Tour Code:       L15M - VC

Trip Length:     15 Days / 14 Nights

Category:         Luxury (Leisure)

Operate:          Year round / on demand

Destination:     Vietnam, Cambodia

I. DETAILED ITINERARY:

Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel for check-in, tour-briefing and free at leisure to acclimate yourself. Enjoy Welcome Dinner hosted by Latitude Journeys at one of the most traditional restaurant.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meet your guide at hotel and start a full day city tour of Vietnam’s capital. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. We’ll see the city’s outstanding historical and cultural sites: President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, the Presidential homes, the National Assembly area, and an opportunity to learn more about the country’s constitution. We’ll continue to the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, and become acquainted with Viet Nam’s two major religions, Buddhism and Confucianism. We top off the morning by touring the Fine Arts Museum then enjoy lunch at a nice restaurant.

We restart in the afternoon with the Museum of Ethnology where cultures of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups are depicted. We get back to the very heart of Hanoi for a walk around the Lake of the Restored Sword then explore the famous Old Quarter of 36 guild streets by rickshaw. Evening highlight is a performance of the internationally renowned water puppetry theater. Return to Hanoi station and finish the memorable trip.

Night train to Sapa.

Early morning arrival at Lao Cai, then transfer upland to the town of Sapa and hotel check-in. The rest of the day is devoted to exploring this exotic region of the Northern Hill Country, visiting the unusual markets, and getting acquainted with the different ethnic hill tribes such as the H’mong, Red Dao, Tay and others. We then talk a short walk out of town for a great vista of Vietnam’s highest mountain range, Fansipan, filled with terraced rice paddies and deep valleys. Enjoy the incredible mountain vista at sunset.

Overnight in Sapa.

An entire day to enjoy the natural wonders, or learn more about the varied cultures of the region’s Hill People. We will have ample opportunity to visit different villages of the H’mong, Red Dao, and Tay people in the Muong Hoa Valley. Home visits are included, and be sure to bring our cameras. This is a Photographer’s paradise. Walking by foot, hill climbing, trekking, or taking it easy by jeep. Overnight in Sapa.

If we are in Sapa from Monday to Saturdays, we will take a jeep tour to Silver Waterfall and Heaven’s Gate Pass (the highest Pass in Viet Nam, over 2,000 meters). Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding valley.

If this day is a Sunday, we will visit Ba Cha Hill Tribe Market instead. Drive three hours to town of Ba Cha and thrill to the sights at the Ba Cha Market. On this day, the various hill peoples gather in all their finest, most colorful, clothing at one of the biggest market gatherings in Viet Nam’s northern mountain region. This is their special one-day of the week to trade, shop, and socialize. Not to be missed, especially for photographers.

In the late afternoon, the night train returns to Hanoi.

Pick up at Hanoi station, in the morning we start our exploration day by a ride to Halong Bay, northeast of Hanoi and enter into the Red River Delta, rich with rural beauty and picturesque rice-farming villages. Not just pictures, we can stop for close-up views of  buffalos ploughing, women in conical hats scooping their paddies. Once reaching Halong Bay, we board our cruise and set sail for an extraordinary cruise of Halong Bay. Declared as the World Heritage Site twice for its nature beauty and geological by UNESCO, we’ll cruise through its three-thousand islands and rich rock-formations and stop at Ga Choi Island, Dinh Huong Island, Dog Island, Sail Island… You’ll be able to sample the rich seafood served on-board while viewing the islands. Late afternoon we have chance to explore the bay on our kayaks. We’ll close out the day by a romantic dinner and overnight on board.

Wake-up for sun shine and morning coffee then we take a bamboo boat to visit Sung Cot Cave – one of the largest in Halong Bay. We then continue our exploration by the cruise pass-by the city’s market – Hon Gai and enjoy our last seafood lunch on-board before get back to Halong City. Our car will take us back to Noi Bai airport for late afternoon flight to Danang. We’ll drive to Hoian Town, 30 Km south of Da Nang.

Overnight in Hoian.

The day will be spent exploring Hoian’s winding streets and centuries-old architecture, which combines Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese influences. Highlighted are the Chinese Assembly Hall, homes of the old merchant families. ancient temples, and the Japanese Bridge.

Overnight in Hoian.

Morning drive to Danang airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival there is a city overview tour of the important landmarks: The Central Post Office, The former Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Saigon waterfront, and finally, the excitement of the Cho Lon District (Saigon’s “China-town”). You’ll have ample opportunity to experience the Binh Tay Central Market and the Thien Hau Pagoda.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meet your private guide at hotel at 8:30 AM then drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Cu Chi Tunnels. That’s an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. There is a chance to visit the underground shelters where the revolutionary cadres were living.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meet your guide at hotel and leave Ho Chi Minh City for Vinh Long early in the morning. On arrival at Cai Be, we’ll board a boat to explore the floating market, typical of the Mekong Delta. Continue by boat to Binh Hoa Phuoc Island to visit orchards of tropical fruits and have lunch in the famous Bonsai garden of Mr Sau Giao. After lunch we proceed by boat to Vinh Long Town for transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Free until transfer to the airport for short flight to Phnom Penh. Arrive Phnom Penh by morning flight, Phnom Penh - the city retains its traditional Khmer and colonial charm. French villas along tree-lined boulevards remind the visitor that the city was once considered the gem of Southeast Asia. Recent political changes have triggered an economic boom of sorts, with new hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs springing up around the city.

Firstly, visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and also one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver. Travelers will proceed to visit  Independence Monument which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony, continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was build since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others. Visit the notorious Toul Sleng Museum. In 1975 Toul Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). We pass through the River Front park whose scenery is much worth shooting, and continue to the only one hill in town with sacred sites called Wat Phnom before walking along Mekong River bank to see the lovely Phnom Penh city at night with breathtaking view along the river.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Morning we take flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at airport you are met and transfer to your hotel (upon room availability). Then we start visit:

-       We continue to visit the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers

-       Prasat Kravan - with its unique brick sculptures

-       Srah Srang - The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing

-       Banteay Kdei (surrounded by four concentric walls).

-       Visit Eastern Mebon used to be in the middle the waters of the large Oriental Baray that is presently filled with rice-fields

-       Neak Poan was supposed to be a symbol of the Universe

-       Preah Khan built in 1191 according to the tradition on a spot where the king fought a crucial battle against the Cham.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Early morning we start witness sunrise over Angkor Wat temple and listening singing birds over the ancient land of Angkor area. About 6:45AM we walk to nearby Pagoda and offering food to monks. After monks finished breakfast we start enjoy our breakfast box on the ground floor of pagoda, jasmine tea will be served in the peaceful of pagoda.

Visit Kbal Spean, about 49km from Siem Reap Town and it is literally means "The head of the River.” It is one of the rivers in 1000 Lingas that made up of unique Lingas. Lingas stands into the riverbed of the Siem Reap River. It was believed that the Lingas spiritually "fertilized” the waters that fed the Eastern bay and irrigated the rice fields.

-       Banteay Srei: nearly everyone's favorite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its compact size, remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of it decorative carving

-       Banteay Samre: Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.

Enjoy foot massage 1 hour before transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Rest and relax before departure from Siem Reap, or explore the city on your own. Transfer and departure assistance provided.

End of Itinerary

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Tour Includes:

• Accommodation
• Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• Domestic Air Tickets (Hanoi - Danang//Danang – Ho Chi Minh City)
• English or French speaking guide
• Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time
• Additional surprises

Tour Excludes:

• International Air Tickets
• Diving & Snorkeling equipments
• Visa fees
• Not mentioned services
• Tip and gratuities