15 DAYS – HIGHLIGHTS OF LAOS – VIETNAM – CAMBODIA

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel.

After a soft rest, your city tour begins 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.

If time permits, we will take a short walk around the small streets of city center, watching the life of local people, and visiting the traditional house of Heuan Chan, the Chantal wooden house dating back to 100 years old.

After that, you will visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family.

Late afternoon, we climb up 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. The welcome dinner will be served at the local restaurant with the traditional dance and folk song, the best chance to experience the local culture.

The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel 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. From there, we will visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. This is the best chance to experience the local flavors.

Breakfast at the hotel, we will first visit the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene. After that, we embark on the leisurely 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 Muang Keo, a well-known village for its traditional Lao rice whisky distilling. You will arrive back in Luang Prabang.

On arrival back in the city, we visit Wat Mai, which is one of the most beautiful temple of Luang Prabang. We then continue to Wat Visoun, dating back to 1513 during the reign of King Wisunarat (Visoun), this is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and was once home to the Prabang Buddhas.

Our last stop today is the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday) to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

After breakfast, we transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls which is the biggest 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 We will also take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers.

Before returning to Luang Prabang, we stop to visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park (closed from 15 APR – 30 JUN; 01-14 SEP, 01 JAN every year), whose mission is to create a research centre studying and publishing about Laos butterflies, host plants and preservation. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, 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.

We then transfer out to the airport to take the flight to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Vientiane.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane

In the morning, we will first visit Wat Si Muang, which is very famous for its supernatural power. We then transfer out to see Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to 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 revealing his ideas about the universe.

In the afternoon, 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. A spectacular view over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day. Overnight in Vientiane.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane

You are free to stroll around the town for your own exploration before taking the departure flight to Hanoi.

Meet your tour guide on arrival at Hanoi international airport and join your fellow travellers in a coach transfer to the city centre for hotel check-in.

Located in the centre of the Northern Delta with a population of 6.2 million people and an area of 3,398 square km Hanoi is an ancient city which had been established and developed for over 1,000 years since 1010. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike. Historians liken the life-giving Red River with its banks crowded with green rice paddies and farms to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; a cradle of civilization.

Hotel rooms may not be ready until 14:00 hrs but an early check-in would be guaranteed with a surcharge.

The rest of the day is at leisure. Subject to your arrival time, you may want to venture out to explore the city on your own or join one of our wonderful optional excursions in and around Hanoi, such as a walking tour through Hanoi’s Old Quarter for you first impression of Vietnam’s capital city.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Be ready for pick-up at your hotel lobby at 08:00 hours. Arriving at the cruise’ check in lounge in Halong City around noon, embark on the boat and start a relaxing and wonderful cruise through Halong Bay known in Vietnamese as “Dragon descending to the sea“. The picturesque Halong Bay has more than 3,000 limestone islets rising from the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes.

A lavish buffet lunch will be served on-board. Afterward have a short free and easy time before taking a guided excursion to Sung Sot Grotto (Surprise Grotto) and a floating village. Other activities in the afternoon include kayaking (optional and surcharge applies) or swimming (weather permitting) and a Vietnamese fresh spring roll demonstration on the sun deck Happy hour with complimentary canapés will be available at the sun deck bar. Then a scrumptious international buffet dinner will be served at the restaurant.

After dinner, there is an evening Movie show on the sun deck.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on board

You might start your 2nd day in Halong with an early tai-chi class, or simply wake up and witness the amazing sunrise on the bay.

Breakfast is served a bit later, with tea and bread, while the vessels continue cruising through rock islands and returning to base. Reaching the port, our transfer (share/private) is waiting to bring you to Hanoi on another 3.5 hours journey. Check in hotel and overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Half day Hanoi city tour (by car or by motorbike – upon client’s interest)

 – Routes can change subject to client’s interest. Begin the first day of the trip with a tour of Hanoi. Depart from the hotel for a visit to Vietnam’s first university: the Temple of Literature. Founded in 1076, Quoc Tu Giam was established within a temple to educate Vietnam’s royalty, mandarins and members of the elite.

Continue with a visit to the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Nearby is the mausoleum of the historic father figure of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and his modest house on stilts. (Sites are viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from June -August) Visit the picturesque West Lake and its sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. Tran Quoc Pagoda is regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi with its history line of more than 1,500 years.

After visiting, you will have a meal at an authentic Vietnamese Restaurant.

Your journey continues southbound today with a flight to Danang, a young and dynamic hub of the central region.

From the Danang airport you will drive the short distance south past the famous Non Nuoc Beach onto the enchanting town of Hoi An listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage and was once a well-known trading centre in Southeast Asia from the 16th to 18th centuries. Its sizeable community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences.

Check in the hotel for some leisure time and your guide will take you on a stroll through the ancient town. Its friendly inhabitants, narrow streets, old houses, temples and wooden bridge still remain its ancient character. Sample local food for dinner at a charming restaurant nestled in a narrow alley typical to Hoi An. Time after dinner is yours. You may choose to take transfer back to the hotel or to enjoy exploring Hoi An night life for more experience on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hoi An is an old port town, which was founded with mixture of different cultures from Vietnam to Japan, China and Europe. Fortunately, most of ancient constructions in this town have been conserved at unspoiled condition (although some of buildings are now using for commercial purposes), so travelers will have a complete understanding of history and diversity in culture of this historic place. Our half-day excursion is simply walking.

We will wander along old streets, cross several old houses; see how daily lives of local people are, and witness how historical elements of the town merging with modernity. We will also visit some of the ancient monuments from other nations, like the Japanese Covered Bridge or Fujian Assembly Hall of Chinese.

And after some walking, a cold glass of traditional herbal drink from a street-side shop is the best way to refresh, and enjoy the true taste of Hoi An on your tongue. If we have enough time, we will also pass by a handicraft store, at which you could directly see the creation of most notable souvenirs in town, and take some of them back to your hometown.

In the afternoon, shuttle bus will pick you up then transfer you to Hue, the former Imperial City of the last dynasty of Vietnam with a photo stop at the Marble Mountains, a scenic spot with caves, temples, shrines, pagodas and a great view of the surrounding area. Arrival in Hue will be in late afternoon. After hotel check-in, have leisure time.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Located in Central Vietnam, Hue is the only place in the country where many historic, cultural, architectural as well as artistic values have been recognized internationally and listed by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritages. Hue is also the site where the northern and southern ecosystems meet, the area of river-hills, greenery and beautiful landscapes.

In the morning, a scenic boat trip on the Perfume River will take you to Thien Mu Pagoda or Heavenly Lady pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Situated 4 km upstream on the banks of the Perfume River, it is an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601.

Continue by car to visit the Imperial Citadel. Situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River, the citadel covers an area of 500 ha and has a system of three circles of ramparts: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). The Hue royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Your next stop will be at Dong Ba market which has been functioning as the main resource of food for the palaces, hospitals, army camps, dormitories of the national universities and local inhabitants. Even though the market has undergone several renovation since the beginning of the 20th century, it still embraces many old features.

In the late afternoon, you will take another domestic flight from Hue to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, todays Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling and vibrating economic centre of the South. Over the past few centuries, Saigon was called the “Pearl of the Far East” and was an important trading centre for Chinese, Japanese and Western merchants who travelled along the Saigon River.

Check in your hotel and have free time in the evening to explore the city.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Today morning you will drive 55 km out of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi District famous for the amazing complex of underground tunnels. There are more than 200 km of tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels. You have the chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels before returning to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch.

In the afternoon, gain an insight into the city’s development through a walking tour to the most significant landmarks including the Opera House, the Town Hall, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the old Post Office (all magnificent sights from the French colonial period. Your next stop will be the famous Ben Thanh Market, where you can purchase souvenirs for your beloved ones.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at hotel and time at leisure. You are welcome to join our interesting optional excursions in and around Ho Chi Minh City, such as our Good Morning Saigon Tour (at surcharge).

Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City / Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight to Siem Reap.

(Check-out time: 12:00 hrs – late check-out is not included.)

Meet upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon).

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Morning, visit to jungle Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. The temple of Ta Prohm was once used as a location to film the famous Hollywood film Tomb Raider. Begin tour to the antique capital of Angkor Thom, start from 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.

Afternoon, explore Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. 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. Last but not least, view a wonderful sunset from Angkor Wat or somewhere possible.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Free time for discovering the City on your own

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Free until transfer to Siem Reap International airport for boarding home sweet home or next destination.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: NA

Includes:

• Overnight in shared Twin/ Double room with Air-condition (AC) at hotel.
• Overnight on local train at a shared compartment with 4 soft berths (if any)
• Overnight at local home-stay in a shared room, private blanket and mosquito net (if any)
• All transport during tour on air – conditioned vehicle as per itinerary (including airport pick up & see off)
• All in-tour stationed local English speaking guide.
• Meals as indicated in the program
• Entrance fees as per itinerary
• 3 domestic flights: Luang Prabang – Vientiane; Hanoi – Danang; Hue – Ho Chi Minh (20kg luggage inclusion)
• 2 International flights: Vientiane – Hanoi; Ho Chi Minh – Siem Reap (20kg check-in baggage included)

Excludes:

• Hotel EARLY check in & LATE check out
• Peak season surcharge & compulsory dinner at the hotel (if any)
• International flights with taxes
• Visa or Passport Fees
• Travel Insurance
• Tips, laundry and gratuities
• Meals not marked on itinerary, and water during meals