Itinerary Details
Independent Treasures Of Vietnam & Cambodia
Day 1 ARRIVE IN HANOI, VIETNAM
Welcome to Vietnam! Your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2 HANOI
• This morning, enjoy a private guided tour of the city. First, take a cyclo ride though the ancient streets of the fascinating Old Quarter. Here, merchants trade as they have for centuries.
• Then, visit the mausoleum and the humble cottage from which “Uncle Ho” ruled Vietnam until his death in 1969. Next on the agenda: One Pillar Pagoda and the Presidential Palace.
• Also, visit the ancient Temple of Literature, more than 900 years old and Hanoi’s first university.
• Enjoy lunch at Koto, a non-profit restaurant and hospitality program that teaches local children restaurant skills for stable employment opportunities.
(B,L)
Day 3 HANOI–HA LONG BAY CRUISE (EMBARKATION)
• A private transfer takes you from Hanoi through the fertile countryside to Hon Gai, gateway to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, the bay is dotted with more than 3,000 limestone islands carved into fanciful shapes by the action of the water.
• Upon arrival, board an overnight cruise that takes you to explore the tunnels, caves, pristine beaches, and floating villages that are sprinkled across the bay.
• Visit a working pearl farm to see the process of pearl cultivation in the area, then visit a nearby island for a swim or a walk to the top of the island for panoramic views of the bay.
(B,L,D)
You may consider a massage or spa treatment onboard your boat.
Day 4 HA LONG BAY CRUISE (DISEMBARKATION)–HANOI–DANANG–HOI AN
• Early birds can participate in a tai chi demonstration on the Sun Deck at the break of dawn.
• Later, explore the massive caves found in the bay to see the dramatic formations inside the caverns before disembarking later in the morning.
• A private transfer brings you to Hanoi for your flight to Danang.
• Upon arrival, transfer to nearby Hoi An, a charming trading town that has been largely preserved with influences from China, Japan, Portugal, and France.
(B)
Day 5 HOI AN
• Start today with a walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town including an old merchant house, the Hoi An Museum, a Chinese assembly Hall, and the Japanese Covered Bridge.
• For lunch, sample Cao Lau, a distinctive dish with smoked, chewy noodles only made here in Hoi An.
• Afterwards, take a cruise on the Thu Bon River, passing unspoiled countryside before visiting with a local farmer.
(B,L)
Day 6 HOI AN
• Enjoy a full day at your leisure.
(B)
Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Perhaps spend it at the beach, take a full day excursion to historic Hue, or explore pottery and wood carving villages.
Day 7 HOI AN–DANANG–HO CHI MINH CITY
• Transfer to nearby Danang for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to many.
(B)
Day 8 HO CHI MINH CITY
• Start your private guided sightseeing with a walking tour of the city’s famous and historic landmarks as you stroll through the heart of the city along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) past the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal Theatre, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral.
• Next, visit the moving War Remnants Museum, followed by bustling Ben Thanh Market, the largest and oldest in the city.
(B,L)
Day 9 HO CHI MINH CITY
• Today, enjoy a half-day private guided excursion to the Cu Chi tunnels, an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length that was used by the Viet Cong as a hideout during the war.
(B)
Sample a sweet Vietnamese iced coffee or stop at for a drink at one of the city’s iconic rooftop bars.
Day 10 HO CHI MINH CITY–SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
• Today, fly to Siem Reap, your base for exploring the temples of Angkor. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, the temples are unmatched among the world’s ancient ruins.
(B)
Day 11 SIEM REAP
• Your private guided sightseeing starts at the best preserved of all the temples—Angkor Wat, honoring the Hindu god, Vishnu.
• Next stop is Angkor Thom to see Bayon Temple. One of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor, it features some 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers.
(B,L)
You may consider a Apsara dinner show featuring traditional Khmer music and dance or an exciting performance of Phare, The Cambodian Circus.
Day 12 SIEM REAP
• Continue exploring the Angkor temple complex on a private guided tour.
• Start at Banteay Srei, a unique, small temple outside the main complex built from red sandstone and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. On your return journey stop at a local school to interact with the children.
• Then, on to Ta Prohm, which has been left relatively untouched, unlike many other temples. Here, the jungle surrounds you, and tree roots grow over and through the ruins. The afternoon is at your leisure.
(B)
Explore the temple complex further or take a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake to see a floating village.
Day 13 SIEM REAP
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
(B)
