Cambodia Vietnam Tour 12 days: Journey from Angkor to Phu Quoc

Morning arrive at Siem Reap airport and transfer to the hotel, visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor.  Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap. 
 

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.  Lunch at local restaurant. Visit the South Gate , the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap. 

Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap. 

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer  to pier to for local speedboat trip at 07:00 am to Phnom Penh. Arrival around noon time. At the end of dry season speed boat operation is limited due to the low water level. In this case the journey to Phnom Penh is flight. Afternoon Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of the city during sunset.Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at hotel and depart to Kampong Cham. On arrival, short tour of Kampong Cham to view examples of colonial architecture. Visit Wat Nokhor with its ancient temple (12th C.) and modern style pagoda. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, drive to Chhup, the biggest rubber plantation in country, established during the French colonial time by the French tire maker Michelin. On the way to Kratie stop at Chhlong, a small and peaceful village on the Mekong River Bank with both Khmer and Colonial architecture. Arrive in Kratie, check in hotel. Overnight at hotel in Kratie,

Morning depature for Kampie by boat cruise for chance to see the rare Mekong River- fresh water Dolphins, it is 15km from the north of province. And process to visit 100 Columns Pagoda, distance 27km from the north of kampie resort, located in Sambor village. Then return to town for lunch. After that transfer to the Trapeang Sre in Snuol district (Hoa Lu border gate in Loc Ninh district in Vietnam side), New open International gate between Cambodia and Vietnam,  the distance of approximate 130km from Kratie,  Along the way you can observe the rubber plantation, quite and non-tourist area. After clearing the formality at the border. Your guide in Vietnamese side will pick up and transfer to Saigon via Binh Phuoc Province. Arrival in Saigon in the later afternoon. Overnight at the hotel in Saigon.
 

Morning departure for the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war. Return to Saigon for lunch. Afternoon we will visit some major sights of the city. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale! Overnight at the hotel in Saigon.
 

Morning at 08:30, depart from the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City to the area referred locally as the rice bowl of Vietnam.  On arrival in Ben Tre Province head towards Tien Giang where you will board your local boat for a cruise among the aptly named Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix Islands. En-route visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut and Turtle Island, where a stop will be made in a tropical orchard to taste some exotic fruit.  After the boat trip, take a ride on a horse driven cart along country roads to a famed garden  for a honey tasting session. Continue on a smaller rowing boat for a more adventurous cruise on the Xep Canal which is set amongst a forest of palm trees.  In the afternoon return to Ben Tre for lunch . Then proceeding to Can Tho. Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.

Early morning transfer to pier and taking boat trip on Mekong River to visit Cai Rang floating market the best time of visiting from sunrise, larger sized boats anchor and create lanes that smaller boats weave in and out of. The waterway becomes a maze of hundreds of boats packed with mango, bananas, papaya, pineapple, and even smuggled goods like cigarettes. Sellers do not have to cry out about their goods because their goods can be seen in a distance and their cries would not be heard in the vastness of the river and the noise of boat engines. Continue to the inland to see coconut lined channels, Monkey bridge and fruit orchard. And after that transfer to Rach Gia for speedboat to Phu Quoc, which depart at 13:00 pm. Arrival in Phu Quoc, pick up and transfer to hotel. Time free & easy. Overnight at the hotel in Phu Quoc Island.