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Join Gord and Gail for a grand spin through Viet Nam and Cambodia. We have researched the best possible tour of these three fascinating countries.
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.
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.
Three days in Saigon 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.
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.
Recommended Reading:
Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia :: Michael Buckley :: Moon Publications
Depart Vancouver March 7th, 2009
Return Vancouver March 26th, 2009
Land Price includes: Hotel accommodation (dble occupancy), breakfast, airport transfers, all domestic air and ground transportation, entrance fees, boat trips and tour staff gratuities.
Air Prices includes: Cathay Pacific economy air from Vancouver to Hong Kong, Hong Kong hotel outbound plus airport transfers.
| Day 1 | fly YVR / HKG | Sat Mar 7, 2009 |
| CX 839 1430 | ||
| Day 2 | arrive Hong Kong 2055 | Mar 8 |
| Park Hotel - Kowloon | ||
| Day 3 | Hong Kong Island - peak | Mar 9 |
| fly HKG / Siem Reap FT827 1705 / 1845 | ||
| Angkor Village Hotel | ||
| Day 4 | Siem Reap | March 10 |
| am - Angkor Wat / elephant ride | ||
| pm - Angkor Thom | ||
| Day 5 | Tonle Sap (Lake) bird sanctuary | March 11 |
| 5:30am -Bus and boat to Peak Toal | ||
| 4 pm return to hotel | ||
| Day 6 | Siem Reap | March 12 |
| am - Beng Melea | ||
| pm - Bantisrea | ||
| Day 7 | fly SR / Saigon | March 13 |
| pm - Walking tour | ||
| Majestic Hotel | ||
| Day 8 | tour to the Delta | Sat March 14 |
| regional hotel | ||
| Day 9 | return to Saigon | March 15 |
| Majestic hotel | ||
| Day 10 | fly Saigon / Hanoi | March 16 |
| Day 11 | bus to Ninh Binh area | March 17 |
| pm - cycle to Vuon Thi village | ||
| Canal travel by boat / village visit | ||
| Ninh Binh hotel | ||
| Day 12 | bus to Mai Chau - 3 hrs | March 18 |
| pm -Walk thru rice paddies to area villages | ||
| Lac Village Homestay | ||
| Day 13 | return to Hanoi - 3 hrs | March 19 |
| Ethnology museum | ||
| Water Puppets show | ||
| Hoa Binh Palace hotel | ||
| Day 14 | Hanoi | March 20 |
| Uncle Ho's mausoleum | ||
| Day 15 | fly to Da Nang | Sat March 21 |
| pm - Minh Mang temple / Citadel | ||
| Morin Hotel | ||
| Day 16 | bus to Hoi An | March 22 |
| pm - walking tour | ||
| Ancient House hotel | ||
| Day 17 | Hoi An | March 23 |
| cycle touring - beach / lantern shop | ||
| Ancient House hotel | ||
| Day 18 | am - cooking school | March 24 |
| pm - cycle touring | ||
| Ancient House Hotel | ||
| Day 19 | fly Da Nang / Hanoi | March 25 |
| Pm - walking tour | ||
| Hoa Binh Palace hotel | ||
| Day 20 | fly HAN / HKG / YVR | March 26 |
| CX790 1105 / 1355 | ||
| CX838 1645 / 1330 same day |