Highlight Of Vietnam Cambodia And Laos

Day 1: Saigon Arrival (-)

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) Vietnam, pick up and transfer to hotel in the city for check-in.

The rest time for free time to visit Saigon city or shopping at Ben Thanh market by yourself or relax at the hotel.

Overnight in Saigon

Day 2: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels – Saigon Half Day tour (B)

Morning start with Cu Chi Tunnels which were never discovered by American Force. These tunnels are stretching over 200 km and were important Viet Cong base during the American War. This underground network, dug by hand connected command posts hospital shelter and weapon factories. Back to Saigon, visit Reunification Palace which formerly was Independence palace of the South Vietnamese President, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office and Thien Hau Pagoda.

Overnight in Saigon

Day 3: Saigon – Cai Be Floating Market – Can Tho (B)

The tour will be started by boat to visit Cai Be colorful floating market and cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Then stop at local workshops where you can learn how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn...you can try and taste all kinds of candies with their family. And take the rowing boat deeper into the countryside on smaller canals and to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. It is so interesting to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to interact with them and see how they catch fish. Afternoon, we can walk around and then we will enjoy some kinds of fruits when listening to traditional music. Disembark in Vinh Long and transfer to Can Tho.

Overnight in Can Tho

Day 4: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Saigon – Flight to Danang – Hoian (B)

7:30 AM We start the boat trip from Ninh Kieu boat station and cruising along the Can Tho river with the very busy water traffic. We are arriving in Cai Rang floating market-the biggest floating market in the Mekong delta, where we can have a chance to get the most colorful pictures. And moreover, the floating markets are started from twilight. Nature and the universe as the flashes woke up by the waters of oars, their explosion engines, all kinds of boats collided, the call of welcome... made the market more lively. The native people are always hustling to pool, paddle and ride all different kinds of boats for carrying all other types of farm products to market for sale. So different from the other kind of market, the floating markets in Mekong delta got the very colorful advertising culture by hanging their products on bamboo poles to show the other traders what their boats are being sold. From the fruits, meat, shrimps, fish until the lottery tickets, coffee ...are traded all over again on the river by the boats which are the floating images bring "copyright" of the Western countryside. Coming with the floating markets! Cruising back to Can Tho city. Drive back to Saigon (172km). Head to the airport to get a flight to Danang airport. Pick up and transfer from Danang to Hoian (35km). Check-in at the hotel and relax.

Overnight in Hoian

Suggested Flight: VN 136 SGN (18:00) – DAD 19:20) 

Day 5: Hoian – My Son Sanctuary – Hoian Walking Tour (B)

Morning: We drive to visit My Son Holly land (50 km from Hoi An). Located in a lush valley, My Son was a capital and religious center of Cham people, now remaining with red brick towers and sanctuaries. My Son, considered to be in the same league as some of Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. These towers and sanctuaries were built from the 7 to 13 centuries. Afternoon: Walk to the Hoian ancient city, visit the Kwan Temple, Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Old House, Japanese Cover Bridge, and Historic & Cultural museum in Hoi An. Then visit the handicraft of Hoi An workshop before coming back to the hotel.

Overnight in Hoian

Day 6: Hoian – Hue Half Day Tour (B)

Morning: Leave Hoian to Hue (127km), on the way stop to visit Marble Mountain & Linh Ung Pagoda, and enjoy the fresh air at My Khe beach. On the way to Hue City we pass Hai Van Pass, take a picture at Lang Co beach. Afternoon: Take a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue’s best-known religious site to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Then walking to visit Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, Forbidden City.

Overnight in Hue

Day 7: Hue Half Day City Tour – Flight to Hanoi (B)

Morning, transfer to visit Khai Dinh King’s Tomb – a blend of Western and Eastern architecture. Minh Mang King’s Tomb, one is impressed by the majesty and symmetry of the architectural constructions. On the way back, we drop in handicraft village in Hue city – Conical hat village. Afternoon, take flight from Hue to Hanoi. Upon arrival at Hanoi airport, pick up and transfer to hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Hanoi

Suggested Flight: VN 1546 HUI (15:50) – HAN (17:05)

Day 8: Hanoi City Tour (B)

Morning, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday and Friday morning) to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-place. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 - the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Then continue to the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda at West lake (One of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam). Afternoon, transfer to visit Hanoi's Ethnology Museum (closed on Monday) and its fascinating exhibitions about the diverse hill tribes in Vietnam. Take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters and the beauty of Ngoc Son temple. Join 1 hour – cyclo trip to visit Hanoi Old Quarter. Then take a short time walking around Hanoi Old Quarter for sightseeing. In the end, journey through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you’ll then have a chance for some shopping and exploration before enjoy Water Puppet show, a traditional performance that dates back as far as the 11th century in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 9: Hanoi – Halong Cruise (B/L/D)

Leave Hanoi, travel by road through the Red River Delta to beautiful Halong Bay. The scenic drive will pass through rural landscapes before arriving at this World Heritage site. Upon arrival board the boat where you will enjoy a welcome drink and a delicious freshly caught seafood lunch whilst sailing out of the bay passing amazing shaped mountains. Weather permitting, you may wish to partake in a 400 steps climb up the mountain to enjoy a picturesque view of Halong Bay whilst viewing the sunset.

Overnight on Cruise

Note: The itinerary above belongs to each cruise, may be changed depending on the weather without prior notice

Day 10: Halong Cruise – Hanoi (Br/-)

Enjoy the early morning view of the bay’s landscape. Enjoy the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the water of the bay. We have some time to swim before sailing back to the Harbour. Back to Hanoi for overnight.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 11: Hanoi – Flight to Vientiane (B)

This morning, transfer to the airport to take a flight to Vientiane.

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

The rest time for free time.

Overnight in Vientiane

Suggested Flight: VN 921 HAN (09:40) – VTE (10:50) 

Day 12: Vientiane – Buddha Park (B)

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 en route 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

Day 13: Vientiane – Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfalls (B)

We take the morning flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls which is the biggest in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-meter 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. 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.

Arriving back in the city, 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 tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Suggested Flight: QV111 VTE (09:10) – LPQ (10:00) 

Day 14: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves (B)

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 temples to gather their daily meals 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 flavor of local life.

After breakfast, you will first visit the Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. We then embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine.

On arrival back in the city, we will visit 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 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

Day 15: Luang Prabang – Flight to Siem Reap (B)

You are free to stroll around the town for your exploration before taking the departure flight to Siem Reap. Pick up from the airport and then transfer to check-in the hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Suggested Flight: VN931 LPQ (14:35) – REP (16:05)

Day 16: Siem Reap Angkor Complex (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel: Start your sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle-covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 17: Siem Reap Tour – Tonle Sap Lake (B/-/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. We take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. We spend the rest of the time visiting the "Chantiers Ecoles - Les Artisans d'Angkor" which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting. We will drive to the Pouk district about 15 Km in the West of Siem Reap town you visit the silk farm, a fascinating farm/workshop where you can see the entire silk creation process including growing the food for the silkworms, breeding the worms, silk extraction, and refinement, traditional kit dying pattern creation and looming. Retail silk and souvenir shop. On the way back, visit the Western Baray (Baray Occidental) measuring 8 km by 2.3 km which provided water for the intensive cultivation of lands around Angkor.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 18: Siem Reap – Departure (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel and free at your own leisure time until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

End of the tour!