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Luxury EscapadesOption: Choose from two optional activitiesavailable in the afternoon.Discover the garden houses of Hué: Visit Hué’shistoric garden houses, a unique feature of thecity. Hué is known for its cultural and traditionalhouses with their beautiful gardens known locallyas ‘nha vuon’. Some have connections with theold Royal Imperial Court and the architecture haslong been associated with the ancient belief of‘Feng Shui’.ORVisit Sinh village: The traditional woodblockprinting village of Sinh lies along the lower sectionof the Perfume River overlooking temples andpagodas. Visit family homes in the village wherethis craft has been practiced for generations andget a chance to meet the artisans and learn moreabout their ancient techniques.Day 13: To Hoi An via DanangJourney by road to Hoi An passing through thepicturesque fishing village of Lang Co before drivingover the spectacular Hai Van pass (meaning passof the ocean clouds). Drive through Danang andvisit the open air Cham Museum, which containsthe finest collection of artifacts from the Hindukingdom of Champa.Continue to Hoi An and transfer to your hotel.In the afternoon, take a walking tour of theancient town center to visit former merchants’houses, the 400 year-old Japanese CoveredBridge and the colourful market. Nam Hai Resort(One Bedroom Villa) - 2 nights (B)Day 14: Hoi AnSpend the day at leisure. (B)Option: Half day excursion to Tra Que villagefor a cooking class. Spend the morning (orafternoon) working with the villagers in Tra Que,learning how they raise and prepare vegetables.Cook together and then have a traditional lunch(or dinner) with the family.www.coxandkings.comDay 15: To SaigonTransfer to Danang Airport for the short flight toSaigon. Check into your hotel.Later, depart for a full day city tour. Highlightsinclude the bustling Chinatown district, CantoneseThien Hau Pagoda, dedicated to the goddessof the sea and Binh Tay Market. In the afternoonyou can either visit the War Remnants or HistoryMuseum and the former Presidential Palace.Then take a leisurely stroll to the major sightsof colonial Saigon. Park Hyatt Hotel (Parkroom) – 1 night (B)Option: Late in the afternoon, visit Truc MaiHouse (a family of local artists) to hear a musicalperformance. Learn about traditional Vietnameseinstruments through conversations with theartists and hear performances from each familymember. You can even learn how to play theinstruments.Day 16: To Siem ReapThis morning, visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels,an incredible underground tunnel networkconstructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters(Viet Cong).Afternoon flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to themajestic temples of Angkor. On arrival, transferto your hotel. Later, visit the ancient city ofAngkor Thom in an eco-friendly electric vehicle.Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, animpressive stone gate carved with elephants andfour giant faces. Continue to Bayon Temple tomarvel at its stunning 54 towers with four facesrepresenting the 54 provinces of the then greatKhmer Empire. The Terrace of the Elephants andthe Terrace of the Leper King are also mustseesas they are both known for their intricatebas-reliefs. Raffle Grand Hotel D’Angkor(Landmark room) / Hotel De La Paix (GardenView room) – 2 nights (B)Day 17: Siem ReapTour the famous Angkor Wat by tuk-tuk. Builtduring the reign of King Suryavarman II in theearly 12th century, Angkor Wat is modeledafter Mount Meru, home of the gods. The wallsinside this magnificent temple are covered withstone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindumythology and the wars Suryavarman II foughtduring his reign. It is also renowned for thethousands of Apsara dancers that adorn thetemple. Today Angkor Wat is on Cambodia’snational flag as the temple symbolising the soulof the Khmer people.The remainder of the day is at leisure. Strollaround the colourful market, relax by the poolor get active on a bicycle, a quad ride or onhorseback to a lesser visited temple. (B)Day 18: Depart Siem ReapExplore the lesser known temples of SiemReap. Visit the picturesque Ta Prohm Temple,untouched over the centuries and overgrownwith jungle trees and vines. Continue to BanteayKdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12thcentury and Srah Srang, also known as the ‘poolof ablutions’. Alternatively, drive to Lake TonleSap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake withits size varying greatly, depending on the season.Board a local boat and visit Kampong Kliang, avillage with houses on stilts.In the afternoon, you will be transferred to theairport for your international flight. (B)Asia & Pacific 2011 I 57