Day 02 Hong Kong - Phnom Penh
Upon on arrival, visit to the ROYAL PALACE, still the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoi 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. Overnight in Phnom Penh .

Day 03 Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (B)
Visit the most famous of all 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 . Afternoon, visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom , the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple , unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas , the Royal Enclosure , the Elephants Terrace , and the Terrace of the Leper King . Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 04 Siem Reap (B)
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. BANTEAY SAMRE is a mid-12th century temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. 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. TA KEO: built by Jayavarman V who ruled from 968 to 1001), it was the first Angkorian monument built entirely of sandstone and was dedicated to Shiva. The summit of the central tower is 50 meters high and is surrounded by four lower towers

Day 05 Siem Reap - Ho Chi Minh City (B)
CHAU SAY TEVODA: built during the second quarter of the 12th century opposite of Thommanon, it was dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. A massive Buddhist temple dating from the second half of the 12th century, BANTEAY KDEI is surrounded by four concentric walls, the outer walls measuring 500 by 700 meters. NEAK PEAN: built by King Jayavarman VII (ruled 1181 to 1201), it is a Buddhist temple consisting of a square pool with four smaller square pools arranged on each axis. In the centre of the large central pool is a circular island encircled by two nagas with intertwined tails. SRAS SRANG: a basin opposite of Banteay Kdei measuring 800 by 400 meters with a tiny island in the middle where only the stone base remains of what was once a wooden temple. PRASAT KRAVAN: the five brick towers were built for Hindu worship in 921 and are notable for the bas-reliefs cut into the bricks on the interior walls. Flight and overnight in Saigon .

Day 06 Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Strolling along DONG KHOI STREET , formerly known as the Rue Catinat, the main shopping thoroughfare and heart of old colonial Saigon . Pass by 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), and pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and the CENTRAL POST OFFICE. Afterwards dive into modern history with a tour of the REUNIFICATION PALACE . Formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president, this 60s style was famously stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975 signifying the fall of South Vietnam . In the afternoon, head out to CHOLON (CHINATOWN). Explore the highlights of this fascinating area, beginning with a brief visit to BINH TAY MARKET, the vast wholesale market selling every kind of good from dried foods to T-shirts to electronics.

Day 07 Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Visit CU CHI TUNNELS. Never discovered by American forces, these tunnels were an important Vietcong base during the American War. Afterwards, continue to TAY NINH, the birthplace of the unique CAO DAI religion, a fusion of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam and native Vietnamese spiritual beliefs. Every day at noon, worshippers garbed in colorful robes flock to the CAO DAI GREAT TEMPLE to participate in the daily prayer sessions, which visitors may respectfully observe from the upper balconies.

Day 08 Ho Chi Minh City - Danang - Hoi An (B)
Morning flight to Danang then transfer to Hoi An. Visit CHAM MUSEUM : this houses probably the best collection of Cham art to be found anywhere in the world. There are more than 300 artifacts in the museum, many dating to the 4th century. There are beautiful sculptures reflecting the 1000-year Cham period. CHINA BEACH : made famous in the American TV series of the same name, it stretches for many kilometers north and south of the Marble Mountains . During the American War, soldiers were airlifted here for 'rest and relaxation'. MARBLE MOUNTAINS : consist of 5 stone hillocks, once islands, made of marble. Each is said to represent one of the five elements of the universe. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 09 Hoi An - Hue (B)
Transfer to Hue after breakfast. Visit the Imperial Tombs, v enture into the countryside around Hue to the IMPERIAL TOMB OF TU DUC. Tu Duc, the longest reigning Vietnamese emperor, designed and built this elegant tomb during his lifetime, using it as a retreat for meditation, reading and theater performances. Afterwards visit the IMPERIAL TOMB OF KHAI DINH, dramatically located on a hillside. The last of the monumental tombs of the Nguyen dynasty, completed in 1931, this tomb incorporates distinct European elements into the traditional Vietnamese architecture. Overnight in Hue .

Day 10 Hue (B)
Enjoy a leisurely boat ride down the PERFUME RIVER , stopping first at the iconic THIEN MU PAGODA, an elegant seven-tiered octagonal tower which has become Hue 's most widely recognizable monument. Afternoon, visit the IMPERIAL CITADEL, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City of Beijing.

Day 11 Hue - Hanoi (B)
Flight to Hanoi , then head to HOAN KIEM LAKE , located in heart of Hanoi , which contains an islet with the tiny TORTOISE PAGODA. From there, walking to explore the OLD QUARTER. Afterwards, visit the MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY , which brings to life the astonishing ethnic diversity in Vietnam , with art and artifacts from the 54 different ethnic groups that inhabit the country.

Day 12 Hanoi - Vientiane (B)
Flight to Vientiane then tour the different highlights of the city, including PHA THAT LUANG, a gleaming golden sputa which is perhaps most important national monument in Laos; HO PHA KEO, the formal royal temple, now a museum with beautiful examples of Buddhist sculpture; WAT SI SAKET; and PATUXAI, a monumental arch inspired by the Arc de Triomphe, but executed with Lao motifs. Overnight in Vientiane .

Day 13 Vientiane - Luang Prabang (B)
City tour in Luang Prabang, visit the nearby WAT AHAM before continuing to WAT XIENG THONG, the crowning jewel of all the monasteries and temples in the city. Its many ornate buildings feature exquisite mosaic and gold-stenciled murals. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 14 Luang Prabang (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Boat to Tham Pak Ou Caves, t ravel down the Mekong River to the steep limestone cliffs overlooking the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers, home to the THAM PAK OU CAVES. These extraordinary caves are filled with Buddha images, of every style and material imaginable.

Day 15 Luang Prabang - Vientiane (B)
Visit the NATIONAL MUSEUM ( ROYAL PALACE ), a modest but graceful building that combines traditional Lao and French beaux-arts motifs. Visit Mount Phousi . Climb the hillside stairs to the small temples atop PHOU SI, the 100m high hill which sits in the middle of the town, offering beautiful views over the temples and river. Flight and overnight in Vientiane .

Day 16 Vientiane - Bangkok (B)
Flight to Bangkok then transfer to the hotel, free for leisure

Day 17 Bangkok (B/-/D)
Half-day City and Temple Tour in the morning. Evening farewell dinner at local Thai Restaurant.

Day 18 Bangkok - Hong Kong - Canada (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for flight back to Canada via Hong Kong .

Price is based on per person twin share from Vancouver , plus tax and fuel surcharges

Package prices exclude TAXES, are based on minimum SIX (6) people traveling. Prices and schedules are subject to change without prior notice. Deviation/amendment Fee and restrictions will be applied. Please contact Silk Holidays for details.

For responsibility, booking terms & conditions. Please ask your booking agent for a copy of "Silk Holidays - General Booking Terms & Conditions"

UpdatedApr20,2010