Highlights: South of Vietnam with Ellios Sai Gon Hotel + Ho Chi Minh – Cu chi day trip + Mekong delta day trip + Mekong Express bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh Cambodia + Sightseeing tour in Phnom Penh and Seam Riep.
Day 1: Arrival Ho Chi Minh, Our driver pick you up from Airport, transfer to Ellios Sai Gon or Signature Sai Gon Hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh. ( No Meal)
Day 2: After having Breakfast, you will join day trip Ho Chi Minh and Cu Chi tour ( B/L)
AM: HCM City
We start the trip by visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, followed by exploring the Reunification Palace, and the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum, (optional Ben Thanh Market – only drop off).
PM: Cu Chi Tunnels
Located 60km from HCMC, Cu Chi is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists – 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.
Today, ducks and water buffalos happily co-exist in the rivers along the side of the road. However, the peaceful rural rice paddy scenery belies the area’s violent history. Visitors will find it hard to imagine the destruction, damage & defoliation over this whole area, caused by bombing and mines. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a “Free Target Zone”.
Start our tour in the morning, before entering the tunnels visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). Return to Sai Gon.
Day 3: After having Breakfast, you will join Mekong Delta day trip. ( B/L)
HCM – My Tho – Ben Tre – HCM ( start 8.00 – return 17.00 )
Enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields.
On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music“, performed by locals.
Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. Meet the bus and return to HCMC. This trip provides a fascinating insight into daily life in the Mekong Delta and you are guaranteed to take home your own private collection of beautiful memories.
Day 4: Take bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh in the morning with Mekong Express Bus. Around 6 hours. Pick up and transfer to Phnom Penh – Free discover by your self.( B)
Day 5: Phnom Penh ( B/L/D)
After having breakfast, you will join day to to visit Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Independent Monument, Victory Monument and Wat Phnom。
This morning start visit Wat Phnom (rebuild in 1434, 1806, 1894 and 1926), a small hill crowned by an active Wat (Pagoda) marks the legendary founding place of the Phnom Penh. Then visit Yeay Penh’s statue (grand mother Penh) at southwest of the hills, who found four statues of the Buddha and she was build a hill or Phnom in AD 1372 for placed a shrine on top to the house the precious artifacts. The Victory Monument, build in 1955, it is the symbolize Cambodian Independence regained from French colonialism in 1953. Then visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison). This prison was a high school, and used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Lunch at local restaurant PM: In the afternoon, visit National Museum, it was build in 1917and designed in Khmer style by famed French architect Georges Groslier & Ecole Des Arts. The museum has a good collection of Khmer sculptures dating from the pre-Angkor period (4th centuries) to post-Angkor period (14th centuries). Then visit Royal Palace; built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, 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
Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 6: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap ( B/L/D).
After having breakfast , transfer to Siem Reap by private bus. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Les Artisan D’Angkor and Silk farm. Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 7: Siem Reap ( B/L/D)
Breakfast at hotel and then you Visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, the south gate of Angkor Thom with two rows of its huge statues of demons and gods depicting the churning of the ocean of milk arranged on both sides of stone bridge and Bayon temple, a forest of heads, built in late of 12th century by king Jayavarman VI as a Buddhist state temple. Then, visit terrace of elephant, which used to be a base for the king’s grand audience hall; Terrace of Leper king supposed that it was a terrace housed the royal crematory.Bayon, Baphoun , Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, Terrace of Leper King.
Lunch at local restaurant, Visit Angkor Wat the most balanced, the most harmonious, and the most perfect Khmer temple. It shows Khmer art, which reached the height of it glory in the 12th century. The temple was built by king Suryavrman II and dedicated to god Vishnu. Climb Bakheng hill to have bird’s-eye view of sunset, Angkor Wat and western Baray. and Ta Promh , one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som, built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic. Preah Khan temple, Built by the King Jayavarman VII and view sunset from Bakheng Hill. Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 8: Siem Reap depart ( B)
Breakfast at hotel. Free and leisure until transfer for departure home.
Included:
+ 03 nights at Ellios Sai Gon or Signature Sai Gon Hotel
+ Ho Chi Minh and Cu Chi Tuners day trip
+ Mekong Delta day trip
+ Mekong Express bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh
+ 02 nights stay with Superior room at Macau hotel in Phnom Penh Cambodia
+ 02 nights with Superior room at Darareangsey hotel in Siem Reap
+ Day trip with sightseeing tour in both Phnom Penhand Siem Reap.
+ Pick up service in Ho Chi Minh and Cambodia
+ All Meal as itinerary
+ Entrance fee
+ Upgrade from Bus to flight from HCM to Phnom Penh surcharge 160 usd per pax- pay directly to Tour operator when arrival.
Package excludes:
+ Return airfares from your country to Vietnam
+ Beverages, Tips, and Personal Expenses
+ Other things not mentioned clearly in the packages
+ Visa to Vietnam and Visa to Cambodia
Booking: Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia 8 days @ 960 usd