Heritages of Vietnam and Cambodia

After breakfast, we will depart for Halong Bay – designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1994. Travelling through the scenic fertile Red River Delta countryside, we get to Ha Long Bay by noon. The natural world heritage site Halong Bay is truly one of the most impressive scenery that should not be missed if someone ever come to the north. Upon arrival at Ha Long, we embark on a wooden style junk for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. This exciting hours cruise passing by the evocatively shaped islets will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands and islets rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. Enjoy a Sea food lunch while you cruising through the bay.

Here the limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches. You then explore the Surprising Sung Sot cave which still reserve much of the amazing original stalactites and stalagmites. By summer, there is always some chance to leisurely swim in a secluded cove of the bay. Dinner will be served on board and stay overnight on the cruise

Wake up in the morning to the calming sound of the waves crashing on the nearby islands. Enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and relax. Sitting on the upper deck, you can enjoy the breath – taking beauty of the rocky Islands rising from the crystal-clear waters of the Bay. The quiet is almost eerie; in summer you can hear birds singing, even that cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze. Our boat start cruising back and brunch buffet will be served on the way. Check out and arrive at the harbor by 11:30. You get back on our car and head back to Hanoi

Our guide will meet you at your hotel/stay at around 8:00 am and start 100 km journey through verdant landscape of country side. Short-breake en route.

Arrive in Glimmering Bai Dinh pagoda complexes, the largest pagoda, not only in Vietnam but also in Southeast of Asia. Scenically set on the foot hill of Dinh Mountain surrounded by amazing views of the exquisite river valley below and dotted and the limestone karst dotted around which will take your breath away.

This pagoda complexes stunningly boast an array of the most massive and magnificent architecture of Vietnamese tradition refined ever built that it take a full day to explore all. So you will visit some of the highlights that owned the national:
• 500 stone statues of “La Han” (Arhats)
• 2 huge bronze bells, one weighs 27 tons, other weighs 36 tones
• Three bronze statues of Tam The (50 tons each)
With sacred atmospheres and intriguing Buddhism story which presented by insider guide, you cannot fail to enchant.
The visit ends with a walk-up the summit mountain to see the 100 tones statue of Buddha Sakyamuni made of bronze and enjoy the panoramic view of picturesque landscape dotted with limestone mountains.

Enjoy a fabulous lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant with some special dishes such as goat meat, pork storage vessel….

Leave for the Trang An Grottoes, an out-standing natural beauty of majestic limestone massif at 20 square kilometer rise dramatically out from rice paddy fields.Deep into the linked chains of towering mountain are pristine places of mystical valleys, numerous fresh water ponds, and jungle.

Embark on a traditional sampan gently rowed down the exquisite river through numerous caves: Hang Toi (Dark Cave), 320 meter long, Sang (light) cave – 90 meter long, and Hang Nau Ruou (Cooking wine) cave, 250 meter long… Every passages bring new surprise of mystery hidden inside isolated valleys of tranquility that likely transformed to the other world and time. The fauna and flora is rich and a scene of a goat jumping from one cliff to the other is a common sight.

Leisure cycling on rural roads alongside the extensive canal network and through small villages with back drop of a maze of limestone mountains.

Transfer back to Hanoi

Today, we will visit Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh Complex that completed in 1975. The complex includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, House-on-Stilts, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. You will enjoy Vietnamese traditional music and culture show which you see soul of Vietnamese villages by four intangible cultural heritages of humanity.

Next, visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, the apex of regional political power for more than a millennium where research and excavation is still underway, and then head to another 11th century relic, the Temple of Literature, which was built in homage to the Chinese scholar Confucius.

After lunch, we continue our trip to visit Museum of Ethnology: This museum is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the ground.

Then, we back to the center of Hanoi to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan Kiem Lake, its history dating back to the 13th century. The temple is reached by crossing the The Huc Bridge which literally means the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the local point of the city and the source of many legends. One hour Cyclo Tour through the Old Quarter: Also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36 s names’ was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities.

You will then free until our driver arrives to take you to the train station for overnight train to Dong Hoi Station.

Arriving at Dong Hoi station, you will be picke up and taken to a local restaurant. After breakfast, you will be depart for Phong Nha Cave. You will then take a 25 minute ride to the cave via traditional dragon boat. This cave is called a water cave as it exhibits an underground river. After going into the cave by boat, you will explore 300 meters into the cave on foot. Then, you will be taken back by boat. This cave is famous for its spectacular rock formations. It has been given names such as the “Lion”, the “Fairy Caves”, the “Royal Court”, and the “Buddha”.

Drive back to hotel in Dong Hoi. Free at leisure.

After breakfast, Our car and tour guide will drive you to Paradise cave – the longest dry cave in Asia (located in Phong Nha – Ke bang National Park’s core zone).

You will then be taken by golf cart (1.6 km) from the main gate through the jungle, to where you will then climb to the mouth of the cave; a climb that boasts spectacular views of the mountainous region around the cave.

Lunch at Dark cave restaurant. Here you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dish.

In the afternoon, you will visit Dark cave (located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park). Participate in the many adventure activities: mud bath, zip line, swimming, kayaking, adventure course, caving etc.

Depart back to Dong Hoi

Leave Dong Hoi for Hue – the old imperial city (150 km). In 1993 Hue was made part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. From here the 13 emperors of the Nguyen dynasty ruled the country and erected splendid palaces, temples and tombs.

After check-in we go on a boat trip on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in the city. And then, we go on to see the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang. Tour end by walking to Vong Canh Hills for sightseeing and sunset view.

After breakfast, you will visit the Citadel – The palaces of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the last dynasty of Vietnam – Noon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Imperial Ancestral Temple and Hue Royal Antiques Museum then Khai Dinh Tomb which represents a fusion of traditional Vietnamese style and modern influence. Then, we will go to Conical hat village, Incense stick village.

In the afternoon, you will leave Hue for Hoi An. Stop en-route to see Lang Co beach and the fascinating Cham Museum, the famous China Beach on the way to charming Hoi An.

After breakfast, meet our tour guide and driver for trip to My Son Holly Land (catch sunrise in My Son is also the best option, but it depends on climate, our tour guide will advise the detail). My Son Holly Land, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the trip from Hoi An that explores the Champa Kingdom and Vietnam’s rural landscapes. See a traditional dance performance, follow a jungle track into the Cham ruins, and learn the history of the fascinating site. Back to Hoi An for lunch.

After noon is for Hoi An Ancient Town walking tour. Located on the north bank of the Thu Bon river, the historic Hoi An was once the famous South East Asia’s major international ports under the name Faifo and today she still retains that special old-world feel. Enjoy a walking tour through the Old Quarters to see the town’s landmarks of Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient Assembly Hall, Phuc Kien Temple and then we take a river trip and you will enjoy the scenery along the Thu Bon River and the general view of Hoi An Ancient Town. Visit Cam Kim mattress making village, carpentry village of Kim Bong and Dai Chiem Estuary. Hoi An is today famous for its numerous tailor shops, so if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, here you go.

Tour end by short cruise trip on the Thu Bon River, passing a series of traditional crafts villages along the way and admire the sunset view.

Day at leisure and free additional options.

Suggested activities: Farming and fishing life, Basket boat tour, Making Lantern tour, Vespa tour…

This day, you are free at leisure until transferring to Da Nang airport to take the flight to Siem Reap. On arrival, you are met by our guide and transferred to your hotel.

Around 8:00 am, our local tour guide will meet you at the hotel to start full-day exploration of Angkor Complex. After short transfer, we will reach Angkor Wat – the world’s largest religious monument with 402 acres (163 ha) of ancient Hindu-Buddhist architecture.

From Angkor Wat, continue the trip to Angkor Thom where stone figures greet you at the ancient city’s monumental southern gates. Inside Angkor Thom, stroll towards Bayon—identified by a series of smiling faces etched into its upper terrace and central peak. Before concluding your visit to Angkor Thom, explore the famous Terrace of the Leper King and the Terrace of the Elephants.

Next, enjoy lunch at your own expense before visiting Ta Prohm—a mystifying temple that is being overtaken by Cambodia’s lush jungle landscape. Finally, revel in sunset at lovely Pre Rup—a temple built in dedication to the Hindu god Shiva in Phnom Bakkeng Hill—before returning to your hotel for the evening.

If you arise very early, you can view the sunrise – transfer included. Return for breakfast at the hotel.

Today, you’ll visit the highly-intricate pink coloured Banteay Srei Temple – which translates beautifully to “The Citadel of Women”.

You’ll be hungry after that long drive, so settle into one of the restaurants nearby, and dig into some traditional Cambodian curries, soups and stir-fries.

Spend your afternoon exploring the completely unique East Mebon, Ta Som and Preah Khan Temples, all built for different reasons at different times. Keep an eye out for the detail in these ancient walls.

Farewell dinner tonight will be Khmer traditional meals with Aspara Dancing Show.

After breakfast, you will be free until our driver arrives to take you to the airport for your departure flight.