Today, you will arrive in Saigon, which is now called Ho Chi Minh City – a lively and exciting place in Vietnam. When you land at the airport, we will take you to the city centre and help you check in at the hotel. In the evening, our city tour begins at the Reunification Palace, a big building that played a role in the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975. Now it's a museum and a place for official meetings. Right nearby is the Central Post Office, a cool-looking building from the colonial era that's a big deal in the city.
You will be strolling along Nguyen Hue street, where you can take pictures of the Opera House (from outside) and the Ho Chi Minh Committee (from outside). After that, you will walk to Ben Thanh Market, an important symbol of Saigon. There, you can see how the locals live and even do some shopping for handmade goods. Tonight, you will stay at the hotel in Saigon.
After having breakfast today, you will go to My Tho. When you arrive, you will get on a boat and cruise along the mighty Mekong River, watching how the local people live along the riverbanks. We will stop at one of the four islands in the area to see the sights.
Then, you will hop on small boats rowed by local people, and they will take you through small canals with water coconut trees. You will visit local factories where you can taste honey tea and see how the locals make coconut candy milk. You can even try it yourself or take a walk in the garden where locals take care of honeybees. After that, you will enjoy a horse-cart ride along the peaceful village roads.
For lunch, you will stop at a local restaurant near the Mekong River and try Elephant Ear fish. In the evening, we will drive back to Saigon with a stop to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, a famous pagoda in the area with a mix of Chinese, Cambodian, and French architectural influences. Tonight, you will stay at a hotel in Saigon.
After breakfast today, you will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, which are special tunnels from the time of the Vietnam War. These tunnels, about 200 kilometres long, were dug by hand and used by Vietnamese guerilla forces during the war. Before the Tet Offensive in 1968, almost 10,000 soldiers lived in these tunnels. Even today, they show us how tough the war was. You can even try crawling through some parts of the tunnel to experience it for yourself.
In the afternoon, you will be heading to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap. When you arrive in Siem Reap, our representative will pick you up from the airport and take you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax. You will spend the night at the hotel in Siem Reap.
Today is all about exploring the amazing Angkor temples. After breakfast, you will start at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, also known as Big Angkor. This was the royal city and the last capital of the Angkor Empire. You will visit the famous Bayon Temple, which is a bit of an architectural puzzle because it was built over a century in a kind of patchwork way.
Next, you will check out the Terrace of the Elephants, a long wall with carved elephants, and Terrace of the Leper King, which has carvings of nagas, demons, and mythological beings. You will also explore Baphuon, a huge temple mountain, and the Royal Palace Area with Phimeanakas, an impressive sandstone pyramid. Your last stop in the morning is the enchanting Ta Prohm temple, where nature and human skill have combined to create something wonderful.
In the afternoon, you will visit the famous Angkor Wat temple, a replica of the Hindu universe. It has five towers, numerous galleries with carvings, and stone images of celestial Apsara dancers. It's like stepping into a mystical world. Tonight, you will stay at the hotel in Siem Reap.
After your breakfast this morning, we will take you to the airport for your flight back home or to your next destination.
