Colours of Mekong Life (Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos)

Trip highlights

ITINERARY

Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) by flight,international customs clearance and visa issuance. Meeting with guide and transfer to hotel (30′). Accommodation in room. Free time at leisure for some relaxation. Overnight stay in hotel.

Please note that the room will be available from 2:00 pm. If you wish to have the room immediately upon arrival (before 2:00 pm), please inform me in advance so that I can book early check-in. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee the availability of the room as it will depend on the availability of the hotel.

NOTE:

Italian citizens with a passport valid for at least 6 months from the time of arrival do not need a visa if the stay lasts less than 45 days. For those planning to stay in the country for more than 45 days, please consult the following website to apply for an electronic visa, called E-Visa: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/vi_VN/trang-chu-ttdt. You will have the choice of a single or multiple visa, with a validity of one month.

Day 2Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnel - Visit

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh to visit one of the most striking sites in Vietnam War history: the Cu Chi Tunnels. This district was deeply devastated during the war, with deforestation, destruction, bombing, and contamination by chemical agents such as agent orange. During the excursion you will have the opportunity to visit a large section of the tunnels and experience the sensations of underground life. Cu Chi represents an excellent example of the spirit, strength and determination of the Vietnamese people in their quest for peace and freedom.

Lunch of your choice at a local restaurant.

The afternoon is devoted to visiting the Independence Palace, once the seat of the Presidents of South Vietnam. During our visit, you will have the opportunity to admire the North Vietnamese tank that crossed the threshold of the presidential palace in 1975, ending the controversial Vietnam War. The five-story palace contains original furnishings inside that reflect the style of the 1960s and 1970s, with a basement converted into a bunker. Next, we will continue our leisurely tour by heading to the pedestrian street of Nguyen Hue, where you will see an inescapable landmark of the city. The Saigon Central Post Office is a splendid building designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. The rest of the day will be at your leisure to visit the city’s most famous market, Ben Thanh Market, which has been open since 1870. Dinner will be free and we will spend the night at the hotel.

Day 3Saigon - Cai Be - Can Tho

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet with your tour guide and driver for the transfer to Cai Be. On the way, you will have the opportunity to visit Cao Dai Temple. Once there, you will board a small private boat for a cruise along one of the branches of the Mekong River. You will experience the pace of life on the legendary Mekong River, visiting canals that are lined with orchards. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to discover the traditional activities of the locals by visiting the village on foot or by bicycle. You will have time to interact with the locals and you will also have the opportunity to participate in a craft workshop where coconut candy is made, a basket weaving workshop made from water hyacinths, and another workshop that specializes in making rice paper and rice cake. You will also have the opportunity to visit a family that specializes in making hammocks. You will enjoy a free lunch of regional specialties at an outdoor restaurant. Finally, you will enjoy delicious seasonal fruits while cruising the canals on a small boat, shaded by fruit trees.

Trasfer to Can Tho e overnight in hotel. Free dinner and free time.

Day 4Mekong - Chau Doc

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to the pier for a leisurely boat ride to explore the Cai Rang floating market – the largest and liveliest in the Mekong Delta. The air will be pervaded with a multitude of colors and scents, creating a vibrant atmosphere, where hundreds of boats laden with goods such as rice, fruits and handicrafts will be brought by traders to the market at dawn to sell them.

Leave the market and continue your journey by boat through the canals to visit a local fruit garden. Return to An Binh market, crowded with vendors selling fish, fruits and vegetables. Make a stop at Binh Thuy’s ancient house, where you can admire the orchid garden that was used as a location for the film “The Lover.” Next, continue to Chau Doc (about 140 km, 3.5 hours’ drive), where you will make a transfer to Tra Su Nature Reserve. This ecosystem is characterized by exceptional biodiversity and typical cajuput forest. The reserve is also famous for being an important bird park, known for the variety of birds that can be seen there. The day will end with a visit to Hang Pagoda, from which you will enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. Dinner will be free and you will spend the night at your hotel in Chau Doc.

NOTE: The market in Cai Rang is especially beautiful from 5 to 7 am.

Day 5Chau Doc - Phnompenh

07:00 Transfer to Chau Doc pier to board the speedboat bound for Phnom Penh. Arrival at Phnom Penh port, followed by completion of customs formalities to obtain your entry visa. You will be met by a local guide who will take you to your hotel in the city center. You will be assigned a room at the hotel. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to explore the capital city of Phnom Penh, visiting in particular the Royal Palace, built in 1866, the Silver Pagoda located in the heart of the Royal Palace, and Wat Phnom, an ancient pagoda located on a hill.

For dinner, you will be free to choose a local restaurant and then return to your hotel for the night in Phnom Penh.

Day 6Phnompenh - Siem Reap

Mornings begin with a delicious breakfast served in the hotel.

The day continues with a visit to the National Museum, which is devoted exclusively to displaying Khmer artwork and sculptures. The vast majority of the exhibits date from the Angkor period (9th-15th centuries), while some even date from the 4th century. Next, you head to the Tuol Sleng Museum, which used to be a high school called Tuol Svay Pray, but was turned into a prison by the Khmer Rouge to become a torture and execution center. Also known as “Prison S21,” it imprisoned some 17,000 Cambodians. Only seven of them managed to survive after the end of the regime. The last stop of the day is the Royal Palace, built in 1866, and the Silver Pagoda, located in the heart of the Royal Palace. Afterwards visit Wat Phnom, an ancient pagoda located on a hill. During lunch, you will have the freedom to choose a local restaurant. Afterwards, depart for Siem Reap with your driver on board. Arrive in Siem Reap in the late afternoon and settle in the hotel.

Dinner will be free and overnight stay will be at the hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 7Siem Reap Visit

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30: Start the day with a visit to the Angkor area, where you will spend the entire day exploring the wonderful ancient ruins. Sights not to be missed include the South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous for its colossal human faces carved in stone, the imposing Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Leper King’s Terrace, and the majestic Angkor Wat Temple, the largest and most complete of all. This architectural masterpiece dates back to the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares.

You will have free lunch at a local restaurant.

You will explore this impressive structure, admiring the many columned galleries, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and water-filled ponds that reflect the majestic Ta Prohm temple in the jungle, a spectacle of rare beauty. The huge fig trees and giant vines that wrap around the structure’s stone foundation give the impression that human creation is claimed by the powerful forces of nature. We will end our day admiring an enchanting sunset over Ta Prohm Temple.

Optional Option: You will take a short Tuk Tuk ride and have the opportunity to participate in the Buddhist ceremony, where you will be blessed by monks wishing you happiness and prosperity for your vacation, at an additional charge of US$10 per person.

For dinner, you will be free to choose from local restaurants. We will stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Note: During the visit to the Bakan Tower of Angkor Wat Temple:

Visitors are required to wear appropriate clothing that covers shoulders and knees (no shorts, miniskirts or shorts are allowed).
Visitors must wait in line and wait their turn to climb Angkor Wat’s Bakan Tower.
Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to climb this tower.
The tower will be closed during Buddhist Sabath days, which are Buddhist religious days (four days a month).

Day 8Siem Reap Visit

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 08:30, the tour guide will go to the hotel to meet you. Get up early in the morning to head to the floating village of Kompong Khleang, which is about an hour away from Siem Reap and is visited by thousands of tourists every year. Kompong Khleang is one of the most impressive villages because of the height and size of its houses on stilts. You will perform a walk through the village to get to know the villagers and visit a house where a family that breeds crocodiles lives. Afterwards, you will board a local boat that will take us through all the canals to the large lake, where the inhabitants move their houses according to the season.

Free lunch at the local restaurant.

Next, visit the temple of Banteay Srei (10th century), considered the treasure trove of classical Khmer art. After that, continue your visit to the Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. This complex consists of a central temple with four wings, preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, which is extremely well preserved. Continue the visit to Preah Khan, Kravan and Neak Pean. Overnight at a hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 9Siem Reap - Stung Treng

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart by bus/minivan for Stung Treng (with a travel time of about 5-6 hours).

Lunch will be at your disposal at a local restaurant. You will visit the local market and enjoy a relaxing time on the banks of the Mekong River.

The night will be spent at a hotel in Stung Treng.

Day 10Stung Treng - Done Khone

Breakfast in the hotel.

Depart by boat for the Done Khone archipelago (approximately 2-3 hours by boat). Arrive in Done Khone and visit the “4000 Islands,” an area rich in waterfalls and beautiful scenery. Here you can go cycling, trekking or relax on the beaches.

Overnight stay in a hotel in Done Khone.

Day 11Done Khone 4000 isole

Breakfast at the hotel.

Start your day with a visit to the Mekong’s “4000 Islands,” which offer a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. Don Khong, Don Det, and Don Khon are the most popular islands, featuring guest facilities, scenic restaurants, and activities such as walks, bicycle rides, kayaking to observe rare Irrawaddy dolphins, and visits to the spectacular Li Phi and Khone Phapheng waterfalls. You can actively explore the area or simply enjoy a romantic sunset on the river.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Done Khone.

Day 12Done Khone - Pakse

Breakfast included at the hotel.

Depart by boat or minivan to Pakse (a journey of about 3-4 hours). Arrive in Pakse and settle in at the hotel. You will have free time to explore the town and visit the local market.

Overnight stay in a comfortable hotel in Pakse.

Day 13Pakse Departure

Free time until transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Your tour of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia comes to an end.