TRAVEL SERVICE & RESERVATION – Anthony Dowse

Day 1 – 25 Sep: Melbourne → Ho Chi Minh city

Please be at the airport in Melbourne 3 hours before your departure flight to check in your flight. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh city at 16:15PM (VN780), our driver welcomes and transfers you to hotel for your stay.

Rest of the day is your leisure time for walking around the Old Town for shopping and relax in Hanoi.

• Overnight at Muong Thanh Sai Gon Centre Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city
• N/A

Day 2 – 26 Sep: Ho Chi Minh (explore city tour & Cu Chi tunnels)

Breakfast at hotel.

At 08:30AM, 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.

Have lunch at restaurant in HCM city.

In the afternoon, 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 (Or Tan Dinh church), 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.

Back to the hotel. End trip.

• Overnight at Muong Thanh Sai Gon Centre Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city
• B,L

Day 3 – 27 Sep: 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 08:30am : 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.‬
‭Horse-drawn‬ ‭carriage‬ ‭tour‬ ‭through‬ ‭village‬ ‭paths:‬ ‭Learn‬ ‭about‬ ‭the‬ ‭everyday‬ ‭life‬ ‭of‬ ‭local‬ ‭residents.‬
‭Return to My Tho Port to continue to Can Tho.‬

• Overnight at Muong Thanh Luxury Can Tho Hotel in Can Tho
• B,L

Day 4 – 28 Sep: 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 Muong Thanh Sai Gon Centre Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city
• B,L

Day 5 – 29 Sep: Ho Chi Minh city → Hoi An

Breakfast at hotel.

Your leisure time in the city until our driver transfers you to airport for flight to Danang.

Arrival airport in Danang. Our driver welcomes and transfers you to Hoi An for your night stay.

• Overnight at Silkotel Hoi An in Hoi An.
• B

Day 6 – 30 Sep: Hoi An (Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary)

Breakfast at hotel.

Around 08:30 AM, Our guide picks you up at hotel and leave Hoi An for visiting My Son Holly Land – the ruins of Cham people and was an imperial city during Cham dynasty. Here you can have more chance to explore and understand of technique of Old Cham people in making red bricks to build Tower which still now a secret to everyone, you can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 65 architectural works. It also surprises for those who are curious with architectural art. In 1999, UNESCO labeled the Cham architecture in My Son as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Have lunch at our restaurant.

Afternoon, you free time in Hoi An.

• Overnight at Silkotel Hoi An in Hoi An.
• B,L

Day 7 – 01 Oct: Hoi An (Leisure time)

Breakfast at hotel.

You’re free at leisure in Hoi An for walking around to explore the ancient town on your own and shopping.

• Overnight at Silkotel Hoi An in Hoi An.
• B

Day 8 – 02 Oct: Hoi An → Danang

Breakfast at hotel. You’re free at leisure in Hoi An for walking around to explore the ancient town on your own and shopping.

At 12:00 PM, we transfer you Danang. Rest of the day is your leisure time at beach in Danang.

• Overnight at Paracel Beach Hotel Danang in Danang
• B

Day 9 – 03 Oct: Danang (Leisure time)

Breakfast at hotel. Spend your leisure time at beach in Da Nang.

• Overnight at Paracel Beach Hotel Danang in Danang
• B

Day 10 – 04 Oct: Danang (Leisure time)

Breakfast at hotel. Spend your leisure time at beach in Da Nang.

• Overnight at Paracel Beach Hotel Danang in Danang
• B

Day 11 – 05 Oct: Danang → Hanoi

Breakfast at hotel.

Your leisure time in the city until our driver transfers you to Da Nang airport for flight to Hanoi.

Upon arrival in Hanoi, our driver tranfers to hotel for check-in.

Afternoon, walking around 10 minutes to Lotus water puppet theater (16 Le Thai To street) to enjoy the show at 17:15 (the show lasts 50 minutes). After that, you can go to Caimam Restaurant (05 Lương Văn Can) around 18:30 – 19:00 to enjoy your dinner.

• Overnight at Palago Boutique Hanoi Hotel in Hanoi
• B,D

Day 12 – 06 Oct: Hanoi (City tour)

Breakfast at your hotel

At 08:30 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.

• Overnight at Palago Boutique Hanoi Hotel in Hanoi
• B,L

Day 13 – 07 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.

Around 7:50 – 8:00AM, our bus Pick you up at your hotel and go to Halong bay on a shuttle bus.

11:45- 12:00 Welcome at waiting room 26 Tuan Chau harbour in Halong Bay

12:00 . You will be taken on our tender from the wharf and make your way out onto the bay to board our luxurious craft, Sapphire Cruise. You will be welcome aboard and greeted with a complimentary drink. Our Crew will conduct a compulsory safety procedures session and then you are free to check into your cabin and freshen up. Take some time to have a look around the vessel or watch the magical landscape go by.

13:15  While our boat starts to cruise ,  enjoy the special lunch of fresh  seafood and vietnamese food  cooked by one of the best Chef in halong bay

15:00  After cruising for nearly 2 hours to explore the tranquil Bay , passing by thousands of islands and islets , the boat reaches the best area to do kayaking to see a lot of amazing limestone karst landscapes . Our boat will not bring you to the crowded and tiny beach for swimming . Our boat will stop in the middle of the Bay so that you can have chance to jump into water , take a backflip or somersault ..

16:30  Keep cruising to admire the stunning beauty of the Bay from our Sundeck where you can capture great  photos

17:00  Attend the cooking class opened right on the Sundeck , our guide will show you how to prepare and make our vietnamese traditional dish that is spring roll

17:45  Join the Sunset party , enjoy fresh fruit , making friends with other members in the group , listening to soft and light music.

19:00  Enjoy the special Dinner with fusion food prepared by the excellent skills of decoration of our Chef .

20: 30  Your free time

• Stay overnight on Sapphire Cruise.
• B,L,D

Day 14 – 08 Oct: Halong Bay → Hanoi

05:45 – The nicest time of the day on Lan Ha Bay is the morning. Head to the upper deck to participate in our daily Tai Chi sessions. Relax with an early morning cup of tea, coffee or juice anywhere you wish on the boat and watch the never-ending miraculous scenery unfold before you.

06:30 – Light breakfast will be served in our restaurant (pastries, tea, coffee)

7:00 – 8:15 – Enjoy the last stage of your trip to Dark & Bright cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage. Back to our main board afterward.

09:15-9:30 – Check out of your cabin as we draw closer to the mainland.

09:45 Enjoy your brunch on the boat.

11:00 you will board our tender and head back to the wharf where you will be met by your return trip vehicle to transfer you to Hanoi.

11:45 Tour ends at TuanChau habour in Halong

Rest of day is your leisure time in Hanoi.

• Overnight at Palago Boutique Hanoi Hotel in Hanoi
• B,L

Day 15 – 09 Oct: Hanoi → Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel.

Your free time in the city until 16:00PM, our driver transfer you airport for flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (depart at 19:45PM – K6 0851)

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh at 21:40PM, our driver tranfers to hotel for check-in.

• Overnight at Anik Palace Hotel in Phnom Penh
• B

Day 16 – 10 Oct: Phnom Penh (City tour)

Breakfast at your hotel

At 08:30AM, visit the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Fields & Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison) which serve as a testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge (From 1975–1979). Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, take some minutes at Independent Monument for photo taking. After that, visit the opulent Royal Place, home to Cambodia’s Royal family, and its Silver Pagoda. Continue your visit at The National Museum with its superb collection of Khmer art. The last place to visit today is Wat Phnome, the most famous buddhist temple in Phnom Penh.

• Overnight at Anik Palace Hotel in Phnom Penh
• B,L

Day 17 – 11 Oct: Phnom Penh → Siem Reap (Tonle Sap Lake)

After breakfast, at 07:30AM, our driver transfer you to the airport for flight to Siem Reap (depart at 10:00AM – K6 0105)

Upon Siem Reap at 10:50AM, then our guide pick up you visit 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.

• Overnight at Hari Residence & Spa in Siem Reap
• B,L

Day 18 – 12 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 Hari Residence & Spa in Siem Reap
• B,L,D

Day 19 – 13 Oct: Siem Reap → Melbourne

Monring, your breakfast at hotel.

Check-out the hotel at 12:00 then free till 15:30PM, our driver transfer you airport for departure flight (depart at 19:10PM – VN812)

• N/A
• B

End of service!