Crossing Cambodia In Style - Bangkok To Saigon 14 Days / 13 Nights

Join us as we take in the splendors of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam on a trip through the heart of the Khmer empire. You'll bask in the shadows of jungle-clad ruins, barter at floating canal markets, and sip coffee in elegant sidewalk cafes as we cross the ancient empires and lush jungles on a journey from Bangkok to Saigon.

Duration: 14 days/13 nights

Tour Code: MTHL04

Tour Valid: Until April, 2014

Highlights: Bangkok to Poipet - Cross into Cambodia - Drive to Battambang - Battambang - Siem Reap - Kampong Thom - Phnom Penh - Chau Doc (Mekong Delta, Vietnam) - Can Tho - Saigon - Excursion to the Chu Chi Tunnels

• Day 1 - Bangkok Arrival

  Place Transport: Airplane->Car
  Meals:

  Upon arrival in Bangkok, you will be welcomed by MinMax Travel guide and transferred to your accommodation. Stay overnight in Bangkok.

  Day 2 - Bangkok city tour

  Place Transport: Car->Boat
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Start the day by witnessing the earlymorning monk chant in Wat Pho. The temple is home to the famous Reclining Buddha statue which you will also get to see. Next, head over to the nearby Grand Palace and take a peek at the sacred Emerald Buddha before relishing the Thailand's cultural heritage even further as you visit The National Museum. After lunch, board a private boat and revel in Thailand's culture with visits to Bang Luang canal, Baan Silapin art gallery and Jim Thompson's mansion. Stay overnight in Bangkok.

  Day 3 - Bangkok - Poipet - Battambang

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Leaving the skyscrapers of Bangkok behind, you'll set out through lush forest and gleaming rice paddies as you go to the town of Aranyaprathet at the Cambodian border. Upon clearing Thai Immigration, you'll be welcomed by your Cambodian guide who will assist you through immigration and customs formalities. After traveling along rustic tree-lined roads, you'll arrive in Battambang, a plantation town known for the warmth of its residents and the charms of its colonial French buildings. Stay overnight in Battambang.

  Day 4 - Battambang

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Spend the morning soaking in Battambang's faded colonial charm as you stroll along the Sangker river. Then head to the countryside to visit the notorious Phnom Sampeau, a killing cave used in the Pol Pot era, and on to the mountaintop temple of Wat Banan for glorious views of the countryside. This afternoon, a tour of the surrounding villages gives you a chance to experience the rural lifestyle and meet friendly locals. Stay overnight in Battambang.

  Day 5 - Battambang - Siem Reap

  Place Transport: Boat
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Catch a glimpse of rural Cambodian life as you journey by boat through riverside villages and local markets on the way to Siem Reap, site of the famous ruins of Angkor. Once the center of the most sophisticated civilization in Southeast Asia, Angkor was rediscovered in 1858 by French explorer and naturalist Henri Mouhot, and the evocative jungle clad ruins have tantalized Western imaginations ever since. This afternoon, it's time to relax in this charming town. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

  Day 6 - Siem Reap: Visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Start your day at Angkor Wat, an elegant monument of towering stone, where you'll pass admire graceful stone Buddhas and candle-lit shrines. After lunch at the Angkor Café, you'll climb aboard an elephant and march into Angkor Thom, which is site of the mysterious and captivating Bayon. It is famous for its giant stone faces; this 12th century temple is decorated in an astounding array of bas-reliefs that depict both the religious cosmology and the everyday life of the Khmer empire.
  Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

  Day 7 - Siem Reap - Kampong Thom - Phnom Penh

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Setting out toward the country's capital, you'll have the chance to peek into the Cambodia's pre-Angkorian history as you visit the ancient ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk. Once the capital of the Chenla Kingdom, it now rests as an engaging site of fallen brick walls lying at the heart of a jungle. After exploring the ruins, you'll continue on to Phnom Penh. Stay overnight in Phnom Penh.

  Day 8 - Phnom Penh: City tour

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Known before the civil war as one of the loveliest cities in Indochina, Phnom Penh is currently experiencing a revival, and with its dazzling temples, stately monuments, and wide boulevards strewn with jacaranda flowers, it is lovely once again. An architectural tour of the city's most attractive buildings will reveal Phnom Penh's unique style, a mix of French influence and modern Khmer design. After a leisurely riverside lunch, visit the refined Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, then search for delicately woven Khmer silks and charming wood carvings at the popular Russian Market. Stay overnight in Phnom Penh.

  Day 9 - Phnom Penh - Chau Doc

  Place Transport: Cruise
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Before departing from Phnom Penh, you'll have another chance to admire the skilled artistry of the Khmer empire as you visit the National Museum, a reliquary for the country's finest masterpieces. Later, board the Blue Cruiser boat for a trip down the Mekong and across the border into Vietnam. Upon arrival in Chau Doc, you will be met by your Vietnamese guide, and transferred to your hotel.
  Stay overnight in Chau Doc.

  Day 10 - Chau Doc - Can Tho

  Place Transport: Cruise
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  In the morning, you'll take in a local market at the confluence of three rivers, then travel by boat into the homeland of the Cham which is a community who were once the rulers of an extensive coastal empire. There, you'll visit their floating houses and catfish farms, and observe them as they weave their beautiful textiles. After lunch, set out toward Can Tho before stopping for at the bamboo basket-making hamlet of Long Thanh. Stay overnight in Can Tho.

  Day 11 - Can Tho

  Place Transport: Cruise
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Climb into a small boat for a journey into some of the Mekong delta's must alluring waterways as we set out to view vibrant floating markets. Slipping past stilt-houses and under flimsy bamboo bridges, you'll return to Can Tho via the canals, which are the arteries of life for the local community. Later, visit the Muniwangsyaram Pagoda, a Khmer Buddhist temple populated by engaging and friendly monks, then spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
  Stay overnight in Can Tho.

  Day 12 - Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City

  Place Transport: Cruise->Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  This morning, you depart early from the Mekong Delta, stopping first at Vinh Long for a sampan ride, then at a huge floating market at Cai Be before arriving in Ho Chi Minh City. Known as the 'Pearl of the Orient' to the French, and still called Saigon by its residents, you'll find the city a fascinating combination of fast paced economic growth and leisurely tropical lifestyle. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

  Day 13 - Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Traveling out of Ho Chi Minh City, you will be amazed by the extensive network of tunnels that were built by the Vietcong. View some of the excavated tunnels from above ground, or journey down into the labyrinthine city to marvel at the secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, and cave-like meeting rooms. After lunch at the Mandarin Restaurant back in Saigon, take a tour of the city's highlights including the retro '60s Presidential Palace, the red brick Notre Dame Cathedral, and the baroque History Museum, Post Office, and City Hall. Return to your hotel to freshen up before stepping out on the town for your farewell dinner at one of the finest dining establishments in Vietnam. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

  Day 14 - Ho Chi Minh City Departure

  Place Transport: Car->Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  Enjoy your final day in Ho Chi Minh City at your leisure before being transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

  The Tour Inclusion:

  - 13 Nights Accommodation in deluxe twin / double room view with daily BKF.

  - Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above.
  
  - Boat, cruise as indicated in the itinerary.
  
  - The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary.

  - Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program.

  - Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available.

  The Tour Exclusion:

  - Visas on arrival

  - International flight tickets and airport tax.

  - Dinners, except as specified above.

  - Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
  
  - Travel insurance 

  - Surcharge for peak season (if any) & other not mentioned in the above detail program.

  Additional Information

  Importance note
  - The itinerary is just a sample of our Thailand tours; we'll be pleased to design similar programs with dates and itinerary customized to your personal preferences in Tailor Made Tours section. Rates may vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.
  
  What to bring?
  - Sun Block, Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain gear, Warm clothes, original Passport...
  
  How to start?
  - MinMax Travel is a fully escorted tour and best-available all year round; the only thing you need to prepare in advance is the international air-ticket from/to your country.
  - If you don’t have enough time to complete visa before your departure, we will help you to obtain Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam Visa on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport, on your arrival).