Saigon  & Angkor Along the River  8  days/  7 nights

There are plenty of ways to get to Cambodia from Saigon. One of those becoming popular is by boat through the Mekong Delta. This way will save much of your time and also bring a chance for you to see one of the most interesting parts of Vietnam: Mekong Delta. Trip starts from Saigon and concludes in Phnom Penh and Angkor Vat.

Day 1 : Arrival in Saigon
Arrival in Saigon, pick up and transfer to hotel, time to relax. Ovenright in hotel in Saigon

Day 2: Saigon - Cai Be - Can Tho (L)
Departure from the hotel at 8:00am. Take a unique opportunity to see the process of making rice noodle in a typical village in the countryside. Arrival Cai Be you will visit a local workshop to see how they make pop rice and pop corn. Cai be floating market a unique opportunity to see trading and commerce on the vast waterways. After weaving through the lush greenery of the Mekong River you will arrive on An Binh Island in Vinh Long to visit with the local people and beautiful collection of Bonsai. Visit the fascinating collection of tropical fruit trees and flowers nursery of Mr. Tam Ho. Depending on the day you can see the local boat building, the local production of bricks and earth ware in the area. Enjoy a local lunch on the island. Continue cruising to Vinh Long. Pick up and drive to Can Tho. Overnight at the hotel in Can Tho

Day 3: Can Tho - ChauDoc.  (B,L)
Another discovery in the Mekong Delta: the floating markets. You will wake up early to visit the floating market of Cai Rang where a great variety of fruits and vegetables found in the region are sold. From Can Tho, you will travel the colorful road to the bustling river town of Chau Doc. Take a short trip to the Sam Mountain for impressive views over Cambodia and the Delta before enjoying some local cuisine. Overnight at the hotel in Chau Doc

Day 4 : Chau Doc - Phnom Penh (B,L)
This morning we will have a boat ride from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh departing at 8am. The boat takes us  along the Mekong River. It continues on to the Vietnamese (Vinh Xuong) - Cambodian (Kaom Samnar) border and then to Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. The journey takes approximately 4 hours. Arrival transfer our hotel in  Phnompenh, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia. A visit to Phnom Penh is a very interesting experience indeed. It is a city with an interesting pulse and it gives you a very true taste of Asia. We  will visit the Wats Phnom, National museum, silver Pagoda and Royal Palace. Overnight  in Phnom Penh.

Day 5 :  Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B,L)
After your sumptuous breakfast, take an interesting speed-boat ride to Siem Reap (around 5 hours). On the way, see the scenic scenery of the Cambodian rural life-style along the riverbank (optional by air). Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for a short relaxation. In the afternoon, visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong, the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei ,built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 6 : Angkor Wat (B,L)
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 in the local restaurant. Visit the South Gate, the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat.  Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 7  : Siem Reap - Banteay Seil - Preah Khan (B,L)
Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 8 : Siem Reap departure (B)
Free at your own leisure until transfer to the airport for departure flight.

Cost per person in USD based on  twin sharing for private tour ( valid until 30 Sept 2012)

Accommodation option

Note : From the and of April to the end of June, the water in Mekong river is too low, the speet boat is not in operating, in this case, flight option between Phnom Penh & Siem Reap will be applied with aditional charge of 75 USD/ pax

Trip includes:

+ English speaking guide.

+ Accommodation as indicated

+ Meals as indicated ( B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)

+ Speed boat : Chau Doc - Phnom Penh; Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

+ Boat cruise in Mekong Delta

+ Entrance fees and permits during guided time.

+ Service charge & Government taxes

Trip excludes

+ International Airfares.

+ International departure tax

+ Meals not indicated

+ Additional flight Phnom Penh - Siem Rap : 75 USD /pax with tax

+ Vietnam visa : compulsory ( visa up arrival letter in advance 30 USD/ pax)

+ Cambodia visa : available at the border

+ Personal travel insurance (Compulsory).

+ Personal expenses such as Bar, Telephone and Laundry bills.

+ Tips and gratuities