The Treasures of Indochina encompasses the three countries that once made up French Indochine. This tour enables you to experience and understand the diversity of the culture, people, geography and history of the three countries. Explore together, these countries create a tour rich in experience and memories.
Tour Highlights:
- Explore the Old Quarter of Hanoi on a Great Cyclo Tour
- Enjoy a performance of the unique art of Water Puppetry
- Take boat cruise amongst thousand of limestone islands of Halong Bay
- Discover the last Imperial City of Hue
- Visit lively floating markets on the Mekong River
- Discover the magnificent temples of Angko Wat
- See the famous and beautiful Wat Xieng Thong of Luang Prabang.
Tour type: Private Tour
Departure date: daily departure subject to traveler's schedule and availability.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Hanoi. The rest of day is free at leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi (B)
Today we commence our exploration of Hanoi by visiting the Ho Chi Minh complex, starting at the President’s Mausoleum. We continue to his humble “house on stilts”, see the French colonial Presidential Palace and the 11th century One-Pillar Pagoda. Afterwards we go to the Museum of Ethnology, which is an excellent museum containing the ethnic costumes of the various minorities of VN, as well as relics, tools and even full size replicas of their homes and buildings.
After lunch, we visit the Temple of Literature, the first Vietnam University dating to 1070. We then take a Cyclo tour through the Old Quarter, walk around the Hoan Kiem Lake before attending a famous Water Puppet show.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 3: Halong Bay (B/L)
After breakfast we cross the Red River towards Halong city. The three-hours-drive stops en route at Hong Ngoc, where we will have time for a drink and see local people manufacturing different kinds of handicrafts.
On arrival Halong city we get in boat for a fantastic cruise through Ha Long Bay (approx. four hours). We will enjoy lunch with fresh sea food while having a cool drink before leave the boat to see the Heavenly Palace Grotto and Driftwood cave, one of the highlights of the Bay. Return Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 4: Hanoi – Hue (B)
A short flight in the morning will bring you to Hue, the last Imperial City of Vietnam. In the afternoon we begin to see the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City, created in the 19th century for the Emperors under Nguyen Dynasty. We then drive outskirts of Hue to the impressive tomb of King Khai Dinh.
Overnight in Hue
Day 5: Hue – Hoi An (B)
This morning we take a boat ride along the romantic Perfume River. We stop at Thien Mu Pagoda to see the 7-store octagonal tower and an old Austin car which transported the bonze Thich Quang to Saigon in 1963 for his self-immolation. Continue tour by boat to Minh Mang Tomb built between 1841 and 1843. The Emperor’s tomb complex consists of 40 constructions (palaces, temples, pavilions etc) designed on a symmetric axis.
This afternoon we travel by road over spectacular Hai Van pass to Hoi An ancient port town.
Overnight in Hoi An
Day 6: HoiAn - Saigon (B)
In the morning, we will enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200-year old Tam Ky ancestral house, the Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful local markets.
We spend time in the afternoon visiting the Cham Museum and Marble Mountain in Da Nang before transfer to airport to fly to Saigon.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 7: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnel (B)
This morning takes a half-day city tour. We explore city’s grand boulevards, passing famous sites such as the Re-Unification Palace, the Old Saigon Post Office, and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
We leave Saigon after lunch to Cu Chi tunnels, an incredible underground system covering nearly 250km, was shelter to over 16,000 communist guerrillas during the war. Come back Ho Chi Minh city in late afternoon.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 8: Mekong Delta (B/L)
After breakfast we travel out of Ho Chi Minh city and spend full day floating through waterways on an exploration of the lush Mekong Delta region. Upon arrival Vinh Long province, we will boat through the lush green vegetations of the canals to an orchard, where you leave boat for a delicious lunch complete with a local delicacy – the Elephant’s Eye Fish. Continue taking a boat trip to Cai Be floating market which offers great insight into the daily lives of the locals along the rivers and canals. We also visit Vinh Long local market on the way back to Saigon.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 9: Saigon – Siem Reap (B)
In the morning we take a flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Complex. The temples of Angkor represent 600 years of Khmer civilization (802-1432). On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Late afternoon enter the Angkor Complex for a magnificent sunset view from Phnom Bakkeng.
Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 10: Siem Reap (B)
This morning we will visit to the ancient capital of Angkor Thom: a fortified Royal City (10 square kilometers) built by King Jayavarman VII, who ruled from 1181 to 1201. The city has five monumental gates and is encircled by a moat 100 meters wide. Continue to Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, Elephants Terrace and Terrace of Leper King.
This afternoon, we spend about half hour journey to reach Banteay Srey: The temple’s relatively small size, pink sandstone construction and ornate design give it a fairyland ambiance, then visit Banteay Samre: The temple was constructed around the same time as Angkor Wat.
Overnight in Siem Riep
Day 11: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh (B)
After a short flight from Siem Reap, we start touring Phnom Penh. Firstly, visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom and the Silver pagoda (the Emerald Buddha temple), displaying a plenty of Buddha Statues. We then proceed to visit Independence Monument and National Museum. The rest of day will be spent for shopping and excursion at the Central Market or Toul Tompong Market where you will feel a bustling daily life of local people with Cambodia’s special characters through local specialties, their houses, their faces.
Overnight in Phnom Penh
Day 12: Phnom Penh - Vientiane (B)
There are two sites are not to be missed when you are in Phnom Penh. Those are Toul Sleng Prison museum and notorious “Killing field” of Choeung Ek. A visit to these sights provides a deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge.
Afternoon, we will fly to Vientiane. On arrival Vientiane you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in Vientiane
Day 13: Vientiane – Luang Prabang (B)
We start to visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. From there, we visit the Central market or called ‘morning market’ where you can find the antique items for collection, well handmade textile and gift away items.
Afternoon, we take a short flight to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best - preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. On arrival, you are met and transferred to the hotel and then starting visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai. Afterwards, climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view over the city and river. From there, we explore Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day 14: Pak Ou Cave – Vientiane (B)
After breakfast in the hotel, we take a boat excursion upstream on the Mekong River to the famous cave of Pak Ou. The Pak Ou caves are located within the steep rock-cliff, which rises vertically from the waters of the Mekong River at the point where it meets with the Nam Ou River. The lower cave, called Tham Ting, and the upper cave, Tham Prakachay, shelter numerous Buddha images of varying styles, ages and sizes, which have been brought to the cave by generations of Buddhists.
On the way we stop at the ethnic minority village of Ban Xang Hai, which is also known as “Whisky Village”. The balance of the day is at leisure until transfer to airport to fly back to Vientiane in the early evening.
Overnight in Vientiane
Day 15: Vientiane – Hanoi (B)
After a morning visit to the centre market and the weaving village of Ban Nong Bouathong, transfer to the airport to fly back Hanoi and then connect to your next flight back home.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour Price are in US$ for per person. Price depends on your group size and tour grade of your chosen.
Please contact tour operator for the exact price of your group.
Price Inclusions:
- Private boat trip on Halong Bay and Mekong Delta
- 14 night accommodation in hotels on a twin sharing basis
- 14 breakfasts, 2 lunches as shown in the itineraries
- Regional economy flights: Hanoi – Hue, Danang- Saigon, Saigon - Siem Reap, Siem Reap – Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh – Vientiane, Vientiane - Luang Prabang – Vientiane, Vientiane - Hanoi
- Local English speaking guide
- Private air conditioned transportation includes airport transfers
- Sightseeing fees.
Price Exclusions: Visa, International Flights to Vietnam, Drink, Tips, Personal Expenses.
Also see tour packages in:
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Laos
Cambodia
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