vietnam take two... now with added bonus cambodia!

Well here it is folks... the itinerary for my upcoming trip to Vietnam and Cambodia for work. I can't wait to see how the region has changed in the six years since I was there last but also, how I have changed. When I first travelled to Vietnam, I had never been overseas. Suffice to say, I've done a lot of growing up in the years since and learned many things.

My pursuits will most likely be more historical this time too and I'm excited to gain more understanding of the tourism industry as a whole in these too fantastic countries. Of course, I wll be updating as we go. Exciting!

03-Mar-14 (Monday)	Arrival in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) :SQ 186 :18:45 Transfer Overnight in Saigon
04-Mar-14 (Tuesday)	Breakfast     Excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels Never discovered by American forces, the CU CHI TUNNELS were an important Vietcong base during the American War. Stretching over 200 km, this incredible underground network, dug by hand out of hard laterite, connected command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapon factories. Today, you can walk through the area and learn about the day-to-day life of the VC, see the cleverly disguised entrances and elaborate booby-traps, and even venture inside the tunnels, some of which have been modified to accommodate tourists. Sightseeing in Saigon A vibrant metropolis, SAIGON teems with energy, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the meeting of traditional and modern life. The emerging modern skyline stands cheek by jowl with colonial buildings and traditional temples. Outside on the streets, young professionals zip by on motorbikes, chatting on cellphones; inside the quiet temple courtyards, worshippers pray amidst clouds of incense. Begin your tour into modern history with a tour of the REUNIFICATION PALACE. Formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president, this 60s style building was famously stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975 signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state, and the original tanks remain on display near the entrance gates. Afterwards driving to the historic center to visit EMPEROR OF JADE PAGODA, one of Saigon's most interesting pagoda. Proceed to pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and the CENTRAL POST OFFICE. Pass by the classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate CITY HALL (HOTEL DE VILLE), the old OPERA HOUSE (both may only be viewed from the outside). Finally, end up at the central BEN THANH MARKET, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste. Overnight in Saigon
05-Mar-14 (Wednesday)	Breakfast      By vehicle from Saigon (city) to Ben Tre with excursion by boat trip on Mekong River Journey to the Mekong Delta to Ben Luc and Tan An. Take a boat trip on Mekong River to TAN THACH (BEN TRE) where local handicrafts and sweets from coconut are produced. Enjoy fresh seasonal fruits, a performance of traditional songs, and observe the local life. Take a short ride on a horse carriage to a typical local house to taste some homemade honey-tea. Proceed by small sampan boats through the small canals and observe daily life along the riverbanks, stopping for a leisurely stroll. By vehicle from Ben Tre to Can Tho     Arrival in Can Tho     Overnight in Can Tho
06-Mar-14 (Thursday)	Breakfast    Excursion by boat to Cai Rang Floating Market In the early morning, set out by boat to explore CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET, the biggest and most bustling of the Mekong Delta markets, which attracts fruit and vegetable vendors from all over the region. Buyers on smaller boats weave between the large barges selling wholesale produce. Each vendor advertises fresh samples of their wares on long poles that tower overhead above the colorful boats. Sail through the market, watching people haggle and trade, and possibly sample some of the fruit yourself. By 9 am, the activity has died down and it is time to return to the pier, after exploring some of the backwaters and canals. By vehicle from Can Tho to Chau Doc Sightseeing in Chau Doc with boat trip Embark on a boat to explore the bustling river life around Chau Doc, visiting the FLOATING VILLAGES, whose inhabitants live and work all their lives on the river. Stop at one of the typical houses, and see how they raise fish in nets directly under the house itself. Continue to the distinctive CHAM VILLAGE, on the other side of the river, with its thriving Muslim community. After returning to the town, continue by vehicle to SAM MOUNTAIN, which rises sharply from the surrounding rice paddies. Considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Vietnam, the mountain is dotted with pagodes and temples, many of them inside caves. Visit LADY CHUA XU PAGODA at the base and continue up shallow stairways along the mountain, visiting other pagodes as you ascend: Tay An is an ancient pagoda with a mixture of Vietnamese and Asian architectural styles, the main temple has more than 100 statues each representing the power of Buddhism include Phat Thay Tay An (in the 19th century), who has been voted to be a member of the An Giang Buddhism Association. The solemnity and holiness of Tay An has become an invisible power, attracting a great number of monks and pilgrims. Visit Lady Chua Xu Pagoda LADY CHUA XU: this early 19th century pagoda sits at the base of Sam Mountain, and is famous for the legend of Lady Chau Xu's statue. Story has it that the statue originally stood at the mountain peak. When Siamese soldiers attemped to steal the statue, it grew heavier and heavier until they were unable to carry it further - at that point, the pagoda was built. Overnight in Chau Doc
07-Mar-14 (Friday)	Breakfast        Transfer  On board the Tu Trang Speedboat from Chau Doc to Phnom Arrival in Phnom PenhTransfer from pier          Sightseeing in Phnom Penh Explore PHNOM PENH, a chaotic, energetic and always fascinating city. Graceful tree-lined boulevards and riverfront promenades are reminders of bygone eras; today they teem with life and activity, as motorcycles weave in and out of traffic, vendor hawk their wares, and pedestrians go about their business. Start your tour with an insight into Cambodia's cultural heritage with a visit to the ROYAL PALACE, still the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni and the adjacent SILVER PAGODA, also known as the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha. Continue to the elegant NATIONAL MUSEUM, which contains a comprehensive collection of Khmer Art. Finally, explore the modern-day city, visiting one of Phnom Penh's two great markets, the CENTRAL MARKET, located in a distinctive domed Art Deco building, OR the sprawling RUSSIAN MARKET, a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewelry and more. Visit the Russian Market (Tuol Tompong) The sprawling RUSSIAN MARKET is a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, antiques, foodstuffs and more. An ideal place for browsing and bargain-hunting. Overnight in Phnom Penh
08-Mar-14 (Saturday)	Breakfast         Excursion to the Killing Fields Just outside Phnom Penh, in a peaceful rural setting, the KILLING FIELDS OF CHOEUNG EK provide a stark reminder of the atrocities under the Pol Pot regime. Thousands of people were killed here between the years of 1975 and 1978 and buried in mass graves. Afternoon at leisure         Overnight in Phnom Penh
09-Mar-14 (Sunday)	Breakfast    Transfer    Flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.    Arrival in Siem Reap   Transfer     Sightseeing in Angkor     Visit Angkor Thom The fortified city of ANGKOR THOM covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental SOUTH GATE over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS and the TERRACE OF THE LEPER KINGS, former spaces for public cermonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined BAPHUON, ROYAL ENCLOSURE and PHIMEANAKAS before continuing to the mysterious BAYON TEMPLE. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle. Visit Ta Prohm TA PROHM: one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them. Visit a temple for sunset Watch the sun set over the Cambodian countryside from the upper terraces of an ancient Angkorian temple.    Overnight in Siem Reap
10-Mar-14 (Monday)	Breakfast     Sightseeing in Angkor    Visit Banteay Srei Temple Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, BANTEAY SREI is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Built in pink sandstone, the walls are covered in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual delicacy. Because of its small size, fairy-like atmosphere and extraordinary examples of Khmer sculpture, this temple is often a favorite with visitors. Visit Banteay Samre BANTEAY SAMRE is a mid-12th century temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. Visit Pre Rup Temple PRE RUP: built by Rajendravarman II (ruled 944 to 968), it consists of a pyramid shaped temple with the upper-most of the three tiers carrying five square shrines arranged as a quincunx. The name means turning the body and refers to the traditional method of cremation. Visit Angkor Wat The crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, ANGKOR WAT is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stonecarvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones. Overnight in Siem Reap
11-Mar-14 (Tuesday)	Breakfast     Excursion to Tonle Sap Lake with boat trip at Me Chrey Explore Me Chrey villages, located on Tonle Sap lake, an extraordinary lake swells up to seven times its original size during the monsoon season. Its ecosystem is one of the richest and most diverse in the region. This boat trip will explore the floating fishing villages and houses that live at the edges of the lake, passing submerged forests and fishing farms. Note : Houses there are all floating houses, about 300 houses, from Jul to Feb, villagers living around the pagoda and from Mar to Jun, houses move out to the lake. School buildings at Me Chrey supported by a Mission of Mercy; NGO supports building the school at Mechrey Transfer to Airport for your departure flight - MI 636 :18:25