The Grand Prize winner will receive this 10-day tour for two through Vietnam and Cambodia, kindly provided by Buffalo Tours!
Day 1: Arrive Saigon
Upon arrival, a guide will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel.
On your first day, you will be treated to a tour of Saigon, the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina, and later of the independent state of South Vietnam from 1956 to 1975.
This city tour explores Saigon’s turbulent past and preserved cultural treasures. There is a morning and afternoon schedule, as well as lunch.
Morning:
– Reunification Palace — preserved almost exactly as it was in April 1975, when its gates were stormed and the war ended
– War Remnants Museum — the largest war museum in Vietnam, it includes documentation of weaponry, Agent Orange photography and reconstructed POW camps
– Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office — classic French architecture from the 19th century
Overnight at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel.
Please note: the War Remnants Museum can be confronting for some guests, due to the graphic nature of the exhibits.
Day 2: Saigon City Tour (B, L)
Today, you’ll have a half-day tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels. Upon arrival at the tunnels, you’ll watch a short introductory video on the construction of the tunnels. The next hour is spent exploring the maze of tunnels, accompanied by the guide.
Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs from B52 bombers. Return to Saigon in the mid-afternoon.
Afternoon tour:
– Giac Lam Pagoda — the city’s oldest pagoda, dating back to 1744
– Cholon — home to 400,000 Chinese and many beautiful temples and pagodas, including Thien Hau Pagoda
– Ben Thanh Market — this market includes an extensive selection of goods ranging from shoes to beautiful silk ao dais (traditional Vietnamese dress)
Overnight at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel.
Day 3: Saigon — Mekong Delta Deluxe cruise — Can Tho (B, L) — shared boat/ private transfer
The morning begins with a drive through the Mekong Delta to the town of Cai Be, famous for its floating markets. You will spend the day on the deluxe Cai Be Princess sampan exploring the hustle and bustle of life on the Mekong River. Cruise the canals to quiet and untouched Dong Hoa Hiep Island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be.
Continue on down the canals and then stop for lunch at Le Longanier restaurant at the superb Indochine La Residence de Phu An Resort. Afterward, stroll along a narrow canal to where you are transferred to Can Tho, the economic hub of the Mekong Delta, and spend the night at the Victoria Can Tho Hotel.
Day 4: Can Tho — Chau Doc (B, L)
This morning you can start with an early morning visit to a fascinating floating market and gain insights into Vietnamese rural life.
Following breakfast, you will drive to Chau Doc, a border town near Cambodia.
Upon arrival, you will check into your hotel. Depending on available sunlight, you can visit Sam Mountain and the cave pagoda. From the summit of the mountain, you can admire the sunset over the flat rice fields around the Vietnamese-Cambodian border. Overnight at the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel.
Day 5: Chau Doc — Phnom Penh (B, L)
This morning you will be transferred to the dock for a cruise to Phnom Penh.
Upon arrival, hotel transfers are provided. In the afternoon, you’ll tour the ornate Khmer Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Next, a sobering and poignant visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a testament to Cambodia’s bloody past. Overnight at the Amanjaya Hotel.
Day 6: Phnom Penh — City Tour (B, L)
Your guide will show you all the highlights of this bustling, vibrant city, including the National Museum and the Wat Phnom. In the afternoon, you can visit the Choeung Ek killing fields. You’ll then have a chance to browse the colorful stalls of the Central Market. Overnight at the Amanjaya Hotel.
Day 7: Phnom Penh — Siem Reap (Roluos Temple Complex) (B)
In the morning, there is a short flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, hotel transfers are provided, and you’ll have time to relax. The afternoon is spent visiting the Roluos Temple Complex, the earliest of the Angkor temples, and its three principal monuments, Bakong, Preah Ko and Lolei. The evening is left free to explore Siem Reap and its array of restaurants and activities. Overnight at the Hotel de la Paix.
Day 8: Siem Reap (Angkor Thom — Angkor Wat) (B, L, D)
The day begins at the South Gate of Angkor Thom to explore the centerpiece of this ancient city, the Bayon. The Bayon encloses 54 towers decorated with more than 200 enigmatic, smiling stone faces. The morning tour also visits the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings, as well as Ta Prohm Temple (the jungle temple).
After lunch, visit the Angkor National Museum which displays numerous artifacts and multimedia presentations of Angkorian history and culture. The afternoon ends with a traditional Apsara dance show, bringing ancient Khmer culture to life in spectacular surroundings while you enjoy the very best in Cambodian cuisine. Overnight at the Hotel de la Paix.
Day 9: Banteay Srey — Banteay Samre — Tonle Sap Lake (B, L)
Today you’ll have an early start to witness sunrise at the Angkor Wat Temple. After breakfast, the tour visits the exquisite Banteay Srey, “Citadel of the Woman”, home to some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art, followed by a tour of Banteay Samre. Explore the temples at leisure before the tour heads to the Tonle Sap Lake. This valuable ecosystem was classified as an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1997. A short drive south of Siem Reap is followed by a boat tour of the floating villages and surrounding wildlife. Overnight at the Hotel de la Paix.
Day 10: Siem Reap – Departure (B)
You’ll have the morning at leisure before transferring to airport for your departure flight.
Codes for meals included:
B – Breakfast
L – Lunch
D – Dinner
Total value: $3,550
Valid through September 30, 2011