DAY
1-5: Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Hanoi and Halong
Bay
We follow the same programme as HIH 14 for the
first five days. Please see the Indochina Discovery
tour for itinerary details.
DAY
6: Highlights of Hanoi
We drive back to Hanoi and take an afternoon
tour of Hanoi’s highlights, including
the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the One Pillar
Pagoda, the Temple of Literature and some
classic French architecture. In the evening
we board the Re-unification Express south
to the city of Hue.
DAY
7: Classic Hue
After checking into the hotel, we take
a boat cruise on the Perfume River to
the Thien Mu Pagoda. We also visit the
tomb of Emperor Ming Mang. After lunch,
we enter the citadel, enclosing the old
Imperial Palace and Forbidden Purple City.
DAY
8: Hue to Hoi An
We leave Hue, pausing at Lang Co lagoon on the
way to Danang. We visit the impressive Cham Museum
and continue to the charming town of Hoi An, where
we take a tour of the historic pagodas, houses
and bridges.
DAY
9: Exploring Hoi An
As Hoi An is undoubtedly one of the most charming
towns in all of Vietnam, we leave today free for
soaking up the atmosphere of the streets. Guests
can shop ‘til they drop or take an optional
excursion to the impressive Cham site of My Son.
DAY
10: Hoi An to Saigon
After breakfast, we head to the airport for the
flight to Saigon. We enjoy a city tour, including
Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum,
and some of the best examples of French architecture
around the city.
DAY
11: Cao Dai Temple and the Cu Chi Tunnels
We take a trip to the Cao Dai temple at Tay Ninh
and take part in a morning service for this unique
religion. After lunch, we head underground at
the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible complex of passages
dug by the Vietnamese to avoid American patrols
and bombs. We return to Saigon for dinner and
overnight.
DAY
12: Saigon to Phnom Penh
We take a morning flight to the capital
of Cambodia. We visit the Royal Palace and
Silver Pagoda, the National Museum and the
popular Russian and central markets.
DAY
13: Phnom Penh to Kratie
We travel by boat up the Mekong River from Phnom
Penh to atmospheric Kratie. After lunch we go
by boat to view Cambodia’s freshwater dolpins
inhabiting the river here and catch a sunset from
Sombok Hill. Dinner and overnight in Kratie.
DAY
14: Kratie to Kompong Cham and Phnom Penh
We travel by boat to Kompong Cham and visit
the Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor and the
hills of local legends, Phnom Pros and Phnom
Srey, before returning to Phnom Penh by
road. Dinner and overnight in Phnom Penh.
DAY
15: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
In the morning, we visit the gruesome genocide
museum of Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields
memorial before viewing Wat Phnom, symbol
of the city. After lunch we fly to Siem
Reap. We watch sunset over Angkor Wat, then
return to town for dinner and overnight.
DAY
16: Angkor Wat and the Small Circuit
In the morning, we visit the highlights of the
petit circuit, including Prasat Kravan, the royal
bathing pond of Sra Srang, Banteay Kdei, Takeo
and jungle-clad Ta Prohm. After lunch in town,
we visit magnificent Angkor Wat, the largest religious
building in the world, to view its architecture
and bas reliefs
DAY
17: Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean
Today we enjoy an early morning visit to
Angkor Wat to watch sunrise, before continuing
north to visit the elegant temple of Banteay
Srei and the riverbed carvings of Kbal Spean.
After lunch in town, we visit Preah Khan,
Neak Poan and Banteay Samre.
DAY
18: The Bayon and
Angkor Thom
In the morning we visit the highlights of Angkor
Thom, including Victory Gate, the Bayon, Baphuon,
Phimean Akas, the Terraces of the Elephants and
the Leper King. After lunch in town, we visit
Les Artisans D’Angkor, a workshop to redevelop
traditional Cambodian artisan skills and the Western
Baray. We transfer to the airport for onward flight.
Hanuman is a member of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents and the Cambodian Community-based Ecotourism Network. Hanuman was cited in ‘The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam'.
