VIETNAM, LAOS, THAILAND AND MYANMAR TOUR 29 DAYS

Destination: Ho Chi Minh City/Mekong Delta/Hue/Hoi An/My Son/Hanoi/Ha Long/Sapa/Luang Prabang/Vientiane/Bangkok/Ayutthaya/Sukhothai/Lampang/Chiang Rai/Chiang Mai/Yangon/Bagan/Heho

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

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City arrival (D, G) Arriving at the airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a welcome dinner. Your overnight stay will be 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). 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 City/Vinh Long (B, L, D, G)

Drive to Vinh Long, cruise on Mekong River to visit traditional family-run brick kilns and a wide range of varied cottage industries, e.g. Overnight stay in an orchard house of local people beside canals.

Day 5: Vinh Long/Ho Chi Minh (B, L, G)

Morning boat cruise to visit a bonsai garden, the old house, local houses making confectionery and Cai Be floating market. You’ll also have chance to enjoy the Mekong Delta music performed by local people. Afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh City for an overnight stay.

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

After breakfast, you’ll be free until transfer to the airport for your flight to Hue. On arrival, you’ll drive 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 7: 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 8: Hue/Danang/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 9: Hoi An/My Son (B, G)

Morning drive to My Son Sanctuary – World Heritage Area. Free afternoon and overnight 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 by the Americans, but are still impressive as is its remote valley setting.

Day 10: Danang/Hanoi (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. In the afternoon, you’ll have an “Back Street Art” tour including a serial of visits to homes, which are also the studios and workshops, of some of the talented artists in the city, tucked away down tiny alleys and back streets. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 11: Hanoi City tour (B, L, G)

An all day city tour, possibly including the Temple of Literature, (the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th C), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ethnology Museum and the centre of Hanoi, 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 Vietnam). Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 12: 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 13: Ha Long/Hanoi/Lao Cai (B, L, G)

Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for refreshment at a local hotel before boarding the overnight train. Overnight on the train.

Day 14: Lao Cai/Sapa (B, L, G)

You”ll be met at the Lao Cai station and taken by a Jeep or a Land Cruiser to visit an ethnic market. After a picnic lunch, you”ll return to Lao Cai and continue your journey into the mountains to Sa Pa, a small town perched on the mountainside opposite Mt. Fan Si Pan, Vietnam’s highest peak. Picnic lunch will be prepared in the morning from Sa Pa. You’ll arrive in Sa Pa in the late afternoon, with time to relax before dinner. The trips to ethnic markets are a fascinating experience but must be on Tuesday (Coc Ly Market), Saturday (Can Cau) or Sunday (Bac Ha or Muong Hum Markets).

Day 15: Sapa/Lao Cai (B, L, G)

Morning stroll to the town busy market and then easy trek to ethnic villages of H’mong in a scenic valley. After stream-side picnic lunch, you’ll be picked up to visit other ethnic villages of the H’mong, Day and Red Dao people. Return to Sa Pa and then back to Lao Cai station for an overnight train to Hanoi.

Day 16: Hanoi/Luang Prabang (B, G)

In the morning, you will free before catching the flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham and 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 beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the hilltribe and local people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 17: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou cave/Khouangsi Waterfall (B, L, G)

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. You can also visit the morning Phosi Market where you canl see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. AM: After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panaromic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of 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 small village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is distilled. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, on the way we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village well known for its hand weaving. PM: After lunch we continue towards Khouangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit the local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Ban Ou, Laoloum and Ban Thapene, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall.  Here you can take a dip in the inviting pools or walk along the forest trails surrounding the waterfall. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for silk handweaving and for traditional Saa Paper making. We return to the city by late evening to watch the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 18: Luang Prabang/Vientiane (B, G)

The National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace, displays a lovely collection of the artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. The National Museum and the Central Market are not to be missed. We visit these sights in the morning before catching our flight back to Vientiane. Upon arrival in Vientiane, we see the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop enroute to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. We watch the sunset by Mekong Riverside and spend the evening here absorbing the city’s nightlife. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 19: Vientiane/Bangkok (B, G)

After breakfast, we visit the Morning Market and the weaving village of Ban Nong Bouathong. You will free before catching the flight to Bangkok. On arrival, the car will take you to the hotel for check-in. Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 20: Bangkok/Ayutthaya (B, L, G)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before transferring to the boat pier to board the cruise upriver bounding for Wat Chong Lom in Nonthaburi, enjoy views on the River of Kings along the way. An International buffet lunch is served on board while cruising. Disembark the cruise and continue driving to Ayutthaya – the former capital to visit the Historical Park and its temples among them Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Phra Mahathat, Wat Phra Meru, Wat Yai Chaya Mongkol and the ancient ruins of Wat Chai Wattanaram. Overnight in Ayutthaya.

Day 21: Ayutthaya/Uthai Thani/Sukhothai (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel, before driving further north with an interval in Uthai Thani. Reach the provincial capital then visit the market place to experience the local lifestyle and their daily routine and Wat Chantharam (Wat Tha Sung) with its spectacular Crystal and Golden Halls. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant en-route, we then take you to Sukhothai, founded in the 13th century, it was the Kingdom’s first capital. Visit Sukhothai Historical Park which was once a walled city surrounded by a moat, the park contains almost 200 ruined chedis in remarkable condition. See the main sites of Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Chum, Wat Sri Sawai, War Sra Sri, Wat Trapang Ngoen and Ramkamhaeng Museum before checking into your hotel. Bike ride possible in supplement in the historical park. A nice and easy way to stroll around the ruins! Overnight in Sukhothai

Day 22: Sukhothai/Phrae/Lampang (B, L, G)

After breakfast drive north to Si Satchanalai Historical Park on the banks of the Yom River north of Sukhothai. The ancient town, formerly called ”Muang Chaliang,” was named ”Si Satchanalai” during the reign of Phra Ruang and 134 ruined monuments have been discovered within the park. Visit the main sites including several temples, as well as the Celadon Kiln Site Study and Conservation Center at Ban Ko Noi, some 4 kilometres to the north of Si Satchanalai. Continue to Phrae, one of Thailand’s oldest cities founded in 828 under the name Muang Phon and one of the most authentic Lana towns, Phrae is packed with traditional Thai architecture in the form of beautiful teak houses, eclectic wats and quiet lanes as well as several large colonial period teak mansions. We will spend some time visiting Vongburi House, a large two-storey teak mansion built in 1897 for a family that held a large teak concession in the area. The house has remained in the family ever since and is a living museum, full of fascinating relics of the past including documents related to the purchase of slaves. Also, visit the small silver workshop on site to see bowls and other ornaments being made. Continue to Lampang, a large trading centre during the 19th Century.  Take a horse cart ride along Taladkao Road where you can see old Thai, Chinese, British and Burmese merchant houses. Overnight in Lampang.

Day 23: Chiang Rai/Golden Triangle/Chiang Mai (B, L, G)

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town on the Myanmar (Tha khilek) border. Walk around the local market, and continue to visit Chiang Saen on the steep banks of Mae Khong River, opposite of Laos where you will see some magnificent ancient ruins and temples then drive to Sop Ruak, a small trading village and the actual point where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. In the afternoon, head South-West towards Chiang Mai after a visit to Wat Rong Khun the “White Temple”. Coffee break on the way at the excellent Jarin Garden Resort famous for its homemade pies or at Cabbage and Condoms operated by the Population and Community Development Association to serve and assist the rural people. Arrive Chiang Mai late afternoon, and check in at your hotel You may wish to walk or take a Tuk Tuk ride to night bazaar for shopping or even enjoy local sumptuous dinner at the riverside restaurant. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 24: Chiang Mai/Bangkok (B, G)

In the morning, drive to the mountain temple of Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, the most famous landmark of Chiang Mai. Climb the Naga staircase to visit the exquisite golden pagoda. The sound of temple bells fills the air and the view overlooking the city makes an irresistible photo opportunity. Afterwards drive up the mountain by “songtaew” onto a rough dirt road to the Chang Khien Coffee Research Project where you can enjoy a cup of the local ‘arabica’ surrounded by fabulous gardens of flowers. Continue to the white Hmong village of Chang Chine where the 800 inhabitants still wear their traditional hill tribe clothes and practice a culture that dates back 500 years. Afternoon, transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for your flight to Bangkok. Arriving at Bangkok, the car will take you to the hotel. Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 25: Bangkok/Yangon (B, G)

After breakfast, drive to the airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, your guide will welcome and transfer you to your hotel. This afternoon, begin with an orientation tour of Yangon’s highlights, including Kandawgyi Park with its beautiful views and Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda which houses a 70-meter reclining Buddha statue. Take a break at a teashop for and get a taste for the local culture. Late this afternoon, pay homage to the famed Shwedagon Pagoda and enjoy impressive views of the glided stupa as the sun sets. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 26: Yangon/Bagan (B, G)

A short flight from Yangon takes you to Bagan. Begin your time in this ancient capital with a tour of the iconic temple sites followed by a visit to a traditional lacquer ware workshop. Late this afternoon, take a boat upriver to a riverside village and the secluded temple of Kyauk Gu U Min and enjoy a sunset view over the Irrawaddy as you return downstream. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 27: Bagan/Heho/Inle Lake (B, G)

This morning, fly to Heho followed by a scenic drive through the countryside with a stop en-route at Shwe Yan Pyay teak monastery. At Nyaung Shwe, board a private motorboat and head out to Inle Lake, taking in views of the picturesque surroundings along the way. You will also visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, a temple famous for its Shan Buddha images and hoop-jumping cats, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s holiest sanctuary, as well as local weaving and cheroot (Burmese cigar) workshops. Overnight on Inle Lake.

Day 28: Inle Lake/Heho/Yangon (B, G)

Your day starts with a visit to a bustling morning market which rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5-day rhythm. At this market, you will see local hill tribes selling and trading their wares in their colorful ethnic costumes. Take a walk through the temple-studded hills of Indein before transferring to Heho Airport for your flight to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 29: Departure Yangon (B, G)

On your final day in Myanmar, and if time permits, you can explore Yangon in greater depth with our unique excursions. Take a walking tour through the spiritual centre of Yangon, tantalize your taste buds with a culinary-focused excursion or discover old classics and emerging young artists of Myanmar with an art gallery tour. Finally, transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight.