Discover Vietnam - Laos & Cambodia - 19 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City.
Welcome to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Arrive in the late morning and enjoy an orientation tour through Saigon’s bustling streets en route to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to recover from jet lag and explore the city on your own.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour.
Enjoy a full day to tour Saigon’s diverse attractions. Start with a visit to Saigon’s China Town including Thien Hau Pagoda & Binh Tay Market (Great Market). Stop to visit the Fine Art Museum located in a beautiful colonial house combining French and Chinese styles; it presents a large collection of fine artworks from paintings to historical objects. Browse through the amazing array of goods at Ben Thanh Market. After lunch, continue on the city tour with a visit to the War Remnants Museum. Learn about Vietnam’s recent history at the Reunification Palace followed by the nearby neoRomanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the City's Centre Post Office before passing by the ornate Opera Theatre and the City Hall on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Boulevard.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 3: Mekong Delta day trip (Ben Tre).
Today you spend a day away from the busy city of Saigon and drive to Ben Tre Province. Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, an ancient southern architectural gem in Tien Giang en route. On arrival at Hung Vuong Pier, board on your private boat for a glimpse at the delta scenery while enjoying coconut juice. Experience the unique lifestyle of the Mekong Delta as you visit fruit orchards, coconut groves, brick workshops, and homemade products such as coconut candies, rice cakes, handicrafts etc. After a short walk to visit a local family to learn how they make sedge mat and enjoy tea, tropical fruits, take “Xe Loi”, a kind of motorized rickshaw or you can hop onto your bicycle and peddle through picturesque villages (about 20 minutes). Stop at a riverside restaurant for a delicious and filling lunch. Then board a sampan for a relaxing trip along narrow canals. The boat will be waiting for you at the pier nearby to bring you back to Ben Tre where your car will take you back to Saigon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City – Fly to Danang – Hoian Walking Tour.
After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Danang. Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport and take you on the short drive to the sleepy riverside town, Hoian. Take a halfday walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 5: Hoian Ecotour.
Picked up at your hotel by minivan then you will be transferred to bike station in the countryside to start your biking route:
• Cycle to a local farming village traveling along picturesque country roads.
• Share the daily work life of local farmers hoeing and a soil, watering veggie at an organic herb garden, riding water buffalo in the field and enjoy the freshest air of the countryside beauty.
• Board the local boat and cruise to the mouth of the river where it meets the Cua Dai sea.
• Learn and try your hand at local traditional fishing techniques using round and cast nets.
• Learn to paddle the strange and unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats.
• Explore the now tranquil coconutpalm flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers on both sides.
• Jungle walk and join for a mock battle with mud attack for fun.
• Back to local boat to enjoy lunch and cold beer or soft drink. Return to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 6: Hoian – Danang – Hue.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then checkout and drive over the 500mhigh Hai Van pass to Hue. Enjoy a stop at the scenic Lang Co Beach for a drink before continuing on to Hue a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Vietnam’s former capital. Spend the afternoon on a leisurely walking tour through the ancient city. Visit the Royal Citadel, the Imperial Museum, as well as the Mausoleum of King Tu Duc (a replica of the king’s palace built for the next reincarnation of the king).
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue.

Day 7: Hue City Tour – Fly to Hanoi.
Spend the morning on a private boat cruise down the romantic Perfume River to visit the Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda), Dong Ba Market and the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. Drive to the airport in the afternoon to catch your short flight to Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi. Upon arrival, get transferred to your hotel in the city centre. Free at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi City Tour.
Today you have a full day to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide treelined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house), the Presidential Palace, the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake including the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city's museums (a choice between the Hoa Lo Prison, the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum). Later in the afternoon, enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance – a unique Vietnamese art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wetrice culture.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 9: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Bai Dinh – Trang An.
Today you will leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh. Start the trip with a visit to the Buddha Sanctuary Place of Bai Dinh Pagoda to admire the biggest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam with 10 meters in height, 100 tons in weight. Get knowledge of beliefs and religions in Vietnam. Leave for Trang An ecotourism attraction. You will be amazed by beautiful scenery while having boat trip through cave chains: Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, Sinh Cave… Transfer to your hotel in Ninh Binh for overnight.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh.

Day 10: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise.
(The itinerary is a sample, depends on weather and it will be different between cruises. Our travel consultants will provide the exact schedule and program if you book other cruise such as Hera Cruise, Halong President Cruise, Emperor Cruise, Halong Violet, Halong Jasmine, Paradise Luxury Cruises, Orchid Cruise, Indochina Sails, Au Co Cruise, Starlight Cruise etc.)
After breakfast at the hotel, your driver will take you on a 4hour drive passing the countryside of the Red River Delta to Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnam's most scenic impressive sights. On arrival you are welcomed onboard a traditional junk. Settle into a private comfortable cabin and unpack for a twoday cruise around Halong Bay. Along the way, enjoy a huge lunch served on board and admire the picturesque scenery of islands. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. You will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to Sung Sot cave, one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. The remainder of day is for your own pleasure; observing the bay, lazing around the deck or simply soaking up the sunshine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation: on cruise on Halong Bay.

Day 11: Halong Bay Hanoi Fly to Luang Prabang.
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore the nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for brunch then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of the bay as you navigate back to Halong City, where your driver will meet you at the dock and take you to Hanoi Airport for flight to Luang Prabang, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This exquisite town in Laos is not to be missed under any circumstances. Situated on the peninsula formed by the Mekong and the Nam Khan River, Luang Prabang is a perfect spot to unwind, eat good food and enjoy the scenery. On arrival, your tour guide will welcome you and escort you to the hotel. Check in and relax.
Meals: Brunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 12: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave.
Today, embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, stopping at Ban Xiengmene, Wat Long Khun and the limestone cave of Tham Sakkarin. Following a picnic lunch, you will continue your boat journey to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, known locally as Tham Thin. Consisting of two limestone caves that have become shrines to devotees of Buddhism, for hundreds of years, followers have come to the caves to pray and make merit, by leaving behind a statue of Buddha. Nowadays, the caves are jammed packed with statues big and small, with more being added each year. Return to Luang Prabang and visit the local villages of Thin Hong and Ban Xang Khong to witness the daily life of the local people and their cottage industries.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 13: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall.
Rise early this morning to witness the Buddhist ceremony of Takbat, when the monks of Luang Prabang’s monastic communities collect alms from locals. These lines of silent saffron robeclad monks will be an enduring image of your trip. See Wat Sene and the National Museum. Visit the traditional H’mong village of Ban Na Ounae, before walking to the cascading turquoise waters of delightful Kuang Si Waterfalls for a picnic lunch. It is possible to swim in the river near the falls and if you wish to do this, so don't forget to bring along your swimsuit and a towel. Changing rooms are available on site. Stop at Ock Pop Tok Weaving Centre on the return to Luang Prabang.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 14: Luang Prabang – Fly to Pakse.
Enjoy your free morning until time to the airport for flight to Pakse, the commercial hub of Laos but it doesn’t lack of laid back ambiance. This quaint city is stop over for another adventure to Bolaven Plateau or 4,000 island. Drive to Champasak to visit Wat Phou, the site originated long before Angkor. The complex you see today was built in the Angkorian period early in the 11th century, with additions constructed in the 12th and 13th century. After visiting Wat Phou, drive back to Pakse, on the way stop at Phou Salao to capture the best view from the big golden Buddha watching over Pakse and the Mekong River.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse.

Day 15: Pakse – Don Khong – 4,000 islands – Don Khong.
Breakfast at the hotel. Cruise along the backwaters to explore Siphandone. During the rainy season, the Mekong River reaches a breadth of 14 kms, the river’s widest reach along its 4,350 km journey from the Tibetan Plateau towards the East Sea (Bien Dong); when the river recedes, it leaves behind thousands of islands and islets. Visit the surrounding islands of Done Khone and Done Det for a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of the fishermen. Continue to Done Det Island and hike along its ancient railway built by the French in 1897 in order to bypass the powerful rapids when transporting goods from Cambodia. Continue to the Sumphamith Waterfall (Liphi Waterfall). Leave Don Khone we cruise back to Ban Nakasang and head to Khon Phapheng, the largest cascade along the Mekong River. A fault line caused the cascade, which is 6 km wide at this point, and the astonishing force of the water has cut dramatic gorges through the brittle bedrock. Stay overnight in Don Khong.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Don Khong.

Day 16: Don Khong – Pakse – Fly to Siem Reap.
Today drive back to Pakse for flight to Siem Reap. Welcome to Siem Reap, the provincial capital and gateway to the ancient Angkor Temples. Upon arrival, driver and tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for checkin. Siem Reap is elegant town. In the rest of the afternoon, orientation walking around the hotel area followed by the Phare show at Cambodia Circus Centre to expect the unexpected. More than just a circus, Phare performers use theater, music, dance and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk and modern. The young circus artists will astonish you with their energy, emotion, enthusiasm and talent.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 17: Siem Reap – Angkor Temples.
Enjoy an entire day dedicated to discovering the mysterious Angkor temples.
Wake before dawn and drive to Angkor Wat complex – the largest religious monument in the world at sunrise. Dawn is one of the most beautiful and haunting times to visit the temples and see Angkor Wat reflex on the water. Hot coffee or tea will be served afterward (you could also order breakfast box from your hotel and serve here and avoid the crowd when they go back to hotel for breakfast) The journey continues with Angkor Thom’s imposing South Gate, topped with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon temple, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Enjoy a lunch of traditional Khmer cuisine served at the home of a local. Leaving Angkor Thom by the North Gate, you travel to Preah Khan (Sacred Sword), one of Angkor’s largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII. You should not miss Ta Prohm Temple, which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty with its giant trees that have grown there for centuries. Then we visit Angkor Wat, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was constructed by Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century and dedicated them to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys and ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 18: Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lake.
After breakfast, head out of town and embark on a short cruise along Tonle Sap Lake to visit the local floating villages. The experience is wonderful as we pass by floating villages, friendly children in small boats and fishermen at work. Remain day is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 19: Siem Reap Departure.
Enjoy your last day in Siem Reap before driving to the airport for departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.