| Itinerary for Vietnam & Cambodia Adventure Tour - June 2011 | |
| Included meals are indicated as B = Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner | |
| 02.06.11 | Australia - Singapore Depart Melbourne at 10.10am on SQ 238, arriving in Singapore at 4.05pm. Depart Sydney at 11.20am on SQ 232, arriving in Singapore at 5.45pm. Depart Brisbane at 2.45pm on SQ 236, arriving in Singapore at 8.45pm. All passengers will be transferred to your hotel in the central Singapore. Accommodation: Peninsular Excelsior Hotel |
| 03.06.11 (D) |
Singapore - Hanoi Depart Singapore at 10.00am on SQ 176, arriving in Hanoi at 12.30pm. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. One hour interesting cyclo ride around the French & the old quarter of Hanoi. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel. |
| 04.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Hanoi - Sapa Morning city tour visiting Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, residence, One Pillar Pagoda then to the Museum of Ethnology to have a glimpse at different ethnic minorities before going to the north west of Vietnam. Lunch at KOTO. The afternoon is at leisure then head off to a water puppet show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art before dinner at a local restaurant. We transfer to the train station to board the TSC Train to Sapa at 9.15pm. This first class sleeper carriage train has four seats to a compartment which converts into four sleeping bunks (2 upper/2 lower) for the overnight portion of the journey. The bunks are provided with sheets, pillows and a blanket, though some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Accommodation: Livitrans Train or similar. |
| 05.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Lao Cai - Bac Ha Sunday Market - Sapa Arrive at Lao Cai station at 5.30am, having breakfast at a local restaurant before heading off to Bac Ha Market, a regular market held every Sunday for ethnic minorities. There you'll see the gathering of thousands of people of H'Mong, Phu La, Dao, Tien and Tay ethnic minorities wearing their colourful traditional costumes. It is a riot of colour and fun, an opportunity to explore the colourful market and meet the local tribal people to appreciate their culture and their own tradition. Lunch in Bac Ha. After lunch we head off to Sapa, on the way a stop at Lao Cai town for an opportunity to take photos at the border gate between Vietnam and China. Arrive Sapa late afternoon. Dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Chau Long Hotel (Mountain View) |
| 06.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Sapa Sapa is a hill station built in 1922. The whole area is spectacular, as Sapa lies in a valley surrounded by paddy fields in a variety of shades of green, but is overlooked by Vietnam's highest mountain, Mount Fansipan. You will see the local minority groups, the H'mong and the Dzao people, the largest and the most colourful ethnic groups in the region. After breakfast take a 4km drive to the rim of a deep valley. Along the road you'll see H'Mong, Dzay and Dzao minority people dressed in their traditional costumes. There is a two hour walk around Ta Van and Lao Chai, home to all three minorities. Observe their daily lives for a rare glimpse into their culture and costumes. Lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner is at a local restaurant. In the Evening you will be transferred to the railway station to board your train to Hanoi. Accommodation: Livitrans Train or similar. |
| 07.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Hanoi
- Mai Chau Arrive Hanoi early in the morning. Breakfast is at a local cafe then you head off to Mai Chau. On the way we'll visit a village of the Muong people in Hoa Binh, then continue our journey to Mai Chau. Check into your hotel. In the afternoon you take a walk around the village before dinner at the house followed by a traditional Thai monority music show. Accommodation: Mai Chau Lodge. |
| 08.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Mai Chau - Hanoi This morning is at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities and the fresh air of the country area. In the afternoon you leave Mai Chau going back to Hanoi. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel |
| 09.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Dong
Hoi - Phong Nha - DMZ - Hue Transfer to the airport for an early flight to Dong Hoi. Upon arrival in Dong Hoi, we drive up north to Phong Nha, take a boat trip from a critical point of the Ho Chi Minh trail to go inside and visit Phong Nha cave, known as the longest and most beautiful harst cave in the world. Return to Dong Hoi for lunch at a local restaurant, then head south at Hien Luong Bridge crossing Ben Hai River known as DMZ on the way to Hue. Arrive in Hue late afternoon. Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel. |
| 10.06.11 (B/L) |
Hue In the morning we will visit the historically important Citadel of Hue, scene of savage fighting during the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War. This is followed by a boat trip on the Perfume River and a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda. Lunch at a local restaurant. One hour cyclo tour around the city. The rest of the day is at leisure. Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel. |
| 11.06.11 (B/L) |
Hue -
Danang - Hoi An Depart Hue for the ancient town of Hoi An, the major trading port of Vietnam from the 16th to late 18th century. Beautiful drive on the way across the Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds), passing through many pretty red-tiled villages with fruit orchards, enjoying spectacular views of sky and sea. Stop over at China Beach where the Americans came for R & R during the Vietnam War. Lunch at an excellent restaurant in town Ly Cafe. After lunch a guided walking tour to discover the historic town of Hoi An, which was a prosperous seaport city during the 16th and 18th centuries. Its community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and French influences. It's been known as the "Tailor Capital" of Vietnam. Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel. |
| 12.06.11 (B/D) |
Hoi An The day is at leisure. A good place for wondering around and shopping especially tailoring, shoe-making and handbags. A good place to relax just only 4kms to the beach. One hour boat trip in the late afternoon on the Hoi An River before a cooking demonstration at a nice local restaurant "Morning Glory" Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel. |
| 13.06.11 (B/D) |
Hoi An
- Danang - Ban Me Thout This morning we will have a stop at the Cham Museum, before being transferred to the airport for flight VN 1911 departing at 11.10am to Ban Me Thout. Arrive in Ban Me Thout, the coffee capital of Vietnam. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then visit an EDE hill-tribe (it depends on the local authority). Transfer to Lak Lake and to the spectacular Dry Sap Waterfall. We'll have a scenic boat ride in a traditional dug-out canoe & have a 45 minute elephant ride through the interesting countryside. Accommodation: Lak Lake Resort |
| 14.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Ban Me
Thout - Dalat Leaving Lak Lake for Dalat, with an interesting drive through the countryside to beautiful, wonderful Dalat. Arrive Dalat early afternoon, with lunch at a local restaurant. We have a visit to a beautiful embroidery & flower workshop & free time to wander in the market. Dinner will be at a nice restaurant in town. Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort. |
| 15.06.11 (B/D) |
Dalat In the morning we take a orientation of the city with 15 minute spectacular cable car ride then with visits to the Crazy House and Bao Dai's Summer Palace. Then enjoy a train ride through vegetable gardens to Trai Mat, visit Long Phuoc Pagoda, a famous beer bottle and ceramic fragments Pagoda in town. In the late afternoon drive to Lat village, where the K'hor ethnic group the original people of the area living there, we will attend a performance of ethnic dances, songs and gong music and join them in drinking local wine (if you are game!). Dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort. |
| 16.06.11 (B/L) |
Dalat
- Saigon Depart Dalat for Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon), a beautiful drive through rubber, coffee and tea plantations. On the way passing the La Nga floating village. Arrive in Saigon and have a late lunch at a nice restaurant "Alfresco". After lunch a short walk around Saigon down town passing the Town Hall, Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office. Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel. |
| 17.06.11 (B) |
Saigon In the morning visit the former Presidential Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure. Saigon is a good place for shopping, there are many little shops selling shirts, T-shirts, imitation watches, lacquer wares. The hotel is very central in the business centre of Saigon and just 10 minute walk from the central market. Accommodation: Houng Sen Hotel. |
| 18.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Saigon
- My Tho - Can Tho Depart Saigon for My Tho which is a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh city. A prosperous town of 200,000 inhabitants in the Mekong Delta. It is famous for its extensive orchards and immense rice fields. Enjoy a 4-5 hour boat ride on the Mekong River and visit an orchard on an island, coconut candy workshop, bee farm with lunch at a farmer's house. Continue on the journey, we are crossing an amazing bridge built with help from the Australian Government across the Mekong River in 2000 to Vinh Long then to Can Tho. Dinner at a nice local restaurant. Accommodation: Saigon Can Tho Hotel. |
| 19.06.11 (B/L) |
Can
Tho - Cai Rang - Soc Trang - Can Tho Boat trip on the Mekong River to visit Cai Rang floating market, the largest one in the area then proceed to Soc Trang by land to visit Bat Pagoda, Clay Pagoda and a small Khmer Museum. Lunch is at a local restaurant. The rest of the day is free to explore Can Tho, the capital of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Accommodation: Saigon Can Tho Hotel. |
| 20.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Can
Tho - Long Xuyen - Chau Doc Depart Can Tho for Chau Doc with an en route visit by boat to the Bang Lang stork sanctuary in Thot Not, which offers also the view of the local people on the water. Transfer to the hotel then lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon a boat trip visit to a floating fish farm and a Cham village then driving up the mountain to see a spectacular view of the area from Sam Mountain. Farewell dinner at the hotel. From your hotel balcony you can see the very busy shipping activity from this amazing port on the Mekong River. Accommodation: Victoria Chau Doc (River View) |
| 21.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Chau
Doc - Phnom Penh Depart Chau Doc for Phnom Penh, a 4 hour boat trip on the Mekong River with 'Blue Cruiser' crossing the water boarder. Transfer from Phnom Penh boat pier to the hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon there is a Phnom Penh city tour. Visit the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures from throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda, located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighting 90 kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Sleng Genocide Museum, the infamous "Killing Fields". Accommodation: Juliana Hotel. |
| 22.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Phnom
Penh - Siem Reap Breakfast is at the hotel. At 8.00am you drive to Siem Reap and en-rout visit the Ancients Bridge at Kampong Kdei district and then continue your journey to Siem Reap. Upon arrival to check into your hotel. The rest of the morning is at leisure. Lunch is at the hotel. In the afternoon visit to the famous Angkor Wat Temples and take a sunset view from Bakheng Hill. Dinner is at the hotel. Accommodation: Apsara Holiday Boutique Hotel. |
| 23.06.11 (B/L/D) |
Siem
Reap Early morning balloon ride to see sunrise and view of Angkor areas. Breakfast is at the hotel. Visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, Phimean Akas, Elephants and Leper King Terraces. Lunch is 'western' at Tamarind Restaurant. In the afternoon visit to Banteay Kdei, Ta Keo and Ta Prohm Temples. Enjoy foot massage for 1 hour in the city (beside hotel). Dinner is at the hotel. Accommodation: Apsara Holiday Boutique Hotel. |
| 24.06.11 (B/L) |
Siem
Reap - Singapore - Australia Breakfast at hotel. In the morning visit Banteay Srei Temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer Art. and Banteay Sayra Temple. In the afternoon you will visit Neak Pean and Preah Khan Temples until your transfer to Siem Reap International Airport, departing at 6.35pm on MI 617 (Silk Air), arriving in Singapore at 9.55pm. Melbourne passengers depart Singapore at 11.35pm on SQ 237, arriving in Melbourne at 8.55am (25.06.11). |
| 25.06.11 | Brisbane passengers depart Singapore at
12.10am on SQ 255, arriving in Brisbane at 9.45am. Sydney passengers depart Singapore at 12.25am on SQ 231, arriving in Sydney at 9.45am. |