A Glimpse of Indochina tour 17 Days

Breakfast at hotel, we then take city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, visit to Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral.,General Post Office. Then drive to visit the famous Cuchi Tunnels. Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city for overnight.

08:30 Pick you up at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh city and transfer to Cai Be. 11:30-12:00 boarding Le Cochinchine boat. Enjoy welcome drink. Transfer to a local boat for an extensive visit of Cai Be: the floating market, the mazes of waterway, local pop-rice and sweets production. Visit of colonial buildings, old houses, delightful flower gardens and local coconut candy and rice paper manufacturers. Le Cochinchine continues its cruise to Cochien. Lunch served on board. Embark on a pleasant walk or cycle on the footpaths of the countryside to discover tropical fruit orchards and the local people's activities. Visit a cottage industry, a local farm and sample seasonal fruits. Leisurely cruise on the MekongRiver while taking in the beautiful scenery. Enjoy an aperitif over the sunset. Dinner and night on cruise.

Breakfast on board. The morning bobbling commotion of Mekong river life comes to life for another lovely day our boat set sails to Can Tho through tributary and canals. Transfer to Cai Rang: one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong. We go for a walk along the canals and the palm-shaded creek to see local houses and green orchards, ship building yards, rural and water activities in full swing. Boarding back at noon, with a welcome-back drink. 11:00 Disembark in Can Tho. Transfer you to the airport for the flight to Da Nang. Pick up and transfer you to hotel in Hoi An. Stay overnight Overnight in Hoi An City.

Breakfast in the hotel,departure for My Son, one of the most important Cham site in the country and it’s set amongst lovely hills. Return to Hoi An. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An. You have plenty of time to discover what Hoi An has to offer. There are plenty to see in this delightful and tranquil town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tam Ky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. We visit many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past.  Stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An City.

We embark on Northern bound journey to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The scenic route passes through Da Nang as we are climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the picturesque fishing villages of Lang Co. A visit to beautiful Cham museum in Da Nang where display Cham’s finest sculpture and artefacts in the world. The scenery en route is beautiful as we hug the coastline of the South East Sea before winding our way up the spectacular Hai Van pass. Here we stop to admire the stunning views. The journey takes about 5 hours. In the afternoon we commence to visit the beautiful Thien Mu Pagoda, which now becomes the symbol of Hue and the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc Tomb are not to be missed. We include these in a guided cruise on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang Tomb, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes.  Stay overnight at hotel in Hue.

We embark on Northern bound journey to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The scenic route passes through Da Nang as we are climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the picturesque fishing villages of Lang Co. A visit to beautiful Cham museum in Da Nang where display Cham’s finest sculpture and artefacts in the world. The scenery en route is beautiful as we hug the coastline of the South East Sea before winding our way up the spectacular Hai Van pass. Here we stop to admire the stunning views. The journey takes about 5 hours. In the afternoon we commence to visit the beautiful Thien Mu Pagoda, which now becomes the symbol of Hue and the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc Tomb are not to be missed. We include these in a guided cruise on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang Tomb, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes.  Stay overnight at hotel in Hue.

This morning, we will have our first glimpse of Hue to visit the Forbidden Purple City. Take the flight to Hanoi. Pick up at Noi Bai airport, transfer to hotel, check in, relax. This afternoon, we visit Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple, take a cyclo tour around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Dinner at local restaurant.  Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

08:00 - 08:30 Our bus and guide will pick you up at your hotel. On the way to Halong city, enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.
12:15 Embark on cruise for welcome drink followed by a cruise briefing and safety instructions. Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch while our cruiser heads to the bay passing the beautiful limestone seascape.
15:15 Visiting Sung Sot cave, one of the most amazing caves in Halong Bay. The two chambers that form this amazing grotto are decorated with thousands of spectacular stalactite and stalagmite forms.
16:25 Enjoy kayaking (weather permitted) with guideline around the fishing village then return to the vessel for free time at your leisure. Fresh fruit platter will be served on the sundeck.
17:45 Halong Phoenix cruises through the Bay to its overnight anchorage near Luon Cave.
18:00 Cooking demonstration and discover the mystic recipes of the Vietnamese cuisine.
19:00 Seafood set-dinner on board.
21:00 Enjoy evening activities - Movie Night, Board Games, Fishing or karaoke program.  Stay overnight on cruise.

A new day has come with beautiful sunrise view from your cabin
07:30 Have breakfast while complimentary tea & coffee are served.
08:00 Trip by tender to Ti Top island for swimming or climb up to the top to see the outstanding scenery of the bay.
9:00 Return to cruise. The vessel cruises leisurely back to harbor
9:30 Check out and settle the bill.
11:00 Set menu lunch is served on board.
12:00 Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi.
16:00 Arrive in Hanoi.  Stay overnight in Hanoi.

Transfer to airport for the flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival at the airport, you are met and transferred to the hotel. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.  Stay overnight in Luang Prabang City.

After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the distillation of local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving.  Stay overnight in Luang Prabang City.

The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign, and the Central Market are not to be missed. We visit these sights, this morning before we catch a flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, we see the major temples including the oldest Wat Sisaket, a temple of thusands of miniature Budha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous, sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph, sunset by Mekong riverside and late evening.  Stay overnight  in Vientiane.

Transfer to airport for morning flight to Siem reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, continue your temple tour. See the unique interior brick sculptures Prasat Kravan, the Srah Srang reservoir (known as "The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Eastern Mebon (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the mountain-temple of Pre Rup until sunset.  Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. Afternoon, take elephant ride to Bayon temple, passing through the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat.  Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Transfer to the archaeological site for the sunrise from the Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat Or sunrise at Srah Srang. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th C), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble.

Transfer to airport for the flight to Phnom Penh, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia. A visit to Phnom Penh is a very interesting experience indeed. It is a city with an interesting pulse and it gives you a very true taste of Asia. Upon arrival we will visit Tuol Seung, Sisowath Quay, the Killing Fields and the Wats Phnom. Shopping at Phnom Penh market and the Russian Market.  Stay overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.