Vietnam Cambodia 8 Days (VN-CB-08)

• Breakfast at hotel then check out. Morning, take the cruise’s shuttle bus to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. The road will pass by the Red River delta with green paddyfields and rural villages, where hard-work farmers are busy with their farming jobs, ploughing buffaloes or planting seedling. Upon arrival in Halong, check in the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating houses and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the cruise, enjoy cooking demonstration before having dinner. Evening attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise.

Please note the program may be little varied upon the cruise you choose.

• You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the “East Sea” by a point-oriented name “Eastern Sea”, so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise coming back the pier. Disembark from the cruise, transfer back to Hanoi by the cruise’s shuttle bus. Check in hotel. Your time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

• Breakfast at hotel then check out. Transfer to the airport with driver only (no guide) to take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, also called as Saigon, the most dynamic city in Vietnam.
• Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transfer to the down town. Check in your hotel (normal check in time is 2pm).
• Start city tour at the War Remnants Museum, one of the most famous historical attractions in Saigon. Coming to the War Remnants Museum, you can learn a part of how Vietnamese had struggled and fought for their independence, freedom, and peace of the nation and the locals’ perspective of the Vietnam War.
• The exhibits, such as weapons, documents, and photographs, display in the museum are firm evidence of war crimes in Vietnam and speak for the heroic actions of the former Vietnamese generation.
• We then visit the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883 and colonial-styled Central Post Office, one of the city’s major landmarks.
• Late afternoon, visit Ben Thanh market, a symbol of Saigon. Have shopping time there. Overnight in Saigon.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Morning drive to Cu Chi Tunnels – the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. After a short introduction video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Return to Saigon.
• Afternoon is your free time at leisure or own sightseeing/shopping arround the town. Overnight in HCMC.

• Breakfast at hotel then check out. Transfer to the airport with driver only (no guide) to take a flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transfer to the down town. Check in your hotel (normal check in time is 2pm).
• This afternoon we visit Angkor Wat temple, the Cambodia’s ancient temple is one of the wonders of the oriental world. Masterpieces of decorative details as well as of architectural style, its awe-inspiring ruins survive as testament to the spectacular achievements of Southeast Asia’s greatest civilization. It is a replica of the universe according to the Hindu mythology. It is composed by the Mount Meru, surrounded by the continents and the oceans. Its extraordinary bas-reliefs, describe some Khmer epics and myths. Angkor Wat’s five famous towers rise into the sky, a geometrical arrangement of numerous galleries, adorned with beliefs and the stone images of celestial Apsara dancers, as well as portals, chambers and courtyards. Enjoy sunset at Phnom Bakheng which rises almost 70 meters above the plain where the rest of the temples are located, which gives a magnificent views of Angkor. Overnight in Siem Reap.

• Breakfast at Hotel.
• After breakfast at hotel, enter the South Gate of Angkor Thom Temple and marvel the wonders of the eerie Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, the Elephants terrace and terrace of Leper King. Before lunch, visit Ta Prohm Temple unlike most of the other Angkor temples, the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors. Lunch will be served at local restaurant.
• In afternoon, visit the famous Angkor Wat, built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. The largest and best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center—first Hindu, then Buddhist—since its foundation until sunset at Angkor wat temple. Dinner in local restaurant.
• Overnight in Siem Reap at your selected hotel.

• Breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure until check out time and transfer to the airport with driver only (no guide) for the departure flight back to your sweet home.
• Please note: Normal check-out time at hotel is 12:00.