Historical Treasures of Vietnam and Cambodia

8 days visiting

• Saigon
• Dalat
• Siem Reap

From $3006 AUD pp (2 pax)

Day 1 Saigon (Dinner: Ly Club Saigon Restaurant )
Arrival in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices.
Transfer by air conditioned vehicle
Sightseeing in Saigon
Ever-vibrant, ever-changing – this is the buzzing city of Saigon, where sleek skyscrapers loom over incense-infused temples and motorcycles rule the roads. There’s classic European-style landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, the ornate City Hall and the art-deco Post Office. Reminders of a recent past can be seen in the Reunification Palace, famously stormed by tanks in 1975. We’ll visit all the main sights of the city and make time to browse the stalls in the bustling Ben Thanh Market. Today’s Highlights: Reunification Palace, Emperor of Jade Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market
Transfer to/from restaurant
– Overnight in Saigon

Day 2 Saigon (Breakfast: Hotel / Dinner: Cuc Gach Quan Restaurant )
Excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Memorial Sites (Full day)
Journey north west to Tay Ninh Province past the Cu Chi Tunnels, Trang Bang and Go Lau. Cu Chi TUNNELS: Cu Chi was an important base during the American War, because of its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapon factories. Dug in hard laterite by hand tools without the use of cement, this amazing network was never discovered. Continue to other war sites nearby Cu Chi: Ho Bo Woods, Tu Hai Base.
Transfer to/from restaurant
– Overnight in Saigon

Day 3 Saigon – Dalat (Breakfast: Hotel / Lunch: Meals incl. in itinerary (Vietnam) )
Cooking Class with visit market at Hoa Tuc Restaurant (private)
You might hear or try the scrumptious Vietnamese food before. Today, you will go deeper to discover it’s culinary concept and learn how to prepare the food with the professional chef. Starting the class by visiting the famous and vibrant Ben Thanh market where a local culture is expressed. You can easily find the fresh ingredients from the vegetable, herbs and fish or pork� You will select some for your next cooking class. Back the restaurant for learning how to cook the scrumptious dishes. With the chef’s detailed guidance, you will know more about the ingredient, learn the tips from chef to have the good food for health as well as nice presentation. Class will be ended by tasting your own cooked food and talking to the chef.
Afternoon at leisure
Transfer by air conditioned vehicle
Flight from Saigon to Dalat
Transfer
– Overnight in Dalat

Day 4 Dalat (Breakfast: Hotel / Lunch: Dalat Train Villa & Cafe / Dinner: Local Restaurant (Vietnam) )
Excursion to Trai Mat by local train
All aboard for a train ride on the cog railway. We’ll stop at a vegetable plantation and the whimsical Linh Phuoc Pagoda, decorated entirely with discarded beer bottles and chinaware. Today’s Highlights: Train ride
Sightseeing in Dalat
A quaint, colonial town with a cool climate, Dalat is quite unlike anywhere else in Vietnam. In fact we’ll feel like we’re in a provincial town in France, when walking around the French Quarter! Bao Dai’s Summer Palace is very different to the other palaces in Vietnam – this flat-roofed Art Deco-style building seems frozen in time. There’s also colourful flower gardens to explore, and we can see the art of hand-embroidery. Even if embroidery is not your thing, the exquisite artworks at XQ Embroidery are bound to impress. Today’s Highlights: French District, Domaine de Marie, XQ Embroidery, Bao Dai’s Summer Palac – Overnight in Dalat

Day 5 Dalat – Saigon – Siem Reap (Breakfast: Hotel / Dinner: Sokkhak River -069 446 447 )
Transfer
Flight from Dalat to Saigon
Flight from Saigon to Siem Reap
Arrival in Siem Reap
Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices.
Transfer by air conditioned vehicle
Sightseeing in Angkor
Visit Angkor Wat
The crown jewel of Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. Upon entering the main structure, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stone carvings that adorn nearly every surface of the temple, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted from the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.
Sunset Cocktail Cruise aboard Angkor Gondola
Enjoy a sunset cruise on a traditional Khmer gondola, the means of water-borne transport for the ancient Khmer navigators, while our staff will serve you cocktails and canape.
Transfer to/from restaurant
– Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 6 Siem Reap (Breakfast: Hotel / Lunch: Nest Angkor Cafe Bar (Will be closing on 01/12/2018) / Dinner: Apsara Theatre & Restaurant** (Provide by Angkor Village Hotel) )
Sightseeing in Angkor
Visit Srah Srang Temple at sunrise (Tour will start early morning)
Srah Srang is a basin east of Banteay Kdei measuring 800 by 400 metres with a tiny island in the middle where only the stone base remains of what was once a wooden temple.
Visit Angkor Thom
The fortified city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats; the city includes many of Angkor’s most popular sights. Enter by the monumental South Gate over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down from every angle.
Visit Ta Prohm temple
Ta Prohm is one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them.
Visit Banteay Srei Temple
Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, Banteay Srei is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Built in pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy. Because of its small size, wondrous atmosphere and extraordinary examples of Khmer sculpture, this temple is often a favourite with visitors.
Transfer to/from restaurant
– Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 7 Siem Reap (Breakfast: Hotel / Lunch: Lunch at local home at Kompong Kleang *** DO NOT USE *** / Dinner: FCC Angkor Boutique Hotel/ Restaurant )
Excursion to Beng Mealea
Beng Melea is the ultimate Indiana Jones experience! Located in the middle of the Cambodian jungle, it’s vast, overgrown and mysterious. Full-grown trees have wound their way around the ancient ruins giving it a haunting jungle atmosphere. Clamber over piles of stone blocks, under hanging vines and past tentacle-like tree roots and beautiful classical bas reliefs. Today’s Highlights: Beng Melea.
Excursion by boat to Chong Kneas floating village and visit Phsar Chah (Old Market)
Cambodia isn’t all about temple-gazing (although the gazing is pretty good). Today we get a glimpse into local life. First, on a boat trip along the Tonle Sap to see the communities living on the river. Next we visit the old market where the locals come to shop. It sells all sorts, from souvenirs to snacks. Check out the wet market
it’s teeming with creatures great and small! Today’s Highlights: Chong Kneas village, Psah Chah Market
Transfer to/from restaurant by tuk tuk
Enjoy the circus performance SEAT-B (for Adult)
After having performed in many countries around the world, the young and talented artistes from the famous Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang have now brought their exciting and energetic circus show to Siem Reap. Watch this unique show which combines traditional and modern theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion. The beautifully choreographed and energetically performed show tells a story about Cambodian contemporary life in an ever changing society – Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 8 Siem Reap (Breakfast: Hotel )
All day at leisure
Transfer by air conditioned vehicle