Essence of Indochina
Duration: 16 Days/15 Nights
Price from: $1998
This journey leads you to most beautiful destinations in Laos and Vietnam: Luang Prabang romantic city, amazing cruise in Halong Bay, walking tour in Hanoi Old Quarter, discovery on foot in Hoian old town or secret of famous tunnels of Cuchi during the Vienam War, incredible cruise on Mekong River and Delta.
Highlights:
Itinerary:
Day 1: Luang Prabang - Arrival
Day 2: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves - Kuangsi Waterfall
Day 3: Luang Prabang - Hanoi
Day 4: Hanoi City Tour
Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay
Day 6: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue
Day 7: Hue Discovery
Day 8: Hue - Hoian
Day 9: Hoian - Cycling, Farming Tour & Cooking Class
Day 10: Hoian - Danang - Saigon - Cuchi tunnels
Day 11: Saigon - Ben Tre / Mekong Delta
Day 12: Saigon City Tour - Departure
Day 1: Luang Prabang - Arrival (-/L/-)
Welcome to Luang Prabang, Laos !
On arrival at Luang Prabang Airport, you will be welcome and transferred to the hotel for check-in.
In the afternoon, visit Wat Xienthong the most beautiful temple in the town built dating back to the 16th century, Wat Visoun and the Melon stupa next to Wat Aham, then leisurely climb up Mount Phousi to contemplate the sunset and on the way back visit the famous colorful night market.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou cave - Kuangsi waterfalls (B/L/-)
Today we start embarking for a slow boat trip to Pak Ou caves 32 km upstream on Mekong River and along the way stop to visit the Lao whisky village and see the process how villagers make the potent Lau Lao (rice whisky) , then continue on board to the cave where a thousand Buddha statues are kept. After visiting the cave back downstream to Luang Prabang for a typical Lao lunch.
Drive 29 km through the dense forest to visit the world famous Kuangsi waterfalls with a stop en route at colorful ethnic Hmong village. On the way back stop by by Ban Xangkhong (weaving village & Mulberry paper village) then transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Hanoi (B/-/-)
Very early morning (5:45am) private car transfer to Ban Vat Sean to watch a long line of monks in saffron robes collecting ceremonial alms.
Back to the hotel for breakfast, check out and visit the former Royal Palace before transferring to Luang Prabang Airport for flight to Hanoi.
Meet upon arrival at Hanoi International Airport, then transfer to the hotel for check-in. Time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 4: Hanoi Discovery (B/L/-)
Today, discover Hanoi - the charming capital of Vietnam :
We enjoy 01 hour cyclo ride (ricksaw) to observe Hanoi Old Quarter and to see the local merchants open their shops at the beginning of the day. Afterward, we visit the Museum of Ethnology where we have an overview on 54 minorities groups living in Vietnam, Tran Quoc pagoda.
Then we head out to Hoa Lo prison famed "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War, One pillar pagoda, French colonial quarter, Saint Joseph Cathedral, Hanoi Opera,
A leisure walk around Hoan Kiem lake and in Hanoi Old Quarter.
Attend a performance of water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)
08:00am depart for Halong bay, 180km east of Hanoi, listed as World Heritage Area by UNESCO in 1994. Stopover with a coffee break en route at the Sao Do handicraft centre to watch handicapped masons and woodcarvers at work.
12:30 we board a traditional junk style to discover the 8th World Wonder listed by Unesco as World Heritage Site in 1994 where the movie "Indochine" was realized with Catherine Deneuve, French star in the 1990's.
12:45 Captain welcomes guests to Syrena cruises by tender. Check in cruise, whilst enjoy a welcome drink, safety briefing and check in cabin.
13:00 Leaving International Tuan Chau harbor to discover the Halong Bay - natural wonders of the world. Have lunch with special foods while cruising through famous sights Ba Hang fishing village, Đỉnh Hương island, Chó Đá islet, Gà Chọi islet...
14:30 Cruises stops at Bồ Nâu cave, the core area of the world natural heritage. Transfer by tender to Surprise cave - one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay.
15:45 Leaving Surprise cave, transfer by tender to the Titov island was named by Uncle Ho, after Gherman Stepanovich Titov - the Soviet astronaut who visited in 1962 Enjoy swimming, relaxing on the beach or climb the steps of the Rock to the top of the island. On the top of the mountain, you can see corner of magical Halong Bay ...
16:45 Back to the cruise. Relax and enjoy sunset on the sun deck. Go to the overnight place.
18:00 – 19:00 HAPPY HOUR - Buy 1 drink get 1 free (wine excluded).
18:30 Enjoy Vietnamese cooking demonstration.
19:00 Acquaint yourseft with the set menu dinner.
20:30 Evening activities include: film entertainment (in the dining room); squid fishing; massage (contact with cruise manager for service price)... Dinner and Overnight on board.
Day 6: Halong Bay - Hanoi – Hue (B/-/-)
Get up early to catch the sunrise over the bay.
06:30 Enjoy Tai Chi instructions on the sundeck in 30 minutes whilst cruising to Luồn cave.
07:00 Enjoy light breakfast in the restaurant (coffee, tea, fresh milk, water, pastries, bread, egg, fresh fruit, cereals will be served in the dining room).
08:00 After breakfast, take a guided tour to visit Luồn cave - .one of the cave open to the form beautiful about endemic the vegetation of the Halong Bay. Visit Luồn cave by a traditionally woven (bamboo) boat rowed by a local boatman.
08:30 Then come back to Syrena cruise, relax and check out of cabin. Please put your luggage outside the door. Our porters will collect and get them ready on the Pier for you.Finally, the cruise disembarks in International Tuan Chau harbour.
09:15 Enjoy brunch buffet menu served in the dining room. Settle bills in the dining room after brunch (if you have).
10:45 Transfer by tender back to Tuan Chau harbour and disembarkation
You will then transfer to Hanoi Airport for a flight to Hue. We will stop en route in ceramic-making village of Phu Lang to observe the century-year old trade of ceramic production.
Fly to Hue VN 1547 # 18:35 – 19:50
Upon arrival in Hue, you will be transferred to the hotel in Hue for check in. Leisure time and overnight in Hue.
Day 7: Hue city tour (B/L/-)
We start the day with a relaxing cruise on the Perfume River to discover Thien Mu pagoda, the wonderful architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Then, we visit the mausoleum of Tu Duc Emperor. Lunch at local restaurant.
Afterwards, explore the former Royal city of the 13 ruling Nguyen dynasties: visit the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden city and Dong Ba market.
Back to the hotel for refreshment. Overnight in Hue.
Day 8: Hue - Danang - Hoian (B/L/-)
Depart for Danang.
A scenic 2h30 drive via Hai Van (Clouds pass) offers spectacular views of mountains, the sea, idyllic beaches and villages. We continue further south to the charming historic city of Hoian.
Upon arrival, enjoy a delicious lunch in Hoian Old Town.
Then discover Hoian ancient town, known to early Western merchants, the city was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.Hoian has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs. Visit historic merchants and community houses,places of worship and Japanese covered bridge, Hoian central market.
Check in at hotel. Leisure time. Accommodation in Hoian.
Day 9: Hoian – Cycling, Farming Tour, Cooking Class (B/L/-)
Today we have an exciting day to enjoy:
We ride a bike to visit a local market in Hoian which is non touristy at all. You can see local people buy and sell their products. They find foods of all kinds for their whole families every day. Then, continue cycling on the small path along paddy fields, fish ponds and bamboo trees. You have chance to hop on water buffalo whilst taking photos. Afterwards, you ride toward Tra Que village which is popular for its spicy and aromatic herbs.
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by family host: welcome drink and cold towel for refreshment. They will show you how to grow vegetables and spicy herbs: we walk through the herb gardens where local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago - no electrical machinery here. You also can work leisurely as local farmers if you like. Moreover, enjoy a cooking class with host family to cook Hoian specialty: My Quang noodle, white roses…Our family chef will explain you all about the herbs in cuisine and medicine. We pick fresh herbs in the garden for our cooking lesson later. Working together with our family Chef we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest organic ingredients direct from our garden and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use today) we cook 4 famous dishes. You taste what you have cooked as regional cuisine.
A herbal food massage will help you relax after meal.
Finally, you bike around Hoian rural area on the way back to the hotel. Refresh and relax. Overnight in Hoian.
Day 10: Danang - Saigon - Cuchi tunnels (B/L/-)
Transfer to Danang domestic airport for flight to Saigon/ Hochiminh city.
Then continue our journey to Cu Chi tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Hochiminh city to Cambodian border and was three levels deep. There are more than 200km of underground tunnels, consisting of a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels.The remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life in the war must have been like.
Check in at hotel. Leisure time. Overnight in Saigon/ Hochiminh city.
Day 11: Saigon - Ben Tre (B/L/-)
We leave behind the noisy city of Saigon for a fantastic journey to Ben Tre province. Ben Tre was famous for its guerrilla resistance during the Vietnam War. Today Ben Tre becomes a spot destination in Mekong Delta where you walk under the shape of coconut trees or cycle on the small roads to meet local people.
On arrival in Ben Tre city, enjoy a boat trip on the Mekong river and visit an orchard on an island. Lunch at local restaurant.
Ride a bike on small roads connecting villages and hamlets, among scenic landscapes with rice fields, lush orchards of tropical fruits in Ben Tre province.
You have chance to taste Vietnamese green tea with honeybee in the very green garden or interact with a veteran who was a VC fighter during the Vietnam War. You will be welcome at his home to learn more about the VC resistance in the 1960's.
Back to Saigon in the late afternoon. Accommodation in Saigon.
Day 12: Saigon - Departure (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel,
We explore the land-marks of Hochiminh city, the biggest trading center in the country: Notre Dame Cathedral, Post office, China town, formerly Presidential Palace from outside, War Remnants Museum. Lunch at local restaurant.
Leisure time for shopping.
Transfer to HCM/ Tan Son Nhat International Airport for flight to go home. Tour ends.
Note: If you want to go beyond borders, you may like Extension Tours below:
Prices: from US$1,268/ person. Please contact our Tour Managers to book Laos & Vietnam Discovery Tour today.
Including:
Excluding:
Hotels:
Laos & Vietnam Discovery features the scenic landscapes and wonderful temples and pagodas in Luang Prabang, Hanoi, Hue, Hoian and Mekong Delta. You have an opportunity to meet and talk with a veteran VC in Ben Tre province to learn about the Vietnam War in the 1960's. You also taste local cuisines which are diverse in Laos and Vietnam. Come to discover the treasures of Laos and Vietnam today.
Duration: 16 Days/15 Nights
Price from: $1998
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