Journey Through Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos

Transcription

1 Journey Through Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos February 11-23, 2016 October 23 November 7,

2 Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are among the gems of Southeast Asia. These former French colonies possess untamed natural beauty and a captivating cultural splendor. From its dynastic roots and French occupation to its late 20 th -century reunification, Vietnam is rich with history and replete with remnants of each bygone era. Cambodia, the successor of the powerful Khmer empire entices the senses with its bustling and lively cities, and perhaps its most prized treasure of all, the temples of Angkor. And finally, Laos, the Shangri-La of Southeast Asia with its richly forested landscapes and serene river towns, evokes the sentiments of a well-read page in an old Graham Greene novel. Day 1. February 11. Hanoi. Upon arrival in Vietnam you will be met and escorted through the VIP arrival channels and will be transferred to the Metropole Hotel. Accommodations: Metropole Hotel Day 2. February 12. Hanoi. Hanoi is a charming city with pleasant lakes, shaded boulevards, and verdant public parks. The city center is an architectural museum piece, its blocks of ochre buildings retaining the air of a provincial French town of the 1930s. We will spend the morning exploring Hanoi s Old Quarter (either on foot or in the back of a tricycle) with over 1000 years of history packed into the maze of streets, alleys and shops where you can find everything from local food to antiques. During the 13 th century Hanoi s 36 guilds of craftsmen and artisans established themselves in the Old Quarter. Subsequently each street has been named after the specific product, which was produced and sold here. Even to this day, this area retains the essence of life from centuries. From here we continue on to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a large memorial to the Vietnamese leader where his body has been preserved. The mausoleum s design is similar to Lenin s mausoleum in Moscow. It is said that Ho Chi Minh stated in his will that he wishes to be cremated and to have his ashes buried in the hills of the north, center, and south of Vietnam. By building this mausoleum, the successor Communist government unintentionally violated his wish. Please note that the mausoleum is under renovation at the moment and the inside of the building cannot be accessed. We will stop at the One-Pillar Pagoda, a wooden structure built in 1049 that sits on stilts over a lake. A king of the Ly Dynasty, Ly Thai Thong had it built after having a dream in which the Goddess of Mercy presented him with a lotus flower. The existing pagoda is a miniature reproduction of the original, which represented a lotus emerging from the water. 2

3 After lunch we will drive to the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 to pay tribute to education and academic achievement. Six years later, it became home to Hanoi s first university. Even now, more than 200 years after the last national exam, the site s five courtyards still enjoy an atmosphere of higher learning. Today art students sit on the grass and try to reproduce the traditional Vietnamese architecture on paper. We will celebrate the beginning of our journey with a traditional welcome dinner! Accommodations: Metropole Hotel Day 3. February 13. Halong Bay. A three-hour drive takes us to treasured Halong Bay. With its 3000 islands rising from the clear, emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay is one of the natural marvels of Vietnam and is now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This magical landscape has often been compared to the famous limestone mountains in Guilin, China. Upon arrival, we will board the Paradise Cruise, for a day of sailing through the bay. Accommodations: Paradise Cruise Day 4. February 14. Hue. The boat returns to the dock late this morning. Our bus will be waiting to take us back to Hanoi in time for an afternoon flight to Hue. Hue is the last imperial capital of Vietnam and was once Vietnam s cultural, religious, and educational center. This 19 th century capital of regal pavilions has preserved its air of gracious reserve and faded glamour and is home to Vietnam s famous Royal Tombs. Although it was the scene of one of the Vietnam War's bloodiest incidents the 1968 Tet Offensive, which all but decimated the city there is something dreamy and untouched about Hue. Perhaps it is the gentle, misty rain that often falls here as the day begins, or the wide streets surrounding the Perfume River, or even the languorous pace, but it is easy to convince ourselves that this is a place that managed to slumber through the country's midcentury unhappiness, awakening blissfully unaware that the world around it had changed forever. Accommodations: La Residence Hue Hotel Day 5. February 15. Hue. You will start early for a stroll through one of the lively morning markets before we begin our sightseeing. 3

4 Start the day with a boat trip on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. Lord Nguyen Hoang, the ancestor of the Nguyen dynasty, erected this Buddhist monastery in It was renovated in 1844 under King Thieu Tri s sovereignty. It is said that one night people found an old lady sitting on this small hill, wearing a red long dress and green trousers and she claimed that this place belonged to the supernatural power, so a pagoda should be constructed here. Ever since then it became known as the pagoda of the old celestial goddess. Our next stop is the Royal Tombs of the former Emperor Tu Duc, who had the longest reign of any Nguyen monarch. It is said that Tu Duc had 104 wives but no children. He left behind as his legacy an exquisitely designed tomb. After lunch in a wonderful local restaurant owned by an old Hue family, we will head to the city s famous Citadel. Constructed in 1805 by Emperor Gia Long, it houses the courtyard for royal ceremonies, the palace of supreme peace, halls of the mandarins, the memorial temple for Nguyen Kings, nine holy cannons, nine dynastic urns and the Forbidden City for the royal families. Located inside the Citadel is the Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts. Here, the lost splendor of the Nguyen dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 until 1945, is displayed and housed inside an all-wood palace, built in The museum is notable for its atmospheric setting and sumptuous royal artifacts, including furniture inlaid with mother-ofpearl, ceremonial weapons, and silk gowns. Inside the Citadel we find the famous Purple Forbidden City, once reserved for the personal use of the emperor where the only servants allowed inside where the eunuchs who would pose no threat to the women of the court. Accommodations: La Residence Hue Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 6. February 16. Hoi An. A wonderful drive (3½ to 4 hours) along a spectacular coastline takes us over the Hai Van Pass and on to Hoi An. The town of Hoi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in Foreigners have been coming to Hoi An since the 15 th century Dutch, Portuguese, British, French, Japanese and Chinese to purchase silk, fabrics, tea, pepper and Chinese medicine. By the 19 th century Hoi An trade declined, partly as a result of internal conflicts, but mainly because the mouth of the Thu Bon River silted up, rendering the sea approach too narrow. The port of Danang gradually supplanted Hoi An. The legacy of maritime trade in Hoi An left an eclectic mix of merchant architecture with housing in French, Chinese or Japanese style. Hoi An is one of the rare places in Vietnam where you can find genuine Vietnamese architecture which miraculously escaped the war. The city is small and compact and the historic quarter is home to 20,000 people. Lunch will be served en route at one of the fishing villages along the coast. We will arrive in time for an afternoon stroll through the old town. 4

5 Accommodations: Anantara Hoi An Resort Day 7. February 17. Hoi An. This morning, set out on an excursion to My Son, the wonderful ruined Cham capital set in a verdant valley and surrounded by jungle. My Son was once a center for spirituality and worship during the reign of the Champa Kingdom. The My Son sanctuary, which exemplifies the height of Cham architectural achievement, is a large complex of religious monuments originally comprised of more than 70 structures; the vestiges of 25 of these structures remain today. The builders of My Son were the nobility of the Champa Kingdom who derived their cultural and spiritual influences almost exclusively from India. My Son represents the longest continuous occupation for religious purposes, not only of the Cham Kingdom, but also within Southeast Asia as a whole. The site was inhabited from the 4th until the 15th century AD, far longer than any of the other Indian-influenced sites in the region, including the more famous sites of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Borobudur in Indonesia, Pagan in Myanmar, or Ayutthaya in Thailand. My Son was once a veritable forest of towers, many of which were destroyed by the ravages of time and war. This unique site is now in a state of significant disrepair, urgently requiring conservation efforts. After our visit to the temples, we will drive to the Cau Lau boat station and board a private motorized river boat heading to the Thanh Ha ceramics village and the Kim Bong carpentry village before returning to Hoi An. Accommodations: Anantara Hoi An Resort Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 8. February 18. Saigon. Our flight from nearby Danang Airport will depart this morning bound for Saigon. After Hoi An, Saigon can feel a bit overwhelming. Saigon s population hovers just around 6 million and is all glitz and speed. Nothing prepares one for the city at rush hour. The crush of scooters and motorcycles is mind-boggling, a daily drama played by a cast of thousands, and above the streets, large billboards advertise everything from washing powder to beer. We will immerse ourselves into the hustle and bustle of the city and continue on to the heart of Saigon for a tour that includes the General Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Hall and the War Remnants Museum. Accommodations: Park Hyatt Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Day 9. February 19. Siem Reap. We bid farewell to Vietnam as we board our flight to Siem Reap. 5

6 Ornamented by the finest artisans of its time, once redolent with incense and prayer, Angkor was lost beneath the sands of time only to be re-discovered at the opening of the last century. Angkor was built between the 9 th and 13 th centuries when Khmer civilization was at the height of its extraordinary creativity. From Angkor, the kings of the mighty Khmer empire ruled over a vast territory that extended from the tip of what is now Southern Vietnam northward to Yunnan in China and from Vietnam westward to the Bay of Bengal. Angkor s hundred or so temples constitute the sacred skeleton of a spectacular administrative and religious center whose houses, public buildings and palaces were constructed of wood now long decayed because the right to dwell in structures of brick or stone was reserved for the gods. Angkor Wat is one of mankind s greatest achievements, and the intricate carvings at the temple of Angkor Wat demonstrate the skill of the Khmer builders. It was constructed in the jungle in the early 12th century, then - two centuries later - was mysteriously abandoned by the Khmer civilization. The jungle soon overwhelmed Angkor Wat, hiding it for several centuries with thick tropical foliage. There was little left to see except an occasional protruding building stone. In 1861 a French naturalist accidentally came across the jungleveiled ruins. Now Angkor Wat is one of the main reasons visitors come to Cambodia. We will begin our discovery of the Angkor Complex in the afternoon after the temperature cools down as we explore some of the most important temples such as Ta Prohm, built in 1186 and dedicated to Jayavarman VII. Ta Phrom is a temple of towers, closed courtyards and narrow corridors. Unlike the other temples of Angkor, Ta Phrom has been left to the elements and looks very much like the other temples must have looked when rediscovered by Henri Mouhot in the 1860s. We will also see the Bayon Temple with its beautiful Buddha faces, the Terrace of Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Accommodations: Grand Hotel D Angkor Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Day 10. February 20. Siem Reap. On our second day in Cambodia, we begin early in the morning and leave Siem Reap to travel to the Thousand Linga Rivers at Kbal Spean, located on the Kulen Mountain range. Phnom Kulen was the first capital of the Angkorian civilization and the location for Jayavarman II s coronation in 802. The drive will take us past Angkor Wat, through the village of Pradok that sits in the east baray and then on to Mount Kulen, which is located 40 kms northwest of Siem Reap. At this time of the morning, the journey is a wonder in itself and you can see the countryside awake and village life unfolds. From here we continue on to Beng Melea, an amazing and atmospheric 900-year old temple. Built in the 12 th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II, it features the same style as Angkor Wat but is mostly unrestored, with huge blocks of stone lying in piles in its center. The whole place looks like a Hollywood movie set. After lunch we will drive to Banteay Srei, loosely translated as "Citadel of Women." It houses some of the finest and best-preserved examples of classical Khmer bas-relief. The temple's relatively small size, pink sandstone construction and ornate design give it a fairyland ambiance. 6

7 We arrive back in Siem Reap in time for a visit to the wonderful Angkor Museum. Accommodations: Grand Hotel D Angkor Day 11. February 21. Siem Reap. This morning we will see Angkor Wat at sunrise before our excursion to Tonle Sap Lake at Mechrey Village. Tonle Sap Lake is the largest body of fresh water in Southeast Asia and the lifeline of its people. En route stop at Ampil Peam to stroll through a traditional village and see how the people have lived for centuries. Arrive in Mechrey Village and board a local style boat to explore the area. Learn about the great biodiversity of the lake and its importance of the lake for the livelihood for its locals. Tonle Sap means Great Lake, and has been declared a UNESCO biosphere. Return to Siem Reap for some free time this afternoon. Accommodations: Grand Hotel D Angkor Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 12. February 22. Siem Reap. Today we will make several optional activities available to our group. You may chose any of these or you might want to enjoy a day by the pool or a day to stroll through the Old Market and busy downtown area of Siem Reap with its wonderful shops and cafes. Option # 1 For those travelers who love tasting traditional food, you may want to join Scottish chef Steven Halcrow and American writer Lina Goldberg on a morning street food tour that includes such specialties as grilled fish pancakes wrapped around spicy cucumber pickles and a visit to a village where the dish of the day is known as num banh chok! Option # 2 If you feel like you have not yet seen enough temples, we will take you to Preah Vihear located about 90 km outside of Siem Reap. Preah Vihar was dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and some would argue that this site is one of the most spectacular and stunning monuments rivaling Angkor Wat. Accommodations: Grand Hotel D Angkor 7

8 Day 13. February 22. Luang Prabang. Our last leg of the journey through Southeast Asia takes us to Luang Prabang, the former capital of Laos, and an ancient city of Buddhist temples and pagodas stands in a northern valley carved from the mountains by the Mekong River. The town of approximately 30,000 people has been home to 63 kings. It is truly one of Asia s last unspoiled spots and certainly a contender for the Shangri-La title that travel brochures are so ready to describe. Rice paddies and mountains covered with thick vegetation spread in all directions. Its physical isolation has served as an effective barrier to any economic changes. Luang Prabang is the religious center of Laos and the 59 Buddhist temples, most centuries old, are quite magnificent. In 1995 the entire town of Luang Prabang was added to UNESCO s World Heritage List. After settling in at the hotel and a lunch in a local restaurant, we will venture out on an afternoon walking tour of the town and a short hike up Phousi Hill for a sunset view of the town. Accommodations: La Residence Phou Vao Day 14. February 23. Luang Prabang. We will rise early, when the town s monastery bells toll, just in time to see a golden procession of monks emerge and quietly walk down the streets with their alms bowls in hand collecting food for the day from the townspeople. We will get away from the stream of tourists and walk to the outskirts of town for a chance to witness the real interaction between the local people and the monks. Here you will get a feel for the town as it becomes alive in the morning. After breakfast we will set out on a full day excursion that takes us into the peaceful countryside, stopping to explore ethnic Hmong, Khmu, and Lowland Lao villages. All of them have different traditions, religions, and speak different dialects. The Lowland Lao of Ban Sa-aat live on the banks of the Mekong and its tributaries. Ban Pano is home to the Khmu people who were the original inhabitants of Northern Laos. They are animists and speak a language belonging to the Austro-Asiatic group of languages. In Ban Long Lao, you will see Hmong and Khmu people live peacefully side-by-side. Local guides from each village will accompany as you wander through the villages where you will be welcome to enter the private homes and learn more about the cultivation of corn and other crops on the mountainside. Finally we will arrive at Kuang Si Waterfall in time for a picnic lunch. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon. Accommodations: La Residence Phou Vao Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 8

9 Day 15. February 24. Luang Prabang. We will board a private motorboat boat for a short journey to the famous Pak Ou Caves. Carved in a gigantic limestone on the shores of the river, the caves are filled with over 5,000 Buddha statues and mark one of Laos most important pilgrimage sites. We will return to Luang Prabang overland, stopping along the way in a few villages, one of them known for the production of a rather potent rice wine and the other for its wonderfully woven textiles. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Accommodations: La Residence Phou Vao Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Day 16. February 25. Departure. You will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight. Meals: Breakfast Trip Price: $ 7,190 per person Inclusions: Accommodations as listed in double occupancy / meals as listed / all flights in economy class beginning in Hanoi and ending in Luang Prabang / airport transfers / VIP arrival in Hanoi and Siem Reap / service of national English speaking guides / service of an Authentic Asia tour escort / all sightseeing as listed with entrance fees / all transportation by bus or private boat / tips to guides and drivers/ Cambodia visa fee. This journey is limited to 12 travelers. Authentic Asia would be delighted to design a personalized itinerary for you to Southeast Asia or other destinations, should you wish to travel on a private tour. Please feel free to call us at or us at info@authenticasia.net with any questions you might have. We are happy to help you plan your next journey! 9

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