A fascinating combination of ancient cultures, river journeys, stunning scenery and culminating with the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor, this unforgettable journey takes you in many of Indochina’s most enthralling destinations.
Experience the highlights of these three fascinating and culturally rich countries. Experience Indochina’s most compelling sights in a compact time frame.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Vientiane - Laos
After our arrival to Vientiane International Airport, we are met by our guide and transferred to our hotel. Rest of the day is free. Overnight: Hotel Beau Rivage Mekong, Vientiane (2 nights)
Day 2: Vientiane
The capital city and seat of government sits in a bend of the Mekong River amidst fertile alluvial plains. Vientiane (pronounced 'Wieng Chan' by the locals) is a laid-back city with interesting wats and lively markets.
After breakfast, we go for a city tour and visit Ho Pha Keo - the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy built in 1565 by King Setthathirat and now converted into a museum containing some of the best examples of Buddhist sculptures found in Laos; Wat Si Saket - constructed in 1818 by King Anouvong in the early Bangkok style, small niches are carved into its interior walls, containing more than 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images.
Afternoon we’ll see Patuxai - a large monument in the style of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the huge arch at the end of Thanon Lan Xang has a stairway that leads to the top levels of the monument, providing a panoramic view of the city; Pha That Luang (Great Sacred Reliquary or Great Stupa) - built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD, it is the most important national monument in Laos, a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. (Breakfast)
Day 3: Vientiane / Luang Prabang (flight)
After an early breakfast, we are transferred to the airport for a short flight from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Once there, we proceed for a sightseeing tour. Luang Prabang is the ancient capital city of the Lan Xang Kingdom and is famous for its historic temples and beautiful setting surrounded by mountains. In 1995 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We’ll visit Wat Xieng Thong - built in 1560 and situated on the banks of the Mekong River, it is the most beautiful monastery in Luang Prabang and shows the typical Lao art style with old religious artifacts and some ancient masterpieces of Lao art; Wat Wisunalat (Vat Visoun) - built in 1513 during the reign of Chao Wisunalat, it is the oldest operating temple in Luang Prabang with a collection of gilded wooden Buddhas from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Also see Wat Mai - constructed in 1821 during the reign of King Manthatourath, it was once the residence of Phra Sangkharaj (the Patriarch of the Buddhist clergy); Wat That Luang - the ashes of King Sisavang Vong are interred inside the large central stupa, which was erected in 1910. Overnight: Hotel Sala Luang Prabang. (2 nights) (Breakfast)
Day 4: Luang Prabang
After breakfast we take an excursion by boat to the Pak Ou Caves. Pak Ou Caves, are essentially two caves (Tham Thing – lower cave and Tham Phum – the upper one) located in the steep rock cliff at the confluence of the Mekong River and Ou River. They are full of Buddha images of varying styles, ages and sizes.
Located near the Pak Ou Caves is Ban Xang Hai, an interesting local village. This village was once a 'Jar-Maker Village' and nowadays the community fills the jars (which come from elsewhere) with lbo-lbo, the local rice whisky. (Breakfast)
Day 5: Luang Prabang / Vientiane (flight)
This morning we continue with our sightseeing in Luang Prabang and visit the National Museum, which is located on the banks of the Mekong River, it was constructed as Royal Palace between 1904 and 1909 and today houses the Royal throne of the Lan Xang Kingdom and many other pieces of regalia and religious treasures. Also visit Phousi Temples.
The temples on the upper slopes of the 100 m high PhuSi were constructed recently, but it is likely that previously there were other temples on this important hill. From the top, there is an excellent view of the town. Later we have a transfer to the airport for our flight from Luang Prabang back to Vientiane. Overnight: Hotel Beau Rivage Mekong, Vientiane. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 6: Vientiane / Hanoi / Halong (flight & drive)
This morning we fly from Vientiane to Hanoi – Vietnam. After our immigration and custom formalities, we meet our guide and driver and have a relatively short drive to Halong Bay. Our journey to East will be along Highway 5, across Hai Hung Province and several local villages before arriving Halong Bay. Overnight: Pearl Hotel, Halong. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 7: Halong / Hanoi (drive)
We’ll take an excursion in the morning, by boat through the Halong Bay and wonder for about 4 hours on what Nature has created. We’ll cruise on a traditional wooden boat among the emerald waters and craggy limestone cliffs of Halong Bay, stopping at different islands to explore some of the many caves in this area.
Sail past floating villages, fishermen casting their nets and pearl fisheries and observe the rhythms of daily life on the bay. Once we return, we take a road journey around Halong Bay and to Hai Phong then drive west along Highway 5 and across Hai Hung Province back to Hanoi. Overnight: Green Park Hotel, Hanoi. (2 nights) (Breakfast)
Day 8: Hanoi
Hanoi is a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks and it is the capital of Vietnam. It is a very attractive city with French style buildings and less traffic than other major cities in Asia. We start our sightseeing here with the One Pillar Pagoda, built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054.
In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology. This museum brings to life the astonishing ethnic diversity in Vietnam, with art and artifacts from the 54 different ethnic groups that inhabit the country. Inside the museum are detailed descriptions of minority groups, with examples of their traditional clothing and way of life. Outside are faithful reconstructions of traditional longhouses, cemeteries and other distinctive ethnic buildings. (Breakfast)
Day 9: Hanoi / Hue (flight)
After breakfast we’ll have a short domestic flight from Hanoi to Hue. Once here we go for sightseeing tour. Hue served as the capital of Vietnam for more than 140 years. It houses ancient temples, imperial buildings and French-style edifices. It was established in the 17th century.
Our visit here starts with the Old Imperial City; this is in the Citadel and was built in the early 19th Century and modeled after the Forbidden City in Peking. Before going to our hotel we’ll lastly visit Dong Ba Market, a local market near the Imperial City. Overnight: Festival Hue Hotel. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 10: Hue / Danang (drive)
Before we leave Hue, we take a short boat trip on the Huong Giang River and visit the Thien Mu Pagoda. Just outside of Hue, on the bank of the Perfume River, this was a hotbed of anti-government protest during the early 1960’s. Behind the main sanctuary of the pagoda is the Austin motorcar, which transported the monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self-immolation.
After we return from the boat trip, we drive from Hue to Danang. Our journey south, along Highway 1 and the Hai Van Pass, crosses over a spur of the Truong Son Mountain Range, just into the South China Sea. It is an incredible mountainous stretch of highway with spectacular views. Then it is Lang Co, a pretty, island-like stretch of palm-shaded sand with a crystal-clear lagoon on one side and many km of beachfront facing the South China Sea.
After arriving to Danang we check in to our hotel and have a sightseeing tour. Vietnam's fourth largest city marks the northern limits of Vietnam's tropical zone, boasting a pleasant year-round climate. We first visit the Cham Museum; founded in 1915 by the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, the open-air collection of Cham sculpture is the finest in the world.
Many of the sandstone carvings are breathtaking. From here we go to the China Beach; made famous in the American TV series of the same name, it stretches for many kilometers north and south of the Marble Mountains. During the American War, soldiers were airlifted here for 'rest and relaxation'. Further up are the Marble Mountains. Five stone hillocks, once islands, made of marble.
Each is said to represent one of the five elements of the universe. The largest and most famous, Thuy Son, has a number of natural caves in which Buddhist sanctuaries have been built over the centuries. When the Champas ruled this area, the same caves were used as Hindu shrines. Overnight: Royal Danang hotel. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 11: Danang / Saigon (flight)
After breakfast we take an excursion to Hoi An. Hoi An is a picturesque riverside town south of Danang, known as Faifo to early western traders and it was one of South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries.
Our sightseeing is best done on foot and will include at the following sights: the Quan Cong Temple; founded in 1653, this Chinese temple is dedicated to Quan Cong, whose partially gilded statue is in the central altar at the back of the sanctuary. Stone plaques on the walls list contributors to the construction and repair of the temple. The Phuoc Kien Pagoda; a Chinese pagoda built around 1690 and it was restored and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of the Chinese 'clans' that were established in the Hoi An area.
The temple is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau (Goddess of the Sea and Protector of Sailors and Fishermen). The Japanese Covered Bridge; the first bridge on this site was constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream. The bridge was provided with a roof so it could be used as a shelter from rain and sun.
The Tran Family Chapel; this house for worshiping ancestors it was built about 200 years ago with donations from family members. The Tran family traces its origins to China and moved to Vietnam around 1700. The architecture of the building reflects the influence of Chinese and Japanese styles. The Quan Thang House; it is one of the oldest and nicest houses in Hoi An.
There are some especially fine carvings on the wooden walls of the rooms around the courtyard. After our return we are transferred to the airport, in time to reach our flight from Danang to Saigon. Overnight: Chancery Hotel, Saigon. (2 nights) (Breakfast)
Day 12: Saigon
We start our day with sightseeing in Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown). Saigon is the largest Vietnamese city, with the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life visible everywhere. There are street markets, sidewalk cafes and sleek new bars. The city churns and bubbles.
Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. We go first to the west part of the city, where is District 5, the huge Chinese neighborhood called Cholon, which means 'Big Market'. The Binh Tay Market is Cholon's main marketplace much of the business conducted here is wholesale. Here is the Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese congregation in the early 19th Century.
The pagoda is one of the most active in Cholon and is dedicated to Thien Hau. It is said that she can travel over the oceans on a mat and ride the clouds to wherever she pleases. Just a short visit to the Ben Thanh Market, the central market of Saigon and its surrounding streets, which make up one of the city's liveliest area. Everything commonly eaten, worn or used by the average resident of Saigon is available here. (Breakfast)
Day 13: Saigon / Phnom Penh (flight)
We leave Vietnam today and fly from Saigon to Phnom Penh – Cambodia. After we meet at the Airport with our Cambodian guide and driver, we go for sightseeing in Phnom Penh. Cambodia's capital sits at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers.
Considered the loveliest of the French-built cities of Indochina, it was founded as a small monastery in 1372 by a rich Khmer woman called Penh after she found four Buddha statues in a tree trunk on the banks of the Mekong. She set up the monastery on a nearby hill or "phnom" in Cambodian. This is Wat Phnom, a temple located on the top of the only hill (27 meters) in the capital. From here we go to the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. The Royal Palace stands on the site of the former citadel, Bantey Kev (built in 1813).
Visitors are not allowed in some portions of the grounds, as the palace is the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni. The Silver Pagoda is often called the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Preah Kaeo after the statue housed there. The wooden temple it was originally built by King Norodom in 1892 and inside, its floor is comprised of more than 5000 silver blocks, which together weigh nearly 6 tons.
The National Museum is next; designed by the French archeologist and painter George Groslier, in Khmer style in 1920, to exhibit works previously scattered throughout the country. It contains a collection of Khmer art including the beautiful 6th Century bronze statue of Vishnu.
The Museum of Genocide, formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975 it became the Khmer Rouge's main torture and interrogation center and it was known as Security Prison 21, or just the famous S-21.
Later we visit Phnom Penh's two great markets: The Central Market, located in a distinctive domed Art Deco building, and is filled with jewelry, fabrics and all types of souvenirs and The Russian Market, a sprawling labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewelry and more. Both are fascinating places to browse. Overnight: The Juliana Hotel, Phnom Penh. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 14: Phnom Penh / Siem Reap (flight)
After a short flight this morning from Phnom Penh, we reach Siem Reap. Once here we start our sightseeing in Angkor and first visit Angkor Thom, the 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. In the center of the walled city are the city’s most important monuments including the Bayon, the Baphuon, the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Phimeanakas with Royal Enclosure. Bayon is the Jayavarman VII's temple mountain that stands at the center of Angkor Thom.
It is one of the most popular of Angkor's monuments and a place of narrow corridors, steep flights of stairs and an amazing collection of towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces. Next is the Baphuon, where the pyramid shape represents the mythical Mount Meru and marks the center of the city that was here before Angkor Thom.
Near the center of what was once the royal palace within Angkor Thom is the Phimeanakas, which means ‘Celestial Palace’, though today there is not much left to indicate its former splendor. Also here is the Terrace of Elephants; this terrace was used for viewing public ceremonies and was a base for the King’s grand audience hall.
The famous lines of elephants are at either end of the retaining walls. North of the Terrace of Elephants is a platform named ‘Terrace of the Leper King’. On the platform is a nude statue – one of Angkor’s mysteries. We’ll watch the sunset over the Cambodian countryside from the upper terraces of an ancient Angkorian temple. Overnight: Lotus Angkor hotel, Siem Reap. (2 nights) (Breakfast)
Day 15: Siem Reap
Today we’ll visit Angkor Wat, a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by King Suryavarman II, who reigned between 1131 and 1150. It was constructed over a period of 30 years and is world famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology.
In 1992 UNESCO declared the monument and the whole city of Angkor a World Heritage Site. From here we go to Ta Prohm, one of the most popular attractions of Angkor, as well to visit Banteay Srei Temple. Built in the late 10th Century, it is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple is square with entrances on the east and west.
Of main interest are the three central towers, which are decorated with male and female divinities and beautiful filigree relief work. Our afternoon is free for us to wander around and go the last shopping. (Breakfast)
Day 16: Siem Reap / homebound
After breakfast we leave for the airport and based on our int’l flight schedule we fly back to Phnom Penh or leave Cambodia via other gateway. After a long but rewarding Cultural journey, we bid farewell to the ‘Ancient Kingdoms of Indochina’, holding back strong and long-lasting memories.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices for 2008
USD: 2,490.00 / CAD: 2,600.00 – per person in double occupancy.
Single room supplement is USD: 400.00 / CAD: 405.00
Price includes:
- Accommodation at the mentioned hotels (or similar category)
- Meal Plan as per itinerary (Breakfast)
- All transfers and tours by AC vehicles (where available)
- Domestic flights as per itinerary (multi-coupons pass – price is subject of change!)
- All boat cruise and/or ferry tickets where mentioned
- Services of a local English-speaking guide for the sightseeing
- Entrances fees to the monuments, parks or sites visited
- All currently applicable taxes, including service tax
Price does not include:
- International airfare and all airport taxes
- Visa fees, or insurance
- Items of personal nature like drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any other items not mentioned as ‘included'
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Vietnam
Laos
Cambodia
Cultural Journey
Museum Tours
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