LAOS, VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA CLASSIC TOUR 20 DAYS

Destination: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou Cave/Khouangsi waterfall/Hanoi/Ha Long/Sapa/Danang/My Son/Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City/My Tho/Can Tho/Chau Doc/Phnom Penh/Siem Reap

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide

Day 1: Arrival Luang Prabang (G)

Upon arrival at airport then you will be met and transfer to hotel for check in, after that then free at leisure time. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang Full day city tour (B, G)

Your full day city tour begins after breakfast, with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Today, we also visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before we head out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek before we then return to the city for a visit to Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River.  The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 3: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou Cave/Khuang Si Water fall (B, G)

After breakfast, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.  Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we disembark the boat to visit traditional villages, and continue taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving

This afternoon, we’ll visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, Khmu villages.  This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 4: Luang Prabang/Hanoi (B, G)

Today is free at leisure time until airport transfer for flight to Hanoi

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll then be free until be picked up to watch the Water Puppet show an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi City tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be picked up to start a Hanoi city tour. You’ll visit Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state (closed on every Monday & Friday and October & November) and see the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked. You’ll continue to visit the One Pillar Pagoda and hear the legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor in the 11th Century. You’ll drive to visit the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s West Lake. You’ll also call at the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and the dedicated to Confucius, it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside and later become Vietnam’s first university.

After lunch at local restaurant, driver and guide will take you to visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic and enjoy an orientation of the tree-lined streets of Hanoi, resplendent with French colonial architecture, including the recently restored Opera House. Pass by Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Lake of Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to one of the city’s fascinating museums.   

In the afternoon, you’ll take to the streets by walking tour of the Ancient Quarter of 36 streets District. This densely populated corner of the city was once a centre of commerce where goods were sold under the street name of a particular guild. Still a thriving community of sellers today, you’ll see streets name such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise.

You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

You’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, which is often called Vietnam’s eighth wonder of the world and once visited, it is hard to dispute that claim. 4000 spectacular limestone outcroppings, cliffs, arches and coves compete for space in an area that is without doubt the most outstandingly naturally beautiful in the country – incomparable coastal scenery.  On arrival, you’ll board your boat, a wooden junk that will take you first to the busy World Heritage area Ha Long Bay, which is translated as “Descending Dragon”. You’ll stop off at an islet and climb though a series of breathtaking caves and grottoes, marveling at some of the most impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations anywhere in the world and then making a stop secluded beach where you can enjoy cruising among the cave dotted island and seeing the small fishing boats with are always feature of this lovely bay. Weather permitting, you’ll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood. You’ll spend the night on the boat.

For your two-day Ha Long excursion, you’ll board one of the best quality boats on the Bay, a wooden junk based on the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels with sails, a wide transom and rectangular superstructure. The boats vary in size, accommodating between ten and eighteen people, so you’re likely to be joining other travellers for the cruise. Your cabin will be about six metres square, and furnished with twin bunks, two fans, an air-conditioner, pillows, white cotton sheets, and an en suite toilet and shower.

Day 7: Ha Long/Hanoi/Lao Cai (B, L, G)

You’ll have western breakfast on boat and then spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking to the harbour at 11.30. You’ll drive back to Hanoi for your refreshment at a local standard hotel. You’ll then check out at around 18.00 for your dinner by yourself. Your guide will then escort you to Hanoi railways station to board an evening train to Lao Cai. You’ll spend the night on the train.

Day 8: Lao Cai/Sapa (B, L, G)

You’ll be met by your tour guide at Lao Cai Station and have a breakfast at the local restaurant. You’ll be picked up to visit a market frequented by ethnic minority peoples. Although it’s quite a long drive, the landscape is attractive and the ethnic markets are a fascinating experience. Unlike those in the tourist areas, the markets that we choose are for not only buying and selling, but also meeting places for ethnic minority people to meet and exchange news. There will be plenty of colour and authentic costumes, but very little to buy as souvenirs unless you want to barter for a water buffalo or a sack of fertiliser!

Drive to Sapa, a scenic mountain area with high peaks, rivers, valleys and hillside terracing. The villages are traditional and are typically tucked away at the bottom of the hill slopes. Most of the villagers wear traditional costumes. The rest day will be free to explore Sapa town by yourself. You’ll spend the night in Sapa. 

Escape to the rugged mountain region north of Hanoi inhabited by ethnic groups seemingly a world away from the fast pace of urban life. Located near the Chinese border, Sapa lies at an elevation of 1,650 metres and is a former French hill station that has recently grown in popularity as a destination for those seeking adventure among Vietnam’s highest mountain ranges.

Primarily Vietnamese in character, Sapa comes alive during the weekend market when the local ethnic H’mong and Dzao people trek in from nearby villages to sell their wares. Surrounded by the vista of Vietnam’s highest peak, Fan Si Pan (3,142 metres), the region holds countless trails and walks for all levels of enthusiasts and provides an introduction into the lives of the isolated communities of the north.

The trips to ethnic minority markets must be on Tuesday (Coc Ly Market), Thursday (Lung Khau Nhin), Saturday (Can Cau) or Sunday (Bac Ha or Muong Hum Markets).

Day 9: Sapa/Lao Cai (B, L, G)

Breakfast at your hotel, you’ll hike down to the H’mong ethnic minority villages on the way. You’ll then be driven by Jeep to visit Lao Chai village for your picnic lunch. You’ll take a walk to visit Lao Chai village, a village of H’mong people and then to Ta Van village, a village of Day people. The walk is moderate to intermediate descending down into a scenic valley of cascading water crossed by suspension bridges. You’ll next visit the Giang Ta Chai, a village of Red Dao people before driving back to Sapa for refreshen up at a local standard hotel. You’ll then be escorted to Lao Cai station. You’ll have dinner by yourselves. You’ll then take an overnight sleeper train at 20.00 back to Hanoi. You’ll spend the night on the train.

Hiking around Sapa can be quite arduous. The tracks are rough in places, and your route will take along undulating terraces and through the villages. Stout walking shoes and good sun protection are essential.

Day 10: Hanoi/Danang/Hoi An (B, L, G)

Arrive Hanoi in the early morning, you will be met and transfered to a local standard hotel for your refreshment.

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be free until you’ll be escorted to the airport for your flight to Danang. On arrival, our guide and driver will meet and transfer you to Hoi An. En-route, you’ll have a brief visit to Cham museum, remarkable Hindu statuary. The Cham left a legacy of excellent sculptures as they were pushed south by the advancing Vietnamese invaders. Driver and guide will take you to visit China Beach, immortalised for many by the US television show and still one of the most spectacular beach in Asia. You’ll then visit the Marble Mountain, Stone Carving village where you can admire the stone products of local people. You’ll travel to Hoi An to have a visit the town, and enjoy its considerable significance in the history of Vietnam town. You’ll enter a narrow street to look at unique Japanese covered bridge, Chinese communal house, shop for art at one of the numerous galleries and enjoy riverside ambience. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An/My Son (B, G)

Breakfast at your hotel, your driver and guide will pick you to visit the World Heritage My Son Sanctuary, the guide will show you the remains of the remarkable brick towers, and explain their origins and purpose. You’ll return to Hoi An. Rest of day will be free perhaps to stroll around the Old Quarter of relax on the beach. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Once, the My Son Sanctuary was the spiritual capital of the Cham Kingdom that dominated SE Asia for nearly a thousand years. Its remarkable brick towers were badly bombed, but are still impressive, as is its remote valley setting. It’s set in a quiet, richly forested area, bisected by a clear stream. However, the tree cover is not complete, and the valley acts as suntrap, so good sun protection is important.

Day 12: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City (B, G)

Your time will be your own until you’ll escorted to Danang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On your arrival at the Tan Son Nhat airport, you’ll be driven to your hotel. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City tour/Cu Chi tunnel (B, L, G)

In the morning, you’ll visit the Cu Chi tunnels, a byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and booby traps used by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong to suddenly materialise as if from nowhere, launch a lightning ambush, and vanish equally rapidly. Your lunch will be served at the local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Museum of War Remnants provides a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the ‘American War’, the Centre Post Office with colonial building and the Cathedral Church.  You’ll then be driven to visit the Jade Emperor Temple. It’s one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries. You’ll have approximately two hour to visit Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City, is packed with every conceivable commodity and a visit to lacquer workshop to see the complex processes and meticulous workmanship involved in this traditional Vietnamese craft product. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City/My Tho/Can Tho (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be taken to My Tho, a city nearby Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you’ll then take a boat trip along Tien River. Have sightseeing around four beautiful Islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix. Visit a local coconut candy workshop; taste candy (Special products of Ben Tre province). Take horse-cart for a short distance through Quoi son village and stopover at orchard. Study how local people breed bees in wooden boxes at their farm and make handicraft from coconut trunk and shell. Try honey with tea or wine and seasonal fruits; enjoy traditional music. Take rowing-boat on narrow water palm creek. Your lunch will be on islet. You’ll be driven further into the Mekong Delta to Can Tho where you’ll spend the night.

Day 15: Can Tho/Chau Doc (B, L, G)

You’ll have breakfast at your hotel and then be picked up to Ninh Kieu Harbour. You’ll then take about two hour boat trip to cruise along the Mekong River to Cai Rang floating market. You can enjoy the Mekong rural lifestyle. Afternoon, drive to Chau Doc where you’ll board a small sailing boat to visit floating houses farming Basa fish, Cham ethnic minority villages and a mosque. Overnight stay in Chau Doc.

Day 16: Chau Doc/Phnom Penh (B, G)

After breakfast, guest will you can take a hydrofoil trip to Phnom Penh.

Met at the harbour and transfer to the hotel check in. The same afternoon, Visit Royal Palace is a royal residence now where His Majesty, the King of Cambodia, and the royal families live. it is like a small town of royal dynasties. Continue to Silver Pagoda, serves less as a functioning temple than a repository for cultural treasures such as 90 kg golden Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds. Finally visit Wat Phnom Temple is one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh. Built in 1373 on an artificial hill by the wealthy widow Daun Chi Penh. Accommodation at hotel

Day 17: Phnom Penh (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 prison), where you will meet one of the few survivors from Khmer Rouge time. This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the extermination camp at Choeng Ek to be executed. Then drive to visit the “Killing Fields” of Choeng Ek (15 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants (including nine westerners) were detained and tortured at the S-21 prison and transported to extermination camp of Choeng Ek.

Visit Russian Market (Toul Tumpong Market), the Market has gained reputation for cheap clothing, a large selection of Buddha images and woodcarvings, betel-nut boxes, silk, silver jewelry, and classic music instrument. Enjoy Sunset Cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Phnom Penh, it bursts into 4 branches.  Accommodation at hotel

Day 18: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (B, D, G)

Breakfast at the hotel – Transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap (your room might not be ready). The same morning, visit to the “Chantiers-Ecole, Les Artisans d’Angkor”, a vocational training center, which revives the traditional Cambodian techniques and styles of wood and stone carving and polychrome lacquer. Afternoon, visit to jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. Enjoy sunset at Preah Rup temple.

Dinner at local restauranat with Apsara Dance show. Accommodation at hotel

Day 19: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel, Heading out of town we make our way by traveling on a newly paved road to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei. Along the way we make stopover at the Preah Dark village.

Afternoon, visit to exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with 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 largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with Colums, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. Tonight enjoy circus show performed by young Cambodian team from Battambang: www.pharecambodiancircus.org.  Accommodation at hotel

Day 20: Siem Reap Departure (B, L, G)

Breakfast at the hotel – Visit to the largest floating village of Kampong Kleang. During the dry season you can walk between the stilts on which the houses are built, rising up to 10 meters in the air. In the wet season the lake reaches peak level and water rises till one or two meters of the building floors. You will enjoy a boat tour through the village and have the chance to meet the locals. Transfer to the airport for the flight departure