INDOCHINA FLAVORS
Day1 Arrival in Luang Prabang
Arriving at Luang Prabang Airport, you will be welcomed by our tour guide and escorted to the city. Luang Prabang was the first capital city of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos. The city has been claimed a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO (United Nations, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
In the afternoon, we take a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples. We’ll start with Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the gate represent two characters from the Ramayana – Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa; Wat Xieng Thong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture; Phousi Hill, the 328 steps leads to the summit of Phousi hill which is the peak of Luang Prabang, from the top of Phousi Hill we can have the panoramic view of Luang Prabang and the vicinity.
Arriving at Luang Pha bang Airport, you’ll be welcomed and escorted to the city. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Luang Phabang.
Day2 Luang Prabang (B)
We’ll start our morning tour with an excursion (a few hours) by boat upstream the Mekong to the Pak Ou Cave which serves as a pilgrimage site for the local Budhhist communities. The cave overlooks the river with nice settings and is crammed with thousands of Budhha statue of all sizes.
Our Mekong River Cruise offers breathtaking natural scenery with green mountains and clear river. We’ll stop at Ban Muang Keo, a well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky (Lao-Khao) which can be tasted or taken away.
We arrive back at Luang Prabang in late afternoon, and continue our trip to Ban Xang Khong where traditional methods for making paper and Lao silk are still practiced. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day3 Luang Prabang - Vientiane (QV 101: 1120 - 1200) (B)
In the morning, we check out of the hotel and get our luggage into the vehicle. We'll visit the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, Vat Xieng Thong, Vat Sen, Vat Visun and Mount Phousi with panoramic views over the city. Then we’ll be transferred to the airport for our flight to Vientiane.
Arriving in Vientiane, meet our local tour guide and have a transfer to the city. We have some time for mid day break. In the afternoon, we’ll have a city tour of Vientiane including: Vat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues; Vat Prakeo; the That Luang Monument, Vientiane’s Arc de Triomphe - the Patouxai Monument.
In late afternoon, we’ll check into our Vietiane Hotel and enjoys the rest of the day free at leisure. Having some stroll on the breezy Mekong River front is surely recommended. Overnight in Vientiane.
Day4 Vientiane - Phnom Penh (QV841: 1010-1150) (B)
We have free time at leisure until we transfer you back to Vientiane International Airport for your flight to Phnom Penh, The Kingdom of Cambodia. Arriving at Phnom Penh International Airport, meet our Cambodia tour guide and drive to the city. We have time for mid day break before touring this charming capital city.
Our afternoon tour starts with the National Museum, the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom where Phnom Penh got its name. We check into our hotel in late afternoon and enjoy free time at leisure. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day5 Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (FT 992: 0955-1040) (B)
You have free time at leisure until we transfer you back to Phnom Penh International Airport for your flight to Siem Reap, home of the legendary Angkor Temples. Arriving at Siem Reap Airport, meet our tour guide and we’ll drive to Roulous Town where we tour the oldest monuments in the Angkor area - Roulous Temples: Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei temples. In late afternoon, we'll climb the Phnom Bakheng for the spectacular sunset over Angkor Wat and the countryside. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day6 Siem Reap (B)
Our morning tour starts with the temples in the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. In the afternoon, we’ll travel back to the heyday of Angkor Empire with the unrivalled 12th century Angkor Wat. We’ll engage ourselves in the magical world of wats, stupas and the mesmerizing carvings of the Apsara Dancers. We’ll have time to discover the top level of Angkor Wat where we can have a panoramic picture of the whole fabled world. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day7 Siem Reap - Saigon (VN826: 1330-1430) (B)
Our morning tour brings us to Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei, Chau Say Tevoda, Thommanon, and the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple embraced by the roots of enormous big trees and gigantic creepers. After mid day break, we’ll be transferred back to Siem Reap International Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh City formerly called Sai Gon sprawls its length along the Saigon River. With convenient transportation and location, Saigon has always been busy with trade and commerce for hundreds of years since its formation.
Saigon boasts its high rise buildings and luxurious hotels along the riverside. This area is particularly stunning at night when the city full of light can be viewed from a boat cruising on the Saigon River. There are also some rooftop bars and restaurants for you to watch Saigon at night from above.
Saigon is a city on the go, busy days and nights. It’s required no effort to find something to entertain ourselves while in Saigon. There are many pagodas, temples and museums in the city. Those who want to have more active experiences may like to get lost in the busy and exotic markets selling most of things on earth, the numerous bars and sidewalk cafes always full of guests, smoke and music, or just take part in the traffics like nowhere else in the downtown area. If those things are not enough, then there are lots of parks and water parks around the city for you to get relaxed.
Arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport, meet our Vietnam tour guide and drive to the city. In the afternoon, we’ll have a city tour of this vibrant place of Vietnam. Our tour brings us to the War Remnants Museum, The Cathedral, The General Post Office, The Municipal Theatre and the Central Market, Binh Tay Market and the China town. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day8 Saigon - Cuchi - Saigon (B)
Today we travel back in time to the Big War of Vietnam at Cu Chi. Cu Chi Tunnel is a system of magical tunnels connecting one village to another and was built by the locals to accommodate the VC during the War.
From Cu Chi, major attacks on Saigon were launched during the war, especially those in Tet Offensive of 1968 which shocked the whole world. Creeping our way in the narrow tunnel, you can't imagine that there was no map of the tunnels at the time. Those navigating in the tunnel in the past had to know the tunnel themselves or there had to be a guide, otherwise there were all kinds of traps everywhere in the tunnel awaiting.
The tunnel at the height stretched over 250 km had rudimentary hospitals, water wells, toilets, kitchens…which allowed the local fighters to remain underground for weeks. You can’t imagine that the locals had to dig the tunnels with their bare hand and shovel; they had to camouflage the soil dug out so that they wouldn’t be uncovered by their enemy…So much work done that now facing it and thinking back, the only thing we can say about the tunnel is magic: only magic could make it happen. Magical things have happened in Vietnam for thousand of years of history anyway.
Many attempts to destroy the tunnels as well as annihilate the fighters including using tractors, toxic chemicals, bombs…but all came to failure. In Cu Chi, we’ll learn about the war as well as the life of the local people during the hard time. Here you’ll adore the human beings resilience once put to test. We arrive back at Ho Chi Minh at mid day. You enjoy free time at leisure for the rest of the day. Overnight in Saigon.
Day9 Saigon - Cai Be - Vinh Long – Saigon (B/L)
Today we travel to the verdant Mekong Delta with exotic river life style: all activities on the river. We travel by car for 3 hours to Cai Be where we start our boat trip. The boat cruise brings us to the bustling floating market of Cai Be where we can bargain for fresh fruits ourselves. Then we will visit families on an island of the Mekong River with vanishing occupations such as pop-corn, rice-paper, candy and pottery making... Our lunch will be served right in a bonsai garden amid tranquility. After that our tour brings us to an old house with traditional Vietnamese architecture and we’ll learn about agricultural works through the ancient tools used here in the past.
We disembark our boat at Vinh Long and rejoin our car for the trip back to Saigon. Arrive in Saigon in late afternoon; we’ll enjoy free time on our own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day10 Saigon – Da Nang – Hoi An (VN 324: 1120-1230) (B)
You have easy time in the morning until we transfer you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival at Da Nang, meet our local tour guide and off we drive to Hoi An Ancient Town.
Hoi An was a famous trading port back to the 16 – 19th centuries. Hoi An was visited by merchants from China, Japan, Persia, Europe….at the times. Hoi An residents are composed of Vietnamese, Chinese. Hoi An’s architecture is the perfect combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese styles. Hoi An nowadays still retains the ambience of the old town dated back to the heyday which never fails to charm the visitors.
Apart from the cozy ancient town, Hoi An also offers the pristine white sand Cua Dai Beach which claimed one of the most charming beaches in the world. Hoi An has always been unforgettable memory for our dear travelers.
Arriving in Hoi An, we’ll have an oriented walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town. We can recall the times when the narrow streets were busy with merchants from around the world who exchanged in different languages; push-cart carrying loads of cargo traveling back and forth…. This evening we’ll be on our own. Overnight in HoiAn Ancient Town.
Day11 Hoian - Hue (B)
Our journey today brings us through the scenic country side of the Central Region with white sand on one side and green mountains on the other. We’ll stop at the top of Hai Van (Sea Cloud) Pass to get the panoramic view of the mountains and the sea. Our destination is Hue, the capital city of Vietnam from 1802 - 1945.
Hue is a charming imperial city with combination of the new and the old. The Perfume River bisects the city into the northern and southern parts. To the north is the ancient citadel surrounded by moats which were home to the royal court of Vietnam in the 19th century. Visiting the ancient citadel you can visit the Palace where the king lived, the quarter for the royal family and concubines, the royal library….Lots of damages during the war are still found here though.
To the south is where hotels and fine dining restaurants are located. In Hue, we’ll visit the Imperial Citadel – A World Heritage Site and the Dong Ba exotic market on the Perfume River Bank.
This afternoon, we’ll tour the Ancient Citadel and the exotic Dong Ba Market on the Perfume River Bank. Overnight in Hue.
Day12 Hue - Hanoi (VN244: 1440-1550) (B)
Hue is no doubt the city of harmony with the encircling green mountains, the meandering rivers; the architecture nestled in trees….Everything of Hue seems to be just in the right place and in perfect harmony. To the western side are where the royal tombs are found. The Vietnamese kings thought that the west is the direction of sunset and permanent rest. That was why they built different royal tombs in the western part of Hue city. Here the kings would rest permanently in complete peace and tranquility.
Each of the royal tombs was designed by the king himself and the architecture of each tomb shows a lot about the king and the context of Vietnam at the time. Many tombs were constructed, completed and used by the king when they were still in reign. The royal tombs of Hue are for sure the fine pieces of arts.
We start with a cruise on the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and King Tu Duc’s Tomb, then we’ll have time for refreshment before we transfer you to Phu Bai Airport for your flight to Hanoi.
Arriving at Noi Bai Airport, our local tour guide will meet and escort you to the city. You have free time at leisure in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day13 Hanoi City Tour (B)
Hanoi was chosen to be the capital city of Vietnam from the 1010 A.D. The ruling king Ly Cong Uan that time knew that choosing the capital site would be vital to the kingdom’s prosperity. After coming into power he patrolled the kingdom looking for a suitable site for building the capital city. It’s sa that he arrived at the bank of the Red River a five-colored dragon appeared soaring into the sky. He researched the whole area and found out that it was perfect in terms of Feng Shui. The construction of the capital city was started right after that. That time it was called Thang Long which in Vietnamese means the “City of Ascending Dragons”. With the arrival of the French in the 19th century, new colonial styled architecture was added to the charming traditional architecture of Hanoi.
Nowadays the travellers to Hanoi know the city as 3 main areas: The Former Citadel Area, the Old Quarter and the French Quarter. Of course the city has more areas to the north, to the south and to the west of central Hanoi now where high-rise buildings are found to accommodate the growing economy. With much development going on in the fast growing economy of Vietnam, the old areas of Hanoi are specially protected by the authority and still Hanoi retains the charm like no others.
Our tour starts with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace; this whole area reminds you some parts of the Vietnamese history and the most revered man of the nation. Then we’ll visit Tran Quoc Pagoda-Nation founding pagoda, Quan Thanh temple where you can enjoy the freshness of the West Lake and learn about the spiritual life of the Vietnamese.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Temple of Literature-1st University of Vietnam and the Ngoc Son temple. We’ll have a walking tour of the Old Quarter and free time for shopping in the narrow hustling bustling streets of the Old Town which dated back from the 11th century. In late afternoon, we'll take you to a traditional water puppet show for sampling this Vietnamese unique art of water puppet performance. After the show, we'll take you back to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day14 Hanoi - Ha Long Bay – Hanoi (B/L)
We start at 08:00 A.M for the 3 hour drive (170 km) through the Red River delta, which offers plenty of chances for taking photos of Vietnamese farmers tilling the vast green paddy fields. At half way, we'll have a visit to a handicraft workshop with fine clothes, embroidered paintings, stone statuettes and all kinds of gems mined in Vietnam such as star rubies or sapphires... Our destination is the World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. The bay offers some 3000 mountain islands and islets towering in the Gulf of Tonkin in the East Vietnam Sea.
Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed on board our boat and treated with green tea while the boat glide further into the tranquility of Ha Long Bay amid the towering mountain cliffs and on the emerald green water, you'll have relaxing time adoring the Creator for the stunning works of arts. We’ll visit the Cave of Dau Do and have fresh seafood for lunch before docking back on the shore where our car takes us back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day15 Departure (B)
You have free time until we transfer you back to Noi Bai International Airport for your departure flight. Time to bid farewell to the beaming Vietnamese smiles.
