Scenic Vietnam & Fab Angkor

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI

Meals: Not available

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed and greeted by Custom Asia Travel tour guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. The rest of the day will be free to relax or explore at your own leisure. Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

This day tour to learn about the capital city of VIetnam occupies your whole day with featured sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his house-on-stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university for the morning. Your lunch today is served at a restaurant in town with local tastes. In the afternoon, the tour continues with a visit to one of the following museums (you can pick the one you like): the Ethnology Museum, Army Museum, National Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi Hilton prison or Vietnam Women Museum). Followed by a short walk or a cyclo ride in the Old Quarter. End the day tour with a traditional Water Puppet show. Spend your second night in Hanoi.

DAY 3: HANOI - SAPA

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

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This morning, you will depart Hanoi in the early morning (about 7.30 AM). Traveling to Sapa is on the HW Noi Bai – Lao Cai. This is the longest highway in Vietnam. The scenic drive from the Red River Delta, through the midland to Lao Cai province, will be a good start for your forthcoming destination. Arriving in Sapa by noon. Have lunch at a restaurant in town and check in to the hotel for a short rest and refresh. The rest of the afternoon is spent on a short trek to Taphin Valley of the Black H’mong and the Red Yao minorities. The trek is just 3.5 km through the rice terraced fields but it will offer you a beautiful view. Overnight at a hotel in Sapa.

(The alternative accommodation can be at a local homestay at the end of your trek.)

DAY 4: SAPA - HANOI

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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This morning, after your breakfast, we will embark on a soft trek to visit Muong Hoa Valley. The trek offers you great scenery over the large valley which is decorated by amazing rice terraces and dotted by many villages of the Black H'mong ethnic group. Along the trek, the tour guide will help you learning about the daily life of the locals while admiring the beauty of the landscape. Back to Sapa for lunch before your long drive back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi in the early evening.

DAY 5: HANOI - CAT BA - LAN HA BAY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

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In order to catch up with the 9-hour hydrofoil to Cat Ba Island from Ben Binh port, Hai Phong City, you will start driving this morning at 7:00 AM from Hanoi. The hydrofoil ride takes you about 45 minutes. Arrive at Cat Ba port where you will get a short transfer to Beo wharf. From here, you will embark on a private traditional boat for cruising to visit Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay. During the cruise you will have time to do some kayaking to explore some hidden tunnel-like caves through some limestone sheer islands. Once the anchor is dropped for the night place, you are free to jump off the boat for swimming (if the weather permits). Relaxing and having dinner on the boat.

DAY 6: HALONG BAY - CAT BA ISLAND - HANOI - HOI AN

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

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If you are an early bird today, you may have a chance to enjoy the sunrise from the open deck on the top before having breakfast. This morning, the boat will continue on taking you to visit other parts of the bay with a visit to a fishing farm to learn about the method of the local fishermen, doing fish farming on the bay. early lunch is served while the boat is winding gently back to Cai Beo wharf for ending your cruise by noon. Get the transfer back to Cat Ba little town for a short break at a cafe' while waiting for the afternoon hydrofoil back to the mainland. On landing at Binh port, you will take your private transport back to Hanoi and onward to the airport for your early evening flight to Danang city in the Center of Vietnam. Get picked up and transfer to Hoi An ancient city for hotel check-in. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 7: HOI AN WALKING TOUR

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

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Nestled a couple of kilometers inland on Thu Bon river, Hoi An is typified by the 16th century Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese architecture. The morning walking tour offers you a chance to see how beautiful the Old Quarter of Hoi An is. The sites include the Japanese Covered Bridge; Phuoc Kien Assembly; Tan Ky ancient house; Hoi An Culture and History Museum and Quan Cong temple. The afternoon is free on your own to chill out at a riverside café or enjoy shopping with tailor-made clothing, shoes and lanterns. Overnight in Hoi An

DAY 8: HOI AN FREE DAY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

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Today is yours to do your own things: Beach relaxing; Joining a cooking class; Going shopping in the Old town…

DAY 9: HOI AN - HUE

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

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After your breakfast, check out of your hotel and make your way to the last capital of Vietnam, Hue City. On the way to Hue, you will call at The Museum of Cham Sculpture in Danang where you will learn about the amazing works left behind by the Cham people centuries ago. Another stop is on Hai Van Pass with beautiful scenery of Danang city and Lang Co beach. Upon arrival in Hue, go for lunch at a restaurant. The afternoon tour to the Forbidden City in the ancient citadel offers you informative stories about the Nguyen, Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty and some important national events that took place in Hue during the Vietnam War. Followed by a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, overlooking the Perfume River. End the day with a relaxing dragon boat ride down the Perfume River to the City Center. After the tour, check in your hotel and stay for the night.

DAY 10: HUE - HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

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Start the day with a visit to the city’s vibrant Dong Ba Market to see its abundance of fresh produce. After exploring the market take a cyclo through the ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to relax. The lake is full of lotus flowers in summer and is surrounded by local style coffee shops, a favorite local spot to pass the time. Continue with a visit to the former emperor Minh Mang’s tomb, located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds. After the morning tour, your guide will help you to buy some light food (if needed) before your early afternoon flight (13:05 flight) to Ho Chi Minh City. After 90-minute flight, you will land on Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). At the exit, you will be welcomed and greeted by another tour guide and driver who will take care of your trip in Southern Vietnam. Transfer to the downtown and check in your hotel and rest for the remainder of the day. Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 11: TOUR OF SAIGON & CU CHI TUNNELS

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

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After your breakfast in the hotel, start the day by visiting the War Remnants Museum and the former Presidential Palace. Then, walking to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office. After lunch, the car will take you out of the bustling city for Cu Chi District, locates approximately 70 km northwest of Saigon. This is a beautiful green land with fruit gardens, rice paddies, and plantations. Cu Chi Tunnels are like a spider web in the soil of Cu Chi District. It consists of more than 200km of narrow underground tunnels that connecting half or total covered hideouts, shelters, fighting bunkers, hospital, school, living rooms and so on… All were built and used by Viet Cong for resistance against their enemy during the French and American wars. Thence we will drive back to the city in the late afternoon.

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG DELTA

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho City

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At 8.00 AM, pick-up from your hotel and depart for Ben Tre, a nice province of Mekong Delta. Arrive at the Phong Nam brick kiln, where bricks are still painstakingly made by hand. Get on boat and you will cruise along the Chet Say River (a branch of the Mekong) and stop off at various local workplaces to give you a picture of how the local economy works, including coconut activated charcoal factory where coconut shell is put into high heat kiln to produce coconut charcoal; a coconut processing workshop, where you can sample fresh coconut and see how every single part of this versatile nut is turned into food and other products. Then the boat will cruise through the small canal, discover the local life. You will then stop at a quiet village where you can have a short walk to experience real Delta village life. Pay a visit to a mat weaving house and learn how straw mats are woven using a hand loom – you can even have a go at weaving yourself. After that, you will board your xe loi (a kind of motorized rickshaw) into another village where you can see farms, rice fields and vegetable gardens. A delicious and filling lunch will be served at a family-run restaurant, featuring such local specialties as elephant-ear fish, river shrimp and washed down with some cold drinks or beers. In the afternoon, you will board a sampan for a relaxing ride along narrow canals, then take your motorized boat back to the pier. Continue on your day to Can Tho City on your private vehicle. Arrive in Can Tho, check into the hotel and relax for the night.

DAY 13: MEKONG DELTA - SIEM REAP

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

The watery world of the Mekong Delta is home to many bustling floating markets. This day, you take a boat trip and exploring the vibrant floating market of Cai Rang. Visiting the market, you will be impressed by the trading way as it is unique: each boat usually sells one particular item, whether it be pumpkins, pineapples, sugar canes… After an impressive boat trip, disembark at Ninh Kieu quay then visit an ancient house in Binh Thuy 10 km from Can Tho city. Lunch at a local restaurant on the way back to HCMC. The afternoon drive continues on to Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Get picked up on arrival and transferred to the hotel for check-in.

DAY 14: SIEM REAP (ROLUOS GROUP & ANGKOR THOM)

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Head into the actual Angkor complex today with a visit to the Roluos Group. Roluos is the site of an ancient center of Khmer civilization known as Hariharalaya, built by the Angkorian kings in the 8th and 9th centuries. Roluos consists of three main temples: Bakong, Lolei, and Preah Ko. In addition to the temples, enjoy a trip through the surrounding countryside (paddy fields and sugar palm trees) aboard an ox-cart ride, a fun way to get in touch with rural Cambodia and its friendly people. The final destination is Roluos Pagoda, where Buddhist monks will perform a private blessing ceremony, wishing health and safe journeys – a memorable experience! In the afternoon visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate before heading onwards to Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th-century masterpiece is known for its 54 faced-carved towers, Terrace of the Elephants, and Terrace of the Leper King.

Included Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Hotel in Siem Reap

DAY 15: SIEM REAP (TA PROHM & ANGKOR WAT)

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

As usual, breakfast at the hotel. Begin the day with a tour of some different Angkor temples, exploring the Small Circuit via local ‘remork’ (similar to the Thai tuk-tuk). The most illustrious of these temples is the 12th-century Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm is unique in the fact that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. It is by far one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. The visit will also include Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12th Century, and Srah Srang, also known as the “pool of ablutions”. Lunch and rest at a different restaurant in town around noon. In the afternoon, set out to visit the legendary Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat was constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings, bas-reliefs, and over 2,000 Aspara dancers. Construction of this national icon (found on the Cambodian flag) is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor to complete. As this is the last evening in Cambodia for you, a Khmer farewell dinner accompanied by traditional Apsara dance will be an experience to remember.

DAY 16: DEPARTURE FROM SIEM REAP

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Not available

Enjoy the last day at leisure. Depending on the departing flight time, you may have time to do some last shopping yourselves.
Transport will be provided to the airport for the individual onward flight. End of service.