Southern Vietnam And Cambodia

Saigon, Vietnam’s biggest city with almost 10 millions inhabitants and 2,5 millions motobikes is full of life. Colors, ordors, and bursting energie of youth will awaken your senses as soon as you get out of the airport. Have your free time to relax and stroll around at leisure in your first day in this city.
 

In the morning, visit the historic sites of the city, including the Old Post Office of Saigon, the Notre Dame cathedral, and Dong Khoi street, all dating back to the French colonial time. Discover the Chinese district of Cho Lon with the bustling Binh Tay market and Thien Hau Temple, which houses beautiful ceramic bas-reliefs dating from 17th century depicting social scenes and traditions in old China. In the afternoon, we will take you to the War Museum, where tanks and aircraft wreckage still breathe the destruction of the war, while the final message as we go through it is one of peace. At Kim Lien Pagoda, you will be allured by the serene athmosphere in the small room of a Buddhist nun, who uses calligraphy as a means to express inner beauty and harmony. She will help you to write your own calligraphy. You’ll leave with a fine calligraphy as a souvenir.

You will spend your entire day exploring the nature and people of the Mekong delta. Discover the languid charm of the legendary Mekong River as you explore the bustling Cai Be floating market  and the quaint byways which are bordered with seemingly endless orchards, where you’ll have the chance to gather and taste exotic seasonal fruits. Be impressed by the vastness of the river and the diversity of the vegetation on the islands formed by alluvial deposits over hundreds years. A stop in a garden for lunch will allow you to observe the lifestyle of local residents. Thanks to the generous nature of the Mekong delta, their inhabitants are simple, yet warm and gentle in their heart. In the afternoon, continue by boat to Vinh Long, where you take the road to Can Tho via the longest bridge of South-East Asia.

In the morning, ride in a small motorboat on Cai Nong canal to visit the floating market of Cai Rang. Before you approach the market, you will begin to cross retailers going back on their small boats filled with fruits and vegetables.  The sight of wooden boats with sample of fruits and vegetables hung on high poles attached to its roofs announces that you are about to enter the biggest floating market of the Mekong Delta. You will be surprised by the huge variety of products sold at the market, from well-known fruits like mangos and bananas, to exotic ones like mangosteens, star apples. the sweetened longans and the very odorous durians. Don’t forget to taste some delicious pineaple freshly cut. Resist the inviting soup venders smiling behind their big, steaming pots. People,  dogs, cats, cocks...everyone seem to be totally at ease with their own roles on the boats. What a treat for the eyes! Leave the market to continue cruising along other small canals to see local arts and crafts.  In the afternoon, visit the ancient Binh Thuy house and a Khmer pagoda. Then take a bike ride through the local orchards along the countryside roads of Can Tho city. Be prepared to say hello fifty times to the greeting children along the way. Back to Can Tho at the end of the day, full of images and emotions.

We depart this morning for Chau Doc, where we will arrive in the late morning. Chau Doc is the last big town on the Vietnamese side of the border with Cambodia. The town has an atmosphere of its own. For Vietnamese, it is famous for the spring pilgrimage to Ba Chua Xu temple. We will visit Ba Chua Xu temple, Tay An pagoda and Thoai Ngoc Hau tomb, the later being the father Vinh Te canal work, which changed the life of the people at this far-end of the country in the18th century. In the afternoon, an excursion by boat will take us near the Cambodian border. You may glimpse at fishermen belonging to the Cham ethnic people, and at their daily life activities around the area. Also, you will notice hundreds of floating houses on the river, where they grow a specific kind of catfish to be exported worldwide.

In the morning, transfer to the border gate of Tinh Bien / Phnom Den. Complete custom formalities. Then continue driving to Phnom Penh through the province Takeo. Lunch at local restaurant. Stop en route to visit the Phnom Chisor temple. Phnom Chisor dates from the Angkorian times and sits majestically on a hill. You’ll climb hundreds of stairs to reach it. Once on top, you’ll see that your efforts have been completely worthwhile – the view is spectacular looking down on the plains and their temples. Tour the temple or interact with the children and others who live at Phnom Chisor. Downhill, visit a silk weaving village. On the way to Phnom Penh, you visit Prasat Neang Khmau – the “Black Lady Temple,” whose history is related to the Chisor temple. Arrive in Phnom Penh at the end of the day.

Visit the city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, situated at the confluence of the four arms of the Mekong. You’ll see the Independence Monument which commemorates the end of the French protectorate in Cambodia in 1953 and pays homage to those who fought for their country’s liberty. Continue with a visit to Wat Phnom, to learn more about the foundation of the city and the story of Madam Penh. Many monkeys have taken this place over as their residence. Follow this with a trip to the National Museum, a not-to-be-missed introduction to Angkor and a superb example of Khmer architecture. Officially inaugurated in 1920, the museum displays a range of sculptures dating from different periods of Cambodia’s history. Visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom and comprising different structures grouped together in one enclosure. These house a remarkable collection of Khmer art. Here you’ll find the Silver Pagoda whose key works include a golden Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and weighing 90 kg, and a Buddha featuring emeralds and Baccarat crystal dating from the 17th century. Travel to the city’s south to understand another period of Cambodia’s history: the regime of the Khmer Rouge. Here, you’ll visit the genocide museum of Tuol Sleng, an old secondary school which was transformed into a detention center under the Khmer Rouge. The prison gates carry the name “S21.” Thousands of prisoners were detained, tortured and killed here. Returning to Phnom Penh, visit the Russian markets (Tuol Tumpoung) where you can stroll among all the stalls and try your hand at bargaining. You’ll find fabrics, jewels, jewelry, housewares and handicrafts among many other items.

Transfer to the airport in Phnom Penh for the flight to Siem Reap, where you will arrive at the end of the morning. Siem Reap will be the base for your exploration of the Angkor temples. In the afternoon, travel about a half-hour from Siem Reap to discover one of the oldest sites of the region: the Roluos group. Begin your visit with the impressive Bakong temple of the ninth century, then Preah Ko and Lolei, which today houses a small monastery. This visit is an ideal introduction to Angkor because it allows you to understand exactly how this Khmer city was structured. Return to the hotel late in the day.

Meet your guide this morning to discover the marvelous temple of Angkor Wat, the world heritage site whose soaring tours and extraordinary bas-relief are not to be missed. It is considered one of the most amazing monuments ever conceived by man and was erected in the 12th century (1112-1152) in honor of Vishnu. In the afternoon, travel to Banteay Srei to see one of Khmer art’s most impressive jewels. Erected in the 10th century, this small pink sandstone temple whose name means “The Citadel of Women” contains some remarkable carved lintels in very good condition. Andre Malraux brought fame to this temple at the beginning of the 20th century when, in 1923, he returned some Apsara heads that he had previously removed. On the way home, visit the ancient Ta Prohm monastery, where immense roots have taken hold of its stones. Beyond this amazing vegetation you’ll find some splendid sculptured Devatas and an atmosphere totally befitting this marvelous temple and others built during the reign of Jayavarman VII.

In the morning, leave by tuk-tuk, a three-wheeled vehicle, for the northern end of Angkor to begin the day by visiting Preah Khan temple. The temple was built by Jayavarman VII in 1191 in honor of his father who is represented as the saving god of Mayahan Buddhism. This monument was in fact both a city and a place for Buddhism studies. Of the same era, Neak Pean, the only island temple of Angkor, is also referred to as Nagas Entwined. It is said to symbolically represent Anavatapta, the mythical sacred lake of the Himalayas, venerated in India for its waters’ curative virtues. The large central basin is linked with four smaller ones representing the four great rivers emerging from the earth’s four cardinal points, each with its own gargoyle: a lion, a horse, an elephant and a man. Of particular interest is the superb statue of Balaha, which represents the legendary savior of shipwrecked boats. Continuing your exploration of Angkor, we move further south to encounter the two very beautiful temples – Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda which date from the 12th century and were constructed under the reign of Suryavarman II. They feature beautiful sculptured images honouring Shiva and Vishnu. The Devatas here have an exceptional grace, especially those at Chau Say Tevoda. In the afternoon, visit the Great City of Angkor Thom, beginning at the southern gate’s famous Bayon temple built in the 12th and 13th centuries and dedicated to Buddhism. Bayon comprises 54 gigantic towers featuring 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. Then visit the 350-meter-long Elephant Terrace, which was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and a base for the King’s grand audience hall, and see the raised terrace of the Leper King, built in the 12th century and presenting many of the city’s most admired Apsara sculptures.

In the morning, leave for Kompong Khleang, a village about 40 km from Siem Reap and not yet discovered by mass tourism. It is a village whose houses are all on stilts, creating an exceptional natural environment with breathtaking views of flooded plains, water extending as far as the eye can see, of sparkling green rice plantations. Walk through the village meeting its inhabitants, stopping at a house where the family raises crocodiles. Afterward, continue cruising on local boats to another part of the lake to visit a displaced Vietnamese village. Return to the village and enjoy the picnic lunch. In the afternoon, head back to Siem Reap where you will have some free time to spend at the old market until transferring to the airport for your departure flight. Your room is available until noon only.