INDOCHINA: HANOI - HALONG BAY - NINH BINH & SIEMREAP IN 7 DAYS
Grading
Easy
Traveller rating
Activities
- Cultural
- History
- People
- Landscapes
Accommodation
- 6 nights at highly rated hotels
Meals
- Daily buffet breakfast at hotel
- 6 dinners at local restaurants
Duration
7 Days
Double
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USD
Single
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Tour highlights:
- Graceful Hanoi and the colorful Old Quarter.
- Serene emerald waters and islets of Halong Bay
- Picturesque landscape of Ninh Binh
- Amazing Angkor Temples
Take a deeper insight into the heart and soul of Indochina -Vietnam & Cambodia, From the elegant Hanoi with ancient shopping Old Quarter, the natural beauty of Halong Bay and picturesque scenery of Ninh Binh to awe-inspiring Angkor temples. Combine the must-see highlights of both countries giving you the opportunity to see the best that these Indochinese countries have to offer.
Itinerary:
Day 1. HANOI ARRIVAL
Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, an Aiitours host will meet and take you to hotel for check-in. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2. HANOI CITY TOUR
Today we explore Hanoi, a charming city filled with beautiful tree lined boulevards, colonial architecture and natural lakes. Our city tour today includes visits to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, stilt house and museum, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Old Quarter. This evening enjoy a performance of the famous Water Puppets.
Day 3: HALONG BAY
Today we travel east to the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Vietnam – Halong Bay. We cruise through spectacular scenery where dreamlike islets rise from the tranquil emerald sea. Lunch onboard. After our cruise we travel back to Hanoi through the striking rural countryside of the Red River Delta.
Day 4: NINH BINH / TAM COC – BICH DONG
Travel to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s first capital, is located on the edge of the Red River Delta in a narrow valley surrounded by limestone mountains. We take a relaxing ride on the river on small sampans rowing through winding waterways cutting through the rice paddies to the grottoes of the sacred Tam Coc Caves. This area is characterized by enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields, giving the area its nickname as Halong Bay in land. Return to Hanoi for the night.
Day 5: HANOI – SIEMREAP
Flight to Siemreap from Hanoi. On arrival immigration formalities. Transfer to hotel for check-in.
In the afternoon we take a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake to see a fishermen’s “floating village” with homes, shops, schools, police station, afloat from place to place following water levels and current.
Day 6: ANGKOR TEMPLES
Breakfast at hotel.
We drive to Angkor Thom – the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Visit Bayon Temple, right at the exact center of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. We continue to visit Terrace of the Leper King. Along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports. At the southern end lies the Baphuon, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century.
We journey out to the mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world’s largest religious building. This temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 7: DEPART SIEMREAP
Bid farewell to Siem Reap. Transfer to airport for your onwards flight.
Map:
Inclusions:
Daily breakfast at hotels and 6 diners at local restaurants
6 nights at 4 and 5 star on a twin share basis
All transfers and transportation in private vehicle
One regional flight Hanoi to Siemreap
Sightseeing and admission fees
Boat fee in Halong
English speaking guide
Two drinking water bottles per day
- International airfares
- Travel Insurance (compulsory)
- Visa fees
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls, alcohol etc
- Tips and gratuities
Accommodation:
HANOI @ Melia Hotel (4 nights)
SIEMREAP @ Tara Angkor (2 nights)
Essential Information:
Yes, this tour can run 365 days a year, spring, summer, autumn and winter.
– Hanoi and north Vietnam experience two seasons – summer and winter. Summers are dry and warm, averaging 25 to 33 degrees. Winters (October to March) can be cool with temperatures in Hanoi averaging 10 to 20 degrees in January. Some winter months experience a light, drizzling rain.
– Cambodia is quite warm all year round, with two distinct seasons, dry (hot) and monsoon (cool).
Cool season: December-February
Temperature from 21 to 32 °C (70 to 90 °F).
Hot season: March-June
April is usually the hottest month of the year, when temperatures start to climb to 40 °C (104 °F).
Rainy season (hot and cool): June-September, October-November.
Temperature from 23 °C to 30 °C.
November to February is the best time to visit Cambodia, specifically December and January.
Before traveling to Vietnam, be sure to purchase insurance for your trip. Two months before you leave, you should also consult your doctor or local travel clinic for the latest information on health risks in Vietnam and to receive any vaccinations you may need.
Pregnant women should consult their doctors for specialized advice. Anti-malarial drugs and many diarrhea treatments are not completely safe during pregnancy.
If you have a medical condition or allergy of which requires particular attention, carry a doctor’s letter with you that describes the nature of the condition and treatment needed. We also recommend you pack a medical kit with:
• DEET-based insect repellent
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief
• Anti-itch ointment, such as hydrocortisone
• Sunscreen
• Antihistamine for allergy treatment, such as zyrtec, Benadryl
• Bacitracin for wound care, such as Neosporin
• Diarrhea treatment, such as Imodium
Some medications may be difficult to find in Vietnam: be sure you travel with a full supply of any prescribed medicine you need.
If you forget your medications, don’t panic! Somewhere somehow you can find an alternative for your treatment in Vietnam.
