Indochina Tour 19 Days 18 Nights

Whether you choose a sublimely restful beach escape, a cultural journey of discovery or a multi-centre itinerary combining the glories of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, enjoy a holiday with a difference and experience the amazing, beautiful countries of Indochina.

Detailed Tour Itinerary

 Day  1 :  Phnom Penh - Arrival (D) 

VietnamTripadvisor's guide will Pick up and transfer to hotel. Free at leisure, diner at local restaurant. Overnight in Phnom Penh .

Day 2 : Phnom Penh ( B, L, D )

After breakfast, City Tour to visit National Museum of Khmer Art, Silver Pagoda, on the same ground of the Royal Palace and renowned Wat Phnom. Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon visit Toul Sleng Museum and the renowned Central Market. Free at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Phnom Penh
 
Day 3 : Phnom Penh - Siem Reap ( B, L, D )

After breakfat, early morning transfer to dock for departure to Siem Reap by hydrofoil. Simple lunch on boat. Transfer to hotel for short relax.
Afternoon, visit to Barray Lake then view sunset at Pnom Bakheng. Dinner and overnight in Siem Reap.
Departure arrival time : 07h00
Arrival time : 13h00
Day  4 : Siem Reap Angkor ( B, L, D )

Early morning, view sunrise at Angkor Wat. Transfer to hotel for breakfast. The same morning visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphoun, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King.  Lunch at local restaurant, short relax at hotel.
Afternoon, visit Grand Circuit including Pre Rup, East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, Preah Khan, Baksei Chamkrong and South Gate of Angkor Thom. Have Dinner and overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 5 : Siem Reap Angkor ( B, L, D )

 After breakfast, tour to small Circuit including Prasat Ravan, Banteay Dei, Srah Srang, Ta Prohm, Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say, Tevoda. Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, check out hotel, visit to the World Seventh Wonder of the Magical temple city of Angkor Wat until Sunset. Have Dinner and overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 6 : Siem Reap Angkor - Vientiane Laos (B, L, D )

After breakfast, free until our taxi will transfer to Siem Reap Airport for flight to Vientiane .

On arrival in Vientiane Capital, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. After a short rest, we see the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple 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 Lao’s national icon,  the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop enroute to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph The Mekong river side is the perfect place to end the day and admire the sunset. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 7. Vientiane - Luang Prabang ( B, L, D )

Today, we transfer to the airport for the short flight to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. After checking into your hotel, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai, we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as have a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can browse a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the local people and hill tribes surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day 8. Luang Prabang - Pak Ou caves ( B, L, D )

Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temples of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as exploring the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. On return, we take a short drive to another small village Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 9. Luang Prabang - Vientiane ( B, L, D )

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.
After breakfast, we visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) 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, you catch your flight back to Vientiane. After checking into your hotel, we transfer out to see the Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, near the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious images dating back over 500 years, which were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and to reveal his ideas about the universe. A spectacular view of over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day. Overnight in Vientiane  .

Day 10. Vientiane - Departure ( B, L, D  )

After breakfast, we visit the Morning Market and the weaving village of Ban Nong Bouathong (if time permits). The tour ends after your transfer to Wattay airport for departure to Hanoi Vietnam .Arrive in Hanoi, welcome by your guide and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 11: Hanoi - Hoa Lu - Hanoi ( B,L,D )

A 70km drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam's first capital, Hoa Lu. After visiting the two remaining sanctuaries of the ancient citadel, take a sampan on a river through the rice paddies to the grottoes of the sacred Tam Coc Caves. Enormous limestone karsts jut out from the green rice fields giving rise to this place's other name, 'Halong on Land'. Climb up to the Bich Dong Pagoda, which offers a scenic view of the surrounding countryside.

Day 12:  Hanoi  ( B, L, D )

A full day city tour of Vietnam's capital. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. The city tour includes such sights as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Quanh Thanh Temple and the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the edge of West Lake. After lunch in town continue to the Museum of Ethnology and end the afternoon with a visit to the Lake of the Restored Sword and a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter.

 Day 13: Hanoi - Halong Bay  Cruise ( B, L, D )

Pick up at your hotel or residence in Hanoi by our car and driving to Halong City. We go through the scenic countryside. Stopover on the way to refresh. Arriving in Halong boat pier at around 12: 30.

- 12h30: Welcome on Luxury Cruise and set sails through the Bay while lunch is serverd. Passage into the magical Bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’teeth. After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a spectacular view of the Bay dotted with the Luxury Cruise golden sails, go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck.

Later afternoon, other choices for kayaking or simply taking a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on the Luxury Cruise, enjoy cocktails while watching sunset and later, unwind at fantastic restaurant.

If the weather permits a short night cruise could bring you a nice discovery of the sea life by night.

 Day 14 : Halong Bay - Hanoi / Danang - Hoi An ( B,L,D )

- 6h30: Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay or enjoy a morning view of the Bay’s landscapes with a cup of Tea, Coffee, fresh Fruits. Sitting on the upper deck, we can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the rocky Islands rising from the crystal-clear waters of the Bay. The quiet is almost eerie, we can hear birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.

A tasty breakfast served at 7:30. After that, take an opportunity to visit beautiful limestone grotto

- 9h30: Return on board for a final glimpse of the Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Our car pick up and Transfer back to Hanoi for flight to Danang - Hoian

Day 15: Hoi An - Hue (B,L,D)

Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit the former merchants' homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colourful market. Leave Hoi An after lunch for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The scenic route passes through Danang before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. Arrive in Hue late in the afternoon and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

 Day 16 :  Hue (B,L,D)

Visit the former imperial capital of Vietnam. A boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue's best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945.

 Day 17 :  Hue / Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)

Transfer to Hue Airport after breakfast for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. A full day city tour takes in the city's bustling Chinatown and begins with a visit to the Thien Hau Temple, from where you will take a cyclo ride; the most appropriate and unusual way to explore Cholon, literally meaning 'big market'. The ride will take you to the lively Binh Tay Market. Then visit a lacquerware factory to witness workers continuing a Vietnamese ancestral tradition. After lunch visit the War Museum and the former Presidential Palace, from there on you will go on foot (the car will be available at all times) to visit the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall. After this historical visit, enjoy some wonderful ice cream at Fanny's, a quaint little parlour with a French atmosphere, before exploring the trendy boutiques on Ton That Thiep Street.

 Day 18 :  Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)

Depart to Cai Be, deep in the Mekong Delta. Board the Cai Be Princess junk boat and start the tour with the visit of the colourful Cai Be floating market. Follow with a visit of some local home factories that produce rice paste, rice pop corn and coconut candies. Cruise then to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through large networks of meandering rivers, crisscrossed with countless arroyos. Lunch at a fruit orchard then cruise to Vinh Long and discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong Delta rural life.

 Day 19: Depart Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Departure day. At leisure for shopping until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for onward flight.