A Mosaic of Indochina

Day 1/ Arrival in Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi, greeting at the airport with driver and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

 Day 2/ Hanoi street food & full day city tour (B,L)

The street food tour begins with a visit to a traditional house in the old quarter to learn about the old trade and its unique architecture.  Then we stop at Hang Be market to learn about the fresh Vietnamese ingredients. We will visit on the the best Pho restaurant where people have to get in line to get seated at peak hours. Continue walking along the streets to taste street foods and learn about “local cuisine culture”, such as cha que (sausage with cinnamon), banh cuon (Vietnamese rolling cakes), bun cha (rice noodles served with cha que), and che (a popular dessert soup with many varieties kinds of beans). Our last stop is at the Bach Ma temple. Our tour ends at a local café where you can enjoy sips of café dripping from the filter.

Afternoon, continue visiting the Presidential Palace (façade only), the one-thousand-year old One Pillar pagoda and the Temple of Literature – the oldest university of Vietnam and Hoan Kiem Lake. The tour ends with the traditional cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 3/ Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D) private transfer with driver

Morning we depart to Halong Bay (with driver only). Enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta country side.

On arrival, enjoy welcome drink on board, receive cruise brief programs and safety instructions. Then check-in and enjoy lunch while the cruise starts cruising into quiet area of Halong Bay, passing small islets. Visit caves, grottos by bamboo boat and stop at Ti Top beach for swimming or enjoy kayaking (optional). You can enjoy cruise activities such as cooking class, Happy Hour time, watching movies, or squid fishing at night. Enjoy dinner and relaxing time on board.

Day 4/ Halong Bay – Hanoi – Hue (B) private transfer with driver

The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.

Visit one of the biggest cave in Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat, check-out while cruising back to the Wharf. Disembark and say farewell to the crew.

Meet your driver and we drive back to Hanoi airport for flight to Hue, widely known for its monuments built under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945).

Upon arrival, your tour guide meets and transfer to the hotel in Hue check-in. Overnight in Hue.

Day 5/ Hue City tour (B,L,D)

Option: you can choose to have Hue City tour by car or by scooter with Aodaigo ladies (our exclusive services in Hue) www.aodaigo.com

Morning we travel eastward along the city river to Thanh Toàn tile-roofed Bridge in Thanh Toàn village, about 8 km from Hue city. Here we will enjoy the peaceful scenery of the countryside with farmers working on their tranquil rice fields, talk to friendly local people in the small market and learn more about their daily life. Leaving Thanh Toàn Village, we head to Vọng Cảnh Hill to have a vista of the beautiful Perfume River. Then we will have a stop at Hổ Quyền Arena, built in 1830 on the south bank of the Perfume River. It was the arena where duels between elephants and tigers were arranged for the entertainment of the Emperors, the royal families and mandarins. Next, visit the family garden, learn how to make some Hue cakes like banh beo, banh loc… and enjoy lunch here. We stop for a rest at Hè Café. Its owner, Mr. Nguyen Van He, is an artist and a war items collector. You may be curious and interested in learning the history behind his collection of Vietnam War items, such as canteens, zippo lighters, soldier headgears and etc. A short walk from Hè Café is Từ Hiếu Pagoda, also known as the resting place of the Nguyen Dynasty’s eunuchs.

Afternoon, visit the former Imperial Citadel, the Forbidden Purple City and the Inner City, giving this unique feudal capital a setting of great natural beauty. Tonight enjoy special dinner at Mrs. Tuyet’s family. Back to hotel and the rest of day is free at leisure.

Day 6/ Hue – Danang – Hoi An city tour (B)

This morning, visit Dong Ba Market before departing Hue for Hoi An. On the way, stop at Danang to visit Cham Museum. Arrive in Hoi An and check-in hotel.

Afternoon, we have the walking tour to visit Hoi An Ancient town, featuring Phung Hung Ancient House, Museum of Hoi An, Kwan Kung Temple, Japanese Covered Bridge and Workshops of Traditional Handicrafts, colourful Hoi An Market. The rest of day is at leisure. Overnight in Hoian.

Day 7/ Hoi An Tra Que and Cam Thanh Village (B,L)

You commence the day by leisurely cycling along country roads witnessing local Vietnamese rural life. Then visit the organic vegetable village, join in the farmer’s daily activities, such as watering and planting vegetables. Then experience riding a water buffalo in a rice paddy field. Next, you will board the boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. You will also experience paddling the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat in the waterways of coconut palm paradise. This tour provides you with a cultural window into the ways of life of both our farming and fishing communities. Have lunch at the house of a local people.

The rest of day is at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8/ Hoi An – Danang – Saigon (B)

We have a leisure morning until normal check-out. Transfer to Danang airport for flight to Saigon.

Upon arrival, meet your tour guide and transfer to hotel check-in.

Afternoon, we have a city tour featuring the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral built by the French in 1880, City Post office building and Ben Thanh Market. The rest of day is at leisure to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 9/ Day trip to Cai Mon – Ben Tre (B,L)

Today we depart for the Mekong Delta, referred locally as “the rice bowl of Vietnam”. Our trip features Ben Tre Town, located about one and a half hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City, well-known in Vietnam as the land of coconut”. During the trip, you will experience the real life of local folks in the Mekong Delta region.

On arrival in Ben Tre, we will visit seedling cultivation in Cai Mon located in Cho Lach District and well-known as orchards throughout the region. It was originated over a century ago by a French parish priest known only as Gernot, who then was administering a Christian parish in Cai Mon, Cho Lach. Highlight of the day would be a bicycle ride through the village under shadowy forest of palm trees. Back to Mo Cay and take a boat trip on river, we can see the daily life of the delta’s residents along the river banks. Stop to visit some craft-villages of coconut fabric. Lunch with local delicacy will be arranged at a farmer’s house. Take a rest before driving back to Saigon.

Day 10/ Saigon – Flight to Siem Reap (B,D)

The morning is at leisure until transfer to the airport for your departure flight to Siem Reap. On arrival, meet with your tour guide and transfer to hotel check-in.

Tonight enjoy welcome dinner with Apsara show at Angkor Village Resort.

Day 11/ Siem Reap – Angkor Wat – Angkor Thom (B,L)

Morning, visit the National Museum. Then we will have full day exploration of this vast temple complex at Angkor. Angkor Wat was built by King Suryavarman II at the height of the Khmer Empire in the 12th century dedicated to the Hindu god – Vishnu. Lunch will be served at local restaurant.

Afternoon, continue visiting Angkor Thom, the Terraces of Elephant and Leper King, Bayon and Ta Prohm. You can climb up to Phnom Bakheng to enjoy the stunning beauty of the sunset view.

The evening is free at leisure or walk along the Night Market.

Day 12/ Siem Reap – Luang Prabang (B)

Enjoy a leisurely morning until normal check-out. Visit Les Artisan Angkor, Siem Reap Market before transfer to the airport for flight to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage town, with beautifully preserved Buddhist temples and French fusion architecture. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. Check-in hotel and relax.

Day 13/ Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave (B,L)

Early risers will have a chance to witness the moving ritual as long lines of barefoot monks walk silently along the streets on their morning alms round, collecting donations of food.

After breakfast, we will enjoy a full day boat trip on the Mekong River to holy Pak Ou Cave, full of Buddha images of all styles and sizes. Stop over at the nearby villages of Xang Hai. Then take a boat to return to Luang Prabang and overland to the traditional hand-weaving village of Phanom.

After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to watch the setting sun as it is reflected on the Mekong River. From there, we visit the Night Market, where you can browse a lovely selection of handmade textiles, made by the local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 14/ Luang Prabang – Departure (B)

Morning we visit the Luang Prabang market and the National Museum at the former Royal Palace before transfer to the airport for departure flight.

Have a safe trip!

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RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATIONS:

TOUR PRICES INCLUDE:

• Private transportation with good air-conditioner as in program
• Accommodation on Double/Twin sharing room with breakfast
• Meals as indicated in program (excluded drinks)
• All sight seeing as in program
• Local English speaking guide as described
• Complimentary bottle of mineral water per person per day tour

TOUR PRICES EXCLUDE:

• Drinks – private expenses
• Travel insurance of all types
• Tips
• All visas and airfares
• All types of bank fees for payment
• Other services not mentioned