Indochina Highlights Tour 16 Days/ 15 Nights

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Experiencing the peaceful ambiance of Luang Prabang and visiting its cultural heritage sites
• Explore the Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi
• Set sail on Halong Bay
• Visit the ancient town Hoi An
• Explore Ho Chi Minh City and the War Remnants Museum
• See the Angkor Wat Temple Complex

TRIP AT A GLANCE
(Day 1): Vientiane Arrival (-/-/-)
(Day 2): Vientiane – Vang Vieng (B/-/-)
(Day 3): Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang (B/-/-)
(Day 4): Luang Prabang – Ha Noi (B/-/-)
(Day 5): Ha Noi City Tour (B/-/D)
(Day 6): Ha Noi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
(Day 7): Halong Bay – Ha Noi – Hue (B/Brunch/-)
(Day 8): Hue – Hoi An (B/-/-)
(Day 9): Hoi An Free & Easy (B/-/-)
(Day 10): Hoi An – Da Nang – Sai Gon (B/L/-)
(Day 11): Sai Gon – Cu Chi Tunnel – City Tour (B/-/-)
(Day 12): Sai Gon – Mekong Delta – Sai Gon (B/-/-)
(Day 13): Sai Gon – Siem Reap (B/-/-)
(Day 14): Angkor Thom – Big Circuit (B/-/-)
(Day 15): Siem Reap – Phnom Penh (B/-/-)
(Day 16): Phnom Penh – Departure (B/-/-)

TIPS

• You can travel to Indochina any time of year and each season has its own special appeal. The most popular time for travel is between November to May.
• Dress modestly and appropriately when visiting local dwellings and religious sites, etc.
• Leave your valuables behind before a night out on the town, or going to the beach.
• When crossing the road, especially in Vietnam, always keep looking to the left and right and walk slowly!
• Do not offer money directly to minority people – instead donate to a local charity or offer a small gift, such as pens.
• Always ask permission first before taking photographs, especially in minority areas.

DAY 1: VIENTIANE ARRIVAL (-/-/-)

Arrive in Vientiane. You will be picked up and transfer to your hotel. You have free time to visit some ancient monuments in the capital: the central market (Talad Sao), Wat Sisaket monastery, Imperial Wat Phra Keo temple and That Luang. Overnight in Vientaine.

DAY 2: VIENTIANE – VANG VIENG (B/-/-)

After breakfast, depart to Vang Vieng– located midway along Vientaine to Luang Prabang road. Take a boat cruise on gorgeous Nam Song River and see the magnificent karst limstone mountains lining it. The imposing structures rise up out of the land and run for kilometers, abutting pancake flat rice fields and the river. Continue to visit local ethnic villages on the way. Overnight  in Vang Vieng.

DAY 3: VANG VIENG – LUANG PRABANG (B/-/-)

Have breakfast at hotel and then depart to Luang Prabang. On the way, stop over to visit Phoukhoune, Ban Houn Xay and Kasi. Arrive in Luang Prabang, visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrift Wat Mai, Wat Xieng Thong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays an extensive collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Laos culture dating from the days of the early kings right up to the last sovereign. Climb up to the top of Phousi Hill for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG – HA NOI (B/-/-)

Have breakfast at hotel. Depart to visit the city’s oldest temple and the magnificent which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang house. Then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River which also bring 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, stop at the village of Ban Xang Hai, where they make the local rice wine. If time permit on return, a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving. Transfer to airport to take a flight to Ha Noi from Luang Prabang. Arrive in Ha Noi, guide and car pick up at airport and transfer to hotel for check in. You have free time to enjoy traditional water puppet show in the evening. Overnight in Ha Noi.

DAY 5: HA NOI CITY TOUR (B/-/D)

The day commences with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Complex (Mausoleum, Museum, the late venerated leader’s private residence at House on Stilts, followed by the wooden One Pillar Pagoda).Then visit Temple of Literature.

The afternoon is dedicated to the discovery of Ethnology Museum which will give an overview of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam. After that, you will take a fascinating one-hour tour of Ha Noi Old Quarter by Cyclo. The history of the Old Quarter dates back some 2000 years with it’s 36 narrow streets each named after the trade or merchandise made and sold there. Evening, have dinner at a local family in Ha Noi. Overnight  in Ha Noi.

DAY 6: HA NOI – HA LONG (B/L/D)

Enjoy the interesting 3 hours drive to Ha Long where along the way you will see rice fields and daily Vietnamese village life. You will then be transferred by tender to a luxury Junk and enjoy a welcome cocktail. A Vietnamese set menu lunch with fresh local seafood will be served on board while you embark on a cruise into the bay to see the incredible karst formations. We arrive by boat at Bat Cave (Hang Doi) where you will choose from optional tour program: visit local fishing village by tender or visit cave by rowing sampan or relax with beauty services or board. A Vietnamese dinner is served on board. Overnight on the boat.

DAY 7: HA LONG – HA NOI – HUE (B/Brunch/-)

At leisure or enjoy Tai Chi instruction and sunrise on the sundeck. Depart by boat to Surprise Cave. A brunch will be served from 08:30 to 10:00 in the morning. We will then start cruising in Ha Long Bay while you relax and take pictures. The cruise returns to Hon Gai, arrive in Ha Long at about 11:30. Back to Ha Noi around 16:00 then transfer to Noi Bai Airport to take short flight to Hue. Overnight  in Hue.

DAY 8: HUE – HOI AN (B/-/-)

Take a boat trip on the Perfume River, stopping to visit Thien Mu pagoda which is situated on the bank of river. Continue to visit the Forbidden Purple City, Minh Mang and Tu Duc tombs. Following lunch then journey to Hoi An by car on the way. Overnight  in Hoi An.

DAY 9: HOI AN FREE & EASY (B/-/-)

Have a full day free at your own convenience. Overnight  in Hoi An.

DAY 10: HOI AN – DA NANG – SAI GON (B/L/-)

After breakfast at your hotel, depart for a half-day cooking class at Tra Que, a charming village which supplies vegetables to kitchens all over the town. Spend the morning working with the villagers as they show you the ways to harvest and prepare fresh vegetables for meals. Cook a lunch of Vietnamese dishes with your hosts before enjoying the fruits of your labor. Return to Hoi An town, then transfer to airport to take short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Sai Gon.

DAY 11: SAI GON – CU CHI TUNNEL – CITY TOUR (B/-/-)

Leave Ho Chi Minh city, enjoy a drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay Ninh province in the west of Vietnam, visit the Cao Dai temple with fantasy architecture and where all major faiths of the world blend together in a unique religious cocktail and amazing noon ceremony. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, the vestiges of the American war, an underground tunnel constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long truggle for independence. Back to the city. Overnight  in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 12: SAI GON – MEKONG – SAI GON (B/-/-)

Depart to My Tho for 2 hours driving, the capital city of Tien Giang province. Take a boat trip on Tien River to Thoi Son Islet. Here you will taste the fresh tropical fruit & enjoy the traditional unique music in Mekong River Delta. Continue your boat trip to Ben Tre Province to learn how the local people make the coconut candy at hand made coconut candy farm, take the carriage to the bee farm & enjoy the honey tea here. Explore the real life style of local people while taking the rolling boat on the narrow canal along local people houses. You will also know how people make the rice paper at rice paper farm. Lunch will be served at the charming local restaurant on the islet. Back to Ho Chi Minh and drop off at your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 13: SAI GON – SIEM REAP (B/-/-)

Free at leisure until car pick up and transfer to airport and take a flight Siem Reap. On arrival, you will be met by our tour guide in Siem Reap and transferred to hotel.

Afternoon, visit Angkor Wat, the most balanced, the most harmonious, and the most perfect Khmer temple. It shows Khmer art, which reached the height of it glory in the 12^th century. The temple is a temple-mountain and was built by king Suryavrman II and dedicated to god Vishnu. Then you will climb Bakheng hill to have bird’s-eye view of sunset, Angkor Wat and western Baray. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 14: ANGKOR THOM – BIG CIRCUIT (B/-/-)

Have breakfast at hotel. Visit south gate of Angkor Thom with two rows of its huge statues of demons and gods depicting the churning of the ocean of milk arranged on both sides of stone bridge  and Bayon temple, a forest of heads, built in late of12th century by king Jayavarman VI as a Buddhist state temple. Then, visit terrace of elephant, which used to be a base for the king’s grand audience hall; Terrace of Leper king supposed that it was a terrace housed the royal crematory. Then you will visit an amazing view of Ta prohm Temple which has been deliberately left as it was discovered. At Ta Prohm kapok trees clasp the sanctuaries in their mighty roots.

Afternoon, visit Pre Rup temple, a classic example of temple-mountain, and the last without continuous galleries; Eastern Mebon, Ta som, Neak Pean, a unique ancient hospital built in the reign of king Jayavarman VI (1181-1220) which has been seen as a representation of Anavatapta, a miraculous lake in Himalayas that cures all illnesses; and Preah Khan, a large temple built on the site of battle that ended in Ankor’s downfall at the land of the Cham. Preah Khan was also really a kind of university, housing a number of masters and students. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 15: SIEM REAP – PHNOM PENH (B/-/-)                         

Have breakfast at hotel. Take flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh.

On arrival, you will be met by our tour guide in Phnom Penh and transferred to hotel.

Start a city tour of some major sights of Phnom Penh. You will visit the National Museum, in which there is an attractive collection of ancient Khmer art: The sandstone sculptures dating from both the Angkorean and pre-Angkorean eras. You will also visit Royal Palace, the sacred Silver Pagoda, which is well known for its 5000 silver tiled floor. Heading out of this area. You will follow your trip to Wat Phnom and lively Central Market. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

DAY 16: PHNOM PENH – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

Have breakfast at hotel. Visit Toul Sleng, a high school (prior 1975), which was converted into the S-21 prison and interrogation facility by the Khmer Rouge when they came to power (1975-1979) and Choeung Ek Killing Fields Site, where during the ultra-Communist Khmer Rouge short regime, between 1 and 2.5 million Cambodians perished, some killed outright, others dying from disease, malnutrition and mistreatment. Transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport to take flight to the next destination. Tour ends.

NOTES

• Prices are subjected to change without prior notice
• Depending on the weather, road and/or river conditions, flight schedules, room availability or other reasons beyond our control, the tour program might need small adjustments when necessary.

ALL THESE ABOVE RATES INCLUDED

• Hotel in twin or double sharing room basis with daily breakfast.
• Transfer and transportation by private car.
• Sightseeing and entrance fee as per the mentioned itinerary.
• English speaking guide.
• Boat trip.
• Meals are indicated as the program.

ALL THESE ABOVE RATES NOT INCLUDED

• All other meals are not mentioned in the program.
• Travel insurance, visa fee to Vietnam.
• Drinks and beverages.
• International airfares and airport taxes at all routes.
• Domestic airfares: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh/ Phnom Penh – Ho Chi Minh/ Ho Chi Minh – Da Nang/ Hue – Ha Noi/ Ha Noi – Luang Prabang/ Luang Prabang – Vientiane (the airfare could be change without prior notice).
• Personal expenses.
• Early check in and Late check out charge at hotel (Check in time is 14:00 PM and Check out time is 12:00 PM).
• Tips for guide & driver
• All the things are not mentioned in the program.

CHILD POLICY FOR LAND TOUR

• Child from 0-5 years old (sharing all services): = Free of charge.
• Child from 6-11 years old (without extra bed, sharing bed with parent): = 50% adult fare.
• Child from 6- 11 years old (with extra bed): = 75% adult fare.
• Child from 12 years old up: = 100% adult fare.

CHILD POLICY FOR AIRFARE

• Child under 2 years old = 10% airfare of adult
• Child from 2 to under 12 years old = 75% airfare of adult.
• Child from 12 years old up = 100% adult fare.

F.O.C POLICY

• 01 F.O.C pax will be applied for group from 16-30 pax up (maximum 02 F.O.C for group)
• F.O.C pax based on twin or double sharing accommodation.

SUPPLEMENT CHARGE

All bookings requested during Chinese New Year, Christmas and New Year, Vietnamese public holidays will be added 10%

CANCELLATION POLICY

All confirmed bookings whether cancelled, amended, postponed, delayed or similar will be treated under the company’s cancellation policy.

• Greater than 30 days prior to departure                          30% of full amount
• Between 29 days and 15 days prior to departure                   50% of full amount
• Between 14 days and 07 days prior to departure                   100% of full amount