Mekong Delta (Vietnam & Caombodia) - Toum Tiou Cruise

TOUM TIOU CRUISE: SAIGON to SIEM REAP10 Days/9 NightsINTRODUCTIONSiem Reap, Phnom Penh and Saigon are the key destinations that we use to offer you trips into lands of disconcerting beauty, with an incomparable historical heritage and legendary traditions. Cambodia's waterways are more than a convenient way of getting around; they are the country's lifeblood. Take a trip on them and you get an unparalleled in-depth look at the real country, becoming totally immersed in something both gentle and spectacular that cannot be experienced by any other mode of transportation. The shallow draught of the Toum Tiou makes it possible to reach the very heart of the remotest of villages where the sense of discovery is often reciprocal. Is it the travelers or the Khmers who are most surprised by the encounter ? ITINERARYDay 1 - Monday: Saigon – My ThoAt 7:45, in the Saigon Port at Dock No. 1 (in front if Ho Chi Minh Museum), Toum Tiou is open for embarking, together with clearance of departure formalities. Then at at 8:30, the cruise depart for My Tho. Lunch and leisure on board during navigation. At about 17h, when arrival at My Tho – Toum Tiou drops anchor on river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island. Local musician band embarks to play traditional music for 45 minutes. Follow is welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction. Welcome dinner. Overnight onboardDay 2 - Thursday: My Tho – Cai BeAt 8h in the morning, local boats are coming alongside Toum Tiou to pick up passengers and transfer to the mainland. Departure for Vinh Trang Pagoda by car - Short panoramic tour of My Tho town on the way. Continuing for Dong Tam Snake Farm and My Tho Market. On the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong, My Tho, which translates as "fragrant herb", where tourists come to discover the beauty of the delta. It's a quiet, prosperous city of about 100,000 inhabitants, famous for its many fruit orchards, gardens and the huge rice fields that surround it. The climate is warm and pleasant year round. The surrounding countryside is home to one of the most luxuriant gardens of Vietnam, with its coconut palms, banana and mango trees. When return at the pier - Passengers cruise on the river to Thoi Son Island by local boat to visit the island, explore local people’s daily life and enjoy locally seasonal fruits. At 13:00 passengers re-embark Toum Tiou and leaves My Tho for Cai Be. Lunch and leisure on board. Late afternoon, Toum Tiou at anchor on river on the proximity of Cai Be. Dinner and overnight on board.Day 3 - Wednesday: Cai Be – Vinh Long – Sa DecAt 8h, local boats are coming alongside Toum Tiou, picking up the passengers and cruise around Cai Be FloatingMarket. Continuing for Vinh Long - a brick and pottery factory, the Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet Nursery of Fruit Trees as well a typical house and a show room of traditional farming tools. Vinh Long, which translates as "Majestic Dragon", is right in the middle of the delta, between two arms of the Mekong. The soil of Vinh Long is enriched by silt deposits, making it ideal for growing mandarins and other citrus fruits. Life is organized around the water. Houses on stilts, hawkers in boats, hundreds of small craft crisscross in all directions. The hospitality of the locals makes it a tourist destination par excellence. Return on the Toum Tiou, departure for Sa Dec.Lunch on board during the navigation. Arrival at Sa Dec at about 15.00. Short panoramic tour of Sa Dec and transfer to Trung Vuong primary school. Continuing to Kien An Cung Pagoda. Stroll around Sa Dec Market along Sa Dec River bank. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating in its unspoiled authenticity and undisturbed by tourists. It provides a glimpse of the delta where a few colonial houses still remain, including the "Chinaman's house" (from Duras' novel "The Lover", also made into a movie). Return to the boat with stopover at a nursery of flower and bonsai trees. Famous for its horticulture (it has many varieties of fabulously exotic flowers) Sa Dec was known as the "Garden of Cochin Chine" during colonial times. At about 18:30 passengers re-embark, Toum Tiou leaves Sa Dec port and drop anchor few miles away. Dinner and overnight on the river.Day 4 - Thursday: Chau DocEarly departure for Chau Doc. Breakfast during navigation. Leisure and relax onboard. Arrival after lunch at Victoria Hotel Chau Doc jetty. Located to the north at the beginning of Mekong's famous delta, Chau Doc straddles both banks of the Mekong which fans out to the dimensions of a river mouth here. Floating fish farms have sprung up everywhere. Bamboo fish drying racks are set up a meter above the water's surface. The bourgeoning downtown area features some charmingly rustic colonial buildings, squeezed in by the marketplace - the colorful, vibrant heart of the city. As always, these busy parts of town, despite their sometimes strong odors, offer wonderful photo opportunities... At 14:30 departure for fish raising rafts and Cham minority village by local boat. Return to the Victoria hotel for a walk to Chau Doc market. Visit of Sam Mountain which peaks at 237 meters. Its well-known Buddhist sanctuaries offer an unobstructed view over the mosaic of glistening rice paddies below. To the left is Cambodia, the flow of the Mekong on the horizon breaks into an infinity of silver ribbons. Visit on the way of the Lady Chua Xu temple and Tay An Pagoda. Return to the boat after sunset. Dinner at the Victoria Hotel’s restaurant. Overnight onboard at the jetty of the hotel; passengers are free to enjoy the hotel facilities (swimming pool, sauna, bar) or stroll in Chau Doc.Day 5 - Friday: Chau Doc – Kôh Dek ChauIn early morning, Toum Tiou leaves for Vinh Xuong (Vietnamese border). Arrival at Vinh Xuong check-point – Formalities clearance for Toum Tiou to cross the border. At 13:30 Toum Tiou leaves Vinh Xuong check point for Cambodia. Lunch during the navigation. 14:00 arrival at Kaam Samnaar check-point – Formalities clearance for crossing the border. Toum Tiou leaves Kaam Samnaar check point for Kôh Dek Chau Island. Arrival at Kôh Dek Chau island, at 16.30. A short break along the way, it allows to get a fascinating, close-up look at daily life in Cambodia. On the fringes of civilization, the 600 people who live on Kôh Dek Chau will receive your visit with some surprise. School children will escort you along your way. You will go through the village that occupies the full length of the island, walking along a trail shaded by date palms. Toum Tiou leaves for Phnom Penh and drops anchor few miles away. Dinner and overnight on board.Day 6 - Saturday: Kôh Dek Chau – Phnom PenhDeparture of Toum Tiou for Phnom Penh. Lunch during the navigation. Arrival at Phnom Penh, formalities clearance. At 14:30 departure for the “KILLING FIELDS” – return to the boat around 18:30. Dinner on board.Local group performs on board “APSARA” show. Overnight onboard.Day 7 - Sunday: Phnom PenhHalf day city sightseeing tour including the Royal Palace and the National Museum. At 12:30 return to the ship for the lunch on board. Afternoon is the day free exploration on own. Suggestions can be made up on the interest of passengers. (FCC, Russian market, other boutiques (antiques), etc.) Diner and overnight on board.Day 8 - Monday: Phnom Penh – Kôh Chen / Oudong – Kampong TralachDeparture of the Toum Tiou for Kôh Chen (Chinese Island). Breakfast during navigation. Arrival to Kôh Chen, small village of whose inhabitants specialize in silver and copper smiting. They make ornamental items, including delicately engraved tropical fruits, used in traditional ceremonies at the pagoda or for marriages. The distant hills of Cambodia's old capital, Oudong, and its royal stupas can be seen a few kilometers away from the ferry. At the top of the hill, the ruins of Anthareu temple. Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou at 14.45. Lunch on board on the way to Kampong Tralach. Arrival at Kampong Tralach to visit its wonderful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To get to it, we cross Kampong Tralach Krom village along a small road perpendicular to the river, crossing some gorgeous stretches of emerald rice paddy as we leave the river behind. The Vihara dates back to early last century. It was probably built on an older site, as indicated by thelatérite foundations, and is home to some outstanding mural paintings. These, however, are starting tosuffer from weathering. They remain one of the last survivors of cultural destruction that continuesunabated due to widespread indifference. Standing by itself in the middle of rice fields, it is a modest pagoda that receives very few visitors. Its isolation may well be its undoing, as was the case for Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot. Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou drops anchor few miles away.Diner and overnight on board.Day 9 - Tuesday: Kampong Tralach - Kampong Chnang – Chnok TruDeparture of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Chnang. Breakfast during navigation. Arrival to Kampong Chnang at about 9.00. Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonlé Sap. Fish farming is also widely practiced in the area. The area is famous for its pottery ware, unchanged in style for centuries, which is produced in sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. And not to be overlooked are the products of the Thnot tree (sugar palm – a real national symbol) that abounds in the area: a mellow tasting, caramel-colored sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine. At noon, passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou. Lunch on board on the way to Chnok Tru. Arrival at Chnok Tru at 15.00. Local boats are coming along the Toum Tiou and picking passengers for the visit of thebiggest floating village on the Tonlé Sap River. Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou stays overnight in the proximity of Chnok Tru. Farewell cocktail (1 glass of local liquor or juice) with Master of Ship & Cruise ManagerCaptain’s farewell dinner (Enriched menu + 1 glass of wine). Overnight on board.Day 10 - Wednesday: Chnok Tru – Siem Reap1. High water, July - January.Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Time to pack and relax a half a day by crossing the TonléSap Lake. At 13:00, enjoy the last lunch on board, then passengers disembark.2. Low water, approximately February - June.Breakfast and relaxing morning on the boat, time to pack. Daily speedboat is coming along the boat and picks up passengers for crossing the Lake. At 13:30 arrival at Phnom Krom pier. Enjoy the last lunch in a restaurant in Siem Reap.

Toum Tiou Cruise: Saigon to Siem Reap

Legend Toum and Tiou * The Toum Tiou derives its name from a traditional Khmer tale of star-crossed lovers, the Cambodian equivalent of Romeo and Juliet, Toum being the boy and Tiou, the girl. * This beautiful love story turned tragedy features Tiou's mother, an ambitious woman who wants to marry her daughter off to the king and Toum as the awkward lover. The king, good-hearted and understanding, eventually gives up on the marriage to make Tiou happy. It ends tragically when a frame-up involving the mother and the governor leads to the death of one of the two lovers, the other committing suice to follow suit. * This story is taught from primary to high school. Many songs and pieces of traditional music allude to the pair of ill-fated lovers.Construction * This traditional locally built boat started out as a freighter with a metal hull and a capacity of 150 tons, with two large but low-ceiling decks in order to maximize storage space. Like all boats of this type, it went up and down the Tonle Sap and Mekong, stopping at Siem Reap, Kompong Cham, Kratie and Stung Treng. * We stayed as close as we could to the original line of the boat, because we wanted to retain its slightly curved and elegant lines. * The Toum Tiou is 38 meters long and 6.5 meters we in the mdle. It has 10 rooms in all (3.3 m x 2.5 m), 4 on the first deck and 6 on the second, each air-conditioned and with a bathroom (2.5 m x 1.4 m) including toilet, shower and sink. The water on board is taken from the river, passed through a powerful filtration system and chlorinated in the final step of the treatment. * In order to make the best possible use of the common areas from the standpoint of both size and variety we have installed a library-reading room on the lower deck. There is also a covered space at the front of the mdle deck, a restaurant to the rear anda half-covered sundeck on top. INTRODUCTIONSiem Reap, Phnom Penh and Saigon are the key destinations that we use to offer you trips into lands of disconcerting beauty, with an incomparable historical heritage and legendary traditions. Cambodia's waterways are more than a convenient way of getting around; they are the country's lifeblood. Take a trip on them and you get an unparalleled in-depth look at the real country, becoming totally immersed in something both gentle and spectacular that cannot be experienced by any other mode of transportation. The shallow draught of the Toum Tiou makes it possible to reach the very heart of the remotest of villages where the sense of discovery is often reciprocal. Is it the travelers or the Khmers who are most surprised by the encounter ?

Miss Saigon love you long time

CAUTION: skip this entry if you supported the war with Vietnam.Ann and Andrea signed up to go see the Cu Chi tunnels with me this morning, so we all got up early, ate breakfast at the hotel, and were ready to meet our tour group at 7:30. The man rushed us outside, practically running, to an empty air-conditioned bus, where we quickly got comfortable as we rode through the streets of Saigon. We stopped shortly after near a travel agency, to pick others up. We ended up parking there for nearly an hour! It was somewhat annoying having been rushed from our hotel and then made to sit patiently while everyone else took their sweet time. Andrew noticed an STA Travel just a few shops down! I got out and took a few pictures, and got a business card from the travel advisor working inside. I knew that STA was all over the world, but it was definately cool to see it in a foreign country first-hand.The bus was completely full by the time everyone finally got on. The ride took around two hours, but we stopped on the way in a small town that had a lacquer factory run by people handicapped by Agent Orange. It was very sad to see...most people affected by agent orange had the lower half of their bodies completely deformed. The dozens of people working here had tiny, short, skinny legs or legs that bent at unnatural angles. Some couldn't walk; others needed crutches to get around. The one thing all these people had in common was that their hands still worked perfectly, so they were able to make a living by creating works of art to sell to tourists. The artwork was beautiful..they made things like tiles, wall hangings, vases, different types of wood carvings, mirrors, and other handicrafts inlaid with mother of pearl and other materials. My favorite was made with tiny pieces of eggshell. The end result of the eggshell pieces looked someone like sand...very textured, with many colors (the eggs were burned as to make different shades of brown) plasterd artistically on a black background.I had seen photos of what agent orange did to people during the war at the War Remnants Museum, but it was completely different first hand. These people were all pretty young; agent orange had affected their fathers who fought in the war, some as Viet Cong, and the deformities were passed to their children. The affects will go past this generation, if these people have children, and will continue for an unknown amount of time. Seeing them made me feel awful. But it was also wonderful to see that they had found something positive to do with their lives.Our tour guide on the bus and at the tunnels spoke perfect English, but described everything in a very negative way towards Americans. I'm not vert patriotic and never have been, and have disagreed with much of the decisions our country has made throughout history, but the fact remains that I could have had family members die in that war. The tour guide didn't sugar coat a single thing about how many American soldiers were "exterminated" by the Viet Cong, and called us "the enemy" the whole time. He spoke of a few specific VC fighters at Cu Chi who, he claimed, killed dozens of people on their own. One person was said to have killed 118 all by himself. It wasn't easy to hear that these fighters were awarded titles and prizes as "War hero American killer" and other equally offensive titles. He described how Cu Chi had been a peaceful city but that the Americans wanted to destroy it, as if there was no motive behind it and we had just wanted to eradicate an entire village. He then spoke darkly of how women and children were targeted and killed, but in the same breath would boast of women and children fighters who purposely attacked American forces. It seemed somewhat contradictory...if you don't want your women and children killed, then don't allow then to fight your war.Probably the most disturbing part of the tour was an entire exhibit filled with torture mechanisms. I don't remember reading any of this from school, but the Viet Cong set out tons of traps that aimed to main a soldier or kill him painfully. I have photos of each and will describe each one as the caption. The basic idea behind most of these traps was when a soldier stepped on one or put pressure on it, either their foot would sink down into sharpened metal spikes and become trapped, or their whole body would fall through onto sharpened bamboo sticks or metal sticks arranged in different ways. The background of the exhibit was painted showing different white American men falling into these traps. Very disturbing.When I ignored the tour guide's words about Americans specifically and concentrated on learning how the VC survived it became very interesting. The tunnels below the ground have three layers, the first at three meters below, the second at six, and the last at eight to ten meters below ground. The tunnels were tiny and got smaller the lower one got. The entrances to the tunnels were very small and disguised under lots of foliage. Because so many westerners that come to the tunnels are somewhat large, the government decided to open one entrance to the tunnels so they could fit. Luckily I fit into the small one, and was the second volunteer to get into the entrace hole. We had the option later of actually crawling through each level of the tunnels, and not being very claustrophobic I decided to try it. I had to bend all the way horizontally at the waist to even fit, and these were the large tunnels! Withing the first three feet, completely enclose in the tunnel, some people way in front of us decided it would be a good time to pose for a photo and held the line up for over a minute. I panicked, not being able to move at all in any direction. If the line had been moving I think I'd have been ok, but as it was I could tell I would hate the experience, so I turned around, pushed past everyone, and went back overground and waited while everyone else went through. To add injury to insult, a Chinese man behind me, who had NOT been stuck in the tunnel but just waited in line to get into the tunnel, took my picture on the way out. I can just read the photo caption now: "Stupid American can't handle largest Cu Chi tunnels!"My favorite part was actually somewhat disrespectful of the memory of the place, both for the VC and the American side, but was offered on site so of course I tried. A shooting range had been set up where tourists could choose to fire an M16, AK47, or a variety of other huge guns (including a machine gun!) for a small price. My dad used to take me to shooting ranges when I was younger so I'd had some experience before, but a .22 doesn't exactly shoot like the M16 did. The noise was incredible...I jumped every time I heard a shot being fired. People all around me were shooting too, and I never got used to hearing the incredible noise these guns gave off. I shot two bullets from the M16, then was happily done. I hadn't realized how much power was behind the weapon, and shuttered to think what it would do to what or whomever it made contact with.The gift shops on site at the tunnels had one thing I hadn't seen yet...rice wine. I had heard of rice wine many times but didn't realize what was actually in it. BEWARE...it's nowhere near as innocent as the name sounds! Rice wine is really like a hard liquor, yellowish in color that tastes somewhat like whiskey (so I'm ntold, there was NO WAY I wanted to see first hand). All very normal, until you look at the bottle...the bottle, depending on size, is filled with SNAKES. There was one main snake that looked like a cobra in each bottle, and a variety of smaller snakes that looked like long beans at the bottom. Some of the bottles had scorpions in them as well. The main large snake always had either a smaller snake or the scorpion in its mouth. I took lots of pictures as to ruin as many people's appetites as possible. Enjoy!We took the bus straight home this time, not stopping on the way. Starving, Andrea, Ann, and I decided to get a late lunch before Andrea and I had our group meeting at 4. I found out that our hotel served pizza (!) and, telling myself it would not taste like normal American pizza and not to get my hopes up, ordered a small vegetable pizza. It came out looking...delicious! And it tasted delicious as well! I did feel guilty getting American food on only the second day away, but justified it by thinking I wouldn't have a chance to get American food for at least another week.We met the people in our group soon after. Our tour leader is named Richard and he is from Australia. In fact, almost all the people in our group are Aussies, except for two from the UK. I am the only American and sound terribly out of place when I talk. Pear-hops I shall ac-qwuire an axe-cent myself whilst in the come-pany of these ah-thers.We had a cyclo tour through the city, and actually didn't repeat any stops from the one I'd had the day before. We went into the richer part of the town, which was very nice with large buildings, and saw the most expensive hotel in all of Vietnam: the Hyatt, which STARTED at $1,500 PER NIGHT. WOW. We also saw the post office, which sounds boring but was actually gorgeous. Built by the french with all french materials, it was enormous and airy and painted with pastel colors. Notre Dam cathedral was across the street, which was also beautiful but looked somewhat old. Because of the french influence on the country, six million people are still Christians. The cathedral didn't really fit in with the rest of the city; it was taller and almost seemed ostentatious in comparison to the simple buildings around it. I'm sure the french planned it that way.I mentioned before how there are no street laws (that I understand at least) and how the drivers basically go when they please, just shifting around other vehicles without accidents. I still had not seen an accident until the cyclo ride. And guess who that incident involved? Yes, me. My cyclo was going along, minding its own business, when out of nowhere came a bike with two people on it. My driver yelled but it was inevitable...we were going to hit. It was seriously like slow motion in the movies, when everything slows way down and the voices get lower and slower. At the very last second, all four of us looking in horror, the front edge of my cyclo and the side of the bike bumped. I think the word "bump" might be overpowering; "tapped" might be more appropriate. We barely touched. The moment the noise from the "tapping" occurred, all hell broke loose. The two men drivers began yelling at each other very loudly while the woman on the back of the bike looked on, shocked. They yelled, gesturing wildly, for a good two or three minutes, all the while ignoring me and the woman. "Don't worry," I said sarcastically, turning to my driver. "I'm fine, thanks for asking." He ignored me and continued to argue. Finally we peddled off, not a word said to me about the incident.After the cyclo tour we stopped at a street market for dinner. Andrea and I were not hungry after our late lunch and instead decided to shop. I ended up purchasing a Burberry purse (HA like it's real!) for $10, a t-shirt for $6, and an Adidas shirt for $4. Andrea purchased some nice belts and other things for her kids at home. I'd wanted to upload more pictures onto traveljournals last night; as of now I've taken over 200 of them, but the computers are so slow it takes about two minutes per picture to upload. I decided to actually sleep, for the first time since the day before leaving, the whole night and instead went to bed. I'll try and upload as many as I can next time I have internet access.Tomorrow we leave Saigon and head for the Mekong Delta. I'm sad the leave the city. I loved the hustle and bussle and the speed at which everything moved. I loved the people as a whole, even though two specific individuals rubbed the wrong way. This would definately be a city I'd love to return to.

Treasure of Mekong tours in Vietnam

16 days -15 nights: Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hue - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh - Siem ReapDay 1: Luang Prabang - Arrival (D)Upon arrival at the airport, you are met and transferred to the hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos . After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.Day 2: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave - Kuangsi Water Fall (B/L)After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes.In the afternoon, drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths, return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well known weaving village, return to the city by late evening, for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang.Day 3: Luang Prabang - Hanoi (B/L)Free time for relax until time for transfering to airport for flight to Hanoi. Once again our guide will meet you and transfer you to Hanoi city. Lunch at local restaurant before check-in at hotel. After two or more hours relax, our cyclo tour do not make you more tired but more relax. After one hour ride around the trading area in Hanoi Old Quarter, the cyclo will stop you at Ngoc Son Temple for a short visit, then take one minute walk to Thang Long theatre for Water Puppet show. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.Day 4: Hanoi (B/L)In the morning to visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, House on Stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc pagoda, Quan Thanh temple, Army Museum and Hanoi Flag Tower. Time for lunch and check-out. In the afternoon, visit Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (The First National University established in 1076). The next visiting place should be the Museum of Vietnam Ethnology in Cau Giay District or just go shopping around Silk shops and Art shops in Hang Gai street. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)Today we leave Hanoi to Halong Bay, "Dragon Descending to the Sea". Upon arrival, we will embark to a junk /boat for a cruise around Ha Long Bay. While the junk cruising caves, grottoes, floating villages and beaches on Ha Long bay, having fresh seafood lunch on boat. Stop for a while for an excursing to Surprise Caves, (Grotto of Surprises) and Swimming, Kayaking (kayak cost is not include in this package) if weather permitted. Have dinner on board. In the evening, enjoy the night fishing (if weather permitted). Overnight on board.Day 6: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi (B/L)In the morning, cruising more in the Halong bay before return to the Halong pier. Having lunch in Halong before return back Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.Day 7: Hanoi - Hue (B/L)Free time in the morning before transfer to the airport of Hanoi for noon flight to Hue. Transfer to a local restaurant in the city for lunch before check in. In the afternoon we pay a visit to the Imperial Citadel, constituted from the Real Fortress and the Forbidden City, and the market of Dong Ba. Overnight in Hue.Day 8: Hue - Hoi An (B/L)In morning we embark on a dragon boat sail along the Huong River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, and the tomb of Khai Dinh Kinh. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon transfer to Hoi An through the famous of Hai Van Pass. Passing Danang, the car will stop for the visit to Cham Museum. Cham Museum is the open air collection of Cham sculpture. Overnight in Hoi An.Day 9: Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City B/L)In the morning, you will walk to visit ancient tiny town Hoi An. The visit will includes Japanese covered bridge, some Chinese Assembly Halls, and some typical Vietnamese houses of 18 century. In the afternoon, transfer to Danang Airport for evening flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi (B/L)In the morning drive to Cu Chi, one incredible city basement constituted from one series of tightened tunnel, used from the Vietcong during the war with the Americans. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon pause to the colonial buildings of Saigon like the Independent Palace, Post Office and the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long - Can Tho (L)Our car will pick up at your hotel in early morning. Upon arrival at Cai Be, embark a private boat to cruise around Cai Be Floating Market to see local people being selling, buying, exchanging goods from their boats. Visit local garden and house to see orchard, rice crisped producing process, .. After lunch taking a cruise along river to see peaceful tranquil life of villagers, admire marvelous natural natural setting of Mekong Delta region. About 3 pm, the boat will arrival at Vinh Long, walking around to explore Vinh Long Market. Then transfer to Can Tho City. Over night in Can Tho. Day 12: Can Tho - Cai Rang - Chau Doc (B/L)Cruising along the small and picturesque tributaries by boat, we will see the Cai Rang floating market (the nicest one with heaps of rowing boats). Take in the beautiful scenery and the daily activities of the locals who lives along the Mekong canals and you will roam through the village to visit a rice husking mill and a rice noodles making shop. Then continue going to Chau Doc via Long Xuyen. Check in on arrival. Visit the Sam mountain to enjoy the a breath-taking view on the Vietnamese-Cambodian border with flat rice fields and nice canals, visit caved pagoda. Over night in Chau Doc.Day 13: Chau Doc - Phnom Penh (B/L)In morning departure in boat to Phnom Penh going back one of the arms of the Mekong. Arrival and lunch. In the afternoon, visits of the city, in particular of the National Museum, rich art of Khmer, of the Silver Pagoda, inserted in the fencing of the Royal Palace, Preahkeo Morokot & Central Market. Overnight in Phnom Penh.Day 14: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (B/L)In morning departure by flight to Siem Reap and transfer your hotel in the city. Angkor, luminous understood them of the great reign Khmer, is one of more important testimonies that the human genius knew to create in the field of the limbs, the architecture and the urban planning. Lunch at local restaurant. Then start tour to visit famous temple Angkor Wat with enjoying sunset from top of Bakheng Hill. Overnight in Siem Reap.Day 15: Siem Reap - Angkor Complex (B/L/D)Breakfast at hotel, then visit the Angkor Thom: South Gate, Bayon, Baphoun, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of Leper King and Phimean Akas temple. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, transfer to visit Angkor Ruins: Thommanom, chao Say Tevoda, Takeo, Ta Prom, Banteay Kdey and Sras Srang until Sunset. Dinner at local restaurant with Apsaras show & overnight in Siem Reap.Day 16: Siem Reap - Departure (B)After breakfast, transfer to take the Tonlé Sap for a cruise on the lake with the visiting to floating village to explore the fish man life. Then visit Chantier Ecole-Artisant d’Angkor. Free time for shopping before departure home.Type of tour: - Private tour. (This is the sample tour, you may go with all details above or we can modify to fix your way of travel) - Easy tourDeparture: Any dayFeature of tour: This Indochina vacation tour organize for travelers, who want to know the charmng of Angkor - Siem Reap and charming of Vietnam. You will understand Cambodia and Vietnam with:- Our history- Our literature- Our religious

Vietnam Travel Directory

Vietnam travel directory, provides you Vietnam travel links, hotels Directory, directory listings, add travel url,Vietnam Travel index, Vietnam Travel agents, Vietnam Tour operators ... Vietnam Hotel Guide, Vietnam Hotel Directory, Vietnam Hotel BookingVietnam Hotel
Vietnam Travel Directory Vietnam Travel, Vietnam Hotels, Vietnam Holiday, Vietnam Tours, Vietnam Vacation - Find ... Submit your site on Our Travel Directory for free
Travel Directory

Too many Vietnamese, not enough brains.

Long time no story tell. Hanoi was interesting we had some of our most frustrating travelling experiences here. We constatly struggled not to get ripped off from hotels right down to buying a bottle of water. Travelling by taxi or motorbike always proved challenging most of the time either the meter would jump from around 6--26 thousand in one second or you would end up miles from your destination and further away from where you originally wanted to go before the driver would finally chose to comprehend where you wanted to go so sometimes jumping out of the taxi without paying and slamming the door was the only thing you could do. Walking the streets was the most stressful part of any day, there were footpaths however they were covered in motobikes, goods from shops and more motobikes this meant that the street was the only option and not very relaxing. The vietnamese are crazy at the best of times but when they get behind the wheel of a car or on a motobike they become ten time worse, this proves hazards for a pedestrian. Who has the loudest horn has the right of way ie buses and trucks, then cars then motos then cyclo's. Hanoi was a contrast to the rest of Vietnam personally one I (Hamish) could have easily left of the itinary (in hindsight) had it not been the gateway to Harlom Bay and Sapa.