Best of Indochina – 15 Days

Description

General Information

Tour Highlights

• Vietnam: Visit the 100-Year-Old City – Hanoi, cruise on Halong Bay, explore the Bay of the Descending Dragon, see the highlights of Saigon, discover the mysterious Mekong Delta.
• Cambodia: Discover the splendid temples of Angkor and enjoy a Gondola ride.
• Laos: Visit a local village and learn and taste rice whiskey. A free day discovering Luang Prabang your way.

Tour Details

Duration: 10 Days/ 9 Nights
Start/ End: Hanoi / Luang Prabang
Tour Route: Hanoi – Ha Long – Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) – Mekong Delta – Siem Reap – Luang Prabang
Tour Type: Tailor-made tour
Tour Customizable: Definitely! Tell us your interest
Vehicle: private air-conditioned vehicle and licensed driver
Guide Service: private English-speaking guide
Tour Departure: No fixed departure. Anytime you wish!

Brief Itinerary

Vietnam
Day 01: Hanoi Arrival
Day 02: Discover Hanoi
Day 03: Hanoi – Ha Long | Cruise Trip
Day 04: Saigon Arrival
Day 05: Discover Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City
Day 06: Mekong Delta Explorer | Siem Reap Arrival

Cambodia
Day 07: Discover Angkor Thom Ancient City
Day 08: Discover Banteay Srei – Angkor Wat | Enjoy Gondola Ride
Day 09: Phnom Penh Arrival
Day 10: Phnom Penh to Vientiane

Laos
Day 11: Vientiane City Tours
Day 12: Vientiane – Luang Prabang
Day 13: Luang Prabang City Tour
Day 14: Free Day in Luang Prabang
Day 15: Luang Prabang Departure

Full Itinerary

Day 01: Hanoi Arrival

Upon arrival, our representative will be waiting to warmly welcome and escort you to the hotel. Check into the hotel, the rest of the day will be yours. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 02: Discover Hanoi

This morning, visit 1400-year-old Tran Quoc Pagoda featuring ten tiers enclosed by gardens, consisting of a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original Buddhist tree under which Buddha sat. Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake where you’ll see the Tortoise Tower perched on the water. Get into a half-hour cyclo tour to explore the Hanoi’s the Old Quarter. The cyclo is a historic mean of transportation in the cities of Vietnam where a cyclist leads you while sitting in a canopied seat affixed to the front. Next, head to the One Pillar Pagoda, taking place on a pillar made of a single stone, in the midst of a lotus pond. This pagoda was constructed by a 9th-century emperor who saw it in a dream and regarded this as divine inspiration to recreate the structure in his vision.

Before visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, you’ll pass by the highlight of this day – the Temple of Literature. This old-aged university was erected almost a millennium ago and has hosted manifold of the most prominent scholars through Vietnamese history. It features manifold gardens, buildings, pools, and old-aged trees where Vietnam’s best and brightest studied under the guidance of Confucius teachings. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 03: Hanoi – Ha Long | Cruise Trip

Today, enjoy a 3-hour drive to Halong Bay which is one of the Wonders of the Orient. Your cruise across Halong Bay begins around noon on Tuan Chau Island at the doorstep of Vietnam’s most fantastic wonder. When the boat sets sails, ready to be greeted by the Paradise Crew and Cruise Manager as they will aim throughout your stay at giving you with the highest standards of service for pure pleasure and utmost comfort while your stay onboard.

In the afternoon, explore some of the treasures spread across the Bay of the Descending Dragon: fascinating caves, untouched beaches, picturesque floating villages, wonderful rock formations rising up out of emerald water. While onboard, you can take advantage of leisure of the Spa, Beauty & Massage services; surrounded by a beautiful setting in motion, you are able to get into the chef’s cooking demonstration and also, try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking.

During your stay on board, it is your chance to enjoy today’s highlight which is the innovative and varied cuisine offered at lunch and dinner in the elegant dining-room, accompanied by a wide selection of wines and beverages from around the world. Overnight onboard.

Day 04: Saigon Arrival

Today, wake up early and do Tai Chi exercises on the sun deck and continue cruising the bays. A breakfast buffet will be served in the restaurant, followed by a visit to the limestone grotto. Disembark in Halong City around noon and transfer back to Hanoi airport for your flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and the rest of the day will be yours. Relax at leisure. Overnight in Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 05: Discover Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City

Today, start to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Explore these strange systems developed by the guerrilla soldiers during the Vietnam War. You’ll have an opportunity to observe the manifold weapons used in the war on display. Then learn about the innovative ways that the guerrillas survived and fought back in the war. The magnificent underground system they built remains to tell the story of the Vietnam War.

In the afternoon, admire the highlights of Saigon and get to know the history of these iconic landmarks. You’ll explore some of the most important sights in Ho Chi Minh. Head to the Notre Dame Cathedral built by French colonists during their settlement. Get a glimpse of its significance as the largest cathedral in Southeast Asia. Just cross the road, you will see the Old Saigon Post Office nearby, a neoclassical architectural building considered one of the main attractions in Saigon. Head to the Reunification Palace housing South Vietnam’s President during the war. After that, stop at Cholon, the Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh. Discover the thickly settled district rife along with tea-houses & pagodas, and the famous Binh Tay Market. The final destination of our today’s trip is the Emperor Jade Pagoda Aka Tortoise Pagoda which is considered by many to be Saigon’s finest. Overnight in Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 06: Mekong Delta Explorer | Siem Reap Arrival

Today, explore the Mekong River, essential to Vietnamese life. In the morning, we transfer to remote My Tho. This burgeoning capital rests in the Mekong Delta and is covered by stunning countryside known as the “rice basket of Vietnam”. Head to Vinh Trang Pagoda which is decorated with mosaics made from broken pottery. Overlooked by a tall white Buddha, the site is set amongst lovely gardens which is overflows with flowers, shrubs, lotus pools, and tombs as well as ornate gates that provide entry. Our journey goes on by boarding on a boat ride along the river to view the stilt houses, fruit plantations, and fishing villages.

After lunch, head to An Khanh, a small village specializing in fruit orchards along with coconut sweets. If our time permits, take a short cycling trip through the island or discover the island on foot (the island is flat and relatively small). Back to Saigon hotel and the rest of the day will be yours. Take a drive to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and the rest of the day will be yours. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 07: Discover Angkor Thom Ancient City

Breakfast and then, we enjoy explorations of the remains of an old-aged civilization, which once ruled much of Southeast Asia. Head to the ancient capital city of Angkor Thom. En route, catch a glimpse of the front of Angkor Wat as we pass by. First on the agenda is Ta Prohm. Worn by time, rain, and overpowered by the jungle, this immaculate structure is hidden under the canopy will leave you feeling like you’ve stepped into the movie set of a treasure hunt adventure.

Having lunch and our exploits will continue as we visit Banteay Kdei (“Citadel of Chambers”). Also, we visit Victory Gate, Terrace of the Leper King, the Royal Palace, Baphuon & Bayon. Bayon sets itself apart with its approximately 200 smiling faces, that surely make you feel warmly welcomed on your 2nd day. With its winding tunnels, daring climbs, and chambers, Bayon offers picturesque moments. As the sun gradually fades out, enjoy a sunset from the top of the pyramid-shaped temple of Pre Rup. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 08: Discover Banteay Srei – Angkor Wat | Enjoy Gondola Ride

Today, after breakfast, we will experience the temple relics in a way that surely lets you feel like you are getting into a back-in-time trip to thousand years ago, to a time when daily life was simple and our nature was surreal. Let visit the Banteay Srei Temple that is famed as a pink stone temple, it is renowned for its stunning stone statues. Then you’ll go for a gondola ride through the moats of Angkor Thom to see the vast ruins of the Khmer Empire at its peak. Close your eyes and smell the sweet perfume of the rondel flowers growing wild on the shore mixed with the scent of lotus flowers bobbing in the water.

Finally, ready to participate in one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Angkor Wat. At this point, you most probably have gotten glimpses of the towers over treetops and the gates in front of passing. Deeply dive into Angkor Wat and get to know about the stories and wonderful architecture which has stunned archeologists leaving more questions than answers. Angkor Wat owns some of the World’s most intricate and longest stone carvings.

Day 09: Phnom Penh Arrival

This morning, you will transfer to airport onward flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arriving, enjoy a full day city tour. visit the Wat Phnom Temple dedicated to Vishnu & Shiva, then head to the National Museum from where you will see the large collection of Khmer history, arts, and architecture. Also, it is a visit to the Silver Pagoda that has 5,000 silver tiles on the floor as well as a visit to the Royal Palace where the Khmer royal family leaves.

Day 10: Phnom Penh – Vientiane

Today, take a flight to Vientiane – Laos. Upon arrival, our representative will be waiting to welcome and escort you to the hotel. When you’ve settled in the hotel, relax at leisure as the rest of the day will be yours. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 11: Vientiane City Tour

This day’s excursion is to visit an open-air museum, Wat Xieng Khuan (Buddha Park). This is a collection of whimsical but compelling statues of Buddhist and Hindu gods. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 12: Vientiane – Luang Prabang

After breakfast, catch a flight to Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang which is set between the Nam Khan and Nam Ou rivers is an enchanting town filled with historic temples and colonial-style buildings. Let head to Wat Visoun (Wat Wisunalat), the oldest living temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Visoun dates back to 1513 and converges a collection of antique wooden Buddhas. Pay a visit to the nearby Wat Aham before keep going to Wat Xieng Thong which is the crowning jewel of all the monasteries and temples in Luang Prabang. Its many ornate buildings feature exquisite mosaic as well as gold-stenciled murals. From there, wander down the main street (Wat Street) of Luang Prabang. If our time is permitted, we stop at some of the many temples which line its sides, consisting of Wat Sibounheuang, Wat Si Moungkhoun, Wat Sop and Wat Sene. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 13: Luang Prabang City Tour

This morning, we visit the local market. Next, head to the National Museum – former Royal Palace (closes on Tuesday), a modest yet graceful building that combines traditional Lao and French beaux-arts motifs. Travel down the Mekong River to the steep limestone cliffs that overlook the Mekong as well as Nam Ou rivers which houses the Pak Ou Caves. These extraordinary caves are filled with Buddha statues with different shapes and sizes. On the way back, stop at Ban Xang Hai which is a local village renowned for the production of Lao Lao, the local rice whiskey. Head to the weaving village of Ban Xang Khong which is a village near Luang Prabang, famous for its traditional handwoven cotton and silk, as well as the production of the local sa (mulberry) paper. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 14: Free Day in Luang Prabang

Today, you freely enjoy your day in Luang Prabang.

Day 15: Luang Prabang Departure

Time to say goodbye. Breakfast and relax at leisure until getting escorted to the airport for a flight coming home. The trip ends. Hope you enjoyed it and wish that we could serve you next time when it comes to other Asia travel packages.