You leave Saigon today to tour the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground maze of passages utilized by the Viet Cong as a defense against American airstrikes during the Vietnam War (or “American War” as it is referred to here). Crawl through sections of the tunnels to have a better understanding of what life was like for Vietnamese soldiers during the war. Following that, you will pay a visit to Tay Ninh’s majestic Cao Dai Temple and participate in the noontime worship ceremony.

Caodaism, a hybrid religion formed in the 1920s that mixes aspects of Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam to promote peace, is housed in this enormous and colorful structure. Lunch in Tay Ninh, then back to Saigon in the late afternoon.
Breakfast is the only meal served.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

After breakfast, depart Saigon for the Mekong River Delta. Arrive at Cai Be at 11:00 a.m. and begin your delta trip with a private boat to the Cai Be floating market, passing by a stunning church. Visit local cottage industries and home factories to learn how to make rice paste, rice biscuits, and coconut sweets, as well as the longan fruit drying process. Sail down the Mekong’s numerous branches and streams, stopping to explore local orchards and traditional dwellings built of wood and palm tree leaves. Then, via motorized boat, cross the Tien Giang River, one of the two big “arms” of the Mekong, to visit some fluvial islands and enjoy the landscape. Your driver will be waiting on the opposite side of the river to take you on a 45-minute ride to Can Tho, the largest city on the Mekong, a vibrant town with a busy waterfront and a colorful mix of small back alleyways that allow for some intriguing exploring. You have the rest of the day free.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho.

Early in the morning, check out of the hotel and take a motor boat to the famed Cai Rang floating market. Experience daily life in the Mekong River Delta as merchants from all around the region congregate to offer fresh fruits, local specialties, and handcrafted crafts. Continue your exploration of the region by visiting the cottage businesses to witness individuals manufacturing coconut candy and rice paper. Continue on to Chau Doc, where a sunset hike up Sam Mountain offers panoramic views of the surrounding region. If time allows, you may also visit Lady Xu and Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Chau Doc.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and take a speedboat up the Mekong to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. The entire journey takes roughly four and a half hours (including visa formalities). Visas are easily obtained and inexpensive at the border between Vietnam and Cambodia (including the processing fee). Your guide will meet you at the Phnom Penh pier and transport you to the hotel. Despite its violent recent history, Phnom Penh’s vast tree-lined boulevards and decaying colonial buildings have an irresistible allure. After lunch at a downtown eatery, enjoy a leisurely trip to the Russian Market and put your finest negotiating skills to the test.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Phnom Penh.

Spend the day touring the bustling capital city of Cambodia. Begin by learning about the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia’s recent, terrible past on a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the infamous Choeung Ek “Killing Fields.” Lunch at a downtown eatery, followed by a cycle ride along Sihanouk Boulevard to the National Museum and the Royal Palace – home to the royal family and the sumptuous Silver Pagoda.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, take a flight to Siem Reap, the main entry point to the Angkor Archaeological Park. When you arrive, meet your driver and begin your trip at the Angkor National Museum for a brief history lesson. The contemporary museum displays artifacts from the Khmer Empire’s Golden Era using multimedia technologies to depict this fascinating historical period. A guided tour of the museum allows you to see Angkor at its best.
Drive to the Angkor Archeological Complex in the late afternoon to witness the sunset from Phnom Krohm Mountain, which gilds the surrounding temple-dotted forest in golden light.

* You may alternatively ride a speedboat up the Mekong from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (the ideal time to go by river ferry is between September and December).
* Because of the improved state of National Road 6, a drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is now also suggested. Driving from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap or vice way takes roughly 5 hours.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Spend the full day exploring the magical and ancient Angkor Temples. Following an early breakfast at the hotel, you go for Angkor Thom’s majestic South Gate, which is crowned with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Following that, pay a visit to Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Leaving Angkor Thom through the North Gate, you proceed to Preah Khan (Sacred Sword), one of Angkor’s greatest temples built by Jayavarman VII in the 12th century. After a delightful lunch of traditional Khmer cuisine, go to the mysterious, jungle-entwined Ta Prohm temple, followed by the most famous Khmer monument: Angkor Wat. Constructed as a Hindu monument, later dedicated to Buddha, Angkor Wat is the largest temple and finest example of Angkorian art and architect.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Today is free at your leisure for last minute shopping or sight-seeing before driving to Siem Reap International Airport to catch your departure flight home.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.