A Journey Through the Rapidly Growing Vietnam and Cambodia

 February 8th - 14th, 2014: Vietnam & Angkor Wat Trip

I went on a tour from Kansai Airport to Vietnam via Vietnam Airlines.

Day 1:

Departed Kansai Airport at 10:30 AM, with a flight time of approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes to Vietnam. The time difference between Japan and Vietnam is 2 hours. Arrived in Hanoi at 2:05 PM. After arrival, we visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the body of Ho Chi Minh is kept. While the interior can be visited, as it was an afternoon tour, we only viewed it from the outside. At the main entrance, there were guards keeping watch, but taking photos from a distance was permitted. Afterward, we visited the One Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Temple of Literature, before heading to a hotel near Halong Bay for the night.

Day 2:

Today we took a 6-hour cruise through Halong Bay, known as the "Guilin of the sea" and a UNESCO World Heritage site. I was a bit surprised by the large number of ships, including tourist boats. The weather was quite chilly on the boat, so wearing a windbreaker was just right. The sky was overcast, and the sea was not the bright blue you might expect; it was murky, which was a bit disappointing for me considering it’s a World Heritage site. We had a seafood lunch on the boat, then visited a magnificent cave. There are many caves in Halong Bay, but this one was particularly impressive. Later, we went to Ti Top Island and climbed 400 steps to the viewpoint, where the view of Halong Bay was spectacular.

Day 3:

In the morning, we visited Bat Trang Village, famous for its pottery, though I wasn’t particularly interested in ceramics, so I didn’t take any photos. On the way back, we stopped at a shop where young women were embroidering items based on catalogs and photos. They were quite skilled, and the results were amazing. Afterward, we headed to Hanoi Airport for our flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Hanoi Airport is under construction with the help of Japan’s government and Taisei Corporation, and a large international terminal is being built.

Day 4:

We arrived in Siem Reap at 5:10 PM, and the weather was hot and humid, unlike Hanoi. Our first stop was Angkor Thom, one of the Angkor archaeological sites located north of Angkor Wat. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Due to the intense heat, we finished the morning tour in about 2.5 hours and had lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, we visited the main attraction, Angkor Wat. A ticket is required to visit the Angkor temples, and the cost was included in our tour price. At the entrance, everyone’s photo was taken, and a photo ID ticket was issued. On the way to Angkor Wat, many children approached us trying to sell things or beg for money. Our local guide advised us not to buy anything or give them money, explaining that behind the children were brokers or organizations that took a portion of the money, and that parents often sent their children to beg. The guide explained that responding to them would prevent these children from becoming independent, and that more sustainable solutions were being sought. This made me reflect on the situation. In the evening, we enjoyed a dinner show featuring "Apsara Dance."

Day 5:

At 5:00 AM, we gathered in front of the hotel to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. By the time we arrived, it was already crowded, and it was difficult to find a good spot for photos because many people had set up tripods. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get the ideal shot, but I still enjoyed the sunrise. Later, we visited other Angkor ruins such as Banteay Srei and Prasat Kravan, had lunch at the hotel, then visited the Old Market in Siem Reap. In the evening, we flew to Ho Chi Minh City.

We departed Siem Reap at 5:45 PM and arrived in Ho Chi Minh City at 6:45 PM. We stayed in this city, formerly known as Saigon.

Day 6:

In the morning, we visited My Tho, a city in the Mekong Delta, popular for its river cruises. We landed on the island of Thoi Son, where we toured a fruit orchard and sampled fresh fruit, then enjoyed a mini jungle cruise. In the afternoon, we toured Ho Chi Minh City, visiting the Reunification Palace, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market. The city is full of motorbikes! If you stop walking or make sudden movements, the motorbikes will avoid you. After dinner, we headed to the airport and left Ho Chi Minh City late at night.