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 South East Asia is a melting pot where a multitude of nationalities, religions, beaches, fine culinary foods, and smiling faces meet. We explore the highlights as well as venturing off the beaten track to find the more remote sights. Starting in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and finishing in the melting pot of Bangkok, we are guided through three of South East Asia's most enriching countries. Your local guide and western tour leader give you both perspectives of this wonderful region.
 • Day 1 to 2 Saigon
• Day 3 Mekong Delta
• Day 4 to 5 Phnom Penh
• Day 6 to 7 Siem Reap
• Day 8 to 10 Bangkok
• Accommodation:
* 8 nights in hotels (4-5 star) centrally located hotels
• Meals:
* 8 breakfasts,
* 7 lunches,
* 7 dinners
• Excursions:
* All excursions mentioned as per the itinerary
* Arrival Transfer
• Transport:
Private car, private air-conditioned coach, train, taxi, on foot, cyclo, bicycle
• Group Size: Maximum 20
• Staff: Yellow Brick Road Tours tour leader, local guide
• International flights and departure taxes
• Domestic flight taxes if applicable
• Tips on included excursions, visas, travel insurance, personal items
• Pre & post tour accommodation
• Departure transfers
• Spending money allow approximately US$30 - $40 per day to cover snacks, meals not included, drinks, souvenirs, laundry, tips etc.
• Optional excursions
Day 1 - Saturday, July 14, 2012
 • Your trip starts today with your arrival transfer to the hotel included for Saigon. • No activities are planned until your evening rep at approximately 18:00, so you may arrive at any time prior to that. • Please consult the notice board in the hotel reception for details of where you will meet your tour leader and group. • This will advise you of your tour rep's name, telephone number and the time and location of your group meeting. It will also detail matters of safety, how to travel, and the cost of taxis etc. If in any doubt, you can call your tour rep or failing that ask at reception. • Until your meeting, we encourage you to explore and discover what a wonderful city Saigon is. Make sure that you take a hotel business card so that you are able to find your way back to the hotel.
Day 2 - Sunday, July 15, 2012
 • Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as the city is still frequently referred to, is Vietnam's largest city. It is a fast-paced metropolis full of contrasts, with street vendors selling fruit and vegetables next to glitzy western-style bars and boutiques. Amazingly, the city's history dates back only 300 years. In 1859, the city was captured by the French and became the capital of Cochin China. From 1956 until April 1975, it was the capital of the US-backed Republic of Vietnam. Today, Ho Chi Minh City is very much the heart of Vietnamese business and entrepreneurial activity. The French left their mark with some fine colonial-era buildings such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. • In the morning we have an excursion to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels, a reminder of the Vietnamese war and a network of connecting underground passage ways. • In the afternoon, you will enjoy a guided tour of the highlights of this bustling, cosmopolitan city.  • We visit the following:
Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Remarkably every stone used in its creation was shipped from France to Vietnam. Her two 40-metre towers, topped with iron spires, still dominate the city's skyline. The Old Post Office is another example of French colonial architecture and is also the country's largest post office.
• Dong Khoi Street, the Opera House and the Peoples' Committee Building: built in 1897 by French architect Ferret Eugene, the 800 seat Opera House was used as the home of the Lower House Assembly of South Vietnam after 1956. It was not until 1975 that it was again used for performances. The structure was restored in 1995. The Opera House is located on the historical Dong Khoi Street which is home to many boutiques and fine restaurants. Just around the corner are the iconic Rex hotel and the beautiful Peoples' Committee Building.
 • The Reunification Palace: This is one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on April 30th 1975, the 'American War' officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time, the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.
• The War Remnants Museum: Formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes, this is a poignant display of the futility of war. Some of the black and white photography in the 'Requiem' exhibit is particularly touching, dedicated to both foreign and Vietnamese journalists and photographers who perished during the conflict. The courtyard outside contains the spoils of war, namely rusting jets, tanks and cannons captured from the American military machine.
 • In the evening, take a two-hour cruise on a traditional Junk and enjoy an intense gastronomic moment on the most authentic vessel on the river. Enjoy live music and a dance performance while dining on an extensive selection of Asian and Western cuisine. Enter the replica of the emperors' dragon boat "Bonsai" for a magnificent and memorable dining and entertainment spectacle on the Saigon River. Start with canapes and drinks while cruising by central Saigon. Then a European and Asian Buffet will be served accompanied by the in-house orchestra or a band on the upper deck. Cruise is from 19:00 - 21:30 hrs.
Day 3 - Monday, July 16, 2012
 • Our one day cruise excursion starts from Ho Chi Minh City with a drive to Cai Be - Phu An where you board the Cai Be Princess at around 10:00am.
• The tour will start with a visit of Cai Be's colourful floating market. • Visit some local home factories such as rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and longans drying processing. • The trip continues along the Mekong canals to Dong Hoa Hiep Island, located between Vinh Long and Cai Be.  • During the cruise, you will discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong delta rural life, while cruising past the evergreen islands set along the Mekong River.
• Lunch awaits you at Le Longanier restaurant at La Residence de Phu An Resort, a superb Indochine style resort. • After a short walk along a narrow canal, the excursion will end at around 15:30pm where the vehicle will await you for your transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 4 - Tuesday, July 17, 2012
 • Leaving Saigon, we drive through pleasant countryside before arriving at Cu Chi. • During its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250 kilometres from Saigon to the Cambodian border, and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens. • Today, the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life in the American/Vietnam war must have been like. The tunnels have been widened for your benefit (otherwise you would not be able to enter them!).  • We explore the amazing tunnel network before heading across the border into neighbouring Cambodia and onto the capital, Phnom Penh.
• Upon reaching the border, we bid farewell to our Vietnamese tour leader and cross over to pick up our new Cambodian leader. • Transfer to your hotel in Phnom Penh. • Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 5 - Wednesday, July 18, 2012
 • Today, we travel by bicycle for a sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh.
• Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia was a bustling commercial hub during French colonial days and today has re-established itself as the political and financial centre of the country. Its rich historical past can be traced to the Khmer and French influence evident in the ornate Khmer-style temples and the grand colonial buildings and villas. • The most obvious examples of this include the National Museum and the Silver Pagoda which we visit in the morning part of this tour.  • After lunch, we take a sobering look at Cambodia's disturbing past with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum, a testament to Cambodia's recent bloody past under the Khmer Rouge regime.
• We also visit the Choeung Ek killing field where an estimated 17,000 people met their death at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. • The tour ends with a visit to the Russian Market, a labyrinth of markets and a great place to look for clothing or local crafts.
Day 6 - Thursday, July 19, 2012
 • In the morning, you are transferred to Siem Reap. • Check in to hotel upon arrival.
• Late this afternoon you will be driven to the magnificent Angkor temple complex to watch the sunset from Phnom Bakheng.
Day 7 - Friday, July 20, 2012
 • In the morning, you are transferred to Siem Reap. • Begin your day at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, and then explore the centrepiece of this ancient city, the Bayon. • The Bayon holds 54 towers decorated with more than 200 enigmatically smiling stone faces. • The morning tour also visits the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings, as well as Ta Prohm Temple, made famous by the movie Tomb Raider. • Afterwards, enjoy a relaxed lunch in Siem Reap before heading to the famous Angkor Wat - the best preserved of all the Angkor temples. • Time is allowed for a thorough exploration before heading back to the hotel.
Day 8 - Saturday, July 21, 2012
 • Today, we make our way from Cambodia to Thailand and the buzzing metropolis of Bangkok.
• We travel by mini bus on a bumpy four-hour road journey to the border town of Poipet. • After crossing the border and receiving our third stamp, we make our way to the third capital city in two weeks, stopping off at the town of Aranya Prathet for lunch. • The final leg of our overland journey is made in relative comfort on paved roads, following the neon trail to our final destination of Bangkok. • We arrive in the late afternoon and check into our centrally located hotel. • Tonight, we head out to explore some of the famous Thai nightlife!
Day 9 - Sunday, July 22, 2012
 • Spend the day exploring Bangkok's magnificent temples including Wat Traimit, Wat Po and the Grand Palace.
• Discover the Golden Buddha (5.5 tons of solid gold) at Wat Traimit and the most extensive temple in Bangkok with its colossal reclining Buddha, and the chedi of the Kings at Wat Po. • Continue on to visit the Grand Palace, one of the most beautiful examples of an ancient Siamese court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Bangkok.  • Here you will see Palaces including the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple.
• After lunch, visit Vimanmek Teakwood Mansion which was a gracious royal residence built by King Rama V in 1901. This residence is built entirely of precious golden teak and is an outstanding example of 19th century architecture. • Admire the craftsmanship as you travel back in time and enjoy some rare insight into the lifestyle of the royalty. The section where The King resided is octagonal and has four storeys. • Then visit the Jim Thompson house, the home of James H.W. Thompson, a self-made American entrepreneur who was the founder of the world renowned Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company. His fabulous taste resulted in a great many art objects, many of which you can see here today. He mysteriously disappeared in 1967, after which it emerged that he had been a CIA operative. • In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner.
Day 10 - Monday, July 23, 2012
Your tour ends after breakfast this morning; please consult Happy Gay Travel if you wish to extend your stay. Failing that for assistance on transferring to the airport please consult your Tour Leader.
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Cambodia and Thailand Hidden Gems
