INDOCHINA TOUR IN FOCUS

* BRIEF ITINERARY:
DAY 1: ARRIVAL – HANOI CITY TOURS
DAY 2: HANOI SIGHTSEEING TOURS TO HA LONG BAY – HA LONG CRUISING TOURS
DAY 3: HALONG BAY CRUISE TOURS – HANOI SIGHTSEEING TOURS
DAY 4: HANOI – FLIGHT TO LUANG PRBANG – LUANG PRABANG SIGHTSEEING TOURS
DAY 5: LUANG PRABANG SIGHTSEEING TOURS TO PAKOU CAVES
DAY 6: LUANG PRABANG CITY TOURS – VIEN TIANE CITY TOURS
DAY 7: VIEN TIANE – FLIGHT TO PHNOM PENH – PHNOM PENH SIGHTSEEING TOURS
DAY 8: PHNOM PENH CITY TOURS – FLIGHT TO SIEMREAP – SIEM REAP – ANGKOR WAT SIGHTSEEING TOURS
DAY 9: ANGKOR WAT SIGHTSEEING TOURS
DAY 10: SIEM REAP TOURS TO TONLE SAP LAKE – DEPARTURE

DAY 1: INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS: ARRIVAL – HANOI CITY TOURS (-/-/-)

On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits we enjoy a short cyclo ride through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. 

O/N in Ha Noi.

DAY 2: INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS: HANOI SIGHTSEEING TOURS TO HA LONG BAY – HA LONG CRUISING TOURS (B/L/D)

After having breakfast at hotel, you will be picked by our guide & driver at hotel then driven to Halong Bay – 170km from the East of Hanoi. On the way, you will have chances to stop by green paddies to see the Vietnamese farmers working on their fields or you might get by a Humanity Center where we are nursing the disabled Children who are left behind the War & they are victims of Agent Oranges caused by American troops.

At around 12:00, you will reach to Halong Bay recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1994. The islands in Ha Long Bay are mainly limestone and schist islands most lying in the two main areas: the southeastern part of Bai Tu Long Bay and southwestern part of Ha Long Bay. They are the result of many times of rising and lowering processes of the continent to form a karst. The process of nearly full erosion and weathering of the karst created the unique Ha Long Bay in the world. In 2000, UNESCO recognized it as the World Heritage for the second time for its geographical and geomorphologic values.

On arrival at 12h30, We are welcome on the traditional boat and have welcome drink. Start the boat trip to visit Halong Bay with outstanding natural beauty of many Islands such as Con Cho Island, Dinh Huong Island, Canh Buom Island, Ga Choi Island  and have fresh seafood lunch served on board.

In the afternoon, you will have opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful cave in Ha long Bay- Sung Sot Cave or Suprising Cave, then wimming on Titop or do kayak to visit Luon Cave. Watching sunset. Fishing with seine and owing bamboo boat (on request)
Dinner and overnight on boat.

DAY 3: INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS:  HALONG BAY CRUISE TOURS – HANOI SIGHTSEEING TOURS (B/L/-) 

The legendary Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. We board a traditional boat for a five hour trip around Halong Bay. This exciting cruise provides us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water.

These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. We round off our excursion with a seafood lunch served on board and travel by roads back to Ha Noi, arriving in time to see an evening performance of Hanoi’s famous water puppets. 

O/N in Ha Noi.

DAY 4: INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS: HANOI – FLIGHT TO LUANG PRBANG – LUANG PRABANG SIGHTSEEING TOURS (B/-/-)

This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, you check out and our guide will take you to the airport for morning flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Luang Prabang – the ancient first capital of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today the World Heritage City.

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 5: INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS: LUANG PRABANG SIGHTSEEING TOURS TO PAKOU CAVES (B/L/-)

After breakfast, we depart hotel to the boat landing, and take an excursion (a few hours) by boat, upstream on the Mekong to visit Pak Ou cave in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeter to two meters in height.

En route, Lao typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Slender canoes bobbing by the shore, bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Our first stop will be at Ban Muangkeo, a well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky, namely Laoh-Khao to be distilled. We are welcome to taste it and also take away. Lunch is at a riverside restaurant.  

We arrive back at Luang Prabang in late afternoon, and continue by car to outskirt of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, a well-known village for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.   

DAY 6: INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS:  LUANG PRABANG CITY TOURS – VIEN TIANE CITY TOURS (B/-/-)

After breakfast, we spent a free morning for last chance to shop and visit local sights by own, till we depart to Luang Prabang airport for departure by QV flight to Vientiane, the city of the moon – an ancient city, situated on the bend on the left bank of the Mekong as the largest city and the capital of Laos.  Transfer to hotel for check-in.

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 7: INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS:  VIEN TIANE – FLIGHT TO PHNOM PENH – PHNOM PENH SIGHTSEEING TOURS (B/-/-)

After morning breakfast, we take you to the airport for flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival at Po Chen Tong Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel.

In the afernoon, we have a half day city tour to discover Phnom Penh – capital city of Phnom Penh was once considered the loveliest city of Indochina. Despite its recent turbulent history, it still maintains considerable charm. A city tour acquaints us with some major sights of Phnom Penh. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are now home to the royal family and are therefore very close to the public.

At the northern area of the palace grounds is Silver Pagoda, the most sacred shrine in the country. We visit both structures as well as the legendary temple of Wat Phnom, which provides an interesting view over the environs. 

O/N in Phnom Penh. 

DAY 8: INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS: PHNOM PENH CITY TOURS – FLIGHT TO SIEMREAP – SIEM REAP – ANGKOR WAT SIGHTSEEING TOURS (B/-/-)

Phnom Penh is famous for history begins with Lady Penh who discovered five Buddha images concealed in a tree and had a pagoda named Wat Phnom Don Penh built on that spot. The city that took its name from the pagoda was founded nearly a century later, becoming the capital in 1866.

Today we continue seeing Phnom Penh with the Royal University of Fine Arts, where the young Cambodians learn the ancient arts of their ancestors. A view of numerous children practicing the graceful movements of the beautiful national dances is impressive. The next stop of our trip is the National Museum, exclusively dedicated to Khmer art and sculpture.

The majority of the exhibits are from the Angkor period from 9th to 15th centuries, but some date from as early as the 4th century. Heading out of town we visit the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek, which will give us a deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge. We have time for an exploration of Psar Toul Tom Pong, also called the “Russian Market”, where anything and everything is for sales. 

In the afternoon, You have dinner before we transfer to Phnom Penh Airport for short flight to Siem Reap. On arrival met and transfer to hotel for check in. 
O/N at Siem Reap.

DAY 9:  INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS:  ANGKOR WAT SIGHTSEEING TOURS (B/-/-) 

After breakfast, we take you to visit to South Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Temple, Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King.

It is time to visit the Angkor National Museum and visit one of the great wonders of the world and symbol of the heart and soul of the Cambodia, Angkor Wat and view wonderful sunset from the top of Phnom Bakheng Hills. Tonight you will enjoy dinner with Khmer Apsara Dance Show. Accommodation at hotel

Optional for elephant riding at Bayon temple or ride up/down at Bakheng

DAY 10: INDOCHINA TOURS IN FOCUS: SIEM REAP TOURS TO TONLE SAP LAKE – DEPARTURE (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel We board on boat in Tonle Sap Lake. Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals. Lunch at local restaurant ( your account)
Free leisure for your own time for rolling at local market for shopping until transfer to Siem Reap International airport departure flight. 

* INCLUDING:
•    Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
•    Domestic Air-tickets: Luang Prabang – Vien Tiane, Vien Tiane – Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
•    Accommodation in hotels (Twin / Double shared room)  •   Meals as indicated: B = breakfast, L = lunch & D = Dinner
•    Regional English or French speaking guide
•    Entrance fee to indicated sights
•   Short cyclo ride through the Old quarter ( If time permits )
•    Cruising trip in Ha Long Bay
•    Pure bottled water & wipes
•    Visa Approval Letter to Vietnam

 

* EXCLUDING:
International flights in / out (Ha Noi – Luong Prabang) ( Siem Reap – ), Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room, personal expenses, insurance,…