13 DAYS MAJESTY OF INDOCHINA

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

DAY 1: LUANG PRABANG – ARRIVAL
 SAT   13.20 hrs meet upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport by PG 632, transfer and check-in at hotel.  The crown jewel of Laos and former Lanexang, Luang Prabang, is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in South East Asia. Magical and charming, it has preserved its long-standing reputation as a stronghold of Lao cultures with its splendid natural scenery and sense of timelessness. In 1995 UNESCO voted Luang Prabang as a World Heritage City.Visit Vat Visoun, the site of an impressive stupa, That Makmo, stylistically more Srilankalese than Lao. Then walk to the nearby Vat Aham, which is one of the city’s major tutelary shrines, dedicated to Deveta Luang (spirit) Pu Gneu Ya Gneu (ancestors). Continue to visit Vat Mai, built in 1796, famous for the five – tiered roof of its wooden sim built in the standard of Luang Prabang style. Climb Vat Phousi hill for an outstanding overview of the city. Sunset at Vat Prabaht Tai, located along the Mekong River (dinner – own account). Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 02: LUANG PRABANG (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit Vat Xieng Thong, considered as the most beautiful temple. The main sanctuary represents the classic Luang Prabang temple architecture with roofs that sweep low to the ground. In the compound stand several small chapels housing bronze Buddha images, which were displayed in Paris in 1911. Near the East gate stands the Royal funeral chapel. Inside are an impressive 12 meter high funeral chariot and various funeral urns of each royal family member. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts a semi-erotic episode from Ramayana.  Then board a traditional boat for a trip upstream the Mekong River to visit the famous caves of Pak Ou housing thousands of statues representing Lord Buddha.
Picnic lunch at a bamboo cottage overlooking the confluence between the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers.  Return to Luang Prabang by boat and continue by car to visit Ban Xang Khong, a weaving village where traditional Sa paper is also produced. (Dinner – own account).  Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 3: LUANG PRABANG (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the Khuang Xi Waterfall, located 30 kms (approximately 1 hour drive) South of Luang Prabang. The waterfalls tumble over multi-tiered limestone formations into cool, clear pools ideal for swimming and relaxation.  Picnic lunch nearby the waterfalls.
Close to the waterfall is the Khmu minority village of Ban Thapaene. Take a walk through the village before continuing to Ban Xom, a lowland Lao village, known for its cotton production. Overnight in Luang Prabang.       

DAY4: LUANG PRABANG  – HANOI (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit the surroundings of Vientiane, including the Buddha Park and Friendship Bridge (if time permits). The Buddha Park is a religious sculpture park located by the Mekong River, 24 KM south of Vientiane. The Buddha Park captivates visitors with an unusual blend of Buddhist and Hindu imagery. Short stop to admire the impressive Friendship Bridge, which links Laos and Thailand. Return to hotel.
In the afternoon, visit the Morning Market.
Transfer to the airport
Depart Luangprabang  for the flight to  Hanoi
Meet on arrival at Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport, transfer to hotel for check in. At leisure in Hanoi. Evening water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi

DAY5:  HANOI – HALONG (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. In Hanoi we experience the rich cultural and artistic traditions of Vietnam’s capital.  We visit Ho Chi Minh’s former residence and mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda & the Temple of Literature.
Check out of the hotel and enjoy a cyclo ride through the old quarter past the Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son temple to a local restaurant for lunch before the drive to Halong Bay via the Ethnology Museum. Halong Bay (165 km east of Hanoi) is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea“ as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has more than 1,500 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Overnight in Halong

DAY6: HALONG – HANOI (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy a relaxing 5 hour boat trip through Halong Bay with a fresh Seafood lunch prepared and served on board (please let us know if you do not eat seafood). Cruise around the islands, relaxing and swimming before returning to Hanoi.
At leisure to do some shopping. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 7: HANOI – DANANG – HOI AN (B,D)
Breakfast at hotel. At leisure until transfer to airport for flight to Danang in the early afternoon. 
From the port town of Danang we drive the short distance south past famous China Beach onto the enchanting town of Hoi An.  Known to early Western merchants, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs.  We take a walking tour to discover Hoi An, the UNESCO World Heritage listed Ancient town, visiting 300 year old Tan Ky and Phuc Kien houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge and Hoi An market.
We soak up the atmosphere of these narrow streets, lane ways and friendly atmosphere before dinner in a local restaurant to sample some of Hoi An’s culinary delights. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 8: HOI AN – DANANG – HUE (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Free morning at leisure until boat ride to local restaurant for an early lunch before the departure from Hoi An, via the Marble Mountains, over the most spectacular Hai Van Pass and onto Vietnam’s former imperial capital and charming town set on the banks of the Perfume River. We visit the local Dong Ba market in Hue, where the famous conical hats are made before an evening of leisure in this quiet town. (Dinner – own account), overnight in Hue
 

DAY 9: HUE – HO CHI MINH (B,D)
Breakfast at hotel. A morning of culture takes us by dragon boat to the Thien Mu Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel and the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc.
In the afternoon fly to Ho Chi Minh.  After check in at your hotel, enjoy Ho Chi Minh (still called Saigon by residents) by night beginning with a pre dinner sunset drink at one of the roof top bars and a walk down the famous Dong Khoi street (formerly Rue Catinat) to a local restaurant for dinner. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH – CU CHI – HO CHI MINH (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, drive to Cu Chi district (150 km from HCMC) to visit the amazing complex of underground tunnels at Cu Chi. There are more than 200 km of underground tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels.  You have the chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels before returning to Saigon for Lunch.
Afternoon orientation by foot from the Saigon River past the Opera House, Town Hall & Notre Dame Cathedral.  Visit Reunification Palace (museum) and the famous Ben Thanh Market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 11: HO CHI MINH –  SIEM REAP (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer from hotel to Phnom Penh International airport. Departure to Siem Reap by Siem Reap Airways International
Upon arrival at Siem Reap International airport, meet and transfer to the hotel
 visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat.  The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing.  Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodia flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean beyond. Enjoy the sunset on Angkor Wat. (Dinner – own account), overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 12: SIEM REAP (B,L)

In the morning visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12th century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King.
In the afternoon visit Victory Gate, the twin temples of Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda twin temples, Takeo and Ta Prohm.  The latter is one of the most beautiful temples in the area.  It has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.  Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it has been left to be swallowed by the jungles, and looks very much the way most of the monuments of Angkor appeared when European explorer first stumbled upon them. Banteay Kdei, surrounded by 4 concentric walls, Srah Srang, "the pool of ablutions" which was doubtless used for ritual bathing and Kravan temples with unique brick sculptures overnight in Siem Reap.
 

DAY 13: SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure to your next destination (airfare not included).