Tropical Asia Duo Vietnam and Cambodia Tour

Overnight flight to Saigon

We meet at the Turkish Airlines counter in the international terminal at Istanbul Airport 3 hours before departure. After completing baggage check-in and ticket procedures, we depart for Saigon at 15.20 on Turkish Airlines flight TK250.

Mekong Delta and the Saigon River

After arrival at 05.00 local time, a transfer will be provided by the vehicle waiting at the airport. After a short breakfast stop, guests who wish may join the optional Mekong Delta tour with lunch at an extra cost. (75 Euro) On this tour, we will discover life on 3 different islands in the delta and taste tropical fruits and homemade honey tea in fruit orchards while listening to music by local performers. After a boat ride through the reeds growing in the water, as seen in Vietnam war films, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, there will be free time at Ben Thanh daytime market in the city centre, which has coverings to provide shade from the sun. At the end of the tour, a transfer to the hotel will be provided. In the evening, guests who wish may join the optional Saigon River Cruise with dinner at an extra cost. (55 Euro) After dinner with views of Saigon, we will return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Chu Chi Tunnels and Saigon

After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish can join the optional Chu Chi tunnels tour with lunch at an extra charge. (75 Euro) Built underground during the Vietnam War, the tunnels have 5 levels. As we explore these narrow tunnels, used both for combat and as living spaces, we will hear stories about the lives of local people here. We may also have the opportunity to try firing large machine guns. On our return from the tour, we will have lunch at a local restaurant.

We will then begin our city tour. Located in southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the country’s largest city. It is known for its historic character, French colonial architecture, street life and cuisine. Sights on the city tour include Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, both dating from the French colonial period; the War Remnants Museum (exterior only), which documents the Vietnam War; and Ben Thanh Market, known for its souvenirs and handicrafts. After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel and have free time. Overnight at the hotel.

On to Siem Reap

After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to the airport at the time set by our guide. After completing baggage and ticket procedures, we will take a 75-minute flight with a local airline to Siem Reap, Cambodia’s second-largest city. A vehicle waiting at the airport will take us to our hotel. After a short rest, guests who wish may join the optional TonLé Sap Lake Floating Houses and Night Market tour at an extra charge. (45 Euro)

On the tour, we will first visit the floating village on Tonlé Sap Lake, which is governed by a traditional local administration. The residents of the Floating Houses village go about their daily lives without setting foot on land. With no roads, students travel to school by water. Although there is no electricity supply, residents can watch television using antennas installed on their homes and batteries.

Tonlé Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia, is one of the world’s ecological water reserves. It is also the world’s largest flood basin. During the dry season, the lake is 1 m deep and covers 2700 km2. In spring and summer, monsoon rains cause it to expand to 6 times its size. Its depth reaches up to 8 m, and its area grows to approximately 16.000 km2. In 1997, Unesco placed the lake under protection as a World Biosphere Reserve. The lake feeds approximately 4 million people, and fishing on the lake supplies 1 in 4 of the country’s seafood needs.

After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Angkor Temple day

After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish can join the optional Angkor Temple Tour with Lunch at an extra cost. (100 Euro) On the tour, we will visit the temple, which dates back more than 900 years and was built according to Hindu principles over an area of 8 square kilometres. Having witnessed many wars and historical periods, the temple has also been influenced by Buddhism. Known for its natural setting, the temple has also been used as a film location. After the visit, we will go to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will transfer to our hotel.

In the evening, guests who wish can join the optional Dinner with Traditional Apsara Dances tour at an extra cost. (30 Euro) At this theatre, you can enjoy dinner accompanied by traditional Cambodian dances. The show brings together Khmer culture and traditional theatre. After the evening, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Flight to Hanoi and city tour

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the airport at the time set by our guide. After completing baggage and ticket procedures, we fly with a local airline to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, on a flight lasting approximately 1,5 hours. On arrival, we board our waiting vehicle and begin our Hanoi city tour. Hanoi is one of Vietnam’s important cities for its historical and cultural heritage. During the tour, we see the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s national hero, and the nearby Palace, built by the French during their colonial rule on the Indochina Peninsula. We also see the houses where Ho Chi Minh lived and the One Pillar Pagoda, which dates back to 1049. We then visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, which reflects the teachings of Confucius. Our next stops are Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple in the centre of Hanoi, a city founded in 1010. After the tour, we take a walk through the Old Quarter before transferring to our hotel. We spend the night at the hotel.

Halong Bay day

After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish may join the optional Halong Bay Boat Tour (Cruise) with Lunch, offered at an extra cost. (140 Euro) Located in northeastern Vietnam, Halong Bay is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The bay is known for its approximately 2.000 limestone islands and rocky outcrops. In this area, considered one of the world's 7 natural wonders, we board our boat and have lunch with views of Halong Bay. After the tour, we are transferred to our hotel. We spend the night at the hotel.

Departure from Hanoi

After breakfast at the hotel, there will be free time. Transfer to the airport will then take place at the time specified by our guide. After baggage and check-in procedures are completed, departure for Istanbul will be at 22.55 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 165.

Arrival in Istanbul

Our tour ends upon arrival at 05.35 local time.