This 16 Days-trip gives us the essence of Indochina with its highlights across Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia...
Itinerary: Luang Prabang - Vientiane - Hanoi - Halong bay - Hue - Hoian - Hochiminh - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
Day 1: Arrival - Luang Prabang (-/-/D)
Arrive in the mountain kingdom of Luang Prabang, the centre of religious life in. Transfer to your hotel to drop off your luggage before you start sightseeing in the sacred city of temples, of which nearly fifty still remain in the town and surrounding areas. Visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, some of the temples that span centuries of histoery, Phousi Hill where the 328 steps leading to the summit which offers the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang. After this you will enjoy dinner at the hotel. Overnight at La Residence Phou Vao hotel.
Day 2: Luang Prabang (B/ L/D)
After breakfast, travel by boat on the Mekong River to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves in the side of a lime stone cliff. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which are up to two metres in height. Visit Ban Xanghai, a well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky to be distilled and tasted. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the banks of the Mekong river before returning to Luang Prabang. Then continue by car to Ban Xangkhong, known for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes. Overnight at La Residence Phou Vao hotel.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Vientiane (B/-/-)
After breakfast you will check-out of the hotel and drive to the spectacular Kuangsi Waterfall. En route you will stop to visit a fresh produce market where most of the local food comes from and also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of a hill-tribe group “H’mong” and the “K’mu” village of Ban Tha Pane followed by the Kuangsi waterfall. Your picnic lunch is served at the shady park near Kuangsi waterfall and there is plenty of time for relaxing and a swim in cool water before heading back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. Upon returning to town, you will be transferred directly to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival in Vientiane you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Overnight at Settha Palace hotel.
Day 4: Vientiane – Hanoi (B/-/-)
After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city’s major historic sites including the religious museums of Wat Sisaket, Wat Ho Prakeo and Patouxay (Lao Arc de Triomphe). Then visit the local market to enjoy the local daily life. In the afternoon you will transfer to the airpoirt for flight to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to Hilton hotel.
Day 5: Hanoi (B/-/-)
After breakfast, enjoy a full day tour of the city. We first visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed in Oct & Nov) and his house, continue to visit the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda containing a statue of the Goddess of Mercy with its legendary “thousand arms and a thousand eyes”. This is followed by a visit the Temple of Literature and the Fine Arts Museum where you can gain an overview of Vietnamese contemporary art and. The afternoon starts with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology where you can learn about Vietnam’s diverse culture. You will finish the day with a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show in the evening. Overnight at Hilton hotel.
Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
After breakfast, enjoy 3.00 hours drive to Halong City with a coffee break en route at the Sao Do handicraft centre to watch handicapped masons and woodcarvers at work. Arrive in Halong by noon at the dock, board your deluxe junk and enjoy a welcome drink. Savour a delicious seafood lunch while cruising to Bai Tu Long bay. In the late afternoon you have the opportunity to trek or swim on Soi Sim Island. Afterwards, cruise to the Hang Doi water tunnel by rowboat, and then dock for your overnight and enjoy dinner on board. Overnight on Halong Ginger Junk.
Day 7: Halong Bay – Hue (B/-/-)
Get up early to catch the sunrise over the bay and enjoy Tai Chi on the sun-deck. Relax with a cup of hot coffee or tea before we depart for a visit to the splendid Sung Sot grotto. Enjoy a buffet brunch on board while cruising back through Halong bay to the pier. You will then transfer to Hanoi airport for a flight to Hue, enjoying a late lunch en route. We will stop en route in ceramic-making village of Phu Lang to observe the century-year old trade of ceramic production. Upon arrival in Hue you will be transferred to La Residence Hotel & Spa.
Day 8: Hue(B/-/-)
After breakfast enjoy the walking tour to the most elaborate mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Then take a stroll around the Dong Ba Central market. The remainder of the day is free at your leisure. Overnight at La Residence hotel & Spa.
Day 9: Hue – Danang – Hoi An (B/-/-)
Morning, take a dragon boat upstream to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s most preserved religious monument standing on the riverbank with its seven-floor tower. Then visit to the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen emperors once ruled Vietnam. Depart Hue for Hoi An via Danang. The 2.5 hour drive takes you over the Hai Van cloudy pass where a spectacular panorama of the central coastline can be viewed. You will stop en route to visit the Cham Museum, the best collection of the Cham ruins dating from 2nd to 15th century representing the architecture and sculpture of the Hindu influenced ancient civilization of Champa, China Beach and Marble Mountain. Afterward, transfer to Hoi An where you will stay at Victoria Hoi An Resort.
Day 10: Hoi An (B/-/-)
After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town of Hoi An, exploring the rich history and culture of this ancient Japanese, Chinese and European port of trade. Much of Hoi An’s rare wooden architecture remains in this small, pleasant town — typically a favourite stop for it’s elegant pagodas, bustling riverfront marketplace, delicious cuisine, and beach combing on the scenic Cua Dai Beach. You will take in the former merchants’ house, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market with its stalls brimming with tropical specialties. The remainder of the day is free at your leisure. Overnight at Victoria Hoi An Resort.
Day 11: Hoi An – Saigon (B/-/-)
After an early breakfast, transfer to Danang airport for flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, meet and enjoy a rural drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Cu Chi district where you will experience the incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence of Cu Chi guerrilla fighters. Afterwards transfer to Saigon to check into the hotel and take a break for lunch (payable locally). In the afternoon enjoy tour of the city taking in Saigon’s historic landmarks including the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace and the Chinese district of Cholon to enjoy the bustling wholesale quarter of Saigon and the Thien Hau temple. Overnight at Park Hyatt hotel.
Day 12: My Tho- Mekong Delta/ Saigon – Phnom Penh (B/L/-)
After breakfast, check-out of the hotel and set out on an excursion to My Tho/Mekong Delta. Enjoy a 2 hour scenic drive passing paddy fields and tributaries. On arrival, board your motorized boat for a river cruise on the upper part of the Mekong River where you will experience a taste of agriculture life, visiting a fish-raising village before entering the Vam Xep canal with its beautiful scenery. Disembark the boat, stroll around the Quoi An fruit orchard and take a horse-drawn cart ride along the village road. Upon arrival at Ben Truc – Phong Phu garden, sample Mekong delta fruit while enjoy local traditional music. Your trip will end with a row boat to explore the water palm canals before returning to the main boat and transferring back to My Tho. Enjoy lunch at the Ngoc Gia Trang restaurant serving Mekong specialities. Drive back to Saigon and transfer directly to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel for check-in. Overnight at Raffles Le Royal hotel.
Day 13: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B/-/-)
After breakfast you will go on a tour of the city, visiting the National Museum, housing Khmer art and sculptures from different periods of Cambodian history, the Royal Palace, built in 1866 by King Norodom, the Silver Pagoda with its floor made up of 5,000 silver tiles and Wat Phnom pagoda. Then transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Arrive in Siem Reap and transfer to your hotel, the Raffles Grand D’Angkor.
Day 14: Siem Reap (B/-/-)
After breakfast, you will begin your sightseeing with a visit to the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains an overgrown and oddly haunting, exotic scene. In the afternoon enjoy a drive to the rural outskirts of the Angkor area to visit the small, but magnificent Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. Afterwards, return to town with a stop for shopping at the Artisans D’Angkor studios carving and silk. Overnight at Raffles Grand D’Angkor hotel.
Day 15: Siem Reap (B/-/-)
Continue exploring the mysterious Royal city Angkor Thom with its 50-tower temple an awesome sight. You will also visit the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Lepper King Terrace and Royal Place area. In the afternoon, continue your exploration of the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat– one of the world’s most impressive ruins. Finish off the day at Phnom Bakheng hill, the first major temple to be constructed in the Angkor area. The Bakheng’s hilltop location offers a panoramic view of Angkor Wat and West Baray making it a most popular place to see the sunset. Overnight at Raffles Grand D’Angkor hotel.
Day 16: Siem Reap - Departure (B/-/-)
After breakfast spend some time at your leisure before being transferred to the airport for your flight home. End of services.
Trip cost: Net in American dollars: from US$1299 per person. Kindly contact us for more assistance.
Including:
· Double/Twin share room at selected hotels,
· Entrance fees and permits,
· Airfares HCM –Phnom Penh/Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
· Boat trips in Mekong delta & in Cambodia as specified in the programme
· Private air-conditioning transfer with English/French speaking guides,
· Meals (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch; D: Dinner) as mentioned in program
Excluding:
· Visa and Visa fees,
· International airfares & airport’s taxes to/from Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia
· Tips, drinks,
· Travel insurances
· Other personal expenses...
Accommodation:
1. La Residence Phou Vao hotel in Luang Phrabang
2. Settha Palace hotel in Vientiane
3. Hilton hotel in Hanoi
4. Halong Ginger Junk in Halong
5. La Residence Hotel & Spa in Hue
6. Victoria Hoi An Resort in Hoian
7. Park Hyatt hotel in Hochiminh city
8. Raffles Le Royal hotel in Phnom Penh
9. Raffles Grand D’Angkor in Siem Reap
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