INDOCHINA ESSENCE
Historically, the countries of Southeast Asia received cultural influence from China and India to varying degrees. Many countries in the region are influenced mainly by the culture of India with a smaller influence from China. However, this is actually reversed in the culture of Vietnam where the main foreign influence is from the culture of China with a much smaller influence from India, largely via the Champa civilization in northern Cambodia.
INCLUSIVE:
• Six nights accommodation at 4 stars hotel (based on twin sharing)
• Ground transportation
• All meals as shown in itinerary
• Entrance fees
• Water during tours
• English-speaking guide
EXCLUSIVE:
• Vietnam visa
• Cambodia visa
• Beverages during meals
• Personal expenses
ITINERARY:
BANGKOK – HANOI
Saturday, 28 June 2008 ( -/ Lunch/ - )
| 10:00 |
Transfer from hotel to airport for a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam
|
| 12:20 |
Depart Bangkok by VN830 for Hanoi. Arrive Noi Bai International airport.
Lunch at Season of Hanoi restaurant. Check in at your hotel. |
| 15:00 |
Orientation walk tour with your local guide. |
| 17:30 |
Join the famous Water Puppet Show. See how the hand-craft puppets move naturally like human in the water, telling about life and way of living of Vietnamese. |
| Evening |
At leisure on own Overnight at Sofitel Plaza or similar |
HANOI
Sunday, 29 June 2008 ( Breakfast/ Lunch/ - )
Breakfast at hotel
| 07:00 |
Depart hotel for the town of Halong. Board a private junk for a relaxing cruise on the emerald green water of Halong Bay,among 3,000 spectacular limestone island. Stop will be made on few islands.
A seafood lunch will be served on board. After
5 hours cruise, return back to the pier for the trip back to Hanoi.
|
| 18:00 |
Return to hotel. This evening at leisure for your own exploration around town.
Overnight at Sofitel Plaza or similar
|
HANOI - SAIGON
Monday, 30 June 2008 ( Breakfast/ - / - )
| 08:00 |
Take a tour around Hanoi city – visiting Ho Chi Minh complex, One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature. Try a local mode of transportation – cyclo – riding through 36 famous streets of the Old Quarter.
|
| 11:30 |
Return to hotel for lunch on own.
|
| P.M. |
Transfer to airport for departure to Saigon |
| 17:00 |
Depart by VN 781 for Hanoi |
| 19:00 |
Arrive Saigon. Meet & transfer to hotel for check in Overnight at Saigon Equatorial hotel or similar
|
SAIGON
Tuesday, 1 July 2008 ( Breakfast/ Lunch/ - )
| 08:00 |
After breakfast, you will spend your full day tour in Cuchi. Visit the famous Cuchi Tunnels, the underground military bases.
Witness yourself the lifestyle of those valiant fighters living in the small tunnels during the Vietnam War. Taste the steamed manioc-compressed rice with sesame or tapioca with salt. Experience the demonstration of gears and traps to torture their
enemies. |
| 12:30 |
Return to Saigon for lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, drive through Saigon center passing Unification Palace, War
Museum and the City Hall. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office and Ben Than Market. Stop by the famous
lacquer workshop which is a well known product from Vietnam.
Overnight in Saigon Equatorial hotel or similar
|
SAIGON – SIEM REAP
Wednesday, 2 July 2008 ( Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
| A.M. |
Check out from the hotel in the morning. Transfer to airport for departure to Siem Reap.
Arrive Siem Reap. Proceed to city’s renowned ruins, starting with Angkor Thom and Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of the
Elephants, the Terrace of Leper King and Tah Phrom. After the visit, transfer to hotel for check in.
|
| 12:30 |
Lunch at local restaurant.
After lunch, visit the city’s central temple, Angkor Wat. The complex covers 81 hecters built in 12th century, considered as
the masterpiece of Khmer architecture and art. The five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks and the wall represents the edge
of the world. Spend your time at the Angkor Wat to admire a magnificent sunset scene before returning to hotel. |
| 19:00 |
Depart hotel for dinner with Apsara Dance at local restaurant. Enjoy a variety of Cambodian cuisine at different food stalls
– curry, stir-fried, noodle soup.
After dinner, watch the traditional Cambodian shows.
|
SIEM REAP – BANGKOK
Thursday, 3 July 2008 (Breakfast/ Lunch/ - )
| 08:00 |
Breakfast at your hotel. Depart hotel for the tour exploring a local market. Enjoy a boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake Experience the boat people, Cambodians and Vietnamese, who spend most of their life time on the small boat house. Visit a local Floating School to interact with little students.
|
| 12:30 |
ALunch at local restaurant. After lunch, return to hotel for refreshing and check out from hotel. |
| P.M. |
At leisure
|
| 15:30 |
Depart hotel for a brief visit to a local temple which was once one of the Killing Fields. Onwards to airport for departure.
|
| 19:30 |
Depart by PG908 to Bangkok. |
| 20:45 |
Arrive Bangkok and transfer to hotel. |
BANGKOK
Friday, 4 July 2008 (Breakfast/ - / - )
Transfer to airport for a return flight home. |
