| The
three jewels of Indochina – Laos,
Vietnam and Cambodia – share a common
cultural heritage yet possess their own
unique personalities and histories as
well. The French ruled this area, collectively
known as Indochine, from the late 1800’s
through the mid-20th century. The French
influence still remains in some areas,
mingling with the cultural influences
of China and India.
Laos is the least developed of the three
former French Indochinese states and offers
travelers an unparalleled glimpse of traditional
Southeast Asian life. After two decades
of isolation from the outside world, this
landlocked, sparsely populated country
is enjoying peace, stabilizing its political
and economic structures, and admitting
foreign visitors - albeit in limited numbers.
Most visitors to Vietnam are overwhelmed
by the sublime beauty of the country's
natural setting: the Red River Delta in
the north, the Mekong Delta in the south
and almost the entire coastal strip are
a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies
tended by women in conical hats. There
are some divine beaches along the coast,
while inland there are soaring mountains,
some of which are cloaked by dense, misty
forests. Vietnam also offers an opportunity
to see a country of traditional charm
and rare beauty rapidly opening up to
the outside world.
Cambodia has emerged from decades of
war and isolation and is well and truly
back on the Southeast Asian travel map.
The successor-state of the mighty Khmer
Empire, which ruled much of what is now
Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, Cambodia boasts
a rich culture, a weathered French-era
capital and impressive natural scenery.
The celebrated temples of Angkor are Cambodia's
greatest tourist attraction.
Day 01:
Arrival Luang Prabang from Bangkok
Upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport
your guide will meet you and escort you
to your hotel. After settling in, join
your guide to visit some of Luang Prabang’s
most priceless monuments on a tour around
the old city. Begin your tour with a visit
to Wat Visoun (Wat Wisunalat), the oldest
living temple in Luang Prabang which contains
a collection of antique wooden Buddhas.
Visit the nearby Wat Aham before continuing
to Wat Xieng Thong., the crowning jewel
of all the monasteries and temples in
the city. Its many ornate buildings feature
exquisite mosaic and gold-stenciled murals.
From here, stroll down main street ("Wat
Street") and, time permitting, stop
at some of the many temples that line
its sides, including Wat Sibounheuang,
Wat Si Moungkhoun, Wat Sop and Wat Sene.
Return to your hotel and enjoy the balance
of the day at leisure. Breakfast
Overnight, Luang Prabang
Day 02: Luang Prabang
( B, L )
After breakfast visit the National Museum,
which was once a king's palace. Displayed
inside is a lovely collection of personal
artifacts of the royal family, including
photos, musical instruments, and many
gifts received from the dignitaries of
foreign countries. Take a riverboat trip
on the Mekong River with your guide to
visit the sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves.
These caves, overlooking the confluence
of the Mekong and Ou Rivers, are home
to many thousands of Buddha images that
were placed here by local people since
the 16th century, when King Setthathirat
found the caves and declared them a holy
place. Today many still journey to the
caves to pay respect in line with this
old tradition. Walk through the caves
before returning to your boat. Continue
by boat to Ban Xang Hai. This small village
was once a jar producing village but nowadays
the community fill the jars (which come
from elsewhere) with láo-láo,
the local rice whisky. Return to Luang
Prabang and enjoy the balance of the day
at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight, Luang Prabang
Day 03: Luang Prabang - Hanoi,
Vietnam ( B, L )
Flight
Morning at leisure in Luang Prabang. This
afternoon board a flight (not included)
to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi you will
be met by a representative and transferred
to your hotel. Vietnam's capital, Hanoi
is described by almost all who go there
as "an old-fashioned city".
It is a city of lakes, parks, trees, villas
and mansions. In the Old French Quarter,
crumbling houses are crammed into narrow
alleyways that are still named after the
goods that were traded there – Silk
Street, Gold Street, even Fried Fish Street!
Enjoy the evening at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight, Hanoi
Day 04: Hanoi city tour ( B, L )
This morning explore Hanoi, a microcosm
of Vietnamese culture. Begin the day with
a visit to the Temple of Literature, a
peaceful series of walled courtyards and
graceful gateways and a great example
of traditional Vietnamese architecture.
Built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius,
it later became Vietnam's first university.
Continue to the miniature One Pillar Pagoda
and hear the legend of its construction,
born from the love of an emperor in the
11th Century. This monument was rebuilt
after being destroyed by the French in
1954. Today it stands next to the vast
Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex, a lovely
park setting which is home to Ho Chi Minh’s
final resting place. Silent sentries guard
the monumental marble and granite mausoleum
(Closed on Mondays & Fridays and annually
in October & November). Continue through
the park to Ho Chi Minh’s stilt
house, the simple two-room cottage where
“Uncle Ho” lived and worked
from 1948 until his final days. Take to
the streets for a walking tour of the
Ancient Quarter or 36 Streets District.
This densely populated corner of the city
was once a center of commerce where goods
were sold under the street name of a particular
guild. Still a thriving community of vendors
today, you will see street names such
as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper
Street. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 05: Halong (
B, L, D) Share Junk with group tour
Am : Depart at 8h00Am from your hotel to Halong bay. Halong Bay is often called Vietnam's eighth
wonder of the world and once visited,
it is hard to dispute that claim. 3000
spectacular limestone outcroppings, cliffs,
arches and coves compete for space in
an area of outstanding natural beauty.
This afternoon, board a traditional sailing
junk which will be your home for the next
two days. Facilities include seven air-conditioned
double cabins with en suite bathrooms,
a large sun deck area, and a spacious
dining room serving traditional Vietnamese
cuisine. Upon check-in, you will be greeted
with champagne and served lunch. Cruise
along Halong Bay, stopping to visit Thien
Cung and Dau Go caves before continuing
around a variety of islands including
Tuan Chau, Dinh Huong, Ga Choi, “Dog
Island”, “Sail Island”,
and stopping at Titov beach for a swim.
Dinner will be served on board as the
sun sets. This evening, there’s
an opportunity to fish or simply enjoy
drinks. Overnight on board. Private room
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight, Onboard Halong
Day 06: Halong - Hanoi - Hue
( B, L ) Flight
Enjoy breakfast on board as you cruise
through the waters of Halong Bay. This
morning visit “Man’s Head
Island”, “Tortoise Island”,
Luon Cave, Bai Tu Long bay, “Toad
Island”, and Bai Tho Mountain. Lunch
on board. Return to the pier just before
noon and disembark. Transfer to the Hanoi
airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival,
transfer to your hotel for check-in. Evening
at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight, Hue
Day 07: Hue (
B, L )
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Hue.
Located in the heart of Hue is the Imperial
Citadel, a vast complex built in the early
19th century and modeled after the Forbidden
City of Peking. The original walls stretched
for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide
moat. Today, most of the buildings have
been destroyed due to bombing during the
Vietnam-American War, but the monuments
that remain provide a fascinating glimpse
into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Pass by the striking flag tower and through
the imposing Ngo Mon Gate; the main entrance
to the Imperial Enclosure. Just inside
the gate you’ll find spacious courtyards
and a serene lotus pond with a bridge
once reserved for the emperor’s
private use. Across the bridge is the
Thai Hoa Palace, the magnificently decorated
reception hall used for official receptions
and other important court ceremonies.
The columns supporting the roof are lacquered
and inlaid with gold. Board a simple yet
comfortable vessel on the meandering Perfume
(Huong) River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda,
an elegant seven-tiered octagonal tower
which has become Hue's most widely recognizable
monument. Continue cruising the countryside
to the Imperial Tomb of Minh Mang, a majestic
complex of courtyards, pavilions, and
temples in a beautiful natural setting.
Not far from the Hue Citadel sits the
Dong Ba Market, another one of Hue’s
must see sites.
Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight, Hue
Day 08: Hue - Hoi An
( B, L )
Today journey overland via Cloudy Pass
to Danang, and onwards to Hoi An. One
of the most ancient cities in Vietnam,
Danang was the center of the Cham Dynasty
from the 2nd century. Danang's rich cultural
history, its atmospheric riverfront promenade
and its world-famous Cham Museum all continue
to draw visitors. The museum houses the
largest and most impressive collection
of Cham sculptures and artifacts anywhere
in the world, dating from the 4th to the
14th centuries. Near Danang, pay a quick
visit to China Beach, immortalised for
many by the US television show and still
one of the most spectacular beaches in
Asia. Continue to the Marble Mountains
for a photo stop en-route to Hoi An. These
five rocky outcrops are said to represent
the five natural elements, and are the
source of many intriguing legends. Just
a short drive from Danang, Hoi An is an
extraordinary jewel of a town. In a country
so ravaged by war, Hoi An managed to remain
untouched, and as you wander the completely
traffic-free streets of this ancient seaport
it is not hard to imagine yourself amidst
the sailors and merchants of the 18th
Century, when Hoi An was one of the busiest
trading ports in Asia. Chinese, Japanese
and European architecture bears witness
to a cosmopolitan past and allows today's
visitors a glimpse of Vietnam that no
longer exists elsewhere. Check in to your
hotel and enjoy the balance of the day
at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight, Hoi An
Day 09: Hoi An (
B, L )
Learn the art of Vietnamese cooking today
with a class at the Red Bridge Restaurant.
Start your day with coffee at the Hai
Scout Café and head over to the
Hoi An market to purchase the necessary
ingredients. Chat with the local vendors
and experience the sights and smells of
this colourful market. Enjoy a 20-minute
boat ride up the Perfume River to reach
the Red Bridge Restaurant and Cooking
School, where together you will prepare
five traditional dishes to enjoy for lunch.
This afternoon enjoy sightseeing in Hoi
An. This exquisitely preserved merchant
town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Site in 1999. Its colorful cobbled stone
streets are best explored on foot. Wander
past low tile-roofed buildings, the bustling
central market and the small harbour where
colorfully painted boats are moored. Visit
a private home, where members of the same
family have lived continuously for centuries.
See one of the family chapels built as
a center for ancestral worship. Continue
on to a typical Chinese-style communal
hall on to the Japanese covered bridge.
Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight, Hoi An
Day 10: Hoi An - Danang - Saigon
( B, L ) Flight
This morning, transfer from Hoi An to
Danang airport for your flight to Saigon.
Upon arrival in Saigon, you will be met
by a representative and transferred to
your hotel. Saigon is surely one of the
most evocative place names in Asia and
definitely one of the most extraordinary
cities in the world. The most Western
in atmosphere of Vietnam's cities, Ho
Chi Minh City (to use its official name
- although to residents and visitors alike
it is universally and affectionately known
as Saigon) has a population of 5 million,
and a booming free-market economy. It
is a city of amazing contrasts: elegant
new international hotels, exclusive restaurants
and trendy bars side-by-side with roadside
noodle stalls, street children and vociferous
cyclo drivers. Bustling, booming, crowded,
noisy – all words that barely scratch
the surface of the addictive and often
mesmerising chaos that is Saigon. This
afternoon, tour the essential highlights
of Ho Chi Minh City. Begin your tour of
this exciting city in the historic center,
strolling along Dong Khoi Street. Pass
by classic European-style landmarks such
as the ornate City Hall (Hotel de Ville)
and the old Opera House and pay a quick
visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame
Cathedral and the Central Post Office.
Afterwards dive into modern history with
a tour of the Reunification Palace, formerly
the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese
president. This 60’s style building
was famously stoned by tanks on April
30, 1975 signifying the fall of South
Vietnam. Continue to the harrowing War
Remmants Museum, which comprehensively
documents the travails of the long Vietnam-
American War. Inside are detailed photographic
exhibitions; outside is a collection of
tanks, planes and weapons. A powerful
experience, this museum is guaranteed
to provoke strong emotions. Finally, end
up at the central Ben Thanh market, where
vendors display a vast array of goods
and handicrafts, appealing to every taste
Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight, Saigon
Day 11: Saigon - CuChi
tunels - ( B, L )
This morning, journey out of Saigon to
the Cu Chi tunnels, where you will visit
the vast underground network of tunnels
built first as a defence against the French,
and later expanded during the American
war. It was from here that the North Vietnamese
waged their guerrilla warfare. See secret
trapdoors, underground kitchens, living
areas and meeting rooms. The more adventurous
may explore the deeper second, and even
third level tunnels. For those preferring
to remain above ground, there is ample
opportunity to view excavated areas from
above. Your guide will advise you of the
length and level of difficulty of each
tunnel before entering - some are easily
accessed by stairs. We recommend good
walking shoes and sun protection for this
tour and advise you may get a little dirty!
Return to Saigon where the balance of
the day is free to explore the city on
your own.
Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight, Saigon
Day 12: Saigon
- Siem Reap ( B, L )
This morning you will be transferred to
the airport for your flight to Siem Reap,
gateway to the ancient city of Angkor.
Upon arrival in Siem Reap you will be
met and transferred to your hotel.
This afternoon, begin your tour of the
ancient city of Angkor. First, visit the
monumental magnificence of Angkor Thom
– last capital of the Khmers, with
its Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the
Leper King. Visit the ruined Baphuon,
Royal Enclosure, and Phimeanakas before
continuing to the mysterious and stunning
Bayon Temple. This 12th century masterpiece
lies at the very centre of Angkor Thom
and is an archaeological wonder of symmetry
and grandeur. The exterior gallery walls
have extensive bas-reliefs but the highlight
is the “faces”, more than
200 of them, silent but with the famous
half-smile playing on their lips. Watch
the sun set over the Cambodian countryside
from the upper terraces of an ancient
Angkorian temple.
Breakfast, Lunch
Siem Reap
Day 13: Siem Reap (
B, L )
This morning visit the “crowning
jewel” of Khmer architecture, Angkor
Wat. The largest temple in the world,
this temple is the national symbol of
Cambodia. As you enter the main building,
ascend through a series of galleries and
courtyards before reaching the central
sanctuary, which offers beautiful views
back over the causeway and across the
surrounding countryside. On the way, stop
to enjoy the intricate stone carvings
that adorn nearly every surface, with
some 1,700 Apsaras (celestial dancers)
sculpted into the walls. Along the outer
gallery walls run the longest continuous
bas-relief in the world, which narrate
stories from Hindu mythology. Continue
to Ta Prohm, a temple that has been left
largely in its natural state since its
“re-discovery” by French explorers.
Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of
stone hallways is overgrown with the roots
and limbs of massive banyan trees, which
envelop the stone like tentacles. Historians
have noted its mystical charm. Seemingly
miniature in comparison to the other Angkor
temples, Banteay Srei is considered to
be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Built
in pink sandstone, the walls are covered
in exquisitely preserved carvings of unusual
delicacy. Visit the Chantiers Ecoles (Aritsans
d Angkor) vocational center which trains
650 apprentices each year including 160
in fine arts and crafts trades united
in the “Artisan d Angkor”
production network. You’ll have
a chance to watch the artisans work as
you take a guided tour through the different
workshops such as stone sculpture, woodcarving,
and polychromie.
Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight, Siem Reap
Day 14: Siem Reap - Depart
( B )
The morning is at leisure. Transfer to
Siem Reap airport for the flight (not
included) to Bangkok or Singapore or Kualumpur
Breakfast
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