THE SECRET OF INDOCHINA

Vietnam-Cambodge-Laos

22 days - 21 nights
VN-LAOS-CPC 01

Overview

Tour code
VN-LAOS-CPC 01
Duration
22 days - 21 nights
Start City
Hanoi
End City
Luang Prabang
Destinations
Hanoi, Halong, Ho Chi Minh city, Cu Chi, Tay Ning, My Tho, Siemreap, Angkor, Tonlé Sap, Battambang, Phnompenh, Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang
Hotels
3*, 4*
Departure
Upon your request
Price
Contact us

Itinerary

Day 01: HANOI

Arrival in Hanoi, meet at the airport then transfer to hotel (Airport-Hotel : 35 km).

Check-in time : 14h00.

The rest of the day is free, either relax at the hotel or explore the surrounding shops and restaurants.

Accommodation: hotel in Hanoi.

Day 02: HANOI – HALONG

AM: sight-seeing tour around Hanoi – the charming city surrounded by lakes and tree shaded boulevards: visit Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes the Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Presidential Palace as well as Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Follow up is the Temple of Literature, site of Vietnam’s first university, dating back to the 11th century.

After lunch depart for Ha Long City. On arrival, check-in to hotel. The rest of day is at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Halong

Day 03: HALONG – HANOI

Morning enjoy a 05 hours cruise on Ha Long Bay, having the chance to discover the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. Fresh seafood lunch will be served after visiting some of the limestone caves in the area.

Afternoon, drive back Hanoi. On arrival, take a casual walk around Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Restored Sword Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.

Evening: enjoy Water Puppet show – an unique traditional art of Vietnam.

Meals: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: hotel in Hanoi.

Day 04: HANOI – HO CHI MINH city

AM: transfer to the airport for your flight to Hochiminh city. Meet and transfer to the city centre. After a short rest, start sight-seeing tour around Hochiminh city – the biggest and most lively city of Vietnam: visit the Reunification Hall (the former President Palace), War remnant museum, Thien Hau pagoda, China town, Binh tay market and make photo stops at Notre Dame cathedral and Central Post Office. Overnight at hotel in Hochiminh city.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 05: HO CHI MINH city – CU CHI – CAO DAI – HO CHI MINH city

In the morning, you are going to the outskirt of Hochiminh city for a short visit of the Cuchi underground tunnel, the historical site during the American-Vietnam war, once stretched over 210km. Proceed to Tayninh, joining the unique Caodaism mass at Cao Dai Holy Land.

Back to Hochiminh City in the afternoon, visit the brick kilns on the way.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 06: HOCHIMINH city – BEN TRE – HOCHIMINH city

Drive to My Tho in the morning for exploring the mythical Mekong river delta – upon arrival visit Vinh Trang pagoda, then take a boat trip to islets full of bonsai & orchard garden, handicraft work shops and local house made of coconut trees, where you are hosted with honey bee tea, seasonal fruits and folk music. In the afternoon, drive back to Hochiminh city. Check in hotel and relax. Overnight at hotel in Hochiminh city.

Meals: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 07: HO CHI MINH city – SIEM REAP

Free at leisure until transfer to airport. Hotel check-out time : 12h00. Flight to Siemreap. Arrival in Siemreap, meet at the airport then transfer to hotel. Check-in time : 14h00.

Your visit will begin with the discovery of the temples of Roulos Group: Bakong , Preah Ko and Lolei.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 08: SIEM REAP – ANGKOR THOM – ANGKOR WAT – SIEM REAP

After breakfast, we visit Angkor Thom, Bayon, Phimeanakas, Baphuon, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the King and Royal Enclosure.Then , we continue to visit Angkor Wat, sunset on Bakheng hills.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 09: SIEM REAP – TONLÉ SAP – SIEM REAP

After breakfast, we visit Banteay Srey. Excursion on the Tonle Sap lake to visit the floating village Kompong Phluk or Kompong Khleang, the floating markets, fish farms, crocodile farm, and the local floating school. Visit the flooded forest.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 10 : SIEM REAP

After breakfast, departure to Beng Mealea – one of the most interesting sites of Angkor. This temple is largely overgrown by the jungle. Visit « Chantiers d’Angkor » where the tradition of stone carving is still preserved until today. Visit Seamreap market, and enjoy a massage Krousar Thmey (offered by the blind).

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 11: SIEM REAP-BATTAMBANG

Breakfast at hotel. Departure for Battambang.

Arrive in Pourk, the silk manufacturing center located in the countryside, just 16 km from Siem Reap. You will have the chance to observe the silk production chain in its various stages: the plantation of mulberry trees, the cultivation of mulberry, silkworms , cocoons , to silk thread spinning, weaving, which eventually results in the final silk products that are available for sale.Arrive in Battambang in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Battambang.

Day 12: BATTAMBANG

After breakfast , visit the traditional house of Phum Wat Kor and Wat Ek Phnom Temple in the 11th century. On the way back , visit the Pagoda Wat Slaket , residence of a Buddhist patriarch and Prahoc market.

In the afternoon, board the Bamboo train and enjoy a 20 minute ride through the countryside on this unique vehicle, which made use of the Railways formerly built by the French. On arrival, take a short stroll through the countryside to discover local life.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Battambang.

Day 13 : BATTAMBANG – KAMPONG LUONG – PHNOMPENH

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Phnompenh (291 km) through the villages and countryside. Stop at the village of stone carvers of Pursat on the way.A 90 km from Phnompenh , visit Kampong Chinang – the largest fishing port on the Tonle Sap. Then boat trip to discover the floating village of Kompong Loung.Continue to Phnom Oudong , one of the ancient capitals of Cambodia after Angkor. Then, drive to the village of silversmiths at the edge of the Tonle Sap , known for its silver souvenirs. Arrival in Phnompenh by the end of the day.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Phnompenh.

Day 14 : PHNOMPENH

Breakfast at hotel. Explore the capital of Cambodia: visit National museum – built in 1917 in Khmer style with a large collection of Khmer sculptures dating from the pre-Angkor period (4th century) to post-Angkor period (14th century), Royal Palace, Silver pagoda, Independence monument, Wat Phnom, Wat Ounalum and finally, the central market.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Phnompenh.

Day 15 : PHNOMPENH – VIENTIANE

Free at leisure until transfer to airport. Hotel check-out time : 12h00. Flight to Vientiane. Arrival in Vientiane, meet at the airport then transfer to hotel. Check-in time : 14h00.

The rest of the day is free.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Vientiane.

Day 16: VIENTIANE

Today we begin to see the major sights of the capital, including Wat Sisaket, which contains more than 8000 Buddha statues, Wat Ho Prakeo the former home of the Emerald Buddha statue and That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos. We also see the Patuxay (Lao Arc de Triomphe), which was built in commemoration of those who died during past wars and today it is the city’s main landmark.

In the afternoon we transfer out to see Buddha Park, a scattered and enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures near the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious artifacts here dating back over 500 years. Observing the spectacular sunset view over the Mekong River is a perfect way to finish the day.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Vientiane.

Day 17: VIENTIANE – VANG VIENG

Breakfast at hotel. Explore the morning market of Talat Sao. Departure for Vang Vieng (150 km / 03h drive). Arrival in Vang Vieng by late afternoon. The rest of the day is free.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Vang Vieng.

Day 18 : VANG VIENG : Daynée de kayak

Local tractors will take you up north 17km to visit the beautiful “Phatan village” where our trained guides will give you some basic paddle instruction. From here, we kayak downstream to visit Elephant Cave named Tham Xang which lies on the opposite banks of the Nam Song. It is an important Buddhist temple and owes its name to a remarkable limestone formation. We then continue with our trekking through the open rice fields to the splendid Patao mountains and visit the Water Cave (Tham Nam), also a good place for a swim. After a pinic lunch at a Bamboo house on the bank of Nam Song river, we kayak back to Vang Vieng varies according to the level of the Nam Song. It leads us through idyllic scenes of rural life: a unique sight with the limestone mountains in the background. We return to the town in the late afternoon for a panorama view of the river at sunset.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Vang Vieng.

Day 19: VANG VIENG – LUANG PRABANG

Breakfast at hotel. Morning visit to the famous caves of Tham Jang , which were once used by local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. We also cross the river to Ban Huai Ngai, a charming village where we can explore the different lifestyles of its inhabitants . Afternoon drive to Luang Prabang (230 km, 6 hours), visit minority villages of the Kmou , Thai and Lao Hmong along the way if the weather permits. Late arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Luang Prabang

Day 20: LUANG PRABANG

After breakfast, we visit The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture throughout the ages. We then enjoy a short-guided tour to see the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong. We’ll also see visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Luang Prabang

Day 21: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU – LUANG PRABANG

Breakfast. As you sail further downriver, you will pass areas of unmarred lush forest with little villages along the riverbanks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You visit a fishing village and a rice winemaking village and perhaps even taste some of the infamous beverage known as Lao Rice wine. You also visit the Pak-Ou caves, where thousands of Buddha statues are stored. Return to Luang Prabang and visit the handicraft village of Ban Phanom Lue, famous for its silk weaving and cotton.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: hotel in Luang Prabang

Day 22: LUANG PRABANG – DÉPART

After breakfast, check-out hotel at 12.00. Transfer to the airport for departure. End of services.

Hotels

Destination 3* Hotels 4* Hotels

Hanoi

First Eden (Deluxe room)

Super Old Quarter (Superior room)

May de ville centre (Deluxe room)

Muong Thanh centre (Deluxe room)

Halong

Halong Bay (Superior room)

Muong Thanh (Deluxe city view room)

Hochiminh city

 

Le Duy (Deluxe room)

Asian Ruby (Deluxe room)

Au Lac 2 (Superior room)

Golden Central (Deluxe room)

Eden Saigon (Deluxe room)

Winsor (Deluxe room)

Siem Reap

Angkor Home (Superior room)

Spring Palace Boutique (Deluxe room)

Phnomphenh

Cardamom (Superior room)

Green Palace (Deluxe room)

Battambang

Khemara (Standard room)

Bambu (Superior room)

Vientiane

Laos Orchid (Standard room)

Green Park (Deluxe room)

Vang Vieng

Elephant Crossing (Deluxe room)

Riverside Boutique (Deluxe room)

Luang Prabang

Ramayana Boutique (Deluxe room)

Villa Santi (Deluxe room)

Price

  • Included Services
  • Accommodation at hotel on twin share basis with breakfast (For group of 01 pax : on SGL basic with breakfast)
  • Transfer as per itinerary with private A/C vehicle
  • Meals : 02 lunches.
  • Sighgt-seeing with local English speaking guide (other language guides available on request at additional cost)
  • All entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Excluded Services
  • All drinks
  • All meals not mentioned in programme
  • Optional visits
  • All international airtickets + airport tax
  • Personal expenses
  • Visa

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