Vietnam-Cambodia by River (9D/8N Program)
Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi - Vinh Long - Can Tho – Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (B, -, -)
Saigontourist representative will greet and pick you up at Tan Son Nhat airport. Transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh City (B, -, -)
Have a morning sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Visit the History Museum (closed on Monday), the Reunification Palace, the Central Post Office, then have a short walk along the shopping Dong Khoi Street from Notre Dame Cathedral to the Municipal Theatre. Drive to bustling Cho Lon (Chinatown). Drop into the lively Binh tay wholesale market before visiting Thien Hau temple. In the afternoon drive 70 km to Cu Chi, famed for its elaborate network of over 200 km of three-story underground tunnels hand-dug by local people during the Vietnam War. Crawl down a tunnel to feel the underground life, and then test your marksmanship with an AK rifle at a local rifle range (optional with surcharge). Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Vinh Long – Can Tho (B, L, -)
Drive 170km southwards to Can Tho, the center of the 11 provinces of the Mekong Delta. Stop at Cai Be in Vinh Long and board a traditional boat for a boat cruise on the Mekong river visiting Cai Be floating market, An Binh Islet, local homes, bonsai gardens, nurseries and fruit orchards. Vivid farming activities and the riverine life of the Mekong Delta can be seen en route. Have lunch of Mekong specialties at a local home. Move onwards to Can Tho. Stay overnight in Can Tho.
Day 4: Can Tho – Chau Doc (B, -, -)
Take a boat ride along Can Tho River to the well-known Cai Rang floating market where you can view local people selling and buying vegetables, fruits, etc. in daily life. Join them to buy some fruits if you like. Drive of 120 km to Chau Doc town, situated by Hau Giang River and sharing a border with Cambodia. On the way, stop over at Long Thanh to visit the bamboo basket-making hamlet. Afternoon enjoy a boat cruise on the Mekong River and get to know the feeding of catfish in their natural river habitat at floating houses. Continue cruising to visit Chau Giang Hamlet, home to colorful brocade woven on wooden looms by Cham ladies. Visit Sam Mountain, Lady Xu Temple, Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple and Tay An Pagoda. Stay overnight in Chau Doc.
Day 5: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (B, -, -)
At about 07:30 join a speed boat cruise to Phnom Penh via the Vinh Xuong border crossing. Traveling time including customs and immigration procedures at the border check points is about 4 hours. Pick up on arrival at Phnom Penh wharf and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy an afternoon city tour including visits to the Victory Monument, the National Museum with a collection of art sculptures presenting different periods of Khmer history, the Silver Pagoda located in the Royal Palace, famous for its 5,000 silver floor tiles and solid gold Buddha statue encrusted with 9,584 diamonds (weighing 90kg), and the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s name-sake. Enjoy a sunset cruise on the Mekong River with a view of the locals at work along the banks. Stay overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 6: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B, -, -)
Transfer to the airport for a morning flight of one hour to Siem Reap, the former capital of the Khmer Kingdom. Arrive at Siem Reap airport. Pick up and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon pay visits to "Les Artisans D' Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles" and a local market. Then walk up to the top of Phnom Bakheng Hill, which affords a panoramic view of the western Baray and Angkor Wat at sunset. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 7: Siem Reap (B, -, -)
Visit the temples of Banteay Srei (967), 25km north of Angkor, a jewel of Khmer art with carvings and architectural details on pink sandstone. Then visit the fortified temple of Banteay Samre (1150 – 1175) with a central temple ringed by walls, halls and libraries, famous for its well preserved bas-reliefs of Vishnu legends. Drive back to Siem Reap for an afternoon temple tour. Explore exquisite brick sculptures at Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in the area, a filming site of Lara Croft's adventures in "The Tomb Raider"; Takeo temple, built during late 10th century and early 11th century and dedicated to Siva; Preah Khan temple, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors, built by the King Jayavarman VII; Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake; and the mountain-temple of Pre Rup with beautiful view of sunset. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 8: Siem Reap (B, -, D)
In the morning explore the famous 12th-century temples of Angkor Wat, with their five distinctive towers emblazoned on the Cambodian flag. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. Then visit Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in the area, a filming site of Lara Croft's adventures in "The Tomb Raider". In the afternoon pay visit to the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), which comprises the South, the Royal Enclosure,Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the famous Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara. In the evening enjoy a buffet dinner with a presentation of Khmer dancing & music is arranged. Stay overnight in Seam Reap.
Day 9: Departure from Siem Reap (B, -, -)
Spend last minutes shopping before check-out. Transfer to the airport for departure flight.
Note: The tour itinerary is sometimes subject to small modifications depending on weather and road and waterway conditions, flight schedules, hotel room availability.
