Suggested Itinerary: 15 days in Indochina: Ho Chi Minh, Siem Reap, Bangkok, and Phnom Penh

Note: This is an itinerary I drafted for my Indochina trip . I had to cut my trip short to ten days and excluded Phnom Pehn because I went to India.

Alia’s Two-week Travel Itinerary

Southeast Asia 2013

Ho Chi Minh – Siem Reap – Bangkok – Phnom Penh

August 21 – Board Cebu Pacific flight from Manila to Ho Chi Minh at 10:50 PM

August 22 – Will arrive in Ho Chi Minh at around 1:20 AM local time (Remember, Vietnam is GMT +7, One hour late compared to Philippine Standard time).

·         Airport pick-up via MiMi Backpacker’s Hostel arranged through e-mail. Booking was done via agoda.com. Rest till morning, breakfast is included.

·         By noon, visit The Superbowl  and have lunch at Jollibee (I’m curious about it!)

·         Stroll along Ben Than Market and the streets of Pham Ngu Lao for souvenirs, street food, and landmarks.

·         Remember to take a notebook and dramatically place yourself along the outside tables of Starbucks or any other café. Go flaneuring and write.

·         Breathe in the feel of the French influence along with the local mixtures Ho Chi Minh offers.

·         Take pictures, of course.

·         Nearing twilight, might fancy a relaxing massage. (I’ve read good feedbacks about the Spas in this place. Let’s see if it fits the budget.)

·         Dinner at Tricolore restaurant. (I’ve read their chicken is the best. Let’s go try!)

·         Don’t forget to ask the hotel staff for tickets to Siem Reap via Mekong Express

August 23 – Continue the tour and visit these places staring 10:00 AM local time:

·         Notre Dame Cathedral

·         Reunification Palace

·         Opera House

·         Town Hall

·         War Remnants

·         Fancy a cozy park to write the half-a-day’s reflection

·         Camera, please. Also find films and stores that develop film.

By 2:00 PM local time, I should be visiting these pagodas and temples:

·         Jade Emperor Pagoda, 73 Mai Thị Lựu, Đa Kao, District 1

·         Mariamman Hindu Temple, 45 Truong Dinh St, District 1

·         Giac Lam Pagoda (oldest), 118 Lac Long Quan Street, District 5

·         Must be back at the hotel by 8:00 PM local time

August 24 – Must wake up at 5:00 AM local time to catch Mekong Express bus to Siem Reap. This is               approximately a 12-hour trip. Get ready for butt sores and will probably arrive by 7:00 or 8:00 PM local time.

·         Check in at the Yellow Guest House.

·         Get plenty of sleep.

August 25 –  Visit in random order within the day:

·         Lunch out at a Random Restaurant

·         Stroll down Pub Street for souvenir items, food, and etc.

·         Go see Phare, the Cambodia Circus

·         Dinner out at a Random Restaurant

·         Confirm with Sam Tuktuk for Angkor Temple tour for the next day.

August 26 –Whole Day Angkor Wat Temple Tour with Sam Tuktuk

August 27 – Take early morning (around 7:30 or 8:30 AM) bus to Poipet and ride tuk-tuk to Aranyaprathet station.

·         Take a train from Aranyaprathet to Bangkok

·         Two reliable trains a day run from Aranyaprathet to Bangkok, 255 km or 159 miles. I should be able to make the 1:55 PM departure from Aranyaprathet, arriving Bangkok at 7:55 PM. 

·         Check in at The Overstay Hotel or other budget hostels at Khao San Road

·         Get lots of sleep!

August 28 – Should be able to visit these places and at most:

• ·         2 hrs. Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun)
• ·         2 hrs. Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)
• ·         2 hrs. Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo)
• ·         2 hrs. The Grand Palace

August 29 – 2 hrs. Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit)

·         2 hrs. The Golden Mount (Wat Saket)

·         Lumphini Park

·         Siam Square

August 30- Klongs – longboat tour down waterway

·         Wat Suthrat

·         Chinatown

·         Amphawa Floating Market

·         ELEPHANT RIDES!!

August 31

·         Coffee houses for writing ambiance (I really love the feel of coffee houses!)

·         Day or Night Market strolls for souvenirs and etc.

September 1 – Leave for Hualamphong station and ride to Aranyaprathet  at 05:55 AM

·         Take a tuk tuk from Aranyaprathet station to Poipet.

·         Then bus to Phnom Penh

·         Check in at Kha Vi Guesthouse

September 2 – Whole day Phnom Penh stroll, take candid shots, etc.

·         Sisowath Quay

·         Royal Palace

September 3

·         Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

·         Naga World Hotel and Casino

September 4 – Take 2:00 PM bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh. Will arrive around 8:00 or 9:00 PM then take taxi to airport.

September 5 – Flight to Manila is 1:00 AM local time will arrive by 4:30 AM.

Sources:

-          http://www.seat61.com/Cambodia.htm#Saigon to Phnom Penh

-          http://leaveyourdailyhell.com/2011/05/30/the-scam-free-way-from-thailand-to-cambodia/

-          http://catmekongexpress.com/schedule.html

-          Tripadvisor.com