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YANGON - GOLDEN ROCK - BAGO - HANOI - HALONG BAY - HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNELS - SIEM REAP - PHNOM PENH

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Arrival in Yangon by OR918 ETA 06.25. Warm welcome to everybody, a moment of courtesy meeting of the tour guide in the meeting point's Yangon Airport.

Yangon has been the capital of Myanmar since the middle of the 19th century when the British transformed it into their administrative centre of Further India. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes Yangon one of the most fascinating capitals of South East Asia.

In the afternoon, enjoy a tour to discover the colorful capital of Myanmar with a close looks at the local life of this historical city. By car and partly on foot this tour takes Sule pagoda in the middle of the city, walk around to see the Mahabandoola Park, the colonial courthouse and the city hall. Then visit the Botataung Pagoda then visit to bustling Botataung harbour. Visit the Shwedagon Pagoda since its golden dome rises 98 meters and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. Finally, enjoy photographing with the great back view of the scenic Royal Lake.

Tonight, you should enjoy dinner show with Myanmar traditional music which would be a right choice. (see supplement).

Breakfast at hotel and depart for Kyaikhtiyo (190 km, approx 6 hours). En-route stop at the Shwenyaungpin Nat shrine to appeal for a safe journey. Upon arrival at Kim pun base camp, board on an open truck for (11 km, approx 45 min) steep and dirt road leads to the upper staging point of Yathetaung camp. Continue walk up (4 km, approx 45 min) to the renowned Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda site 1180 meters above sea level. The rock is completely covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of the cliff. The Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, 7.3 meters high, built on a gold-gilded boulder, 25 meters in circumference, and balanced in what appears to be a very precarious position on a tabular rock jutting out from a ridge in the Eastern Yoma Mountains. Kyaikhtiyo is likely to be one of Myanmar’s most spiritual experiences.

Day 03: KYAIKHTIYO (Golden Rock) - BAGO - YANGON - HANOI (by A/C car, plane)
This morning, check out right after breakfast, continue by road for 110km to Bago, an ancient capital dating back to the 6th century. Sightseeing in Bago includes the beautiful 55 meter long reclining Buddha called Shwethalyaung and the Mon style Shwemawdaw Pagoda, one of the most venerated in Myanmar. Its spire stands 114m high and is taller even than the Shwedagon Pagoda. Visit also the huge 4 sitting Buddha’s "Kyaikpun”. Return by road to Yangon, visiting the Allied War Cemetery near Htaukkyan, the final resting place for over 27,000 allied soldiers, and also visit a local woven bamboo factory.

Drive straight up to the airport in Yangon for flight to Hanoi by VN956 HAN/RGN at 19.10-21.30.

Hanoi - its legendary beginnings from 1,010 to 15th century then before the World War II, after 1954 as well, is the cradle of Red River Delta civilization with green rice-fields, its Old streets and colonial Quarter, its calm lakes, the shaded boulevards, its verdant public parks and sunny smiles with truly Far-East Asian faces ....

Transfer to hotel for check in and time of rest. overnight in Hanoi. (B)

After breakfast, enjoy a full day tour of Hanoi, let’s experience the basic concepts of political Vietnam currently by visit to the Chairman Palace area, there are Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Ba Dinh National square, Stilt House; One Pillar Pagoda, a nice group picture should photo in the parade yard of Ba Dinh National square with the great back view of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. Continuing to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple are located on an islet of West Lake, then the Temple of Literature, is a classic Confucianism temple from the category "Confucianism", was founded as a Confucian Temple and a huge statue and alter to Confucius remain there today, the first university in Viet Nam was founded here and many rows and rows of big stone slabs that sat on the backs of stone tortoises. These slabs are actually the stele of the school's successful doctorate candidates.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology where contains more than 10,000 objects which depict all aspects of life, customs, and habits of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. Enjoy an interesting tour by traditional Pedicabs, the best and most stylish way as far more charming to see Hanoi and to take in the sights and sounds of the Old quarter is by Cycle ( a tricycle ), your people will enjoy 1 hour cycle tour the Old Quarter and shopping streets to watch the daily lives of the people living on and around the busy areas, the small rickshaws will carry you strolling around the Old Quarter and shopping streets, to relax and view to daily-life surrounding or communicating is a good way to have a full impression of the city, catch the spirit of Vietnam. Rickshaws will return back at the Garden of Hoan Kiem Lake - the Return-Sword Lake, to visit Ngoc Son - Heroic Temple, But Tower, where you will be fascinating with legendary stories from 600 years that a turtle stole a king’s sword and took it to the bottom of this lake.

A moment free in Garden of Hoan Kiem Lake to enjoy the lovely Hanoi landscapes in the sunset until the time of water puppet show, a unique art form of Vietnamese, at Thang Long Water Puppet Troupe, and you will also experience more about a specific culture in South-East Asia coming from the civilization of the agriculture of wet rice during the performance.

Day 05: HANOI - HALONG BAY (by A/C car 175km, a Cruising tour by wooden junk)

After breakfast, drive straight up to Halong Bay, 175 km from Hanoi, the highway is smoothly and cost you of 3.5 - 4 hours usually, since we have to stop somewhere for the rests or visiting also. Landscapes en route are very interesting with the immense rice-fields, farmers are working in the fields, small and peace villages ....there are the sweet beginnings to talk with then explanation of Vietnam by our tour guide.

Upon arrival in Halong bay, transfer to the Marina for a 4-hours cruising tour by a big wooden Junk on Ha Long Bay constituted by 3000 small and big islands of all shapes. In 1994 UNESCO classified Halong Bay as a World Natural Heritage and in November 2000, the World Heritage Committee reconfirmed this classification, your excursion to Halong Bay will re-evaluate the classification of UNESCO to this fairyland. In the book intituled "Wonders of the World" published in 1950. The French marshal Lyautey compared it with Venice rocks in the "Letters of Tonkin and Madagascar" (June 24, 1895). The French novelist Yvonne Schultz did not hesitate to praise the miraculous beauty of this bay:

All heights and ten thousand forms; imagination, imitation, pagodas, Hindu temples, menhirs, Chinese towers, pieces of chess-board or true immense mountain. And the extraordinary flows simulating the ruined keeps, the broken down bastions, a succession of palaces with open belly & tribes of mutilated idols.

HALONG BAY is nearly a hidden bay with thousands of limestone islands densely rising from the blue jade water in a sea area of over 1500 square kilometers. Its 1969 green islands enfeeble the strong winds blowing from the ocean to leave the transparent water of the bay often calm in cool and healthy air. From time to time, sailing Junk appearing and disappearing between the islands make the poetic sight more colorful like sparkling pearls or coral reefs found out in the bay. The beauty of the bay is not monotone, at different positions of viewing, it will astonish viewers with quite different fascinations. In the caves and grottoes of stone islands, visitors will discover and admire how many impressive stalactites and stalagmites. The caves have strange but very accurate names, have their own legends in their names as Thien Cung (Heaven Palace) grotto, Dau Go (Wooden Head) grotto, stop-over to visit the caves, your sailing Junk will continue to visit around the shapely islets of fighting cock, incense-burner and others.

You will have a romantic lunch with very fresh sea-food on-board, since after visit the floating-rafts/houses of living sea-food, taste the specialties of Halong Bay is quite a life-time experience.

The Junk sailing back to Marina and free at hotel. Overnight in Halong bay. (B, L)

After breakfast at hotel, check out then transfer to the Cat Bi airport in Hai Phong for flight to Ho Chi Minh City VN1187 HPH/SGN at 13.10-15.05.

Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City, a young city with the age of more than 300 years, a centre of culture, education, commerce and tourism of Vietnam, the biggest city of Vietnam mix with the West and the Orient, and once known as the "Pearl of Far East".

Evening, we highly recommend a good dinner cruise on Saigon River in a floating restaurant and getting the admirable feel of the charming views of Saigon river and city-by-night during a short river-cruising (see supplement).

Morning taking an excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels located at the threshold of Saigon and adjacent to the revolutionary base, played an important role in the two wars on before 1975. Visitors will have a lot of questions as knowing that Cu Chi was an "underground village" with its labyrinth of interlaced tunnels having a combined length of more than 200 km of tunnels built here by the Communist guerrillas are the highlight of South Vietnam tours. You will be guided to the bedrooms, meeting rooms, air-raid shelters, smokeless kitchens, and experience life underground during your short visit to this extraordinary tunnel complex. Opportunity to crawl into the tunnels for discovering and hearing all things of it. You can also try shooting with real bullets here (your own account).

In the afternoon, visit Neo-Roman Notre Dame Cathedral - one of the most splendid and typical of the beautiful French-built churches in Ho Chi Minh city, next Municipal Post Office - Saigon's French-style main post office to admire and take photos of its nice architecture that is one of the Ho Chi Minh CITY's symbolizing images. Followed up, you will visit the Reunification Palace - a symbol of Saigon old Government before 1975, (also called former President Palace) to learn the sorrowful historic of Vietnam Ideology War from 1954-1975. Later, pass by Ho Chi Minh City People Committee (also the old French City Hall before 1975), and Municipal Theatre built in 1899. Then drive slowly along a historical boulevard which the impressive buildings as the old US Embassy the Prime Ministerial building and many more, there are like the historical witnesses to the ups and downs, political upheavals of a Nation and its generations. Left time is saved for you to do shopping at Ben Thanh Market - a most typical market of Vietnam, is a big marketplace in the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, with how many things are available for your choice. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and today is considered one of symbols of Ho Chi Minh City, popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, textiles, áo dài (traditional long-dress for female Vietnamese), and souvenirs, as well as local cuisine.

Morning check out then transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap by VN3819 SGN/REP at 08.20-09.40.

Siem Reap - The Cradle of Angkor Civilization - Where Cambodian were Born, this is also a famous Archaeological City, as named as one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the World. Covering approx 600 sq km, it contains more than 100 fabulous ancient monuments and over dozen major compound Temples, which were built during the most splendid Era of the Khmer Dynasty between the 9^th - 13^th centuries and were the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire.

Upon arrival, enjoy shopping at Old Market & colonial quarter, take your time to enjoy a busy market day, communicating with the local sales and all sorts of their products. It’s quite a sight to see, to give somewhat a picture of Cambodian social living.

Afternoon, you will visit the wonderful Angkor Wat - one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world, as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of 12^th, Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples, with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. The central monument represents the mythical Mount Meru, the holy mountain at the centre of the universe, which was home to the Hindu God Vishnu. The whole complex covers 81 hectares, a rectangular wall measuring 1025 meters by 800 meters borders the inner edge of the moat, and temple's greatest sculptural treasure is its 2 km-long bas-reliefs around the walls...

In the late afternoon coming to the Phnom Bakheng temple, is the first temple in Angkor region build by the Yacovarman I King in the first of 9^th century, located on a slope gently hill where thousands tourist are grouping on the hilltop to catch a memorable lifetime when viewing the marvellous sunset on Angkor Wat and on the other sites.

For those travelers thirsting for cultural highlights of Cambodia, No visit to Cambodia is complete without attending at least one traditional Khmer dance performance, often referred to as 'Apsara Dance' after one of the most popular Classical dance pieces. Traditional Khmer dance better described as 'dance-drama' in that the dances are not merely dance but also meant to convey a story or message.

We would strongly recommend a Cultural Show-Dinner on buffet, with the most traditional surrounds accompanied with the best of regional Cambodian cuisine in a local restaurant. Your clients will enjoy able the tradition Royal musical instruments of Cambodia. A traditional music band will sow in your mind the most memorable moments of lifetime thru the folk music, folk-singers, folk songs and folk-dances of Apsara dancers during dinner (see supplement).

Firstly, you will visit Angkor Thom (the Great City) including the Southern Gate, famous Bayon temple (12^th century in the center of city remains one the most enigmatic temples of the Angkor group composed of 54 gothic towers decorated with 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara; Baphuon temple lying just to the north of Bayon a pyramidal representation of mythical Mont Meru; Terrasse of Elephants used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king’s grand audience hall ; Terrace of the Leper King a plateform 7m high, on the top stands a nude though sexless statue; Phimean Akas temple means “Celestial Palace”, dedicated to Hinduism.

Afternoon, visit Thommanon, small, attractive temple in very good condition, built at the same time as Angkor Wat. It’s Angkor Wat style is most easily seen in the style of the carved Apsaras and the shape of the tower, Chaosay Tevoda, it seems to stand in partnership with Thommanon but actually was built much later in Suryavarman II’s rule than Thommanon, Banteay Kdei, Srash Srong. Then visit Kravan & especially Ta Phrom Temple, was a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been controversially left to the destructive power of the jungle by French archeologists to show how nature can destroy man's work. It has been largely overgrown by the jungle and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. Ta Prohm looks as many of the monuments did when European explorers first laid eyes on them.

After breakfast, check out then transfer to the airport for flight to Phnom Penh by K6 104 REP/PNH at 11.50-12.35.

Phnom Penh - the city retains its traditional Khmer and colonial charm. French villas along tree-lined boulevards remind the visitor that the city was once considered the gem of Southeast Asia. Recent political changes have triggered an economic boom of sorts, with new hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs springing up around the city.

Afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the charming city with the most attractions of Cambodia. Photo-stop at Independence Monument - the Independence Monument commemorates the end of Cambodia’s ruled by France in 1953, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony. Then visit National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was build since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, Copper, wood and others. They are really the cultural treasure of Cambodian. Then visit to the Royal Palace compound, was built by King Norodom in 1866, inside its gleaming yellow walls is most conspicuous feature and impressive colourful Khmer-style Halls for the Royal family, and visit Silver Pagoda, located in the compound of the Royal Palace. Inside its floor is constructed of 5000 silver tiles. In the centre of the pagoda there is a magnificent 17th-century emerald Buddha statue made of baccarat crystal and its walls enclosing are covered with frescoes depicting episodes from the Khmer version of the Ramayana. Continue your visit at Wat Phnom Daun Penh - the name of a pagoda, was built by lady Daun Penh in 1372 on a little hill, Legend has it that after a particularly heavy flood, a wealthy Khmer woman named Daun Penh found a tree on the banks of the Mekong with four statues of Buddha hidden inside. Today Wat Phnom remains the highest artificial hill in Phnom Penh and the center of many forms of leisure activity.

Morning check out then transfer to the airport for flight back home by QR4492 ETD 06.15. Have a safe trip!

It’s timely; you have to say Good-Bye Myanmar-Vietnam-Cambodia. We (Toan Vinh Tours) thank you very much for your choice of our company as your ground handler in Myanmar-Vietnam-Cambodia and may be Indochina countries on further, be sure all our people are your best friends always and beyond. May we will meet and honoured welcome you have other voyages to Indochina in the days coming, continuing to discover, to experience the endless imposing landscapes, and then get the really restful moments in a diversified World and a colourful Sub region of Mekong River: VIETNAM - LAOS - CAMBODIA - THAILAND - MYANMAR! GOOD-BYE & SEE YOU AGAIN! (B)

This is quite an itinerary for our people, I would like to book this tour programe. Click here