Indochina Unique Adventure with Ms. Beatrice Falcini & Mr. Gilberto Lanfranconi

“I must say my holiday was a day-to-day surprise. Amo Travel organized for us a holiday based on our tastes and places we wanted to visit. We stayed in Vietnam Cambodia and Laos for three weeks and it is really wonderful to think that someone can arrange a vacation and make it in an excellent way. The hotels were all great, punctual transport, skillful guides.

Amo Travel is an agency which deals with the beginning to the end of all services such as domestic flights, hotels, cruises, boats, boat trips, bus trips, visas and much more and I have to say that it is really cheap.

Vietnam is a difficult destination to visit if you are not prepared especially for traffic but thanks to Amo Travel everything is easier. I hope this agency will be better known in the future because it really deserves much. Thanks especially to those who have already organized the trip and all the guides that have been with us for those three weeks. If someone wants to ask for more information contact me at beatricefalcini@gmail.com.”

Travel Date: 23/11/2015

Travel Style: Travel Multi Countries

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01: Welcome to Saigon (B/-/-)

Fly to Hanoi. Upon arrival to the airport, you well be met by our guide and transfer to you hotel.

Day 02: Saigon – Cu Chi Visit (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

At 08:30. Transfer to Cu Chi Tunnel, located about 70km northwest of Sai Gon city. The incredible underground tunnel network of Cu Chi stretches for more than 250 km and becomes legendary during the American War. The entire tunnel architecture has been built by providing it with habitable areas, food storage stores, gun factory, command center and dormitories. During the excursion you will visit a large tunnel section to experience the thrill of the underground life. Return to the city in the afternoon.

In the afternoon visit: Post Office, Catedrale Notre Dame, Chinese Quatiere with Thien Hau Pagoda, War Museum, Dong Xuan Market.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 03: Saigon – Ben Tre – Can Tho (B/L/-)

After breakfast, transfer to Mekong Delta – considered the “rice paddle of Vietnam”. Come to My Tho town to visit  Temple of Caodaism, a religion founded in Vietnam in 1925 that combines Confucianism, Taosimo and Buddhism.

Cross the Rach Mieu Bridge, the longest in South Vietnam. Arrive in Ben Tre where you board for an excursion on the Ben Tre River – one of the main tributaries of the Mekong River.

During the journey you have the opportunity to admire the lively local activities, the fishing along the river, the functionality of the irrigation channels … Stop in a furnace of Mr. Tu Lo to observe traditional brickwork in molds and baking. Visit, along the canal, of one of the many coconuts processing workshops. Stop by a family for tea and fruit in place. With a taxi ride (Xe Loi) or a bike ride we go through local nature: groves, fields of green rice paddies and verdure cultures, a real approach to local farming life. Lunch  at the local restaurant.

With private car transfer from Vinh Long to Can Tho. Free dinner and  overnight stay at hotel.                                       

Day 04: Can Tho – Cai Rang Market – Chau Doc (B/-/-)  

Take a 3-hour boat trip to discover the beautiful Cai Rang Floating Market and its surroundings. Visit a vermicelli making shop, a rice husking mill, fruit gardens. Enjoy tropical fruit (free). See the peaceful life the rural area. Transfer to Chau Doc and lunch break at a lovale restaurant (or at a hotel) in Long Xuyen. Chau Doc arrival, visit the Hang Pagoda and visit the village of Cham then transfer to Sam Mountain to see the sunset then greet the driver and guide (they will return to Saigon on the same day)

Return to the hotel. Free time.

Day 05: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (B/-/-)

In the early morning transfer to the river pier and departure along the Mekong to Phnom Penh. Approximately half way, individual Cambodian customs formalities. Arrival in Phnom Penh, landing and meeting with local guide for hotel transfer. Free lunch. The best-preserved Cambodian colonial architecture is located around the Victory Monument, where you can admire elegant Art Dèco villas along the boulevards traced by the French. In the afternoon visit the National Museum, built around 1918 and entirely dedicated to Khmer art. Accommodation and overnight in hotels in Phnom Penh.

Day 06: Phnompenh – Bus to Siem Reap – Visit (B /-/ -)

In the morning, departure by bus to Siem Reap. On arrival reception and transfer to tuk tuk with tour guide for lunch at a restaurant.

After checking in, we take a short stroll down the street in front of the King of Residence to see the main Sanctuary, where locals usually worship, with the statue of Yeay TEAP, Preah Ang Chek and Prreah Ang Chorm. The purchase of jasmine and cult lotus flowers is very important for Cambodians. We continue to one of the lively open markets in the city, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market”, where everything and everything is on sale! Then continues to Wat Bo, a large, well-respected pagoda, founded in the 18th century. Like the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, the Wat Bo Vihear contains Reamker’s unique frescoes which are said to be late in the 19th century. Look for scenes on the daily life market, like an opiate smoker Chinese merchant, the French colonial French official market, and French soldiers present a traditional dance show. Also interesting is the large collection of Buddha statues located behind the main Buddha. Overnight at Siem Reap.

Day 07: Siem Reap – Small Circuit (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Prei Khan) (B /-/-)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Wake up early and take a “tuk-tuk” tour to visit the jungle-intertwined temple, Ta Prohm. Dawn is one of the most beautiful and emotional moments to visit the temples, whose ancient sandstone blocks are gold-plated in the morning rays. Go back to the hotel for breakfast and continue the tour of the day.
Visit Angkor Thom (the great city), the famous Bayon Temple of the XII and XIII Century, devoted to Buddhism. Continuing with the terrace of King Lebanon, built in the 12th century, representing the various sculptures of apsaras … and Phimean Akas, Baphuon, Elephant Terazzo..
Lunch at local restaurant then visita Prei khan Temple, built by Jayavarman VII in 1191 in honor of his father who is represented as the savage god of Buddhism Mayahanista. The temple was originally a true city and a place dedicated to Buddhist studies.

In the afternoon you will discover the wonderful temple of Angkor Wat, a world heritage site of humanity built in the 12th century (1112-1152) in honor of Vishnu covering an area of ​​200 hectares surrounded by the canal and the wall of 1300m x 1500m.
In the late afternoon, you can admire the sunset over the Bakeng Hill 

Accommodation and lodging in the hotel.

Day 08: Siem Reap – Lago Tonle Sap (B/-/-)

Breakfast.
Head off to the floating village of Kompong Khleang which is located about an hour’s drive from Siem Reap and is visited every year by thousands of tourists. Kompong Khleang is one of the most impressive villages for the height and the size of its houses on stilts. Walking tour in the village to learn about the people and entrance to a house where a family lives that breeds crocodiles. Afterwards you will board a local boat that will go through all the channels at a time of great lake where people move their homes with the seasons. You will return to the village and lunch on site.

NOTE: The cruise is stopped from April to Octombre due to the low water in the Tonle Sap lake. We can have 2 chances to visit the Chong Kneas on the shore of the lake or the Roluos group, the majestic pre-Angkor temples with Bakong Temple, Preah Ko and Lo Lei.

Day 09: Siemreap Visit to Luang Prabang (B /-/-)

Breakfast at the hotel – Pick up from the hotel.
By car to the Pouk neighborhood about 15 km west of Siem Reap, you will visit the silk farm, a charming farm / workshop where you can see the whole silk creation process, among which the food for silkworms grows, breeding worms, silk extraction and refinement, traditional kits dying to create the model and hanging. Retail Silk and Souvenir Shop. Here you will have the opportunity to experience horse carriages around the country. On the way back, visit the Baray Occidental (Baray Occidental) which measures 8km to 2.3km which provided water for the intensive cultivation of lands around Angkor and transfer to the airport to take flight.

Day 10: Luang Prabang – Pakou – Khuangsi Waterfall (B/-/-) 

Morning have the opportunity to observe the local people who offer the Tak Bak’s ceramic monks. Return to the hotel for breakfast and continue with the visit of the oldest temple in the city, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its unique roof, which is an example of classic Laotian architecture.

Next to is a Mekong River excursion – Pak Ou Cave that begins with a boat ride on one of the longest rivers in the world. The Mekong, or “Mother of all Rivers,” supports 90 million people who produce 54,000 square miles of rice every year. Also home to more species of giant fish than any other river, this majestic river is said to produce balls of light along its surface, which the locals attribute to the Phaya Naga, or Mekong Dragons.

After two hour cruise upstream we arrive at Pak Ou where the famous Tam Ting Cave houses thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, all brought there by devoted villages. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xang Hai where they make potent rice wine and Ban Chan, the pottery village where you will see the old way of making and drying the pot in the traditional kilns.

Morning check out then take a excursion to Kuang Si waterfall about 28KM , on the way , ethnic minority villages can be visited such as : Ban Na Oun Hmong hill tribe, Ban Naxom, Ban Ou Lao Loum villages and Ban Thapene Kh’mu village , arrive at Kuang Si waterfall , enjoy swimming and relaxing in the transparent water.

Overnight at Luang Prabang.

Day 11: Luang Prabang Visit – flight to Hanoi (B /-/-)

Morning visit to Luang Prabang with the Royal Palace Museum (closed on Tuesdays), where you can see a large number of interesting handicrafts, visit Vat Mai Temple and shopping at the central market. Free lunch.

Continuing to visit the Visoune temples, That Makmo, stops him with the round top. Continue to the nearby Iva Aham, one of the largest sanctuaries in the city, tutored to devote Luang (spirit) to Pu Gneu Ya Gneu (ancestors). Climb to the Phousi choline from which you enjoy a beautiful panoramic view over Luang Prabang. Transfer to the airport to take the departure flight.

Arrival at Hanoi International Airport, border formalities and visa issuance. Reception (without guide) and transfer to hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

 Hanoi, the political capital of Vietnam from 1010 to the present, means in Vietnamese “city in the rivers”, which in this case is Red. Hanoi looks like a typical French town of the beginning of the century, with avenues, parks, monuments and a crowded center of shops and colors.

Day 12: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)

07:30 – 08:30 Our tour guide and bus pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter.

08:30 Departure to Halong Bay for 3.5 Hours.

10:00 Arrive in Hai Duong province, and have 20 minute short break.

12:00 Arrive Tuan Chau harbor, Halong Bay.

12:15 Welcome to Majestic Cruise and enjoy Welcome drink, Enjoy welcome drink get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Check-in your cabin.

12:30 Have Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch, while cruising in the magnificent Halong Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay.

14:30 arrival in Pearl Farm, take rowing boat through the village or kayaking

15:30 Continued exploration the bay.

16:00 Visiting Titop Island

17.30 Back Majestic Halong cruise and relax.

18:00 Join cooking class guided directly by Chef of Majestic Halong Cruise. You have chance to practice Vietnamese traditional dishes such as spring roll or famous cuisine of Vietnam.

19:30 Time for dinner enjoying special BBQ seafood on the cruise.

21:00 Evening entertainments: play game on the cruise: cards game, chess, karaoke,squid fishing, and overnight on the Majestic Cruise.

Day 13: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B/L/-)

06.30: Early morning sun risers can enjoy Tai Chi lesson on sundeck.

07.00: Morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast.

08:00 Arrive Sung Sot Cave (Amazing Cave) and joining with guide to visiting and explore the cave.

10:00 Check-out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay.

11:00 Enjoy the lunch on cruise.

12:00 Majestic Cruise are landing Halong Bay harbor, tourist say goodbye to sailors and finish the cruise.

12:30 Return to Hanoi by shuttle bus.

14:30 Stopover in Hai Duong province to visit a ceramics workshop.

16:00 – 16:30 Arrive in Hanoi end your trip.

Day 14: Hanoi visit – Train to Hue (B/-/-)

At 09:00AM, our waiting guide and driver will welcome you at your hotel and transfer us to Temple of Literature. Following is a visit to The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda Then followed by Tran Quoc Pagoda and Van Mieu literally translated “Temple of Literature” which is wel-known in Vietnam for a combination of Confucian sanctuary and academy, the centre also housed the country’s first university, founded in 1076. We have time to wander through the stone tablets and soak up a thousand years of learning with our local guide. Lunch break in a local restaurant.

Next is Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake Walking tour. Followed by, we travel by rickshaw cyclo (traditional bike-propelled cart) and foot along tree-lined boulevards and through the 1000-year-old Old Quarter, exploring the markets and taking in some of the city’s great colonial architecture.

We finish day by visiting Ngoc Son Temple.

Transfer to the station for overnight train to Hue.

Day 15: Hue visit (B/-/-)

The Hue Citadel is situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River. It covers an area 500 ha and has a system of three circles of ramparts: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). The Hue royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

At 08:00 Hue arrival.

In the morning, enjoy a scenic boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda or Heavenly Lady pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Situated 4 km upstream on the banks of the Perfume River, it is an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601.

Visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue with the Purple Forbidden City.

Lunch at a local restaurant then transfer to Tu Duc Royal Tomb and Minh Mang Royal Tomb, the Emperor of the Imperial City built his own tomb during his reign and today you will visit one of the most beautiful mausoleums and Tu Hieu Pagoda.

Free dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 16: Hue – Danang – Hoi An (B/-/-)

Morning transfer to Hoi An.

Stop to visit the pass of Hai Van (Cloud Pass) where the sky, the mountain and the sea reach. Visit the Sculpture Village under Marble Mountain and the Champa Museum.

Arrival in Hoi An. Start discovering the city.

We take a walking tour through the narrow streets, visiting a number of attractions in town: the PhucKien Assembly Hall, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the hundred-year old merchant house … and colorful local markets. Hoi An is also famous for its large number of tailor shops, so if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 17: Hoi An free – flight to Sai Gon – Departure (B/-/-)

Breakfast in hotel.

Your driver takes you back to Danang airport for flight to Sai Gon for flight to Italia.