Trans Indochina Tour – 17 days 16 nights

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI

Arriving at Noi Bai airport, after clearing immigration and customs, you will be met and privately transferred to the hotel. Check in and relax after a long flight. Stay overnight at the hotel in Ha Noi.

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR (B, L)

After having breakfast, meet your guide and start for full day city tour exploring Hanoi. Start with the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh and the Presidential Palace, followed by the serene One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature known as the site of Vietnam’s first university. Next, visit the Hoa Lo Prison Museum. In the afternoon, cyclo tour around the Ha Noi Old Quarter, ending at the historic Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Ngoc Son, enjoy the Water Puppet Show. Stay overnight at hotel in Ha Noi.

DAY 3: HA NOI – HALONG BAY (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel and then start a 3-hour driving to Ha Long City. Comfort stop en route for photos and coffee before arriving to Ha Long City. We then transfer to a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay to enjoy a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone this World Heritage Site.

While being on board, we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by swimming and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. Try the feeling of witnessing the sunset on boat is really great. Have a dinner on board. The captain then will anchor for the night nearby a remote island.  In the evening, there is the option for night fishing or just sit out on the deck and relax under the stars. Stay overnight on Junk.

DAY 4: HA LONG BAY – FLIGHT TO HUE (B, L)

Waking up surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. The cruise continues to move around the bay for us to discover more secluded areas; we then take kayaking and swimming in the stunning bay. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a backup vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3-hour journey to Noi Bai airport for flight to Hue.

Upon arrival Hue, being picked up & transferred to the hotel in Hue. Stay overnight at the hotel in Hue.

DAY 5: HUE CITY TOUR (B, L)

Morning we set out for the exploration of Hue’s famous highlights, boat trip on Perfume River to visit the picturesque Thien Mu pagoda, Tu Duc Tomb, Minh Mang tomb. Transfer back to Hue center for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, take a visit to the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. After that, walking around and shopping in Dong Ba Market. Stay overnight at the hotel in Hue.

DAY 6: HUE – DA NANG – HOI AN   (B)

After having breakfast, drive to Hoi An ancient town. The scenery on the way is very beautiful, do not forget bring your camera, taking a lot of pictures. Stop at Lang Co beach for coffee and refreshments before winding our way up the spectacular Hai Van Pass to admire the stunning views north to Lang Co beach and south to Da Nang City. Continue on our way down to the other side and head to Da Nang where we will stop at the Cham Museum, the famed Vietnam Beach, and the Marble Mountains. Check in and overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 7: HOI AN – MY SON – TRA QUE VILLAGE  (B)

Morning, guide and car pick you up to 4th century Cham religious sanctuary of My Son, located in a beautiful green valley surrounded by impressive mountains. Return to Hoi An for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit Tra Que Vegetable Village. Your cycling trip takes you on narrow roads to visit a place of display farming and fishing tools of the local farmers and fishermen. In this place, you will participate in daily activities of the local residents in the old time such as bailing out water with long handles buckets, pounding rice, lifting fishing nets, etc. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 8: HOI AN – DA NANG – FLIGHT  TO SAIGON (B)

Free until car transfer to Da Nang airport for morning flight to Sai Gon. Arriving in Saigon, car and guide pick up at the airport, then transfer to hotel for check in. In the afternoon, half day city tour visit: Reunification Palace, War Remnant Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post office, Dong Khoi Street, Ben Thanh market, Thien Hau Pagoda, China Town. Stay overnight at hotel in Saigon.

DAY 9: SAIGON – BEN TRE BOAT TRIP (B, L)

Morning, transfer to Ben Tre. Boat trip along the Ham Luong river (a branch of the Mekong) and stop off at various local workplaces to give you a picture of how the local economy works, including a brickworks, where bricks are still painstakingly made by hand; a coconut processing workshop. Lunch will be served at local restaurant. Then walking or cycling in village where you can have a short walk to experience real delta village life.  It’s time to board a sampan for a relaxing trip along narrow canals. Take boat back to the pier. Drive back to Saigon. Overnight at hotel in Saigon.

DAY 10: SAIGON – FLIGHT SIEM REAP (B)

Morning, car pick up and transfer to Tan Son Nhat international airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, meets and transfers to hotel. In the afternoon, visit to South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon temple, Terraces of elephant and leper king. Sunset at less tourist temple it on your tour guide recommendation. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap

DAY 11: SIEM REAP – ANGKOR TEMPLES (B)

Breakfast  at Ta Prohm in the early morning and next to Angkor Wat temple. Afternoon, visit to Preah Khan, Neak Pean and enjoy sunset at Preh Rup temple. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

DAY 12: SIEM RIEP – PHNOM PENH (B)

Morning, visit to local main shrine of Preah Ang Check Preah Angchom, foot market. Then transfer to boat pier for departure by speedboat to Phnom Penh. The boat will go through floating village of Chong Kneas before arriving at boat pier, meets and transfer by local guide in Phnom Penh and transfer to hotel for check in. Note:  In the period of March – September of the year, the boat will not operate and we will use private car instead.

DAY 13: PHNOM PENH – FLIGHT TO VIENTIANE (B)

In the morning, take half day city tour in Phnom Penh visit: Toul Sleng Museum, Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. Then transfer to Phnom Penh airport for flight to Vientiane. Arriving Vientiane, car pick up and transfer to the hotel. Check in and overnight in Vientiane.

DAY 14: VIENTIANE CITY TOUR (B)

Your half day city tour, begin with the oldest, Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Visit Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa. Free time in the rest of day. Overnight at the hotel in Vientiane.

DAY 15: VIENTIANE – LUANG PRABANG – HALF DAY CITY WALKING TOUR (B, L)

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your short flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. We visit the Royal Palace Museum ,then walking tour, taking in some of Luang Prabangs hidden secrets, walking down the quiet back lanes leading to Wat Xiengthong. Along the way we stop at Wat Chomkhong, which is known for its decorative carvings. We also pass by the Fine Arts School. Our final visit of the day is the magnificent Wat Xiengthong. Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.

DAY 16: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU CAVE (B, L)

After breakfast, we board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River to visit village of Ban Muangkeo where we start a short trek to reach the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. En route, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai. We then return to Luang Prabang by car via Ban Nongxai, an artisan’s village and also to visit a silversmith workshop. We arrive back in Luang Prabang by mid afternoon. Stay overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.

DAY 17: LUANG PRABANG – DEPARTURE (B)

Depending on your departing flight you may have time at leisure before your transfer to the airport for departure. End of our services.

INCLUDED:

• 3 star or 4 star hotel accommodation on a twin-share basic with daily breakfast
• Meals as mentioned in the itineraries.
• All landed transfers within the tour by air-conditioned vehicle.
• English speaking guide (On demand: German; French; Dutch; Russian; Spanish).
• Flight ticket in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
• All entrance and sightseeing fees as mentioned in the program
• 1 bottle of mineral water and 1 wet tissue per person per day