TRAVEL SERVICE & RESERVATION – Gail Lukasiewicz

Day 1 – 09 Oct: Ho Chi Minh (Arrival)

Please be ready at the airport in Sydney 3 hours to check in your flight. Arrive airport in Ho Chi Minh at 16:00 PM (VN772), our driver welcomes and transfers you to hotel.

Rest of the day is your leisure time to explore the city on your own.

• Overnight at Queen Ann Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• N/A

Day 2 – 10 Oct: Ho Chi Minh (explore city tour & Cu Chi tunnels)

Breakfast will be served at your hotel.

At 08:30 AM, Our guide pick up you visit Ho Chi Minh. Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars.

Have lunch at local restaurant.

Depart for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun.

Return to Ho Chi Minh.

• Overnight at Queen Ann Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• B,L

Day 3 – 11 Oct: Ho Chi Minh city → Mekong Delta

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Mekong trip as you will be back to this hotel to stay more.

At 08:30 AM, Pick up guests at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and depart for My Tho Port.‬ Boat cruise on the Tien River to view the four islets: Long, Lan, Quy, Phung.‬

The‬ ‭boat‬ ‭passes‬ ‭by‬ ‭floating‬ ‭fish‬ ‭farms‬ ‭along‬ ‭the‬ ‭Tien‬ ‭River,‬‭ offering ‬‭a ‬‭view‬ ‭of ‬‭Rach ‬‭Mieu‬ Bridge.‬

‭Arrive‬ ‭at‬ ‭Thoi‬ ‭Son‬ ‭islet:‬ ‭Stroll‬ ‭through‬ ‭village‬ ‭paths,‬ ‭visit‬ ‭fruit‬ ‭orchards,‬ ‭enjoy‬ ‭seasonal‬ fruits, and listen to traditional Southern Vietnamese music.‬

‭Rowing‬ ‭boat‬ ‭through‬ ‭small‬ ‭canals:‬ ‭Enjoy‬ ‭the‬ ‭peaceful‬ ‭riverine‬ ‭scenery,‬ ‭visit‬ ‭a‬ ‭honey‬ ‭bee‬ farm, and taste honey tea and banana wine.‬
‭Continue‬ ‭down‬ ‭the‬ ‭Tien‬ ‭River‬ ‭to‬ ‭Tan‬ ‭Thach‬ ‭Canal‬ ‭(Ben‬ ‭Tre):‬ ‭Visit‬ ‭a‬ ‭coconut‬ ‭candy‬ workshop, and explore traditional handicrafts.‬
‭Motor boat ‬‭excursion ‬‭on ‬‭Tan ‬‭Thach ‬‭canal: ‬‭Discover ‬‭the ‬‭daily ‬‭life ‬‭of‬ ‭local‬ ‭people, ‬‭have ‬‭lunch‬ at‬‭ a ‬‭local ‬‭restaurant.‬‭ The ‬‭eco-restaurant‬ ‭features‬‭ crocodile,‬‭ porcupine ‬‭farms,‬‭ frog, ‬‭and‬ ‭snake‬ farming‬ ‭models,‬ ‭hammocks‬ ‭for‬ ‭relaxing,‬ ‭and‬ ‭bicycles‬ ‭for‬ ‭exploring‬‭ fruit‬‭ or chards, ‬‭coconut‬ groves, and rice fields.‬

Bike‬ ‭tour‬ ‭through‬ ‭village‬ ‭paths:‬ ‭Learn‬ ‭about‬ ‭the‬ ‭everyday‬ ‭life‬ ‭of‬ ‭local‬ ‭residents.‬

Return to My Tho Port to continue to Can Tho.‬

• Overnight at KP Can Tho Hotel in Can Tho
• B,L

Day 4 – 12 Oct: Mekong Delta → Ho Chi Minh city

Have breakfast at hotel.

Relaxing‬ ‭boat‬ ‭ride‬ ‭to‬ ‭explore‬ ‭the‬ ‭picturesque‬ ‭tributaries‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Hau‬ River, followed by a visit to the bustling Cai Rang Floating Market.‬

Visit‬ ‭a‬ ‭local‬ ‭noodle-making‬ ‭factory.‬ ‭Explore‬ ‭Munir‬ ‭Ansay‬ ‭Pagoda,‬ ‭a‬ ‭renowned‬ ‭Khmer‬ ‭pagoda with unique architecture.‬

‭Then, proceed to Son Islet, visit fish farms, fruit orchards, and enjoy seasonal fruits.‬

‭Lunch and return to Ho Chi Minh City, ending the tour.‬

• Overnight at Queen Ann Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• B,L

Day 5 – 13 Oct: Ho Chi Minh city → Hanoi

Breakfast at hotel.

Your leisure time in the city until our driver transfer you to Tan Son Nhat airport for flight to Hanoi.

Arrival at the airport in Hanoi, our driver welcomes and transfers you to hotel. Your leisure time for walking around the Old Town for shopping and relax in Hanoi.

• Overnight at La Dolce Vita Hotel in Hanoi.
• B

Day 6 – 14 Oct: Hanoi (City tour)

Breakfast at hotel.

Around 8:30 AM, Get picked up by our friendly guide and start to explore Hanoi City.

08.45: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish IsLand in West Lake

It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century.

09.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Godess of Mercy – It is the most unique padoga in the world

• Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, pagodas…
• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.
• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed at least 2 months (15thJune -15thAugust) for the annual maintaining but still can take picture Mausoleum and visit around that area

11.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam.

Special Note: we will visit Women Museum instead of Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays

12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes.

14.00 – 14.15 : Continue to visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century.

15.15: Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton”

Enjoy take a cyclo tour around the bustling old quarter to see the ordinary life of Vietnamese people in Hanoi.

Afterward, drop you at the hotel.

• Overnight at La Dolce Vita Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L

Day 7 – 15 Oct: Hanoi → Halong Bay

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Halong bay trip as you will be back to this hotel to stay more.

At 7:50 – 8:00AM, Our guide Pick you up at your hotel and go to Halong bay on a shuttle bus. Arrival in Halong around 11:45PM.

12.00 – Meeting at TuanChau harbour. Check in Royal Palace Cruise and you are warmly welcomed by a professional and friendly crew.

13:00 – Check-in cabin and enjoy specially prepared lunch while cruising through most beautiful parts of the magical bay with thousands of amazing limestone islands emerging from emerald water. Sailing with Royal Palace Cruise in very tranquil route, exploring the exotic beauty of the legendary Bay, a feeling in paradise will come to you.

14:30 – Keep cruising to the most beautiful parts of Halong Bay. This is the best time to relax after lunch and enjoy your privacy, capturing stunning photos of the legendary bay.

15:30 – Small tender brings you to visit Titop island, hiking to the top of the island from where tourists can capture a panoramic view of Halong Bay.

16:30 – Kayaking & swimming 18:00 – Join the sunset party on the sundeck in a warm and romantic atmosphere, making friends with other members in the group, enjoy fresh local fruit, listening soft, light music, wearing traditional costumes for kings, queens, and mandarins.

19:00 – Enjoy the special dinner cooked by our professional chef.

20:30 – The moment you choose your own way to relax after dinner, listening to music, singing karaoke, relaxing on the sundeck, squid fishing available for entertainment during the night time.

• Stay overnight on Royal Palace Cruise
• B,L,D

Day 8 – 16 Oct: Halong Bay → Hanoi

06:00 – Take photos of sunrise, morning exercise with our Tai Chi master, a perfectly healthy way to start a new day.

07:00 – Enjoy your breakfast, coffee, tea, fruits.

07:45 – Visit Surprising Cave – the most beautiful one in Halong Bay.

09:00 – Back to Royal Palace Cruise for check-out. Keep cruising towards Ha Long Bay, passing by hundreds of islands and islets with different shapes depending on your imagination.

10:00 – Cooking class opened right on the cruise.

11:00 – Farewell lunch served on the cruise before you arrive at harbor.

12:30 – Tour ends at Tuan Chau habour.

Get on bus to go back to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi around 4:30pm.

• Overnight at La Dolce Vita Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L

Day 9 – 17 Oct: Hanoi → Bangkok

Breakfast at hotel. At 07:30 AM, our driver transfers you airport for flight to Bangkok, Thailand. (depart at 11:10 AM – VJ901)

Upon Bangkok airport at 13:00 PM , our driver picks up and transfers you to hotel for check in.

• Overnight at Bizotel Premier Hotel in Bangkok.
• B

Day 10 – 18 Oct: Bangkok (Visit Ayutthaya)

Morning, Check out from the hotel and keep lagguge in srore room at hotel.

08:00 AM Pick up from hotel and transfer to the river city shopping complex, Siphraya, next to Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel.
Visit Bnag Pa-In Royal Palace, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, also known as the Summer Palace, is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings. It lies beside the Chao Phraya River in Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province in Thailand.

Visit visit Wat Maha That. The Wat Mahathat is a Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya, central Thailand.

Enjoy with Local Lunch at Thai Restaurant.

Visit Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the holiest temple on the site of the old Royal Palace in Thailand’s ancient capital of Ayutthaya until the city was completely destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, during the Burmese–Siamese War.

The transfer back to hotel in Bangkok.

• Overnight at Bizotel Premier Hotel in Bangkok
• B,L

Day 11 – 19 Oct: Bangkok (Damnern Saduak Floating Matket + Train Market)

Breakfast at hotel

07:00 AM: Pick up time.

7:15: Departure from Bangkok to train market.

8:40: Arrive at the market, wait to see the train pass market, enjoy taking photos.

9:15: Continue to go to Damern Saduak.

10:00: When we arrive at the floating market, there is 1 hour to walk around. After that, taking a long boat to see the villagers’ life along the canal.

11:30: Back to Bangkok.

13:30: Arrive in Bangkok.

• Overnight at Bizotel Premier Hotel in Bangkok
• B,L

Day 12 – 20 Oct: Bangkok (Leisure time)

Breakfast at hotel. Your leisure time in the city.

• Overnight at Bizotel Premier Hotel in Bangkok
• B

Day 13 – 21 Oct: Bangkok (city tour) → Phuket

Breakfast at hotel

At 10:00 AM, visit famous temples in Bangkok including Wat Traimit (The Golden Buddha Temple), Wat Pho.

The last one we visit is Wat Benjabophit. Lunch at a local restaurant. Extra pay if you want to visit at The Grand Palace

Afterwards, our driver transfer you to the airport for flight to Phuket. (depart at 17:00 PM – PG277)

Arrival at Phuket airport at 18:30 PM, we transfer you to your hotel. Check-in and spend your time at leisure.

• Overnight at Best Western Patong in Phuket
• B,L

Day 14 – 22 Oct: Phuket (Phi Phi + Maya + Bamboo Island Speed Boat)

Breakfast at hotel.

07:20 AM: Pick up at your hotel.

09.00-09.30 AM: Seastar team welcome you at Seastar pier, Leam Nga, Phuket. Serve you with snacks and variety of drinks.

09.50 AM: Depart from pier to Phi Phi Island by speedboat.

11.00 AM: Arrive at Bamboo Island for swimming and relaxing.

13.00 PM: Enjoy a great lunch at a beach side restaurant on Phi Phi Don Island (Ton Sai Bay), and free time on the beach.

14.00 PM: Go to Monkey Beach then sightseeing at Viking cave.

15.00 PM: Arrive at Maya Bay where the movie “The Beach” was filmed. Relaxing and swimming in the crystal clear water the Loh Samah and Pileh Lagoon for snorkeling and swimming.

16.30 PM: Back to Phuket.

17.00 PM: Arrive at Pier, transfer back to your hotel.

• Overnight at Best Western Patong in Phuket
• B,L

Day 15 – 23 Oct: Phuket → Siem Reap

Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel.

Your free time until our driver transfers you to airport for  flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Arrival at Siem Reap airport , we transfer you to your hotel

• Overnight at Ta Prohm Hotel in Siem Reap.
• B

Day 16 – 24 Oct: Siem Reap (Angkor Complex)

Breakfast at your hotel. 

At 08:30 AM, Our guide picks up you visit to the antique capital of Angkor Thom (literally: “Great City”), located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Continue your visit at the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Continue your visit to Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in Angkor. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.

In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture.

Evening, enjoy buffet dinner and watch Khmer Traditional Dance Show at a local restaurant. Watch a Apsara dance show while dining.

• Overnight at Ta Prohm Hotel in Siem Reap.
• B,L,D

Day 17 – 25 Oct: Siem Reap (visit Beng Mealea)

Monring, your breakfast at hotel.

At 08:30 AM, we drive out of the city to go to Koh Ker. Abandoned to the forests of the north, Koh Ker, capital of the Angkorian empire from AD 928 to AD 944. It takes about 1.5 hour to reach Koh Ker. On arrival, we start to explore the complex.

10.30am, we drive back to Siem Reap. On the way back, we stop at two famous temples: Prasat Neang Khmaw & Prasat Pram. Lunch at a local restaurant near Beng Mealea temple.

1.30pm, we visit Beng Mealea temple. Enjoy a short walk through the dense jungle and discover the wonders of an overgrown temple, Beng Mealea, which lay undiscovered for centuries. We proceed to the last one that we visit today, Banteay Srey, the “gem” of the Angkor area.

• Overnight at Ta Prohm Hotel  in Siem Reap.
• B,L

Day 18 – 26 Oct: Siem Reap (Tonle Sap Lake) → Departure

Monring, your breakfast at hotel.

At 08:30 AM, start the tour by visiting the National Museum. Here, you can explore a collection of Khmer art, artifacts, and historical exhibits that provide insights into the culture and history of Cambodia.

After the museum, take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest lakes in Asia. This is an opportunity to enjoy stunning views of the lake and see some of the local fishing villages and floating communities that call it home.

After the lake tour, head to downtown to visit Artisan’s D’angkor, the carving art school, where you can witness the intricate art of stone carving and other traditional crafts. Next, continue your visit to Wat Thmei, a beautiful pagoda that is known for its memorial stupa that contains the skulls of Khmer Rouge victims.

Afterward, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Your leisure time in the city until 15:00 PM, our driver transfer you airport for departure flight (depart at 18:30 PM – VN812)

• N/A
• B,L

End of service!