eye-opening days in Vietnam & & Cambodia includes Hanoi Halong Bay Hoi An Ho Chi Minh City Phnom Penh Angkor Wat departs March

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1 22 eye-opening days in Vietnam & & Cambodia departs March an intimate unforgettable taste of Indochina includes Hanoi Halong Bay Hoi An Ho Chi Minh City Phnom Penh Angkor Wat plus a luxury 8-day cruise on the Mekong River with your tour leaders John & Robyn Cooney

2 2 L et the fun begin ThisisSOexciting!Afterallthedreams andplansandphonecallsand newslettersandforms-to-fill-outandmoney-topay,we llsoonbedepartingonourgrand SoutheastAsianadventure. ThefunwillstartinelegantHanoi,inwhat usedtobenorth Vietnam thenwe llhead south,viathelaidbackcoastalresortofhoi An, tosaigon,nowcalledho Chi Minh City,onthe legendarymekong Delta.Finally,beforeyou knowit,we llembarkonourluxuryrivercruise aboardtheavalon Siem Reap,foraclose-up encounterwithvillagesandvillagersintherural heartofcambodia. ThisMadMidlifeadventurewillendin Phnom PenhandSiem Reap,attheawesome WorldHeritagetemplesofAngkor Wat. Areyouitchingtogo?Weare! Toavoidanyhassles,oursightseeing excursionshavealreadybeenselectedand booked,andprettymucheverythinghasbeen paid-forinadvance.we vepulledafewstrings andbuiltinsomespecial bonuses justforour Kiwigroup and,frankly,whatwe veendedup withisasuperball-inclusivepackage.we re gonnahaveaball,folks!sobringiton Thisday-to-dayprogrammeisstill subject to change,indiscussionwithourexpertguides &cruise-director(andatthediscretionofyour TourLeaders).Buthereatlast,asaccurateaswe cangetit,isourfinal ITINERARY. Haveagoodread,andwhetyour appetite...

3 3 Apsara Dancers Midlife Madness on the Mekong: March 2019 Itinerary Sunday3 Flight SQ282: Aucklandto Singapore depart1:15am (early Monday) Monday4 Flight SQ282: tosingapore arrive6:45am Flight SQ176: tohanoi depart9:20am arrive11:40am HanoiCycloTour Intercontinental Westlake Meals: D Tuesday5 HanoiCityTour (fullday) Intercontinental Westlake Meals: B,L let the fun begin! It sactuallyhappening!ourlongawaitedadventureinindochinaisunderwayatlast!we departaucklandinternationalairportaftermidnightinourbigsingaporeairlinesjet,flying norththroughthenight(10½hrs) thenabriefstopinsingaporebeforegoingairborneagain (3½hrs)tothecosmopolitancityofHanoi inwhatusedtobeknownasnorthvietnam. Braceyourselves,Kiwis:we reabouttohavethetimeofourlives andthenextthreeweekare gonnabefullofsurprises Vietnam by cyclo! Ifyou vegrownup(asmanyofushave)notrealisingthatvietnam is morethanjustawar preparetohavesomepre-conceivedideasadjusted.thiswarm,friendly,welcomingcountryis trulysomethingelse!andhanoi,capitalofthesocialistrepublicofvietnam,isfullofsurprises. Afterlanding,goingthroughimmigrationandcollectingourVietnameseVisas,weheadforour 5-starhoteltounpackandfreshen-up.Then,thisavo,wegettoexperiencethehustle-&-bustle ofthecity scolourfulold Quarter atground-level aboardafleetof cyclos, Vietnam s traditionalpedal-poweredmodeoftransportation. Don tworry:skilledcyclo-pedallersdoallthehardworkforyou yeehaa! Andthey reusedto negotiatingtheirwaythroughhanoi schaotictrafficandthemazeofsmallback-alleysinwhat waspreviouslyknownas 36 Streets whereeachstreetspecialisedinadifferentproduct eg: SilkStreet, GoldStreet, CoffinStreet, etc.justholdontightandhaveyourcameraready! Tonightweenjoyayummy,fun-filled Midlife Madness Welcome Dinner atalocalrestaurant. Frenchified Hanoi WebeginourseconddayinHanoi withsomesightseeingthatincludestheimposingedificethat housesho Chi Minh s mausoleum theone Pillar Pagoda (animportantsymbolforthepeople ofhanoi,foundedbykinglythaitoin1049) themuseum of Ethnology(wherewesample artefactsandcostumesfromsomeofvietnam s54ethnicminorities) andthetemple of Literature (foraglimpseintovietnam spast). WebreakforlunchatpopularKoto arestaurantwhereformerstreet-kidsandorphansare giventheopportunitytolearnskillswhichwillenablethemtofindemploymentinthe hospitalityindustry.

4 4 Halong Bay Later,weheadforthepeacefulHoan Kiem Lake,withitsfamousRising Sun Bridge andngoc Son Temple apagodabuiltonanislandoutinthemiddleofthelake,inhonourofa13thcenturymilitaryhero,tranhungdao,andhisbraveryinbattleagainsttheyuandynasty.aswe passbackthroughthecity,enjoythesightsandsoundsofvendorsattheirdailytasks,stalls stackedwithflowersandfruit,localssnackingonthesidewalks,andswarmsofyoungandold onbikesormotorcycles(oftenoverloaded,withupto5or6onboard)! Dinnertonight?Yourchoice.Andthisevening?Enjoyafamouswater-puppet show. Wednesday6 RedRiverDelta Harbour Cruise: HalongBayonthe BhayaClassic Thursday7 Harbour Cruise: HalongBayonthe BhayaClassic Intercontinental Westlake Friday8 Flight: HanoitoDanang (to be advised) Red River Delta & Halong Bay Oncewe reup,dressed,fedandwatered,wesay Tam biet! (goodbye)tohanoianddrivefor 3½hoursthroughtherichfarmlandsoftheRed River Delta pastscenesofricefields,water buffalosandeverydayvietnamesevillagelife arrivinginthebaysideresorttownofbai Chay: gatewaytobeautifulhalong Bay.There,weboardanauthenticChinesejunkforanovernight Bhaya Classic Cruise throughthisastonishingemeraldseascape,dottedwith3000islands (mostlyuninhabited)andrecognisedasoneofthenewworld ssevennaturalwonders. We vegotarangeofoptionsthisafternoon:makingourselvesathomeinourcabins lazingon deck photographingpassingisletsandvillagesandboatsofallshapesandsizes eyeingthe amazingpointylimestonerocks partakingofafresh-cookedlunch visitingthevung Vieng fishingvillage or(ifwefeelsoinclined)plunginginforaswim beforeanonboarddemoof traditionalhanoicookingatouranchoragenearho Dong Tien. Then,after HappyHour andasumptuousseafooddinner,wecantryourhandatsquidfishing, ortakeinamovieontheloungedeck,beforeretiringtoourcabinsforthenight. Halong to Hanoi Wakey-wakey,Kiwis:abrandnewdayhasbegun andahotcupofteaplussomebrisktai-chi (forthoseinneedofastretch)ishappeningoutondeck.later,afteralightbreakfast,weupanchorandcontinueouroh-so-leisurelycruise passingmorepicture-postcard-gorgeous locations,andgoingashoreonsung Sot Island toexploresomecolourfullimestonecaves. Followingafresh n healthybuffetbrunchwesailbacktohalong City,forourreturn-coach-trip tohanoi.wehavesomefreetimethisafternoon thentonight:dinnertogetheratapopular foodie-joint. next stop: Danang & Hoi An Thismorning,wemakeourwaytotheairport,flysouthtoDanang (one-timefishingvillage, nowvietnam s4th-largestcity),andgettaxiedtothecharmingoldriversidetownofhoi An a UNESCOWorldHeritageSite:onceamajorAsiantradingport,nowabustlingtouristhotspot.

5 5 Japanese Covered Bridge HoiAn WalkingTour PalmGarden BeachResort Meals: B,L Saturday9 Red Bridge Cooking School: HoiAn (mostoftheday) PalmGarden BeachResort Meals: B,L Sunday10 onyourown PalmGarden BeachResort Meals: B Monday11 Flight: Danangto HoChiMinhCity (to be advised) TheReverie Saigon Meals: B Afterlunchatalocalrestaurant,weenjoyawalkingtourthroughtheancienttowncentre eyeballingthesitesofformermerchants homes,ahokkien Temple (forthefukienchinese Congregation),a400-year-oldJapanese Covered Bridge,andanancientpagoda.Wemightalso gettoseelocalsraisingwrigglysilkwormsforthetextileindustry. Thenwehavetimetogosouvenir-shoppinginoneofSoutheastAsia smostcolourfullocal marketplaces orchooseadress/gown/jacket/trousers/suittobetailor-madeovernightbyhoi An sfamousgarment industry.overnight? Yep,that swhattheresidentexpertsspecialisein here withfashionandqualitytomatch!(justwaitandsee ) Meanwhile,you llbegettinghungry right?soyoumightliketotrydinnerthiseveningatour beautifulbeachresort/hotel(wherewe llbeforthenextthreenights).yourcall make your own Vietnamese lunch Thismorning,forsomethingtotallydifferent,weexperiencealittlehands-onlearning!Itstarts withapersonally-guidedtourwithatopcheffromthered Bridge Restaurant throughthehoi AnFoodMarket wherewe reallowedtohelpselecttheproductsweneedtomakeourown lunch,whiletakingintheamazingmarketplacesights,soundsandaromas. Thenweboardawater-taxiforaleisurely25-minutechug-a-lugalongtheTuBonRivertothe legendaryred Bridge Cooking School.Here,underthewatchfuleyeofthechef,welearn with lotsofaudienceparticipation,plushooting,laughingandguffawing howtopreparespecialty HoiAndishes,beforesittingdownandeatingourowndeliciousconcoctions!Thenwechug-alugbacktoHoi An fordinneronourown,ifwe restillhungry! a day-off in Hoi An Luckyus:wehavearelaxedstarttoday,withtimetosleepinandenjoyaposhbreakfast. ThentherestofthedayFREE towanderthetropicalgardensofourresort/hotel(fivepalmsmotheredacresspreadalonga220-metrestretchofthecua Dai Beach) orcool-offinthe pool(don tforgetyourbikini,snorkel-&-goggles,kayakandrubber-ducky) orgosightseeing/ pottering/meandering/shopping/whatever-takes-your-fancyinlovelyhoi An. Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City ThismorningwemustdragourselvesawayfromthisgorgeousplaceandtransfertoDanang airportintimeforoursouthboundflighttodynamicho Chi Minh City (stillcalledsaigon by manylocals).we vegotthreenightshereinaspectacularhotelinthiscrowded,historicsouth Vietnamesecity.Andthisevening?We reonourownforanotheryummydinner. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we diet! (Well,maybenottomorrow butwhenwe gethome,perhaps?)

6 6 Cu Chi Tunnels Tuesday12 HoChiMinh WalkingTour TheReverie Saigon Meals: B,D Wednesday13 CuChiTunnels TheReverie Saigon Meals: B Thursday14 Registration, Check-In& Departure Friday15 ScenicVinhLong sampancruise CuLaoGieng workshop& homevisit on foot in what used to be Saigon Today,afterbreakfast,weenjoyawalkingtourofHoChiMinhCity'shistoriclandmarks like thereunification Palace andthenotre Dame Cathedral includingastopattherex Hotel fora refreshingdrinkattherooftopbarwheretheu.s.militaryheldtheirinfamous FiveO'Clock Follies duringthewar.wethenvisitthewar Remnants Museum andbustlingben Thanh Market wherewecanspendsomeofourleftoverdong. Finally,tonight(how syourwaist-line?):somemoreauthenticvietnamesecuisine! underground in the Cu Chi Tunnels Afterbreakfast,wedriveoutthroughthecitypastvastrubber-plantationsforyetanother unforgettableexperience:thecu Chi Tunnels,aremarkable193km-longnetworkof undergroundbunkersandpassagewaysusedbythecommunistforces(vietcong)tosupply theirsoldiersinthesouthduringthelongstruggleforindependencethattheyrememberasthe AmericanWar. (Ifyou refeelingbrave,youcaneventrysometunnel-crawlingyourself!) Enjoyfreetimethisafternoonandevening.Considerstoppingforadrinkatthefamousrooftop baratthecaravellehotel. our Mekong Cruise begins! Followinganotherslap-upbreakfast(weetbixandtoast?)wetransfertotheportontheSaigon RiverwherewegetwelcomedaboardtheAvalon Siem Reap tostartourlong-anticipated cruiseupthemightymekong. TherearefewtapestriesofriverlifeasfascinatingandvariedastheMekong.Andit shardto imagineamorestrikingculturalcontrastthanwhatwe reabouttowitness:thebustling Vietnam Delta vs.thetranquillityofcambodia. Wehavethechancetogetacquaintedwithourfloatinghotelbeforeamouth-wateringmealis servedonboard.thenourshipmotorsoutintothecurrent,headingforvinhlong Ohboy,thisiswhatwe vebeenwaitingfor,kiwis letthepamperingbegin! Cruising: Vinh Long to Cu Lao Gieng Thismorning,afterovernightingandbeingrockedtosleepontheAvalon Siem Reap,we transfertoasampanforasceniccruisetovinh Long wherealocalworkshopwaitsreadyto showushowricepaper,ricewine,andtraditionalcandiesaremade. Later,afterlunchbackontheship,wehopintoanothersampanandenjoyscenesofdailylife alongtherivernearcu Lao Gieng stopping,first,ataworkshopwhereaskilledfamilyworks togethertohand-craftsampansforaliving andsecond,atalocalhomewhereafamily

7 7 Silver Pagoda weavesclassicconicalhats(called non la ).Thenwerideaspecially-designedmotor-cartto viewoneofvietnam soldestcatholicchurches. Saturday16 VisittoChauLoc farmersmarket LongKhongA cotton-weaving demo Sunday17 Cyclotourof PhnomPenh Children sshow: song-&-dance Monday18 TuolSeng Genocide Museum Cruising: Chau Doc to Long Khong A Afterascrummybreakfast,wegoashoreforawalkthroughthelocalmarketofChau Loc absorbingthesightsandtheatmosphereasbusylocalsgoaboutbuyingandsellingtheirfish, meatandproduce.wethenjoinasampanexcursiondownthebackwatersofthemekongto religioussitesatthebaseofsam Mountain.Alongtheway,wepasstraditionalfloatinghomes, speedboatmerchants,amarketsellingdriedgoods,andmore. Then,afterlunchbackondeck,wetransferbysampantothevillageofLong Khong Aforalocal home-growndemooftheregion swell-preservedtradition:cotton-weaving. Finally,returningtotheship,wecastofffortheCambodian border wherewepracticesaying Suo s day! (hello)withpalmstogetherandheadbowed gothroughtheusualcustoms formalities andcollectourcambodianvisas. Cruising: Phnom Penh palaces & pagodas Bonjourmesamis! Cambodia scapitalretainsitsfrenchcharmtothisday,andsailinginto Phnom Penh pasttheroyalpalaceandbusycornicheisahighlightonanymekongvoyage. Wemoorrightinthecity-centre,andthismorningenjoyanothercyclo-tour. Theprivate quartersoftheroyal Palace arehometokingsihanoukandhisfamilyand,therefore,closedto thepublic.weare,however,abletovisitthefamoussilver Pagoda,themostsacredtemplein thecountry(whichprobablyexplainswhyitwasspareddestructionbythekhmerrouge),plus thenational Museum,featuringanoutstandingdisplayofKhmerartifacts. Theremainderofthedayisatourleisuretoenjoythecity.Then,justbeforedinner,children fromalocalorphanagewillputonadelightfulsong-&-danceshowjustforus! Cruising: Phnom Penh & the Killing Fields ThebloodyruleoftheKhmer Rouge isapainful,butunavoidable,partofcambodia'srecent history.andourvisitthismorningwillconfrontuswithatragicstorywe renotlikelytoforgetin ahurry. UndertheviciousPol Pot regime,thetuolsenggenocidemuseum(previouslyaformerhigh school)housedover17,000politicalprisoners.fewerthan15ofthemsurvivedthetortureand avoidedbeingsenttothekillingfields wheremorethan200,000cambodianswereeventually puttodeath. AfterlunchbackonboardtheAvalon Siem Reap,wedepartPhnomPenhandenjoysome relaxingleisure-timeandscenic-viewingfromthetopdeck.

8 8 Tonle Sap Shoreline Tuesday19 Visitto WatHanchey Walkingtourof AngkorBan village Wednesday20 Visitto KonpongLouang, silversmithvillage Ox-cartrideto KampongTralach Sightseeingcruise ontonleriver Thursday21 Flight: PhnomPenhto SiemReap (to be advised) Tuk-tuktourof AngkorWat AngkorThom& Bayontemples ParkHyattSiem Reap Meals: B,L Cruising: Wat Hanchey to Angkor Ban Wecontinueourcruiseupriverthismorningtothehilltoppre-AngkoriantemplesofWat Hanchey.Datingfromthe8thcentury,theseancientbrickstructures(whichpredateeventhe gloriesofangkor)displaythearchitectureofthechenlaempire. Note: the climb to Wat Hanchey features a steep incline. If you feel you re unable to make the climb, you ll be driven to the top by car. Wepartakeinatraditionalwater-blessinggivenbylocalmonks.Then,afterlunch,wetakea walkthroughtheruralvillageofangkor Ban,visitingauthenticKhmerhousesandalocalschool, wherewehavetimetointeractwiththekids.(feel free to bring some little gifts ) Cruising: Konpong Louang & Kampong Tralach to Tonle Sap WestartoursightseeingtodayatthesilversmithvillageofKonpong Louang,wherewewatch talentedcraftsmenusingage-oldtechniquestoturnpuresilverintoworksofart.thenwe continueontokampong Tralach foranox-cartridepastricepaddyfieldsinthebeautiful Cambodiancountryside,meetingalocalfarmeronthewayandlearningabouthisdailylife. Thisafternoon,afterlunchingbackonboard,weheaduptheTonleRiverwhichconnectsthe MekongandBassacRiverswiththeTonle Sap (GreatLake).Aftertherainyseason,thismassive bodyofwatercancoveraround26,000squarekilometres theperfectbreedinggroundfor fish,whichplayavitalroleinprovidingfoodforpeoplelivingonandaroundthelake.thearea boastsarichtapestryofruralvillages,templesandmarkets.aswewindourwaythroughjungle therivernarrows,andwecanalmostreachoutandtouchthelocalswhocometocheeruson. (Note: If water-levels are too low, we may have to do this trip by coach.) goodbye Avalon cruise hello Siem Reap Webidasad Leah hai! (goodbye)tothecrewoftheavalon Siem Reapthismorning disembark andtransfertotheairport.butitain toveryet,folks,becausewe vegotlotsmore exploringtodo.dusty,congested,disorganisedsiemreap(youhavebeenwarned!)sitsonthe northernedgeoftonle Sap avastshallowlake(morethan150kminlength)renownedforits prolificbirdlifeandendlesslyfascinatingfishingvillages. BurieddeepinthejunglesaroundthetownofSiem Reap aretheworld-famoustemplesof ancientangkor consideredbymanytobethemostspectaculararchitecturalruinsonearth!in fact,onlyegypt snilevalleycancomparetothisvastarrayofancientmonuments.thecityof Angkorservedastheroyalcentre(between802and1350AD)fromwhichadynastyofKhmer Kingsruledoneofthelargest,mostprosperousandsophisticatedkingdomsinthehistoryof SoutheastAsia.Inshort,theancientAngkor EmpirewasBIG! Fastenyourseatbelts,ladiesandgentlemen,becauseafterlunchweclimbaboardmotorised

9 9 Angkor Temple Ta Prohm tuk-tuks tobeginourexploration: Angkor Wat thefabulousmaintempleinthearea,listedastheseventhwonderofthe World.Visually,architecturallyandartisticallybreathtaking,thisisamassivethree-tiered pyramid,morethanakilometersquare,ringedbyahugemoat,andcrownedbyfivelotusliketowersrising65metresintotheair.itsendlesswallsaresmotheredinbeautifulapsara carvings(dancingnymphsandgoddesses)andextraordinarybas-reliefs,depictingstories andcharactersfromhindumythologyandthelegendarywarsofsuryavarmanii Angkor Thom,withitshugestatuesdepictingthechurningoftheoceanofmilk Bayon Temple, uniqueforits54towersdecoratedwithover200smilingfacesof Avolokitesvara theroyalenclosure Phimeanakas theelephantsterrace andthe TerraceoftheLeperKing TheeveningisyourstoexplorecharmingSiemReap,ortowitnessthesunsetatAngkorWat. Friday22 MoreAngkor temples: TaProhm BanteaySrey ApsaraDance performance ParkHyattSiem Reap Meals: B,D Sat23/Sun24 Flight SQ5001: tosingapore depart10:40am arrive2:15pm Flight SQ4283: toauckland depart6:40pm arrive9:30am (Sunday morning) Meals: B more Angkor temples OnourfinaldayinIndochina,weaddsomemoretemple-wonderstoourmust-seelist.Like what?well,like: Ta Prohm (JungleTemple)wheremassivefigandsilk-cottontreesspreadfromthebroken ruins,towersandcorridors,offeringaweirdlyovergrownatmosphere Banteay Srey thedelicate,smaller-scale CitadeloftheWomen withitsdeepanddetailed carvingsinglowingredsandstone. EnroutewestopatalocalvillagefamousformakingKhmernoodlesbyhand.Later,the afternoonisatleisure andthisevening,aprivateapsara DancePerformancebringsancient Khmerculturetolifethroughmusic,song,anddance.Countonit:yourheadwillstillbe spinninglongafteryou vegonetobedtonight! home again, home again Thetimehascome(thewalrussaid)topackourbags,checkoutofourhotelrooms,andmake trackstotheairportforourhome-boundflight.we vetravelledsofar donesomuch seen morethanwecanpossiblyremember!butallgoodthingssometoanend andwelandbackin NewZealandwithuntoldstoriestotell,countlessphotographs,andacontact-listoffun-loving MadMidlifefriends! Is everybody happy? You bet your life we are! MEALS B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner