorgente
Travel Date: 4/8/2014 – 26/8/2014
Here is the review on TripAdvisor
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DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Saigon arrival (-/-/-)
Upon arrival at the airport, process visa procedure then meet with your driver and transfer to the hotel for check-in or dropping off your luggage.
Day 2: Saigon city tour (B/-/-)
Breakfast at your hotel and free time to visit Saigon city.
Day 3 : Saigon -Cho Lach (B/-/D)
Breakfast at your hotel. With private car transfer to Cho Lach. Stop by a family for tea and fruit in place. With a taxi ride (Xe Loi) or a bikeride we go through local nature: groves, fields of green rice paddies and verdure cultures, a real approach to local farming life. Cook the dish: “Rice Pancake” with the owner of the house and dinner. Overnight stay at homestay.
Day 4: Cho Lach- Cai Be – Chau Doc (B/L/-)
Breakfast at your hotel. You will meet our driver and transfer to Cai Be Market. When your arrive Cai Be, you will meet local guide speaking English. On arrival in Cai Be Town, board motorized boat to visit local corn/ rice pop making family. Continue by boat to go pass & visit Cai Be floating market. The cruise will later take us through tiny winding canals for a close up view of Mekong lively river life. We will have many photo opportunities of the fish traps and fruit gardens along the canals. Lunch is at bonsai garden with with elephant ear fish, Mekong specialty and opportunity to sample local wine. After lunch, transfer to Chau doc. Overnight at hotel in Chau Doc.
Day 5: Chau Doc – Phnompenh (B/-/-)
Breakfast at your hotel.
Transfer to a speed boat to Phnom Penh (about 5 hours). Free time to visit Phnom Penh city. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 6: Phnompenh – Siem Reap (B/-/-)
Breakfast at your hotel.
Transfer to Siem Reap by private car. Free time in Siem Reap Pasti liberi. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 7: Banteay Srey – Banteay Samre – Angkor Wat – Ta Promh (B/-/-)
Early morning, we take the “Tuk Tuk” ride to discover the jungle-covered temple of Ta Prohm then get back to hotel for breakfast. We begin the temple exploration today at Angkor Thom City by west gate. From the enigmatic faces of Bayon temple to the intricate bas reliefs of the Terrace of the Elephants, Angkor Thom is filled with fabulous monuments. At midday we have lunch at local restaurant on your own account. After lunch we will drive to Banteay Srei, it is also one of the most beautiful temples; Built in 967 AD by Jayavarman V’s guru, it showcases the most exquisite, deep and complex carvings in all Khmer architecture, and Preah Khan meaning “Holy Sword” is one of the largest temple compounds in Angkor and is defended by four concentric walls. The main shrine and its adjoining buildings are richly decorated with Buddhist motifs and scenes from Hindu epics. We will get back to Siem Reap in late afternoon so you can enjoy your free time shopping and relaxing.
Day 8: Preah Khan – Neak Pean – Thommanon – Chau Say Tevoda – Angkor Thom (B/-/-)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Wake up early and take a “tuk-tuk” tour to visit the jungle-intertwined temple, Ta Prohm. Dawn is one of the most beautiful and emotional moments to visit the temples, whose ancient sandstone blocks are gold-plated in the morning rays. Go back to the hotel for breakfast and continue the tour of the day.
Lunch at local restaurant then visita Prei khan Temple, built by Jayavarman VII in 1191 in honor of his father who is represented as the savage god of Buddhism Mayahanista. The temple was originally a true city and a place dedicated to Buddhist studies.
In the afternoon you will discover the wonderful temple of Angkor Wat, a world heritage site of humanity built in the 12th century (1112-1152) in honor of Vishnu covering an area of 200 hectares surrounded by the canal and the wall of 1300m x 1500m.
In the late afternoon, you can admire the sunset over the Ta Phrom.
Accommodation and lodging in the hotel.
Day 9: Siem Reap visit – Flight to Luang Prabang (B/-/-)
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will visit Chong Khneas floating village and Tonle Sap 10 from Siem Reap. Transfer to airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival to the airport, you well be met by our guide and transfer to you hotel. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 10: Luang Prabang – Pakou – Khuangsy (B/L/-)
After breakfast, take a rural drive (30 km South) to visit Kuangsi Waterfall, though not very high but spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings as the preserved National park. We stop en-route to visit a fresh produced market namely Talad Phosy, and also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of a hill-tribe group “Hmong”, probably the best-known minority group in Laos. Just before arriving at Kuangsi waterfall, there is another village of Khmu minority group, namely Ban Tha Pane that we will visit. Our picnic lunch is served at the shady park nearby Kuangsi waterfall. There is plenty of time for relaxing and a swim in cool water, before heading back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.
Afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples; of which nearly fifty still remain in the town and surrounding areas. Visit National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries…etc, Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana – Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa; Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple, which more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture.
we continue our city tour, seeing the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan River. The temple structures are decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes and doorways. The main Sim has a marvelous ‘tree of life’ mosaic pattern on an outer wall. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a taste of the tranquil countryside and an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at Ban Xang Hai to visit the rice wine distillation.
Upon disembarking, we drive to the famous weaving village of Ban Phanom where shoppers have a chance to try their hand at bargaining.
Day 11: Luang Prabang Visit e Flight to Hanoi (B/L/-)
Breakfast at your hotel. You will continue to visit Luang Prabang. Transfer to airport for your flight to Hanoi. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 12: Hanoi city tour (B/-/D)
Breakfast at your hotel. Tempo libero per visitare la città di Hanoi.
Dinner with Vietnamese family: speacial product of Amo Vietnam
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 13: Hanoi free time (B/-/-)
Breakfast at your hotel. Tempo libero
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 14: Hanoi – Tu Le visit (B/L/D)
Breakfast at your hotel then transfer to Tu Le You could make several stops along the way to take some pictures. You arrive Tu Le in the afternoon. Lunch and check-in hotel.
We will visit Lim Mong Village where we will have a chance to meet local White Thai and H’Mong who have been settled for centuries. Back to Khau Pha hill at 3h30 pm to witness the spectacular down in the mountain and awaiting for the chance to take pictures of H’Mong farmer on their way back home or mingle with the H’Mong children. Free time for dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 15: Tu Le – La Pan Tan – Che Cu Nha- Mu Cang Chai – Sapa(B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel then heading back Khau Pha pass before reaching the mountain road to La Pan Tan, a beautiful H’Mong village where you take thousands of pictures of rice terraces. After lunch break, keep driving along the road and stop where you wish to take pictures of Rice terraces. Stop at Che Cu Nha to wait for the Down to record the last space of your memory before heading to Sapa
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 16: Sapa Trekking – Lao Chai, Ta Van – train to Hanoi (B/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel. At 9:00 in the morning transfer to Muong Hoa Valley. Along the road stop to take pictures at Y Linh Ho village then keep moving to Lao Chai where you will start your trek. We have a special photograph road researched for you where you could meet H’Mong people and Zay peoples in Ta Van village. Back to the town for lunch and relax. Get ready at 15h00 for the beautiful pictures along the main road of Muong Hoa Valley. Return to Sapa for lunch and free time before transfering to Lao Cai to catch your train to Hanoi.
Day 17: Hanoi – Ha Long (B/L/D)
Arrivo a Hanoi alle 5 di mattina. Trasferimento a piedi al New moon Hotel che si trova vicino alla stazione.
Stanza standard a New moon per riposarvi e fare la doccia.
Am: We pick you up from your hotel at around 8h15 (we may do several picks up) for 3.5 hour driving North East; the bus ride will take you over the Red River and through the country side of our second biggest delta to reach Halong Bay.
You would be first dropped off at Tuan Chau International Marina – harbor of Halong’s biggest island. From which you will be tendered to our Halong Phoenix Cruiser, welcome drinks would be immediately served for your refreshment while we hand over your cabin’s key.
Pm: When you are putting all of your stuffs into your cabin, our boat starts gliding out to the centre of the World Heritage Site. Your lunch, at the boat’s restaurant, is would be served with fresh local seafood, but vegetable menu is always available at your request.
From the marina area, our cruiser passes by Dog Head and Swan Islands, Ba Hang Floating villages (with floating houses), Incense Burner then Thumb Islands before reaching Surprising (Sung Sot) Cave.
At around 15h00, our boat will anchored for a short tender ride from the middle of the bay to an island for your visit to famous Sung Sot Cave. The cave visiting will take you about 1 hour (walking inside the limestone cave), then we tender you to visit and swim on Titop Island, which is not far from the cave. Here you can still challenge yourself by climbing up to the top, for a panoramic view, before heading back to swim on its sandy beach.
As the sun sets over the bay, we head back to our cruise and relax. Coffee, tea and fruits will be available on the sundeck or you can order your favorite drink from our bar.
Halong Phoenix Cruiser keeps cruising to Coconut anchorage area, which is away from the crowded centre – where most other boats stay, for our overnight escape.
Dinner would be served with typically local seafood, you are then free to either drink or experience squid fishing before heading to your bed.
Day 18: Ha Long (B/L/D)
You would love to rise a bit early for a breath taking , the stunning vista of the serene bay is always best experience of staying overnight on boat. Today, you would go further to other side of Halong by another boat, and come back to your Phoenix Cruiser at sun set time.
After breakfast, you will get on a kayaking support boat which come from Cat Ba Island, and travel to new corners of the bay.
This morning you will go through a famous Frog and Chop Stick Islands as well as Cua Van Floating Village. The boat will stop at around 10h00, and then it is your paddling time. Before making a very first stroke, our kayaking expert will show you all the useful techniques and safety guidelines to have fun on your kayak. As being guided, you will have a round trip paddling to different corners, passing fishing villages, beaches and lagoons.
You properly paddling for about 2 hours then break on a private beach, where you are free to swim or just have sunbath… all up to you. We have lunch here, on the beach.
Pm: After lunch, you can keep swimming or just relax before we cruise up North to new kayak area.
One hour cruise will bring you to a large hidden area of Cat Ba National Park, where you can paddle through a Dark Cave (at tidal permission) and Bright Cave to see an amazing cave and lagoon inside.
The quiet atmosphere of the area may make you slow down to remain the tranquil beautiful water and magnificent limestone formations of Cat Ba National Park, lucky groups can sometime see family of Cat Ba Langur (Golden-headed Langur) – endemic primate eating leafs on trees nearby.
When you head back to the support boat, we cruise back to Halong Phoenix Cruiser. Welcome back coffee and tea are available on the sundeck, now you can treat you a beer or a cold drink after a stretched-arm day.
Day 19: Ha Long – Hanoi – flight to Hue(B/L/-)
You may wish to get up late today. We will serve you buffet breakfast from 7h30, then we have time to
gear up for one hour kayaking around Luom Bo area (provincial border between Quang Ninh province and Cat Ba National Park of Hai Phong).
It is optional to do one more hour paddling around your anchorage area, and try our brand new sit-on-top kayaks, or just relax on boat.
On the cruising way back, we cruise on a different way so that you can see new areas and viewing islands from a different side. At around 10h00, we arrange a cooking demonstration on boat to show you how to make real Vietnamese spring rolls, just before lunch time: you will learn recipes and techniques that go into the most popular dish of the Vietnamese food.
Lunch would be served on boat when you are close to the harbor. You say goodbye to Halong Phoenix Cruiser at around 12h00, we tender you back to the harbor.
Our bus is already waiting for you at the marina to take you back to Hanoi, we leave Halong Bay and Tuan Chau Island around 12h30.
Trip ends at your hotel around 16h30.
Return to Hanoi. Transfer to aeroporto for your flight to Hue. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 20: Hue Visit (B/-/-)
Breakfast at your hotel. Free time to visit city.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 21: Hue – Danang – Hoian visit (B/-/-)
Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to Hoi An and free time to visit Hoi An city .
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 22: Hoi An free time (B/-/-)
Freetime to relax.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 23: Hoian – Danang – Flight to Saigon – Saigon departure (B/-/-)
Freetime to relax before transfer to airport for your flight from Da Nang to Saigon