VIETNAM

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI (VIETNAM)

Arrival at Hanoi airport where your English-speaking guide will be waiting for you.

Transfer to the city (1hr.) Meanwhile, you can get a first impression of Hanoi, free time until check-in at the hotel (normally the rooms are available from 2:00 p.m., although if there is availability, they usually provide them before ). Accommodation in Hanoi.

Recommendations: Enjoy a relaxing massage, stroll and have a coffee at Hoan Kiem Lake, go shopping in the Old Town.

DAY 2 : HANOI

After breakfast, we will start the Hanoi tours. Today, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, the only Asian city with tree-lined avenues, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. The tour includes the view of the Temple of Literature, the first university in the country, founded in 1070 and considered the symbol of Hanoi, we will continue with the Museum of Ethnology, where you can admire a varied and interesting collection of Vietnamese culture.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we will move to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: visiting the outside of it from Ba Dinh Square, we will continue to the Single Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 by Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who reigned from 1028 to 1054, Built of wood on a single stone pillar, it is designed in the likeness of a lotus flower leaf in honor of Buddha. Later we will visit the Ngoc Son temple located in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Finally, we will take a panoramic ride on a cycle pousse through the old quarter of Hanoi, also known as the neighborhood of the 36 streets, since in its time it was known for the craft of the artisans who inhabited them and for the workshops that were there. .

Return to the hotel and overnight in Hanoi.

Recommendations: Attendance at the Marionetas sobre el agua or Mi Pueblo Show.

DAY 3: HANOI * HOA LU * TAM COC * HANOI

Breakfast at hotel.

8:00AM, pick up at your hotel and head out for Ninh Binh (2 hours driving). There is a beautiful roadside scenery on the way. Arriving in Ninh Binh city, first pay a visit to Hoa Lu – the ancient Royal Capital of Vietnam, visit the two temples: Temple of King Dinh and King Le, admire the unique architecture from ancient times.

Continue to Tam Coc and have lunch at a nice restaurant with many local delicacies. Then boarding a small sampan to visit Tam Coc which means literally “three caves” (2.5-hour boat trip). With Halong bay type views of majestic limestone cliffs and mysterious caves, as well as countryside landscape like peaceful streams, rice paddies and deserted green fields, Tam Coc really has it all. You will feel the fresh air and peaceful moments, a very good opportunities for photo lovers, freezing the special moments and scenery.

Time permits, you can also visit Bich Dong pagoda nearby and climb up the mountain to have a wonderful perspective view of the Bich Dong and Tam Coc. Return to Hanoi late afternoon.

DAY 4: HANOI - HALONG BAY - HANOI (SIC)

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby.

08:15 – 09:00: Our Limousine and guide pick you up from hotel / stay and follow the new high way to depart for Tuan Chau Island, Halong City, stop over for a rest on the way

12:00:  Arriving Tuan Chau Harbor, welcome aboard, and safety briefing

The ship will take you on an over 5 hours journey via 2 day-sleeper boat cruise route which renowned for its striking, passages uninhabited islets and outcrops have been given imaginative names by the locals, due to their perceived shapes, including Cock Fighting and Thumb, while enjoy Vietnamese mouth-watering lunch on boat.

13:45: Arriving Bo Hon archipelago, you will visit Surprising Cave to see a lot of stalagmites and stalactites with different shapes of sea lives, the go kayaking or bamboo boat in Luon Cave to discovery the beautiful lagoon.

Visiting Titov Island with sandy beach adjacent to the towering limestone mountain with excellent backdrop of the Bay, and climb up Titov Peak for a panoramic view of the bay like paradise.

16:30: Returning to cruise with Afternoon Tea and cruising back toward Tuan Chau harbor. There are a lot of time for sunbathing on upper deck with music, enjoy great fun of group touring fellows among world iconic natural scenery.

18:00:  Disembarking for going back on the new high way to Hanoi.

20:00: Dropping off at your hotel / stay, trip ends.

Note: Duration of the transfer to Halong Bay 02.30 Hours (with the highway)

The cruise itinerary is subject to change without notice due to weather conditions.

DAY 5: HANOI - Flight to SIEM REAP (via Ho Chi Minh)

Breakfast and free time until the time of transfer to the airport to take the flight to Siem Reap. (no guide)

Arrival at Siem Reap airport, our guide will pick you up then take you to hotel.

 

DAY 6: SIEM REAP - ANGKOR THOM - ANGKOR WAT

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure in Tuk - Tuk (a kind of motorcycle, a very typical vehicle in Cambodia) towards the South gate, from where you can see its impressive statues representing the movement of the ocean, the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), the temple Bayon with its 54 towers decorated with 200 smiling faces from Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the terraces of the leper king and the elephants, and the royal chambers. Then visit the Ta Prohm temple, one of the most spectacular temples in the area, which has remained relatively the same as when it was discovered and still retains much of its mystery. Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, transfer by bus to visit the most famous of all temples, Angkor Wat - Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The complex of this temple covers 81 hectares, comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. The well-known five towers are part of the Cambodian flag. They represent the 5 peaks of Meru, the walls surrounding them, they are the mountains and the valley surrounding them, the ocean. This 12th-century work of art is regarded by art historians as the earliest example of classical Khmer architecture and art. Return to the hotel and overnight in Siem Reap.

Recommendations: Enjoy the Apsara dance show while you dine, do the last minute shopping at the night market.

DAY 7: SIEM REAP - BANTEAY SAMRE - BANTEAY SREI

Breakfast at hotel.

We will attend a Buddhist ceremony with monks in a pagoda where we will learn more about Buddhism and how this religion influences Cambodian culture. We will finish the ceremony with a prayer from the monks to distribute luck and blessings.

Next, we visit the Banteay Samre Hindu temple. This sacred place, dedicated to the god Shiva, is decorated with many Hindu-themed reliefs, narrating various scenes from the Ramayana. We continue the excursion through the great temple of Banteay Srei (literally means "city of victory"), known today as the "Citadel of Women" for being the only temple in the Khmer empire that was not built for a monarch, if no, by and for women. Built according to Angkorian building regulations, Banteay Srei is a beautiful and elegant small-scale temple, a fairy palace in the middle of an endless forest. We contemplate this “jewel of Khmer art”, its pink sandstone facade, its sculptures, reliefs carved with great precision and continue learning about the art of the ancient Khmer empire.

Lunch in a restaurant.

On the way back, we visit D'Angkor Artisans - the center that helps young Cambodians to keep traditional crafts alive.

 

DAY 8: SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport and departure to your next destination (no guide).

*** End of journey***