lower mekong exploreR

itinerary in DETAIL

DAY 1: ARRIVAL SAI GON (D)

Arrive in Saigon, greeted by your tour guide and transfer to the hotel. After noon time, the city tour will begin at Thien Hau Pagoda and Binh Tay Market in the city's bustling Chinatown and end at a famous lacquerware factory. Dinner with delicious Saigon cuisine and overnight in Saigon.

DAY 2: SAIGON - TAY NINH - CU CHI - SAI GON (B/L)

Enjoy a morning drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay Ninh Province, the birthplace of CAO DAI, a local sect of Buddhism, and join a memorable noon daily ceremony of

the Caodai followers. After lunchtime back to a historic site of the Vietnam War -  the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network constructed by the local people and guerillas to survive the war against the American explosive attacks. We can even crawl a part inside the tunnel to understand life hereby during the fierce wartime. Back to Saigon to overnight. (dinner by your own for more leisure time)

DAY 3: SAIGON - MEKONG DELTA - CAN THO (B/L/D)

Depart from Saigon and head to My Hiep. Take a 3-hour boat trip cruising through “Rung Tram” (Indigo forest) which was used by the so-called Viet Cong Army during the Vietnam wartime as a base called Xeo Quyt. Take a 4-hour boat trip from My Hiep cruising Tien and Hau tributaries of Cuu Long (the name of Mekong River part crossing Vietnam), and arrive in Ninh Kieu Wharf in CanTho. Dinner and overnight in Can Tho.

DAY 4: CAN THO - MEKONG DELTA – SAIGON (B/L)

Have another boat trip to discover the bustling Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the many Mekong Floating markets, where people come daily on their boats to purchase goods, foods and especially fresh fruit. These activities are especially bustling in the early morning. Afterwards visit vermicelli-making houses, rice husking mills, fruit gardens nearby the market; the hospitable locals hereby may also invite us to taste their juicy fruit. Before having lunch in Can Tho, we will stroll around to enjoy peaceful life of the countryside and go back to Saigon afternoon. Stop en route to visit Vinh Long market and Bonsai Garden in My Tho. Overnight in Saigon (dinner at your own arrangement for more flexibility).

DAY 5: SAIGON - PHNOM PENH (B/L/D)

At leisure until your tour guide come and pick-up you for transferring to Tan Son Nhat Airport for the morning flight Saigon – Phnompenh. Upon arrival at Pochentong Airport, we will be welcomed and transferred to the hotel. Have a city tour in Phnompenh to visit the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and the marvelous National Fine-Arts Museum. Have lunch before continuing to visit the Central and Russian Markets and Wat Phnom (temple), the oldest monument in the city, from which Phnom Penh derived its name. Dinner and overnight in Phnompenh.

Day 6: Phnom Penh  - Siem Reap – ANGKOR THOM (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we will be immediately transfer to the Boat Harbor to take an express motor craft from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, across the Tonle Sap Lake and upstream the Tonle Sap River. Before arriving in Siem Reap, we will pass by a floating village where the people move their houses

depending on the dry or rainy season, low or high water. They have everything needed to make a good living by fishing and they have grocery shops as well as a school. Welcomed and transferred to Siem Reap for check-in hotel and have lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom: the Bayon temple, the Baphuan, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Dinner enjoying an Apsara dance; overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Siem Reap – ANGKOR WAT (b/l)

After breakfast, visit the Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty, with giant trees growing hereby for centuries! Ta keo "Jewel of Crystal" is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and was erected at the end of the 10th century. The Ta keo is one of the rare temples where are almost no statues or bas-reliefs. Continue to visit the Thommanon, the Chau Say temples and the natural lake of Sras Srang. After lunch, visit Angkor Wat; The founder Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 had built the five towers in the 12th century and dedicated them to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys, ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction. Enjoy the sunset over Angkor Complex at the top of Phnom Bakheng Mt. or Pre Rup.  Overnight in Siem Reap (dinner at your own arrangement for more leisure time).  

Day 8: Siem Reap - Banteay Srey - Siem Reap (b/L)

After breakfast, spend the entire morning in one of the jewels of Angkor - the Banteay Srey Temple, which means "the Citadel of Women". This temple is built of pink sandstone and presents the most graceful carvings in stone you might have ever seen in your life. The temple is dedicated to the God Shiva. After a picnic lunch near the site, continue to Kbal Spean, the river of thousand Lingas, the phallic symbol of the God Shiva. Arrival near the site, walk for an hour through the forest to arrive at Kbal Spean. Return to Siem Reap for your last night in Cambodia.

(dinner at your own arrangement).

Day 9: Siem Reap Departure (B)

After breakfast, the time before departure is on your own, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.