Vacay in Vietnam & Cambodia with On

His Own Trip!

Hanoi – Cat Ba island – Hoi An – Siem Reap
(9 Days, 8 Nights)

Tour Route: Hanoi – Cat Ba island – Hoi An – Siem Reap

Tour Duration: 9 Days, 8 Nights

Travel dates: November 20 - 28

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BRIEF ITINERARY:

Nov 20th, Wednesday - Day 1: Land in Hanoi

Nov 21st, Thursday - Day 2: Travel to Cat Ba island; visit Cat Ba National Park
Nov 22nd, Friday - Day 3: Halong Bay day tour
Nov 23rd, Saturday - Day 4: Free day at Cat Ba island. Optional activities like Lan Ha Bay tour.
Nov 24th, Sunday - Day 5: Land in Hoi An; explore Old Town
Nov 25th, Monday - Day 6: Ba Na Hills visit
Nov 26th, Tuesday - Day 7: Fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Head to Phnom Kulen National Park.
Nov 27th, Wednesday - Day 8: Angkor wat Complex tour.
Nov 28th, Thursday - Day 9: Fly back to India

DETAILED ITINERARY

Nov 20th, Wednesday - Day 1: Land in Hanoi, O/N Hanoi

Fly from India so that you reach Hanoi by noon. A cab will pick you up from the airport and
transfer you to the hotel. Your flight might have left you a little tired so rest for a bit. After
freshening up, let’s head out into the ever so vibrant streets of Hanoi!

Let’s start with a stroll in the Old Quarters.

Hanoi is a city rich with history. It celebrated its millennium in 2010. Yes, that’s right, a
millennium! Within the city the Old Quarters within the Hoan Kiem District is considered to be
the main tourist attraction.
Locally known as “Phố Cổ”, the quarters were a hub for craftsman from back in the 13th century.
Even today they are hustling bustling with vendors, street shops, sidewalk cafes and people all
on the move. Here against the typical Vietnamese architecture, you will see hints of French
influence too.
From the busy streets we will make our way to the Hoan Kiem Lake. In the evening the area is lit
up. It is also called the “Lake of the Returned Sword”. Local legend has it that an emperor was
once given a magical sword which helped him defeat the Chinese Ming dynasty and bring back
the Golden Turtle God to the lake.

We can even walk up to Ngoc Son Temple. It was built in the 19th century as a dedication to
General Tran Hung Dao who defeated 300,000 soldiers in the area.

The lake is also home to the endangered soft-shell turtles. These are rarely spotted and it is
considered extremely auspicious to spot one. Who’s feeling lucky?

Sit back and relax on the sides of the lake with your new friends, your holiday has just begun!
So, let’s NOT call it a night, instead let’s head to Beer Street for some local brew and barbecued
street food.

Nov 21st, Thursday - Day 2: Travel to Cat Ba island; visit Cat Ba National Park, O/N Cat Ba island
Today we are going to the beautiful Cat Ba island. Getting from Hanoi to at Ba takes about 5
hours, so, we’ll start our journey early today. Wait till you see Cat Ba, you’ll know it’s worth it!
Cat Ba archipelago is made up of 367 islands. Of these, Cat Ba is the largest one. It thus dominates
the Gulf of Tonkin. Lush green forests are seen lounging from the hills and valleys with bays
dotted along the coastlines. Jungles, caves and waterfalls – welcome to the visual treat that is
Cat Ba!
Early in the afternoon we will head to the Cat Ba National Park. It was declared a UNESCO World
Biosphere Reserve back in 2004.

Home to 32 varieties of mammals, the national park is renowned for having the endangered
golden-headed langur. There are multiple hiking trails within the national park. We will take a
short 3.6km long hike around it. Immerse yourself in the greenery of this site. And in the evening
let’s check out some cafes and pubs!

Nov 22nd, Friday - Day 3: Halong Bay day tour, O/N Cat Ba island

Today we are headed to Vietnam’s jewel and star attraction, Halong Bay. Declared a UNESCO
site, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful island bays in the world. It is made up of 1600
limestone islands and islets. Yes, you read that number right. Archaeologists have even found
proof of Halong Bay having been inhabited 18,000 years ago!
The widespread islands are lined with hidden caves and grottoes too. We shall explore a few of
these and get a feel of the place. Folklore states that gods had sent down dragons to protect
the Vietnamese natives from invaders. They believe that the dragons dropped jewels from their
mouths, thus, the islands were formed. After this the dragons plunged into the bay and remain
resting in its deep waters. This story is credited for how the name was coined, Halong Bay which
means “where the dragon descends into the sea”.
Halong Bay is blessed with marine life too. It’s time for some adventure. Let’s go snorkelling! Or
grab a kayak and try your shot at kayaking. You can take a lazy swim too in the cold blue waters.
Splash your new friends and get into a water fight!
That’s your day at Halong Bay – a little adventure, a lot of legends to make you go “ooh” and all
the while some stunning view that are sure to make your heart soar and sing.

Nov 23rd, Saturday - Day 4: Free day at Cat Ba island. Optional activities like Lan Ha Bay tour.

Today’s day has been left for you to enjoy the slow island life as you please.

One option is to take the Lan Ha Bay tour. South of Cat Ba town, is the ever so pretty Lan Ha
Bay. With its limestone outcrops and added white sand beaches, the visit to Lan Ha Bay is an
ideal one.

Added to this is the fact that Lan Ha Bay remains largely overshadowed by Halong Bay. The charm
here thus lies not just in its beauty but also in its isolated form. Away from the hustle bustle of
crowds, Lan Ha is Cat Ba’s other jewel. The tour to this island is highly recommended.
Cat Ba is a joy in itself and there’s a lot that you can do on your free day. Sip a fruity cocktail, sit
at a local café with a view, take strolls with your new friends and enjoy the happy slowness of
what is referred to as “the island life”.

Nov 24th, Sunday - Day 5: Land in Hoi An, O/N Hoi An

We shall make our way to Hoi An today. A ferry, a taxi and a flight away, Hoi An awaits you. Book
your flights only after discussing them with us. For all internal flights the group will book the
same flights. Reach the hotel by evening and freshen up. We will head out soon because there’s
a lot in store in this city! And hey, some clichés make perfect sense because you know, the night
is still young. So, grab your gang and make a move.
Hoi An is known for it’s Ancient Town which is cut through by canals. As we walk around you will
see Vietnamese tube houses, Chinese shophouses and even French colonial buildings.
We will spend our evening walking around Old Town. By late evening let’s sample some more
Vietnamese cuisine. We can even head out to the Night Market where local brews and food are
served all along the street.

Nov 25th, Monday - Day 6: Ba Na Hills visit, O/N Hoi An

Today we’re headed to the place which has got many across the world wondering about the little
wonders that Vietnam has to offer, Ba Na Hills!

Ba Na hills had once served as a popular getaway for the French during the colonialism period.
Today it stands as a mountaintop resort complex. What’s so interesting about another resort,
you ask? Well, this one looks like a medieval castle.
1487 meters above sea level, sits this full-fledged French replica village. We will take a cable car
and the moment you are aboard the cable car you will feel as if you have stepped into a little
European village. The cable car is one of the longest in the world and the views from it will stun
you, to say the least.
The gardens are well groomed and closely manicured. When you walk past them you will even
see pagodas. And since we’re visiting Ba Na Hills, of course, we must walk past the now-famous
Golden Bridge.

This hand holds up the Golden Bridge and offers you gorgeous panoramic views of the valley.

Later let’s enjoy the nightlife of Hoi An. Hoi An is famous for its sea food and authentic
Vietnamese delicacies. Nom nom nom.

Nov 26th, Tuesday - Day 7: Fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Head to Phnom Kulen National Park.

Today we are headed to country number 2 in our trip – Cambodia! As stated before, we will all
be taking the same flight so as to reach together and enjoy our time in Cambodia to the fullest.

After we land in this resort town in northwest Cambodia, we will head to the hotel and after
quickly freshening up set out for the today. On the itinerary today is the Kulen Phnom National
Park.

The birthplace of the ancient Khmer empire, it is said that it was at Phnom Kulen that King
Jayavarman II proclaimed Cambodia’s independence from Java. The area is is also regarded as a
sacred site as multiple temples are accessible to it.

The main attraction at the national park is its waterfalls.

There are multiple beliefs attached to the waterfalls. Some believe it to have medicinal
properties, some even believe that it is holy.
The waterfalls are a popular picnic spot. You can jump in the water and rush to feel it gushing
against yourself. Let’s jump in the water, splash one another and have some fun. And what’s a
visit to a waterfall without throwing someone in? Ready? Get, set, dunk!

You can spend your day playing around in the water or even lounging next to it if you’re in the
mood for a leisurely time.

More fun and partying in the evening as we head out to Siem Reap’s Pub Street. It’s pub crawl
hour!
Nov 27th, Wednesday - Day 8: Angkor wat Complex tour. Afternoon, head to waterfalls.

No trip to Cambodia is complete without visiting its famous Angor Wat complex. The Angor Wat
complex is spread over an area of 400km. To say that it’s massive would be an understatement.
The archaeological park contains different remnants of the Khmer Empire. The remains go as
far back as the 9th century up until the 16th century. Here the Angor Wat temple itself is the
most famous. The world-renowned temple was first a Hindu temple which was later turned into
a Buddhist temple. The temple is a testament to the classical Khmer architecture.

History records that the temple was originally built in reverence to Lord Brahma so as to his
represent the deity’s mythological home, Mount Meru. Till the 16th century it was called
Pisnulok. With its religious significance to both Hinduism and Buddhism, UNESCO declared it to
be one of its World Heritage sites back in 1992.

Most temples in the region were constructed facing the east. However, Angor Wat was built
facing westwards, i.e., towards the sunset side. Given its historical backdrop and rich cultural
significance, sunsets here are nothing short of magnificent. So, let’s perch ourselves on the
steps, have a conversation with our fellow trippers and witness one of the most beautiful
sunsets.
Those who want can also explore the other temples within the complex. Bayon is another
famous one and there are multiple other options. As the complex is vast, taking a walk here in
and around various ruins and temples can be a heart-warming experience due to the
otherworldly set up in the site.

We will spend our day in the complex and head back to the city by evening. It’s the last night of
our trip, so let’s really live it up!

Nov 28th, Thursday - Day 9: Fly back to India.

Today sadly the trip has come to an end. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. A cab
transfers you to the airport from where you can fly back to India.

Flight Schedule:

You can contact Niyati Saxena on 8800703428 to check your flight related and other queries.
Once confirmed, proceed to book your flights. Do not book your flights without confirmation.
Flights to and from India:
Reach Hanoi by 12pm on November 20th
Fly out of Siem Reap, anytime on November 29th.

Internal flights during the trip:

For all internal flights we would want the group to be on the same flights as far as possible. We
have looked at the most convenient flights both pocket-wise as well as per our itinerary.
Accordingly, once you have booked the trip with us, contact us and we will guide you on which
internal flights to book.

Trip Cost:

Rs.53,000/-

Inclusions:
1. Airport transfers from Hanoi airport to the hotel
2. Transfer from Hanoi to Cat Ba island
3. Entry ticket for Cat Ba National Park
4. Excursion to Halong Bay
5. Kayaking during Halong Bay tour
6. Airport transfers from Cat Ba island to Cat Bi airport
7. Ba Na Hills cable car ticket
8. Airport transfer from Siem Reap airport to hotel
9. Accommodation for all 9 nights in 3 star hotels
10. All breakfasts (no lunches,dinners)
11. Trip leader from This Guy’s team

Exclusions:
1. Flight tickets from India to Hanoi and from Siem Reap back to India
2. Lunches and dinners
3. VISA
4. Internal flight tickets
 5. Optional activities like Lan Ha Bay tour
6. Anything not specified in the itinerary or inclusions

Cancellation Policy:

- 60 or more days before the trip start date: 75% refund

- 30 to 60 days before the trip start date: 50% refund
- 14-30days before the trip start date: 25% refund
- Less than 14days before trip start date: No refund

Note: Images have been sourced through Google and belong to their respective owners.