Vietnam & Cambodia

Arrive at Siem Reap, Cambodia—The second largest city in the country, gateway to the Angkor temples, one of the World Heritage sites. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Today we will visit a sample of the approximately temples of Angkor, the sacred remains of a major governmental and religious center built between the 9th and 13th centuries to glorify the names of the kings of the Khmer Empire. In the 15th century, most of Angkor was abandoned, and the jungle overtook the temples. About 100 years ago, the French naturalist Henri Mouhot rediscovered it, and ever since, efforts have been ongoing to clear the jungle vegetation that threatens to completely destroy the remains of the structures. We will visit the king’s capital city, Angkor Thom. We’ll see the Terrace of the Elephants, from which the king reviewed his victorious armies returning from battle. We will also see the Terrace of the Leper King, so named because of its faded, moss-covered appearance that evoked the image of leprosy and reminded people of a Cambodian legend about a king of Angkor who suffered from the disease. We will visit the Bayon Temple, the last state temple built in Angkor at the end of the 12th century. The temple is known for its approximately 200 serene and massive stone faces carved into its 54 towers. The temple also features many bas-reliefs depicting a unique array of mythological and historical scenes alongside scenes from everyday life. We will also visit the famous Angkor Wat Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will end the day at Phnom Bakheng Temple, which was built atop a hill and from which we will enjoy the sunset view. At the end of the day, we’ll enjoy a relaxing reflexology treatment. In the evening, we will watch a folklore performance.

After breakfast, we will visit the Banteay Srei temple. Then, we will drive to visit the Floating Village, located about a half-hour drive from Siem Reap along a bumpy road typical of Cambodia. Most of the houses are built on stilts in the Tonle Sap River. At the end of the tour, we will bid farewell to Cambodia and head to the airport. We will fly to what was formerly known as Saigon, which served as the capital of Vietnam until 1975, when the northern armies defeated the southern forces and unified the country. This is the largest city in Vietnam—the heart and soul of the nation. A dynamic, vibrant city that is the center of commercial, economic, and cultural activity. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the hotel.

Today we will go on a tour of the city that was the capital of South Vietnam. We will visit the War Museum, see the Independence Palace, the Central Post Office, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. We will be impressed by the wide boulevards and the unique architecture of the city. At the end of the tour, we will return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Prayer and a festive Shabbat meal.

Free time and a walk in the hotel area after prayers and lunch.

Today we will visit the area of the 75 miles of the Cu Chi tunnels. The name does not reflect the content — Cu Chi means “Land of Flourishing Gardens.” We will leave Ho Chi Minh City heading southeast to visit what was the hidden paradise of the Viet Cong fighters and the surrounding villagers who hid there, and today it is one of many battle sites that have become interesting tourist destinations. We will see some of their improvised methods of fighting as well as how they were able to feed and clothes themselves. At the end of the visit, we will continue to Tay Ninh, a city sacred to the followers of “Cao Dai,” a unique Vietnamese religion that combines Buddhist, Confucian, and Christian elements. In the evening, we will go to a spectacular show at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House.

After breakfast, we will set out on a tour of the Mekong Delta. Along the way, we will see the locals working in the flat rice fields. Upon arrival at Cai Be, we will sail to the true and authentic floating market in the area. We will watch the locals exchanging goods, fruits, and various supplies while navigating their small boats. We will stop at one of the villages for a visit to tropical fruit orchards. We will continue along the small canals and enjoy the sights of the upper Mekong Delta. We will visit places where locals run small family businesses producing coconut sweets and rice popcorn. Later, we will arrive at the village of Vinh Long – the green pearl of the region, where you can feel the wonderful integration with nature. We will enjoy authentic Vietnamese music inside a bonsai garden. In the afternoon, we will return to Ho Chi Minh City. At the end of the tour, we will drive to the airport and fly to Da Nang. After landing, we will travel to our hotel in Hoi An.

After breakfast, we will travel to visit Ba Na Hills. There, we will ascend by cable car and visit the spectacular Golden Bridge, which appears to be held up by two giant stone hands. After the tour, we will return to Hoi An and explore the ancient town, the Japanese Bridge, and view the Phuoc Kien Temple and the city’s ancient houses. We will continue to stroll through the beautiful alleys of the city. In the evening, we will go to the night market.

After breakfast, we will cruise to the pottery village of Thanh Ha, whose residents specialize in pottery and the production of household items from clay and ceramics. On the way to the village, you may see some of the villagers cutting wood to heat the kilns, into which the items crafted by others in their courtyards are placed. You can observe the preparation process in one of the friendly locals’ homes. At the end of the tour, we will drive to the airport and fly to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

After breakfast, we will head to the charming area of Mai Chau, surrounded by rice fields and small, authentic villages with houses made of wood and bamboo. We will visit several local villages and get to know the area’s residents, who are ethnically Thai, originally from tribal regions in Thailand, with some also from Laos and China. After the tour, we will return to Hanoi.

Today we will go on a tour of pleasant and tranquil Hanoi. We’ll stroll through the Old Quarter, west of the Chuong Duong Bridge near Hoan Kiem Lake, which is the fascinating heart of the capital. We will wander through the narrow streets, observe the artisans, numerous shops, and merchants that fill the area. We will see the mausoleum where the embalmed body of leader Ho Chi Minh is kept—one of Hanoi’s most important sites and a prime example of a personality cult. We’ll visit the house where Ho Chi Minh lived and the museum named after him, built in the shape of a lotus flower. We will take a rickshaw tour around the Old Quarter. We will also see the Opera House, perhaps the most convincing reflection of French influence on Hanoi’s architecture. We will view the One Pillar Pagoda, which—as its name suggests—is a wooden pagoda built around a single stone pillar, symbolizing the stem of the sacred and pure lotus flower. We’ll visit the Museum of Ethnology, undoubtedly the most fascinating museum in Hanoi. Vietnam is a culturally rich country with nearly 54 different ethnic groups coexisting in one place. The museum offers insight into this cultural diversity and promotes socio-cultural harmony in the country. We will also visit the “Hanoi Hilton” museum, where Vietnamese freedom fighters were imprisoned during their struggle against the French occupation. The visit to the prison is reminiscent of the Underground Prisoners Museum in Jerusalem. At the end of the tour, we’ll return to the hotel for Shabbat preparations, Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Sabbath), and Shabbat dinner.

After prayers and Shabbat lunch, we will take a walking tour in the area near the hotel.

This morning, we will travel to one of Vietnam’s natural wonders—Ha Long Bay. Its calm waters are dotted with thousands of small islands and towering cliffs that rise from the sea, creating a truly unique landscape. The name “Ha Long Bay” means “the place where the dragon descends into the sea,” linked to a legend about a dragon that created the bay and islands with the movement of its tail. We will go on an unforgettable boat cruise through the bay, among islands of varying sizes and heights, all made of karst rock formations jutting from the turquoise waters, forming a landscape like no other. At the end of the day we will drive back to Hanoi.

Our fascinating journey in Vietnam and Cambodia has come to an end. We bid farewell to the captivating sights of Vietnam. We will head to the airport and fly back home.