Discover Mekong Vietnam and Cambodia 10 days

DAY 1: DEPARTURE

Depart from San Francisco/Los Angeles  to Saigon on Major airlines.

DAY 2 : SAIGON

Arrival in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - Transfer - - Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 3 : SAIGON (BREAKFAST)

Excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels - Never discovered by American forces, the CU CHI TUNNELS were an important Vietcong base during the American War. Stretching over 200 km, this incredible underground network, dug by hand out of hard laterite, connected command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapon factories. Today, you can walk through the area and learn about the day-to-day life of the VC, see the cleverly disguised entrances and elaborate booby-traps, and even venture inside the tunnels, some of which have been modified to accommodate tourists. Sightseeing in Saigon - A vibrant metropolis, SAIGON teems with energy, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the meeting of traditional and modern life. The emerging modern skyline stands cheek by jowl with colonial buildings and traditional temples. Outside on the streets, young professionals zip by on motorbikes, chatting on cellphones; inside the quiet temple courtyards, worshippers pray amidst clouds of incense. Begin your tour into modern history with a tour of the REUNIFICATION PALACE. Formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president, this 60's style building was famously stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975 signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state, and the original tanks remain on display near the entrance gates. Afterwards driving to the historic center to visit EMPEROR OF JADE PAGODA, one of Saigon's most interesting pagoda. Proceed to pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and the CENTRAL POST OFFICE. Pass by the classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate CITY HALL (HOTEL DE VILLE), the old OPERA HOUSE (both may only be viewed from the outside). Finally, end up at the central BEN THANH MARKET, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste. Overnight in Saigon

DAY 4: SAIGON - CAN THO (BREAKFAST)

By vehicle from Saigon (city) to Can Tho with sightseeing in My Tho and a boat ride to Mekong River islands - From Saigon, transfer to My Tho, a bustling town in the rich agricultural region of the Mekong Delta and visit the VINH TRANG Pagoda which is splendid with the harmonious fusion of Asian and European architectural styles . Afterwards board a local boat to explore the islands of the Mekong, stopping at a fruit orchard to enjoy fruit and tea while listening to local music. The trip also includes a brief sampan ride through the tiny waterways that thread the island. From My Tho, continue by vehicle onwards to Can Tho. Overnight in Can Tho Special Remark : For the group of 15 pax up, there will be a compulsory meal at USD 26 per person at Victoria Can Tho.

DAY 5: CAN THO - CHAU DOC (BREAKFAST)

Excursion by boat to Cai Rang Floating Market - In the early morning, set out by boat to explore CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET, the biggest and most bustling of the Mekong Delta markets, which attracts fruit and vegetable vendors from all over the region. Buyers on smaller boats weave between the large barges selling wholesale produce. Each vendor advertises fresh samples of their wares on long poles that tower overhead above the colorful boats. Sail through the market, watching people haggle and trade, and possibly sample some of the fruit yourself. By 9 am, the activity has died down and it is time to return to the pier, after exploring some of the backwaters and canals. By vehicle from Can Tho to Chau Doc - Excursion to Sam Mountain - SAM MOUNTAIN rises sharply from the surrounding rice paddies. Considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Vietnam, the mountain is dotted with pagodas and temples, many of them inside caves. A short walk to visit LADY CHUA XU PAGODA at the base and continue up shallow stairways along the mountain, visiting other pagodas as you ascend: Tay An is an ancient pagoda with a mixture of Vietnamese and Asian architectural styles, the main temple has more than 100 statues each representing the power of Buddhism include Phat Thay Tay An (in the 19th century), who has been voted to be a member of the An Giang Buddhism Association. The solemnity and holiness of Tay An has become an invisible power, attracting a great number of monks and pilgrims. Thoai Ngoc Hau (1761-1829), originally named Nguyen Van Thoai, was the first man from this area to exploit the virgin soil, establish living settlements, and dig Vinh Te and Thoai Ha channels. He was buried there along with his two wives and a temple in his honor was built in the 1930s. From HANG PAGODA (Cave Pagoda) enjoy panoramic views over the surrounding countryside, stretching all the way to the typical vast rice field of Mekong delta.Note: This program is not recommended for old people to climb up the mountain due to safety reason. Overnight in Chau Doc

*Special Remark: For the group of 15 pax up, there will be a compulsory meal at USD $26 per person at Victoria Chau Doc.

DAY 6: CHAU DOC - PHNOM PENH (BREAKFAST)

Transfer - On board the Tu Trang Speedboat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh. (No local guide) - Arrival in Phnom Penh - Transfer to/from pier - - Overnight in Phnom Penh

*Special Remark: Tu Trang boat requires minimum 5 pax; otherwise, the boat will collect additional charge if less than 5 pax.

DAY 7: PHNOM PENH (BREAKFAST)

Sightseeing in Phnom Penh - Explore PHNOM PENH, a chaotic, energetic and always fascinating city. Graceful tree-lined boulevards and riverfront promenades are reminders of bygone eras; today they teem with life and activity, as motorcycles weave in and out of traffic, vendor hawk their wares, and pedestrians go about their business. Start your tour with an insight into Cambodia's cultural heritage with a visit to the ROYAL PALACE, still the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoi and the adjacent SILVER PAGODA, also known as the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha. Continue to the elegant NATIONAL MUSEUM, which contains a comprehensive collection of Khmer Art. Finally, explore the modern-day city, visiting one of Phnom Penh's two great markets, the CENTRAL MARKET, located in a distinctive domed Art Deco building (Central Market is currently underconstruction but can be visited as usual), OR the sprawling RUSSIAN MARKET, a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewelry and more. Visit Tuol Sleng (S-21) - Learn about a chapter from Cambodia's more recent, tragic, past at the TUOL SLENG MUSEUM (Museum of Genocide). Formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975, this became the interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime - at that time known as Security Prison 21, or simply S-21. Kept largely unchanged, this prison now showcases photographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims that passed through these doors - only seven of whom came out alive. Excursion to the Killing Fields - Just outside Phnom Penh, in a peaceful rural setting, the KILLING FIELDS OF CHOEUNG EK provide a stark reminder of the atrocities under the Pol Pot regime. Thousands of people were killed here between the years of 1975 and 1978 and buried in mass graves. Overnight in Phnom Penh

DAY 8: PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP (BREAKFAST)

Transfer - Flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap

DAY 9: SIEM REAP (BREAKFAST)

Sightseeing in Angkor - The crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, ANGKOR WAT is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stonecarvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.The fortified city of ANGKOR THOM covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental SOUTH GATE over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS and the TERRACE OF THE LEPER KINGS, former spaces for public cermonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined BAPHUON, ROYAL ENCLOSURE and PHIMEANAKAS before continuing to the mysterious BAYON TEMPLE. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle.Visit TA PROHM, one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them.Watch the sunset over the Cambodian countryside from the upper terraces of an ancient Angkorian temple.

Overnight in Siem Reap

DAY 10: DEPARTURE (BREAKFAST)

Transfer to airport for travel back home.

• Round trip Economy class airfare on Major airlines
• 8 Nights Accomodation 
• Round trip transfers to/from the airport
• English-speaking guide.
• Daily breakfast
• Flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.
• Boat ticket(s) according to itinerary.
• Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle
• Sightseeing incl. admissions fees according to itinerary.
• Accommodation in hotels as mentioned above or equivalent.

• Visa fees
• Visa procedures: Vietnam & Cambodia
• Additional drinks, tipping, and other personal expenses