SERVICES INCLUDED

Day 1: FLIGHT FROM FRANKFURT AND ARRIVAL IN HANOI
Scheduled flight from Frankfurt to Hanoi.

Day 2: HANOI

Arrival in Hanoi and welcome by your German-speaking guide at the airport. During a half-day excursion to the Vietnamese capital, you'll discover the country. You'll visit the Ethnographic Museum and learn more about Vietnam's various ethnic groups and their traditions. Outside the museum, you'll discover reconstructed longhouses, cemeteries and other traditional buildings. You'll then visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, and explore the Old Quarter with its narrow streets and traditional stores. Transfer to the hotel, where rooms are available from 2pm. If you have booked the excursion package, you will enjoy a welcome dinner in an authentic Vietnamese restaurant, followed by a puppet show on the water.

Day 3: HANOI - HALONG (APPROXIMATELY 160 KM)

In the morning, we continue to Ha Long. Enjoy panoramic views of the rice fields of the Red River delta during the cruise. On arrival, board the junk. Lunch on board as the boat sails towards Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay fascinates with its more than 2,000 islands and limestone cliffs, often shrouded in mist. We'll then embark on a short boat trip to the Cave of Clear and Obscure Waters. Back at the ship, you can take part in a cooking demonstration on request. Dinner and overnight on board the junk.

Day 4: HALONG - HANOI-Hué 
Start the day with a sumptuous brunch on the junk, admiring a magnificent panorama of the bay. Then visit the Quan Y cave. Return to port and disembark. Transfer to Hanoi airport and flight to Hué. On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Day 5: Hué - Hoi An (approx. 190 km).
Today, you'll explore Hué, the ancient capital of Vietnam. You'll visit the ancient imperial city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Built in the early 19th century on the model of the Forbidden City in Beijing, the city, at the heart of its fortress, originally extended for 10 km and was surrounded by a deep moat. Although many buildings were destroyed during the American-Vietnamese war, the remaining monuments offer a fascinating insight into court life during the Nguyen dynasty. Among others, you'll discover the Dien Tho residence, the Thai Hoa palace, the Mandarin halls and the original 9th dynasty urn. You'll then take a boat trip on the Perfume River (Huong Giang) to the Thien Mu pagoda, the starting point of the anti-government protests of the 1960s. You'll then take picturesque mountain roads through Lang Co and Danang to Hoi An. The Hai Van Pass, which forms a natural border and watershed between northern and southern Vietnam, offers magnificent views of the Vietnamese coastline.

Day 6: Hoi An
In the morning, you'll visit the old town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Boasting a picturesque location on the Thu Bon River, the city was one of Southeast Asia's leading port cities from the 17th to the 19th century. You'll visit the Japanese Bridge, built in 1593 to link the Japanese quarter with the Chinese quarter on the other side of the river. You'll then visit the Sa Huynh Museum, dedicated to the beginnings of Hoi An, and the Phuc Kien pagoda, built in 1690 in the traditional Chinese style, then restored and enlarged in 1900. You can then watch locals making lanterns and learn how they are handcrafted with silk shades. The afternoon is free for you to explore.

Day 7: Hoi An - Danang - Siem Reap
Today, you leave Vietnam. Transfer from the airport to Danang (approx. 40 km) and fly to Siem Reap with a stopover. On arrival, you'll be met by your guide and taken to your hotel.

Day 8: Siem Reap - Angkor - Siem Reap (approx. 20 km)
Today, a highlight of your trip awaits you: a visit to the famous Angkor temple complex! You'll visit Angkor Wat, which, along with Angkor, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1972. It took over 30 years to build. Today, the temple is considered a major example of unique Khmer and Hindu art. The world's longest continuous bas-reliefs can be found here and adorn the entire outer gallery, offering a glimpse into the history of Hindu mythology. Soak up the impressive atmosphere of the complex during your visit. You'll also visit the preserved Ta Prohm temple, overgrown with jungle, which has retained almost intact its original appearance when discovered by European explorers. Another highlight is the temple of Banteay Srei, considered a jewel of Khmer art thanks to its elaborate reliefs. In fine weather, you can then admire a magnificent sunset from the upper terrace of one of the temples.

Day 9: Siem Reap - Angkor - Siem Reap (approx. 80 km)
Today, you'll visit the impressive Angkor temple complex. A highlight of your trip awaits you: a visit to the famous Angkor temple complex! You'll visit the royal city of Angkor Thom, built in the 12th century, with the temples of Bayon, Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Let yourself be enchanted by the magic of the place, also imbued by the statues of gods and demons placed at the entrance to Angkor Thom. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 10: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh (approx. 340 km)
Today you'll travel from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh without a local guide. The rest of the day is free. Cambodia's capital, picturesquely situated at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers, is considered the most beautiful of the cities built during the French colonial period in Indochina. The town owes its name to a wealthy Khmer woman named Penh. She founded a small monastery after finding four Buddha statues in a tree floating on the Mekong. She had the complex built on top of a hill, called "Phnom" in the local language.

Day 11: Phnom Penh
Today, you'll discover the Cambodian capital on a guided tour. First you'll visit the Royal Palace, the official seat of King Norodom Sihamoni's government. You'll also discover the Silver Pagoda, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, whose interior is lined with over 5,000 silver plates, weighing a total of over six tons. In the afternoon, visit the Central Market or the Russian Market, two of Phnom Penh's most famous markets. Discover jewelry, fabrics and souvenirs at your leisure.

Day 12: Phnom Penh - Moc Bai border post - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh City (approx. 250 km)
Today, you'll leave Cambodia and travel from Phnom Penh to Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville via the Moc Bai border crossing. En route, you'll visit Vietnam's famous Cu Chi tunnel network. Never discovered by American soldiers, the Cu Chi tunnels were an important Viet Cong base during the Vietnam War. This incredible underground network, hand-dug in hard laterite, stretches for over 200 km and links command posts, hospitals, shelters and weapons factories. Today, explore the surrounding area and discover the daily life of the Viet Cong, examine the cleverly concealed entrances and elaborate traps, and even venture into the tunnels. You'll then continue on to Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville, where you'll spend the night.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City
Today, you'll embark on a guided tour of the historic center of ancient Saigon. Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville is a dynamic metropolis where traditional life rubs shoulders with modernity. Newly-built skyscrapers stand alongside colonial-era buildings and ancient temples. The tour takes you from the main shopping street, Dong Khoi, to City Hall and the Old Opera House (both visible only from the outside), then to the neo-Romanesque Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. You'll then visit the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. You'll then discover the Jade Emperor Pagoda and Cholon's large Chinatown. You'll then visit the Thien Hau pagoda, built by the Cantonese community and dedicated to the Celestial Goddess. Finally, you'll head to Ben Thanh market, where vendors offer a variety of products and handicrafts. If you have booked the pre-bookable excursion package, the theme of the evening will be a "roving dinner club". Accompanied by your gastronomic guide, you'll stroll through the bustling alleyways, past popular food stalls, and sample traditional specialties such as banh trang nuong (crispy pancakes), sticky buns and crab vermicelli. Afterwards, enjoy a nightcap (soda, local beer or cocktail) at one of Saigon's rooftop bars.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City
Day at leisure to explore the region. Have you booked the pre-bookable excursion package? In the morning, head for Ben Tre province in the Mekong Delta, renowned for its tropical orchards, coconut groves and traditional coconut products. On arrival, you'll board a local wooden boat to enjoy the scenery and life on the water's edge. You'll then visit a family-run workshop and learn about local traditional methods for using every part of the coconut. You'll then hop on a bike or tuk-tuk for a short ride of around 3 to 4 km over flat, easy terrain, past village lanes, orchards and craft workshops. The locals will often greet you with a "xin chao" as you pass. Along the way, stop at the homes of local families, chat with farmers and learn about their daily farming activities while sampling fresh fruit and local honey tea. Afterwards, you'll return to Saigon with some wonderful memories.

Day 15: HO CHI MINH CITY  
Today, your eventful trip to Vietnam and Cambodia comes to an end. Your hotel rooms are available until 6:00 pm, allowing you to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Depending on the time of your return flight, you will be transferred to the airport for your return to Germany.

Day 16: ARRIVAL IN GERMANY

Program subject to change!

(We recommend that you take out foreign health and cancellation insurance).

Good to know:  After booking, you'll receive detailed information about your trip. This includes the complete program, travel formalities and everything you'll need to make the most of your stay. Your travel documents will be sent to you before you leave! We're delighted that you'd like to discover UGANDA with Berge & Meer (Organization and responsibility).

Please note that due to flight schedules, arrival in Frankfurt will be one day later.