Indochina Trail: River Roads, Temples, and Timeless Cities

HANOI ARRIVAL – HALF DAY CITY TOUR (B/L). Welcome to Hanoi – Vietnam! The driver will be welcoming you at Noi Bai airport; it takes us 35 minutes driving to the centre of Hanoi. In the afternoon around 13:00 we head to restaurant for local lunch and then start our afternoon city tour. Afternoon tour: Learn more about our over 4000 year history in Museum of History. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge. Enjoy the water puppet show before getting back to hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.Please note: - Normal check-in time at hotel is 14:00/15:00. Early check-in is not included. - Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-out is not included. 

HANOI – HOA LƯ – TAM COC – MUA CAVE (B/L). A 90km drive south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10th century. The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”. Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued in the site that used to be the kings‟ palace in 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples. Late afternoon back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

HANOI– FULL DAY HALONG BAY TOUR (B/L). 8.15-8.50: Get picked up at the hotel in Hanoi Old Quater/ Opera House to depart for Halong Bay Our journey follows Hanoi – Haiphong- Tuan Chau Highway (about a 2.5-hour drive) 12:00: Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor, get on the boat to start the excursion discovering the beauty of the world heritage site 12:30: Enjoy set menu lunch on the boat with many special dishes of Halong. While having lunch, you all can see the beautiful scenery on both sides with thousands of limestone such as Fighting Chicken and Incense Buner Islets – 2 symbols of Halong Bay 14.00: Arrive at Bo Hon Island, and you will visit Sung Sot Cave – the most beautiful cave with a lot of stalagmites and stalactites 14.45: Do kayaking or bamboo boat through Luon Cave to discover the beautiful lagoon. 15.15: Visit TiTop Island with its sandy beach. You can go swimming here or trek up to the top of the island for sightseeing all of Halong bay 16.00: Back to the boat for the sunset party (some wine, fruits, and biscuits) meanwhile the boat is cruising back to the harbor 17.45: Arrive back at the harbor. Get on the bus and return to Hanoi 20:30: Get dropped off at the hotel. Tour ends. Overnight in Hanoi.

HANOI DEPARTURE – DANANG ARRIVAL – MARBLE MOUNTAIN & HOIAN TOUR (B/D). Breakfast at hotel. It is free time until our driver will pick you up from your hotel to airport for your flight to Danang. Welcome to Danang. You will be picked up and transfer to your hotel. After lunch starts the Hoi An tour with marble mountain. 15:00 – 15:30 pm: Car and tour guide pick up at hotel. 16:15 pm: Visit the Non Nuoc carvings-stone village and conquer Marble Mountains, explore the beauty of the mysterious caves, visit the ancient temples hundred years: Linh Ung and Tam Thai. 17:30 pm: After leaving Marble Mountains, shopping Local Specialties. Depart to Hoi An Ancient Town 18:00 pm: Have a dinner at Hoi An restaurant. 19:30 pm: Walking to visit and shopping in Ancient Town, admire Hoi An at night flickering in multi – colored lantern. 21:00 pm: Depart to Da Nang City. Send – off at Hotel. Overnight in Danang.Please note: - Normal check-in time at hotel is 14:00/15:00. Early check-in is not included. - Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-out is not included. 

FULL DAY HUE IMPERIAL CITY FROM DANANG (B/L). Located in the center of Vietnam, Hue was the capital city of Vietnam for approximately 150 years during feudal time (1802–1945)and the royal lifestyle and customs have had a significant impact on the characteristics of the people of Hue, even long afterwards .You will rediscover the ancient world of the emperors of 13 kings of Nguyen dynasty, from Gia Long to Bao Dai. Is the first UNESCO world heritage site in Explorer the village where women make the traditional hats and learn from our expert guides about the lives of these people. 07h30: Pick up guest at hotels and depart to Hue city. World Cultural Heritage, Go through Hai Van Tunnel 10h30: Arrive at Hue city. Visit the Tomb of Tu Duc king or Khai Dinh king - Romance, lyrical reflects the life of the king of talented but situation in the country intricate. 11h40: Have lunch at restaurant with local foods. 12h30: Visit the Imperial Citadel, (the Palace of 13 Nguyen’s Kings, the last feudal dynasty of Viet Nam: Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, The Temple, Hien Lam pavilion, Nine Urns) 15h00: Visit Thien Mu pagoda ancient, was built in the early of XVII Century. Shopping at Dong Ba Market. (optional) 16h00: Leave Hue for Da Nang city. Shopping Local Specialities. Tour ends. Overnight in Danang.

HANOI DEPARTURE – SAIGON ARRIVAL (B). Breakfast at hotel. It is free time until our driver will pick you up from your hotel to airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Welcome to Ho Chi Minh city. You will be picked up and transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.Please note: - Normal check-in time at hotel is 14:00/15:00. Early check-in is not included. - Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-out is not included. 

FULL DAY HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI TUNNEL TOUR (B/L). In the morning, we will pick you up in the hotel lobby and start the trip by visiting the most highlights of the city, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, Reunification Palace,and War Remnants Museum. With our knowledgeable tour guide, you will learn more about this interesting city. After having lunch in a local restaurant, we will head to Chi Tunnels, 60km far from city center. This network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla‟s food during the war). We will return to Sai Gon in late afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

FULL DAY MEKONG DELTA (B/L). In the morning, we will pick you up in the hotel lobby and transfer to the Mekong Delta, the 12th longest river in the world. Firstly, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, one of the most beautiful and famous landmarks in the region. Take a boat trip along the small canals to explore peaceful villages on the riversides. Visit fruit garden, taste local fruits, drink homemade honey tea, listen to Don Ca Tai Tu (southern folk music, recognized as UNESCO‟s Intangible Cultural Heritage). Have a short horse ride around the village to go deeper to the local lifestyle. Have lunch in a local garden restaurant before going back Ho Chi Minh City on late afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

SAIGON – BUS TO PHNOM PENH (B). Early breakfast at hotel. Picked up by the bus and transferred to Phnom Penh City, the capital of Cambodia (Duration around 6 hours). Upon arrival, picked up by driver and transferred to check in hotel. Your time at leisure. Overnight in Phnom Penh.Please note: - Normal check-in time at hotel is 14:00/15:00. Early check-in is not included. - Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-out is not included. 

FULL DAY PHNOM PENH CITY TOUR (B/L). We explore “the hidden pearl of Asia” with a guided tour of the city stopping at sites of interest along the way, including: The spectacular Royal Palace (a classic example of royal Khmer architecture), Silver Pagoda (Emerald Buddha), newly erected statue commemorating the late King Father (Sihanouk), the pagoda at Wat Phnom, the Silver Pagoda and Independence Monument. After lunch we continue our tour of Phnom Penh by taking a sobering walk through Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21). Here there are stark and moving reminders of Cambodia’s recent tragic past. Our expert guide will explain the historical, political and social context of the bleak period of Khmer history which followed the fall of Phnom Penh in April 1975. Then continue on to Choeung Ek Memorial, one of the infamous Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge executed around 17,000 of the estimated 2 million Cambodians who perished under the Pol Pot regime. Finally we take you back to your hotel. Overnight in Phnom Penh. 

PHNOM PENH DEPARTURE – SHUTTLE TRANSFER TO SIEM REAP – APSARA BUFFET DINING (B/D). Early breakfast at hotel. Picked up by the bus and transferred to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, picked up by driver and transferred to check in hotel. Your time at leisure. Apsara buffet dining with transfer in the evening. Overnight in Siem Reap.Please note: - Normal check-in time at hotel is 14:00/15:00. Early check-in is not included. - Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-out is not included. 

SIEM REAP – FULL DAY DISCOVER ANGKOR WAT COMPLEX (B/L). In the morning, we start with going to Angkor Thom city, founded in 12th century by king Jayavarman VII and remained the capital until 17th century. At this city, you will visit the most well-preserved gate amongst all the fives, then continue to the peaceful smiling faced tower temple of Bayon where you can imagine how amazing would it be for the first explorer who was there when there was no one but trees with umbrella-like branches and other types of creeping vegetation. Then it will be time for you to stroll around the tourist-wish-to-see jungle temple, so￾called Ta Prhom, overgrown by huge tree monsters with snake-like roots, which is featured in Tomb Raider movie. After having shot hundreds of photographs, we will head to the active pilgrimage site of Angkor Wat, the biggest Hindu temple in the world to enjoy with the longest lively carving wall of more than 2000 meters long by 2 meters high, excluding relief on ceiling and on hundreds of roof supporting pillars. After completed the tour around all the most visited temples in Angkor area, you still have time to admire whole view of Angkorwat temple, rice paddy, north east highland and active reservoir of West Baray. Overnight in Siem Reap.

SIEM REAP DEPARTURE – LUANG PRABANG ARRIVAL (B). After breakfast, free at leisure for relax or shopping (your own arrangement) before transferring to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang. Please note: - Normal check-in time at hotel is 14:00/15:00. Early check-in is not included. - Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-out is not included. 

FULL DAY LUANG PRABANG WITH KUANGSI WATERFALL (B/L). In the morning, meet your driver and guide at the hotel. The first half of the day is spent visiting the museum at the former Royal Palace and the monasteries of Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Saen and Wat Visoun. After enjoying lunch we head to the nearby traditional weaving and artisans villages of Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xienglek. The next stop is the incredibly scenic Kuang Si Waterfall which is surrounded with turquoise blue pools and an ideal place for swimming! On the way back to Luang Prabang we stop at the Hmong village of Ban Na Oun where we see how they create a vast selection of hand made traditional Lao handicrafts. Back in Luang Prabang we will visit Wat Phousi to enjoy the rewarding view of the city. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

FULL DAY TOUR PAK OU CAVE RIVER TRIP FROM LUANG PRABANG (B/L). We depart from our your hotel and take a short walk to the boat pier. We board the boat and begin our cruise along the amazing Mekong which takes us past idyllic scenes of rural riverside life and spectacular scenery until reaching the beautiful Pak Ou Caves which sit amongst the limestone cliffs where the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers meet. The caves are spilt in two, one named Tham Ting and the other Tham Theung. They are both filled with thousands of Buddha images and statues which have been deposited here over centuries. Pak Ou remains a popular pilgrimage site for Lao people, especially during the Lao New Year in April when the caves become crowded with pilgrims who gain merit by ceremonially washing the Buddha statues. We take time to explore upper and lower caves before stopping for a delicious Lao lunch at a nearby restaurant. A short distance away from Pak Ou Caves we visit the village of Ban Xang Hai which has for centuries made the clay jars which are used to ferment Lao wine. Nowadays the tradition continues however the village now also specialises in producing a wide range of ‘Lau Lao’ Lao whisky and ‘Lau Hai’ Lao wine. Be sure to try just a little before we head of back down river to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DEPARTURE (B). Breakfast at hotel and it is your free time until we pick you up from your hotel and transfer to airport for your flight home.