Classic Indochina Highlights

When you arrive at Noi Bai International airport in Hanoi, you’ll be welcome by one of our representative and transferred to your hotel in the downtown. The remainder of the day will be all yours to stroll around the Old Quarter of Hanoi and its raucous streets full of traditional vendors and artisans. Or, if it suits you better, simply relax and unwind at your hotel for the night.

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is a modern city that retains a unique old world charm and some of Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks give the city a relaxing atmosphere.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals:
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After a truly scrumptious breakfast, you’ll jump head-first into Hanoi’s sights and sounds on a tour that covers all the essentials. You’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes the Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and The Temple of Literature, which, dating back to 1070, is Vietnam’s oldest university.

In the afternoon, explore the enthralling Museum of Ethnology, which contains an extensive display of life-size structures dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minorities. Next, enjoy an hour-long cyclo ride winding through the narrow, chaotic streets of the Old Quarter – a must for any visitor to Hanoi! The day finishes with a traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppets.

Note: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all day on Monday and Fridays, as well as from 1st October to 30th November (approx.) for annual conservation.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

The morning will be your own!

At 11.00 AM, embark on a Hanoi street food tour in Hanoi’s Old Quarter where your expert English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, tempt your tastebuds with the famed Hanoi dishes at local eateries. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, you wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago. At the end of your tour you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you with directions or a taxi back to your hotel. The remainder of the day will be your own!

Overnight in Hanoi

Optional: Experience Hanoi like a local by Vespa Scooter [05.00 – 08.00 AM, early risers only]
The Vespa tour of modern-day Hanoi City will give you a view of the city unlike anything on a package tour, and much more than you could find on your own.

We know Hanoi and know how to take in the must-see landmarks while getting you off the crowded tourist trail. Take a peek at the history, the streets and the sights that most visitors never even hear about or see. We’ll take you through the ceramic road, stop to see a sweet smelling flower market, to Ba Dinh square where you can experience the National ceremonies “the flag up ceremony” and do morning exercise of “Taichi” at a quiet corner of a park or at a pagoda. After Taichi, head to French quarter and Old Quarter where you will have breakfast with local Hanoi’s “phở”, followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee at a truly local café.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, you’ll leave for Halong Bay with a refreshment break en route. Meet the crew upon boarding the traditional wooden junk, then relax and enjoy lunch while the boat heads towards the secluded islands. Visit ancient limestone caves and go sea kayaking and swimming if the weather permits. Return to the junk refreshed and invigorated and relax on deck with a drink to watch the sunset. Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood dinner under the stars.

Overnight on a wooden junk in Halong Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight Cruises
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

Enjoy an early morning swim or Taichi (if weather permits) followed by breakfast. The tour then visit one of the famous caves in the middle of the bay before cruising back to the main harbor where you will be transferred back to Hanoi, arriving in the mid afternoon.

At 18.00, you will be picked up to Hanoi Railway station for an overnight train with Reunification Express Train (SE1, 19.30-08.56+1) to Hue [~13.5 hours]. Overnight in a soft 4-berth compartment with air-conditioner.

Overnight on the train

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
Accommodation: Overnight Train
Transportation: Overnight Train

Upon arrival at Hue Railway station [at ~09.00 AM], you will be picked up to your hotel for breakfast and leave luggage.

Today you’ll spend the full day for a city tour of Imperial City of Hue, firstly with the ancient walled Citadel including the former Imperial Palace. You’ll then visit the Dong Ba market to learn about local produce and specialties of Hue. You might get some great deals done at the local Dong Ba Market. Have lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will cruise the Perfume River by a dragon boat to serene Thien Mu Pagoda and drive to visit the majestic Royal Tomb of King Ming Mang or King Khai Dinh. Return to your hotel by road just before sunset.

Hue was the Vietnamese capital during the Nguyen Dynasty 1802-1945 and ruins of the city s regal past can still be seen inside the Citadel and the Imperial City. Created in the 19th century, the Imperial City was modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and holds many palaces and temples inside its giant walls. Many of the buildings were damaged by French aerial bombing and the Tet Offensive in 1968. Now it is slowly being restored thanks to generous funding by UNESCO.

Please note: You might consider a candle-lit dinner set in a garden house which is a traditional feature of Hue’s culture. Both the garden house and the cuisine are great introduction into Hue’s culture.

Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

This morning you’ll drive south to Hoi An through Hai Van pass, enjoying the view of the coast line and Danang from the top of the Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Clouds) makes your journey interesting and have your camera ready for some great photo opportunities. When you arrive in Danang, visit either the Cham Museum in the city centre of Danang OR the famous Marble Mountain, which stands for the five essential elements that establish nature. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue the scenic route to Hoi An.

Afternoon your guide will show you around the old town. You’ll start a walking tour with numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, a museum and the colorful local market. Following the narrow lanes, you walk along tiny streets with houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures. After your walking tour, your time will be at leisure to wander around or go shopping. Overnight in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After a short drive through the local countryside, you arrive at Tra Que village where you will experience a day of living and working with the local farmers in this village. A tour of the organic vegetable and herb gardens can include some time working in the field if you like, or merely observing and learning about the system and the fresh ingredients. Upon returning to the house, you will be treated to an herbal foot massage, followed by a session of cooking various local dishes als such as : Tam Huu Spring Roll, Banh Xeo or the local pancake of the people from the central region of Vietnam. After lunch, return to your hotel at around 14.00 and enjoy free time at leisure.

If you don’t want to go back the hotel, you can spend more time for relax at An Bang Beach, about 2km to the east of Hoi An Town. The beach is over 3 km in length and up to 300m in width. The beach boasts fine white sand, clear and blue water, moderate slopes and small waves, which make it ideal for recreational activities like swimming and enjoy cheap sea food (your own taxi if you want to drop here).

Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

A free day in Hoi An to spend as your wish!

Apart from exploring Hoi An’s World Heritage architecture & colorful market on foot, you might visit Vietnam’s grandest Cham ruins at My Son; attend a cooking class at a riverside restaurant; or join other travelers to get up close and personal to daily farming and fishing life. For early risers, why not capture the real Hoi An by joining a 4-hour photography tour led by a local expat expert? If you want to go below, hop on a boat to Cu Lao Cham Island for a fun and relaxing day to explore exotic coral reefs and marine life [best between March & September]. If you’d like any of these activities to be included during your free time in Hoi An, just let it be known during your enquiry, or ask one of the Travel Specialists.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, drive to Danang airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive, you will be met by another local expert guide who will escort you for 1,5-hour drive to Cu Chi Tunnels. After lunch at a riverside restaurant, visit the amazing network of underground tunnels was used during the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong. This huge construction was a habitation for villagers in the war time. With 3 levels of depth, it was never discovered by the US during the Vietnam War despite its proximity to Saigon. Visit the fighting tunnel system with your local guide. Return to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving at around 18.00.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Today, you’ll embark on a guided city tour starting with the War Remnants Museum – a real eye-opening part of Vietnam’s proud history; followed by the Reunification Palace; the former South Vietnam Presidential Palace; the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office to get your camera working overtime peeking into the past of Vietnam’s biggest, most energetically progressive city.

In the afternoon, the sights of Chinatown beckon, with a walking tour through its back-streets to become part of the local daily life. Stop off for a visit to Thien Hau temple, which was built in the early 19th Century in tribute to the goddess of seafarers. Delve deeper into Chinatown by visiting the amazing Cholon and Binh Tay Market (or Ben Thanh market) for an insight into where the locals actually shop. Then it’s back to your hotel by around 5.00.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

At 8.00am, depart for a 2 hour drive to Ben Tre, one of the country’s southern provinces, situated in the Delta of the Mekong River. Take in the highway as you leave behind the busy city. On arrival, take a boat on Ben Tre River – one of tributaries of Mekong River to witness lively activities along river such as fishing, water transferring. Stop at brickwork to see how to make bricks in traditional style by printing and baking. You will visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to village. Take a walk to family workshop making sleep mats and enjoying some fruits. Later, take a moto-cart on shady village paths, passing by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about tropical culture from peasants.

After lunch at a riverside restaurant, enjoy rowing-boat along water palm creek, and boat trip back to pier where you will be taken by your private car to Can Tho for overnight accommodation.

Overnight in Can Tho

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

Today an half hour boat cruise will take you to visit the vibrant Cai Rang floating market to experience a special type of market in which all purchasing activities take place on boats and ships. Then continue to small canal to visit a fruit garden where your guide will show you around before having a plate of delicious fruits. Return to Can Tho and observing the rural life and the lush vegetation along the riverbanks. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City with lunch en-route, arriving in the late afternoon.

Note: Cai Rang market is one of the three biggest markets (Cai Be, Phung Hiep, Cai Rang) in the Mekong Delta. You can visit the market at any time of the day but it is most crowded and busy from sunrise to 9:00 am.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

Morning flight to Phom Penh. Upon arrival at Phnom Penh airport, you will be welcomed and driven to hotel.

After a short break, you will be taken on a tour to the most remarkable sights of Phnom Penh. Firstly, you will visit the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5,000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. Continue to the National Museum, then head along the riverside area of Phnom Penh, a pleasant French style promenade that is great for people viewing. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

The morning will be your own to explore Phnom Penh on your own!

In the afternoon, you will be picked up to airport for a short flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, you will be welcomed and driven to hotel.

Evening you will enjoy a buffet dinner with an Apsara Dance Show – a good introduction to classical Khmer culture, inspired by the apsara carvings and sculptures of Angkor. The performance contains traditional Cambodian dances such as Apsara Dance, Peacock Dance, Shiva Dance, Bokator (traditional Khmer martial art).Overnight in Siem Reap.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Optional for the morning: Visit Killing Fields
In the morning, you’ll be picked up and driven to the so-called ‘Killing Fields’. The term is a misnomer because it implies a single location. In reality, the process of genocide under the Kh’mer Rouge involved a large network of interrogation prisons linked to extermination centres. The most infamous is Phnom Penh’s S-21 Prison and the Choeung Ek extermination centre. S-21 Prison was originally the Tuol Svay Pray High School on the outskirts of the capital. It became an interrogation, torture and execution centre under the Kh’mer Rouge. Today it is the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide. The name means ‘poison hill’, an apt description. Choeung Ek, the ‘killing fields’, was the final destination of nearly all the inmates of S-21. The helpless victims were slaughtered in their thousands and thrown into more than a hundred shallow burial pits dug by the prisoners. The total number of men, women and children buried at Choeung Ek is estimated to be around 15,000. It was one of many extermination centres spread across the entire country – and by no means the largest! A visit to Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek presents a stark picture of Cambodia’s recent past. However, it’s also a profoundly harrowing experience and likely to distress anyone of a sensitive disposition.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Today, you will be driven about 35km south of Angkor Wat temple to visit the famous temple of Banteay Srey “Citadel of Women,” This small pink sandstone temple (late 10th century) is considered as the crown jewel of classical Khmer art with the delicate beauty of its carvings. You will spot villagers making sugar from palm juice on your way to Banteay Srey. If you wish, you could visit them.

Afternoon, you’ll be pick up and driven to Siem Reap River, for a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake to visit the village of Kompong Pluk, where you can ‘go native’ aboard a dugout canoe for a paddle through the flooded forest near the village. You will return to your hotel late afternoon.

Kampong Pluk is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the flood-plain of Tonle Sap about 16km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them

(Note: due to the reason that Kompong Pluk floating Village is dried during the period from Mar – Aug, we reserve our rights to change the visit of Kompong Pluk floating village to the floating village of Chong Kneas instead)

Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

You’ll depart from your hotel early, at about 04.00 – 05.00, for sunrise outside Angkor Wat. You’ll enter the gate temple in darkness (please bring a torch) from the little visited eastern site, and creep along hoary cloistered corridors past the longest stretch of bas-relief carvings in the world. Soak up the atmosphere of dawn at Angkor, from the edge of one of the ancient library pools. Explore the interior of the great temple, spending a thorough two hours discovering the corridors, central chambers and upper terraces of this truly great temple. Your expert local guide will decipher the myriad of stories behind the bas-relief carvings, and give you an insight into life during the height of the Khmer empire. End your touring at Angkor with breakfast outside the temple (take away, from your hotel), and a short rest.

Continue the morning by driving through Angkor Thom city and visit the temple of Bayon before moving on to Baphuon temple. At the end of the morning return to your hotel for a rest to regain your energy and a have a swim.

In the afternoon, visit the jungle-enveloped Ta Prohm, one of the most atmospheric of all temples in Angkor and sister site of Preah Khan. Once home to 2,740 monks, Ta Prohm today looks much as it did in the early 1850s, when French explorer Henri Mouhot ‘rediscovered’ this crumbling site. At the end of the day, catch a final sunset glimpse of Angkor Wat, then return to our hotel. Today is a long but fulfilling day which will leave you with lifetime memories of some of the most impressive monuments built by mankind.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, your time will be your own until being picked up to Siem Reap airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. When you arrive, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in the downtown.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Optional for the morning in Siem Reap: Pouk / Angkor Silk Farm [at your own]
Visit Silk Farm by your own by free transportation [Pouk District, 20mins from Siem Reap downtown]

The Angkor Silk farm offers free guided tours of the process from the mulberry bushes cultivation to the production of silk fabrics and accessories. As the Silk Farm covers an area of 8 hectares, of which 5 are used for the mulberry trees plantation, you will enjoy the beautiful setting while learning about the fascinating process of silk-making.

During your visit, our guides will give you more details on the mulberry trees, silkworm farming, cocoon unwinding, preparation of the silk threads, ikat technique (tie-dyeing of the threads) and silk weaving. We are sure that you will be impressed by the dexterity of our artisans with silk threads.

The Angkor Silk Farm also features a large showroom where you can buy high-quality silk products that were made in the workshops you just visited.

Optional for the evening in Luang Prabang: Baci Ceremony [at extra cost]
After check in at your hotel you can freshen up, the evening is dedicated for the Traditional Baci & Cultural Show (at extra cost). Baci is a mix of Animism and Buddhism and are common to Laos which are used to celebrate important events and occasions, like births and marriages and also entering the monkhood, departing, returning, beginning a new year, and welcoming or bidding. The ritual of the Baci involves tying strings around a person’s wrist to preserve good luck. This ceremony is followed by a traditional dance and then dinner at a restaurant. Some dishes are eaten with hands: for instance, the sticky rice is rolled between the fingers, you make some small rice balls and eat with some papaya salad or lap.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, embark on cruise boat upstream on the Mekong River, which gives you a panoramic 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. Stop en-route at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local specialty of rice wine is produced.

Once return to Luang Prabang city, pick up your bicycle to see some of the highlights of Luang Prabang including a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts from the Royal period in Luang Prabang. Cycling on, we are seeing the city’s oldest temples, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture, the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. The day finishes with hiking up Mount Phousi to explore the sacred gilded stupa and to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the sun setting over the Mekong River. Descending the mountain your will find yourself in the midst of the famous Luang Prabang Night Market, where you can find a unique selection of handmade textiles and handicrafts locally made by both ethnic Lao and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

This morning you have the option and opportunity to rise early and participate in the daily morning ritual of ‘Alms Giving’, you will experience saffron-clad monks collecting offerings or ‘Alms’ from faithful local residents. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the daily procession.

After breakfast, begin your journey to Kuang Si Waterfall stopping along the way to visit the morning Phousi Market, this where all locals of Luang Prabang come to do their daily shopping. You will see a variety of local foodstuffs and products including dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, fish, vegetables and fruit, everything needed for daily life in Laos. On arrival at the Kuang Si Falls you will have the opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim in the topaz pools below the falls, walk along the forest trails and visit the Bear Sanctuary. You will also enjoy a picnic lunch below the falls. Return to the hotel and the remainder of the day will be your own!

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Optional for Day 20 in Luang Prabang: Full Day Mahout Experience
Meet your guide at 9:00 AM and transfer to the Elephant Village. On arrival at the Elephant Camp, the manager of the camp will welcome you and brief the program. Experience an one hour ride on the Howdah (Elephant seat) then participate in the Mahout Training. Lunch will be provided at the Elephant Village Restaurant. Later, enjoy a boat trip on the Khan River and visit Tad Sae Waterfall. Return to town between 03:00 and 04:00 pm. The remainder of the day will be your own!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

Your time will be your own until being picked up the airport for your departure flight home. Farewell from Indochina!

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
Transportation: Private vehicle