Echo From The Legends

Dec. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- Day 1: ARRIVAL - HANOI (-/-/-)
On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel for a check-in.
The rest of time, you will be free on your own to refresh after a long flight.
O/N in Ha Noi.

Day 2: HANOI – FULL DAY OF CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
Today we commence our sightseeing of Hanoi with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi. We follow this with a visit to the Temple of Literature, well known as Vietnam's first university, and the Ethnology Museum which displays an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnam’s ethnic minorities with their own traditions, cultures & life-styles. The peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem with its sacred temple and the bustling Dong Xuan Market are also visited before taking 1-hour cyclo around the old quarters.
Lastly, you will have a chance to enjoy a very unique traditional art performance named Water Puppet Show.
O/N in Ha Noi.

Day 3: HANOI – HA LONG BAY (B/-/-)
At 08:30: you will be driven to Ha Long bay.
12.30 We are welcome on the traditional junk and have welcome drink. Start the boat trip to visit Halong Bay, listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. This picturesque “Dragon descending to the sea” Bay has 1,969 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Visit of a grotto then seafood lunch on board.
The excursion includes the visit to Con Cho Island, Dinh Huong Island, Canh Buom Island, Ga Choi Island. Swimming on Titop or Hoa Cuong beach. Watching sunset. Fishing with seine and owing bamboo boat (on request).
Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 4: HALONG BAY – HANOI – COOKING CLASS (B/-/-)
Breakfast on board or getting the breakfast box.
Continue to visit other corners of Halong Bay. Brunch is served on board.
11h30: Transfer back to Hanoi with stopover at Dong Trieu ceramic village.
16h00: Arrive in Hanoi.

* Optional Cooking Class: (Upon your request)
At around 18:00, you will have a chance to take a Cooking class at Anh Tuyet Restaurant to learn 3 traditional dishes of Hanoi. ( Ms Pham Anh Tuyet, owner of the restaurant at 25 Ma May Street, still keeps original characteristics of traditional dishes:
+ Nem (Spring- rolls).
+ Ca Hap ( Steamed Fish with dill).
+ Nom (Mixed Salad).
This restaurant is a rare destination that keeps specific characteristics of old Hanoi, therefore many foreign tourists come there.
Apart from introducing Hanoi’s dishes, over the past years, Ms Tuyet has taught foreigners how to cook traditional dishes. Profits are not all the things that count to her. What she likes is to help foreigners have comprehensive understanding of a close, noble but luxury Hanoi.)
O/N in Hanoi

Day 5: HANOI – SIEM REAP (B/-/-)
After having breakfast, you will be at leisure until transferred to Noi Bai airport for a departure flight to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival, you will be met & escorted to your hotel for a check-in
O/N in Siem Reap.

Day 6: SIEM REAP (-/-/-)
In this morning, we will start visiting the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), Bayon Temple(unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
In the afternoon, visit the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor plain: Angkor Wat. The temple complex cover 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five tower symbolize Meru's five peaks, the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean beyond
Sunset from Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat.
O/N at hotel.

Day 7: SIEM REAP - Departure (B/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel
In the morning, you will continue your temple visits. Included are Prasat Kravan (with its unique brick sculptures), Srah Srang ("The Royal Boths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by four concentric walls), Eastern Mebon (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the "Mountain Temple" of Pre Rup until sunset.
In the afternoon, transfer to the archaeological site and continue to the temple tour. Visit Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in the area. Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery, then, visit Takeo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda temples. Transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure to next destination.

INCLUDING:
• Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• 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
* Cooking class
• Boat trip in Halong

EXCLUDING: International flights (Hanoi – Siem Reap), Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room, personal expenses, insurance...

Click at this link http://www.huongviettravel.com/Cambodia/tours/16/Indochin... for more details

# # #

Huong Viet Travel has been established since 2002 at Hanoi Capital of Vietnam & known as one of the most outstanding travel agents not only in Vietnam but South East Asia.