QUICK OVERVIEW
Date
July 21 -30
Arrival Airport
Hanoi Airport
Accommodation
3 star hotels
Duration
9 nights
Meals
9 breakfasts
Group size
10-14
VIETNAM + CAMBODIA ITINERARY
DAY 1 : HANOI DAY TOUR ( REACH BY 12PM )
Did you know Vietnam welcomed over 12.9 million visitors in 2017, an increase of 29.1% over the previous year, making it one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in recent years. We Indians are blessed to be so close and to get such great flight deals too. So why not make the best out of it ?
We have planned to cover this long country in just about 8 days but if have more days in hand , you are welcome to stay back for a week. Our trip leader will be also there 🙂
Let’s start our trip with a visit to President Ho Chi Minh’s complex and the Temple of Literature. We will walk around the Hoan Kiem lake (Restore Sword Lake) & Ngoc Son Temple located on the Jade Island in the middle of the Lake. Today is also about understanding the history of the country , getting SIM cards and local currency sorted .
DAY 2 : HALONG BAY AND LIMESTONE CAVE
This will be one of your most memorable days in Vietnam. Take in the stunning views of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site – Halong Bay.
We will take a bus from our Hanoi and will be staying in one these yacht or a floating AirBNB.
Get ready for exotic photos and absorb the magnificent natural splendours, limestone bedrocks and sheer cliffs of tiny islands.
Explore a limestone cave with gorgeous stalactites and stalagmites and enjoy a fabulous seafood feast onboard
DID YOU KNOW?
Vietnamese New Year is
known as Tet
DAY 3 : REACH HANOI AND HEAD OUT FOR DINNER
We will be back in Hanoi by 5 30 pm. Catch a sleep while you are back on the bus as in the evening, we shall go into streets Packed with charming colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and pagodas, the Old Quarter.
Its heart and soul are exposed in the ancient commercial streets which are named after their original businesses dating back about 1,000 years.
DID YOU KNOW?
Almost every household in Vietnam has a motorcycle
DAY 4 : EARLY MORNING FLIGHT TO DA NANG. BANA HILLS AND CABLE CAR
Da Nang marks the halfway point between the capital in the north, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.
We will take the cable car and head to Bana hills. The view from here is unparalleled. A Village built in French style is there on the top of a mountain accessed by the gorgeous and long cable car.
Today will be a fantastic day with stunning spectacular mountain views from a beautiful European-style village. They have beautiful gardens and lots of lovely restaurants for lunch.
If we are there around 1 30Pm, we can even get a glance at a dance performance. By evening we will head to the My Khe Beach for dinner and move to the hotel afterwards.
DAY 5 : VISIT MARBLE MOUNTAIN AND TRANSFER TO HOI AN AND STAY THERE
Visit the Marble mountains , Named after natural elements, the peaks are individually known as Thuy Son (water), Moc Son (wood), Hoa Son (fire), Kim Son (metal) and Tho Son (earth).
By afternoon we will head to HOI AN.
With its rich cultural heritage, beautifully preserved merchants’ houses and slow pace of life, Hoi An is a captivating place to spend a few days. This is just about 9km south of Da Nang.
DID YOU KNOW?
The name Nguyen is the most common surname in Vietnam
DAY 6 : TAKE A 11AM FLIGHT AND FLY TO HO CHI MINH – A O SHOW
We will drive back to Da nang airport and fly to our last city of Vietnam : Ho chi Minh, Named after Prime Minister of North Vietnam from 1945 to 1955 and then its President from 1945 to 1969.
Ideologically a Marxist-Leninist, he served as Chairman and First Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Vietnam.
After we check in to the hotel , we will head to Ben Thanh Market , the most popular market in Saigon. There you will find everything you want to buy: Shoes, Clothes, Backpacks, Vietnamese Coffee ,rice, everything actually!
By evening we will go to the Local Market: Cho Vuon Chuoi
And we will spend the evening listening to Street artists performances, if any . It’s really street full of the joys of life .
This pedestrian area is flanked by some beautiful French colonial architectural wonders .
In front of the People’s Committee you find a statue of Uncle Ho Chi Minh and a fountain show by night. At the other end of the promenade you find the Saigon River from where you can enjoy a nice view with a breeze.
Walking from one end of the street to the other takes you around ten minutes and you will find some nice bars and restaurants along the way. It is nice to walk on Nguyen Hue Street, or take a seat on one of the benches, to have a look at the daily life and routine of the locals.
We will watch the A O SHOW tonight. The show depicts the charming beauty and cultural richness of Vietnamese life in the countryside, in contrast with the nation’s racing urbanization.
The show is a unique mix of bamboo cirque, acrobatic acts, contemporary dance, and theatrical visual art. The live music echoes Vietnamese Southern work songs. All in all, this beautiful blend of genres creates a unique stage language, which well captures the essence of Vietnam’s fascinating culture.’
DID YOU KNOW?
Cambodia is notorious for changing its name as the government changes. Some of the names include Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, and the People’s Republic of Kampuchea.
DAY 7 : TUNNEL AND GUNS : HOH CHI MINH SIGHT TOUR
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an incredible network of connecting underground tunnels that played an integral role during the Vietnam (American) War. The tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters.
We can also fire the following guns at 3$/ 10 rounds.
- AK 47, 7.62 mm
- US Carabine, 7.62 mm
- US M60 rounds or .308
- M16, cal .22 or 5,56 mm
We head back to Saigon and can go out to party at one of the clubs in this Buzzing city. For the people who aren’t continuing the journey to Cambodia, the journey ends here. 🙂 . We will see you again in another country, another trip. Lots of love.
DID YOU KNOW?
Cambodian rivers are home to many endangered species such as Irrawaddy Dolphin and the giant softshell turtle.
DAY 8 : HO CHI MINH CITY TO SIEM REAP
There are many buses that ply in this route but it usually takes 14+ hours by bus . You can also book a flight and we highly recommend the flights.
Ping us for the flight details. We will guide you to book the internal flights.
After evening tea, we will start our walk by delving into Cambodia’s artistic past with a trip to Artisans Angkor. Launched in 1998, the organisation strives to train Cambodians in the ancient arts, which were almost wiped out during the Khmer Rouge reign, and provide local artisans with employment.
We will take a tour of their workshops in Siem Reap centre, where traditional Khmer handicraft is being undertaken in the form of stone and wood carving, lacquering, silver plating and silk painting.
One of Siem Reap’s hippest attractions comes in the form of Kandal Village, a once-gritty grid of backstreets that have had some style injected into them, thanks to the addition of a string of cool boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants.
Home to a staggering range of galleries, presentations, videos and exhibits, it stretches back to the pre-Angkorian Funan and Chenla eras. The compact town centre means art lovers can easily squeeze in a trip to a few galleries.
Next up is a trip to the circus. Phare, the Cambodian Circus is by far one of Siem Reap’s top attractions, with ancient folktales retold on the stage through jawdropping Cirque du Solielesque performances.
After which we will head to Angkor Night Market, which stays open until the early hours and is full of bargains waiting to be bagged.
Selling everything from souvenirs and clothes, to art, knock-off DVDs and electronics, finding space in your suitcase will be your only problem.
Love it or hate it, Siem Reap’s infamous Pub Street has to be seen to be believed. Here a deafening mix of music offends the ears and bucket-swigging backpackers bounce around until the sun comes up.