Vietnam - Cambodia

Day 1: Arrival - Hoh Chi Minh

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, after you finish all customs and immigration procedures, please head to the exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting for you, holding a welcome signboard with your name on it. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel in town by a private vehicle.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta, “the rice bowl of Vietnam”, is a highly fertile plain with its myriad waterways, lush and green paddy fields, tropical fruit orchards, and fish farms. Rural life here remains in many ways similar to how it was lived far back in the past. Geographically featured as the gateway to the Delta, Ben Tre is an ideal gem for travelers who are seeking a glimpse of agrarian river life.This morning, depart for a 2-hour drive from downtown Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre province. Take in the lush surroundings of rice paddies and fruit farms alongside the highway as you leave behind the high-energy city. Arriving at the waterfront pier, set off for a slow journey along the Mekong River on the charming Apricot boat, a newly tradition-inspired river barge that features the combination of modernity and tastefully traditional riverboat style. Gain a glimpse at countryside scenery and river life while enjoying seasonal tropical fruits and local specialties.Shore excursions include the home of a tropical fruit farmer. Have a walk around his orchard and observe how the local farmers harvest the fruits using the traditional method. 
Enjoy the opportunity to taste fresh coconuts and grapefruits while engaging in with local farmers for an overview of their daily farming tasks. Stop for a visit at the family-run business where you learn how the coconuts are processed and then enjoy country hospitality as you sip a cup of honey tea and taste the sweet flavor of coconut candy in a rustic yet cozy atmosphere. 
Tour a hidden island by traditional tuk-tuk or bicycle, passing through sleeping village, local cottage industries, canals, and fruitful orchards. Locals will often friendly greet you with a hello or “xin chao” as you pass by. Relax while discovering more of the Delta from a small rowing sampan as you are paddled slowly through the maze of small canals covered by water coconut trees.Cap off your memorable trip by a tasty lunch with Mekong Delta specialties at the peaceful Apricot Riverside restaurant. After lunch, opt to relax in a hammock, enjoying the cool breeze from Mekong Delta before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Notes:
• Tour duration: Full day (08.00-17.00)
• You have the option of visiting the local library, which is housed in the elementary school and is freely accessible to children aged 6 to 11. Your contribution of English textbooks and other school supplies is greatly appreciated.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Fly To Hanoi

Originally dug as a base to organize guerrilla-style actions against the French, the Cu Chi tunnels were expanded during the Indochina War to become an ingenious and incredible underground network to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French air and ground sweeps. There are more than 200 kilometers of subterraneous complexes containing storage rooms, kitchens, hospitals, sleeping quarters and even schools, once occupied by more than 10,000 people.
Today, depart Ho Chi Minh City for 1.5-hour drive northwest to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, passing through urbanized areas and a typically lush southern Vietnamese countryside. Tour the vast network of underground passageways to gain an insight into the tunnels' history, life in the tunnels as well as the tenacity and resourcefulness of the Vietnamese during combat.

Notes:
• The Cu Chi Tunnels have been widened in places for western visitors, however they can still be dark, hot and claustrophobic inside so please bear this in mind if you do not like enclosed spaces. For those who choose to stay above the ground there are plenty of easily accessible rooms and excavated areas to visit.

Then transfer from your hotel to the airport for the flight to Hanoi.
Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, please head to the exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting for you, holding a welcome signboard with your name on it. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel in town by a private vehicle.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

Located south of Ha Long Bay and east of Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay spreads over more than 7,000ha, with some 400 islets scattered over the area. Considered as a seascape with majestic limestone mountains in many different shapes, hiding behind each shape is a lively folk legend, Lan Ha Bay has gradually gained popularity for any travelers who look for a pristine and less-crowded destination. This morning, depart for a 2.5- hour journey to Tuan Chau Marina where you will get ready to take in a relaxing cruise to the magnificent Lan Ha Bay, every bit as beautiful as its famous neighbor of Halong, but still relatively undeveloped. Take some time to have a look around the vessel or watch the magical landscape go by and then enjoy a special lunch of fresh seafood. When lunch is finished, the cruise completes its entry to Lan Ha Bay. The area is surrounded by an extraordinary limestone karst landscape. Opt to kayak in the crystal clear waters of the bay and/ or swim. Then venture back to the main boat to cruise to the location where we dock overnight. Have time to enjoy a Vietnamese cooking demonstration, a great way to learn how to prepare delicious appetizers. Dine on a special dinner in the restaurant before spending the evening at leisure.

Note: 
• No tour guide escort on bus and English-speaking staff is available on cruise
• Itinerary is different from each cruise and subject to weather condition

Overnight in Ha Long.

Day 5: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Hanoi Streets Eat

Wake up early to witness the sunrise over the bay with a cup of tea or coffee in hand on the sundeck. After, there will be an early and gentle Tai Chi demonstration. Enjoy breakfast in the fresh air of Lan Ha Bay while the boat continues cruising around the bay passing the most beautiful and quiet areas. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery while approaching the wharf. The vehicle is ready awaiting your disembarkation at approximately 1030 for driving back to Ha Noi. Opt to make a stop on the way to a local village for stretching your legs or having a chance to witness the local life of the Northern countryside.

Two of the greatest pleasures of visiting Ha Noi are exploring its markets and sampling its legendary street food. Through this experience, you will discover the typical and authentic activity of Hanoians which is eating on the street.
Depart your hotel for a leisure walk with your foodie guide to the Old Quarter, get inside the most charming area of the city to find out how the locals make a living and their local lifestyle. Pass by roadside markets in the city such as Hang Be, or Dong Xuan market, where hundreds of fresh herbs and local ingredients are brought here since the very early morning by the farmers from the city outskirts to display along the street for sale, all make a colorful picture of Ha Noi lifestyle.
Personalized as a meal with appetizers, main course, deserts, the culinary journey takes you to popular food stalls to get a unique glimpse into daily life in this lovely city and discover some unforgettable cultural and historical attractions along with interesting and tasty street food. One of the highlights of the tour is sitting on very small chairs as is the special style of Ha Noi and taste egg coffee, hot coffee with condensed milk, topped with egg foam and cinnamon powder.
Heading off the Beer corner to try a cold glass of Bia Hoi (local draft beer) and watch the local life moving around. This is a great place to conclude a great experience today.

Notes:
• Tour duration: 04 hours (11.00-15.00 or 16.00-20.00)
• Walking distance: 3-4 km on the flat road.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi - Fly To Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel. Then transfer from your hotel to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Airport, after you finish all customs and immigration procedures, please head to the exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting for you, holding a welcome signboard with your name on it. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel in town by a private vehicle.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 7: Siem Reap - Angkor Temples With Sunset

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Angkor complex is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia as it contains the outstanding remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th Century.
Today, set off to encounter the beautiful temples which are considered as Angkor's jewel. Transfer from your hotel to Ta Prohm, perhaps most popularly known as The Tomb Raider temple. Built in the late 12th and early 13th Centuries as a Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII, this beautiful temple is the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings. The magnificent tree roots have merged over the centuries with the temple's huge stone blocks, emphasizing a 'forgotten city' feeling.
Explore the ancient Angkor Thom, founded by King Jayavarman VII in the 12th Century and was one of the largest Khmer cities and remained the capital until the 17th Century. Get inside the reinforced city of Angkor Thom to admire the mysterious Bayon temple, crowned with the large number of serene faces sculpted on its towers. Also, take this chance to learn more about the intricate carvings of the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Your temple exploration continues as you enter the gate of Angkor Wat, a vast temple complex originally constructed in the early 12th Century by King Suryavarman II. Originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple. Stroll through the intricate and astonishing bas-reliefs that represent hundreds of fine carvings of Apsara, Hindu mythology as well as key events in its narrative tradition. Be amazed by the sheer size of the temple and learn how the Khmer Empire prospered between the 9th and 13th Century.

Notes:
• Tour duration: Full day (08.30-17.30)
• Accessibility: 4seats, 7seats. 16 seats, 25 seats vehicle only 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 8: Siem Reap - Tonle Sap Lake - Fly To Phnom Penh

The charming town of Siem Reap is defined by the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO listed site and Tonle Sap Lake where life is simple and slow with people living on the water, close to nature.Today, drive 20-25 minutes toward South of Siem Reap along scenic roads to the floating village of Chong Kneas on the great Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Stop along the way to capture the peaceful countryside scenery or interact with the locals to gain insight into the rural lifestyle. Then, embark on a local wooden boat and set out on a relaxing and insightful cruise exploring the floating villages where more than a thousand families live and make their living. Observe the floating schools, markets, police stations, and the traditional way of living. For the resident of the village, life on the water is the greatest traditional culture that should be preserved before the rapid development of modern society.

Notes:
• Tour duration: Half day (09.00-11.30 or 14.00-16.30), including 1 hour-boat trip
• The best time to visit Tonle Sap Lake is between August to March, outside of this period the level of water can be low
• Accessibility: all vehicle type
Then transfer from your hotel to the airport for the flight to Phnom Penh.
 
Upon arrival at Phnom Penh Airport, please head to the exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting for you, holding a welcome signboard with your name on it. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel in town by a private vehicle.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 9: Phnom Penh - Killing Fields

Pol Pot was a political leader whose communist Khmer Rouge government led Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. During this uncivilized period, the Khmer Rouge tried to force the residences from the cities to work on communal farms in the countryside. To truly understand the country's history and the people's mindset, it's a must to visit the Cheung Ek, a large memorial commemorating the 17,000 victims who were murdered and dumped in mass graves under the reign of Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. Situated 17km from Phnom Penh town, this site was made famous by the movie “The Killing Fields”. The remnants inside the memorial and the mass graves that dot the area remind you of the suffering of the victims. Together with the educational reminders of the cruelty of the Khmer Rouge regime, this journey provides you an appreciation of the struggle that Cambodian people have faced and their fabulous courage to overcome the suffers and rebuild their country.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 10: Phnom Penh - Departure

Breakfast at the hotel. Then transfer from your hotel to the airport for the international flight.

Note: Room check-out time is before 12:00
Late check-out time is subject to availability and at an additional charge.