AROUND VIET NAM – CAMBODIA – LAOS TOUR
Day 1: Ha Noi arrival (D)
Welcome to Viet Nam. Meet your tour guide and driver at the airport. Transfer to the city. Check in hotel and overnight in Ha Noi.
Day 2: Ha Noi city tour (B,L)
After breakfast, depart for a full day tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and simple stilted house, the Confucian Temple of Literature, site of the first university in Vietnam, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Quan Thanh Temple. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ethnology museum and ending at historic Hoan Kiem Lake, the social center of Hanoi. In the evening, you’ll enjoy a Water Puppet Show. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day 03: Ha Noi - Ha Long (B,L,D)
After breakfast, you’ll be driven about 3hrs to famous and magnificent Ha Long Bay for a 2 days/1night. Here you’ll board a charming Junk where you’ll have lunch as you set sail for Titop Island. Spend the afternoon sailing through the 3,000 limestone pinnacles piercing the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most incredible natural wonders and was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You’ll anchor at Titop this evening before an on-deck candlelight dinner featuring gourmet cuisine.
Note: The cabins on board are simple, comfortable, clean, air-conditioned, and outfitted with their own and hot shower. This is a join-in cruise.
Day 04: Ha Long – Ha Noi - Lao Cai (B,L, - )
You will begin this morning with a sunrise breakfast before your exploration of Luon Cave (Tunnel cave) by sampan. Then continue to visit another part of Bay (Bai Tu Long Bay). Lunch on board. You will disembark the Junk and return to Hanoi. Free at leisure for exploring Hanoi Capital before transfer to Hanoi Station for overnight train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.
Day 5: Lao Cai – Sapa (B,L)
Arrive at Lao Cai Train station at about 6.30. Take a transfer to Sapa. Having breakfast and relax before explore Sapa Town. In the afternoon, take a 2km short trekking to Cat Cat Village, the home of H"mong Ethic. Meeting & talking with locals to learn more about their daily life. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 6: Sapa – Bac Ha – Lao Cai (B,L)
After breakfast, our car will transfer to Bac Ha . Upon arrival to Bac Ha, we can see thousands of people of different minorities and from every part of the area flock to Bac Ha for their weekly most important activity. From the early morning, thousands of people of different minorities from every corner of the area flock out to Bac Ha for their weekly most important activity, Bac Ha Sunday Market. Living in the high and remote mountains, these people consider the Sunday Market as a good chance to go out, meet people, drink alcohol and exchange their handy-made products. Late afternoon, back to Lao Cai to get the night train to Ha Noi. Overnight on train.
Day 7: Ha Noi – Hue (B,L)
Early morning arrival Ha Noi, check in mini hotel for washing and breakfast. Free for relax before transferring to the airport for flight to Hue city. Arrival Hue city, check in hotel, and free at leisure.
Overnight in Hue.
Day 8: Hue visit (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, You will begin this morning with a sunrise breakfast at a local restaurant. Then you will take a private boat trip up the Perfume River past some dreamy countryside and charming scenes of Vietnamese life to the Thien Mu pagoda. Then continue your exploration of the Royal Tombs of Minh Mang and Tu Duc, the majestic Imperial Citadel of Hue and Dong Ba market. Return back to hotel for relaxing. Overnight in Hue.
Day 9: Hue – Da nang – Hoi An (B,L)
In the morning, drive to Hoi An via scenic Hai Van Pass, where we enjoy the spectacular panorama of the central coastline from the summit. Stop at Lang Co to stretch your legs and enjoy the white sands of this peaceful beach. Arrive in downtown Da Nang and visit the open air Cham Museum. Transfer to Hoi An, Installation and drop off at hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 10: Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An (B,L)
After having a nice breakfast in our hotel we continue our trip towards My Son holly land. Located just 60 km from Danang, My Son includes a complex of impressive temples and sanctuaries of the former capital of the Cham"s Kingdom. This area used to be a glorious empire between the 5th and the 13th century. After noon back to Hoi An to explore the ancient town with the Japanese Covered bridge, the local produce market, Tan Ky House and the Phuc Kien Association. The town is a haven for local artists and there are galleries galore. Hoi An is also particularly well known for its tailors. Over night in Hoi An.
Day 11: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh city (Sai Gon old name) (B,L)
After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Sai Gon. Arrival Sai gon, check in hotel, free at leisure time to discover the sai Gon style life where called Pearl of Far East in the past. Over night in Sai Gon.
Day 12: Sai Gon – Cu Chi (B,L)
After breakfast, drive to the extraordinary Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh. During the war for independence, Viet Cong guerillas built the labyrinth of narrow tunnels virtually underneath U.S. bases, using them to hide during bombing raids and to stage surprise attacks. We return Sai Gon for Lunch at local restaurant and then explore Sai Gon with the economic powerhouse of Vietnam, the Reunification Palace, the War Remnant Museum. Walk amongst the frenzied merchants and buyers of Ben Thanh market. Over night in Sai Gon.
Day 13: Sai Gon - Cai Be floating market - Vinh Long-Can Tho (B,L)
Drive to Cai Be and take a boat to the floating market to practice the age-old art of bartering. Visitors will be supplied with sweets, sugar, milk, etc. which they can then barter for different kinds of local fruits. Continue by river to see family-run businesses producing a local version of popcorn and rice paper. Lunch is in a local house on Binh Hoa Phuoc islet set amongst fruit orchards and bonsai trees. Arrive Vinh Long, and then transfer to Can Tho for overnight.
Day 14: Can Tho - Sai Gon (B,L)
Morning boat cruise to visit Cai Rang floating market. The market is filled with small boats darting through the water as vendors sell their wares. Cruise through small canals and stop at a fruit orchard to taste some of the succulent fruits of the Mekong Delta. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Over night in Sai Gon.
Day 15: Sai Gon – Phnom Penh (B,L)
Morning, free for shopping and relax until the time transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for flight to Phnom Penh. Arrival Phnom Penh Airport, welcome by English speaking guide and transfer to hotel, lunch local restaurant, afternoon departure to visit short city tours: independence monument, Wat Phnom, national library, central market, walking along road on the Mekong river, dinner local restaurant and over night at hotel.
Day 16: Phnom Penh (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning departure to visit the capital city the Royal Palace and Silver pagoda, National museum, lunch local restaurant, afternoon continue to visit the genocide museum and Russia market, free time and dinner local restaurant, over night at hotel.
Day 17: Phnom Penh - Siem Riep (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning transfer to Pier express boat Siem Reap (take 5hours on the Mekong river and Tonle Sap great lake and just only high water from August - February), after arrival and transfer to hotel, lunch local restaurant, afternoon, departure to visit the Angkor-ians of group Rolous; Bakong, Preah Kô and Loleil, dinner local restaurant and over night at hotel.
Day 18: Siem Riep (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning departure to visit the city of Angkor Thom, South gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon temple, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, Terrace of Leper King and Elephants, lunch local restaurant, afternoon visit the small circuit: Ta Keo, Ta Prhom, Banteay Kdei, Thommanon, Chau seytevoda, and Srah Srang, dinner local restaurant and over night at hotel,
Day 19: Siem Riep (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning departure to visit Banteay Srey “the city of women” via to visit the Kbal Spean “the thousand of milles lingas” lunch local restaurant, afternoon return and visit Banteay Samre, Prasat Kravan, dinner local restaurant and over night at hotel.
Day 20: Siem Reap (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning departure to visit the grand circuit: Neak Paon, Preah Khan, Ta Som, Mebon Oriental and Pre Rup, lunch local restaurant, afternoon visit the famous of Angkor Wat and admire the sunset tour at Phnom Bakheng, dinner local restaurant and over night at hotel.
Day 21: Siem reap – Vientiane (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, we have free at leisure before transfer to airport for flight to Vientiane. 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. In the afternoon, 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, 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 at hotel in Vientiane
Day 22: Vientiane – Vang Vieng (B,L)
The journeys northwards begin as depart the town and drive through the Atacular countryside towards the mountain region. Along the way we visit the busy and colorful market of Thalat where various hill tribes come to trade their goods and buy previsions. A next stop of our trip is Vang Xang, famous for the archeological site dating back 11th century. We reach our final destination, Vang Vieng, which is nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. The small and tranquil village of Vang Vieng is rapidly developed with the advent of tourist, but the beautiful scenery with a mixture of quiet water and limestone outcrops unchanged for century. After checking into hotel we take a wander to catch our first glimpse of this hill town. Over night in Vang Vieng
Day 23: Vang Vieng – Xieng Khouang (B,L)
We are driving overland on up Hill Mountain with splendid natural scenery to Xiengkhouang, where 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. If time permits, we are seeing the old capital of Muang Khoun [if time permits] and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe people. They have an interesting local culture and a colorful history. Overnight in Phonsavanh
Day 24: Xieng Khouang – Luang Prabang (B,L)
250 km out to and up Route 13, passing through ethnic minority villages, with some houses overhanging steep roadside drop offs. Look for the children playing in the dust with their piglets and puppies. See examples of swidden agriculture hacked out of steep hillsides and the varying checkerboard patches of re-growth as you continue your scenic journey. Arrive in Luang Prabang. Overnight hotel accommodation
Day 25: Luang Prabang – city tour (B,L)
After breakfast, Visit Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana - Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa; Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture; 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 Luang Prabang
Day 26: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou – Khoungsi waterfall (B,L)
Today, we continue our city tour, seeing the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan River . The temple structures are decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes and doorways. The main Sim has a marvelous "tree of life" mosaic pattern on an outer wall. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River , which also gives us a taste of the tranquil countryside and an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at Ban Xang Hai to visit the rice wine distillation. Upon disembarking, we drive to the famous weaving village of Ban Phanom where shoppers have a chance to try their hand at bargaining.
Afternoon, we take a drive (30 km South) to visit Kuangsi Waterfall, which, though not very high, is spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings as the preserved National park. We stop en-route, stop to visit a fresh produced market namely Talad Phosy, and also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of a hill-tribe group “Hmong”, probably the best-known minority group in Laos. Late afternoon return to town Overnight in Luangprabang
Day 27: Luang Prabang – Ha Noi (B)
After breakfast, leisure at the hotel until transfer to airport flight to Ha Noi. Arrival Noi Bai airport, car transfers to the center of city, check in and overnight in hotel.
Day 28: Ha Noi departure (B)
Free at leisure until the time transfer to airport for departure flight.
End of services.
B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Diner