|
Code: |
IDCN01 |
|
Routes: |
Luang Prabang - Pakou Caves - Vientiane
- Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hue - Hoi An -
Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta -
Cu Chi Tunnels - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
- Angkor Temples - Tonle Sap Lake |
|
Duration: |
15 Days |
Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Vientiane
Day 2: Vientiane - Luang Prabang
Day 3: Luang Prabang - Pakou Caves - Luang
Prabang
Day 4: Luang Prabang - Hanoi
Day 5: Hanoi
Day 6 : Hanoi - Halong
Day 7 : Halong - Hue
Day 8 : Hue - Hoi An
Day 9: Hoi An - Danang - Ho Chi Minh
Day 10 : Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh
Day 11 : Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi
Minh
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh - Phnom Penh
Day 13: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Angkor Temples
Day 14: Siem Reap - Angkor Temples
Day 15: Siem Reap - Departure
Detail Itinerary
Day 1: Vientiane
On arrival at Wattay Airport, you are met by our
guide and transferred to hotel. The charming and
fascinating capital of Laos, Vientiane is a
small city conjuring up exotic images, with the
curious mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese,
French influences. We start our half day city
tour with Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple still
standing in Vientiane. This amazing structure
features remarkable frescoes and Buddha statues.
Close to this masterwork is the former royal
temple of Haw Pha Kaew which previously housed
the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Afterwards we
continue driving to Patouxai. This imposing
monument standing in Lane Xang Avenue, is well
known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triomphe and
provides a stunning views of the city. We round
off our day with a visit to the great sacred
masterpiece and symbol of Laos, That Luang
Stupa. O/N in Vientiane.
Day 2: Vientiane - Luang Prabang
The vibrant central market in the heart of
Vientiane, sells a wide away of local treasures.
We include this famous trading center in a
walking tour around the town center before we
board a flight to Luang Prabang. The royal
capital of the former Lane Xang Kingdom, Luang
Prabang with its gleaming temple roofs, fading
colonial architecture and stunning mountain
backdrop, retains an unique charm rarely found
in all Asia. There are plenty to see in this
delightful town, some of which are the
impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the Srilankalese
styled temple of That Marko, the shrine of Wat
Aham and the five tiered roof Wat Mai. We visit
these sites in a half day guided tour and embark
on a climb up to Phousi Hill for a beautiful
panorama view from the town center to the mighty
Mekong River. There are 329 steps leading us on
zigzag way past various temples to the sacred,
gilded stupa of Wat Phousi at the summit. O/N in
Luang Prabang. (B)
Day 3: Luang Prabang - Pakou Caves - Luang
Prabang
Today we continue seeing this charming town with
the famous Wat Xieng Thong, which nestles at the
meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan River.
The temple structures are decorated in various
ways with gilded stuccoes ,doorways and
marvellous tree life mosaic pattern on an outer
wall, representing the ancient temple
architecture of Luang Prabang. We board a boat
for a leisurely trip on the Mekong River,
stopping en route at Ban Xang Hai to visit the
distillation of potent local rice wine. Upon
leaving this riverside village we wave our way
through the stunning mountain landscape to the
mysterious Pak Ou Caves. They are crammed with
thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of
various shapes and sizes, all brought there by
devout villagers. We explore these famous
grottos and cruise back to Luang Prabang Town.
On arrival we catch a short drive to Ban Phanom
, a well known weaving village of the Tai Lue
people who used to make royal silk weaving
textiles for the Lao former royal family. O/N in
Luang Prabang. (B,L)
Day 4: Luang Prabang - Hanoi
The exciting exploration of Luang Prabang would
not be complete without a visit to the national
museum. This interesting structure at the ground
of the former Royal Palace, displays a lovely
collection of treasures and artifacts reflecting
the richness of Lao culture dating from the days
of the early kings right through the last
sovereign. We spend our time to see this museum
and wander around the nearby old quarter streets
before taking a flight to Hanoi. On arrival at
Noi Bai Airport, you are met by our guide and
transferred to hotel. The capital of Vietnam,
Hanoi is a stylish and gracious city that
retains an unique old world charm and some Asia
‘s most striking colonial architecture. The many
lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If
time permits we enjoy a cyclo ride through the
bustling old quarter streets named after the
specific goods once offered for sale at these
places. O/N in Ha Noi. (B)
Day 5: Hanoi
Today we spend a full day exploring the charming
Hanoi City. The first stop is Ho Chi Minh
Complex containing the mausoleum of the nation's
founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and
the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts. Close to this
complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins
date back to the foundation of city. We follow
it with a visit to the Temple of Literature,
which is well known as the first university of
Vietnam and the History Museum with an excellent
collection of artifacts illustrating the
Vietnamese history. The sightseeing also
includes the outlaying Ethnologic Museum,
dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.
Afterwards we drive back to the town center,
stopping at the Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh
Temple. They are some major highlights set by
the beautiful West Lake. We see these sights
before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan
Kiem with its sacred temple. In front of this
lake is the famous water puppet theatre where we
will see a fantastic performance. O/N in Ha Noi.
(B)
Day 6 : Hanoi - Halong
The legendary Halong Bay is truly one of
Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights. Heading
out of town we make our way to this nature
wonder and embark a traditional boat for a five
hour trip around Halong Bay. The exciting cruise
provides us a fantastic view of the picturesque
scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000
limestone islands rising amazingly from the
clear and emerald water. These limestone karst
formations are littered with beaches, grottoes
and beautiful caves. We have a huge seafood
lunch served on board and continue sailing out.
Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely
swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit
to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath
towering cliffs. ON in Halong Bay. (B,L)
Day 7 : Halong - Hue
Upon leaving Halong Bay we embark our vehicle
and drive past the scenic rural landscape to
Hanoi Airport for a short flight to Hue. On
arrival, you are greeted by our guide and
transferred to hotel. The small and quiet Hue
City is widely known for magnificent
architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in
many small villages and surrounding hills. We
spend this afternoon to visit Hue with the
massive citadel, containing the Imperial City
and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal
residence was all but destroyed during the 1968
Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating
to walk among the ruins. The sightseeing
continues with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba
Market that sells a wide variety of local goods
and handicrafts. Along the way we pass many
fantastic eating spots, all ideal for visitors
to sample some local delicacies. O/N in Hue. (B)
Day 8 : Hue - Hoi An
The beautiful riverside Thien Mu Pagoda is one
of the oldest ancient architectural structures
for religious work ship in Hue. We include this
in a half day cruise on the Perfume River which
also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside
and an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of
Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of
gardens and lakes. This impressive landmark
reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate
decor and mysterious statues. Afterwards we make
a short drive though the rolling hill to see the
elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. By mid
afternoon we depart for Hoi An with stopover in
Lang Co Beach for a leisurely swim. The winding
road begins as we make our way up the
spectacular Hai Van pass. A view from the top of
the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive
panoramic scenes. We also have a chance to see
on our way the China Beach and the Marble
Mountain, whose peaks represent the five
elements. O/N in Hoi An. (B)
Day 9: Hoi An - Danang - Ho Chi Minh
The ancient architecture in place is a
fascinating combination of Vietnamese
traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese
influence. There are plenty to see in this
delightful and tranquil town, some of which are
the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery
Museum, the 200 years old Tam Ky House, the Chua
Ong Pagoda and the vibrant market. We visit
these on our morning walking tour past many low
tiled houses scattered along the small streets
and assembly halls which reflect the town's
multi-cultural past. We take a short drive to
Danang and visit the famous Cham Museum which
boasts the largest collection of Cham treasures
in Vietnam. The following destination is Ho Chi
Minh via a short flight to Danang. On arrival
you are greeted and driven to hotel. This
metropolis ,contradiction of its northern
counterpart, is crowded with bikes and
motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping areas
and sidewalk cafés. ( If time permits) we stroll
around the down town to explore the different
local ways of life. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B)
Day 10 : Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh
The incredible underground network in Cu Chi
stretched over 200 kilometres and became
legendary during the American war. The extensive
tunnels have been specially constructed with
living areas, storage facilities, weapon
factories, filed hospitals, command centres,
plus accommodation. Today we have an excursion
to Cu Chi Tunnels to visit an exposition hall
and a widened section of the tunnels to get a
feel of the underground life. There are also
possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or
MK16 at the nearby rifle range. The following
programme is a sightseeing of major sights in Ho
Chi Minh City. We drive past many lively streets
on our way to the Reunification Palace. This
mansion was the former residence of the
President of South Vietnam until end of April
1975. Close to the palace are some striking
French colonial structures including the Notre
Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office.
We see these before going to the Jade Emperor
Pagoda and the War remnant exhibit. The final
stop is Ben Thanh Market where anything and
everything is for sale!. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B)
Day 11 : Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi
Minh
Heading out of town, we travel by roads to the
Mekong Delta. This plain region boasts the
largest rice bowl of Vietnam. On arrival in My
Tho we board a boat navigating around the
intricate small canals, which is a great way to
observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a
view dotted by many islands. The exciting river
trip will pass by the lush green vegetation
towards the famous Unicorn Island where we have
a chance to stroll around an orchard, taste many
seasonal fruits and see farmers at work. We
navigate some narrower canals using small rowing
boats to Ben Tre Province for an interesting
visit to some local industries. The extra
enjoyment is a lunch at one of the famous local
eating spots. We drive back to Ho Chi Minh,
stopping off en route to see the beautiful Ving
Trang Pagoda and the Saigon's Chinatown, locally
named Cho Lon. This bustling area is crammed
with sacred temples and mysterious, narrow
lanes. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B,L)
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh - Phnom Penh
The exciting combo journey continues to Phnom
Penh via a short flight from Ho Chi Minh. On
arrival at Po Chen Tong Airport you are greeted
and driven to hotel. The capital of Cambodia,
Phnom Penh lies near the confluence of the
Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. This riverside town
still maintains considerable charm despite its
recent turbulent history. An afternoon city tour
acquaints us with some major sights of Phnom
Penh. The private quarters of the Royal Palace
are now home to the royal family and are
therefore very close to the public. At the
northern area of the palace grounds is Silver
Pagoda, the most sacred temple in the country.
We visit both structures as well as the National
Museum for an appreciation of the splendour of
Khmer history. The sightseeing completes with a
walk uphill to visit the legendary Wat Phnom and
catch a fantastic view over the surrounding
areas. O/N in Phnom Penh. (B)
Day 13: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Angkor Temples
This tranquil town of Siem Reap is our base for
exploring the world famous temples of the
ancient city Angkor, which was the capital of
the powerful Khmer Empire from 802 AD to 1350
AD. Today we get a short morning to Siem Reap.
On arrival you are met by our guide and
transferred to hotel. The sightseeing tour
begins with a short drive to the archeological
area where we spend our time to visit the most
striking structures. They are the South Gate of
Angkor Thom which is famous for its series of
colossal human faces carved in stone, the
impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure,
Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace
of the Leper King and the architectural
masterpiece of Angkor Wat. We stroll around this
massive monument, exploring the many galleries
with columns , libraries, pavilions, courtyards
and ponds full of water reflecting the towering
temple. O/N in Siem Reap. (B)
Day 14: Siem Reap - Angkor Temples
Today we continue exploring the wondrous Angkor
Complex with the jungle covered temple of Ta
Prohm. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic
creepers which embrace themselves in the stone
foundations of this structure giving the
impression of man's creation being reclaimed by
the powerful forces of nature. We visit this
masterpiece and some nearby temples including
Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and
Chau Say Tevado. They almost belong to the small
circuit according to the archaeologists’
division. Upon leaving this area we see various
famous temples of the grand circuit such as
Preah Khan, Kravan, Neak Pean, Krol Ko, Ta Som,
East Mebon and Pre Rup. We round off our
exciting day with a walk up to Phnom Bakheng
Hill to admire the spectacular sunset over these
sandstone monuments. O/N in Siem Reap.(B)
Day 15: Siem Reap - Departure
The temple exploration is not only activity in
Siem Reap. We visit the famous Tonle Sap Lake on
a boat trip out. This shallow lake boats the
largest natural fresh water body in Southeast
Asia and flows into the Tonle Sap River which
joins the Mekong River in Phnom Penh. The
traditional boat navigates along a small river
towards the gigantesque lake, giving us a chance
to explore floating village, local life style,
friendly children in small boats and fishermen
pulling in morning catch close up. This
excursion is all depending on your departure
time. The trip ends after your transfer to Siem
Reap Airport for departure. (B)
NOTE:
- The compulsory gala dinner on
24 Dec. and 31 Dec. and the surcharge for the
peak season from 23 Dec. to 4 Jan. may be
applied depending on hotel conditions however
you are advised to contact our sale team to get
the full information if you plan a trip in this
period. |