Overview
“Southeast Asia is a fulfilment of my fantasies of the way travel should be.”- Anthony Bourdain
Cambodia and Vietnam are breathtaking destinations of diverse delights. Travelers are gripped by the sights and sounds, bewitched by their geniality and divine cuisine, captivated by fast-moving cities like Ho Chi Minh, the Mecca in which Vietnam flourishes, and enlightened by the palaces, cathedrals and the thousands of stalagmites of Sung Sot cave. Such a concoction of history, French colonial influences, and tales of past upheaval ensures a majestic holiday.
During our fantastic 12 day trip across Cambodia and Vietnam, undergo an exhilarating renovation of the senses. Venture into the jungle’s vines and creepers towards Angkor Wat, the 12th century temple and shrine of Khmer art and architecture, a Cambodian mascot with its sculpted towers of lotus blossom and stately surroundings worshipped by Buddhists monks.
Wander through the ancient capital of Khmer, empire to the exuberant cities of Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, before cruising in Agatha Christie style across Halong Bay, passing some of the 3,000 limestone islands. Add spice by devouring the Vietnamese cuisine of B?n Thành Market infused with a vast spectrum of enticing and evocative flavours, making taste buds explode. “I changed my whole palate as a lot of the dishes I used to love became boring to me.” - Anthony Bourdain.
What's Included
- We take care of travel with return international flights from the UK
- You will be whisked away from Siem Reap Airport by private car to the hotel
- Three-night stay in Siem Reap where you will explore the jewels of Cambodia
- Khmer dinner included on the day of arrival in Siem Reap
- Behold the sight of the sun striking the Angkor Wat temple with excursion
- Transfer from Siem Reap hotel to Bus Station
- Coach journey from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
- A car will pick you up from Phnom Penh bus station
- One-Night Stay in the country’s exotic capital, Phnom Penh
- Transfer from Phnom Penh hotel to airport
- Coach from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City
- Transportation by Car to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
- Two-Night Stay in the city of Ho Chi Minh with a Tour of fascinating sights
- You will venture to the brilliance of the Vietnam War’s Cu Chi Tunnels
- Private transfer to the Ho Chi Minh City Airport where you will fly to Hanoi
- One-Night Stay in Hanoi with transfer to Halong Pier by Coach
- Set out in style on the Cruise for one-night with full-board!
- A cruise is the perfect place for a party with free bottle of wine per room
- Cave visits
- Kayaking, Fishing, Evening on Deck Party, Fancy Cooking /Salad & Fruit on Board
- After a relaxing day at sea, you will be guided to Hanoi for a Three-Night Stay
- Enjoy fantastic atmosphere at the amazing Water Puppet Show
- A guided walk where you will behold 2,000 years of history and culture
- Rejuvenate from the streets of Hanoi with a complimentary massage at SF Spa
- Quick transfer to Hanoi Airport
- Breakfast included with each hotel stay
Highlights
- Excursion to see Angkor Wat with the opportunity to see a flight of bats
- Visit the awe-inspiring Wat Phnom temple, where many pray for fortune
- Discover the history within the brilliant complex of the Cu Chi Tunnels
- Set out in Agatha Christie style on the luxurious Pelican Classic Cruise
- Did someone mention a boat party? Enjoy a night of wining and dining
- Be blown away by the visual delights of the amazing Water Puppet Theatre
- Behold 2,000 years of Hanoian history with a Guided Walking Tour
- Unwind after trekking the streets of Hanoi with a Relaxing Massage at SF Spa
- A Fantastic Collection of Hotels reflecting the beauty of each city
Accommodation & Facilities
Tara Angkor Hotel, Siem Reap
Tara Angkor Hotel is the 4-Star Luxury Hotel built in the mystical land of Angkor. Ideally and conveniently located. Tara Angkor Hotel is situated only 6 km from the World Heritage site of Angkor Wat Temples, 15 min drive from the Siem Reap International Airport, a few minutes stroll to the Angkor National Museum and a short ride to the city town center with an array of Cambodian souvenirs, shopping and culture.
Tara Angkor’s rooms feature wooden flooring and garden or city views. Each room has cable TV, a safety deposit box, and tea/coffee making facilities.
Guests can approach the 24-hour front desk for currency exchange, tour arrangements, ticketing and concierge services. Alternatively, guests can exercise in the fitness centre or relax in the sauna. T
Harmony Phnom Penh Hotel
Harmony Phnom Penh Hotel is within a 5-minute walk from the Royal Palace. The property is just 500 metres from the Riverfront Park, while Wat Phnom and Chaktomouk Conference Hall 2 are 1 km away. It is 3.8 km to Aeon Mall. Phnom Penh International Airport is 9 km from Harmony Phnom Penh Hotel.
Fitted with parquet flooring, air-conditioned rooms open up to views of the city. The seating area is fitted with a flat-screen TV, minibar and a desk. En suite bathrooms include shower facilities, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Guests can approach the 24-hour front desk for currency exchange, business facilities and concierge services. A fitness centre is available for working out or guests can indulge in in-house spa treatments. Guests may also rent a car to explore the
Centrally located between Saigon’s glittery downtown of District 1 and its historic homes of District 3, G8 Center Hotel Saigon is an easy walk to such city icons as Notre Dame Cathedral and Unification Palace as well as a variety of restaurants, shopping centers and local markets. For guests traveling by air, G8 Center Hotel Saigon is just a 15-minute taxi ride from Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
La Regina Royal Cruise, Halong
Known as the charming younger sister of La Regina Legend, La
Regina Royal is not merely as elegant and luxurious in every detail as her
sister, but also youth oriented with a cozy atmosphere and a delightful blend
of traditional Vietnamese design. A cruise trip with La Regina Royal is a
combination of the bay’s most magnificent scenery, local attractions and on
board amenities. Get ready for your most unforgettable moment on La Regina
Royal.
MK Premier Boutique Hotel combines traditional culture and modern design, hosting 65 rooms uniquely designed to give an unexpected experience to Hanoi and its visitors a dynamic and unforgettable hospitality experience. Ideally located at the heart of the beautiful and historic old quarter of Hanoi and Vietnam's famous 36 streets, MK Premier Boutique Hotel offers an atmosphere that is at once refined, remembered and inspires traditional Vietnamese style and old world sophistication. Our aim is to give a precious gift to "you" our guests: be part of the pride of our past and history in a unique designed environment, giving the exclusive occasion to discover a new reading of Vietnam's traditional hospitality. Come, Let's Stay in Hanoi with her Legend
Itinerary
You will be received with a warm welcome at Siem Reap International airport and transferred to the hotel.
The evening is free for you to relax at the hotel. In case you wish to explore the city, you can choose to visit Pub Street which
is famous for its quality yet economical restaurants and bars. Enjoy Khmer dinner on the day of arrival.
OVERNIGHT IN SIEM REAP
After a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, you’ll enjoy a full-day tour of the Angkor complex.
You must not miss the antique capital of Angkor Thom. With sites like 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; Angkor Thom has so much to offer.
The most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor is Angkor Wats. The temple complex covers 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.
Other sites that deserve a mention are: Prasat Kravan, also known as ‘The Royal Baths’, the site was once used for ritual bathing; Banteay Kdei, surrounded by 4 concentric walls; Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool; Preah Khan temple, built by the King Jayavarman VII.
OVERNIGHT IN SIEM REAP
After eating breakfast at the hotel, your day will be at leisure or you may head out to enjoy an optional boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake.
This beautiful fresh-water lake is the largest in South-east Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. Built on the lake, is a wondrous ‘floating village’ with floating schools, floating police station, et al. The ‘village’ moves from place to place following water levels and current.
OVERNIGHT IN SIEM REAP
After breakfast get ready for a coach journey from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. On arrival, you will meet one of our representative and transferred to your hotel in Phnom Penh. Continue your journey in the Pearl of the Orient, Phnom Penh, visiting by yourself the dazzling white and gold complex of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda.
Feel free to visit the Genocide Museum or venture to the former Tuol Svay Prey High School, which the Khmer Rouge set up as prison in May 1976, to detain those accused of opposing the Pol Pot regime. Be prepared to be shaken by this moving reminder of the genocide that occurred during Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime.
OVERNIGHT IN PHNOM PENH
After breakfast at the hotel, you be transferred to Phnom Penh bus station for coach transfer to Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by many locals). Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City, you are transferred to the hotel.
If there’s time, you must stroll around the downtown part of the bustling Ho Chi Minh City to explore the different local ways of life. Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, is a centre of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. As opposed to its northern counterpart, this metropolis is filled with automobiles, numerous shopping areas and sidewalk cafes.
OVERNIGHT IN HO CHI MINH CITY
The plan is to devote half of today exploring the captivating Ho Chi Minh City.
We pass by the now-demolished wartime American Embassy on our way to the Reunification Palace. This famous edifice was a former residence of the President of Southern Vietnam until end of April 1975.
We also visit some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office. Post this, we head to the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum. We conclude our sightseeing session with a walk around the retail Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!
In the afternoon, we travel about 30 km 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 incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometres and became legendary during the American war.
The extensive tunnels have been specially constructed with living areas, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command centres, plus accommodation. We visit an exposition hall and a widened section of the tunnels to get a feel of the underground life. There are also possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.
OVERNIGHT IN HO CHI MINH CITY
Step back in time as you fly from the buzzing, modern city of Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi. Upon arrival at Noibai Hanoi Airport, you’ll be met by our tour guide & transferred to your hotel in Hanoi.
Afternoon / Evening at leisure to explore the evening sights on your own.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI
You will get picked up at the hotel lobby for a road journey to Halong by a shuttle bus.Upon arrival in Halong, check in the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating houses and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the cruise, enjoy cooking demonstration before having dinner. Evening attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure
OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE
The day starts early and has a lot of adventures to offer.
06:15: Tai Chi class on the Sun-Deck
07:00: Have light breakfast with Coffee, tea, and bakeries on board.
You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the "East Sea" by a point-oriented name "Eastern Sea", so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise coming back the pier. Disembark from the cruise, transfer back to hotel in Hanoi.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI
After breakfast at the hotel, you will enjoy a walking tour of the Ho Chi Minh complex, the Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum - the final
resting place of Vietnamese great father; President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house - where Ho lived on and off from 1958 to 1969.
The next place is One Pillar Pagoda, a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square pond. From there, leave for the Temple of Literature, the first college of Vietnam.
While heading back to Hoan Kiem Lake, have a brief stopover at Ngoc Son Temple. In the evening, experience the Water Puppet Show near the lake and later you can enjoy a relaxing 30 minutes spa session.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI
Have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and you may choose to you can take a Cyclo tour around the Old Quarter Streets.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI
After breakfast at the hotel, you can devote the entire day to shopping and buying souvenirs for friends. As the hotel is located in central Hanoi, all the shopping areas are not too far. Then, according to your flight schedule, you shall be driven to the airport.
END OF TOUR
Gallery
More Information
- Our endeavour will always be to confirm the hotels listed in the package chosen, however in rarest of cases where we are not able to confirm certain hotel(s), like for like alternatives will be provided.
- We recommend that you buy a travel Insurance as any costs incurred due to mishaps, strikes, political unrest etc. are not included and will be passenger’s responsibility.
- Accommodation will be on double sharing Basis unless otherwise stated.
- The package is non-refundable for any inclusion items not used/taken.
- In rarest of case where the Halong Bay Cruise is not doable owing to weather conditions or any other reason, our liability will be limited to make alternate accommodation arrangements and refunding the difference, if any.
- EXCLUSIONS
- Visa stamping fee on arrival
- Optional Tonle Sap Lake Boat Ride in Siem Reap, it can be added for £40 per person
- Optional Phnom Penh private guided city sightseeing can be added for £50 per person
- Travel Insurance in all kinds
- Any special event costs
- Tip, drinks and other personal expenses
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions
Unless specifically stated as Included
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses
- Gratuities
- Optional Activities / Highlights
- Meals and drinks not specifically stated as included
2 October 2019 