From South Vietnam to North Cambodia 9 Days

Day 01: Ho Chi Minh Arrival

Arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport, you will be met by our local guide who will take you to the hotel.

Meal: No

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 02: Cu Chi Tunnel – Ho Chi Minh City Tour

In the morning, you have an excursion to the famous Cu Chi tunnels. This network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary during the 1960s. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the U.S.-Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon . At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specifically constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life during the war must have been like. The tunnels have been widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be able to enter them!). For those interested there’s even the opportunity to try an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.

Following lunch, you will take half day city tour:

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest and busiest city in Vietnam with a population of 7 million people. Much of the daily life takes place on the streets, which are lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath. Don’t miss the bustling Ben Thanh Market – a fantastic place for bargains of every kind! There are several interesting sights in HCMC. The War Remnants Museum has a wealth of images from the wars, the most moving being a gallery entitled ‘Requiem’ which is dedicated to Vietnamese and foreign journalists and photographers who perished during the French and American conflicts. The Reunification Palace was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975 when the North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front gates, bringing the U.S.-Vietnam War to a dramatic end. Close to the palace some of the best examples of French colonial architecture are represented in the forms of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883 and the stone used to create it was exported in its entirety from France . Next to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office , finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam ‘s largest post office. For all its French colonial history though, Ho Chi Minh City is by far and away Vietnam ‘s most modern city. It has numerous shopping malls, cinemas, discotheques and a bewildering number of bars.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 03: Ho Chi Minh – Vinh Long – Can Tho

Meet our guide in the hotel lobby in HCMC at 8.30 am. You take a drive through the Mekong Delta to the town of Vinh Long for a cruise and a visit to the local markets and orchard gardens. From here you will get back to Vinh Long where we will board our vehicle for the drive to Can Tho, heart of Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 04: Can Tho – Chau Doc

Early get up to enjoy breakfast on the “Mekong Princess” while cruising to the floating market. When the “Mekong Princess” arrives at Cai Rang floating market, guests are transferred to a local traditional boat to enter the market. Then, continue cruising with the hotel’s guide along narrow creeks to visit a noodle factory and an orchard. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort the guests back to the hotel by local boat throughmyriad canals. Then drive to Chau Doc. Chau Doc town is situated close to the Cambodian border. In the afternoon, we visit head up Sam Mountain for a great sunset and a birds-eye view over the paddy fields towards Cambodia. Overnight in Chau Doc.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 05: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh by speedboat

Early wake-up. Take your time to enjoy a buffet breakfast or read before boarding Victoria Express boat upstream to the Mekong River to reach Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Upon arrival at Phnom Penh, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure in Phnom Penh. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meal: Breakfast

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 06: Phnom Penh Tour with Killing Field

Breakfast at hotel. we visit the Toul Sleng Prison Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek-both grim reminders of Cambodia’s bloody past under Pol Pot. It is almost inconceivable to confront the nature of true evil here in this gentle land, but the Buddhist memorial at Choeung Ek, commemorates the 1.7 million victims of the 1975-79 Pol Pot regime. This excursion may prove distressing for some. It is, however, an important piece of this country’s historical and cultural puzzle. Afternoon, we continue to visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha We end our day trip at Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 07: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap by private transfer

Breakfast at the hotel – This morning, we will take private car to Siem Reap. Arrival Siem Reap, we continue to sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with Colums, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 08: Siem Reap

Breakfast at hotel, Heading out of town we make our way by traveling on a newly paved road to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei. Along the way we make stopover at the Preah Dark village and we follow these with a visit the Banteay Samre Temple adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu as well as Krishna legends. Then we will visit the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. Afternoon we visit the Main Shrine, where the local people usually worship, with its statue of Yeay Teap, Preah Ang Chek and Preah Ang Chorm. Buying jasmine and lotus flowers to worship is very important for the Cambodians. We continue to one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market”, where anything and everything is for sale! Then continue to Wat Bo, a large, highly respected pagoda, founded in the 18th Century. Like the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, the vihear of Wat Bo contains unique wall paintings of the Reamker that are said to be late 19th Century. Look for the daily-life market scenes such as an opium smoking Chinese merchant, the colonial era French officer at the market and the French soldiers attending a traditional dance performance. Also of interest is the large collection of Buddha statues located behind the main Buddha. Tonight we will visit  Phare circus. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 09: Siem Reap Departure

Breakfast at hotel and transfer you to airport for your departure flight.

new itinerary as above.