Saigon to Siem Reap. 9 days Saigon to Siem Reap. Day 2 : Cruising the Mekong. Trip Highlights. What's Not Included

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1 9 days Kicking off in sizzling Saigon, take a cruise along the Mekong and explore the ingenious Cu Chi tunnels of the Viet Cong. Visit colourful floating markets and royal palaces, explore spectacular Angkor Wat and much more! HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Saigon - Pearl of the Orient!. Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office and War Remnants Museum Mekong Delta - a maze of waterways, fertile farm land and floating villages Cai Be waterways, cottage industries, mansion home and Dong Hoa Hiep Island Can Tho - lively market town in the Mekong Delta and nearby Cai Rang floating market Cu Chi Tunnels - HQ of the Viet Cong Phnom Penh - Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields Siem Reap - base for exploring the temples of Angkor incl. Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Preah Khan and Banteay Srei Angkor Wat! What's Included 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner 8 nights 4 star and special class hotels Economy class flight Phnom Penh - Siem Reap Sampan boat trips in the Mekong Delta Airport arrival transfer day 1 and departure transfer day 9 Guided sightseeing - Mekong Delta, Saigon, Cu Chi, Phnom Penh and the Temples of Angkor Escorted by an English speaking Vietnamese and Cambodian tour guides. All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles Visa approval letter for Vietnam (excl. stamping fee required upon arrival) Maximum group size: 24 travellers What's Not Included Tipping Kitty: $20 - $25 USD Entrance Fees: $60 - $65 USD International flights and visas. Vietnam visa letter included - stamping fee required upon arrival Tip for your tour guides. We recommend you allow USD$3-6 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guides is an entirely personal gesture DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : Saigon Friday. Welcome to sizzling Saigon. Included transfer to your hotel. Spend the afternoon getting acquainted with the city. Opt to explore on foot, shop at Ben Thanh Market or visit the grand Independence Palace, with its secret bunker and military command centre beneath! Evening at leisure. Overnight - Saigon Day 2 : Cruising the Mekong Saigon Cai Be Can Tho. This morning our group will meet up with other On The Go tour groups that have travelled down from Hoi An. We've timed our arrangements so that travellers should rendezvous at the same time, though your patience maybe required if the flight is late or the group are delayed. Aboard the bus you'll get to meet each other as we drive to the Mekong. Some tour members will be continuing with you till the end of you tour. Others will be leaving upon our return to Saigon tomorrow. Often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits, flowers and rice, as well as it fantastic views while boating along the canals

2 Taking our sampan from Vinh Long we ll cruise downstream from Cai Be through the maze of waterways watching the hubbub of daily life on the river. Passing colourful trading boats, house boats and children swimming we stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies and paper along the way. Lunch is served today in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island. Overnight - Can Tho (B, L) Day 3 : Mekong & Saigon Can Tho - Saigon. Early today we visit the ever lively Cai Rang floating market. Watch as melons, pineapples, fresh greens, sacks of rice and children's toys get tossed from one sampan to another at great heights and speed before driving back to Saigon, a thriving metropolis on the move. Sleek sky scrapers, gourmet restaurants, designer malls and swanky bars and spas are scattered between ancient pagodas, colonial era landmarks and lively street markets. Our walking tour of Saigon includes visits to the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post office and the sombering War Remnants Museum. Evening at leisure. Overnight - Saigon (B) Day 4 : Cu Chi Tunnels, Phmon Penh Saigon - Phnom Penh. This morning we visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels used by the Viet-Cong in their struggle to keep control of the region during the 1960 s. As we walk the bush trails you ll see trapdoors, booby traps, living areas, weapon factories and kitchens. We can also safely crawl sections of the tunnels, that have been widened for the tourists and fire weapons of the era (including the M16 s and AK47) on the firing range. After crossing the Moc Bai/Bavet border to Cambodia we drive to the capital of Phnom Penh. Once deemed the Pearl of Asia, Phnom Penh offers a bustling mix of Asia s past and present, a city quickly taking its place amongst the trendy capitals of the region. Overnight - Phnom Penh (B, D) Day 5 : Royal Palace, Crimes of Pol Pot Today we ll enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh starting at the National Museum of Fine Arts, a graceful terracotta building of traditional design housing the world s finest collection of Khmer sculpture. We continue with the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, famed for its lavish decorations the floors are paved with silver tiles and statues of Buddha are encrusted with thousands of diamonds. We later come face to face with the horrors of the Pol Pot regime as we visit Toul Sleng (Security Prison - S21), a school that was gruesomely transformed into a torture chamber under the Khmer Rouge, and visit the Killing Fields where over 10,000 people were executed. Overnight - Phnom Penh (B) Day 6 : Siem Reap & Angkor Wat Phnom Penh Siem Reap. Hotel check out and transfer to the airport for your included flight to Siem Reap. After time to freshen up we visit the last capital of the Angkorian Empire Angkor Thom. This monumental fortified city is encircled by a 100m wide moat and is famed for the huge statue heads that glare down from every angle. We continue to the monastic complex of Preah Khan before heading to the mother of all temples Angkor Wat. This breathtaking monument of man s devotion to his gods is believed to be the largest religious building in the world and contains thousands of wall carvings and extensive bas-reliefs. In the evening we enjoy a walking tour of the old market. Overnight - Siem Reap (B) Day 7 : Ta Phrom, Banteay Srei Early this morning opt to see Angkor Wat bathed in the spectacular golden light of sunrise. Later, we head out to Banteay Srei temple, considered by many to be the art gallery of Angkor with some of the finest stone carvings in the world. Cut from stone of a pinkish hue, the Hindu temple is dedicated to Shiva and contains lavishly decorated libraries and stunning reliefs of divinities

3 The temple expedition continues with visits to Banteay Samre, East Mebon, Pre Rup, Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei and the atmospheric Ta Prohm. Swallowed by the jungle, vast muscular roots envelop the crumbling towers and walls whilst the trees foliage dapples the temple in shadow. This evening there are plenty of great bars and restaurants in the compact city centre to sample. Overnight - Siem Reap (B) Day 8 : Roluos Temples & floating villages This morning we visit the Roluos group of temples (Bakong, Lolei and Preak Ko), the earliest large and permanent temples built by the Khmers. The monuments mark the dawn of Khmer classical art, dating from the late 9th century, with elaborate inscriptions in the ancient Hindu language of Sanskrit. Later visit the floating village of Kompong Phluk. Houses built on soaring stilts hover over the Tonle Sap Lake whilst nearby, the petrified trees of a flooded forest are revealed whenever the water level drops. Note: Between Feb - July the water levels at Kompong Phluk village maybe too low to go boating, if so, we will visit Chong Kneas floating village where it will still be possible to go boating. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight - Siem Reap (B, L) Day 9 : Free time Siem Reap Saturday. Today marks the end of our memorable journey. Spend the morning at leisure before hotel check out and included departure transfer to the airport.(b) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Cambodia Country Guide Entrance Fees - collected in USD. Entrance fees to most sites are not included, although reasonably priced. In Cambodia, we collect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour (the amount is noted under exclusions). A breakdown of the entrance fee total is provided upon arrival. All funds collected in Cambodia for entrance fees are payable in USD. Tipping Kitty - collected in USD At the start of your tour, we take a small tipping kitty (the amount is noted under exclusions) from all tour participants to cover tips throughout your holiday. This saves you the hassle of knowing when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, bus drivers, train conductors and other support staff throughout the tour. This amount does not include a tip for your tour guides. For a job well done, we would suggest USD $3-6 per person per day. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture and ultimately the amount is up to you. Health Requirements You should seek medical advice before travelling to Cambodia from your local health practitioner and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Tetanus, Typhoid, Hep A, Diptheria and Polio are recommended. There is the risk of malaria in parts of Cambodia so it is very important to check with your doctor before you go, to see whether malarial medication is required for the areas you are visiting. Yellow fever is not present in Cambodia but a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from those travelling from an infected region. Water Tap water in Cambodia is not considered safe to drink. It's recommended to only drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available in hotels, shops and restaurants. Climate Cambodia has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons; Rainy season from May to November, when the countryside is lush and green, and dry season from late November to April, when there are long days of glorious sunshine and clear skies. Temperatures in Cambodia remain fairly constant and warm throughout the year, apart from in the north, when winters (December to March) are generally colder. Guides and Groups Our longest group tour in Southeast Asia is our Bangkok to Angkor Wat - 25 day tour. All other group tours that we offer are sectors of this larger tour. As such on your holiday you may have travellers join you part way through your tour (in Luang Prabang, Hanoi or Saigon) or end their tour when you continue on. Guiding: In Cambodia, a Cambodian national guide is offered for arrangements through to Phnom Penh, then a specialist local guide, will take over for your sightseeing of the Temples of Angkor. If travelling on our Thailand & Angkor Temples tour, your Cambodian tour guide will meet you upon arrival to Siem Reap Airport and conduct all arrangements from there forward till your return to Thailand. Time & Voltage Cambodia is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time(GMT). The voltage in Cambodia is 230v. In Cambodia 3 types of plugs are commonly accepted: 2 flat prong plugs (type A), the 2 round pin european plug (type C) and many of the new 4 and 5 star hotels use the British standard 3-pin plug (type G). To cover all bases, it is best to pack an international travel adaptor! Currency The official currency of Cambodia is the Cambodia Riel but USD is also widely accepted and sometimes preferred in larger stores and supermarkets. Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other major currencies can be exchanged in Cambodia at various bureau de changes in major cities and towns. However foreign currency is also widely accepted and often desired more so it can give - 3 -

4 the shopper more buying power. ATMs can be found in all larger towns and cities and some five star hotels. We recommend you take a mixture of cash (preferably USD) and credit/ debit cards for ATM's. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees. Essential Packing Lightweight cotton garments. Ladies will need to have their shoulders and legs (to below the knee) covered when visiting the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat. Please pack accordingly. Comfortable walking shoes in addition to flip flogs/ thongs DEET based mosquito repellant & antihistamine cream Bring a 2 flat prong (type A) and a 2 round pin (type C) electrical adaptors. A universal adaptor will cover all bases Lightweight, fold up raincoat/ poncho/ umbrella. Two spare passport photos & a photocopy of your passport A small daypack for your day-to-day needs. Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume and torch Visas British, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, South African and USA passport holders are able to obtain a 30 day tourist visa upon arrival to Cambodia when entering via Pochentong International Airport in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap International Airport (in the Angkor Wat Region) and at the Moc Bai (Vietnam) and Bavet (Cambodia) land border. We use the Moc Bai/ Bavet land border crossing for all our group tours that travelling from Vietnam to Cambodia. At each of these entry points you must submit a photocopy of your passport (identification page) and one passport size photograph. The cost of the visa is currently USD30. Note: at the land border sometimes immigration will ask for more. In this situation point to the sign above the ticket window indicating that the cost is actually USD30 (subject to change). Further, you are best to give the exact amount i.e. USD30 as often if you give more you will not receive change. Alternatively, it is now also possible to obtain an e-visa in advance of travel. The e-visa allows for a length of stay up till 30 days. The e-visa is valid for 3 months from date of issue, not date of arrival, so please ensure that you do not obtain this visa to far in advance. Online processing time for this visa is 3 days. The e-visa is valid for entry via Pochentong International Airport in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap International Airport (in the Angkor Wat Region) and at the Moc Bai (Vietnam) and Bavet (Cambodia) land border. It is not valid at any other land or water border. To obtain an e-visa for Cambodia go to: It is also possible to obtain a 30 day tourist visa prior to arrival via the Cambodian Embassy in your home port, though please note tourist visas arranged with the embassy are valid for one month from date of issue, not date of arrival. PLEASE NOTE: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your departure date, if it is not you may be refused entry into the country. Visa requirements are subject to change and visa procurement is solely the responsibility of the traveller and not of On The Go Tours. Vietnam Country Guide Entrance fees - collected in USD Entrance fees to most sites are not included, although reasonably priced. In Vietnam, we collect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour (the amount is noted under exclusions). A breakdown of the entrance fee total is provided upon arrival. All funds collected in Vietnam for entrance fees are payable in USD. Tipping Kitty - collected in USD At the start of your tour, we take a small tipping kitty (the amount is noted under exclusions) from all tour participants to cover tips throughout your holiday. This saves you the hassle of knowing when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, bus drivers, train conductors and other support staff throughout the tour. This amount does not include a tip for your tour guides. For a job well done, we would suggest USD $3-6 per person per day. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture and ultimately the amount is up to you. Health Requirements You should seek medical advice before travelling to Vietnam from your local health practitioner and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus are strongly recommended. Malaria in Vietnam Areas with malaria: Rural only, except none in the Red River Delta and the coast north of Nha Trang. Rare cases in the Mekong Delta. None in Da Nang, Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Nha Trang, and Qui Nhon. Estimated relative risk of malaria for travellers: Low Water The tap water in Vietnam is generally considered safe to drink, but as a precaution against stomach upsets you may want to drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available from shops, hotels and restaurants. Visas From 1 July 2015 onwards UK passport holders will not need a visa to visit Vietnam for up to 15 days. At customs you will need show your return airline ticket/e ticket as proof of your date of departure. If you're exiting Vietnam via a land border then your tour itinerary will be accepted as proof so please have this available to show to border police if requested. A visa is required for stays of 16 days or longer and if you are planning to return to Vietnam within 30 days of your last departure you will also need to purchase a visa. Most other nationalities including Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, South African and USA passport holders require a tourist visa to visit Vietnam. Travellers can choose to independently apply (or we can arrange this for you, see notes below) for a 30 day tourist visa (single or multiple entry) from - 4 -

5 the nearest Vietnamese Embassy or via the more convenient method of applying online. The cost is approx USD$20. After submitting an application you will receive a confirmation number, then upon arriving to Vietnam you would receive the actual visa and additionally pay a stamping fee of USD$45. The stamping fee for a multiple entry visa, for entries within one month is USD$65. Applying in advance and then collecting your tourist visa upon arrival is available to all travellers entering the country via Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City - Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Danang International Airport. ON THE GO ARRANGING YOUR VIETNAM VISA Upon confirming a holiday to Vietnam with us, if you require a visa please download a copy of our 'Vietnam Visa Data List' available on our website within the SE Asia, under the title of 'Visa Info'. Should you complete the form and return it as a Microsoft Word document via to us 6 weeks prior to your departure we will arrange the visa for you (effectively saving you USD$20). Then approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your departure we will forward to you a 'Visa Confirmation Letter' which carries a confirmation number'. You will need to present the 'Visa Confirmation Letter' and a 'Vietnam Visa Entry & Exit Form' (we have a link to this form on our website or you can pick up one upon arrival) to immigration officials upon arrival into Vietnam along with 2 passport photos and a stamping fee of USD$45 or USD $65 for a multiple entry visa. A Visa will then be stuck into your passport and you can enter Vietnam. Please note: This service is not available for South African passport holders who must obtain a tourist visa from the nearest Vietnamese Embassy in advance and pay the stamping fee directly to the embassy prior to travel. 'The Visa Confirmation Letter' (irrespective of whether you apply for your visa independently or through On The Go Tours) will contain personal information such as your passport number, nationality and date of birth of yourself and other travellers on one inclusive list. PLEASE NOTE: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your departure date, if it is not you may be refused entry into the country. Climate Vietnam has a varied climate due to its geography. The south is hot year round and has two seasons: The wet season lasts from May to October, with brief, daily showers. The dry season from November to April is generally sunny and humid. In the north, the summer months (May to October) are hot and there is the occasional burst of heavy rain. In the winter (December to February) temperatures drop in the north and it can be damp. The coastal region of central Vietnam is blessed with long months of sunshine, although there is rainfall in November and December. At this time there can also be some typhoon activity in the central coastal region. Guides and Groups Our longest group tour in Southeast Asia is our Bangkok to Angkor Wat - 25 day tour. All other group tours we offer (with the exception of our Vietnam with Teens and Flavours of Vietnam tours) are sectors of this larger tour. As such on your holiday you may have travellers join you part way through your tour (in Luang Prabang, Hanoi or Saigon) or end their tour when you continue on. Guiding: A Vietnamese guide will escort all arrangements throughout Vietnam. Time & Voltage The voltage in Vietnam is 220v. In Vietnam 3 types of plugs are commonly accepted: 2 flat prong plugs (type A), the 2 round pin plug (type C) and many of the new 4 and 5 star hotels use the British standard 3-pin plug (type G). To cover all bases, it is best to pack an international travel adaptor! Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight saving. Money The official currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong. Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other major currencies can be exchanged locally at the airport, bureau de changes or banks. US Dollar notes are widely accepted and shopkeepers use both currencies interchangeably. You can often pay for items in USD and receive your change in USD notes and coins in VND. Make sure that your USD bills are crisp and clean and you will have no problem using or exchanging these throughout your stay. ATM machines can be found in all major cities though it is not common to pay with credit card in restaurants, cafes or shops for purchases. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees. Essential Packing Sleep sheet if taking an overnight sleeper train. These also can be easily purchased in Hanoi at a cost of USD$5. Ask you guide for info on where to buy these. A day pack to carry all your essentials when out sightseeing each day. An overnight bag, if you are staying aboard the Junk boat in Halong Bay. As we will be returning to Hanoi it is not essential that you take your big bag/ suitcase with you. Lightweight cotton garments. Comfortable walking shoes in addition to flip flops/ thongs DEET based mosquito repellant & antihistamine cream Bring a 2 flat prong (type A) and a 2 round pin (type C) electrical adaptors. A universal adaptor will cover all bases Lightweight, fold up raincoat/ poncho. Two spare passport photos & a photocopy of your passport Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume and torch Arrival Transfers If your tour or short stay includes an airport arrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What you Get' section of this Go Guide) our arrival procedure is as follows: - 5 -

6 Arrive to Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport, Saigon - Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Proceed to the immigration counter and present your invitation letter. Complete an immigration form and submit your photographs and stamping fee of USD$25 (this can take some time). After collecting your luggage proceed to the arrival hall. As you enter the arrivals hall, look for our On The Go Tours representative. He/she will be holding a prominent On The Go Tours logo signboard. After meeting you will be escorted to our awaiting transportation and transferred to our tour start hotel If, for any reason you have trouble locating our representative (after waiting 20 minutes in the arrival hall) or your flight is delayed please call the emergency contact number as stated on your tour voucher. If arriving on day 1 of a holiday, that includes an airport arrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What you Get' section of this Go Guide) we will be at the airport, ready to transfer you to your hotel. Further if you are booking pretour accommodation with us an airport arrival transfer will also be provided. If arriving prior to 9am on day 1 (essentially on a flight that arrives very, very early in the morning) you will need to purchase a night of pre-tour accommodation to save you waiting until standard hotel check in time, which is generally 2pm. Airline Luggage Allowance If your tour includes international or domestic flights within the region please be mindful that the free baggage allowance for Economy class travel is strictly 20kg and 1 piece of hand luggage up to 6kg. Any additional weight is charged at a per kilo rate. You may wish to keep this in mind whilst shopping. as being the nation's fastest train; though by international standards it's quite the opposite. Never the less, our journey between Hanoi and Hue takes approximately 14 hours and travellers are accommodated in 4 berth 'Soft Sleeper' cabins. Aboard each wagon are 9 compartments that comprise of 4 bunks per compartment. 4 persons of mixed sex share one compartment. You may be sharing with people from your tour group, other tourists or Vietnamese people. Who you will share your cabin with is ultimately dependent upon how the Vietnamese Railways Corporation configures the bookings. Cabins onboard are comfortable though not comparable to European standards. A western style toilet (with a varying degree of cleanliness) is located at either end of the wagon. Airconditioning (not always operational in the summer) and lighting are controlled from inside the cabin, which is also lockable. Luggage can be stored in a compartment under the bottom bunk. Linen and a pillow are provided though we strongly recommend that you bring your own sleep sheet (easily purchased in Hanoi at a cost of USD$5). The cleanliness of the train varies according to wagons assigned to the journey for that particular day. Some wagons are spotlessly clean whilst others can be unclean and should have been decommissioned long ago. Irrespective of the particular train you take, they all have large clear glass windows that allow for uninterrupted views of stunning landscapes and never ending rice paddy fields. Trains in Vietnam It's not the Orient Express, but Vietnam's Reunification Express. On a number of our group tours we include an overnight train journey on the Reunification Express Railway Line between Hanoi and Hue. The particular SE series train that we use on this journey is the highest class of train available in Vietnam. It's titled - 6 -