A Moment Of Vietnam & Cambodia

Dec. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- Day 1: ARRIVAL - HO CHI MINH CITY (-/-/-)
Upon arrival, you will be welcome by our guide & driver at airport then driven to your hotel for the check-in.
The rest of time, you will be free on your own to refresh after a long flight.
O/N in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: HALF-DAY OF SIGHTSEEING + CU CHI TUNNELS (B/-/-)
In the morning, after having breakfast you will be picked up at hotel then take a half-day of city tour around  Ho Chi Minh City with visits of the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, a lacquer-ware factory, and the bustling Chinatown with Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Pagoda is not be missed as well.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred about 30km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi town. Cu Chi tunnels were used as the base from which the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The Cu Chi Tunnels consist of more than 200km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels, the tunnels are between 0.5 to 1m wide, just enough for a person to crawl along.
Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
O/N in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 3: FULL-DAY TO MY THO + BEN TRE (B/L/-)
In the morning, you will be transferred to My Tho, take a boat trip downstream to Ben Tre through floating market, where you have the opportunities to meet the locals there to learn about their daily life in Mekong Delta then take an outlook of natural sceneries along banks of river with coconut candy mill, fruit gardens followed by fruit tasting, rice paper mill... Biking or sitting on horse carriage to weave around the zigzag village roads. Later on, we will enjoy a lunch served at a local restaurant on island with local specialty of "Deep fried Elephant - Eared fish". Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.
O/N in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 4: HO CHI MINH CITY – PHNOM PENH (B/-/-)
At leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for departure flight to Phnom Penh.
Upon arrival at Phnom Penh Airport by morning flight, you will be welcome by our friendly tour guide then accompany you to the hotel. The capital city of Phnom Penh was once considered the loveliest city of Indochina. Despite its recent turbulent history, it still maintains considerable charm. A city tour acquaints us with some major sights of Phnom Penh. This morning start visit Wat Phnom (rebuild in 1434, 1806, 1894 and 1926), a small hill crowned by an active Wat (Pagoda) marks the legendary founding place of the Phnom Penh. Then visit Yeay Penh’s statue (grand mother Penh) at southwest of the hills, who found four statues of the Buddha and she was build a hill or Phnom in AD 1372 for placed a shrine on top to the house the precious artifacts. The Victory Monument, build in 1955, it is the symbolize Cambodian Independence regained from French colonialism in 1953. Then visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison). This prison was a high school, and used as a prison by Pol Pot's security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Lunch at local restaurant on your own.

PM: In the afternoon, visit National Museum, it was build in 1917and designed in Khmer style by famed French architect Georges Groslier & Ecole Des Arts. The museum has a good collection of Khmer sculptures dating from the pre-Angkor period (4th centuries) to post-Angkor period (14th centuries). Then visit Royal Palace; built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, Silver Pagoda, Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles.  When you exit from the Royal Palaces, Then continue your visit to the riverfront, it is the most popular place for the tourist. The view of the confluence of Mekong and Tonle Sap River is the geographically unique.
O/N at hotel.

Day 5: PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP (B/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel
AM: Visit the notorious Killing Fields " Choeung Ek" 15km southwest of Phnom Penh. This one is the site of brutal executions of more than 17,000 individuals, most of whom first suffered through interrogations, torture and deprivation in Toul Sleng Prison during Pol Pot regime (From 1975–1979). Then return back on the way drop and visit to the handicraft shop, spa and vocational training restaurant. This place was created in 1996 by Pour un Sourire d’ Enfant (PSE) www.pse.asso.fr. Is the NGO that aims to rescue Cambodian children who are forced to scavenge through the rubbish dumps to survive, especially around Steung Mean Chey garbage dump in Phnom Penh. Today we prefer you to have your own lunch over there.  
   
PM: Visit Central Market (Phsar Thom Thmei), the distinctive art-deco styling of this market makes it stand out among the architecture of Phnom Penh, where you can shop for souvenirs, clothes, jewelry, silver products,  then transfer to Phnom Penh Airport for short flight to Siem Reap. On arrival met and transfer to hotel for check in. The town of Siem Reap is our base for visiting the world famous temples of the ancient city Angkor, which is home for the capital of the powerful Khmer Empire dating from 802 AD to 1350 AD. This stunning and extensive site sprawls through the dense jungle, over an area of 60 square miles
O/N at Siem Reap

Day 6: SIEM REAP (B/-/-)
(Optional tour to view sunrise at early morning will be paid by yourself)
Breakfast at hotel
AM: Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Lunch at local restaurant on your own.

PM: Visit Angkor National Museum & to the famous temple: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology, visit Bakheng Temple and enjoy a romantic sun set view form Bakheng Hills. Dinner and enjoy with Aspara Dance Show at local restaurant, O/N at Siem Reap.
(Optional tour with either elephant or balloon riding will be paid by yourself)
O/N at hotel.

Day 7: SIEM REAP - Departure (B/-/-)
Breakfast hotel
AM: Visit Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som, built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic. Preah Khan temple, Built by the King Jayavarman VII. Lunch at local restaurant on your own.

PM: Visit the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang ("The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Ta Keo, constructed in late 10th early 11th century C.E, the first temple to be constructed wholly of sandstone. Then transfer to Siem Reap Airport for departure to next destination by evening flight.

INCLUDING:
• Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• Domestic air-ticket: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap.
• Accommodation in hotels (shared twin room)
• Meals as indicated: B = breakfast, L = lunch or D = Dinner
• English or French speaking guide
• Entrance fee to indicated sights
• Boat trip in Mekong

EXCLUDING: International flight (Ho Chi Minh – Phnom Penh), Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room, personal expenses, insurance...
Click at this link http://www.huongviettravel.com/VietNam/tours/8/IndochinaE... for further information

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