PROGRAM
Day 01: Hanoi arrival - street food & water puppet | Guide and driver
Arrival in Noi Bai airport, you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in the city center. The check-in is available at 2 pm.
In the afternoon, discover the Old Quarter, also known as the “36 Streets & Corporations”. It is a veritable labyrinth of lanes where each of which is specialized in a trade or art. Discover the capital through food, as a local, a real experience and a highlight of the journey. The tour ends with a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) before watching the traditional water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 02: Hanoi - Mai Chau (B) | Guide and driver
At 8:00am we will depart from Hanoi to Mai Chau, a picturesque valley. We will arrive in Mai Chau around noon and check into the Mister Cuong’s ethnic homestay, a house on stilts in Van village. The rest of the day you will have the chance to join in some agricultural chores like planting, harvesting or land preparation, depending on the season. Enjoy a traditional dance show at night then tasting Ruou Can, the local rice wine. Overnight in Mai Chau Ecolodge.
Day 03: Mai Chau - Ninh Binh (B) | Guide and driver
In the morning, our car and guide will pick you up to travel to Tam Coc (three caves), a peaceful valley among limestone ‘karst’ hills. After the boat trip in Tam Coc, visit Bich Dong pagoda. And the rest of the day dedicate to the Mua Caves and learn about its interesting stories told by our guide. Overnight in hotel. in Tam Coc.
Day 04: Ninh Binh - Halong (B, L, D) | Guide and driver
08:00-08:30: After breakfast, we drive to Halong bay.
11:30-12:00 Upon arrival at Tuan Chau International Cruise Port, you will enjoy a warm welcome by our cruise staff in the waiting lounge and complete check-in procedure.
12:00 Upon boarding Amanda Cruise, our crew welcomes you with a refreshing drink and cold towel before checking into your cabin. Enjoy your lunch at our luxurious restaurant on board while the vessel cruises toward Trinh Nu cave.
14.00: You return to your cabin for a short rest and prepare for kayaking activities in Trinh Nu Cave area.
15.00: You will be transferred to Trinh Nu Cave by tender. Arriving at Trinh Nu Cave area, you will take part in kayaking activitie here.
17.30-18.00 Back on board, you will participate in Sunset party & cooking class while the vessel cruises toward the shore. You will be instructed to make delicious traditional Vietnamese steamed rice rolls by our chef and then enjoy the rolls made on your own.
17.30-18.30 Happy hour – BUY 2 DRINK GET 1 FOR FREE
19.30 Gala Dinner. Enjoy your dinner on the Sundeck (if the weather is favorable)
20.30 After dinner, you will enjoy a peaceful view of the Bay at night on the deck and squid fishing.
The cruise ship anchors for your peaceful night stay in a quiet area
Day 05: Halong - Hanoi - flight to Hue (B, L) | Guide and driver
06.15: Start your day with Tai Chi class on the sundeck.
06.30-07.00 Enjoy a light breakfast with coffee, tea, cake and fruit.
07.30 Exploring Sung Sot cave. This is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay.
08.30-09.30 Back on board, you can rest in your room, enjoy the herbal foot bath prepared by our crew, sunbathe on the sundeck.
09.30 Check-out time.
10.00 Enjoy an early lunch buffet at the restaurant on the 2nd floor and settle the bills if any.
11.00 Arrival at Tuan Chau Marina. The trip ends.
Back to Hanoi for the flight to Hue. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. Overnite in hotel.
Day 06: Hue - Thuy Bieu village (B, L) | Guide and driver
Start the day with a visit to Hue Imperial City, the remaining vestiges of Hue's citadel. Then, we will take a boat trip on the poetic Perfume River. Stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda (Celestial Lady Pagoda) built in 1601 - the symbol of Hue city. Cruise toward Thuy Bieu eco-village, an old laid-back village situated on the bank of Perfume River known for its green tea fruit orchards.
Arrive in the village, and join our cooking class to prepare Hue’s signature dishes with our chef’s instruction, then enjoy your creations in the open-air riverside restaurant surrounded by lush trees. The afternoon is reserved for walking through the peaceful village, visiting several communal houses, ancient temples and the garden house, a typical and unique feature of Hue. Soaking your feet in medicinal herb water followed by an excellent blind massage will refresh them after a day of sightseeing.
Finally, you will visit the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, built between 1864 and 1867 by 3000 soldiers and workers. Back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Hue.
Day 07: Hue – Ba Na hills – Hoi An (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, transfer to Ba Na hill to take a cable car to the beautiful Ba Na Hills, a hill station and resort located in central Vietnam's Truong Son Mountain region. See the fascinating Linh Ung Pagoda and marvel at its exquisite architectural design. Visit Golden Bridge, a 150-meter-long pedestrian bridge with two giant stone hands supporting the structure. Then we drive to Hoi An. Check-in hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Day 08: Hoi An city tour – Basket boat trip (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, you will ride a bicycle along Hoai Pho River. Then, go on a boat to Cam Thanh village (the capital of coconuts), a chance to discover the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families and their community. Take a boat trip along Cua Dai River, drop in on a local fisherman on the river, see how they cast net. Learn how to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat. Explore the now tranquil coconut palm-flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers of both sides. Back on board, enjoy a traditional fisherman’s lunch.
In the afternoon, explore Hoi An ancient town. Overnight at hotel.
Day 09: Hoi An - Danang - Flight to Ho Chi Minh – city & walking tour (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arrival, check into hotel.
Then, you will visit the War Remnants Museum formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes. This is a poignant display of the futility of war. After visiting the War Remains Museum. Next on the sightseeing list is the pagoda of the Emperor of Jade, an icon of the inhabitants of Saigon and venerated for a hundred years. Another site that cannot be missed is Binh Tay Market or ‘Cho Lon’, which can be roughly translated to ‘big market’. Your tour of Saigon will end with a visit to a lacquerware workshop. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 10: Saigon - Ben Tre - Can Tho (B, L) | Guide and driver
Leaving the bustling city of Saigon behind, you depart to the Mekong Delta considered Vietnam’s biggest rice basket. Arrive at Hung Vuong pier in Ben Tre and embark your boat to cruise along Bến Tre River, a tributary of the great Mekong, to explore the local lifestyle and the daily hustle and bustle. Stop at the brickfield belonging to Mr. Tu Lo to see how bricks are made by hand in Vietnam and a coconut candy home factory located along the canal to witness the process of making this local candy and other souvenirs. You will then have the opportunity to taste bee honey tea at a local honey farm and a variety of tropical fruit that grow amply in the orchards of the Mekong Delta. You can then walk or go by tuk-tuk through the coconut groves and green rice paddies to soak up and relax in the tranquil countryside atmosphere. Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon you will take a trip on small rowing boats through a maze of waterways lined by two rows of a palm tree. Cruise back to the pier and disembark. Drive to Can Tho for the night.
Day 11: Can Tho – Chau Doc (B) | Guide and driver
We will rise in the early morning to take a boat trip through the winding waterways of Cai Rang floating market, the biggest and busiest floating market in the Mekong Delta.
After disembarking we will drive to Chau Doc, the closet town to the Vietnam-Cambodian border in An Giang province. Continue the tour to visit Tra Su forest. Overnight in Chau Doc.
Day 12: Chau Doc - speedboat to Phnom Penh (B) | Guide and driver
In the morning we will take a speed boat to Phnom Penh and arrive in the capital city of Cambodia around noon. Time to rest and have lunch by your own. The afternoon will be spent exploring Phnom Penh. We commence our tour with a visit to the National Museum, then on to the Silver Pagoda situated inside the Royal Palace complex and lastly stop at Russian market for shopping. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13: Phnom Penh - fly to Siem Reap - Tonle Sap (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, we will be transferred to the airport for flight to Siem Reap. On arrival, check in hotel for refreshments.
In the afternoon, explore Tonle Sap lake - the largest natural lake in Indochina, cruising for 1 or 2 hours to visit its floating villages and discover the waterfront life. Visit the Artisans d’Angkor established in 1992 with the purpose of training young Cambodians in reestablishing the arts of their ancestral heritage and help increase job opportunities. Back to hotel for overnight.
Day 14: Siemreap - Angkor Thom - Angkor Wat - Siemreap (B, D) | Guide and driver
We will visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom also referred to as "Great City". In the afternoon, we will tour the World Heritage site "Angkor Wat", the world's largest religious building. We continue our day with a visit to Bakheng Hill Temple and watch the sunset from the top of the hill. Back to the hotel. Dinner with a special Aspara dance show. Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 15: Siem Reap - Kbal Spean - Banteay Srei (B) | Guide and driver
We will start our day trip by visiting Kbal Spean referred to as “The river of a Thousand Lingas” which is situated 30km north of Angkor Wat. We will take a forest walk and then return for lunch. We will continue from there straight to Banteay Srei, "The Citadel of Women". Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 16: Siem Reap departure (B) | Guide and driver
Freetime before the transfer to the airport for your flight off. Your room is available until 12h00.
HOTEL LIST
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CITY
|
NAME OF HOTELS
|
|
Hanoi
|
Golden Cyclo***
|
|
Mai Chau
|
Mai Chau Ecolodge****
|
|
Ninh Binh
|
Lalita****
|
|
Halong bay
|
Amanda cruise****
|
|
Hue
|
Rosaleen***
|
|
Hoi An
|
Silkotel***
|
|
Saigon
|
Sanouva***
|
|
Can Tho
|
Muong Thanh Can Tho***
|
|
Chau Doc
|
Chau Pho***
|
|
Phnom Penh
|
Penh House***
|
|
Siem Reap
|
La Niche***
|
PRICE
|
Group
|
2 persons
|
4 persons
|
6 persons
|
|
Price/person
|
3,303AUD
|
2,600AUD
|
2,320AUD
|
INCLUDING:
- Accommodation with breakfast as mentioned in the program (on basis of 02 people/room)
- A sweet night onboard in a deluxe cabin in Halong bay
-
Domestic flights Hanoi - Hue, Danang – Saigon, Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
- Travel on a private, modern & comfortable air-conditioned car/minibus
- Meals as mentioned in the program (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Entry fee for all mentioned sites for visit
- Boat trips as mentioned in the program
- Qualified local tour guides during the whole trip (except the break time or program clearly mentioned "WITHOUT GUIDE")