Everest Trekking, Vancouver, BC, Tours to India, Nepal

INDOCHINA

Sights & Sounds

Vietnam & Cambodia Vietnam & Cambodia


Sights & Sounds
A tour with Judy Moore

Feb 2011

Join Judy for a grand spin through Viet Nam and Cambodia. We have researched the best possible tour of these fascinating countries of Indochina.

The tour starts at Siem Reap to tour the splendid World Heritage Centre of Angkor. Nearby is the largest lake in Asia, Tonle Sap where we travel by boat to see floating fishing villages and rare birds such as the painted stork and the oriental darter.

Three days in Saigon and the Mekong Delta allow us to explore the southern Vietnamese culture that is bold and brash and definitely on the move. Our sanctuary will be the Majestic Hotel in central Saigon, a character hotel that maintains the charm of the French colonial period.

Another flight takes us to Danang and on to Hoi An and Hue, We’ll want to learn more about the “American War” and how these warm and friendly people shaped their newly emerged nation.

We’ll attend a famous cooking school and perhaps make crab in a banana leaf!

Traditional architecture, bike rides in the countryside, and a chance to make your own lantern are other highlights. And don’t forget to bring a treasured item of clothing to be copied overnight by expert tailors.

Hanoi, the Paris of the Orient is next with its water puppets, fascinating street life, superb food and teeming motorcycle traffic.

We take a side trip to Ninh Binh to see the poetic landscape of karsts and electric green rice fields along the Chicken Canal. This area is still a secret where you won’t see many tourists.

Resource: 

Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia :: Michael Buckley :: Moon Publications
Vietnam & Angkor Wat :: Eyewitness Travel

Depart Toronto Jan 31, 2011            Return Feb 19, 2011 

Land Price  $3,200 US

Single Supplement  $950 US

Air Price  $2,250 CAD

Prices subject to change

 

Sights & Sounds

ITINERARY

Leader: Judy Moore

Date

From

To

By

Itinerary

Hotel

Day 1
Jan 31

YYZ

HKG

 

Fly YYZ / HKG

 

Day 2
Feb 1

 

 

 

Arrive Hong Kong

Royal Plaza Hotel – Mong Kok (non – smoking)

Day 3
Feb 2

 

 

 

AM - Hong Kong tour
VN791 HKG / HAN 1455 1555
VN845 HAN / REP 1655 1850

 

Day 4
Feb 2

HAN

HAN
REP

TBA
Flight

On arrival in Siem Reap, transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening, enjoy the welcome dinner with Apsara dance show at the hotel’s restaurant. (D)

Angkor Village Hotel (Deluxe)

Day 5
Feb 3

REP

 

Road

After breakfast, Sightseeing tour start from Angkor Thom via the South Gate, Including with Elephant ride from South Gate to Bayon. Then, visit the Baphoun, Phimeanakas, the Royal Palace, the Elephant Terraces, the Leper King Terrace

*** Elephant ride at the South Gate of Angkor Thom to Bayon Temple at 0830.

PM: Visit Ta Phrom temple, Angkor Wat. (B)

Angkor Village Hotel (Deluxe)

Day 6
Feb 4

REP

 

Road

At 0530 in the morning, pick up from hotel, transfer by car to the dock at close to the Tonle Sap lake. The journey begins on a wooden boat, gliding through floating villages and a flooded forest. Arrive at the Prek Toal bird sanctuary to view indigenous and migrating birds. Observe birds on the brink of extinction, such as local marabous, ibis, storks, and pelicans. A conservation project is underway, and observation posts are being established for bird watchers. Boat back to the dock, pick up and transfer back to the hotel. [B, L]

Breakfast box prepared by the hotel & lunch box by VIDO.

==> The visit to the Preak Toal is up to the water level

Angkor Village Hotel (Deluxe)

Day 7
Feb 5

REP

 

Road

In the morning, drive out to visit the Beng Melea.

In the afternoon, proceed to the graceful Khmer Temple of Shiva at Banteay Srei that dates back to the 11th century. Banteay Srei is a traditional local name and means "Citadel of Women". The site is covered in lavish decorations, friezes, and lintels, and marks the transition from early to late Khmer art. [B]

Angkor Village Hotel (Deluxe)

Day 8
Feb 6

REP

SGN

Flight

 

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Saigon. On arrival, transfer to hotel. The rest of day is at leisure. [B]

Majestic (Colonial)

Day 9
Feb 7

SGN

VINH
LONG

CAN THO

 

Leave Saigon early by road and head south towards the Delta town of Cai Be. Transferring to small boats you first visit Cai Be floating market, take a boat trip to visit a popcorn factory and a family-run business producing rice paper before crossing the mighty Mekong River to Binh Hoa Phuoc Island. You will then have ‘Elephants Ear Fish’, a local delicious specialty for lunch before a relaxing float around the backwater canals of picture postcard South-East Asia. Continue to Vinh Long with stop to visit a brick-kiln. Proceed by car to Can Tho for overnight. [B, L]

Victoria Can Tho (Superior)

Day 10
Feb 8

CAN THO

CAI RANG
SGN

Boat

Private excursion with your boat and guide.

Before dawn you board the boat and head down river you visit Cai Rang floating market where a mass of boats converge to trade. Afterwards, you leave the main river to explore the network of canals that criss-cross the area. Some of the canals are only a few feet wide and are overhung by fruit trees. You can disembark to explore the local fruit gardens and a family run noodle factory.

Transfer back Saigon for overnight. [B]

Majestic (Colonial)

Day 11
Feb 9

SGN

SGN

DAD

Road

Flight

Half-day city tour to visit the former Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Post Office, Chinatown, Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Danang. On arrival, transfer to hotel. [B]

Ancient house (Special)

Day 12
Feb 10

HOI AN

 

 

In the morning, do a biking to visit a lantern workshop to learn the techniques involved and then create your own. Then, continue cycling to the beach and return to Hoi An for a walking tour of the Hoi An’s Old Quarter.
End the day with the cycling to the Tra Que Village. [B]

Ancient house (Special)

Day 13
Feb 11

HOI AN

 

 

The morning, take a shared cooking class at Red Bridge. In the afternoon, another cycling tour around the ancient town. [B, L]

Ancient house (Special)

Day 14
Feb 12

HOI AN

 

 

One more free day to cycling around the city. Guide to be escorted. [B]

Ancient house (Special)

Day 15
Feb 13

HOI AN

HUE

 

In the morning, drive to Hue via Hai Van Pass. Stop in Danang to visit the Cham Museum. Also stop at Lang Co beach. On arrival into Hue, check in your hotel.
In the afternoon, visit to the Citadel then take a boat cruise on the Perfume River to explore Thien Mu Pagoda. On the way back to the hotel, stop at Dong Ba market if time permits. [B]

Morin (Deluxe)

Day 16
Feb 14

HUI

HAN

Flight

In the morning, visit the imperial tombs of Khai Dinh and Tu Duc. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for the flight to Hanoi. On arrival, transfer to hotel. [B]

Hoa Binh Palace(Deluxe)

Day 17
Feb 15

HA NOI

 

Road

A full day to explore the architecture and history of Hanoi. In the morning, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s former residence, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature.
In the afternoon, visit some of the art galleries and prime shopping area before doing some walking through the Old Quarter if time permits.
In the evening, enjoy the water puppet show. [B]

Hoa Binh Palace (Deluxe)

Day 18
Feb 16

HA NOI

NINH BINH

Road

Hanoi–Vuon Thi -Ninh Binh

Drive to Van Long and on arrival enjoy a panoramic bicycle ride taking in paddy fields, pagodas, small villages and the village market. Next stop, Vuon Thi Village where you will be able to interact with local people and participate in daily activities. You will soon discover the lifestyle, hospitality and friendliness of the local Northern people. Experience the preparation of lunch with a local family and then sit down with them for a feast to remember. After lunch, stroll around the village and discover the traditional techniques used in the growing of rice and local methods of fishing. You can even roll up your sleeves and join the farmers in the fields! Later on, experience the dramatic soaring limestone cliffs on a peaceful river boat cruise. Drive to Ninh Binh for overnight. OVERNIGHT IN NINH BINH. [B, L]

Thuy Anh (Dlx 1ST Class)

Day 19
Feb 17

Ninh Binh

Mai Chau

Road

After breakfast, drive to Mai Chau. Lunch at local restaurant. On arrival there, take a trekking to visit Lac Village and some other villages of the White Thai people.
In the evening, enjoy a special dinner with Folk dance, songs, gong music and 'ruou can' alcohol.
Overnight at Lac Village Homestay. [B, L, D]

Lac Village (Homestay)

Day 20
Feb 18

Mai Chau

HAN

Road

After breakfast, depart for Hanoi. In arrival there, take a visit to the Ethnological Museum before transferring to the hotel for the check in. [B]

Hoa Binh Palace (Deluxe)

Day 21
Feb 19

HAN

HKG

TBA

Transfer to the airport for the departure flight. End of services.[B]

 

Day 21
Feb 19

HAN

HKG

YYZ

VN790 1105 / 1355
CX828 HKG / YYZ

 

 
  
Inclusive of:
Exclusive of:
Hotel accommodation & breakfast
Vietnam and Cambodia visa
Private airports transfer & transportation on tours
Personal expenses
Regional ENGLISH speaking guide
Drinks with meals
Entrance fee + boat trip
Meals where not indicated
Flight: REP-SGN (Economy)
Compulsory meals
Flights: SGN-DAD, HUI-HAN (Economy + airport tax)
Airport tax in Cambodia
Meals as indicated
Arrival / Departure flights + airport tax
International flight reconfirmation
Gratuity - tour staff