Programme

Arrive Hanoi International Airport. You’ll start your trip in Hanoi, Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital, which celebrated its 1,000 year anniversary in 2010. Historical emphasis on the arts and learning stipulates that buildings in Hanoi remain small, simple and in harmony with nature. You will be transferred to your hotel where you will have free time. Night halt at Hanoi.

After breakfast, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the preserved body of "Uncle Ho" may be viewed. You’ll also see his nearby house, the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, the Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and other museums. Following lunch, you will enjoy a one-hour cyclo ride around the Hanoi Old Quarter, a place you must see to experience Hanoi, where you will find shopping & cultural/ historical sites all wrapped into one. Close your day by attending a wonderful performance of traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet Show. Night halt at Hanoi

After breakfast, You will be driven to Ha Long Bay, which is one of the most magnificent scenic spots in all of Vietnam and was designated by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1994. It is a picturesque bay with some 775 islets rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Washed by water and lapped by waves for hundreds of thousands of years, the limestone basin has been carved into stalactite-filled caves, crescent beaches and odd-shaped formations. Night halt at Hanoi.

After breakfast, leave towards Airport to take a flight to Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital, which sits on the Perfume River. On arrival in Hue you will transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit the imposing Imperial Citadel, the Museum of Royal Relics and the Dong Ba market. Enjoy a cyclo ride this evening to the restaurant where you will enjoy a Hue royal-style dinner before a night halt at Hue.

After breakfast, continue your sightseeing in mystical Hue today, including a boat trip on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. Next, you will drive to visit some of the thirteen lavish imperial tombs of the Nguyen kings, including King Tu Ducs tomb and King Khai Dinh's tomb, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, you’ll drive south to Danang through the inspiring 4,900 foot high Hai Van Pass, Vietnam's geographical and psychological boundary between north and south. The peak of the pass lies perpetually shrouded in clouds. You will stop at the stone-carving village at the foot of the Marble Mountains and continue to the absolutely charming and relaxed town of Hoi An. Believed to have been settled no less than 2,200 years ago, Hoi An was a thriving seaport and a base for seafaring nations seeking new sources of wealth throughout Southeast Asia. Even ancient Arab trading documents mention Hoi An as a stop along their trade routes. Upon arrival, check in your hotel Night halt at Hoi An.

After breakfast, visit to a family-run lantern-making business, where you will get a chance to design your own lantern with the assistance of your native hosts and take it with you as a souvenir. You will continue exploring the narrow streets of Hoi An, which are lined with buildings representing a mix of architectural styles, some of which are not seen anywhere else today. Some of the highlights include the temples of Phuoc Kien and Quang Dong and a 16th Century Japanese covered bridge. After lunch, rest of the day free Night halt at Hoi An.

After breakfast, drive to Danang, where you will visit the Cham Museum, featuring artifacts from the Kingdom of Champa, a civilization that ruled the area from the 2nd to the 14th Century. Later, you’ll fly to vibrant Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and check into your hotel. Although it's the largest and busiest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City retains the beauty of its graceful colonial French-style structures. Night halt at Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, leave to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. You will explore the "Iron Triangle", riddled with an extensive system of tunnels used during the American War, along with fascinating traps and surprises. Enjoy your lunch at a well-known local restaurant before continuing the tour in the afternoon and visiting the former Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Central Post Office and Ben Thanh Market. Return back to hotel in the evening. Night halt at Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, transfer to Mekong Delta and Vinh Long province Starts with a cruise among local barges full of fruits & vegetables in the colorful Cai Be floating market. Take a lunch of Mekong specialties will be served in Bonsai Garden. Then a rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside via small canals to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, passing by traditional wood and palm-leaf houses, & local farmers doing their daily work. After walking around the village, you can enjoy seasonal fruits when listening to Southern traditional music. Transferred back to Saigon. Free to explore the city at night. Night halt at Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, you will fly to Siem Riep in northern Cambodia to visit the fabulous ancient sites of Angkor, one of the great wonders of world. The grandeur of this bygone civilization is truly astounding. You will visit Angkor Thom (or "Great City") which is in some ways even more spectacular than the colossal Angkor Wat, as it has nearly disappeared into the jungle. On arrival, transfer to your comfortable hotel for check in (subject to room availability). Thereafter the tour will take you to Angkor Wat, a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. After that, you can visit Bakheng Temple and enjoy a romantic sunset view form Bakheng Hill. Night halt at Siem Reap.

After breakfast, embark on an elephant ride from the South Gate of Angkor Thom through the jungle to the famous Bayon temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, Baphoun. You will also see the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. In the afternoon you will continue to visit fabulous Ta Prohm (embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers), Pre Rup, East Mebon, Krovan, Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei and Ta Keo. You will have dinner while enjoying a performance of Apsara (Khmer folk dancing) Night halt at Siem Reap.

Aftwer breakfast, board a boat on Tonle Sap Lake and enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, hospitals, and the school known as "Les Artisans d'Angkor." You will then transfer to Siem Reap International Airport to board the flight.