Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia

• Day 1:

  After clearing Customs and collecting your luggage at the Noi Bai International Airport, Destination Asia’s tour guide will meet you as you exit the airport and transfer you by private vehicle to the hotel for check-in. The rest of your day is at leisure.

• Day 2:

  Have breakfast at your hotel and then embark on your half-day cultural tour of Hanoi by jeep where you will go to the Westlake area. You will see and learn about the contrasting traditional residential villages and the new architecture in the developing areas, visit rarely seen pagodas where daily worship is still practiced and enjoy the ambience and culture of these religious sites. After visiting a traditional Ao Dai Fashion House, we will continue driving through the city to the Museum of Ethnology where we will explore the cultural heritage and diversity of Vietnam. From here we will experience Hoang Hoa Tham Street, which is full of bonsai, flower and pet shops before enjoying the Old Quarter from a unique perspective. After stopping for a coffee at a great vantage point, we will drive back to hotel via the lake and Opera House. The tour ends at your hotel. This afternoon, you will go on a half-day city tour of Hanoi by cyclo and electric buggy. The tour will take you by French colonial architecture, including the exquisite, recently restored Opera House, past Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as the ‘Lake of the Restored Sword’, Temple of Literature and Hanoi's Old Quarter. This evening enjoy a Hanoi home-hosted Vietnamese meal.

• Day 3:

  Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Then, leave by a private transfer for Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise. Upon arrival at Ha Long city, embark a traditional junk boat and enjoy a delicious fresh seafood lunch on board while cruising on the Bay. Your accommodation tonight is on board the junk boat allowing for a peaceful night's sleep and a memorable morning out on the bay.

• Day 4:

  Early birds can attend a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck at the break of dawn. Start the day enjoying some cruise delights with a colourful buffet breakfast. Continue exploring Ha Long Bay sailing across its 2,000 islets and visiting some of its major highlights. Your cruise will come to an end on Tuan Chau Island where you will meet your guide and return drive to Ha Noi Airport for your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, transfer from Da Nang Airport to your resort for check-in and the rest of day at leisure.

• Day 5:

  Breakfast is at your hotel. Then enjoy a half day walking tour of Hoi An. This riverside town of Hoi An is a feast for the eyes. Devoid of most forms of motorised transport, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town of this ancient port is ideal for exploring on foot. Then enjoy a Hoian half day visit to a local farm. Accompanied by a local guide, today’s exploration of the beautiful landscapes around Hoi An begins with a leisurely cycle ride through rich, exotic countryside. The ideal chance to observe rural Vietnamese life firsthand, all manner of photo opportunities presents themselves on this compelling excursion; water buffalo ploughing muddy rice fields, ducks waddling along narrow paths and farmers tending their crops.

• Day 6:

  Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, drive over the Pass of Clouds to Hue. Hue half day excursion to tu duc and khai dinh royal tombs by car. Located in attractive settings along the banks of the Perfume River, the tombs of the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty were not just designed as their final place of rest. Next up enjoy a Hue sunset on perfume river and street food tour by kayak and cyclo. Late this afternoon you will be greeted at your hotel and transferred either by foot or cyclo (pedicab) to the city's boat landing pier on the banks of the Perfume River.

• Day 7:

  Breakfast at your hotel. Half day excursion to thien mu pagoda, the imperial citadel by car. Consisting of seven stories, the Thien Mu pagoda is the tallest religious building in Vietnam and within its grounds is the Austin car in which Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk who demonstrated against the South Vietnamese government during the Vietnam War, was driven to Saigon prior to his widely reported self-immolation in 1963. Continue to the Imperial Citadel. Built between 1804 and 1833, this heavily fortified structure is still very much the heart of modern-day Hue and despite a chequered history, the fortress remains superbly intact. Then drive to Hue Airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After collecting your luggage at the Tan Son Nhat Airport, Destination Asia’s tour guide will meet you as you exit the airport, and transfer you by private vehicle to your hotel for check- in and the rest of day at leisure.

• Day 8:

  Set out on a Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing tour. Heading out onto the streets early in the morning offers the chance to see a quieter side of Ho Chi Minh City. Continue to a local market, where early morning is one of the most feverish parts of the day. Observe vendors setting up their stalls whilst others haggle vehemently with customers over the price of their goods. Then enjoy a Saigon half day. The final stop today is the unforgettable Jade Emperor Pagoda city tour. This afternoon at leisure followed by Saigon sundowner sojourn. For those looking for a romantic evening away from the hustle and bustle of Saigon’s nightlife, this trip is the perfect choice. From here, a short transfer will bring guests to a local restaurant where enjoy the Vietnamese dishes. This excursion is sure to create memories for your guests to take home and share for years to come.

• Day 9:

  Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the Tan Son Nhat Airport for your onward flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, welcome by our guide and transfer to check-in at your hotel. Visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom "The Great City" and continue to Bayon. Visit of the monumental magnificence of Angkor Thom.

• Day 10:

  Breakfast at your hotel. Visit of Angkor Wat temple, the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all the other Khmer temples in that it faces west, and is inspired by 12th Century Hinduism. Lunch on your own account. Visit of Ta Prohm, the temple that has been left largely in its natural state since its “re-discovery” by French explorers.Then explore Takeo, Thomanom and Chau Say Thevoda temples. Dinner on your own account

• Day 11:

  Breakfast at your hotel. Visit of Banteay Srei; ‘the Woman Citadel’ - a tiny, enchanting temple, which is one of the jewels in this remarkable city. Lunch on your own account. Visit of Theam’s House. Lim Muy Theam is a Cambodian artist and designer who draw on inspiration from both Khmer and contemporary international design. Visit of local market of Siem Reap. Continue for the visit of Artisans Angkor is a Cambodian company which was originally created to help young rural people find work near their home village.

• Day 12:

  Breakfast at your hotel. Depart for boat trip to visit floating village at Kampong Phluk is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them. Flooded forest surrounds the area and is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques. Lunch on your own account. Transfer with guide to Siem Reap airport for departure flight to another destination.

Price Includes

• Accommodation with daily breakfast at hotels
• All meals (food only) as listed on the itinerary as included
• Tours and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle with local English-speaking guides
• Ha Long Bay 2 days/1 night package on overnight vessel (join-in basis)
• Boat trip for the visit of floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake
• Summer promotion from May 1 to September 30, 2018, at Sofitel Angkor in Siem Reap “Stay 3, pay 2”
• Entrance fees to sites as mentioned in program
• Bottled water during tours and transfers
• Vietnam Government tax and services charge

Price Does Not Include

• Arrival, Departure and Vietnam domestic air tickets (quoted separately as above)
• Vietnam visa fee and processing fee (USD25 and USD20 net per person respectively)
• Visa for Cambodia (Visa issued on arrival for most nationalities, USD30/pax tourist visa)
• Any surcharge/extra fees for visit of the Angkor Historical site imposed by the Apsara Authorities in Siem Reap which are subject to change without prior notice
• Drinks during included meals
• Meals not mentioned in the program
• Hotel’s early check-in (before 2:00 pm) and late check-out (after 12:00 Noon)
• Hotel’s peak season surcharges for compulsory Christmas and New Year Eve Dinners
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone, tips for the guide/driver, etc)
• Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions above