The 3-week trip through Vietnam and Cambodia by visiting the most interesting destinations of the two countries. Two couples traveling thanks to the excellent organization of AMOTRAVEL that we highly recommend. Everything is streamlined from transport to guides speaking Italian.
Group of: Mr. Gianfranco Galimberti
Travel Date : 25/11/2015 – 16/12/2015
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Hanoi arrival (-/-/-)
Upon your arrival, your guide and driver would be ready to welcome you right at the arrival lounge of Noi Bai international airport. Your guide would debrief for you about the whole trip itinerary, and eager to respond to all of your wonderings.
Day 2: Hanoi free time – tour food on foot (-/-/-)
Breakfast at your hotel. Free tiem to visit Hanoi city.
In the evening, you will participate an authentic tour of Amo Vietnam Travel at 17: Food on foot. You will walk around Old Quarter of Hanoi. A gastronomic tour! This tour cost 25$.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 3: Hanoi city tour (B/-/D)
Morning:
9 am: Your guide and driver would wait for you at the lounge of the hotel.
You would be taken to highlight sites of Hanoi: the Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh house-on-stilt, One-Pillar Pagoda. You may also have chance to visit Vietnam’s very first university dated back in the 11th century. It is well-known in Vietnam for a combination of Confucian sanctuary and academy clearly proved by stone tablets which you may see.
Afternoon:
After having lunch at a nice restaurant, upon your request, we would plan to visit Hanoi History Museum or the Museum of Ethnology – the space just for you to spot past events and turning points of Vietnam people along with the identity of 54 recognized ethnic groups of this S-shaped country.
Following by the Old Quarter Walking tour, you would have time at Café Giang for some bitter sweet coffee, enjoying the local life at the oldest home-made coffee brand in Hanoi.
The day ended up with a Water Puppet Show which had been maintained there in Vietnam for around 1000 years.
A special dinner of Amo Travel. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 4: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc (B/L/-)
Breakfast at your hotel. Often referred to as “Inland Ha Long Bay ”, the area of Tam Coc and Hoa Lu is characterised by the limestone geology that gives rise to the towering karsts that make this picturesque area so unique. On this enjoyable day trip, the atmosphere is relaxed as you casually pedal and paddle your way past green rice fields, along waterways and through underground passages.
8.00 AM you will leave Hanoi by coach to Hoa Lu (2.5 hrs). Visit the historic capital of Viet Nam and the famous ancient temples of Le and The Dinh Dynasties. Bus transfer or cycle for an hour on picturesque quiet roads through villages, rice fields, rivers and rocky outcrops to Tam Coc (12km) for lunch.
Boat trip to visit Tam Coc to see the beauty of the karst formations as you pass along their base and row into one of the many caves carved through the limestone. Drive back to Ha Noi. Tour ends around 6pm.
Day 5: Ninh Binh- Baia di Halong (B/L/D)
Breakfast at your hotel.
Morning
Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and heading to northeast of Vietnam setting out on a 3.5 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay. Then you would have 24 hours on a traditional style Vietnamese Junk Cruise which would set sail at noon and board your junk. Lunch with diversified fresh seafood would be served on board.
Afternoon
Aboard the cruise, you would take time to visit several highlight locations:
- 3 largest caves: Thien Cung, Dau Go, Sung Sot
- Titop beach for swimming (weather permit) or being on the deck for sunbathing
- Nearby summits where you can take short trekking to watch over the bay from the high.
Back on the junk, the stunning sunset time is on your view and a dinner awaits with cocktails available for purchase from the bar. Passing the night on your junk, the gentle rocking of calm waters will lull you to sleep.
Day 6: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Volo per Hue (B/L/-)
Waking up early in the calming sounds of waves crashing the nearby islands, you can enjoy a morning coffee and watch the sun rise on the top deck, or you may join Tai Chi Class if you wish to. You will continue sailing around the magnificent bay and even to Bai Tu Long, where the movie “Indochine” was filmed. Sitting on the upper deck and enjoy the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the bay. The brunch would be served while the junk starts cruising back.
Your cruise will end at noon (around 12:00 pm) and you will transfer to airport for your flight to Hue. Upon your arrival, your guide and driver would be ready to welcome you right at the arrival lounge of Hue airport.
Day 7: Hue City (B/L/-)
Morning
Breakfast is served at the hotel then you may spend the entire day to explore Vietnam’s former ancient capital.
Your guide and driver pick you up and transfer you to the wharf for your boat ride on the Perfume River. During the boat trip, you will stop to visit the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, a symbol of Hue – the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship. Then you go to visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue with the Purple Forbidden City – once the Emperor’s private residence. You will be having lunch at a local restaurant.
The Hue Citadel is situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River. It covers an area 500 ha and has a system of three circles of ramparts: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). The Hue royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Afternoon
You may continue to visit a tomb monument of King Tu Duc which is located in a very special area. More than just a tomb visiting, it’s the great chance to learn more about Nguyen King and the landscape is spectacular. Back to hotel, dinner is on your own.
Day 8: Hue – Danang – Hoian visit (B/-/-)
Morning
Checking out in the morning, you would depart to Hoi An. You may stop by Lang Co beach to have short break before crossing Hai Van Pass. At the height of 450 meters above sea level Hai Van pass is the high dividing line between the climate zones of north and south Vietnam.. Here you can enjoy the magnificent view of the central coast. The soft adventure drive over the 23 km long pass will add more highlights for this trip. Moving southwards passing Lang Co, there will be a lovely stretch of beach curving outwards between a clear blue lagoon and the South China Sea, and the large coastal city of Danang before arriving in Hoi An.
Visit Cham Museum at Danang: this houses probably the best collection of Cham art to be found anywhere in the world. There are more than 300 artifacts in the museum, many dating to the 4th century. There are beautiful sculptures reflecting the 1000 year Cham period.
Lunch would be served at a local restaurant in Hoi An right after your arrival.
Afternoon
Hoi An comes to your mind as the charming historic city known to early Western merchants, one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs.
Sightseeing in Hoi An
Hoi An is picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of Southeast Asia’s major international ports during the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries. Now this beautifully preserved historic city is best seen on foot. The walking tour includes: Japanese covered bridge, Ceramic museum, Phung Hung ancient house, Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall and Lantern Making Working Shop.
Hoi An is very well-known for Tailors so Amo Vietnam Travel would recommend the Le Loi or Yaly Tailor for your suite made (please note that we do not make any commission for the suggestion, the choice is yours).
Day 9: Hoian free time – Danang – flight to Saigon (B/L/-)
Free time for your leisure. In the afternoon, ee drive from Hoi An to Danang to catch a flight from Danang to Saigon. Arrive Saigon International Airport and transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight
Day 10: Saigon visit ½ day- Cu Chi Tunnels -Saigon (B/-/-)
Visit Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City), an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam War. There are more than 200 km of tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels. You have the chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels. For a more “thrilling” experience, you can even test your shooting skills on original AK47s and other guns from past war times (subject to a surcharge).
Lunch in a local restaurant. Afternoon, visit Notre Dame Cathedral and the old Post Office, both magnificent sights from the French colonial period. Continue the tour with a photo stop at the former Presidential Palace. Then visit the War Remnants Museum, Cholon (Chinatown), Thien Hau Pagoda.
Day 11: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Ben Tre – Can Tho (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. 08:00: After breakfast, transfer to Mekong Delta – considered the “rice paddle of Vietnam”. Come to My Tho town to visit Temple of Caodaism, a religion founded in Vietnam in 1925 that combines Confucianism, Taosimo and Buddhism.
Cross the Rach Mieu Bridge, the longest in South Vietnam. Arrive in Ben Tre where you board for an excursion on the Ben Tre River – one of the main tributaries of the Mekong River.
During the journey you have the opportunity to admire the lively local activities, the fishing along the river, the functionality of the irrigation channels … Stop in a furnace of Mr. Tu Lo to observe traditional brickwork in molds and baking. Visit, along the canal, of one of the many coconuts processing workshops. 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. Lunch at the local restaurant.
Day 12: Can Tho – Mercato di Cai Rang – Chau Doc (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. 07.00. Checking out of your hotel in the late morning, you start boarding out to visit Cai Rang floating market by an motorized boat. This is definitely the time for you to capture every single moments of life with the views of colorful boats laden with fruits and vegetables. There will be an stopover at a Bun Tau noodle factory and a rice husking mill. There, you can even try passing one of many fragile monkey bridges along the canals. You will leave Can Tho and start moving back to Saigon (around 3.5 hour driving). Then transfer to Chau Doc.
Day 13: Chau Doc – speedboat to Phnompenh (B/L/-)
After breakfast, check-out the hotel then travel by speedboat up the Mekong to Cambodia’s capital: Phnom Penh. The total trip takes about four and a half hours (including visa formalities). Visas are easily obtained at the border between Vietnam and Cambodia and cost $22 (including the processing fee).
Your guide will meet you at the dock in Phnom Penh and take you to the hotel. Despite its recent turbulent history, Phnom Penh’s wide tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial mansions hold an undeniable charm. Enjoy lunch at a downtown restaurant, and then conclude the day with a cyclo ride down Sihanouk Boulevard to visit the National Museum and the Royal Palace – home to the royal family and the opulent Silver Pagoda.
Day 14: Phnompenh – Kampong Thom- Siemreap (B/-/-)
After breakfast, you will drive to Siem Reap with professional guide via Kompung Cham and Kampong Thom Province. Along the way, we start to visit Sambo Prey Kuk. The temple was built of solid brick, laterite and sandstone with bas reliefs. It was once the old capital named Isanapura and a worship of Shiva Brahmanism. After walking around the site, we will transfer to hotel in Siem Reap. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 15 : Siem Reap – Monumenti– Angkor Wat – Siem Reap (B/L/-)
The fortified city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats; the city includes many of Angkor’s most popular sights. Enter by the monument South Gate over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant Naga. Continue to the Terrace of the elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs.
Visit the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle.
Visit Angkor Wat . The crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temple, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with Naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stone carvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu Mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise is especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.
Day 16 : Siem Reap – Banteay Srei – Rolous – Siem Reap (B/L/-)
Sightseeing in Angkor. Visit Banteay Srei Temple : Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, Banteay Srei is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Built in pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy. Because of its small size, fairy-like atmosphere and extraordinary examples of Khmer sculpture, this temple is often a favorite with visitors.
Visit Ta Prohm: one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them. In the afternoon, we drive to airport to catch a flight from Siem Reap to Hanoi. Arrive Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to your homestay for check-in and overnight.
Day 17: Siem Reap – Piccolo circuito – Grande circuito – Siem Reap (B/L/-)
Wake up early in the morning to head off to the floating village of Kompong Khleang which is located about an hour’s drive from Siem Reap and is visited every year by thousands of tourists. Kompong Khleang is one of the most impressive villages for the height and the size of its houses on stilts. Walking tour in the village to learn about the people and entrance to a house where a family lives that breeds crocodiles. Afterwards you will board a local boat that will go through all the channels at a time of great lake where people move their homes with the seasons. You will return to the village and lunch on site. Free time for a visit to the old market until the hour of meeting for the transfer to the airport for the return flight.
Day 18: Siemreap – Bang Melea – Ko Keh – Siemreap (B/-/-)
Today we heading out to one Khmer’s Village, your chance to see what real life is like in Cambodian village. You can spend time helping a poor village family go about their daily life. This scenic drive takes you through local countryside providing some great photo opportunities. For few hours you will have rare chance to see inside the life of Cambodian villagers. You may help planting the rice, harvesting, making a roof or harvesting bananas– life revolves around the seasons, so it will vary depending on when you visit. Lunch box will be provided in one house of the villagers. Then we drive further to Beng Mealea Temple and explore the abandoned temple (11th century), strangled by the jungle.
At this time you will receive a voucher of 60 minutes foot massage as complimentary. Late afternoon we drive back to Siem Reap again. Time for evening tea, dinner and walk around on your own.
Day 19: Siem Reap – Tonlè Sap – boat to Battambang (B/L/-)
Enjoy your breakfast at hotel, you will take a break from visiting temples and enjoy a boat ride, in a traditional wooden boat, on the Tonle Sap. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a “floating village” – boats have been converted to look like houses and the “village” move from place to place following water levels. We continue to one of the city’s lively open markets, Phsar Chas, called the “Old Market”, where you can know more about the local life! Then transfer out for departure to Battambang.
Day 20: Battambang visit (B/-/-)
Departure for Wat Banan Temple. This small and graceful temple offers spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. Picnick in the open air before continuing in the direction of the sacred mountain of Phnom Sampeau. Visit the caves and shrines of this limestone promontory.
Enjoy the bamboo train to see the country side view for sunset
Day 21: Battambang – Phnompenh (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Phnom Penh. You will arrive Phnom Penh in the afternoon. After lunch you will visit Sleng Prison Museum Toul ( S21). Free time and overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 22: Phnompenh departure (B/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to airport.