CAMBODIA +VIETNAM+LAOS

Day 01 PHNOM PENH – Arrival  (L/D)

Arrival Phnom Penh, meet guide and driver at the airport and transfer to hotel for check-in. After lunch, start to visit the Independence Monument and the notorious Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 prison). This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Visit Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of the city. Founded 1373, the pagoda was built to house Buddhist relics washed ashore by the river. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh

Day 02: PHNOM PENH – CITY TOUR (B/ L/D)

Breakfast in Hotel Phnom Penh City tour:. Visit the Victory Monument and the Royal Statue of late King-father Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art-notably sculptures-from throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by the French in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of the floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha, encrusted and weighing 90 kilograms and small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha.

ðDrive to Killing Fields of Choeung Ek (16 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants (including nine westerners) detained and tortured at S-21 prison were transported to the extermination camp of Choeung Ek. They were often bludgeoned to death to avoid wasting precious bullets. Fragments of human bone and bits of cloth are scattered around the disinterred pits. Over 8,000 skulls, arranged by sex and age, are visible behind the clear glass panels of the Memorial Stupa, which was erected in 1988, then return to Phnom Penh. End your day tour at Central Market a labyrinth of stalls, selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewelry and more. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh

DAY3: PHNOM PENH – SIEM REAP  (B) BY FLIGHT

Breakfast in hotel In the morning, transfer to the airport for departure flight to Siem Reap. Up on arrival you will meet our guide and transfer to  visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), Baphuon recently re-opened after years of restoration), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. After lunch, visit the most famous of all the temples on plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat, the temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodia flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. Sunset at Angkor Wat for countryside view.

Dinner will be served at local restaurant with classical/Apsara dance show overnight at hotel in Siem Reap

Day 04: SIEM REAP – TEMPLE TOURS (B/L/D)

In the morning after breakfast at hotel then Transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10TH century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer Art. Stop at a local village to visit families who are producing palm sugar. Continue to Banteay Samre, built in the 3rd quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Visit local village of Pradak to see the simple way of local people produce natural palm sugar from palm juice (called Toek Thnot in Khmer) In the afternoon, you continue your temple visit to Preah Khan, built by the king Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake) and Ta Som. Have dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap

DAY 05: SIEM REAP TONLE SAB TOUR (B/L/D)

Breakfast in hotel Check-out hotel and transfer to Phnom Penh international Airport for departure flight. Welcome to Cambodia! Meet and greeting by our professional guide upon your arrival at Siem Reap International Airport then transfer to hotel for check-in. Transfer by overland to visit to the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a private boat to visit the village and take a ride in a traditional wooden boat on Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake of Cambodia and the largest in Asia”. Continue to Artisans d’Angkor. Artisans d’Angkor was established in 1992 in order to support Cambodian arts and crafts, and to help young people find work in their local villages by continuing the practice of traditional arts. Among the workshops available for visit are wood and stone carving, wood and stone lacquering, gilding, and silk processing. Proceed to Angkor Silk Farm.  A short stop at WAT THMEY or Killing Field contains a unique glass-walled stupa containing the bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge. Then, stop at the WAR MEMORIAL MONUMENT, it is dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives in the civil war and follow by a tour at their Local Market. Dinners included Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap

Day 06: SIEM REAP –  HO CHI MINH(B/L/D)

In the morning after breakfast you will free and easy until the time check out and our guide will come to pick up and transfer you to the airport for the flight departure. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport via flight XXX, transfer to hotel for check-in & relax.

Overnight in HCMC

DAY 07: CU CHI TUNNELS – HALF DAY CITY TOUR (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel

Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 07:00 in the morning for the drive to Cu Chi district. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam. Arrive and start the visit of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels which consist of an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. The tunnels were created since 1948 to assist Viet Nam to combat the French. Construction of the tunnels continued over the next 25 years until they became an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers for the war against American. Starting the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel and here you will have an opportunity to get the unique experience of guerillas living and fighting underground during the war (a crawl through 50 -100 meters out 200 km of the tunnel system is unforgettable). For those interested, there is also an opportunity to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.

Lunch at local restaurant

Take a half day sightseeing tour starting with the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City including the Central Post Office, the Notre Dame then walking along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) to reach for the Opera House and the City Hall. From there, stroll to Reunification Palace which was the residence of the President Ngo Dinh Diem of the former South Vietnam until 1975 (1960s – Apr 1975s). You will see many interesting things like formal meeting rooms, private bedrooms, war situation rooms 10 meter beneath earth’s level. This address today still holds many important functions in HCMC. Wrap up the tour with visit to the War Remnants Museum telling the story of the Vietnam war from Vietnamese perspective. Exhibits include photographs, machinery, and weapons that depict the harsh realities of war). Dinner at local restaurant Overnight in HCMC

DAY 08: FULL DAY MEKONG DELTA DISCOVERY (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel

After breakfast, depart from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City for the area referred to locally as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’ to discover Mekong Delta local life. Enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields. Upon arrival, take a cruise on Mekong River to visit islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, and Phoenix. Here, you can have chance to view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank and then enjoy a short break to taste tropical fruits freshly picked up at the garden & visit the bee farm and learn about bee-keeping in the delta and sip a refreshing cup of honey tea and enjoy other specialties. Then travel the narrow rural village paths to visit typical houses in Mekong Delta and the coconut candy mill to find out how this delicious confectionery is made and sample the finished product. Take a short break whre you will enjoy local fresh fruits and listen to Southern traditional music. Lastly, you will explore small canals, cruising under the shade of water coconut trees then back to big boat and head for lunch at local restaurant with river view

Drive back to HCMC & enjoy short free time until Dinner at local restaurant

Overnight in HCMC

DAY 09 : HO CHI MINH CITY – DANANG – HOIAN (B/L)

Breakfast at hotel Free time until transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, transfer to Hoian ancient & enjoy lunch at local restaurant

In the afternoon, take a 2-hour walking tour around the ancient town to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colorful market. The town has successfully remains complete as a homogenous complex of traditional wooden buildings, with the original organically developed street plan, within the town’s original river/seacoast setting, which partly giving it such a unique skyline. Here you will have chance to admire the gorgeous and peaceful beauty of the town and feel like travelling back in time. Grab this chance to take yourself some nice photos.

Enjoy free time at night at own leisure

Overnight in Hoian

DAY 10: HOIAN / JOINING COOKING CLASS (B/L)

Breakfast at hotel

We start the day (8.15am) with a drink at Hai Scout Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An Ancient Town, Tel: 3863210) – our meeting point.

 Visit Hoi An’s colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.

 We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.

 On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).

After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked.

Recipes (our food contains no MSG):

1. Making fresh Rice paper
2. Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
3. Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs & a Peanut Sauce
4. Seafood Salad with mixed Vietnamese Herbs served in Half a Pineapple
5. Mi Quang Chicken Noodles
6. Food Decoration – Tomato Rose & Vietnamese Cucumber Hand Fan

* Lunch includes the above meals as well as:

Steamed Ocean Fish on a bed of Freshly Chopped Vegetables (not included in the demonstration)

* A vegetarian lunch can be provided on request.

 Finish at approximately 1pm – transfer back to central Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoian

DAY 11: HOIAN – HUE (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel

Short free time in the morning for relaxing until transfer to Hue which is about 140 km away and drive up to Hai Van pass overlooking gorgeous view. Arrive in Hue, transfer for lunch at local restaurant

After lunch, historic sites await you to explore starting with the Citadel of Nguyen Dynasty with forbidden purple city – famously being one of Vietnam’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Imperial City of Hue has long been a must-see attraction for tourists visiting a hidden charm of Vietnam. The Imperial City of Hue was actually a walled fortress and palace belonged to the ancient city of Hue which was a capital city of the Nguyen Dynasty for 140 years date back from 1805 until 1945. This grandeur architecture was the most massive structure being built in the history of modern Vietnam involving thousands of workers, millions cubic meters of rock and huge volume of burden workload. You then take a boat trip on the romantic Huong River to visit Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu seven-story pagoda. When the boat return, you may have chance to admire the sunset on the river with indescribable beauty when the weak sunlight covers upon the Perfume River and its surroundings.

Dinner at local restaurant

Overnight in Hue

DAY 12: HUE / HALF DAY CITY TOUR (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel

Enjoy this morning visiting the tomb of Minh Mang King being renowned for its architecture and sublime forest setting. The tomb was planned during Minh Mang’s reign (1820–40) but built by his successor, Thieu Tri. This imperial tomb is a reflection of the Chinese architectural concepts, a standard architectural complex consisting of 40 constructions (palaces, temples, pavilions, etc.) designed on an symmetric axis running from Dai Hong gate to the foot of La Thanh (Surrounding Wall) behind the Emperor’s tomb. You then proceed to visit the tomb of Tu Duc King

Lunch at local restaurant

Enjoy free afternoon relaxing or further exploring the city. You can also visit the night market

Dinner at local restaurant

Overnight in Hue

DAY 13: HUE – HANOI (B)

Breakfast at hotel Free time until transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, pick up & transfer to hotel

Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 14: HANOI/ FULL DAY CITY TOUR (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel

Take sightseeing tour featuring both cultural and historical highlights, starting with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (close on Mondays & Fridays and whole month of October & November) – an important historical attraction of Hanoi, known for honoring the national hero: President Ho Chi Minh. The building is where visitors can express their admiration and gratitude towards the common father/uncle of Vietnamese who has led the country to independence and reunification. Inside the complex, also located his House on Stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda. This is followed by The Temple of Literature – being constructed in 1070 under Ly Thanh Tong’s dynasty, first to honor Confucius and nowadays to celebrate the doctorates and high rank scholars of Vietnam. In 1076, King Ly Nhan Tong continued the work and built Quoc Tu Giam as the first university of Vietnam.

Lunch at local restaurant

In the afternoon, pay a visit to the Ethnology Museum (closed on Mondays) which offers an insight into the 54 different ethnic groups of Vietnam in an effort to preserve cultural heritage and promote socio-cultural diversity within the country. The museum is packed full of information detailing traditional Vietnamese ways of life, from religious events to the symbolic rituals of all the Vietnamese ethnic groups, providing a rich tapestry of the culture melting pot existing in Vietnam. The exhibition hall features everyday objects representing each group, a research centre, library and auditorium. The outdoor display area exhibits a variety of Vietnamese homes as full-scale replicas, with great attention paid to the varying architectural styles set within the authentic and tranquil gardens. The tour then will be wrapped up with the visit to Ngoc Son Temple uniquely set on a tiny island on Hoan Kiem Lake, its history dating back to the 13th century.

Dinner at local restaurant

Enjoy free time further exploring the city or shopping around the Old Quarter – its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquer ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more

Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 15: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel

Leave Hanoi for Ha Long Bay – depart for the 3½ hour drive to Halong Bay. Journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work the rice fields, take pigs to market on motorbikes and plough the fields with their water buffaloes.

You will be cruising from the awesome limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay toward the center of the World Natural Heritage site, discovering the exotic formations of a limestone cave, and exploring the daily life of local people living on the bay…

08h00 – 08h30      Pick-up at hotel and start the 3 and half hour drive to Halong Bay

12h00 – 12h30      Embark on cruise followed by cruise briefing

13h00 – 15h30      Savor a delectable lunch as the cruise cruises further along the limestone islands of Fighting Cock, Turtle Island…

15h30 – 17h30      Visit Amazing Cave and kayak along the hidden parts of the bay

17h30 – 19h00      Snap photos or just relax as the sun starts to set.

19h00        Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, night squid fishing or just laze around. Overnight on board

DAY 16: HALONG BAY – HANOI (B/L/D)

06h00 – 07h00      Start your day with Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck.

07h00 – 09h00      Have breakfast at sunrise. Visit the Titop island to enjoy the panorama view of Halong Bay or just relax, swim at the Titop beach

09h30                    Check- out cabin room

09h30 – 11h00      Pass by Ba Hang Fishing Village, pass Dog Rock and Incense Burner, and then head back to the Harbor. Early lunch on the cruise Disembark Oriental Sails at around 12h00

12h00 – 16h30Transfer back to Hanoi and trip finishes at the hotel around 16h30

*Note: Cruise itinerary is sample only and might change as to cruise of your choice/ availability & weather conditions Dinner at local restaurant

Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 17: HANOI-  DEPARTURE-  LUANG PRABANG (B/D)

Breakfast at hotel (Standard check-out at noon 12.00) Free at leisure till transfer to the airport for departure flight  Lang Prabang. Arrive in Luang Prabang, the ancient first capital of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today the World Heritage City. Arrive in Luang Prabang and transfer to our hotel for check-in, we take a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples, of which nearly fifty temples still remain in the town and surrounding areas. Visit Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture; Phousi Hill, the 328 steps leads to the summit of Phousi hill that dominates the sky-line of Luang Prabang overlooking the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang.

Day 18: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU CAVE (B/L/D).

Breakfast at hotel, visit Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana – Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa and then 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. We arrive back at Luang Prabang in late afternoon. Overnight at hotel.

Day 19: LUANG PRABANG – Kuang Si waterfall (B/L/D).

Breakfast at hotel, visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries…etc

Drive to the Khung Si Waterfalls, the Waterfalls tumble over multi-tiered limestone formations into cool, clear pools ideals for swimming and relaxing. on the way to waterfalls, visit the Khmu minority village of Ban Thapaene. Return to Luangprabang. on the way visit Ban Xom, Lowland Lao village known for its cotton producttion and Ban Xang Khong village to see how traditional Sa paper is made.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 20: LUANG PRABANG – DEPARTURE (B).

After breakfast, free at leisure until transfer to next destination.

***End of services***

Note: the itinerary is subjected to change according to your booked arrival/departure flight