22 days
Ultimate Indochina

Meeting & greeting at the airport upon your arrival and transfer to your hotel. If time permits we will take a short orientation tour around central Hanoi.

(Includes Breakfast)

Today we have a full day tour to visit the various memorials and complexes of Ho Chi Minh, the famous revolutionary leader. We will also visit Single Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature.

Afternoon we visit the Museum of Ethnology which exhibits a large collection of artefacts and full size unique wooden buildings of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Next we enjoy a rickshaw ride through the lively Old Quarter and end up at an old house on Ma May Street, which is a great example of dwellings in the 19th century.

Later we walk through the busy traffic to the water puppet theatre and enjoy a performance of the famed traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region.

Transfer to Hanoi Railway Station and board a night train to Lao Cai on the border with China, the gateway to Sapa.

(Includes Breakfast, Lunch)

Early morning arrival at Lao Cai Railway Station, we'll be greeted and transferred 40 km upland to Sapa.

Enjoy breakfast then descend by car to Muong Hoa Valley where we'll trek a meandering path through the villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van of the Black Hmong and Day people. Home visits are included to discover local life.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in a village on our trek return to town. Take a moderate climb up Ham Rong Mount for a great view of Vietnam's highest mountain range, Fanxipan, filled with terraced rice paddies and deep valleys. 

There's also a chance to enjoy a show by ethnic minority artists.

(Includes Breakfast, Lunch)

Free in the morning to relax or explore the town independently.

In the afternoon we travel by car to the ethnic villages of Ma Tra and Ta Phin and take a light trek to experience the local life of the ethnic minority people of H'Mong and Red Dzao, the 2 largest ethnic groups in the area. 

Later we transfer to Lao Cai and visit the border gate to China before taking the night train back to Hanoi.

NOTE: Alternatively, a hill tribe market tour can be arranged (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) 

(Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Back in Hanoi early this morning, we'll be met and transferred to a mini hotel for refreshment and breakfast.

We Leave Hanoi by road to Halong Bay and enjoy the rural scenery as our vehicle travels  through the picturesque countryside. Along the way we can stop for close-up views and photographs of water buffalos ploughing, and chat with the rural women wearing their traditional conical hats as they work in the paddy fields.

On arrival at Halong we board a nostalgic traditional junk boat and enjoy a full day and night cruising among the inspirational islets of Halong Bay. Kayaking and swimming are optional and you can also try your luck at fishing in the bay, or just relax after your dinner. Overnight in Halong Bay on a luxury Junk watching the sun set.

(Includes Breakfast, Lunch)

Wake up to fresh coffee then further cruising and more sightseeing. En-route the junk weaves through impressive rock formations as we return to port.

Disembark and transfer to airport for a flight to Danang in Middle Vietnam. Meet up with our local guide upon arrival and drive 35 km along the scenic coast to the quaint town of Hoian for the night.

(Includes Breakfast)

This morning we'll be on foot exploring the ancient UNESCO registered quarter of Hoian, with its well-preserved ancient streets. 

Tour includes the Japanese Bridge, a Sino-Vietnamese merchant house, Chinese Temple, Central Market, and the Culture Museum.

There'll be free time for shopping opportunities, as Hoian is a very good place to find interesting gifts or have a shirt, suit or dress tailor-made (usually ready in 24 hours).

(Includes Breakfast)

Free day to relax in Hoian and enjoy the hotels amenities, relax on the sandy local beaches or go shopping.

(Includes Breakfast, Dinner)

We leave Hoian and travel overland to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam, We break our journey to the Cham sculpture museum, seeing Non Nuoc Beach and the Marble Mountains in Danang, 

In Hue we'll explore the former Imperial Citadel, a complex of palaces and temples built in the early 19th century and a recognized UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. 

We also take a leisure boat trip on the scenic Perfume River and visit Thien Mu pagoda.

Round off the evening with Hue cuisine and folk music.

(Includes Breakfast)

This morning we visit the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang and also a fascinating royal garden house before taking the flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Upon arrival, meet your guide and driver and explore some of Saigon's famous landmarks including the Former Presidential Palace, War Remnant Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Colonial Central Post Office, Opera House and Ben Thanh Market.

(Includes Breakfast, Lunch)

Our tour today includes a visit to the opulent Holy See Temple of Caodai Sect in Tay Ninh. Caodai is a fascinating Vietnamese religion combining aspects of Christian, Buddhism, Muslim, Taoism and Confucius into a single religion. There's a chance to observe the impressive noon service of adherents.

Early afternoon we travel to Cu Chi to explore the legendary network of underground combat tunnels where our guide will explain how the Vietcong survived and fought during the Vietnam War.

(Includes Breakfast, Lunch)

We leave the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind and journey to Mekong Delta, a world that lives and works on the waters.

Arriving in My Tho, a prosperous town just 80 km from Saigon, we take a boat to an insular village to visit family workshops producing handicrafts and candy from coconut. Tasting seasonal tropical fruits in an exuberant orchard, we ride a horse cart to a typical Delta house and enjoy folk music by amateurs.

Proceed by local sampan through the small canals and side arms of the river to further experience river life. For lunch we'll sample regional specialties such as Elephant Ear Fish, Rice Ball, etc…

After a pleasant break we travel to Can Tho where we take a spin around Ninh Kieu Quay - bustling and exciting with river life on Hau River.

(Includes Breakfast, Lunch)

Early morning, we take a boat to the extraordinary market of Cai Rang. Famous as one of the largest floating markets on the complex of waterways that comprise the Mekong Delta, 

 It is a great view of how commerce actually happens in the Mekong. The boat tour is capped off with an orchard visit and we drive to Chau Doc on the border with Cambodia.

In Chau Doc, visit a village that garnishes living from fish farming. Continue to a Cham village marked by stilt houses to learn about this Vietnamese Islam ethnic group. Home and mosque visits are included.

(Includes Breakfast)

This morning we take a speed boat upstream along the Mekong River. The 4 hour cruise provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy the Mekong Delta. (Boat subject to tide and can be changed to flight)

In the afternoon we tour the capital city of Cambodia, taking in the opulent Royal Palace with the dazzling Silver Pagoda, National Museum, hilltop temple of Wat Phnom, the Independence Monument. 

In the evening stroll along Sisowath Quay to see stalls selling fried cockroaches, spiders, crickets or grasshoppers & other culinary delights!

(Includes Breakfast, Dinner)

After breakfast we'll immerse in the exotic sights and sounds of the Central Market located in a distinctive domed Art Deco building, a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewellery and more.

Visit the notorious Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the infamous Cheoung Ek Killing Fields - proof of the crimes against mankind committed by the Khmer Rouge.

Fly to Siem Reap and enjoy dinner with entertainment from Apsara dancers. Later, visit the lively Pub Street as well the lucky Night Market.

(Includes Breakfast)

We enter the great city of Angkor Thom through the South Gate and visit the temples of Baphoun and Phimeanakas, the Terraces of Elephant and Leper King, and the mysterious smiling Bayon.

Take a break then continue exploring the fascinating temples of Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Thevoda, and the Royal Bath of Sras Srang. 

Hike up Phnom Bakheng to behold the magnificent sunset into the land of temples.

(Includes Breakfast)

This morning explore the epic Angkor Wat complex. Built in the 12th century as the capital of King Suryavarman II's kingdom, this is the largest and best-preserved of the Angkor temples.

In the afternoon we drive out of town to the rural village of Pour Krom and walk through this lovely village to see local life. 

We enjoy an ox cart ride before transfer to Chong Knies village to enjoy a boat trip on the Great Lake of Tonle Sap to see the fascinating floating village communities and get a taste of life ruled by monsoonal rains and water-based agriculture.

(Includes Breakfast)

Free time until transfer to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. Meet up with our local guide upon arrival and transfer to the hotel.

(Includes Breakfast)

Early rise to watch or participate in the unique daily morning ritual, where hundreds of saffron-clad monks walk in procession collecting offerings of sticky rice from devout residents along the roadsides.

After breakfast embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River to the mysterious Pak Ou caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues left by devoted pilgrims. 

We also visit Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek where local people produce traditional textiles and jute paper.

Return to town and tour the most outstanding temples: Wat Visoun with the watermelon-shaped roof, Wat Xiengthong with the sweeping roofs, Wat Sene boasting the most dazzling facade of all Luang Prabang temples, Wat Aham - the "Monastery of the blossomed Heart", and Wat Mai, the largest and most richly decorated of al the temples in town.

We then walk up the steps of Mount Phousi to see the beautiful sunset across Luang Prabang. 

Take a leisurely walk through the Night Market at the foot of Mount Phosi to see a lovely array of handicrafts.

(Includes Breakfast)

This morning we visit the rural around Luang Prabang and get acquainted with the Hmong, Lowland Laotian, and Khmu ethnic minority people.

Visit the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall that offers a chance to cool off in the turquoise pools. 

En route back to town we call at Ban Phanom village to visit skilled hand-weaving women. 

Soak in the history of Luang Prabang at the Palace Museum which houses statues within the buildings mosaic covered walls.

(Includes Breakfast)

This morning we fly to Vientiane, the sleepy capitol of Laos.

Meet up with our guide upon arrival and tour the city's major attraction spots. 

We'll visit the impressive temples of Wat Sisaket and Wat Phra Keo, the Arc de Triumph of Patuxay, the Great Sacred Stupa of That Luang, and the Buddha Park.

In the evening, free time to walk around the colonial area and riverside.

(Includes Breakfast)

Free time before until transferring to the airport for your departure flight.