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Jewels of China, Vietnam & Cambodia - 14 Days / 13 Nights (Special)
DeparturesOct 29 2016, Feb 12 2017 ItineraryClick on the map to enlarge Day 1 Arrive in ShanghaiDeparture from your gateway (Selected US/Canadian cities) to Shanghai. Cross the International Date Line and arrive in Shanghai the next day. Day 2 ShanghaiOn arrival, your MyEscapades local representative will greet you at Shanghai airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax. Day 3 Shanghai/SuzhouVisit The Bund in the morning and experience the modernity of Shanghai. Followed by visiting the Shanghai Museum, the first world-class modern museum in China with a collection of over 120,000 pieces. After lunch, a coach ride to Suzhou. Suzhou- the city of paradise, is also known as the Oriental Venice for its exquisite canals, bridges, pagodas, and beautiful gardens. After arriving in Suzhou, enjoy a relaxing visit to the Grand Canal where you can join an optional cruise, plus some leisure time in the local market where thousand year old traditions can be found. Return to hotel after dinner. Optional activity: Grand Canal cruise. Day 4 Suzhou/HangzhouAfter breakfast, tour the UNESCO site of the Lingering Garden, a classic private garden with 500 years of history; then visit the Suzhou Silk Factory, the largest silk factory in the country to discover the mysterious processing of silk. After lunch, depart to Hangzhou, also known as “Paradise on Earth”. After breakfast, visit West Lake, the most beautiful lake in the country. Next, visit No.1 Tea Plantation and taste the well-known Dragon Well Tea. Many studies say that green tea is excellent for your health. Dragon Well Tea is the best Green Tea in China. Check-in at your downtown hotel before dinner. Day 5 Hangzhou/ShanghaiTake the bus back to Shanghai in the morning after a relaxing buffet breakfast. After lunch, visit the City God Temple Bazaar, which is composed of specialty stores, selling traditional Chinese arts and crafts, medicine and souvenirs. Tonight enjoy the famous Shanghai ERA Show (optional) Day 6 ShanghaiAfter breakfast, explore this amazing city on your own, or join our optional day trip. Day 7 Shanghai/SaigonToday is free time in Shanghai, transfer to airport for your flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in the evening. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat international airport, you are warmly welcomed by your MyEscapades local representative and transfered to the hotel for check-in. Overnight at hotel in Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City Tour - Cu Chi TunnelsAfter breakfast, enjoy a 2-hour drive northwest of Saigon to the Cu Chi tunnels, through urbanized areas and a lush southern Vietnamese countryside. This tunnel complex was dug in 1948 for the guerrillas to hide from French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as communication routes, food and weapon caches, and as hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the American war. Visit the underground villages to better understand the tunnels’ history, life in the tunnels and the Vietnamese people’s resilience during combat. Have lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon take the Sai Gon city tour including the Opera House, a three-story classical theatre built to entertain the French colonists (outdoor visit); the former Hotel de Ville, constructed for the French bureaucrats of Indochina in 1901, now The People’s Committee building with no public access; the Notre Dame Cathedral, a stunningly massive red-brick edifice with twin spires, a clear reminder that French once ruled this city (open only 3-4pm every day, otherwise an outdoor visit); the Central Post Office influenced by Renaissance architecture; and the former Presidential Palace, headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American war. Then visit the War Remnants Museum, which primarily contains exhibits relating to the American phase of the Vietnam War. Overnight at hotel in Day 9: Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - Can ThoBreakfast at hotel and transfer to Tourist Boat Station in My Tho. Cruising on Tien River you will see the four islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, Phoenix while enjoying fresh coconut juice. Visit a fish farm for and learn about local people and fish farming. Stop at Thoi Son Island, walk around country lanes and orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, and listen to traditional music. The boat tour continues to Phoenix island and a visit to the Coconut Monk Temple, crocodile farm and ostrich rides. Sail up the Tien River to Chua Canal belonging to Ben Tre Province. Take a row boat on small canal with beautiful scenery of the countryside. Visit honey-bee farm and enjoy honey tea. After that, ride horse-drawn carriages along country lane in Quoi Son Village to see orchards and local life. Next, travel to Tan Thach Village to visit the Coconut Candy workshop, then return by boat to My Tho. Check into the hotel after a car ride to Can Tho, the capital city of the Mekong Delta. Overnight at hotel in Can Tho Day 10: Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh - Siem Reap By FlightEarly morning board for a 3-hour cruise to Cai Rang, a big floating market with stops at a Bun Tau noodle factory and a short trek before arriving at a rice-husking mill. You can even try crosing one of the many fragile monkey bridges along the canals. At the floating markets, you will discover the typical way of displaying and advertising farm products of local people gathering on the Mekong River to trade their goods. Have lunch at local restaurant then transfer back to Ho Chi Minh for your onwards flight K6 821 (16h00 - 17h00) to Siem Reap. You are picked up on arrival and transfered to the hotel for check-in. Have dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Siem Reap. Day 11: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat TourToday, start with the most famous of all the temples on the Plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is one of the world’s most stunning buildings. Angkor was the capital of Khmer that existed from 802 to 1431. 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. After lunch, visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). Visit Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures and 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. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. Spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. In the evening, enjoy the beautiful sunset at Phnom Bakeng hill top. Dinner tonight is on your own to explore the local food. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap. Day 12: Siem Reap TourBreakfast at the hotel. Today visit Kulen Mountain, swim at a waterfall, and visit Khmer Empire’s capital of the early 9th century. Here we will visit countless ancient temples, the River of 1000 Lingas, a reclining Buddha and cascading waterfall. Then we will continue to Mahendraparvata, which is an ancient city of the Khmer Empire era in Cambodia. The name Mahendraparvata means “Mountain of the Great Indra”. It is derived from the Sanskrit words and is a reference to the sacred hill top site commonly known as “Phnom Kulen” today where Jayavarman II was consecrated as the first king of the Khmer Empire in 802. On the way back, visit the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei. Along the way we stop at the Preah Dark village and visit the Banteay Samre Temple adorned with impressive reliefs depicting scenes of Vishunu as well as Krishna legends. Today, have dinner at a local restaurant with traditional Apsara dance show. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap. Day 13: Siem Reap - Tonle Sap Lake Tour – DepartureBreakfast at the hotel. This morning, by car visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 13 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia, where you can find schools, restaurants, and hospitals and much more. Return to the town for lunch at local restaurant and then some shopping until transfer to the airport for departure. MU514 (22h50 - 04h00+1) Day 14 Shanghai- HomeConnect via Shanghai for your return home. Dates & Pricing
Accommodations
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