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Code: |
IDCN48 |
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Routes: |
Saigon - Cantho - Rach
Gia - Phu Quoc Island - Kep - Phnom Penh
- Siem Reap - Bangkok |
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Duration: |
16 Days |
Detail Itinerary
Day 1: Saigon - Arrival
Meet upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Ho
Chi Minh City was the capital of South Vietnam
before the reunification of the country in 1975.
Many people still call the city by its old name
Saigon. The city is the economic driving force
of the country and is really buzzing with
activity.
Overnight: in Saigon
Meals: None
Transport: Car
Day 2: Saigon
Today you can explore this exciting city on your
own.
You can visit some of the most interesting
sights of the city such as the Thien Hau Pagoda,
wander around the Ben Thanh market or drink a
coffee on one of the terraces of the former
"Paris of the Orient". Be careful when crossing
the streets. Motorbikes won't stop for you.
Overnight: in Saigon
Meals: Breakfast
Transport: None
Day 3: Saigon
Today you will visit two popular sights not far
from Ho Chi Minh City: the Cu Chi tunnels and
the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh. Total driving
today will be about 250 kms which will take
about 5 hours.
The morning excursion to Tay Ninh will take you
to the Great Cao Dai temple (a mixture of
Buddhism, Confucius, Taoism, Hinduism and
Christian). We see the noon mass at the temple.
Afternoon we visit Cu Chi - a fabulous tunnel.
You will have opportunity to get the unique
experience of guerillas living and fighting
underground during the war (a crawl through
50-100 meters out 200 km of the tunnel system is
unforgettable), local rice paper workshop, nice
paddy fields are pleasant sights on the way.
Overnight: in Saigon
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Transport: Car
Day 4: Saigon - Cantho
Today you will drive to the Mekong Delta, the
first leg of your journey to Cambodia. Cantho is
225 km. far from Ho Chi Minh City and this will
take approximately 5 hours for driving. Drive to
Mytho and continue to Vinh Long.
Before Vinh Long you will board a local boat and
start your exploration of this fertile
waterworld. Boats of all sizes ply the canals
and rivers of the Delta and the locals are
welcoming to strangers. Stop briefly at the Cai
Be floating market before continuing towards An
Binh Island where you will enjoy a sumptuous
lunch of Vietnamese specialties. Of course
Mekong Delta fish will be on the menu!
After lunch you will continue to Vinh Long where
you will disembark.
It's only a short drive to Cantho, the busiest
and biggest city in the Mekong Delta.
Overnight: in Can Tho
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Transport: Car | Boat | Car
Day 5:
Cantho -
Rach Gia - Phu Quoc Island
Around Cantho are some of the most interesting
floating markets in the Mekong Delta: Cai Rang
and Phong Dien. Mostly fruit and vegetables are
for sale on the water and you will visit both
markets when they are at their busiest, in the
early morning. You will do that of course....by
boat.
At Phong Dien your car will be waiting for you
to bring you to Rach Gia. Rach Gia is 110 km.
far from Cantho and this will take approximately
3 hours for driving. After lunch in a local
restaurant you will board the Bien Xanh boat
that departs at 1330. Your boat trip will take
approximately 3.5 hours.
After three hours and a half, you will arrive in
An Thoi, the main port of Phu Quoc. From there
you will be transferred to your hotel, located
on Long Beach.
Overnight: in Phu Quoc
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Transport: Boat | Car & Boat | Car
Day 6: Phu Quoc Island
Today is a free day on Phu Quoc Island. You can
relax on the beach or book one of the tours the
resort offers. The Vietnamese island Phu Quoc is
a developing destination. The island has been
declared a national park and has some of the
best beaches in Vietnam. The island has a lively
fishing industry and is famous for its fish
sauce.
Overnight: in Phu Quoc Island
Meals: Breakfast
Transport: None
Day 7: Phu Quoc Island
Today is a another free day on Phu Quoc Island.
You can relax on the beach or book one of the
tours the resort offers. You can go on a fishing
or snorkeling trip or explore the island on your
own.
Overnight: in Phu Quoc Island
Meals: Breakfast
Transport: None
Day 8:
Phu Quoc Island - Kep
Today you will embark on a real adventure and
cross the border at the recently opened Xa Xia/Prek
Chak bordercrossing. After breakfast transfer to
An Thoi where the boat for Rach Gia is leaving.
Around noon you will arrive in Rach Gai. After
lunch in a local restaurant you will drive to Ha
Tien and onwards to the border. The border is 90
km. far from Rach Gia and this will take
approximately 3 hours for driving.
A Cambodian visa upon arrival is not available
here at the moment (see our visa section for
updated information).
One you have completed customs and immigration
formalities you will have to walk about 500
metres to Cambodia where your driver will be
waiting for you. Kep is 40 km. far from Prek
Chak and this will take approximately 1 hour and
a half for driving.
The road to Kep is in poor condition which is
offset by the picturesque rural landscape you
travel through.
Kep used to be a very popular seaside
destination in the heydays of colonial rule. In
recent years Kep has seen major development and
Kep is now becoming a major destination in
Cambodia.
Overnight: in Kep
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Transport: Car | Boat | Car
Day 9: Kep
Today is a free day. You can relax and enjoy the
resort of make a daytrip to the caves of Kompong
Trach or to Rabbit Island. From the resort you
have a fantastic view over Bokor Mountain and
Phu Quoc Island, where you will travel to
tomorrow.
Overnight: in Kep
Meals: Breakfast
Transport: None
Day 10:
Kep - Phnom Penh
Early departure from Kep. First you will drive
to Kampot before heading north to Phnom Penh.
Phnom Penh is 173 km. far from Kep and this will
take approximately 3 hours and a half for
driving.
Visit Yeay Peah and Ta Prohm, two pre-Angkorian
temples. Continue to Phnom Chisor from where you
will have commanding view over the countryside.
The walk up the 503 stairs can be a bit
strenuous, especially on a hot day. There are
some interesting ruins on top of the hill and
the view over the typical Cambodian countryside
is majestic.
Lunch will be in a local restaurant. Continue to
Phnom Penh
Overnight: in Phnom Penh
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Transport: Car
Day 11: Phnom Penh
In the morning visit of Choeng Ek, the location
of the infamous Killing Fields. Continue to Tuol
Sleng prison, the notorious Khmer prison where
thousands of Cambodians perished in the darkest
hours of Cambodian history.
You will have lunch at Khmer Surin restaurant.
Afternoon free at leisure. You can visit sights
such as the Silver Pagoda and the Royal Palace
on your own or visit one of the interesting
markets such as the Central Market and the
Russian Market.
Overnight: in Phnom Penh
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Transport: Car
Day 12:
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
After breakfast you will drive to Kompong Thom.
At Kompong Thom you leave the main road for your
visit to Sambor Prei Kuk. The road to Sambor
Prei Kuk is hobbly and unpaved. Sambor Prei Kuk
was the capital of the Chenla Kingdom which
predates Angkor by several centuries. The ruins
are spread out over a vast distance. Sambor Prei
Kuk gets very few visitors and you can enjoy the
beautiful ruins in peace and quiet.
After your visit it's back to the main road and
start the last leg to Siem Reap. Siem Reap is
314 km. far from Phnom Penh and this will take
approximately 6 hours for driving.
Along the way you will stop briefly at Spean
Praptos, a fantastic stone bridge from the
Angkor period. The bridge is used only for
pedestrians and two wheeled vehicles and stands
as proof of the craftmanship of the Khmers.
At the end of the afternoon you will reach Siem
Reap, near Angkor. Angkor will without a doubt
one of the absolute highlights of this exciting
trip.
Overnight: in Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Transport: Car
Day 13: Siem Reap
Today you will explore some of the main sights
of Angkor. Visit Ta Phrom, the gem of Angkor.
This temple has been largely taken over by the
jungle. The sight of temple ruins overgrown with
the roots of huge fig trees is unforgettable.
Visit Preah Khan where the World Monument Fund
has a project. Return to the hotel in the late
morning for a break for lunch and a swim.
In the afternoon return to Angkor. You will have
the whole afternoon for a visit to the main
temple, Angkor Wat. Return to the hotel.
Overnight: in Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
Transport: Car
Day 14: Siem Reap
Today is a free day. You can return to the
Angkor complex for another visit but you can
also opt for an exciting trip to some of the
more remote temples such as Beng Mealea and Koh
Ker.
Overnight: in Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast
Transport: None
Day 15:
Siem Reap - Bangkok
This morning is free at leisure.
If you wish you can make an optional boattrip on
the Tonle Sap Lake.
Check out at noon Transfer to the airport.
Fly from Siem Reap to Bangkok with Bangkok
Airways **issued by Green Trail Tours**
Meet upon arrival on Bangkok Airport. Look for
your driver who will be holding a sign with your
name on it. He will transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight: in Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast
Transport: Car | Air | Car
Day 16:
Bangkok - Departure
Check out time is at 12.00 hours (noon).
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
End of services
Overnight: No Accommodation
Meals: Breakfast • Transport: Car |