MAGNIFICENT INDOCHINA EXPEDITION – 17 DAYS

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Vientiene is a fascinating capital, with a fusion of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. This charming and easygoing city will provide a smooth introduction to Laos.

After a short rest, an orientation walk of the Lao Capital is a pleasant way to spend the day, strolling around some of the city’s most historical sites and seeing some of the French colonial architecture. We observe the sunset by the Mekong Riverside until the late evening.

Overnight in Vientiane.

O/N in Vientiane. 

DAY 2 – INDOCHINA VACATION TO LUANG PRABANG, HANOI, HALONG, HOI AN, ANGKOR WAT: VIENTIANE – FLIGHT TO LUANG PRABANG (B/-/-)

AM: After breakfast, we start to visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image.
On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we will stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. From there, we visit the central or ‘Morning Market’ which is a great place for browsing antiques, handmade textiles and gifts.

PM: We spend the rest of this day touring the Lao capital, visiting the National Museum (Open Every day) formerly known as the Revolutionary Museum, which exhibits artifacts, photos and legends of Laos’s history fighters and leaders from the Ancienttimes to the new revolution period. We then board our short flight to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage City of Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best – preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. On arrival, we transfer you to your hotel.
After a short rest, we stroll around the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of textiles made by the local and the hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as viewing a beautiful and panoramic sunset over the Ancient city and the Mekong River.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 3 – LUANG PRABANG PACKAGE TOUR TO PAK OU CAVE (B/-/-)

After breakfast, we depart hotel to the boat landing, and take an excursion (a few hours) by boat, upstream on the Mekong to visit Pak Ou cave in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeter to two meters in height.

En route, Lao typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Slender canoes bobbing by the shore, bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Our first stop will be at Ban Muangkeo, a well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky, namely Laoh-Khao to be distilled. We are welcome to taste it and also take away. Lunch is at a riverside restaurant.

We arrive back at Luang Prabang in late afternoon, and continue by car to outskirt of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, a well-known village for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes.
O/N in Luang Prabang.

DAY 4 – INDOCHINA VACATION TO LUANG PRABANG, HANOI, HALONG, HOI AN, ANGKOR WAT: LUANG PRABANG CITY TOUR – FLIGHT TO HA NOI (NOON FLIGHT) (B/-/-)

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual.
Later, we visit the National Museum (Now Open Every Day) at the former Royal Palace. It displays a collection of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. There will also be time for us to look around the Central Market. After visiting these sights in the morning, there may be free time (depending on your flight) to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure afternoon to HaNoi on QV313 (17.10-18.30).

O/N in Ha Noi.

DAY 5 – HA NOI FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR (B/-/-)

Today we commence our exploration of Hanoi with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city.

 We follow it with a visit to the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history. Later on, we will take a short visit at Hilton Prison where Vietnamese soldiers did captured & detained American pilots from 1967 till 1973 to learn more about the history of Vietnam war against American Imperialists.

In this afternoon, visiting the outlaying Ethnologic Museum is also a major part of our sightseeing. This gleaming mansion is dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Afterwards we drive to the Tran Quoc Pagoda. They are some major highlights set by the beautiful West Lake. We also visit the Old Quarters and the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem . In front of this lake is the famous water puppet theatre where we will see a fantastic performance.

O/N in Ha Noi.

DAY 6 – INDOCHINA VACATION TO LUANG PRABANG, HANOI, HALONG, HOI AN, ANGKOR WAT: HA NOI PACKAGE TOUR – HA LONG BAY CRUISE OVERNIGHT (B/L/D)

07:30     Our shuttle bus with tour guide will pick you up at your hotels.

10:30    Stopover in Hai Duong City where you can experience our hand-made Vietnamese handicraft products.

12:30    Arrive in Tuan Chau Marina Pier (Tuan Chau Island). Followed by activities such as: boarding Luxury Flamingo Cruise for departure, Welcome drink will be served and cruise briefing, safety instructions, check-in cabins by Cruise Manager.

13:30    Great lunch is served while cruising passing by islets.

15:00    Kayaking around Pearl Farm Village, visit Titop Island. Free choice of activities such as sunbathing, swimming and conquering the peak of the biggest island in Halong and taking panoramic photos of Halong bay in the afternoon.

17:30    Happy Hour. Buy 2 beverage get 1 for free

18.00    Cooking Class. Our Chef will demonstrate the preparation of a particular Vietnamese cuisine in the dining room. Our guide will let you know what item will be prepared and will explain the process during the demonstration. Duration about 20 – 30 minutes

18:30    Enjoy Sunset Party with fruits and tea.

19:30    Under the magnificent night sky, our luxury set menu dinner is served with a variety of Vietnamese and Asian foods.

21:00    Joining the squid fishing on boat with our crews and can enjoy the squid cooked with assistance from our chef or laze yourself with our happy-hour drinks at the bar.

Overnight on Halong Cruises.

DAY 7 – HA LONG BAY – HA NOI PACKAGE TOUR – FLIGHT TO HUE – HUE SIGHTSEEING TOUR (AFTERNOON FLIGHT) ( B/L/D)

06:15    Tai Chi class on the Sun-Deck

07:15   Have light breakfast with Coffee, tea, and bakeries on board

07:45   Arrive at the Surprising cave, the biggest cave in Ha Long Bay with 10,000 square meters, when you visit the cave like our Vietnamese house with three chambers as lobby, dining room and bedroom with most beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. We will tour the cave for about 60 minutes.

09:00 Upon return to the boat you will have time to freshen up and finish packing. When checking out please remove all of your belongings from the cabins, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins.

10:00   Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier

10.45   Brunch is served.

After brunch, Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier.

 11:45  Disembark and transfer to Hanoi

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Noi Bai airport for an afternoon flight to Hue on VN1549 (19.00 – 20.15)

Upon arrival, you will be escorted by our guide & driver then driven to your hotel for checking in.

O/N in Hue.

DAY 8 – INDOCHINA VACATION TO LUANG PRABANG, HANOI, HALONG, HOI AN, ANGKOR WAT: HUE CITY TOURS – DA NANG – HOI AN PACKAGE TOUR (B/-/-)

In this morning, before leaving to Danang we will take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the famous Tu Hieu Pagoda. The scenic 4-hour drive via Hai Van Pass offers spectacular views of mountains, the sea, idyllic beaches and villages (we can choose the shorter way by driving through the tunnel).

Upon arrival Da Nang, we will take a visit to Cham Museum formerly known as the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient. This museum contains many exquisite limestone carvings from the vanquished Kingdom of Champa which has been the central coastal littoral prior to the march of the Vietnamese nation southward.

Then a visit to the Marble Mountains with its beautiful grottoes and temples whose peaks represent the five elements of the universe. Later on, we keep on rolling further southward to Hoi An, which was originally one of major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.

O/N in Hoi An.

DAY 9 – HOI AN WALKING TOUR (B/-/-)

Hoi An, which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. There are plenty to see in this tranquil and delightful town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant market.

We include these sites in an enchanting walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town’s multi-cultural past. The rest of time, you will be free on your own

O/N in Hoi An.

DAY 10 – INDOCHINA VACATION TO LUANG PRABANG, HANOI, HALONG, HOI AN, ANGKOR WAT: HOI AN – DA NANG – FLIGHT TO SAI GON (BY MORNING FLIGHT) (B/-/-)

After having breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Da Nang airport for a short morning flight to Ho Chi Minh.

FLIGHT TRANSFER

On arrival, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. This metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping areas and sidewalk cafes.

O/N in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 11 – SAIGON CITY  – CU CHI TUNNELS SIGHTSEEING TOUR (B/-/-)

Today we spend a half day exploring the captivating Ho Chi Minh City. The most places of interest are located near the town center. We pass by the now-demolished wartime American Embassy on our way to the Reunification Palace. This famous edifice was a former residence of the President of Southern Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We follow these with a visit to the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum with a wealth of images from the notorious conflicts. The sightseeing ends up with a walk around the retail Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!

Cu Chi Tunnel

Afternoon: Transfer about 30km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi town. Cu Chi tunnels were used as the base from which the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometres and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels have been specially constructed with living areas, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command centres, plus accommodation. Today we have an excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels to visit an exposition hall and a widened section of the tunnels to get a feel of the underground life. There are also possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range

O/N in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 12 – INDOCHINA VACATION TO LUANG PRABANG, HANOI, HALONG, HOI AN, ANGKOR WAT: SAI GON – MEKONG DELTA (B/L/-)

Heading out of town, we travel by roads to the Mekong Delta. This plain region boasts the largest rice bowl of Vietnam. On the way, we will visit Vinh Trang pagoda, the biggest pagoda in the Mekong delta. Upon arrival in My Tho, we board a boat navigating around the intricate small canals, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting river trip will pass by the lush green vegetation towards the famous Unicorn Island where we have a chance to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and see farmers at work. We navigate some narrower canals using small rowing boats to Ben Tre Province for an interesting visit to some local industries and listen to Vietnamese traditional music, performed by the villagers. The extra enjoyment is a lunch at one of the famous local eating spots. After lunch, enjoy your time relaxing, walking around the village, or perhaps going for a short bike ride. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. End trip.

O/N in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 13 – SAI GON – FLIGHT TO PHNOM PENH (B/-/-)

After morning breakfast, we take you to the airport for flight to Phnom Penh  

FLIGHT 

On arrival, you are met and transferred to the hotel for a checkin

Phnompenh is famous for history begins with Lady Penh who discovered five Buddha images concealed in a tree and had a pagoda named Wat Phnom Don Penh built on that spot. The city that took its name from the pagoda was founded nearly a century later, becoming the capital in 1866.

O/N in Phnom Penh.

DAY 14 – INDOCHINA VACATION TO LUANG PRABANG, HANOI, HALONG, HOI AN, ANGKOR WAT: PHNOM PENH CITY TOUR – (B/-/-)

Phnom Penh is famous for history begins with Lady Penh who discovered five Buddha images concealed in a tree and had a pagoda named Wat Phnom Don Penh built on that spot. The city that took its name from the pagoda was founded nearly a century later, becoming the capital in 1866.

Explore Phnom Penh, a chaotic, energetic and always fascinating city. Graceful tree-lined boulevards and riverfront promenades are reminders of bygone eras; today they teem with life and activity, as motorcycles weave in and out of traffic, vendors hawk their wares, and pedestrians go about their business. Start the tour with an insight into Cambodia’s cultural heritage with a visit to the Royal Palace, still the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni and the adjacent Silver Pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha. Continue to Tuol Sleng (S-21); Learn about a chapter from Cambodia’s more recent, tragic, past at the Tuol Sleng Museum (Museum of Genocide). Formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975, this became the interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime – at that time known as Security Prison 21, or simply S-21. Kept largely unchanged, this prison now showcases photographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims that passed through these doors.

We have time for an exploration of Psar Toul Tom Pong, also called the “Russian Market”, where anything and everything is for sales.

O/N at Phnom Penh.

DAY 15 – PHNOM PENH TRANSFER TO SIEM REAP BY BUS (B/-/-)

After breakfast, you are transfer to the bus station for the coach trip to Siem Reap  which takes about 5.5 hours depending on traffic. The distance between Phnom Penh and SiemReap is 320km. You will have a bathroom stop and a lunch stop on the way.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. This journey passes through the provinces of Kandal, Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom, before reaching Siem Reap. You’ll get to see Cambodian rural life first-hand as you pass through small towns and villages. Free wifi is available onboard, but please note connection is temperamental when driving through rural areas. Ask the Crew Attendant for the password and don’t forget to charge your device in our electrical outlets.

Upon arrival in Siem Reap airport, met and welcome by our friendly guide, then transfer direct to hotel. Check in.

O/N at Siem Reap.

DAY 16 – INDOCHINA VACATION TO LUANG PRABANG, HANOI, HALONG, HOI AN, ANGKOR WAT: ANGKOR SIGHTSEEING GROUP TOUR (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel

Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Lunch not included

Visit to Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery, and the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Enjoy wonderful sunset from the top of Pre Rup Temple.

Dinner not included and night at hotel

O/N at Siem Reap.

DAY 17 – SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

Breakfast at the hotel

* Optional half-day tour to Tonle Sap Lake: (Your own account) 

This morning we will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle SapRiver, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen’s “floating village” with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the “village” move from place to place following water levels and current. 

Lunch not included (Your own account)

Free leisure for your own time for rolling at local market for shopping until transfer to Siem Reap International airport departure flight.