INDOCHINA HIGHLIGHTS – 21D

Welcome to Luang Prabang, you are greeted by our guide and driver at the airport for your transfer to the hotel.

Explore temples from various centuries: Wat Visun, Wat Aham. Step up Mount Phousi, it cuts a distinctive figure in the centre of Luang Prabang skyline. The hill, with spectacular 360 degree views, is a popular as a place to watch the sun rise or set.

The Night Market here is a great place for wandering, offering a lovely variety of handmade textiles crafted by local and hill-tribe people, along with street food, knick-knacks and friendly banter.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Option: Early wake-up call possible to join the locals giving food to hundreds of Buddhist monks returning from morning prayers. Take a stroll through Ban Pakham morning market and take part in this everyday ritual.

Breakfast at the hotel or join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup after the alms giving ritual.

In the morning, Wat Xieng Thong is the largest and most splendid temple of Luang Prabang royal city, the temple is best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story.

You will go by boat to Pak Ou Caves, enjoy splendid natural scenery along the way and observing local fishermen and daily activities along the river. Pak Ou Caves, locally called Tam Ting, are filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. The caves are noted for their miniature Buddha sculptures. Hundreds of wooden Buddhist figures take many different positions, including meditation, teaching, peace, rain, and reclining (nirvana). On return, stop at the local villagers at Ban Xiengmene to see the royal temple at Wat Longkhoun, which once belongs to royal family patronage and nearby Sackarine Caves.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

In the morning, you will visit The National Museum, housed in the former Royal Palace, showcases many treasures of Laos’ royal past and features the Prabang, the sacred Buddha image for which Luang Prabang was named.

A short drive out of Luang Prabang will take you to Khuang Si Waterfall, the multilayer falls drop several hundred feet into a series of pools. You can climb up and view the falls from above. Bring a swimsuit if you’d like to swim.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse, the provincial capital of Champasack where the Mekong and Sedon rivers meet.

You then head out to Khong Island, part of the 4,000 Islands region. Here the Mekong can get up to 14km wide during the rainy season and it is dotted with thousands of islands varying in size.

Overnight on Don Khong Island.

After breakfast, you will take a boat trip to Khone Island and start your visits to the highlights of this Mekong Island. Visit the old French heritage sites on Khone and see colonial buildings and the remnants of a locomotive from the first Lao railway.

Continue your discover of the 4,000 islands area to Liphi waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the end of Lao border to Cambodia, also known as the Samphamith. If you are lucky, you may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin.

Next is the Khone Phapheng Waterfalls, the breathtaking Waterfall. It is Southeast Asia’s biggest waterfall and is known as the Niagara of the East.

Overnight on Don Khong

After breakfast, say good bye to 4,000 islands and head out to Pakse. Continue your visit to Wat Phu. Located at the foot of a hill, Wat Phu reflects the Hindu culture of the pre-Buddhist Khmer society that constructed it.

You then transfer to the airport for your flight to Vientiane.

Overnight in Vientiane

After breakfast, you drive to the outskirts of the city to visit Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures scattered in a meadow along the Mekong River near the Friendship Bridge. The approximately 200 religious images here were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and revealing his ideas about the universe. The park’s signature piece is a large but very flat reclining Buddha. However, the most unusual of the structures is best described as a “giant pumpkin with a dead tree sticking out its top” (Rough Guide). You enter through the open mouth of a demon head and climb up the staircases from hell to heaven, viewing the artist’s conception of life at each level of the universe, and can take in an overview of the park from atop the pumpkin.

In the afternoon, you will visit to the city’s oldest temple, Wat Sisaket. Dating back to 1818, Sisaket is the most important heritage temple in terms of philology, epigraphs, iconography, historiography and architecture now standing in Laos. Thousand of Buddha images from many countries, long lost architectural styles, sculptures and paintings are all found at this temple. En route to Lao’s national icon, That Luang Stupa, stop at the Patuxay Monument, known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

Then head to the riverside for a sundowner drink overlooking the Mekong River.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Farewell to Laos and leave by flight to Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.

Among the city’s prime attractions, you will start your day exploring the famous Royal Palace, built in 1866 under the French protectorate and King Norodom. Wander the National Museum, a treasure chest of Angkorian and pre-Angkorian artefacts.

After the museum, scale the steps up this small hill to see Wat Phnom Temple, the birthplace of Phnom Penh.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Today you will gain insight into Cambodia’s recent history on a visit to the remarkable Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in a former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture centre, named ‘S-21’. A grim but important visit that will help you to understand Cambodia better.

Spend the rest of day shopping at the Central Market, where you can get a taste of the bustling daily life of local people. Try some of Cambodia’s local specialties, while appreciating Phnom Penh’s mix of Khmer & Colonial architecture styles.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

This morning, you will take your morning flight to Siem Reap.

In the afternoon explore Angkor Wat, easily the most famous and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. It is a massive three-tiered structure crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level. The centrepiece of any visit to the temples around Siem Reap, Angkor offers many iconic sights for amazing pictures.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, surrounded by an 8m high wall, it was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Continue to Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur. The exterior gallery walls have extensive, superb bas-reliefs, particularly the East and South Galleries.

Ta Prohm temple, built in the mid 12th to early 13th centuries is your next visit. Ta Prohm Temple, unlike most other Angkor temples, has been left just it was when rediscovered: a photogenic and atmospheric maze of trees growing out of temple ruins amidst jungle surroundings, making it one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors.

Continue your visit to Banteay Srey, the citadel of the women, displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, an ideal medium for the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. The buildings themselves, unusual among Angkor era structures, are miniature in scale..

Late afternoon drive up to Pre Rup Temple, the trip will reward you with a spectacular sunset over the Angkor Archaeological Park and its surroundings.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

In the morning, you will head out to Kompong Kleang “floating village”, which is, in fact, a stilt house settlement of over 20,000 people where structures can tower up to ten meters above the water. Greeted by waves of the friendly locals, here you can glimpse Cambodia’s countryside culture and traditional family lifestyle.

Picnic lunch in Kompong Kleang.

From Kompong Khleang, head out to quiet Beng Mealea, around 65 km from Siem Reap. After a short walk through dense jungle, you’ll feel like an explorer when entering the completely overgrown temple. Undiscovered for centuries, Beng Mealea has only recently been made accessible and remains unrestored. It is one of the very few temples that actually give the opportunity to climb through it, giving a very ‘Indian Jones’ feel to the experience.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your Flight to Hanoi, where guide and driver await you and accompany you to the hotel.

Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam.You are greeted by your guide and driver at Noi Bai International airport for your transfer to the hotel.

Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society.

Overnight at your hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast at hotel, head out to Ba Dinh Square and start our day with The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda.

Following is a visit to the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam built in 11th century.

Next is a visit to the Museum of Ethnology, which gives an excellent overview of the country’s ethnic groups, their customs and ways of life. The highlight here is the large, beautiful outdoor area featuring genuine houses and compounds as built and used by the many different ethnic groups.

You then drive to Hanoi Center, explore the lively Old Quarter of Hanoi. This bustling heart of Hanoi has been a commercial centre since King Ly Thai To built his palace there in the 11th century. Skilled craftsmen started to migrate and artisan guilds were formed on the famous “36 Streets”. Previously, each street carried the name of the item produced and sold there, and many still have the same names. This is a place you must see to experience Hanoi, where you will find shopping and cultural/historical sites all wrapped into one.

Close your day by atteanding a wonderful performance of Water Puppet Show.

Overnight at your hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast at hotel before heading out to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Ha Long you will board your luxury boat for an overnight cruise amongst the more than 3,000 limestone islands rising majestically out of the turquoise bay. You pass grand rock formations and quaint fishing towns, and sample a delicious lunch of freshly caught fish and seafood.

In the afternoon you can choose from several interesting activities: a cooking demonstration with chef on board, an optional traditional massage, or a refreshing swim.

End the day with a spectacular set-menu gastronomic dinner

Overnight on board the cruise.

Start the day with calming Tai Chi, often accompanied by an amazing sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of the bay’s landscape. The cruise passes beautiful spots such as Trong, Trinh Nu and the Me Cung Caves, and you will have a chance to explore Surprise Cave before having buffet brunch on board.

Back at the dock, where you will be met and transferred to the airport for your short flight to Danang. Upon arrival, we are greeted at the airport and transferred to our hotel in Hoi An Town.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Morning visit to My Son Holy Land of the Cham, one of the most important examples of Hindu influence in Southeast Asia. Although largely in a state of ruin today, My Son is often compared with other historical temple complexes in Southeast Asia, such as Angkor Wat of Cambodia or Ayutthaya of Thailand. You’ll be given a brief introduction to the history, culture and Hindu influence on the Cham Kingdom, and then will visit the remains of the carefully-crafted red brick temples with beautiful monuments and epitaphs.

Spend the afternoon to walk the ancient streets of Hoi An, lined with Chinese traders’ homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen and tailors. Explore the beautiful 16th century Japanese Bridge. Hoi An’s unique fusion of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture is well displayed here, in what is arguably Vietnam’s most tourist-friendly town.

The rest of the day is free at leisure to enjoy the shopping in Hoi An – a paradise for silk & fashionable clothing and accessories.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Transfer to Da Nang Airport for your Flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where guide and driver await you and accompany you to the hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city of Vietnam. It is the bustling economic capital and cultural trendsetter of the country, yet holds the timeless traditions of an ancient culture.

In the afternoon, you will begin our city tour of this bustling city. The city tour brings you to visit many interesting sights: Ho Chi Minh City Post Office, a classic French colonial structure, is still a functioning post office today and features huge ceilings, a giant portrait of Uncle Ho, and many beautiful details. Notre Dam Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883, Saigon’s Neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral is a major centre of Catholicism in modern Vietnam, and one of the city’s major landmarks.

The rest of the day is free at leisure, varied shopping centres or night entertainment activities await you

Overnight at your hotel in Saigon.

After breakfast at hotel, you transfer to Mekong Delta and Vinh Long province

Starts with a cruise among local barges full of fruits and vegetables in the colorful Cai Be floating market. An optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice and pop-corn being made. Your lunch of Mekong specialties will be served in Bonsai Garden. Then a rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside via small canals to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, passing by traditional wood and palm-leaf houses, and local farmers doing their daily work. After walking around the village, you can enjoy seasonal fruits when listening to Southern traditional music.

Then head out to Can Tho where you will spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Can Tho.

In the morning you visit the Cai Rang floating market. Take in the beautiful scenery and the daily activities of the locals who live along the Mekong canals.

You then meet our driver for the trip back to Ho Chi Minh City. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Enjoy some last minute shopping in the bustling streets of Saigon or just relax and unwind.

Overnight in Saigon.

Free at your leisure till transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight home

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