DAY 1: Ho Chi Minh arrival
Upon arrival, meet and transfer with guide to hotel for check in (Early check-in is NOT included and is subject ed to hotel’s availability).
Meals: None
DAY 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour - Cu Chi Tunnel
Breakfast at hotel, 8.00 you will take a short sight-seeing: The indepependent palace, the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Have a lunch at local restaurant before taking a half-day excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels with the tunnel system stretched over 250km, from Saigon to the Cambodian border, and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 3: Ho Chi Minh - Cai Be Floating Market - Ho Chi Minh
After breakfast, 8.00, the guide picks you up to visit one of the must visited regions of the Mekong delta, we visit Cai be floating market, cruising among the local barges stuffed-full of fruits and vegetables. Visit some local workshops then enjoy a delicious lunch served at a local house in the cool shade of An Binh Island’s orchards.
Afternoon, take a traditional rowboat and venture deeper into the countryside, floating through narrow canals to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Stop at a nursery garden to discover how farmers along the delta produce their world famous fruits and vegetables. The cruise ends in Cai Be. Get on our car and return Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 4: Ho CHi Minh - Fly to Siem Reap
Free until transfer to airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, meet our driver and transfer to hotel for check in. Overnight in Siem Reap. (Early check-in is NOT included and subject to hotel’s availability).
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5: Angkor wat Tour
Beat the crowd early morning by 7 am; visit the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. And continue to visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat - one of the world’s most impressive ruins. The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art.
Afternoon, explore the mysterious Royal city Angkor Thom & Bayon. Its 54-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another one, until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further, visit the surroundings of the complex including the Baphuon, Elephant Terrace, Lepper King Terrace and Royal Place area.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6: Siem Reap - Outling Temples
7am, drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man. Drive on to Chau Srei Vibol which is a small charming temple on top of a hill which hardly sees any visitors - very few non-locals have heard of it, and it is set just far enough away from the main tourist routes.
Continue to the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya which flourished in the late 9th and earlier 10th centuries. These are the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are referred to the Rolous group we visit the main one called Bakhong temple.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: Walking Tour - Tonle Sap lake - Fly to Da Nang
After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred by our local guide and private car to Krabei Riel Village where will enjoy walking and ride the ox-cart to visit the daily life and daily activities of the villagers. A short stop to one of the local house, enjoy the fresh seasonal fruits and coconut juice, then we continue by our private van to Tonle Sap lake to ride the boat to visit the floating village in fresh water lake which is one of the biggest fresh water lake in tonle Sap Lake. End of the tour, transfer to airport for flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel in Hoi An for check in.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8: Hoi An ancient town
Today, it is free time for you to explore art and handicraft galleries, try on clothes tailor-made, relax at the riverside restaurants or take the short journey to the nearby beach. Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9: Hoi An - Cycling to Tra Que - Walking Tour
Cycling through the countryside to the small farming community of Tra Que Vegetable Village. Here you can enjoy the lush green countryside and see the farmers at work, later learn to make Vietnamese spring roll and free on foot massage by herbs.
Afternoon, visiting a lovely old house, still occupied by the descendants of the merchants who built it over 200 years ago, before seeing the elaborate Japanese Bridge, a Chinese temple, the bustling market. Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 10: Hoi An - Transfer to Hue - City Tour
After breakfast, transfer to Hue via Hai Van Pass with a stop at Lang Co Beach and the Marble Mountains en route which is fascinating maze of cave and temples, hidden with five sacred marble rocks.
When you arrive Hue, you will board on the boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River heading out for the countryside; stop to visit the charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda). Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the symbol of Hue, and of Buddhism in Vietnam. From here you will rejoin your car and visit King Minh Mang’s Tomb OR King Tu Duc’s Tomb, contiune to visit Hue Citadel at afternoon and Dong Ba Market. Overnight in Hue.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 11: Hue - Fly to Hanoi
Morning fly to Hanoi/ Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for check in.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 12: Hanoi City Tour Full Day
Our guide will pick you up at hotel at 8.00 & start a sightseeing today includes explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, start a Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house), the Presidential Palace, the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake including the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda; and one of the city’s museums (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum). End the day’s explorations watch a special Vietnam traditional Water Puppet Show. Then free shopping at the Old Quarter.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 13: Hanoi - Travel to Halong Bay - Overnight on Cruise
08.00 AM, our guide and shuttle bus will pick you up at lobby of hotel and start journey east to Halong Bay, through picturesque rice-farming villages of the Red River Delta, where we see every day Vietnamese village life. On arrival, we board a beautiful traditional junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay’s 3000 magnificent limestone islets. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal. Overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 14: Halong Bay - Hanoi
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Halong. Have brunch on board before returning to Halong pier to get back Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 15: Hanoi - Fly to Yangon
Free until transfer to airport for flight to yangon.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 16: Yangon City Tour
Start the trip with a visit to the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, a magnificent reclining Buddha Image and Sule Pagoda, said to be as old as 2000 years, standing at the heart of the city as the central reference point from where all the major streets of Yangon radiate. The sightseeing includes Kandawgyi (Royal Lake), an oasis in the middle of the bustling city, where floats a large structure known as the Karaweik, modelled after a royal barge used by Burmese kings. The lake itself is a unique place for taking scenic pictures with Shwedagon Pagoda in the background. Complete a day tour in Yangon with an extended visit to one of the sacred landmarks of Myanmar, Shwedagon Pagoda. You will have a chance to walk round in 360 degree the golden stupa enshrining theBuddha’s sacred hairs. Overnight in Yangon.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 17: Yangon - Fly to Bagan - City Tour
Check out hotel and transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Bagan (1 hr. 20 minutes flying). Arrive Nyaung – U airport, welcome by our tour guide and driver then transfer to the hotel. An all-day visit to this huge area - a day full of culture. But we will avoid hectic tourism and will show you the most beautiful temples and pagodas, leisurely but in detail.
Ananda Pahto: whose interior seems almost Gothic and is considered to be the most beautiful among all the temples of Bagan. Facing outward from the centre of the cube are four 9.5m standing Buddhas.
Visit Payarthonezu Temple Complex, Min Nan Thu Village. Continue on, visit Gubyaukgyi Temple admiring the fine stuccowork, Nanpaya temple, built in the Mon style with intricate stone carvings, and said once to have been Manuha's residence.
Htinlominlo Pahto: built by King Nantaungmya in 1218. Inside the 46m-high temple, there are four Buddhas on the lower and upper floors. Traces of old murals are also still visible.
Lacquer ware: visit traditional manufacture of unique Bagan lacquer ware.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 18: Bagan
OPTIONAL: HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE OVER BAGAN– USD/PAX FOR STANDARD SERVICE; USD/PAX FOR PREMIUM SERVICE
The morning will start off with an exciting hot-air balloon ride above the Bagan countryside. You will observe one-of-a-kind views when the sun begins to rise over the Irrawaddy River and various stupas in the region. You’re simply not going to find many other opportunities like this on Earth. (Only available from October/November through March)
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide and driver will pick you up to start your Bagan excursion. It’s off to the vibrant NyaungOo Market, where the locals come to trade fresh produce and other goods daily. From here you will have a look around the Old Bagan starting with a visit of the renowned Shwezigon Pagoda, constructed by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious memorial.
Continue to more lesser-known monuments, selected based on your interest, in the area for the remainder of the morning. If you wish, a short walk can be arranged through a series of smaller monuments which allows for a unique perspective of Bagan.
From here you will journey on by horse cart for an excursion that passes Thatbyinnyu, the tallest temple in Bagan, gigantic Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork, and of course, Sulamani Temple. Take pleasure in an extraordinary sunset from the upper terrace of one of the surrounding temples.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 19: Bagan - Heho - Inle
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport (1 hour) for your domestic flight to Heho. From Heho, you will experience a lovely scenic one-hour drive (32km – 1 hour) which leads to NyaungShwe, gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, you will have an opportunity to visit rural workshops that specialize in traditional Shan paper and unique handcrafted umbrellas. Upon arrival, take a short orientation tour of NyaungShwe, a small town of narrow streets dotted with temples, monasteries, tea shops and local houses.
Next, you will board a private motorboat and begin heading out onto Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular and breathtaking sights. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic hills provide the perfect backdrop.
Continue to visit NgaHpeChaung Monastery, which houses loads of early Shan Buddha Images. The PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the lake’s main haven, which contains five sacred images of Buddha decorated in gold leaf.
End of the trip, return by boat back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 20: Inle Lake - Indein
After breakfast, you’ll pay a visit to the lake’s morning market (the market is open every day apart from dark moon and full moon calendar days).
A 1-hour boat ride down a small canal will take you to the Pa-Oh village of Indein, positioned on the western shores of Inle Lake. Take a leisurely stroll around the village before ascending a rural road to the top of a hill. Once you’ve arrived at the summit, you will be greeted buy an iconic Buddha image which sits enshrined among hundreds of stupa ruins and overgrown shrubbery. Here, from the peak, you will also be rewarded with mesmerizing views of the placid surroundings. The Indein Pagoda complex is undoubtedly one of the most amazing sites around the shore of the lake and it consists of hundreds of small stupas which are overrun by moss and greenery. On your boat ride back, if the time permit, you'll stop at the Inthar Heritage House to learn more about the history and culture of the lake's indigenous people and enjoy a delicious coffee and cake (snack break not included).
Lunch and dinner on own account. Overnight stay in Inle Lake.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 21: Inle Lake - Heho - Yangon Departure
Breakfast will be served at your hotel before driving by a combination of boat and car to the Heho Airport (1-1.5 hour) for a short flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon airport move to the International Airport for your international connection.
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