Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat - Set Departure Tour on November, 2009 November 20, 2009

Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnel - Vinh Long - Can Tho - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Siem Riep
10-day trip with 5 days in Mekong Delta & 5 days in Cambodia
Group size: 10 persons
From US$ 1,305 per person

This trip offers great combination of the two exotic lands and cultures. The trip starts in the dynamic city of Saigon. We will travel to Mekong Delta to experience great boat trip on the mighty river. We will walk on village roads, visit to local houses and take ferry to cross the Mekong River. The highlight of Mekong Delta is the busy and colorful market of Cai Rang. From Mekong Delta we travel to Phnom Penh by boat and start our journey to the majestic beauty of Angkor Wat.

ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Saigon
Arrival in Saigon. Meet our guide at the airport and transfer to hotel in Saigon. Welcome dinner and tour briefing in the evening. Overnight in Saigon

Summary
Hotel transfer: 20 mins
Meal: Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 2: City tour & Cu Chi Tunnel
After breakfast in hotel we take a city tour to see the different faces of this bustling city on a full day tour with extensive visits to the Re-Unification Palace, the Central Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Jade Emperor Temple and the Ben Thanh market. Lunch in local restaurant. After lunch we drive to the famous Cu Chi underground tunnel system to experience how the Viet Cong lived and fought during the American War. Back to Saigon in the afternoon.

Summary
Sightseeing: Half day city tour & half day tour to Cu Chi tunnel
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 3: Saigon – Vinh Long – Can Tho
After breakfast we depart for Cai Be. Upon arrival in Cai Be we board a boat for a journey through the town’s floating market. See how river life goes on, trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Cruise through secluded canals and over the Mighty Mekong to island where we stop to enjoy seasonal fruits before our boat takes us to Vinh Long where we get back on the bus for our trip to Can Tho to overnight.

Summary
Cruise & Culture exploration: Full day
Transportation: AC vehicle, boat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Day 4: Can Tho – Chau Doc
An early start for a boat trip to Cai Rang floating markets, one of the most lively and colorful markets in Southeast Asia. After the market we cruise back to town. Breakfast in hotel and visit to centre market of Can Tho. We will try a xe loi, the local colonial-era cab pulled by motorbike, to see the town. Lunch in local restaurant before heading to Chau Doc. Overnight in Chau Doc.

Summary
Cruise to Cai Rang: 1hr
Transportation: AC vehicle, boat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc

Day 5: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh
Breakfast in hotel and aboard a speed boat at 8 am. The boat approaches Vinh Xuong border gate where passengers complete entry procedures. Continue to Cambodia cruising on Tone Le Sap River. We would reach Phnom Penh International Port (Sisowath Street) around12.30.
Meet and great by our guide and transfer to hotel in Phnom Penh. After check-in we have lunch in local restaurant and take a short city tour of Phnom Penh visiting to the National Museum where we would see the world’s most wondrous collection of Khmer sculture. Continue to Wat Phnom where the Khmers prefer to pray for luck. Back to hotel for overnight.

Summary
Cruise to Phnom Penh: 4-5 hrs
Transportation: AC vehicle, speed boat
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Day 6: City tour of Phnom Penh
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we take an excursion to Tonle Batie, which is 40 km from Phnom Penh, visiting to a pair of old Angkorian-era temple of Ta Prohm and Yeay Poev. In the afternoon, we visit the harrowing Tuol Sleng Museum before continuing to the Killing Field of Choeung Ek where prisoner from Security Prison 21 were taken for execution. It is grim afternoon, but essential for understanding just how far Cambodia has come in the intervening years. Back to hotel. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Summary
Sightseeing: Full day
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Day 7: Fly to Siem Riep
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to airport for a short fly to Siem Riep. Upon arrival in Siem Riep we head to our hotel down town for check-in. The rest of the day we visit to the world wonder of Angkor Wat. We first visit to Southern Gate of Angkor Thom and the unique temple of Bayon. It is a collection of 54 gothic towers decorated with 216 coldy smiling, enormous faces glaring down from every angle. We continue to the Baphoun temple, which would have been one of the most spectacular of Angkor’s temples in its heyday. Moving on to the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Complete the day with sunset watching from Phnom Bakheng Hill. Back to the hotel for overnight. Overnight in Siem Riep

Summary
Sightseeing: Half day
Transportation: AC vehicle, Airplane
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 8: Exploration of Angkor
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we continue to the enchanting temple of the Banteay Srei, the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art. Banteay Srei means ‘Citadel of the Women’ and it is said that it must have been built by a women, as the elaborate carvings are too fine for the hand of a man.
In the afternoon, we visit the Banteay Samre, which dates from the same period as Angkor Wat. The temple is in a fairly healthy state of preservation due to some extensive renovation work. After here we continue to visit the monuments of Rolous, which served as Indravarman I’s capital. The temples were built by the Khmer and mark the beginning of the age of Khmer classical art. Back to the hotel for overnight.

Summary
Sightseeing: Full day
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 9: Exploration of Angkor
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we continue to discover Angkor Wat. In the morning we visit the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. Visit to Pre Rup temple, East Mebon temple, and Neak Poan temple.
In the afternoon we visit to Krovan temple, Royal Bath of Srah Srang and Banteay Kdei temples. Back to the hotel for overnight.

Summary
Sightseeing: Full day
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 10: Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. We take a short bus ride to Tonle Sap Lake. Board a motored boat and enjoy a cruise past a floating village. Visit to local schools in the floating village.
Back to the town and enjoy free time to shop in local market. Transfer to Siem Reap International airport departure flight. Trip completes

Summary
Boat trip: 2 hrs
Transportation: AC vehicle, Boat
Meal: Breakfast

Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety.

Official Website: http://www.activetravelvietnam.com