Boat description:
Itinerary;
Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap - Angkor Wat (D)
Arrive at Siem Reap international airport, you will be warmly welcomed by private Asia View Travel’s guide and driver, transfer to hotel in city center.
This afternoon, Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara). Dinner at local restaurant and enjoy Apsara Dance Show.
Day 2: Angkor Wat (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. 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. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, 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. Visit also Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon.
Day 3: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh (B, L)
Morning experience an interesting boat trip to Phnom Penh to see the scenic view of the Cambodian rural life-style along the riverbank. The boat leaves Siemreap at around 7:30 Am and arrive in Phnompenh at around 12:30 PM. The guide in Phnompenh will pick you up at pier, transfer to hotel, check in, relax.
We spend the rest of afternoon to visit Phnom Penh.: visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Visit Central Market ( or Russian market ), end your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset.
Day 4: Phnom Penh – Killing field – Chau Doc ( B )
Breakfast at the hotel. Then take a half-day city tour at the Killing Field and Toul Sleng Museum of the genocide Tuol Sleng Museum (Museum of Genocide): former Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975 it became the Khmer Rouge's main torture and interrogation center. It was known as Security Prison 21 - or just S-21.
11:30 AM , transfer to the pier to take the Hang chau speed boat to Chau doc. The speed boat leaves at 12:00PM and arrive in Chau doc ( Vietnam ) around 5:00 PM. Pick up at Chau doc pier, transfer to hotel, check in, relax. Overnight at hotel in Chau doc.
Day 5: Chau doc – Can tho ( B, L )
Breakfast at hotel. Take the motorized boat trip to visit the floating fish farm and the floating village, visit the local Cham minority village and her traditional weaving village. Depart for Long Xuyen, visit the bird Sanctuary in Thot Not and the incense stick making village. Check in upon arrival in Can Tho. Free for exploring the city on your own in the afternoon. Overnight at hotel in Can tho.
Day 6: Can tho – Saigon ( B, L )
After breakfast. Visitors first take the boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower
Mekong river. The boat trip later takes you to the Cai Rang floating markets, which are the most original ones and bustling places of the region. Visitors will have the most probably tried the Vietnamese vermicelli soup. So, they will now go and see how it is made. Visitors then roam into the village to get in touch with the local people. Here, they have a chance to experience how to pass a " Monkey bridge " which is built by only one bamboo. Depart for Saigon city . Overnight at hotel in Saigon
Day 7: Saigon – Cu chi tunnel ( B, L )
Morning after breakfast, 8:00 AM pick up at hotel, drive tothe famous Cuchi Tunnels. It takes you nearly 2 hours traveling by road from Ho chi minh to Cu chi tunnel.
At the height of the Vietnam war, the tunnel system stretched from the outskirts of Saigon all the way to the Cambodian border of over 250 kilometers of tunnels. The tunnel system, built over 25 years starting in the 1940s, let the Viet Minh and, later, the Viet Cong, control a huge rural area. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was several stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth, going to school.
Back city for lunch.
Afternoon take city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. We visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office before we shall see the exhibition on Vietnam War to the famous War Museum. and the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight at hotel in Ho chi minh.
Day 8: Saigon departure ( B )
Breakfast at hotel, free until transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of tour.
Cost in USD per person based on twin/double sharing, valid until 30 December 2014
