Outstanding Vietnam and Cambodia

When you arrive at the airport, complete your airport procedures before being taken to your accommodation. Check into your hotel. In the evening, begin a city tour at the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, and continue to Ba Dinh Square, the city's largest square, where all major cultural and political events take place, for photographs of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside). Later, take a "cyclo" tour of the capital, which will begin in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and end at Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake (the "Sword" Lake). Overnight in Hanoi at a hotel.

This morning, we'll travel through the Red River Delta's gorgeous rice-farming villages, where we'll observe daily Vietnamese rural life, before arriving to Halong Bay, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site between 1994 and 2006. Transfer to the port upon arriving in Halong and board a lovely traditional wooden junk for a cruise across the Bay. The trip will pass past rock formations named Stone Dog, Incense Burner (Dinh Huong), and Fighting Cock (Ga Choi), and a seafood lunch will be provided onboard. Thien Cung Cave, located in the heart of the little island, is a beautiful place to visit (Heavenly Residence Grotto). You may either tour the cave or simply relax on the boat. We disembark at Halong dock and return to Hanoi after 4 hours of cruise and visiting the Bay. Overnight in Hanoi at a hotel. (B/L)

Check out the hotel after breakfast today. Then travel to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, and his private house from 1954 until 1969. The magnificent tranquil grounds surround the timber ethnic minority type house constructed on stilts. The One Pillar Pagoda, erected by King Ly Thai To in 1049, is also located in the same compound. This building has come to represent the people of Hanoi. Continue on to Tran Quoc Pagoda, which is located on a tiny peninsula on the east side of West Lake and is the oldest ancient pagoda in Hanoi, dating back more than 1,500 years. Later, we take a short walk to see the Hanoi Flag Tower and Thang Long Citadel, an amazing remnant of Vietnam's history that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 in recognition of its historical and cultural significance. This afternoon, we'll take a taxi to the airport for our journey to Siem Reap. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, our representative will meet you at the airport and transport you to the hotel, where you will check-in. The rest of the day is free. Overnight at Siem Reap at a hotel. (B)

This morning, we tour the South Gate of Angkor Thom, also known as Big Angkor, which was the last capital of the Angkor Empire. The famed Bayon Temple was an architectural jumble, in part because it was built in a piecemeal method over a century. Terrace of the Elephants is a 300-meter-long terrace wall embellished with carved elephants and columns that spans the middle of Angkor Thom in front of Baphuon - a massive temple mountain in the heart of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace Area, and Phimeanakas - an outstanding rite and sandstone pyramid. The Terrace of the Leper King is located at the northern end of the Terrace of the Elephants, a double terrace wall with intricately carved nagas, devils, and other legendary monsters. Last but not least, there is the Ta Prohm temple, which is a beautiful blend of human creativity and natural beauty. This afternoon, we will visit the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, which is one of the seven wonders of the world. According to Hindu mythology, it is a duplicate of the cosmos. The five iconic towers of Angkor Wat rise into the sky, a mathematical arrangement with multiple galleries embellished with beliefs and stone representations of celestial Apsara dancers, as well as entrances, rooms, and courtyards. Overnight at Siem Reap at a hotel. (B)

You will be transferred to the airport this morning for your trip back home or to your next destination. (B)