Indochina tour 15 days

Destination: Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Ha Long - Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long - Can Tho - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

Highlights: Tour start from Vientiane, an ancient city, situated on the bend on the left bank of the Mekong River. See Plain of Jars 1, an impressive archaeological site and Luang Prabang, a tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights. Visit Hanoi with its history and regard as the heart of Vietnam and Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Areas. Ho Chi Minh City is elegant  city in Vietnam. Admire Siem Reap with Angkor Temple complex.

Details Itinerary 

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide

Day 1: Vientiane arrival (D, G)

On your arrival in Vientiane, you'll be met and driven to your hotel. You'll then be free until dinner. Your overnight stay will be in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, you'll be picked up to visit the That Luang Stupa, Vientiane's most sacred shrine. You'll then visit the Wat Si Saket, Vientiane's oldest temple and easily the most impressive. In the afternoon, you'll visit Wat Ong Tu, the Temple of the Heavy Buddha and an important centre of learning and Patuxai, the Victoria Monument in Vientiane. You'll stroll around the local market for shopping around. You'll spend the night in Vientiane.

Day 3: Vientiane/Luang Prabang (B, L, D, G)

In the morning, you'll take the flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival, you'll be picked up to travel to your hotel. In the afternoon, you'll visit Wat Xieng Thong, a beautiful temple justifiably described as a scene from an oriental fairytale, and the dazzling. After a climb up the steps to the top of Mount Phousi, you'll be able to enjoy an good view of Luang Prabang. You'll spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou/Luang Prabang (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, the boat leaves Luang Prabang pier at 07:30 am for a cruise along the Mekong River for you to visit Pak Ou Village and Pak Ou Cave, at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, a brief stop is made to observe the traditional process of obtaining local rice alcohol, visit Tam Ting "Cave of a thousand Buddha's". You'll then visit Ban Xanghai (the local Lao liquor production village) and Ban Phanom (the local hand weaving village) before returning to Luang Prabang for your overnight stay.

Day 5: Luang Prabang/Hanoi (via Vientiane) (B, D, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll then be free until you'll be picked up to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you'll be met and driven to your hotel. 

17.15: You'll be picked up to watch the Water Puppet show an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture.

18.30: Your Welcome Dinner will be served at one of the good local restaurant.

You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi city tour (B, L, G)

9.30 - 10.30: You’ll visit Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum where Ho Chi Chi lies in state (closed on every Monday & Friday and October & November). You’ll see the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked. You’ll continue to visit the One Pillar Pagoda and hear the legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor in the 11th Century.

10.30 - 11.00: You’ll drive to visit the serene Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s West Lake.

11.00 - 12.00: You’ll also call the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and the dedicated to Confucius, it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside and later become Vietnam’s first university.

12.00 - 13.30: Lunch at local restaurant

13.30 - 15.30: Visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic

15.30 - 16.15: Pass by Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake , also known as Lake of Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to one of the city’s fascinating museums.   

16.15 - 17.15: You’ll then take to the streets by cycle ride tour of the Ancient Qurter of 36 streets District. This densely populated corner of the city was once a centre of commerce where goods were sold under the street name of a particular guild. Still a thriving community of sellers today, you’ll see streets name such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise.

You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

10.00: You'll take a short break at Hong Ngoc Embroidery workshop.

10.30 - 12.00: You'll continue driving to Ha Long Bay.

12.00: You’ll board your boat, a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels with sails, a wide transom and rectangular superstructure, that will take you first to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Weather permitting, you’ll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood.

You'll spend the night on the boat.

Day 8: Ha Long/Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

7.30: You'll have western breakfast on boat.

8.00 - 8.30: You'll venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan.

8.30 - 11.45: You'll spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking to the harbour. You'll then be escorted to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive, you'll be picked up to your hotel.

You'll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City tour (B, L, G)

8.30: Your car and driver will come to take you for your Ho Chi Minh City tour

8.30 - 10.30: You’ll be driven to visit History Museum, an exhibition of the 5th century ‘Oc Eo’ civilisation.

10.30 - 12.00: You’ll visit the Museum of War Remnants provides a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the ‘American War’

12.00 - 13.15: Lunch will be served at the local restaurant.

13.15 - 14.00: You’ll visit Centre Post Office with colonial building and the Cathedral Church.

14.00 - 14.45: You'll be driven to visit the Jade Emperor Temple. It’s one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries.

14.45 - 17.00: You’ll have approximately two hour to visit the Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City, is packed with every conceivable commodity and a visit to lacquer workshop to see the complex processes and meticulous workmanship involved in this traditional Vietnamese craft product. End of your services at the hotel. You'll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Can Tho (B, L, G)

8.30 - 10.30: Drive to Vinh Long, a city famous by the Mekong River and floating market

10.30 - 15.30: You’ll cruise to visit Cai Be floating market, fruit orchards, a traditional family-run brick kiln, and drop in to look at some traditional cottage industries - a workshop making the huge coffins unique to the Mekong is particularly interesting. You'll have a lunch at one of the local family and have a shot show of traditional music in Mekong Delta which is operated by the local people.

15.30 - 16.00: You'll have time to wonder around the fruit market to buy some kind of famous tropical fruit such as banana, pomelo, dragon fruit and so on.

16.00 - 17.30: You'll be driven further into the Mekong Delta to Can Tho where you'll spend the night.

Day 11: Can Tho/Chau Doc (B, L, G)

8.00 - 10.45: You'll have breakfast at your hotel and then be picked up to Ninh Kieu Harbour. You'll then take about two hour boat trip to cruise along the Mekong River to Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets. You can enjoy the Mekong rural lifestyle.

10.45 - 14.00: You'll take the high-speed boat to Chau Doc. You'll check in your hotel and free in the evening in a town on the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

You'll spend the night in Chau Doc.

Day 12: Chau Doc/Phnom Penh (B, L, G)

7.00 - 7.30: Breakfast at your hotel. You'll then take a high-speed boat again to Phnom Penh.

On arrival in Phnom Penh, you'll be picked up to visit Silver Pagoda, National Museum, Royal Palace and Ounalom Monastry and join sunset cruise on Mekong Rivers. You'll spend the night in Phnom Penh.

Day 13: Siem Reap (B, L, D, G)

In the morning, you'll take the flight to Siem Reap. On arrival at Siem Reap airport, you'll be picked up by our driver to check in your hotel. You'll then visit the Temple complex, of which Angkor Wat is a key element. You'll begin with a visit to Angkor Thom, starting with the Bayon, a bizarre structure of several architectural changes reflecting a switch from Hinduism (the foundations) to Buddhism (the superstructure). Your next visit will be to the Elephant and Leper King Terraces followed by the Baphoun Temple, which is now nearing the end of an eight-year multi-million dollar restoration programme. Afternoon visits to some of the outer sites including Takeo, a five-tiered pyramid, Sras Srang Lake and landing terrace and Prasat Kravan (also known as the Cardomom Sanctuary). Overnight in Siem Riep.

Day 14: Siem Reap (B, L, D, G)

A full day to explore the grand circuit with visits to Pre Rup and East Mebon,  both built in the tenth century, Ta Som, an unrestored temple, and Neak Pean, a Himalayan-style lake and sanctuary. In the afternoon, you'll explore Angkor Wat itself, the largest, and for most people, the most impressive temple in the complex after which you can watch the sunset from the top of Phnom Bakheng Hill. You'll spend the night in Siem Riep.

Day 15: Siem Reap departure (B, G)

You'll be picked up to the airport for your international departure flight.  

Prices per person in US$:

 Contact Us for more details

Valid until December 31, 2010

Surcharge for peak season of hotels are not inclusive in the prices above.

Hotel list for Five Stars standard

• Vientiane: Settha Palace Hotel (***** located right in the city centre, within walking distance of the commercial district, shops, restaurants and tourist attractions)

• Luang Prabang: La Residence Phouvao Hotel (***** a luxury spa hotel in Luang Prabang with breathtaking views of the mountains and surrounding World Heritage town of Luang Prabang)

• Hanoi: Sofitel Plaza Hotel (***** overlooking the West Lake, indoor swimming pool) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Majestic hotel (***** a charming colonial hotel in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Colonial room) or similar

• Can Tho: Victoria Hotel (**** beside the Mekong river, good garden setting, Superior room)

• Chau Doc: Victoria Chau Doc Hotel (**** colonial style with low-rise French architectural design, located right on the banks of the Bassac River crossing and is an ideal base to explore the fascinating Chau Doc region)

• Phnom Penh: Intercontinental Hotel (***** the city’s first international hotel and a striking symbol of its growth and modernization)

• Siem Reap: Sokha Hotel (***** strategically located in the heart of Siem Reap. Walking distance to the Old Market Place popular for local handicrafts, a 10 minute drive to the Airport and 15 minutes to the world famous Angkor Wat Temples)

Hotel list for Four Stars standard

• Vientiane: Novotel Hotel (****  ideal location for business trips and holidays) or similar

• Luang Prabang: Villa Santi Hotel (**** located in the heart of the World Heritage Site with walking distance to many historical sight seeing places such as the former Royal Palace, Mont Phousy, ancient temples, local handicraft shopping area, dining area, Mekong River and Nam Khane River)

• Hanoi: Sunway Hotel (**** comfortable boutique hotel 15 minute’s walk from the city centre, Superior room) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Grand hotel (**** in the heart of city, Superior room) or similar

• Can Tho: Golf Hotel (**** high-rise building in the city centre on the banks of Hau River)

• Chau Doc: Victoria Chau Doc Hotel (**** colonial style with low-rise French architectural design, located right on the banks of the Bassac River crossing and is an ideal base to explore the fascinating Chau Doc region)

• Phnom Penh: Sunway Hotel (**** within the city's "green belt" - an upscale district of prestigious addresses, affording our guests an unparalleled view of the city)

• Siem Reap: Ree Hotel (**** beautiful hotel with convenient location) or similar

Hotel list for Three Stars standard

• Vientiane: Sengtawan Riverside Hotel (*** in the city centre, Standard Room) or similar

• Luang Prabang: Manoluck Hotel *** city centre, Standard Room) or similar

• Hanoi: Flower hotel (*** close Old Quarter) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Elios Hotel (*** in the city centre) or similar

• Can Tho: Kim Tho Hotel (*** located right in the center of Can Tho city, near dreamy and poetic Ninh Kieu quay) or similar

• Chau Doc: Chau Pho Hotel (** one of the most beautiful hotels in Chau Doc) or similar

• Phnom Penh: Lux Riverside Hotel (***located in the heart of the vibrant and most touristic street Sisowath Quay along the riverside of Tonle Sap and Mekong River) or similar

• Siem Reap:  Angkor Home Hotel (*** an ideal base for discovering the world wonders of Angkor heritage and its temples)

Hotel list for Two Stars standard 

• Vientiane: Sengphanchan Hotel (** city centre, Standard Room) or similar

• Luang Prabang: Haysoke Hotel (** city centre, Standard Room) or similar

• Hanoi: Van Mieu Hotel (** city centre) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Le Le hotel (** in the city centre) or similar

• Can Tho: Ninh Kieu Hotel (** in the city centre) or similar

• Chau Doc: Chau Pho Hotel (** one of the most beautiful hotels in Chau Doc) or similar

• Phnom Penh: Town View Hotel (** city centre) or similar

• Siem Reap: Angkor Way Hotel (** in the city centre) or similar

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All the touring itineraries on this website have been carefully crafted by our in-country management teams and represent a series of experiences we can certainly recommend. However, we understand that every travel experience should be as unique and individual as each traveler. Our consultants are waiting to hear from you so that we can tailor or custom design a tour to your individual specifications.