9 Days Legend of Mekong

Day 1

Welcome to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon then enjoy an orientation tour through Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling streets en route to the hotel. Your driver and guide will greet you outside the baggage claim at Tan Son Nhat Airport and transfer you to your hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, start a half day city tour at the War Remnants Museum, one of the most famous historical attractions in Saigon. Coming to the War Remnants Museum, you can learn a part of how Vietnamese had struggled and fought for their independence, freedom, and peace of the nation and the locals' perspective of the Vietnam War. The exhibits, such as weapons, documents, and photographs, display in the museum are firm evidence of war crimes in Vietnam and speak for the heroic actions of the former Vietnamese generation.

We then visit the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883 and colonial-styled Central Post Office, one of the city’s major landmarks.

Last but not least, visit Ben Thanh Market, a lively market in central District 1, where your guide can help you barter for goods.

The rest of the day is free time.

Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi

Meals included:

None

Day 2

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

We travel by road to Tay Ninh to see the ornate temple of Cao Dai and attend the fantastic mid-day ceremony when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

Afterwards we continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. Watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. Also on displaying are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers.

We then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels to see the first hand how the Vietcong communists were able to survive in this underground network. Return to your hotel in Saigon late afternoon.

Accommodation at hotel in Saigon

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Day 3

Breakfast at the hotel.

Known by Vietnamese as the “Land of Coconut”, Ben Tre is one the best area to explore the untouched natural landscapes of the Mekong Delta and discover its local life, beautiful canals, and traditional activities. An authentic and relaxing experience!

8.00: Depart from Saigon and head straight to Ben Tre (90 km ~ 2-hour drive), crossing the impressive Rach Mieu cable-stayed bridge. On arrival board a small boat to visit typical workplaces including small brick factories, a coconut processing workshop, and a local mat-weaving house.

Stop at a quiet village, take a short walk to witness local life, and hop on a xe-lôi (a kind of motorized rickshaw) to reach the local family Mr. Sau Khanh’s house – see ancient porcelains collecting set and learn about the Mekong local people’s hospitality then have lunch at a charming local restaurant. After lunch, your family could take a rest on the hammock or take a short cycle around before boarding a sampan for a tranquil trip along the picturesque canals. Come back to the port and visit Ben Tre’s local market before heading to Can Tho. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure and dinner on your own.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Lunch at local restaurant

Day 4

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning boat cruise to visit Cai Rang, the biggest floating market in Mekong Delta. In the afternoon, drive to Chau Doc. Climb up Sam Mountain to visit Ba Chua Xu Pagoda, Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple & enjoy fantastic views through Cambodia. Overnight in Chau Doc.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Lunch at local restaurant

Day 5

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning transfer (without guide) to the ferry for a boat cruise upstream Mekong River to Phnom Penh. On arrival, our guide and driver will pick you up from the ferry and take you to your hotel in Phnom Penh.

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Day 6

Breakfast will be at hotel.

In the morning, we will visit Royal Place, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of

the old town, and the Silver Pagoda, Raung Damrei Museum. The Palace building and Silver Pagoda are located with in the same walled ground. The Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilos and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. And then move to National Museum of Fine Arts, next to the Royal Palce was dedicated by king Sisowath in 1920. Over 5000 objects are on display including Angkorian era statues, lingas and other artifacts, most notabley the legentary statue of the “Leper King” Though the emphasis is on Angkorian artifacts, there is also a good collection of pieces from later periods, including a special exhibition pf post-Angkorian Buddha figures. Then visit Wat Phnom, a small hill crowned by an active wat (pagoda) marks the legendary founding place of the Phnom Penh.

In the afternoon, we will visit Notorious Tuol Sleng Museum. In 1975 Tuol Svay Prey

High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison known

as Security Prison 21 (S-21). It soon became the largest such center of detention and

torture in the country. More than 17.000 people held at S-21 were taken to the

extermination camp at Choeung Ek to be executed; detainees who died during torture

were buried in mass graves in the prison ground. The museum displays include room after room of these photographs of men, women and children covering the walls from floor to ceiling; virtually all the people pictured were later killed.

Continue to visit Kiling Field of Cheung Ek is situated 15 kilometers south-west of Phnom Penh and made famous by the film of the same name "Killing Field". it was a place where more than 17,000 civilians were killed and buried in mass graves; many of them transported here after detention and torture in Toul Sleng. This place is a chilling reminder of the brutalities of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. In the center of the area is a 17 story glass stupa which houses 8000 skulls exhumed from mass graves.

Accommodation at your hotel in Phnom Penh.

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Day 7

Breakfast will be at hotel.

This morning, we drive to Siem Reap by National Road No. 6 via Kandal Province,

Kampong Cham Province and Kampong Thom Province with 314 km distance and we will take around 5 to 6 hrs.

En route will stop at a part of Kompong Cham Province called Skun " Spider Village "

The town well-known for selling deep-fride spiders to traveler who stop by on their way. And then you will pass Kompong Thom Province, you will see a Village called Samnak Village’s stone sculptors carving out their giant Buddhas. The craftsmen use rocks from Phnom Santuk’s foothills to craft spectacular statues of all shapes and sizes. Lunch will be en route. After lunch we will continue to Siem Reap. Before reach Siem Reap we will see Spean Preah Toeus or Kampong Kdei Ancient Bridge

Kampong Kdei Bridge with its original name as Spean Preah Toeus (ស្ពា នព្រះទិស – The bridge of Indication) is the best laterite-built bridge of Angkor era which is survived until today. The bridge is located on the main highway of national road no.6 from Kampong Thom to Siem Reap and it used to carry all kinds of transportation of the main highway. In 1965, the bridge has been restored by Bernard Philippe Groslier. Nowadays, Kampong Kdei Bridge is still in good condition, however, the main highway has been diverted since a 1.3 km bypass and a new bridge has been built. Now it’s crossing by villagers who travel by motorbikes and bicycles only. Arrive Siem Reap transfer to hotel for check in.

In the afternoon, we will visit Les Artisans D’ Angkor and see their stone and wood

carving workshops where the artisans are taught to use traditional Khmer techniques. In line with its mission to produce fine Arts & Crafts objects, Artisans d’Angkor has set up a silver plated workshop in order to demonstrate this know-how and encourage the revival of this Cambodian heritage. Wood and stone carving, The art of stone carving goes back to the glorious epoch of the Khmer empire and its monumental constructions that gave rise to the Angkor temples. Like the work of craftsmen from previous centuries, stone carving is done on sandstone. Artisans d’Angkor mainly uses sandstone from Siem Reap province. Next visit the Old Market where you can see the fresh local produce being sold as well as browse the souvenir stalls.

Accommodation at your hotel in Siem Reap.

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Lunch at a local restaurant

Day 8

Breakfast will be at hotel.

In the morning, we will visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk) the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century) and visit Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara),the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King and visit the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees. Ta Prohm (pronunciation: prasat taprohm) is the modern name of the temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara. Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university.

Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm is in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor's most popular temples with visitors.

UNESCO inscribed Ta Prohm on the World Heritage List in 1992. Today, it is one of the

most visited complexes in Cambodia’s Angkor region. The conservation and restoration of

Ta Prohm is a partnership project of the Archaeological Survey of India and the APSARA (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap). 

Lunch will be at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, Wat Thmei (New Wat) The wat contains a unique glass-walled stupa

containing the bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge. Some of the bones were recovered from a nearby well while others are the remains of soldiers who died on a nearby battlefield. 500m west of the road to Angkor about 1.5km north of town. Then continue to visit the 7th world heritage, Angkor Wat a unique and stunning blend of spirituality and symmetry, an enduring example of man's devotion to his Gods. It is the largest and undoubtedly the most breath taking of the monuments of Angkor and it is widely believed that it is the largest religious structure in the world until sunset.

Accommodation at your hotel in Siem Reap.

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Lunch at a local restaurant

Day 9

Breakfast will be at hotel.

Free day leisure.

Transfer to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport for your flight back

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

9 DAYS LEGEND OF MEKONG

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10

Single Supp

Package price

 $2,760

 $1,569

 $1,326

 $1,265

 $1,250

$949

$US 329