Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are famous for being friendly and rich in history and beauty. Take this 27 day tour to explore all leading tourist destinations in these four countries.
From the Centre to the North of Thailand, the route will show you famous places keeping the values of culture, traditions and history. Specially, Northern Thailand – a mountainous area with cool climate and a diverse mix of culture has really become an attractive destination for tourists. The itinerary in Vietnam brings you to visit most highlights in the North, Centre and South comprising Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City.
From the most dynamic city of Vietnam, you will take a short flight to the charming capital city of Phnom Penh, then Siem Reap to explore the mystery of Angkor complex. A boat trip to Great Lake Tonle Sap, which is best known for its basin of fresh water fish will end your part trip in Cambodia before getting a flight to Vientiane. A trekking tour in Vang Vieng is another way to explore the hill tribe people. From there, transfer to the best preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia – Luang Prabang to have an interesting journey
Gia Linh has done a superb job of organizing our tour; meeting Ha and having her ring every few days to check that all was well. Thank you!
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide
Day 1: Bangkok arrival (G)
Up on arrival in Bangkok, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel for check in. You’ll spend the night in Bangkok.
Day 2: Bangkok tour (B, L, G)
After breakfast at the hotel, tour visit city highlight of Bangkok includes; Wat Phra Keo, Wat Trimit, the Golden Buddha Image. Proceed to Wat Pho or the Temple of Reclining Buddha and take a ferry to Wat Arun. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch visit to the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple. Return to hotel for leisure and overnight stay.
Day 3: Bangkok/Ayutthaya/Phitsanulok (B, L, G)
Drive to Ayutthaya. Visit to Summer Palace and Historical park sightseeing. Visit at Monkey Temple in Lopburi. Drive to Amarin Lagoon hotel in Phitanulok.
Day 4: Phitsanulok/Sukhothai/Chiang Mai (B, L, G)
Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing: Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat. Drive to Sukhothai for historical park of the first independent Siamese kingdom. As option, bike rental. Continue to Chiang Mai. Accommodation at hotel in Chiang Mai.
Day 5: Chiang Mai Sightseeing (B, L, G)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep for witness Thailand most popular Buddhist pilgrim center. Drive to Doi Pui for Meo Hilltribe village for beautiful garden and handicrafts. Visit to local handicrafts center. Accommodation in Chiang Mai.
Day 6: Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai (B, L, G)
Breakfast at hotel. Orchid plantation Tour to Elephants cam for an elephant show in Chiang Dao. After the tour proceed to orchid farm. Continue to Chiang Rai to check into hotel and free at own leisure.
Day 7: Chiang Rai/Bangkok (B, L, G)
Breakfast at hotel. Tour visit to Mae Sai market near Myanmar border. Exploring market before continue to Golden Triangle to visit to Opium House and take a boat along Mekong River to visit Don Sao (Laos Island). Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch transfer to Chiang Rai airport for your flight to Bangkok. You will spend the night in Bangkok
Day 8: Bangkok/Hanoi (B, D, G)
After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Hanoi.
Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a welcome dinner at a colonial building. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry (an art form unique to northern Viet Nam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture). Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.
Day 9: Hanoi city tour (B, L, G)
An all day city tour, possibly including the Temple of Literature, (the first university in Viet Nam dating back to the 11th C), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ethnology Museum and the centre of Ha Noi, including the Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son temple and the bustling Old Quarter with a complex of architecture – traditional tube houses, religious buildings and the colonial houses. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of Cheo (an traditional music typical for the northern Viet Nam). Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 10: Hanoi/Halong (B, L, D, G)
A morning drive to Ha Long Bay, (one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas – the world’s largest marine ‘karst’ landscape). Travel by traditional-style boat to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Includes swimming, fishing, hill (not mountain) climbing for Bay overviews, exploring sea level caves in a small sampan, etc. All meals will be provided on board and your accommodation will be on the boat in a twin room with en suite toilet and shower.
Day 11: Halong/Hanoi (B, L, G)
Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for an overnight stay.
Day 12: Hanoi/Hue (B, L, G)
Noon flight to Hue, check-in, then to the Thien Mu Pagoda (beside the Perfume River – very tranquil), boat cruise to King Minh Mang’s Tomb (the most majestic of the Royal Tombs) and drive to visit the Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.
Day 13: Hue (B, L, G)
Morning visit to the Imperial Citadel of Hue and the Antiquity Museum. Afternoon drive to visit King Tu Duc’s Tomb (the poet King, the simplest Royal tomb set in a beautiful garden) and visit to Garden Houses – (a cultural characteristic in Hue). In the evening you’ll be picked up to enjoy a Hue musical show on a boat in the Perfume River for about one hour. Overnight in Hue.
Day 14: Hue/Hoi An (B, L, G)
Morning drive to Danang (excellent views from high mountain pass). On arrival in Danang, you’ll have a brief visit to Cham Museum, then continue to travel to Hoi An. After lunch, a guided visit to the Ancient Town. Overnight stay in Hoi An.
The town is an ancient trading port, once the largest in Indochina and a meeting point for many cultures that left their mark in the different architectural features of its wooden buildings.
Day 15: Hoi An/Danang/Ho Chi Minh City tour (B, L, G)
You’ll be free until the driver and guide come and take you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check in.
In the afternoon, you’ll start your city tour including the History Museum (special exhibition of the 5thC ‘Oc Eo’ civilization), the Museum of War Remnants (very partial, but riveting, recollections of the ‘American War’: not for the squeamish). You will spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi (B, L, G)
Drive to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Holy See (in time to watch the mid-day ceremony), Cu Chi (intricate network of underground passages and bunkers that became legendary during the 1960’s for their role in the war of liberation). Farewell dinner and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Cao Dai is a ‘new’ religion unique to Viet Nam with around a million followers. Both its creed and its architecture are remarkable and exotic.
Day 17: Ho Chi Minh City/Phnom Penh (B, G)
Your time will be your own until the driver and guide come and take you to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh.
On arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, we will be welcome to the hotel. Wasting no time, during the half-day city tour, we will witness the National Museum of Khmer Arts, with its warm red terracotta and its gracefully curved roof topped by dozens of guardian nagas. Then we continue to the nearby Royal Palace, one of the most beautiful samples of Khmer palace, which allows us to visit the precious Throne Hall, Prasat Khemarin, Prasat Samrn Phirum, Hor Preah Khan, Chan Chhaya, and Silver Pagoda where the king regularly does the warship. We pass through the River Front Park whose scenery is much worth shooting, and continue to the only one hill in town with sacred sites called Wat Phnom before getting on a boat cruise along Mekong River bank to see the lovely Phnom Penh city at night with breathtaking view along the river. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 18: Phnom Penh (B, L, G)
Today, we spend the morning visiting the unforgotten Toul Sleng Museum where is the largest center of detention and torture of Khmer Rough regime, and we continue to similar genocide scene of Cheung Ek Killing field. (Attention, both places could be of heartily horrific and depressing experience.) In the afternoon, city orientation tour includes Phnom Penh Municipality Hall, National Library, National Bank, Independence Monument and shopping at New Central Market where we find various kinds of souvenirs ranging from clothes to galleries, and then enjoy ourselves overnight in Phnom Penh city.
Overnight in Phnom Penh
Day 19: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (B, L, G)
In the morning, we get on the 1-hour flight to Siem Reap, the city of Ankor. The same morning we are on tour to Rolous Group temples including the 9th-century-erected Preah Ko temple, Bakheng, the largest and most complex temple of the Rolous group temples, and the four-brick-tower temple of Lo Lei. After the lunch break, we will head to Small Circuit to witness the Prasat Kravan (Cardamon sanctuary), where we will experience the stunning image of the eight-armed Vishnu in the largest central tower. Then we get going to Banteay Kdei, a massive Buddist temple with four concentric walls; Srah Srang (Royal Bath); Ta Prohm, which is best known for its originally ancient look. Next, we move to just east of Ankor Thom where stand the Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda that seem to be known as the twin temple; and to Takeo, the only temple never completed, and yet is one among the finest. Finally, we enjoy the dinner with both Khmer and foreign food. Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 20: Siem Reap (B, L, G)
In the early morning, we enjoy the view of sunset at Ankor Wat. Then we start our tour to the most popular South Gate of Angkor Thom’s before going to Angkor Thom(the temple) which was built by Angkor’s greatest king, Jayavarman VII. The major attraction of Angkor Thom is the Bayon that is recognized to take the second place of attractive Ankorian sites after Ankor Wat. Then we go to Bapoun, which is one of the most spectacular of Ankor’s temples in its heyday; to Terrace of Leper King, the mysterious site to find out; and to Terrace of Elephants that once served as the base for the king’s grand audience hall for the public ceremonies. Now it is time to visit the World Seven Wonder, better known as Anokor Wat, which is considered the most important archaeological site in Southeast Asia. In the evening, comes the moment for the relaxing view from the Phnom Bakheng Hill before dinning out with Khmer Traditional Dance Show and taking individual time overnight in town.
Day 21: Siem Reap (B, L, G)
Today in the early morning, we will view sunrise at Angkor Wat. There you will see the wonderful of spectrum sun rise on the top of the five peaks of Angkor Temple, breakfast at hotel. In the morning we continue to visit Banteay Srei (Citadel of the women) where is the most finest stone carving seen anywhere on the planet and then we will visit Kbal Spean (The river of a Thousand lingas). Then lunch at the local restaurant, after that we continue to visit Grand Circuit including Pre Rup (Turning the body) where there are some amazingly detailed lintel carvings here, East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, Preah Khan and Baksei Chamkrong. Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 22: Siem Reap/Tonle Sap Lake/Vientiane (B, L, G)
In the morning, we are on a boat trip to Great Lake Tonle Sap, which is best known for its basin of fresh water fish (10 tons/ 1Square Km in the 60’s). Visitors may also view the fresh water exhibition where we can see various kinds of fish in Tonlesap Lake. We then continue to Les Artisans d’Angkor – Chantiers Ecole where visitors can observe students learning traditional carving and finishing techniques. Then we will enjoy the leisure time until the flight to Vientiane. Overnight stay in Vientiane.
Day 23: Vientiane/Vang Vieng (B, L, G)
Heading out of the town, we travel by roads to Vang Vieng with stop over at the archeological sight of Vang Xang dating back from the 11th century. On arrival at Vang Vieng, we cross the Nam Song River, and then enjoy a short trek through the breathtaking mountain landscape to Tam None cave and some hill villages. Today ends with a spectacular view of the sunset over the Nam Song River.
Overnight in Vang Vieng
Day 24: Vang Vieng trekking (B, L, G)
After breakfast, we start our trek venturing into the surrounding area of Vang Vieng, which is famous for the beautiful limestone formations as well as the mysterious caves and cavern. Along the way, we visit the legendary cave of Tham Chang, the Ban NamKa village, the Tai Deang and the Souay hill tribe people. They are all friendly and welcoming. The remainder of the day is free for your own exploration of the town and strolling around the shopping area. Overnight in Vang Vieng
Day 25: Vang Vieng/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)
An early morning start to drive to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The road conditions are very pool; how ever the unequalled scenery with a mixture of steep terraced fields and hill tribe villages make for an interesting journey. On arrival in Luang Prabang, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham. We then climb up to the top of Phousi Hill for an enjoyable exploration of sacred, gilded stupa and a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 26: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou Cave (B, L, G)
Today, we enjoy a short guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xang Hai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day 27: Luang Prabang departure (B, G)
Breakfast at your hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Price includes:
Price does not include:
Hotel list for Five Star standard:
Hotel list for Four Star standard:
Hotel list for Three Star standard:
If, at the time of booking, any hotels or rooms in the list above are fully booked, we will endeavour to find accommodation of a similar standard elsewhere. If the only available accommodation is of a higher or lower standard, we will revise the price accordingly and consult you immediately.
