Vietnam & Angkor Wonders Tour - Absolute Asia Tours

Upon arrival in Siem Reap you will be met by your guide, who will transfer you to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

During any visit to the Angkor temples, we ensure your day(s) remain both flexible and personal. Having met with your guide, you will be able to discuss in detail what you are looking to achieve from your time at the temples. Whilst some wish to explore as many temples as they can during their stay, others like to travel at a slower, more relaxed pace.

We appreciate that before witnessing the scale of the temple site for yourself it is hard to grasp what’s achievable in a day. Along with including any temples on your wish list, with the assistance of your experienced guide, you will also be able to dictate the amount of time and the hours of the day you are at the temples. This is very advantageous when you consider it can be hot work clambering amongst the incredible structures and your hotel pool is just 15 minutes away! By travelling with My Way Travel you truly have free reign of your programme whilst at the Angkor Temples.

6 temples in focus
Angkor Wat – certainly the most famous of all the Angkor temples and, some would argue the most impressive. The temple, built in the early 12th century by King Suryavarman II contains three storeys of libraries, galleries and towers surrounded by a thick retaining wall and an imposing moat. Many visitors aim to visit the temple at sunrise to capture one of the most iconic Angkor photos.

Ta Prohm - a temple left in much the same condition as when it was found - creating one of the most photogenic and atmospheric temples of the entire Angkor site. The tree roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers can be seen breaking through the walls and stone carvings. Any visit is truly an adventure.

The Bayon - built in the 13th century as the state temple of King Jayavarman VII, standing at the centre of his capital - Angkor Thom. The Bayon’s most distinctive feature is the multitude of huge faces carved into large towers which rise up to form the central peak. The Bayon sits at the exact centre of Angkor Thom and roads lead to it from each of the city's cardinal points.

Beng Mealea - the size and scale of Angkor Wat but utterly swallowed by the jungle. Clambering about this titan of temples it’s easy to imagine what it must have been like for early explorers. Having travelled the 65 km’s to Beng Melea it would be a shame not to continue a little further and visit Koh Ker. This 10th century capital, abandoned over 1000 years ago, actually consists of 96 temples spread out over a large site and many are now buried.
Due to the distance from Siem Reap both temples are far less visited than Angkor Wat and you will be able to explore the temples in more solitude.

Banteay Srei - one of the most unusual and widely recognisable temples of Angkor. Built largely of red sandstone, it is covered with elaborate and deeply carved decoration. All the buildings are miniature in scale and it is this, along with the beautiful carvings, that have made it such a popular temple.

Departing after breakfast accompanied by your guide, your day will be spent travelling through a number of relatively untouched villages and learning about the day-to-day lives of the local people. This is a world away from Siem Reap, and provides you with the perfect opportunity to get ‘off the beaten track’ and gain a better understanding of Cambodian rural life, along with an insight into traditional Khmer culture; something which few visitors are lucky enough to experience.

Your first stop is the village of Krabei Real, where there is time to explore the local market and to purchase some supplies for your lunch. Continue on, this time without the benefit of air-conditioning, using a more typical method of transportation for this region. The (almost!) pollution free ox and cart is still widely used throughout Cambodia, and allows you to travel at a gentle, almost hypnotic pace along the narrow, sandy, village roads. Winding your way through the rice fields, you’ll pass houses, schools and pagodas. Many of the families in this area are skilled rattan weavers, using techniques passed down through the generations to create a wide variety of crafts and day-to-day items to sell in the markets of the nearby towns.

After around an hour, arrive at the home of a local family who have been carefully chosen by My Way Travel. Having been welcomed by your hosts, there will be plenty of time to relax and chat with the family as they prepare lunch using the produce selected at the market (with your guide acting as interpreter). If you wish to assist then you are very welcome to do so, and this is also a fantastic opportunity to further your understanding of typical Khmer cuisine. This is likely to be very different from the dishes you may have sampled in the more westerner-orientated restaurants of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh!

Having enjoyed your lunch, there is time to explore the village before returning to Siem Reap. En route, stop to visit the workshops of the Angkor Artwork - all products sold are produced using long forgotten traditional methods and the quality of craftmanship is outstanding. If time permits, make a stop at Siem Reap’s market before arriving back at your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

With the crowds at the most famous Angkor temple sites often being counted in their 1000’s, many visitors are unaware that there are further lying temples where there’s more of a tranquil ambiance and less jostling for photo opportunities.

After an early breakfast head out of Siem Reap to the massive jungle temple of Beng Mealea, the size and scale of Angkor Wat but utterly swallowed by the jungle. Thanks to the distance from Siem Reap the number of visitors here is much lower than it's more famous counterparts, but word is getting out, so by visiting early in the morning you’ll be ahead of the pack. Clambering about this titan of temples it’s easy to imagine what it must have been like for early explorers.

After some time exploring, continue on to the 10th century capital of Koh Ker. Whilst there are known to be over 200 temples within the boundaries of this ancient city, only 96 have been discovered thus far and in fact most of your time is likely to be spent at just one; Prasat Thom, much of which is partially buried. Whilst the visitor numbers vary from one day to another they are always low, and it is not uncommon for you to have the site to yourself. At the far end of Prasat Thom there is towering pyramid, somewhat reminiscent of the Mayan or Inca architecture.

Having seen more of the surrounding temples, return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.

Your day is at leisure until your afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Once known as Faifo, the UNESCO designated World Heritage town of Hoi An was one of the Orient’s major trading ports in the 16th and 17th centuries. The town is one of the highlights of any visit to Vietnam with its laid-back atmosphere and fine Colonial architecture lining cobbled streets offering a glimpse of times gone-by. Explore the former merchants’ homes, the 450 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge adorned with lanterns by night and the colourful market.

Hoi An is one of the best places in Asia to shop for silks, handicrafts, antiques and art. Also, the local tailors are famous for their high standards of work and can create anything to order in just 24 hours.

A short distance from the town centre is Cua Dai Beach, popular with both locals and visitors for its sandy beach, warm sea and seafood stalls. The town is also famed throughout Vietnam for its fine cuisine and there are a number of sensational restaurants and cafes to choose from.

In more recent years Hoi An has unfortunately lost a little of its previous charm, due to the huge development work around the nearby city of Danang and along the beach road linking the two, increasing the number of day trippers and group tours to the town. We would however still unquestionably recommend it to any first time visitor to Vietnam.

Explore, relax and enjoy the sand....

Additional ideas in Hoi An
During your stay in Hoi An we ensure that you have plenty of free time as we feel it is a town that is easy, and for many preferable, to explore on foot and in your own time. However, in addition to exploring the Old Town - its galleries, boutiques and atmospheric morning market - there are a range of additional activities and day tours that we can organise:

Twilight Bites Jeep Tour
Hoi An is famed throughout Vietnam for the quality and unique flavours of its local cuisine, and this evening excursion is the perfect way to both sample and gain a wider understanding of many of its’ culinary secrets whilst travelling in your very own US military jeep. Stops will be made to sample fresh home-cooked cuisine in local eateries outside Hoi An before heading back to town for a veritable BBQ feast.

Learn to fish like a local
With over 2000 km’s of coast, seafood plays a huge part in Vietnamese cuisine and nowhere is that more so than in the country’s central region. Perhaps surprisingly to many from the west, the majority of the seafood is still caught on a micro-scale, with individual fishermen taking to the sea on a daily basis to catch enough for the family table, before taking any extra to the local market to sell.
Spend half a day learning about their craft and the methods they use; having visited a fishing village close to Hoi An, you will have an opportunity to learn about each stage of the process. Try mastering one of the regions unique bamboo basket boats and the balancing technique behind the throwing of the nets. At the end of your session, there is a chance to sample your catch with a typical traditional fisherman’s meal. Please note: This is a small-group, half day excursion.

Cycling the backroads
Combining a gentle river journey with a leisurely bike ride through a local village famous for its carpentry, the morning will offer an insight into Hoi An’s ancient architecture and local cottage industries at a pace suitable for even the most laid back traveller. A stop will be made at a local herb farm, giving you the opportunity to learn about traditional gardening methods, herbal remedies and local delicacies (more delicious food!).

Get hands-on in the rice paddies
The perfect opportunity to learn the processes of cultivating the staple of every Vietnamese meal: glorious rice! With a lean very much towards the small-scale agriculture, this half day tour not only gets you out into the countryside where you will meet with a local farmer and learn all about the various crops and livestock being farmed - you will also get into the fields where there is an opportunity to roll up your trousers and cultivate a few seeds yourself. At the end of your session there’s also a chance to sample a typical traditional farmer’s meal. Please note: This is a small-group, half day excursion.

…and so much more
Hoi An really does have it all, so if none of the suggestions above have hit the spot, be sure to tell us what would, and we’ll try and put it in place. Whether it’s a visit to the ruins of My Son, a boat ride out to the little-visited Cham Island, or private dining under the stars at a nearby homestead…you get the idea!

Morning transfer to Danang Airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, ranks amongst the world's most attractive and interesting cities. It was first the capital of Vietnam in AD 1010 and, although the nation's capital moved to Hue under the Nguyen dynasty in 1802, the city continued to flourish after the French took control in 1888. In 1954, after the French departed, Hanoi was declared Vietnam's capital once again. The remnants of over 1,000 years of history are still visible here, with that of the past few hundred years marvellously preserved.

The rest of your day is at leisure until 6pm when you commence your evening tour with a difference. Riding pillion on a Vespa, you’ll enjoy a taste of authentic Vietnamese cuisine and get to see where the locals hang out of an evening, whilst taking in the sights of Hanoi by night.

Begin your evening with a beer at a vintage bike themed café where there will be a short briefing, before you head off into the night. The first stop of the evening is a local restaurant close to West Lake that is known for its Pho Cuon – fresh spring rolls filled with rice noodles and beef. After sampling some spring rolls, back on the Vespa you’ll drive along Thanh Nien Road that separates Truc Bach Lake and West Lake. Arguably the most picturesque (and most romantic) street in Hanoi, its wide, tree lined sidewalks are popular with couples who stroll along the street as the sun sets over the lakes. Drive past Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi’s oldest temple and onto your next stop: a restaurant specialising in Cha Ca. This dish is a Hanoi institution and comprises of grilled fish served with rice noodles, herbs and peanuts, generally served up on a skillet at the table.

After eating, continue on to Ba Dinh square where there will be an opportunity to stretch your legs and witness the changing of the guard and the ceremony of lowering of the national flag at Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, before finishing the evening with a drink at one the city’s night bars, where you can also enjoy some live music.

Enjoy a full day tour of Hanoi. Your guide will be happy to personalise your programme, however we would recommend sites such as Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. For many the Temple of Literature is a highlight worth lingering over. Built in 1070, this complex of atmospheric halls, pavilions and courtyards is dedicated to Confucius and scholars. Of special note are the 82 remaining steles of stone shaped like turtles which are elaborately carved with the names of candidates that sat the Royal examinations. A walking tour through the Old Quarter will provide another fascinating insight into the character and history of the city, before moving on to Dong Xuan Market with its bustling stalls and brisk trading of day-to-day local goods. After lunch, consider visiting the very popular Ethnology Museum or the central Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton by American POW's during the war. Alternatively your guide will be happy to discuss alternative places of interest that you may wish to consider.

In the evening we recommend staying in and around the Old Quarter where there is a large selection of excellent restaurants and cafes to choose from. There is also the amazing 'street-food' such as Pho to be found on every corner!

After an early breakfast it’s a three hour drive from the city to Halong Bay, passing through a number of typical North Vietnamese towns and villages. Upon arrival you will be welcomed aboard your traditional junk; the same style that have sailed the bay for 100’s of years.

A natural wonder of the world and one of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the creation of Halong Bay is shrouded in myth. Local legend tells us how the gods sent a family of dragons to defend the country from the invading Chinese. The dragons spat out gemstones that turned into islands, linking together to create a wall against the enemy. The truth is almost as evocative as the legend and upon setting out into the bay you are met by one of the most beguiling natural scenes you will ever witness.

Lunch is served as you depart port. You will soon leave the mainland far behind, navigating amongst the jagged limestone islands and karsts emerging from the emerald waters. Whilst some islands are no more than large rocks others are far more substantial in size.

During your cruise there will be opportunities to disembark, often using smaller boats, or possibly kayaks, to venture into hidden grottos and caves. You will also make stops to explore points of interest such as floating fishing villages and picturesque lookout points.

The cuisine throughout your cruise is both plentiful and of a very high standard. Lovers of fresh seafood will be particularly happy. The dining cabin and bar create a very social atmosphere for those that wish to mix with other guests; whilst cabins, many with a private balcony, are all ensuite and spacious.

Each junk operates a slightly different itinerary (although en-route stops will be the same) and on board facilities vary. Your consultant will be very happy to discuss each option with you.

After an early breakfast drive to Halong Bay, passing by a number of typical North Vietnamese towns and villages. It’s possible to break the journey en-route if you wish: the best options for a refreshment break are large souvenir shops popular with tour groups, however there is no obligation to stop and you should not feel under pressure to make any purchases if you do stop.