Vietnam & Cambodia exploration with Ms. Maria Marcellusi & Mr. Mauro Lonigro

For our tour of Vietnam and Cambodia we have been entrusted to AmoVietnam, both for the beauty of the proposed itinerary and the competitive price and I must say that the tour has long exceeded expectations: everything was organized in the best way, coordinating meticulously the transport (we took airplanes, ships, boats, cars, tuk tuk .. without ever waiting: they were always ready to wait), carefully choosing Italian speaking guides, hotels and restaurants, trimming a route suitable for our requests and needs, leading us to discover wonderful places! Thank you Lam, Trang, Huong and the Cambodian Mida and Voeun guides.

Tour name: Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia

Group of: Ms Maria Marcellusi and Mrs Mauro Lonigro

Travel date: 08/08/2015 – 22/08/2015

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01.08.08.2015: Welcome to Hanoi

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

Day 02.09.08.2015: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Pick up at your hotel in Ha Noi or nearby by shuttle bus (mini van).

Embark at Hon Gai International harbor. Embark on the boat. Enjoy welcome drink as Cruise Manager gives you a brief overview of the itinerary and important safety guideline. Check in your cabin.

Visit and explore the Thien Canh Son Cave then arrive at Hon Co Island for kayaking.

Return to the boat and enjoy Happy hour. You will have 30% discount off from the special menu drinks including of cocktail, mock-tail and mixed drinks (from 16.30 pm to 19.00 pm.). 

Dinner is served in the restaurant. You can enjoy the charm of Bai Tu Long Bay at night.

Enjoy evening activities (Squid Fishing, Movie Night, Board Games, Massage & Spa services) or relax at the leisure then overnight at private cabin.

Day 03.10.08.2015: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B/L/-)

Breakfast on board. You will continue to discover the Vung Vieng fishing village, meeting local people, visiting schools and floating villages. Brunch on board. Departure and return to Hanoi.

On the way back to hanoi, stop at the Yen Duc village where you can enjoy a show of water puppets presented by local artists..

Day 04.11.08.2015: Hanoi visit – Flight to Danang – Hoi An (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.

In the afternoon you will visit the Museum of Ethnology where it focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in the country. The wonderful Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is considered one of the most beautiful museums in the whole country. Set in a modern building, it houses a wonderful collection of art and crafts of ethnic minorities, as well as daily life utensils from all over the nation. Outside Visitors can access several traditional homes, including a Tay pile, a solemn Bahnar building and a Dzao home. Do not miss the tomb of Giarai with the straw roof and the wooden statues in bold poses.

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 airport for the flight to Danang.

Upon arrival, transfer to Hoi An.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 05.12.08.2015: Hoi An free (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. I leave you free to plan your day at the ancient city of Hoi An.

Some tips for the day:

Visit of the city of Hoi An, rich in buildings from Chinese architectural influence, japonese, which testify to its important trade center past. Known by ancient cheeks as Faifo, for centuries, Hoi An was a lively commercial port since the 2nd century AD, under the reign of Champa and the Lords Nguyen. With the landing of the River Thu Bon, the city lost its importance for Danang, which is 30 km north.

Visit of the old town with the Japanese bridge was built at the beginning of the 17th century, the Fukien Temple, a Chinese congregation dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea and the Old Phung Hung House.

Day 06.13.08.2015: Bicycle Tour at the Tra Que Village Village – Lantern Class (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Then take a bicycle ride to the Tra Que Village (5km) for the discovery of the rural life that takes place there. When you arrive at a family home in Tra Que we will have the chance to refresh ourselves before we begin the lesson. We work together with our Family Chef to learn the best and traditional Vietnamese cooking. Lunch at homestay. A foot massage before leaving Tra Que.

Transfer to Hue. 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.

Hue arrival. Accomodation in hotel.

Day 07.14.08.2015: Hue visit – Flight to Saigon (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, the Emperor of the Imperial City built his own tomb during his reign and today you will visit one of the most beautiful mausoleums. Next to is Dong Ba Market.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Saigon.

Upon arrival at Sai Gon. Free dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 08.15.08.2015: Saigon – Cu Chi Visit – Saigon 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 09.16.08.2015: Saigon – Ben Tre – Can Tho (B/L/-)

After breakfast, transfer to Mekong Delta – considered the “rice paddle of Vietnam”. Come to town to visit  Vinh Trang Pagoda then 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 10.17.08.2015: Can Tho – Long Xuyen – Chau Doc (B /-/ -)

Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will enjoy a pleasant boat ride to explore one of the tributaries of Low Mekong (the Bassac River), then go to the Cai Rang floating market, which is perhaps the most lively in the region. Have you ever tasted the typical Vietnamese vermicelli soup? Well, now you can see how it prepares. Then you can go for the villages to get to know the local friendly locals and experience the experience of crossing the “Monkey Bridge”, built entirely of bamboo roots. Visit a garden of orchids and stop for lunch. Proceeding for Chau Doc, it continues with a visit to the Wild Bird Sanctuary of Tra Su, gently sailing with a small boat through the canals immersed in the forest, observing storks, cranes and other tropical birds. During the return visit there will be a visit to the Sam Mountain and, if the weather permits, to the Hang Pagoda. Arrival at Chau Doc and check in at the hotel.

Day 11.18.08.2015: Chau Doc – speedboat to Phnom Penh – Phnom Penh visit (B/-/-)

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 7.00 am welcome with the Xe Loi (Tuk Tuk Vietnamese) and transfer to the port to take the boat 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.

After you have completed visa formalities (visa fee: $ 30 per person), you will arrive at Sisowath Harbor at Phnom Penh at 13:00. Our driver will take you to the hotel. Once you check in at the hotel, you will visit the classic part of Cambodia’s capital: the Royal Palace with the Throne Room and the contiguous complex of the Silver Pagoda; the National Museum, Pagoda on the top of Wat Phnom, Russian Market.

Day 12.19.08.2015: Phnom Penh – flight to Siem Reap – Siem Reap visit (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Then at 8:30 AM you will be escorted to the airport to take the morning flight to Siem Reap.

After 45 minutes you arrive in Siem Reap. Transfer to hotel for check-in. Then you will visit the Banteay Srei Temple where one of the most extraordinary jewelry of Khmer art is kept. Built in the 10th century, this small pink sandstone, whose name means “The Citadel of Women, contains sculpture masterpieces still in good state of conservation. André Malraux made him famous at the beginning of the 20th century thanks to the meeting of some apsara heads that were returned to the community in 1923. Stop to visit the Preah Dark Village. Continue the Bantey Samre temple where, according to legend, a farmer became King: the King of Sweet Cucumbers.

Day 13.20.08.2015: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat ( Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, Takeo, Spean Thma) – Preah Khan – Neak Pean (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.

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 Ta Phrom.

Accommodation and lodging in the hotel.

Day 14.21.08.2015: Siem Reap – Angkor Thom (Cancello di Vittoria, Bayon, Baphoun, Terrazzo di Re Lebbroso e di Elefanti) – Prasat Kravan – Banteay Kdaey – Srah Srang – Ta Prohm (B/-/-)

A whole day is dedicate to visit the temples of Angkor: the largest archaeological site in the world where archeologists classified 276 monuments of primary importance.

Departure to visit Angkor Thom (large cities) will begin with the South reef and the famous Bayon temple of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, dedicated to Buddhism. The Temple is composed of no less than 54 laps and 216 gigantic faces of Avalokitesvara. Then, you will continue your visit with the terrace of the elephants, along 350m which is at the foot of the Royal Hall and is a place used to organize public ceremonies. Following the terrace of the Leper King, built in the twelfth century, which has several sculptures of apsaras … .and Phimean Akas, Baphuon, Elephant Terrace.
Watch the sunset on the hill Ta Phrom.

Dinner and accomodation in hotel.

Day 15.22.08.2015: Siem Reap – Depart at 09:45 AM (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. At 07:00 AM you will be escorted to the airport to take international flight to your home.