Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar tour 22 days

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

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City arrival (G)

On arrival, you’ll be picked up to the hotel. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh city tour 1 day (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 3: Ho Chi Minh/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 4: Ho Chi Minh/My Tho/Can Tho (B, L, G)

At 8:00 you’ll be picked up at our hotel to travel to My Tho. On arrival, boat cruise on Mekong river to the Thoi Son island: rowing through small canals and walking along small village road to visit fruit gardens, elementary school, spirits distilling house, and see the daily life of villagers. On your visit you’ll have chance to enjoy some of tropical fruits and traditional music show. After lunch at a local restaurant on island, you’ll continue to cruise to visit a coconut candy workshop. In the afternoon, you’ll driven further into Mekong Delta to Can Tho province. You’ll spend the night in Can Tho.

Day 5: Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

Boat cruise to Cai Rang floating market on the Mekong Delta (views of rural lifestyle). Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh city for overnight

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh/Siem Reap (B, G)

Escorted departure from Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not ready until the afternoon).

Visit Preah Khan temple. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulders-hanging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Continue your visits to Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake and visit the temple of Ta Som and Sunset at Pre Rup. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.

Day 7: Siem Reap Tour (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, 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 Cambodian 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, the ocean beyond.

Lunch at restaurant.

Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara). Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.

Day 8: Siem Reap/Phnom Penh (B, L, G)

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to pier to for local speedboat trip at 07:00 am to Phnom Penh. Arrival around noon time. At the end of dry season speed boat operation is limited due to the low water level. In this case the journey to Phnom Penh is flight. Afternoon Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of the city during sunset. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 9: Phnom Penh/Kratie (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel and drive to Kratie via Kompong Cham. Lunch at local restaurant. Arrival in Kratie and check in at hotel. In the afternoon, city tour of this small provincial town with its good examples of sumptuous colonial architecture. This tiny town on the Mekong is an unexpected delight, with a relaxing, indolent atmosphere. Further north stop at the best riverside vantage point from which to view the rare freshwater Irrawady dolphins which can be best seen late afternoon. Then, drive back to Kratie. Overnight in Kratie.

Day 10: Kratie/Stung Treng (B, L, G)

Breakfast in hotel then transfer by vehicle from Kratie to Stung Treng, a very laid back town located on the banks of the Mekong. Journey along the Mekong River basin through the villages of Sambok, Sre Sbov and Phumi Prek Preah. The Mekong River, which rises in Tibet, flows 315 km through Cambodia before continuing on through Vietnam to the sea. Overnight in Stung Treng.

Day 11: Stung Treng/Dongkralor/Khong Island (B, L, G)

Today you will cross into Laos by a local speed boat to the Cambodian-Lao border. A stunning boat trip of about an hour and a half over a deserted part of the Mekong river will bring you to Dongkralor the border. You must have Lao visa beforehand ! On completion of immigration formalities. The guide in the Laotian side who will pick up you and transfer to Khong Island. Khong Island is part of Siphandone, Laotian for ’4000 islands’. During the dry season thousands of shoals and small islands appear due to the descending water level, giving the impression of a vast area of islets. Overnight in Khong Island

Day 12: Khong Island (B, L, G)

Morning, cruise along the backwaters to explore Siphandone. Visit the surrounding islands of Done Ket and Done Som for a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of the fishermen. Continue to Done Khone Island. Lunch at local restaurant in Ban Khone. Then visit Done Khone Island and hike along its ancient railway built by the French in 1897 in order to bypass the powerful rapids when transporting goods from Cambodia. Continue to Sumphamith Waterfall. In the dry season, the Irrawaddy Dolphins, one of the world’s rarest large mammal species, congregate at the base of the rapids to hunt the fish that survive in the deep pools. Spend a relaxing hour watching these extremely shy and endangered freshwater dolphins. Return by boat to Khong Island. Overnight in Khong Island.

Day 13: Khong Island/Wat Phou/Pakse (B, L, G)

This morning, departure for Pakse. Along the way you will visit Wat Phou. This Khmer temple was built in the 5th century thus predating Angkor Wat in Cambodia. In 2002 Wat Phou was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The walk to the upper part of the temple is steep, but the view over the surrounding countryside is rewarding indeed. Arrival in Pakse, check in hotel. Overnight in Pakse

Day 14: Pakse/Vientiane (B, L, G)

Morning transfer to airport for flight to Vientiane. In the afternoon, we take a sightseeing tour of Vientiane, to visit religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have been survived from the Siamese war of 1828 and its cloister contains more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane; That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha; Patouxay (Arch de Triumph), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the land-mark of Vientiane. Overnight in Vientiane

Day 15: Vientiane/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang, transfer to hotel. Today’s city tour of the former Royal capital, Luang Prabang, include a visit to Wat Visoun, the site of the impressive Thad Makmo stupa and Phou Si hill which stands right in the centre of the small city, where you can climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views over the Mekong. Wat Phu Si sits atop the mountain, alongside the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns. Then we continue, visiting Wat Mai (1796) with its five-tiered roof, and Wat Xieng Thong which is considered to characterize the uniqueness of Luang Prabang’s local style, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. We see also the impressive “tree of life” mosaic here. After that we visit the National Museum, which was once the king’s palace. Displayed inside is a collection of personal artifacts of the former royal family. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 16: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou Cave (B, L, G)

After breakfast, we board a cruise heading upstream on the Mekong River, giving a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. Our first stop is the village of Ban Muangkeo where we start a short trek (45 mins) to reach the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. En route, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local specialty of rice wine is produced. On the way, we also visit Ban Xangkhong, Ban Xienglek and Ban Nong Xai, small villages well known for silk weavings and for Saa (jute) Papermaking. Return and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 17: Luang Prabang/Bangkok/Yangon (B, G)

After breakfast,  you’ll be free to do what you wish and then transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok where you will connect with your international flight to Yangon. Arriving at Yangon International airport, welcomed by local guide and transfer to the hotel. Evening sightseeing of down town Yangon and one wonder of the world, ‘Shwedagon’ pagoda. Dinner with traditional show at ‘Lonmalay’ restaurant.

Day 18: Yangon full day sightseeing (B, G)

After breakfast at hotel, morning tour; visit to Botahtaung Pagoda, Nanthida jetty and watch the traffic on the Yangon River. Here luxury cruise liners come to berth at this jetty quite often. Proceed to Yangon’s City center featuring Sule Pagoda and colonial buildings and National Museum. Afternoon tour; visit to Kaba Aye (World’s Peace) Pagoda, Mahapasana Cave and Lawka Chanthar Arbayar Laba Muni Buddha Image (Kyauktawgyi) and White Elephant camp. Overnight at hotel in Yangon.

Day 19: Yangon/Bagan by am flight (B, G)

This morning we head for the airport to get the early morning flight to Bagan. Check into the hotel and depart for a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. A comprehensive exploration of Bagan includes Nyaung Oo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with exquisite mural painting of 13th century and Htilominlo Temple.
In the afternoon, after a visit to lacquer ware workshops; continue to Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha; Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi colour mural paintings. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset from one of the temple of Bagan. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Day 20: Bagan/Mandalay by am flight (B, G)

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Nyaun U airport for flight to Mandalay. When you arrive at Mandalay airport, drive to ancient capital of Amarapura, the city of Immortality for a visit to Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images; weaving industries, two-century old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taungtaman Lake and observe the lunch process of thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence. Proceed to Mandalay and check in at the hotel.
After refreshment, you will take a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes Mahanumi, a life like Buddha image. Mandalay is the last capital of Myanmar and that make her to be the best place to see all the traditional arts and crafts. Start visiting gold leaf making work-place and see how the gold leaf is being made by hand in a traditional way. Continue visit the Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world’s largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha’s Doctrine; Golden Palace Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings and enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Day 21: Mandalay/Yangon by pm flight (B, G)

After breakfast, you will be transferred for Jetty for a private boat across the river Ayeywarwaddy to visit Mingun. The dedications of King Bodawpaya such as the unfinished Pathodawgyi Pagoda a brick counterpart of pyramid in Egypt and the Mingun Bell, the second largest bell in the world are the most prominent religious heritages. Then visiting the Myatheintan Pagoda, the best representation of the Universe, will refresh your tiredness and fatigue. Return to Mandalay and drive directly to Mandalay airport for your flight to Yangon. Overnight at the Yangon hotel.

Day 22: Yangon departure (B, G)

After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Yangon International airport for your return international departure flight.