VIETNAM, CAMBODIA AND LAOS TOUR 21 DAYS

Destination: Hanoi/Ha Long/Nha Trang/Ho Chi Minh City/Mekong Delta/Phnom Penh/Siem Reap/Luang Prabang/Vientiane

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

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D, G)

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 Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture). Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi/Ha Long (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 3: Ha Long/Hanoi (B, L, G)

Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for an overnight stay.

Day 4: Hanoi/Nha Trang (B, G)

Noon flight to Nha Trang. On arrival, you’ll be picked up to visit Cham Ponaga Tower. Overnight in Nha Trang in a hotel which overlooks the sea.

Day 5: Nha Trang (B, L, G)

A whole day boat cruise to the Mun Island for snorkeling. Seafood lunch on boat, wine and fruit party at the Mot Island. Rowing bamboo-basket at a fishing village on the Mieu Island. Overnight in Nha Trang.

The boat trip is a “fun” event. You’ll join a boat party of tourists, with a Vietnamese crew who act as guides, cooks, and musicians. Plenty of wine is included (Vietnamese – very good after the first few glasses), and you’ll be offered the local delicacy of “sea-urchin soup” – definitely an acquired taste. The coral around Mun Island is good, provided you swim away from the area where the boats tie up.

You should get back to the land in time for a visit to the hot spring spa near the Cham tower in the town – you can wallow in mud, shower in spring water, and bathe in a large hot mineral water swimming pool set in beautiful gardens for just over $3 – amazing value! Please let me know if you’re interested and I’ll send a quotation for this arrangement.

Day 6: Nha Trang free (B)

Free day in Nha Trang for a beach break.

Nha Trang offers a sufficient variety of activities for a short break in the beach resort. You can have a boat trip to the islands for snorkeling, swimming, “water bar” with Vietnamese wine, water sport. Diving facilities and service here is supposed to be the best in Vietnam. There are many restaurants along the beach offering good Vietnamese and international food. A ten minutes drive takes you to the hot spring spa – you can wallow in mud, shower in spring water, and bathe in a large hot mineral water swimming pool set in beautiful gardens for just over $3 – cheap at ten times the price!

Day 7: Nha Trang/Ho Chi Minh City (B, G)

After breakfast, you are free for relaxing until transferring to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. The rest of day will be your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll start your city tour including the History Museum (special exhibition of the 5thC “Oc Eo” civilisation), the Museum of War Remnants (very partial, but riveting, recollections of the “American War”: not for the squeamish), the huge Ben Thanh market (one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City), the Jade Emperor Temple (superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries) and a lacquer workshop. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh/My Tho (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up at our hotel to travel to My Tho.

Boarding at Cai Be at noon. Welcome drink, Introduction to the ship and crew, check into the cabins. You’ll then departure towards Cho Lach on the Tien Giang river. Have lunch while en route. Rest on the deck.

The Bassac slips into the Cho Lach canal, in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the river traffic, between markets and churches, a unique opportunity for a glimpse of the very varied life on the banks as well as on the water.

Visit of a village on the banks of river Mang Thit, an opportunity to appreciate the way of life and hospitality of the local inhabitants. Visit of the orchard or rice fields nearby.

Boarding back, complimentary drink as a welcome back on board. Rest on the deck enjoying the sunset. The crew will serve dinner while the Bassac is cruising Mang Thit river.

The Bassac sets anchor just downstream from the little Tra On floating market, for the night.

Day 10: My Tho/Can Tho (B, L, G)

You may get up for breakfast as early as 06:30, as the ship is resuming its cruise the Tra On floating market. The ship then departs towards Can Tho. Arrival in Cai Rang floating market, check out and transfer onto a local boat to visit the floating market, the nearby arroyos and gardens and return to the Ninh Kieu pier. After that, you’ll drive to Can Tho for accommodation.

Please note you will leave the Bassac for good upon boarding the small boat for the last visit, typically about 8:30.

Day 11: Can Tho/Soc Trang/Chau Doc (B, L, G)

You’ll have breakfast at your hotel and then be picked up to Soc Trang (a small town well off the beaten tourist track, where you can visit the K’leng Pagoda, remarkable Bat Pagoda, and the unusual ‘Clay Pagoda’. You’ll then drive to Chau Doc for accommodation.

Soc Trang is an attractive small town with very few tourists. The bats at the Bat Pagoda are very large fruit bats, with a wingspan exceeding a metre. They are now very rare, but a sizeable colony gathers in the trees of the pagoda where they are protected from hunters. The pagoda is also very interesting. The K’leng Pagoda is a good example of the ornate Kh’mer architectural style common in the area close to the border with Cambodia. The Clay Pagoda is a remarkable ‘one-off’, the life’s work of a poor but dedicated monk who created a wonderland of effigies ranging from the sacred to the bizarre.

Day 12: Chau Doc/Phnom Penh (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll take a hydrofoil trip to Phnom Penh. On arrival, a car will take you to the hotel. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 13: Phnom Penh (B, L, G)

After breakfast, start your tour in the same morning to Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum of Khmer Arts. In the afternoon, visit Choeung Ek Killing Field, Toul Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crime and renowned Wat Phnom. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 14: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (B, L, G)

After breakfast, take the 7:00 a.m. speed-boat trip to Siem Reap which takes about 5 hours ride. While on board, you will see the scenic scenery of the Cambodian rural life-style along the riverbank (optional by air). Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. After a short relaxation, carry on to tour the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple and see an impressive sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 15: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Early morning, see the picturesque sunrise at Angkor Wat, before returning to the hotel for breakfast. In the same morning, tour to South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants and Leper King. In the afternoon, visit the Small Circuit to see Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, Thommanon, and Chausay Tevoda. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 16: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

After breakfast at hotel, continue your sightseeing to the Grand Circuit to see Prasat Kravan, East Mebon, Pre Rup and Preah Kan. In the afternoon, visit an ethnic local village and take a scenic boat cruise on the Tonle Sap Lake to see the Floating Village. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 17: Siem Reap/Luang Prabang (B, G)

After breakfast at hotel, free at leisure until transfer to airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a guided tour of this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage town. Nestled in a stunning setting amid lush mountains, this sacred city of golden temples and saffron robed monks provides endless opportunities for sightseeing. Visit a number of Wats and some of this peaceful town’s main highlights.

Day 18: Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

This morning, enjoy a cruise on the Mekong River and visit the sacred Pak Ou Caves. Since the 16th century, local people have brought images of the Buddha to place in the caves – nowadays there are thousands to see. In the evening stroll through the night market to buy some local crafts and souvenirs.

Day 19: Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

Today you can choose from many optional activities. You may wish to embark on a bicycle ride through spectacular scenery, visit an elephant camp where you can ride one of these magnificent creatures through the jungle or swim in a jungle waterfall. Alternatively, you could enjoy a delicious cooking class or even a lesson in the art of silk dyeing.

Day 20: Luang Prabang/Vientiane (B, L, G)

You will be transferred to the airport for the short flight to Vientiane. This afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the capital’s main sights. In the evening, go for a stroll along the banks of the Mekong River and enjoy a drink as the sun sets.

Day 21: Depart Vientiane (B, G)

The day is at leisure until you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight.