Phnom Penh

Fly to Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA Meet your English-speaking guide for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and driver. This city was once considered one of the most beautiful in Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history it still retains a colonial charm. Settle in and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Royal Palace

Today, meet your personal guide and driver and drive to visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom. See the different structures of this pagoda-style compound and stroll in its beautiful garden. Visit the Silver Pagoda so named because of its floor that is comprised of 5,000 silver tiles. A gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha are also housed here.

National Museum

Next, you’ll visit the National Museum. Built in 1917 it is an exceptional example of traditional architecture and is exclusively devoted to preserving and displaying Khmer art and sculptures. Hundreds of pieces are housed here including both pre-and post-Angkorian pieces.

Wat Phnom

Next, continue visit the city's namesake, Wat Phnom. Founded in 1373, the pagoda was built to house Buddhist relics washed ashore by the river.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Enjoy our Khmer lunch at a typical Restaurant, included with our tour price. After lunch, you’ll continue to visit the notorious Tuol Sleng Museum. In 1975 Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot's security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). It soon became the largest such center of detention and torture in the country. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the extermination camp at Choeung Ek to be executed; detainees who died during torture were buried in mass graves in the prison ground. Room after room the museum displays photographs of men, women and children covering the walls from floor to ceiling; virtually all the people pictured were later killed.

Choeung Ek Genocidal Center

You'll then, drive to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek (16 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants (including nine westerners) detained and tortured at S-21 prison were transported to the extermination camp of Choeung Ek. They were often bludgeoned to death to avoid wasting precious bullets. Fragments of human bone and bits of cloth are scattered around the disinterred pits. Over 8,000 skulls, arranged by sex and age, are visible behind the clear glass panels of the Memorial Stupa, which was erected in 1988.

Mekong River

Finish your tour with enjoys one-hour sunset cruise on the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. The boat will pass past floating villages, providing great views of the city’s rapidly changing skyline.

Chau Doc

After leisure morning, you’ll transfer to boat pier for join-in speed boat to Chau Doc. At 12:00noon board the speedboat to Chau Doc. Arrival in Chau Doc is at about 16:30 hrs. Settle in and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Sam Mountain

This morning, take a boat trip to Phum Soai, a Cham village where you also visit the nearby mosque. Continue walking through other small Cham villages with traditional houses and get in close contact with the local people. You may stop by a local house to see Cham women weaving. Later, drive up to Sam Mountain, one of the holiest sites in Southern Vietnam. The view across the border into Cambodia is breathtaking.

Tay An Temple

Next, you'll visit the Tay An Pagoda located at the foot of the Sam Mountain.

Tra Su Bird Sanctuary

Afterward, you'll drive to Tra Su Cajuput Forest, and enjoy a boat ride into an area with wonderful diverse wildlife.

Can Tho

Next, you’ll depart Chau Doc for Can Tho via Long Xuyen. Upon arrival to Can Tho, check-in. Settle in and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Cai Rang Floating Market

Early morning, explore the Cai Rang market, one of the most bustling floating markets in the Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats laden with fruits, bargaining and jostling for space as owners attempt to sell their goods. Boat through the palm-shaded creek to see local houses and green orchards, ship building yards and local markets in full swing.

Cai Be

Return back to your hotel for breakfast, leave the city and drive to Cai Be in the Mekong delta, a journey of approximately 2 hours. The Mekong Delta is Vietnam's 'rice bowl' - a fertile region of flat farmland interlaced with thousands of waterways and tributaries of the Mekong. The delta's waters are interspersed with rice fields, colourful floating markets and isolated villages accessible only by boat. On arrival in Cai Be embarkation on Cai Be Princess junk boat, clients are welcomed with fresh cotton towels. The tour will start with the visit of Cai Be colourfull floating market. We will proceed by the visit of some local home factories such as rice paste making, rice popcorn, coco candies, and longans drying processing.

Dong Hoa Hiep

You will then return on board Cai Be Princess to proceed the excursion to Dong Hoa Hiep island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be during a 40 minutes cruise to discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong delta rural life. Stops on the way can be made upon request for particular visits or photos making. These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still remain unknown to many people. Visit at an ancient mandarin house dating from the last century where the family descendants will welcome you with a cup a warm green tea. Back on board Cai Be Princess for a 20 minutes cruise to Phu An hamlet passing by Cai Be beautiful church.

Lunch will await you at Le Longanier restaurant, a superb Indochine style two storeys villa decorated with several antiques and furnitures from the 1930’ period, located in a lush tropical garden by the river among pomelo, longan, mango, and coconut and banana trees. After a short walk along a beautiful canal, the excursion will end at approx. 3.30pm at Ba Bon Bridge.

Ho Chi Minh City

Disembark and continue by road to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a journey of approximately 2 hours. Settle in and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Cu Chi Tunnels

Today, set off to the battlefield memorial site of Ben Duoc, northwest of the city, where you'll explore an underground world of tunnels and chambers three stories deep at Cu Chi Tunnels with your local guides. The hundreds of miles of underground tunnels in this area confounded first the French and then the American troops during the Vietnam War. Sections are open to visitors where you can climb in and get a feel for the terrible conditions faced by the tenacious Vietnamese who lived and fought in these tunnels, defending their land against invaders who possessed vastly superior technology. This excursion provides amazing insight into how the Vietnamese won the “American War” (as it is known in Vietnam). Many traps and weapons were made merely of bamboo and netting, yet the American forces, equipped with modern supplies, proved no match for these primitives, yet effective, armaments over the long haul.

Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon

After lunch at a favorite local restaurant, continue to discover Saigon's historic landmarks visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, where French colonial presence is immediately felt. The Neo-Romanesque Catholic Basilica was constructed from 1877 to 1833 entirely of imported French building materials.

Saigon Central Post Office

Next, head across the street to the Saigon Central Post Office, a stunning architectural marvel with rich Gothic, Renaissance and French influences as well.

The Independence Palace

Next, visit the Reunification Palace, also known as the Independence Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975 during the Fall of Saigon. It was here that the Vietnam War ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates and led to the formal reunification of the two sides.

War Remnants Museum

Continue to the War Remnants Museum, intended as a call for peace with the hopes that the horrors of that war will never be repeated. The museum features a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons and photos of the Vietnamese side of the war, and includes a moving tribute to the journalists, civilians and soldiers lost during the war.

Ben Thanh Market

Afterward, stop for shopping at the French-built Ben Thanh Market, a great place to shop for souvenirs, and bustling activity.

Ho Chi Minh Square (Quảng truờng Hồ Chi Minh)

You’ll then stroll the Ho Chi Minh Squares this historic area is bordered by City Hall, the beautiful Rex Hotel and numerous French and Vietnamese restaurants.

Ho Chi Minh City

Tour ends: Saigon. A transfer from Caravelle Saigon Hotel to Ho Chi Minh International Airport is included. Please allow 3 hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Fly home or begin a wonderful customized private extension.