Indochina Tour : Vietnam & Cambodia - 22days
Highlights : Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hue - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh - Can Tho - Chau Doc-Phnompenh - Siem Reap - Vientiance - Xieng Khouang - Luang Prabang
Itinerary:
Day 1 : Hanoi Arrival
Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a ‘Welcome’ dinner at a restaurant in a restored French colonial building. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry, an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture.
Overnight in Hotel 5star in Hanoi.
Day 2 : Hanoi City Tour
You’ll have the whole day to explore Vietnam’s capital city. Your guide will take you to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century, and a popular attraction, as is Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. You’ll then drive to the excellent Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups. After lunch, you’ll call in at the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West) Lake. The centre of Hanoi, including Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son temple and the bustling Old Quarter, is a magnet for visitors – it’s noisy and hectic, but definitely a ‘must-see’ attraction. The Old Quarter is a maze of shopping streets and restaurants with a hotchpotch of architecture - traditional tube houses, religious buildings, artisans’ workshops and cottages, colonial houses and modern concrete edifices.
Overnight in Hotel 5star in Hanoi.
Day 3 : Hanoi – Ha Long Bay
After an early breakfast, you’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape. Your cruise on the Bay will be aboard the Emeraude, a purpose- designed luxury cruise ship.
Built in Vietnam, it’s a replica of the French cruise boats that meandered around the Bay during the Colonial period in the early years of the 20th century, but with modern facilities and safety equipment. Your route will take you through the most scenic parts of the World Heritage Area and include a visit to a floating fishing village, followed by onboard cooking demonstration, with an opportunity to swim, weather permitting. The Emeraude recreates the grandeur of yesteryear - refined interior décor, 37 cabins, an excellent restaurant, sundeck, bar, and a swimming platform. Cabins have en-suite toilets and shower, and are fully air-conditioned. Your meals, usually based on fresh seafood, will be served aboard.
Overnight in Luxury Cabin in Halong Bay
Day 4 : Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
You’ll spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, docking around ten o’clock with time to choose somewhere for lunch at one of the Vietnamese restaurants near the beach before leaving Ha Long. You should arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Hotel 5star in Hanoi.
Day 5 : Hanoi _ Hue
Your morning will be free until your car and driver arrives to take you to the airport for your noon flight to Hue. When you arrive, you’ll be met by our guide and driven to your hotel for check-in. After that, you’ll cruise on a cyclo (a tricycle taxi) for a visit to the Imperial Citadel of Hue and the Dong Ba market.
Overnight in Hotel 5star in Hue.
Day 6 : Hue - Hoi An
After breakfast, you’ll cruise along the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu, a tranquil pagoda on the banks of the Perfume River. From there, you’ve be driven to the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang.
After lunch, you’ll drive to Danang via the Hai Van Pass. The views from the top are excellent – you’ll be able to see Lang Co beach and the lagoon far below, and Danang spread out before you to the south. Upon arriving in Danang, you’ll have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham Museum before leaving for Hoi An.
Overnight in Beach Resort 5star in Hoi An Beach
Day 7 : Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An
After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you to the World Heritage My Son Sanctuary, show you the remains of the remarkable brick towers, and explain their origins and purpose. When you return, the rest of the day will be free. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.
Once, the My Son Sanctuary was the spiritual capital of the Cham Kingdom that dominated SE Asia for nearly a thousand years. Its remarkable brick towers were badly bombed, but are still impressive, as is its remote valley setting. It’s set in a quiet, richly forested area, bisected by a clear stream. However, the tree cover
Overnight in Beach Resort 5star in Hoi An Beach
Day 8 : Hoi An – Saigon
After breakfast, your time is your own until your car arrives to take you to Danang airport for the morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where a guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. After checking in your guide show you around Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll visit the History Museum where there is a special exhibition of the 5th century ‘Oc Eo’ civilisation. The Museum of War Remnants provides a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the ‘American War’: not for the squeamish! The huge Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City, is packed with every conceivable commodity. You’ll also call in at the Jade Emperor Temple. It’s one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries. You’ll finish your day with a visit to a lacquer workshop to see the complex processes and meticulous workmanship involved in this traditional Vietnamese craft product.
Overnight in Hotel 5star in Ho Chi Minh
Day 9 : Saigon – My Tho – Ben Tre – Can Tho
After escaping from Ho Chi Minh City’s urban sprawl, you’ll travel to My Tho. There, you’ll cruise on the Mekong through the Bao Dinh natural canal, view the stilt houses and the fruit plantation along the river sides. Proceed to the Tortoise island. Lunch served in the heart of the orchard. Enjoy the nice boat ride through the Tan Thach natural canal in Ben Tre, cruise under the shadow of the water coconut trees. Visit the family where you can experience the agricultural lifestyle. Trekking through the fruit plantation in Thoi Son island, enjoy the rowing boat ride along the creeks before returning to My Tho by motorized boat. Proceed to Can Tho via Vinh Long, visit the snake market. Check in on arriving Can Tho
Overnight in Hotel 5star in Can Tho
Day 10 : Can Tho - Long Xuyen - Chau Doc
After breakfast. We’ll take the boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river (the Bassac river) . The boat trip later takes you to the Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets, which are the most original ones and bustling places of the region. You’ll have the most probably tried the Vietnamese vermicelli soup? So, they will now go and see how it is made. We then roam into the village to get in touch with the local people. Here, they have a chance to experience how to pass a "Monkey bridge" which is built by only one bamboo. Stop for lunch. Proceed to Chau Doc via Long Xuyen to visit the Thot Not bird Sanctuary. Check in on arriving in Chau Doc. Admire the landscape from the Sam Mountain summit down the Vietnamese - Cambodian border, visit the caved pagoda.
Overnight in Hotel 5star in Chau Doc
Day 11 : Chau Doc - Phnom Penh
Breakfast at the hotel. We’ll take the nice rowing boat trip through the floating village to visit the fish farm to see how the Mekong Delta people raise fish on their floating house. Visit the Cham minority with their traditional weaving village. Change to the speed boat to board to PhnomPenh (Schedule 9 : 30 - 14 : 30 ). Arrive in Phnom Penh around 14h00pm at the Sisowath tourist dock.
Pick up and transfer to hotel. Free at leisure.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Phnom Penh
Day 12 : Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
Breakfast at the hotel
AM: Transfer to boat station for leaving to Siem Reap (6:30am), the boat take above (5 – 6 hrs of journey)
Upon arrival at Siem Reap boat station, meet and transfer to hotel for check in.
PM: Free and leisure at hotel.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Siem Reap
Day 13 : Siem Reap Tour
Breakfast hotel
AM: 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.
PM: Visit 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. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. Enjoy wonderful sunset from Angkor Wat.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Siem Reap
Day 14 : Siem Reap Tour
Breakfast hotel
AM: 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. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som, built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic. Preah Khan temple, Built by the King Jayavarman VII. Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.
PM: Visit to the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang ("The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), , Ta Keo, constructed in late 10th early 11th century C.E, the first temple to be constructed wholly of sandstone.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Siem Reap
Day 15 : Siem Reap Tour
Breakfast hotel
AM: To day we drive to visit Kbal Spean, 50km northeast of Siem Reap or 18km from Banteay Srei. The original "River of Thousand Lingams", Kbal Spean is an intricately carved riverbed deep in the foothills of the Cambodian jungle.
PM: Visit to Banteay Srei temple (10th cntury), regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer Art. Then contnue your visit to Banteay Samre, build in the third quarter of the 12th century. it consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompany by two libraries, the southern example remaerkably well presserved. Then end your visit at Rolous Group: Preah Ko, Lolei and Bkhong temple.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Siem Reap
Day 16 : Siem Reap – Vientiance
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to Siem Reap Airport for departure flight to Vientiane
Up on arrival Vientiane Capital Wattay International Airport Meet our guide welcome to Vientiane, the city of the moon - an ancient city, situated on the bend on the left bank of the Mekong as the largest city and the capital of Laos. Transfer to hotel for check-in. Lunch at the local restaurant after that, we take a sightseeing tour of Vientiane, to visit religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have been survived from the Siamese war of 1828 and its cloister contains more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane; That Luang Stupa, Symbol of Lao nation the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha; Patouxay (Arch de Triumph), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the land-mark of Vientiane.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Vientiane.
Day 17 : Vientiane
After breakfast, we visit the Buddha Park and the weaving village at Ban Nong Bouathong.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Vientiane.
Day 18 : Vientiane – Xieng Khouang
Breakfast at hotel , free at leisure until your short afternoon flight to Xiengkhouang, which was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973. Upon arrival, we transfer out to visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. We also have time, this afternoon seeing the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people. They have an interesting local culture and a colorful history.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Phonsavanh (the capital town of Xiengkhuang).
Day 19 : Xieng Khouang – Luang Prabang (by Road)
Early morning, we visit Central Market of Phonsavanh to watch different Hill Tribes to barter and exchange merchandises. Then heading out the this small town to Luang Prabang, on the way, we drop off and see a site more than 200 years old Buddha images in Thampra and varied Hmong and varied hill tribe minority villages along the road. They are nice, friendly and welcome you to visit. After a photo stop, we continue driving up hill, enjoying mountain splendid natural scenery, forest and landscape. After a tea or coffee break at Sala Phoukhoun, where the T-junction of bordering meets Vientiane-Xiengkhouang-Luang Prabang. The journey will take us over mountainous region to Luang Prabang. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After checking into hotel, [if time permits] we start seeing the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Luang Prabang.
Day 20 : Luang Prabang, Boat-trip to Pak Ou-Caves
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the local pier of Luang Prabang to embark on traditional boat. Cross the Mekong River and walk through Xiene Men village up to Vat Longkhoune. This temple renovated recently is famous for its mural paintings. Go upstream on the Mekong river and visit the sacred Buddha caves, Tham Ting and Tham Phoum. Lunch at local restaurant near the caves. Return to Luang Prabang by car, on the way stop to visit Ban Xang Khong handmade paper village and Ban Xieng Lek, a weaving village.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Luang Prabang.
Day 21 : Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng – Vientiane
Breakfast at hotel. Leave Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng by a beautiful road with breathtaking views over the mountains and numerous possibilities for photos. Stop at Phoukhoune with its lively market. Stop on the way at Ban Houn Xay. Lunch at local restaurant via Kasi As you approach Vang Vieng district karstic cliffs covered by lush vegetation appear. Stop at Pathang for its dramatic view over karstic mountains. Take a small boat on Nam Song river for a tour amid beautiful scenery. Transfer to Vientiane take a short walk along the Mekong at sunset. Dinner at “Kua Lao” restaurant with traditional music and dances.
Overnight in Hotel 4star in Vientiane.
Day 22 : Vientiane – Departure
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for check in and departure
Price : US$ 2316 / 1pax based for 2 people travelling together
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Trip includes :
+ All Accommodation on Deluxe Room (twin or double) in Hotel 4 & 5 star
+All daily breakfast & Lunch
+ English Speaking Guide around trip .
+ Mekong Delta River & Hue Perfume River & Halong Bay cruises
+ All Ground Transportation in private Air-Con car
+ Admission fees and permits where applicable
+ Travel visas
+ Vietnam Domestic Flight : Hanoi to Hue , Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh ,
+ National Flight : Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Trip excludes :
· Pre/post trip arrangement
· Travel insurance
· Meals not indicated
· Other personal expenses
· Tips and gratuities
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