Indochina Highlight – 3 Countries – 1 Destination 14 Days

The day starts with a tour of Cu Chi. Discover the network of over 200km-long underground tunnels and their significance during the Vietnam War, before returning to Saigon. After lunch join a guided walking tour and discover the rich history of this spirited city as you visit some of its main attractions. Visit the former Presidential Palace, it was towards this modern building that North Vietnamese resistance fighters tanks (Viet Cong) rolled on the morning of April 30, 1975 as Saigon fell. From the palace you will go on foot (your car will be available at all times) to visit the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City including the red-brick Catholic cathedral of Notre-Dame, the nearby 19th century Empire-style Post Office, and the next door ‘Hotel de Ville’ or City Hall all look indomitably European, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Opera House. Continue your tour by stopping at Ben Thanh market, one of the biggest market in the downtown area of Saigon. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and today is considered one of symbol of Saigon, popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, textiles, “ao dai” (Vietnamese traditional custom), and souverirs, as well as local cuisine.

Escape to the stunning Mekong Delta region from Ho Chi Minh City as we journey towards My Tho, a peaceful town perched on the banks of the Mekong River. Once in My Tho, visit Cao Dai Temple. Then embark on a traditional boat ride along the Mekong River and discover the famous Four Islands namely the Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix Islands. During the trip, we will make various stops to immerse ourselves in the local daily life of the people living on the Mekong. We will see how they sustain themselves by cultivating orchards, chocolate factory, coconut candy factory and many more. Take a glimpse of the past and breathe that magic atmosphere of ancient times. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant, before we head back to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.

Fly to Danang, and then enjoy a scenic drive to Hoi An for your hotel check in. In the afternoon we will do a walking tour. The tour starts at the Museum of Folk Culture where you will learn about the history of this charming and peaceful town before you walk around the small market. Walk along the main street to the Chinese Assembly Hall of Fujien Chinese community. The hall, built in 1697, has been used as the worshipping place to dedicate to Thien Hau (the Goddess of the Sea or Holy Mother). Continue to the river bank along narrow streets – on both sides are old houses transformed into beautifully decorated shops with colourful lanterns. Next we’ll stop to see the Japanese covered bridge built in the early 17th century by Japanese traders who settled in the town. The special pagoda-shaped bridge is now the official symbol of Hoi An. We will finish the tour of this UNESCO-recognized town, with the visit of a historic old house. We will stay the next two nights in Hoi An.

14:30: Our local guide will meet you at the hotel lobby. Take a boat to estuary. Experience the daily fishing activity of the local fishermen, try to cast the net with their assistant. Move deep into the water coconut forest in Cam Thanh Village by locally handmade bamboo basket boat. Listen to a brief introduction Cua Dai about the history of this unique area.  Fishermen will show you how to catch the crabs and make origami with water coconut leaf. Split into smaller groups for a short basket boat racing. Then, visit to a local bamboo craftsman’s house; get an insight to their daily life and the different stages of preparing & making a proper bamboo furniture or bamboo house.  Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. 

Transfer to Danang airport for your flight to Hanoi, capital city of Vietnam. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel (check in time is 14h00). After that, your guide will meet you at the hotel for a city tour of Hanoi. Your first stop will be the popular Hoan Kiem Lake, situated in the heart of Hanoi city and Dong Xuan market. Your next stop will be Ho Chi Minh complex comprising Ba Dinh Square, Presidential Palace (for outside photos), as well as his private residence from 1954 until 1969. The wooden ethnic minority style house, built on stilts, is surrounded by lovely peaceful gardens. In the same complex you will see the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. We will continue on to the Temple Of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Constructed in 1070, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. You will then visit Hoa Lo Prison (formerly known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during the American war). The last stop of the day, before returning to your hotel, will be the visit of the Opera House. We will end the tour with a sip of traditional Vietnamese coffee.

Shuttle bus pick up at the hotel. Drive past scenes of traditional rural life from Hanoi to Halong City, the gateway to Halong Bay. Board a well-appointed junk boat, enjoy a delicious lunch and begin cruising among the 3,000 islands which rise from the sea. In the evening, retreat to your private cabin, relax on the main deck or enjoy a drink at the bar. Spend the night on board.

Take part in a sunrise Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck before enjoying brunch on board. Upon arrival back in port, shuttle bus transfer to your hotel in Hanoi. Free time at your leisure to discover Hanoi by yourself. You can take a walking tour to visit the Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as “36 streets”. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you. 

On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel. Situated in the centre of northern Laos, Luang Prabang is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural, historic and architectural values and its harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment. After a soft rest, you may want to stroll around for the first impression of this ancient city. Late afternoon, join a private Baci ceremony at a local family. The Baci ceremony as a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture for the participants. Dinner will be served after that for you to share with the host family, that gives you the best start of Laos culture exploration.

In the morning, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, a 16th century cave monastery filled with thousands of Buddha images, which locates 25 Kilometers North of Luang Prabang in the limestone cliffs overlooking the Mekong river.  En route, you will stop at Ban Xanghai, a well-known village for its traditional Lao rice whisky distilling. In the afternoon, we will drive south to Kuang Si waterfalls. which is the biggest waterfall in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals If you wish, take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers. Along the way back to town, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets. We then visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace which offers a glimpse into daily life, with vendors selling fresh produce, handmade crafts, and textiles. These experiences provide a unique and authentic cultural immersion.

After breakfast, we ascend to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, you will visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. Your city tour continues with a visit to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall. We have ample time to stroll around the town for your own exploration before taking the departure flight. Arrival Siemriep driver pickup at the airport then transfer to hotel. Check in, the rest of the day is free at your leisure. 

Today we start at pre-dawn to witness the breathtaking view of Sunrise Over Angkor Wat temple. After sunrise visit the bas-relief and central complex of Angkor in the quiet early morning. Continue to the Southern Gate of Angkor Thom ‘Great City’. This will include many of the finest Temples of King Jayavarman VII, who ruled from 1181 to 1220. Marvel at the imposing 23m (75-foot) high stone faces of Avalokiteshvara, featured in the Tomb Raider movie. At the centre of this citadel lies the state temple of Bayon, built at the end of the 12th century and adorned with hundreds of gigantic stone faces. The tour also includes the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King and later in the day you will discover the most famous temples from the 11th century: Baphuon, Phimeanakas. Witness a religious ceremony Monk Blessing at a pagoda nearby the temple. The Blessing is a sacred ritual that is performed in Pagodas across Cambodia. Continue the day by visiting Ta Prohm, known for the massive trees with thick roots that entangle the walls.

Visit Beong Mealea Temple, a 12th-century Buddhist sanctuary built from perfectly-squared sandstone blocks, still partly buried under vegetation. The pediments of some buildings are sculpted with narrative scenes from the Ramayana, and while Hindu iconographic themes are plentiful, Boeng Mealea is clearly a Buddhist sanctuary as Banteay Samre, which is more or less contemporaneous. This is confirmed by the magnificent statue of the Bodhisattva Lokeshvara discovered in the monument and today housed at the Angkor Conservancy. Enjoy some lunch at a local restaurant before our afternoon visit of Kampong Pluk. Kampong Pluk is an isolated community of three villages built on stilts. These scenic villages are flooded from Aug – Feb, enabling row boat journeys that provide income for the local community. We will take the small boat through the flooded mangrove forests fostering a variety of wildlife. End the day with a spectacular performance of Khmer ancient culture, while enjoying the finest cuisine in town. Arts & Craft – Apsara dance performances.

It’s time to say goodbye, but just think of all the wonderful stories you will take home. A transfer will take you to the airport for your onward travels.