Our next stop are the terracotta-hued walls of Banteay Srei Temple – the “Citadel of Women” dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. We’ll have time to admire the 10thcentury carvings of women, said to have been too delicate to have been carved by a its name.
We’ll return to Siem Reap for some free time and this afternoon embark on a walking tour of the Old Town. During our visit to Artisans d’Angkor, we’ll see the revival of Khmer crafts and help support rural youths’ lives. This is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER(r).
Get a better insight into rural life in Cambodia, share a few snacks, then continue by private minibus to Siem Reap . Arrive in Siem Reap in the evening and relax as you prepare for your much-anticipated visit to Angkor tomorrow. Perhaps hit the markets for some delicious street food.
Later, we’ll visit Wat Damnak to participate in a private blessing ceremony. A sacred thread will be tied around each wrist to protect us from evil spirits. Our final stop today is to the labyrinthine Old Market, where the locals spend their early mornings shopping for fresh fruit, vegetables and spices. You can smell freshly baked baguettes as you walk past busy stalls. This is a remnant from France’s French heritage. As we travel by boat to the Red Bridge Cooking School, the healthy flavours of Vietnamese cuisine are on display. We’ll have an opportunity to savour the dishes we’ve prepared for lunch before returning to Hoi An.
- We will travel by traditional vehicle “xeloi” from the start to the local market, where we will take a local boat to the fish farm.
- Enjoy some local cuisine while you step back in time as the musicians and dancers bring the ancient Khmer culture alive.
- If you choose the latter the bustling Dong Ba Market is a great place to sample some of the specialties that once graced the Nguyen emperors’ tables like banh khoai .
- Have clothes tailored in the small colonial town of Hoi An, relax at the exclusive
Passing colourful trading boats, house boats and children swimming we stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies and paper along the way. Lunch is served today at a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island. Welcome to the fish sanctuary of Vietnam We begin our day with a hearty breakfast at the Dining Hall or at your private balcony.
This morning drive to the ancient village of Duong Lam, a typical agricultural village in the north of the Red River Delta. We wander through Duong Lam’s narrow alleyways, which are home to approximately 300 houses that were built three to four centuries ago, to discover rural life and Vietnam’s ancient architecture. In the afternoon, we visit Hoa Lo Prison, known to the Americans in the Vietnam War as the “Hanoi Hilton.” We then visit the Lake of Restored Sword and the Ngoc Son temple. Tonight, we enjoy a traditional and unique Vietnamese water puppet show before dinner at the Press Club Restaurant which serves fusion cuisine. You will board a traditional junk to cruise the bay’s 3000 limestone islets.
the daily life of Vietnamese people in Mekong. Lunch is on board the ship before we set off for My An Hung Village. Passengers walk to the family house through the vegetable garden to see the boat building yard and canals. We will cross a monkey bridge to see beetle nut, chilli and corn plantations, among other vegetable fields. After that, we will gather at the house to enjoy tea with honey and local delicacies before returning to the ship to sail for Sa Dec, where we will moor for the night. Despite its rapid growth, it has maintained a lot its rustic charme and elegance.
Your final stop today is Ben Thanh market, one of the earliest surviving structures in old Saigon, before arriving at your hotel. ‘Dive Into Culture’ this morning, embarking on a walking tour around the ancient town of Hoi An. Embrace its charm of yesteryear – the narrow lanes, colourful marketplaces and ancient temples providing insights into the Vietnam of old. Kick back and enjoy a relaxing foot massage that will set the pace for the rest of the day and evening at leisure. Today, set off from Siem Reap to follow a hidden trail.
Later, step back in time as you experience authentic rural Mekong life on nearby Evergreen island. You can relax on board and take in the views of the Mekong for the remainder of today. Upon entering Cambodia, you’ll cruise towards its enthralling capital, Phnom Penh. Today we travel deep into the jungle of Cambodia through a gateway shaped like a pyramid into an ancient world. As we cross the causeway, our serene stone faces watch as we enter the spiritual heart of Angkor’s ancient lost city. A Local Specialist and renowned Khmer scholar brings to life the stories behind the intricate carvings and murals of celestial nymphs and mythical serpents along the abandoned hallways of Angkor Wat.