Highlights Of Indochina

On arrival at Luang Prabang Airport, meet your driver and guide and transfer to your hotel. You are free to spend the rest of the day at your leisure and recover from your flight.

Luang Prabang was the first capital of the Lane Xang Kingdom. Today, it is the center of the county’s religious life and a World Heritage City. Begin the guided tour of the city at the National Museum, housed in the former Royal Palace to learn a bit of the history of Laos. Continue to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief followed by Wat Visoun with the impressive stupa. Finish the tour at the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground.

Depart through Laos’ scenic countryside to Khouangsi waterfall 32km southwest of Luang Prabang. On the way, visit some local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups and encounter some impressions of the rural lifestyle. Upon reaching Khouangsi waterfall, swim in the clear water of the falls or just relax in this unspoilt natural environment.

Return to Luang Prabang and climb 328 steps up to the peak of Phousi Hill for stunning views of Luang Prabang.

Wake up early today to participate in an ancient Buddhist tradition: alms-giving to local monks. Each morning (around 6:00), more than 300 monks file silently through the streets collecting alms. When the procession is over, visit a morning market before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

Embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River to Pak Ou caves, a mystical pilgrimage 27 miles outside of Luang Prabang. En route, observe the daily local life along the Mekong River bank. The boat calls at Ban Xang Hai village where rice wine is distilled. Visit the Pak Ou Caves, filled with thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues. While driving back to Luang Prabang for some time to rest, make a stop at Ban Xang Khong village, well known for silk hand-weaving and traditional Saa paper-making.

Transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam.

Hanoi is packed with interesting sights and sounds. Visit the legendary Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his house on stilts. Through the alleyways, you wind your way to the Ngoc Ha village and see the remarkable sight of the Huu Tiep Lake where the wreckage of a B-52 bomber downed in 1972 still remains in the water. Continue to the Temple of Literature, an example of Vietnamese architecture where the first national university of Vietnam was established.

Drive to the Hoa Lo Prison museum, also ironically referred to as: ‘The Hanoi Hilton’. It was built by the French in 1896 to house Vietnamese revolutionaries, then later used to hold captured American POWs during the 1960s.

Catch a cyclo through the bustling alleys of Hanoi’s Old Quarter – the heart and soul of the original city – now famous for small artisan shops, craftsmanship and eclectic architecture. The evening takes you to the old theatre for a one-hour water puppet show, a unique Vietnamese traditional art.

Drive to Halong City for approximately four hours. Along the way, stop at Hong Ngoc Humanity Centre for a drink and to see local people manufacturing handicrafts. Upon arrival in Halong’s port, board on an overnight cruise of the legendary Halong Bay. The majesty of the bay’s 1,969 limestone islets and formations emerging from the green waters never fails to captivate visitors. Sail across the bay and visit some of its major highlights. Later, the boat will cruise to a quiet cove to down the anchor for the night. Enjoy a cocktail as you watch the sunset over the bay.

Please note
• The Halong Bay cruise itinerary will be updated when the final boat is booked
• This tour may be subject to change depending on weather conditions

It is worth waking early to enjoy the sunrise while the boat sets sail once again through the breathtaking scenery of the bay. By lunch, return to the main port for disembarkation and head to Noi Bai airport where your guide will assist you on to your flight to Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam – still called Saigon by many locals. Upon arrival, your driver takes you to your hotel.

Embark on a city tour to discover Ho Chi Minh City’s historical landmarks. Head to the Reunification Palace, formerly the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American war. Discover the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office. Enjoy an authentic Vietnamese lunch before visiting War Remnants Museum. Make your way to Thien Hau pagoda in China town, built by the Cantonese congregation in the early 19th century and dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. Round off the afternoon in the colourful stalls and crowded alleyways of Binh Tay Market.

Transfer by road from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be town in the Mekong Delta. Board a traditional sampan to navigate through narrow canals and explore the typical lifestyle of the delta.

Proceed to Dong Hoa Hiep, an unspoiled area with scenic views. Stop for a walk along the riverside and visit a local family where water-palm leaves are woven. An opportunity for a hands-on experience and interaction with local people awaits you here. Continue to a brick kiln where you will learn about the process of hand-made bricks.

Your cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Enjoy your lunch in the exquisite colonial-style villa set in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit trees, giving you a sense of life during Indochinese times. After lunch, take a short walk along a small canal, towards the Ba Bon Bridge where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you to Can Tho city. The evening is free for you to unwind and explore your surrounds at your leisure.

Take a boat to explore the colorful floating market of Cai Rang – one of the last authentic floating markets in Asia. The main produces sold here are fruit and vegetables and every boat has a long-standing post at its bow with samples of the things for sale are hung. The waterway turns out to be a maze of hundreds of boats filled with bananas, mango, pineapple, papaya and even floating noodle soup vendors. Continue cruising the nearby arroyos to visit a noodle workshop and fruit garden before returning to the Ninh Kieu pier. Make your way back to Ho Chi Minh City after meeting your driver in Can Tho.

Today you fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia, this beautiful small town is your base from which you will explore the most intriguing religious temple complex in the world – Angkor Temples.

On arrival in Siem Reap, your guide welcomes you and escorts you to the hotel. Embark on a private guided tour of the Angkor Wat Temple. Unquestionably, the Temple of Angkor Wat is one of the wonders of the ancient world. Explore the stone galleries, terraces, grounds and return to your hotel just after sunset.

Visit the Temple of Ta Prohm (The Jungle temple), where huge trees grow in and amongst the ancient stones. Head to the fortified city of Angkor Thom, the last great capital of Khmer empire. Explore grand Bayon temple with its 216 large-scale faces bearing beguiling smiles. Discover the Elephant Terrace and the Leper King Terrace and learn about the fascinating myths and legends behind them.

Take a tranquil boat cruise on the Tonle Sap Lake – the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia. Drive to Mechrey village where a boat transports you across the lake to a fascinating floating village. Here, witnesses the daily life of the lake-dwelling Cambodian people. Return to the hotel and spend the evening at your leisure.

Today, you have the opportunity to explore your beautiful surrounds at your leisure. Afterwards, a transfer takes you to Siem Reap International Airport, where your holiday with us will end.