Day 1: Arrival- Saigon (L or D)
Welcome at the airport on arrival in Saigon and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Overnight in Saigon
Day 2: Saigon - Cu Chi - Saigon (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning excursion to visit the famous Cu Chi Underground Tunnels. Return to the city for half-day city tour in the afternoon visiting the War Remnants Hall and bustling Chinatown with Thien Hau Temple &Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office and City Hall. Overnight in Saigon
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh - Can Tho (B, L)
Have breakfast at the hotel. We leave by road to the Mekong Delta. Leave Saigon for Vinh Long. Visit farming activities and the riverine life of the Mekong Delta can be seen en route... Take a boat ride to the Cai Be floating market. After the visit continue to Cantho, most important city throughout the Mekong Delta, where he will have the opportunity to take a walk before retiring to bed. Overnight in Can Tho
Day 4: Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh (B, L)
Have breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy an early morning boat ride on the Mekong River to the bustling Cai Rang floating markets thronged with buyers and sellers moving around in boats laden with farm products. Taste seasonal fruit at a verdant orchard. Back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh - Dalat (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel in the morning, you will take a 6 hour drive journey to Dalat. Arrive in Dalat in the afternoon, you will check in your hotel and then be free for relaxing. Overnight in Dalat.
Day 6: Dalat Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. You will ride a cable car to Truc Lam Pagoda and Tuyen Lam Lake. Truc Lam is the biggest pagoda in Dalat standing in Phoenix Mountain about 1,300m above the sea-level. It’s surrounded by an attractive flower garden and with the view of pure water lake and the pine forest on the far side. After lunch at local restaurant, you will visit Emperor Bao Dai’s Summer Palace, Crazy House, Dalat Railway station and Dalat market. Overnight in Dalat.
Day 7: Dalat - Nha Trang (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Nha Trang in the morning. Half day boat trip to Aquarium, Tam Islands and Fishing village. Enjoy sea bathing. Lunch & Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Nha Trang
Day 8: Nha Trang tour (Monkey Island, Ba Ho Waterfall, Doc Let Beach Tour) (B, L)
Take the boat to the island where you can see wild monkeys, especially the "King of Monkeys" with its many wives. You can also make acquaintance with the monkeys. If you put some food on your hand, they will approach you immediately. Just watch your jewelry. They're also attracted to shiny objects. Walk around the island; take an optional ride on an elephant to take photos (not included). Animal shows are also performed here.
Enjoy Ba Ho Waterfall where you can climb up the high big rocks and swim in the cool, clean water. Ba Ho means "three lakes". You can try to reach the highest lake there. Lunch in the Quan Gio Restaurant.
Visit Doc Let beach with its blue sea and white sands. Fantastic for relaxation. You can see the salt field on the way and take photos of the countryside landscapes. (60 km. from Nha Trang). Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Nha Trang
Day 9: Nha Trang Bay - Relaxing on the beach (B)
Breakfast at hotel. You have free time for relaxing on the beach. Lunch and dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Nha Trang.
Day 10: Nha Trang - Da Nang - Hoi An (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Da Nang in the morning. Sightseeing tour around Da Nang including visit to the Museum of Cham Sculpture. Proceed to Hoi an and hotel check-in on arrival. Lunch & Dinner at restaurant. Free time afterwards. Overnight in Hoi An
Day 11: Hoi An (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning walking visits to old houses, pagodas, local market and Chinese community’s assembly halls in Hoi An ancient town with old Tan Ky House, Covered Bridge, and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. Enjoy bicycle ride in the afternoon to the countryside or to Cua Dai Beach. Lunch at restaurant. Overnight in Hoi An
Day 12: Hoi An - Danang - Hue (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Da Nang in the morning via Lang Co Beach and Hai Van Pass. Afternoon city tour in Hue beginning with boat ride on Huong River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. And the Royal Tomb of Minh Mang King . Overnight in Hue
Day 13: Hue Sightseeing tour (B)
After Breakfast. Visit Tu Duc tomb and The Imperial Citadel - World Cultural Heritage. Visit DongBa market. Lunch & Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Hue
Day 14: Hue - Hanoi city tour (B, L)
After breakfast. Transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Hanoi in the morning. Then guide will take you to Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum the final resting place of Vietnamese great father or uncle Ho, President HoChiMinh’s stilt house- where Ho lived on and off from 1958 to 1969 before he passed away., then visit Ho ChiMinh museum, where tourists will learn all kinds of information about president HoChiMinh, go to One pillar Pagoda a group of structures consisting of pagoda. Leave there for the Temple of Literature- the first college of Vietnam and the place dedicating to Confucianism. Having lunch with traditional food and fruits at restaurant .Enjoy the evening show of the spectacular Water Puppet show. Dinner at restaurant .Overnight on night train to Sapa
Day 15: Arriving Lao Cai - Sapa (B, L)
Pick up at Lao Cai train station to Sapa by private car. Arrive in Sapa around 7.30 am,and then check in and have breakfast at local restaurant, relaxing and then discovering the first site called Dragon Mountain. Lunch at restaurant. Early afternoon, the guide takes you to visit Cat village of Black H’mong people, a waterfall and you have a chance to see the hydroelectric power station built by the French, Back to Sapa. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight at Sa Pa
Day 16: Sapa Discovery (B)
After breakfast, the guide takes you to the Lao Chai village of the H’mong and Ta Van Village of Dzay and Giang Ta Chai village of Xa Pho people. Having Picnic lunch on the way. Return to Sapa and then transfer to Lao cai train station. (The guide will explain you more details about daily customs, funeral or wedding ceremony) Lunch &Dinner at restaurant. Overnight on night train to Hanoi.
Day 17: Hanoi - Ha Long - Huong Hai Junk (B,L, D)
Breakfast at local restaurant. Driving 3 hours to Halong Bay.
12h15: Board Huong Hai Junk, check-in registration
12h45: Start cruise
13h00: Have lunch board
13h30: A fantastic cruise in Ha Long bay, visit Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi island, Dog island, Sail island, visit Sung Sot cave.
Paddle from Titov beach to Luon Cave. Enjoy dinner on board
Optional night paddle.
Fishing, drinking Vietnamese wine, and spending a night on board.
Day 18: Ha Long - Hanoi (B, L)
7h00: Have breakfast
7h30: Continue kayak exploration. Paddle from Luon Cave toward islets in shape of Mans head island, Tortoise Island (kayaking time around 1 to 2 hours)
10h00: Arrange luggage and check-out
10h30: Have lunch on board
10h30: Have lunch on board. Transfer back to Ha Noi with short stop at a ceramic workshop in Dong Trieu. Dinner at your own. Overnight in Ha noi
Day 19: Ha Noi - Phnom Penh (B, L)
After having nice breakfast at the hotel, Free at leisure and transfer to airport for flight departure
On arrival at Phnom Penh Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. The capital city of Phnom Penh was once considered the loveliest city of Indochina. Despite its recent turbulent history, it still maintains considerable charm. A city tour acquaints us with some major sights of Phnom Penh. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are now home to the royal family and are therefore very close to the public. At the northern area of the palace grounds is Silver Pagoda, the most sacred shrine in the country. We visit both structures as well as the legendary temple of Wat Phnom, which provides an interesting view over the environs. The next stop of our trip is the National Museum, exclusively dedicated to Khmer art and sculpture. The majority of the exhibits are from the Angkor period from 9th to 15th centuries, but some date from as early as the 4th century.
Day 20: Phnom Penh - KomPong Cham - Kompong Thom (B, L)
The overland expedition begins as we depart the town and pass through Cambodia’s biggest growing rubber area to Kampong Cham. The deep contrast of lush vegetation and red surface of basaltic soil is incredible all along the way. On arrival in Kampong Cham we visit the beautiful French colonial architecture and Wat Nokhor containing the ancient temple and modern style pagoda. The following destination of our trip is Kongpong Thom. Along the way we make stop over at Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei, two hills whose names were translated as the 'man hill' and the 'woman hill'. After checking into hotel we visit some nearby villages and climb 980 steps to the top of Phnom Santuk for an impressive sunset view over the surrounding areas. Overnight in Kompong Thom.
Day 21: Kompong Thom - Siem Riep (B, L)
An early morning start to drive to the archeological sight of Sambor Prei Kuk, which is dotted with hundred pre-angkor styled temples. The road conditions are very poor, but the spectacular scenery of this ancient ruin, with a mixture of temples and forest, makes the hardship all worthwhile. We travel by roads to Siem Reap, passing the charming Khmer countryside. The town of Siem Reap is our base for visiting the world famous temples of the ancient city Angkor, which is home for the capital of the powerful Khmer Empire dating from 802 AD to 1350 AD. This stunning and extensive site sprawls through the dense jungle, over an area of 60 square miles. Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 22: Siem Riep (B, L)
Today 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 colums, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple, this afternoon before we walk up to Phnom Bakheng Hill for a view of the spectacular sunset over these sandstone monuments.
Day 23: Siem Riep (B)
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. We explore this masterpiece as well as some of the surrounding temples including Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevado. The grand circuit with Preah Khan, Kravan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup Temples, is also visited.
Day 24: Siem Riep - Vientiane (B)
Breakfast at the hotel
We board on boat in Tonle Sap Lake. Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, hospitals, and Les Artisan D'angkor.Rolling at local market for shopping until transfer to Siem Reap International airport to Vientiane
Day 25: Vientiane (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Free time for relaxing until transfer to the airport for flight to Vientiane
On arrival at the Vientiane Capital, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. After a short rest, we start visiting the major sights of the capital; including the Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Enroute to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Overnight in Vientiane.
Day 26: Vientiane - Luang Prabang (B, L)
After breakfast, we will pay a visit to the studio of Carol Cassidy, an American who has done much to advance the Lao weaving tradition and then visiting the rest of Vientiane by foot, including Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng and Wat Haisok. We pass by the major shopping area continuing to the Vientiane Central Market of Talad Sao and Talad Kouadin where various goods are displayed for sale; including fresh food, household goods, souvenirs, textiles, gold, silver and antiques.
The rest of the afternoon will be spent visiting the National Museum (close Tuesday), former Revolutionary Museum, which boasts a collection of antique items and the history of Laos’s fighters and leaders who were displaced from the ancient times through to the new revolution period. We then board a short flight to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best - preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. UNESCO registered Luang Prabang as a World Cultural Heritage City in 1995. The tranquility and charm of this city, with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Asia. On arrival, we transfer you to your hotel. After a short rest, we will stroll around the Night Market, where you will find a lovely selection of local handmade textiles. We then hike to the top of Mount Phousi for an exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa and the exasperating, beautiful panorama views of the sun setting over this once royal ancient city and the Mekong River. You will stay overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 27: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave (B, L)
After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour of the city’s oldest temple, Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low representing the classical architecture of Luang Prabang. We then embark on a boat journey upstream along the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. En route, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local specialty of rice wine is produced. On our return, we stop at the local villages of Ban Xiengmene and Ban Chan then continue to see the royal temple at Wat Longkhoun, which once belonged to the royal family near the Sackarine Caves. Once back in Luang Prabang city we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 28: Luang Prabang - Khouangsi Waterfalls (B, L)
An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. You will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will find dried buffalo skins, local teas and saltpeter among the many chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will have the opportunity to visit the local village of the Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village, Ban Thapene and Khmu Village. After visiting the villages, we then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfalls where you may wish cool off by splashing around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths. We continue to Ban Phanom, another well-known weaving village and return to Luang Prabang by the late evening to observe the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day 29: Luang Prabang - Departure (B)
After having nice breakfast at the hotel, Free at leisure and transfer to airport for flight departure |
