Guide

Local English speaking Guide

Meals

19 Breakfasts 9 Lunches 1 Brunch 4 Dinners

Others

Entrance fees as per itinerary

Flights

3 domestic flights Hanoi – Hue; Danang – Ho Chi Minh and Siem Reap – Luang Prabang (20kg luggage inclusion)

Transport

Speed boat ticket Chau Doc - Phnompenh All transport during tour on air-conditioned vehicle as per itinerary (including airport pick up & see off)

Accommodation

Hotel (16 nights) On-board an overnight cruise in Halong Bay (1 night) Homestay at Muang Soune (1 night) Chanthavinh Resort (1 night)

Not included:

Others

Hotel EARLY check in & LATE check out Peak season surcharge & compulsory dinner at the accommodation (if any) International flights and taxes Visa or Passport Fees Travel Insurance Tips, laundry and gratuities Meals not marked on itinerary, and water during meals

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Meet your tour guide on arrival at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to hotel in the city center and check-in. (Hotel rooms may not be ready until 14:00 but an early check-in would be guaranteed with a surcharge.). Rest of the day is at leisure. Optional: We introduce two one-of-a-kind traditional performances which are found nowhere else than in Vietnam. You can choose one of below options: - Water Puppet Show where puppets are performed on water stage with folk music, presenting ancient tales, folklores and daily life in Vietnamese countryside. - Tu Phu (Four Palaces) Show - a very unique show about ritual of spirit practiced in the Vietnamese indigenous religion with music, colors and lively dance performance. The Four Palaces Shows take place on Thursday and Saturday every week. If you're interested in the shows, please contact our travel consultants to book. Meals: NA Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi Activities: Welcome to Hanoi - capital city of Vietnam! Pick up at the airport and transfer to hotel in the city center. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 2 Day 2: Hanoi Half Day City Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Hanoi Half Day City Tour

Half day Hanoi city tour (by car or by motorbike – upon client’s interest) - Routes can change subject to client’s interest. Begin the first day of the trip with a tour of Hanoi. Depart from the hotel at 08:30 for a visit to Vietnam’s first university: the Temple of Literature. Founded in 1076, Quoc Tu Giam was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. Continue with a visit to the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Nearby is the mausoleum of the historic father figure of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and his modest house on stilts. (Sites are viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov) Wrap up the morning with a visit to the picturesque West Lake and its sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. From here transfer (or stroll along the lakeside) 700 meters to the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principal deities in Taoism. You will experience lunch at an authentic Vietnamese Restaurant. Free time at leisure for rest of the day. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi Activities: Half day Hanoi City tour in the morning. Ride around the city, outside of the Old Quarter. Take a number of short stops to learn about the history of the sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature.
Day 3 Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Overnight On Cruise
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Overnight On Cruise

Halong Bay is listed by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage and voted as a Wonder of Nature by the New7Wonders Foundation. You will have a night staying in this world famous bay. After breakfast in Hanoi, depart the capital for the 3hr 30mins drive to Halong Bay. Arrive to Halong City’s jetty (around noon) and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome onboard, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some sightseeing, on-board activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on the vessel. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: On-board an overnight cruise in Halong Bay Activities: Depart for Halong Bay. Embark on a cruise and set sail into the magical bay. Depending on each cruise’s itinerary of the day, you may visit a beautiful cave, swim or relax on beach, kayak... Overnight on cruise.
Day 4 Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight To Da Nang
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight To Da Nang

Early risers can enjoy a memorable sunrise over the karst formations of Halong Bay. Breakfast will be served shortly thereafter. Enjoy breakfast (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations back towards port. Upon disembarkation, our driver will be waiting to provide transport to Hanoi for the departing flight. Take a short flight to Da Nang, then transfer to Hoi An, check in hotel and overnight in Hoi An. Meals: Breakfast, Brunch Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An
Day 5 Day 5: Hoi An Half Day Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Hoi An Half Day Tour

Morning or afternoon departure depend on availability Tour guide will take you on a walking of this unique town. The tour will take you down the streets that are being restored and look much like they did over a century ago. Past low tiled buildings, you'll take in a historic house (formerly home to a prominent trader), the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall and a museum. The best way to discover Hoi An is to simply wander. Little more than a maze of a few streets, there are temples, museums and preserved houses to visit; yet with some 850 buildings heritage-protected, the best feel for the town comes from the places which are free to all. Afternoon: Free at leisure Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An Activities: Morning: City tour with a boat trip on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, then explore the Imperial Citadel, and Dong Ba Market, Hue Royal Antiques Museum
Day 6 Day 6: Hoi An - Free Day
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Hoi An - Free Day

Enjoy a free day in the world heritage listed Hoi An. You may like to wander the Central Market and the street stalls selling paintings, woodwork, ceramics, lanterns and much more. Hoi An is also famous for its talented tailors who can make beautiful items to order within a few hours. For those still feeling adventurous, why not hire a bicycle and tour the surrounding countryside? Other optional activities include a day trip to My Son Cham (elaborate World Heritage-listed temples that reflect the rich cultural traditions of the Cham civilisation), a cruise along the Thu Bon River and a trip to the nearby Cua Dai Beach. Optional: We introduce some ways to explore the beauty of Hoi An. You can choose one of below options: Option 1: Discover My Son Holly Land Half day: My Son Sanctuary - a collection of Champa ruins nestled amongst the mountains in a geological basin of the Quang Nam province. Price from $ US50/ person Option 2: Life as a Farmer in Cam Thanh village: Join the farmers in preparing and fertilizing the land. Get to know the villagers’ daily working routines, like raking the ground, sowing, watering and picking greens and many more gardening activities. Price from $ US70/ person Option 3: Hoi An Vespa Tour Price from $ US80/ person Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An Activities: Transfer by bus to Hoi An
Day 7 Day 7: Hoi An - Danang - Flight To Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Hoi An - Danang - Flight To Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy your free time before transferring to airport in Da Nang for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, transfer from airport to hotel. Spend free time to relax, unwind or explore the dynamic city on your own. Formerly known as Saigon, todays Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling and vibrating economic centre of the South. Over the past few centuries, Saigon was called the “Pearl of the Far East” and was an important trading centre for Chinese, Japanese and Western merchants who traveled along the Saigon River. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh
Day 8 Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City Half Day City Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City Half Day City Tour

Morning or afternoon departure depend on availability Enjoy the attraction of Ho Chi Minh City. Sightseeing examples of French colonial architecture and exploring the Vietnam’s turbulent in past at the Museum. Our guide will show you the most interesting sights that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. Depart from your hotel to the Reunification Palace; this beautifully preserved palace was the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. On April 30th 1975 the American War officially came to an end here. Afterward, we visit Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built in 1880, and the Old Post Office, which was built sometime between 1886 and 1891. It is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Our last stop would be at a local Market where you can practice your bargaining skills while shopping for souvenirs. Discover local life and culture. You’ll find some of the friendliest, liveliest, most convivial people in the city in here. Return your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Free time in the rest of day Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Day 9 Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be - Can Tho
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be - Can Tho

Escape the city for a tour of the Mekong Delta, where you'll see what life is like beyond the urban centre of the south. Drive to Can Tho, experience relaxing pace of life in the Delta region. An incredibly fertile region, the Mekong Delta's prime industry is food production, producing approximately half of Vietnam's total agricultural output. Local life for villages in the area revolves around the rivers and canals that make up the delta, so much so that people are more likely to transport by river than road. Enjoy the fresh air and immerse yourself in the tranquility of the countryside, still untouched by tourism. Board on a long tail boat and experience the diversity of the Mekong waterways first hand as you explore fish farms and exotic fruit farms. Touring the orchards, paddy fields and swamplands of the Mekong Delta, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped into the pages of a geography textbook. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho
Day 10 Day 10: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Chau Doc
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Chau Doc

Early wake up with a “should not be missed” floating market in Can Tho. Travel along the Mekong and the natural network of canals by motor boat and sampan under the shadows of water coconut trees. Taste seasonal fruits right from the orchard, meet friendly locals, and visit the region’s lively floating markets. Northwest of Can Tho meanwhile, and a stone’s throw from the Cambodian border, is the ebullient town of Chau Doc, south of which Sam Mountain provides a welcome undulation in the surrounding plains. The opening of the border here has brought a steady stream of travellers going on to Phnom Penh by boat Afternoon road transfer to Chau Doc and spend one night at this sleepy little town. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc Activities: Drive to Can Tho, experience relaxing pace of life in Mekong Delta
Day 11 Day 11: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh

Have breakfast at hotel.Head to the boat station, take speed boat to Phnom Penh. Transfer to your hotel and have a short rest. Then visit significant landmarks of Phnom Penh: Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh Activities: Transfer by speed boat to Phnom Penh. Visit significant landmarks of Phnom Penh.
Day 12 Day 12: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap - Road Transfer
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap - Road Transfer

07:45 Transfer to Mekong Bus station for departure to Siem Reap (6 hour drive). Your guide will be not with you on bus but he/she will meet you in Siem Reap. The bus will stop at Arunras Restaurant for restroom and where you can find your own meals or snack before continue to final destination. Upon arrival Siem Reap, meet your guide at Borei Seang Nam station and transfer to check in at hotel for refreshment. This afternoon, take a fun by Rermork “Tuk Tuk” ride to visit the Angkor National Museum, learn about “the Legend Revealed” and see how the Khmer Empire has been established during the golden period. Continue to Preah Ang Check Preah Angkor, the secret place where local people go praying for good luck or safe journey. Tonight enjoy buffet dinner with Khmer Traditional Dance Show at Amazon or Kulen II restaurant. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap Activities: Transfer to Siem Reap. In the afternoon, take a fun by Rermork “Tuk Tuk” ride to visit the Angkor National Museum and Preah Ang Check Preah Angkor. Enjoy buffet dinner with Apsara Dance performance.
Day 13 Day 13: Angkor Wat Complex Full Day Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Angkor Wat Complex Full Day Tour

Morning, visit to jungle Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. The temple of Ta Prohm was once used as a location to film the famous Hollywood film Tomb Raider. Begin tour to the antique capital of Angkor Thom, start from the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Afternoon, explore Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Last but not least, view a wonderful sunset from Angkor Wat or somewhere possible. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap Activities: Explore some of the most significant temples of Angkor Complex: Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat.
Day 14 Day 14: Free Day In Siem Reap
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Free Day In Siem Reap

Enjoy your free day in Siem Reap Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 15 Day 15: Siem Reap – Luang Prabang
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Siem Reap – Luang Prabang

Free until transfer to Siem Reap International airport and catch flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel. Situated in the centre of northern Laos, Luang Prabang is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural, historic and architectural values and its harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment. You are free to stroll around the city for your own exploration of this ancient town. The dinner will be served at the local restaurant with traditional dance & folk song, the chance for you the have the first impression of Lao culture. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 16 Day 16: Luang Prabang – Pha Tad Ke
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Luang Prabang – Pha Tad Ke

08:00 - 08:30: Guide and driver pick up at hotel The Pha Tad Ke boat departs Ban Wat That at 9:00 (please be at the pier at 8:45). Enjoy a 15-minute leisurely boat trip down the Mekong River. Upon arrival at Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden reception you will be given a short presentation about the gardens. After that walk through the Ginger Garden and the Ethno-botanic Garden, which is the centrepiece of the garden. Follow the path through the Limestone Walk and take in the amazing mountainous Mekong landscape. Learn how to make a bamboo stick animal at the site of the hunting lodge of the former royal family. Then continue your tour of Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden walking through the Arboretum, Palm Garden and Bamboo Garden to our viewpoint that overlooks the rice fields. Stop by the Mist House where you will learn more about the importance of biodiversity conservation. Finish your excursion with an optional orchid talk at Pha Tad Ke Nursery. All of the gardens will have introductory panels and labels. You can always ask our expert staff should you have any questions or require more information. Enjoy a delicious Lao set lunch at the Pha Tad Ke café before taking the boat back to Luang Prabang. In the afternoon, your city tour begins with a visit to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. After that, you will visit Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. If time permits, we will take a short walk around the small streets of city center, watching the life of local people, and visiting the traditional house of Heuan Chan, the Chantal wooden house dating back to 100 years old. Late afternoon, we climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 17 Day 17: Luang Prabang – Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center – Kuang Si Waterafalls
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Luang Prabang – Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center – Kuang Si Waterafalls

06:30: Guide and driver pick up at hotel. Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets. From there, we will visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. This is the best chance to experience the flavor of local life After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center (TAEC), the collection of diverse Lao ethnic groups. We will stroll around to visit the center to understand more about the Lao diverse ethnic culture. After that, we will join the seminars of “Ethnic Diversity and Cultural Change in Laos” This fascinating 60-minute presentation and question-and-answer session gives background on Laos’ ethnic communities, their history, and their culturalpractices, including livelihoods and crafts. Guests have an opportunity to learn about lifestyles in ethnic villages, and are shown unique artefacts fromTAEC’s collection that are not accessible to the general public. The seminars are led by one of the two TAEC Founder/Directors, either Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, a Luang Prabang-native who worked at the Luang Prabang National Museum for 10 years, and who has attended trainings and conferences in the US, Thailand, Netherlands, Japan, and Brunei; or Tara Gujadhur, an American who has worked in Luang Prabang for over 10 years, with a background in anthropology and sustainable tourism development The ethnic Khmu lunch will be served at TAEC Café. In the afternoon, we transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls which is the biggest in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals We will also take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers. Before returning to Luang Prabang, we stop to visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park (closed from 15 APR – 30 JUN; 01-14 SEP, & 01 JAN every year), whose mission is to create a research centre studying and publishing about Laos butterflies, host plants and preservation. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, where you will have a short tour so you get information about Silk, about weaver, about the Women that work in the Centre. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 18 Day 18: Luang Prabang – Muang Soune (Homestay)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 18: Luang Prabang – Muang Soune (Homestay)

08:30: Guide and driver pick up at hotel After breakfast, we will join the transfer to the nearby market to buy the fresh foods before continuing further to Muang Soune, which locates 5Km from the center in the north of Luang Prabang by the bank of Nam Ou river. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the host family, before strolling around the village to see the life of local people. We then visit the house of the chief of the village, and talk with him about the living condition, the history, or anything about the village. The lunch will then be served at the house of the host family. In the afternoon, you can choose to either relax or to enjoy agricultural activities such as rice planting and harvesting in surrounding rice fields (depending on the season); Traditional fishing techniques (you can sample your catch for dinner!); or walk around the farm and rice field. If you wish, the dip in the Nam Ou river is very inviting and worth a try. You may wish to join, and help the host with preparing the dinner. This is the chance to learn about Lao cuisine. Before the dinner, we will join the Baci Ceremony, held by the elders of the village. The Baci ceremony as a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture for the participants. During the dinner, the folk tales will be told by the host family, and translated by our guide. You may wish to stroll around the riverbank, and sense the nature, admiring the starry sky before going to bed. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Homestay at Muang Soune
Day 19 Day 19: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves – Ban Chan – Chanthavinh Resort
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 19: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves – Ban Chan – Chanthavinh Resort

Wake up early, you never want to miss the chance to admire the sunrise over the Nam Ou river, and the nearby mountains. After breakfast, the morning will be dedicated to the fishing by the stunning Nam Ou river, experience traditionnal fishing techniques. You will also take the boat trip exploring the surrounding areas. We come back to the village at 11:00AM to join the transfer back to Luang Prabang. Along the way, we make a stop at Ban Pak Ou to have the lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Pak Ou caves, and the 2 rivers (Mekong, and Nam Ou) In the afternoon, we will visit Pak Ou caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. From there, we will take the boat downstream the Mekong river back to Luang Prabang, and further to Ban Chan, the tranquil village on the other side of Mekong river, home to the peaceful Chanthavinh Resort, where we will spend the night Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Chanthavinh Resort
Day 20 Day 20: Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 20: Departure

You are free to stroll around the village of Ban Chan, which is renowned in the region for its pottery making. Admire a young man work the clay into a small bowl, and visit the underground kilns which are used to cook hundreds of jars at a time. These ancestral methods are transferred, from one generation to another and require patience and dexterity. Feel free to support them by buying a little figurine in order to support their handicraft (at own expenses). We then take the boat back to Luang Prabang, and transfer out to the airport to take the departure flight Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: NA

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20 days tour

Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Odyssey 20 Days

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Odyssey 20 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Day 2: Hanoi Half Day City Tour

Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Overnight On Cruise

Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight To Da Nang

Day 5: Hoi An Half Day Tour

Day 6: Hoi An - Free Day

Day 7: Hoi An - Danang - Flight To Ho Chi Minh City

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City Half Day City Tour

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be - Can Tho

Day 10: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Chau Doc

Day 11: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh

Day 12: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap - Road Transfer

Day 13: Angkor Wat Complex Full Day Tour

Day 14: Free Day In Siem Reap

Day 15: Siem Reap – Luang Prabang

Day 16: Luang Prabang – Pha Tad Ke

Day 17: Luang Prabang – Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center – Kuang Si Waterafalls

Day 18: Luang Prabang – Muang Soune (Homestay)

Day 19: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves – Ban Chan – Chanthavinh Resort

Day 20: Departure

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