Astounding Indochina – 16 Days

General Information

Duration: 16 Days/ 15 Nights
Date: No fixed dates
Tour Type: Landscape, Nature, Folk Arts and Culture
Starts/ Ends: Vientiane/ Phnom Penh
Tour Route: Vientiane – Luang Prabang – Hanoi – Halong Bay – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Siem Reap – Phnom Penh
Activity Level: Regular Itinerary, Moderate Walking
Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
Tour Category: Multi Countries Tours

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Vientiane Arrival (D)
Day 2: Vientiane – Luang Prabang (B, L)
Day 3: Luang Prabang (B, L)
Day 4: Luang Prabang – Hanoi (B, D)
Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L)
Day 6: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)
Day 7: Hanoi – Fly to Da Nang transfer to Hue via Hai Van tunnel (B, L)
Day 8: Hue – Hoi An (B)
Day 9: Hoi An (B)
Day 10: Hoi An – Da Nang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi tunnel (B, L)
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (B, L)
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap (B, L)
Day 13: Siem Reap (B, D)
Day 14: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh (B)
Day 15: Phnom Penh (B)
Day 16: Phnom Penh Departure (B)

Laos Itinerary 3 Days

Day 1: Vientiane Arrival (D)

Upon arrival in Vientiane, we will be transferred to our hotel. This afternoon there will be a city tour around Lao capital. Although it is a capital city, Vientiane has the feel of a small provincial town. The wide boulevards are almost devoid of traffic and with its many temples; the city retains the feel of another age. Our tour includes visits to the major temples of Vat Sisaket, Vat Phrakeo and the impressive That Luang Stupa, the country’s most important monument. We will also see the Arch of Triumph, the National Museum, and the main market. Overnight at hotel in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane – Luang Prabang (B, L)

This morning we transfer to the airport for the short domestic flight to Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang is best known for its beautiful scenery and high numbers of ancient temples. We embark on a tour of this enthralling town visiting Wat Xieng Thong, the Golden City monastery. We will also visit the fine temples of Wat May, Wat Visoun and Wat That Luang. Later in the day, we adjourn to the Phousi Holy Hill to enjoy the excellent views of the town and a great sunset.

Day 3: Luang Prabang City Tour (B, L)

Today we take a trip to the Royal Palace Museum. The palace built in 1904 is relatively new by Luang Prabang standards and is a mix of traditional Lao and colonial French design. Afterward, we visit the morning market and the weaving village of Ban Phanom. Free at our leisure in the rest of the day. Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang.

Vietnam Itinerary 8 Days

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Hanoi (B, D)

Leave Laos and continue to travel to Vietnam by airplane, upon our arrival we will be picked up and transfer to Hanoi city central where’s our hotel location. Tonight we will have dinner at one of the fine restaurants in town.

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L)

We depart for Halong Bay in the morning when we get there; we take a private junk to visit the majestic Halong Bay. The 5-hour boat journey will take us around the secluded bay (now is listed in the World Heritage site). We will pass the Dog islet, Cockfighting islet, Tuttle islet…we will stop to visit at Dau Go and Thien Cung caves. Seafood lunch will be served on the boat. Disembark we will be back to Hanoi. Tonight we will have dinner in the restaurant and stay overnight in the hotel.

Day 6: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)

A full day explores the charming colonial city of Hanoi, we start our morning by visiting Ho Chi Minh Complex including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, his house on the stilt, One Pillar Pagoda. After that, we visit the Hanoi Hilton (the prison that keeps the American pilots when their aircraft were brought down during the war). After that, we visit the Temple of Literature. And having one hour on the Cyclo (the pedal rickshaw) to see the Old Quarter. In the evening we enjoy the unique water puppet show.

Notes: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum opening time: Open from Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from8 am to 11 pm. Closed on Mondays and Fridays. The mausoleum is closed for two months of the year, usually October and November, when Ho Chi Minh’s body is maintenance by Russian expert.

Day 7: Hanoi – Fly to Danang – Transfer to Hue via Hai Van Tunnel (B, L)

Morning free at the leisure until we transfer to the airport for an hour flight to Danang airport then we transfer to Hue. Along the way, we will stop at Lang Co beach. Arriving Hue we can look forward to exploring the superb sights of the city. In the afternoon we explore the Citadel, the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City, and the Dong Ba market. We have dinner in the restaurant.

Day 8: Hue – Hoi An (B)

This morning we make our way down to the Perfume River. We pause at the best-loved architecture pagoda in Hue, Thien Mu pagoda (The Heavenly Lady pagoda). After that, we continue to go to the elaborate Tu Duc Tomb. In the afternoon we travel by vehicle to Hoi An along the Highway 1A. We stop over at Hai Van Pass, My Khe beach, and Marble Mountain. Tonight we stay in the hotel in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An Sightseeing Tour (B)

Hoi An is a quaint riverside town popular among tourists for its charming architecture, souvenir and tailor shops, and café. Some of the lovely buildings in the narrow streets have changed a little over some hundred years. It now listed as a World Heritage site. In the morning today, we enjoy the walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Old town visit Fu Kien Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tan Ky house, the Japanese Cover Bridge, Hoi An Museum, and the handcrafts workshops.

Day 10: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)

Transfer in the morning for the early flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, we will be pick up and transfer to our hotel. After check-in, we leave Saigon for the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, which was dug and used by Viet Cong during the second Indochina war. It is likely that guide was once soldier here and their insight will help us to understand the tragic part of Vietnamese history. Some part of the tunnel has been dug out bigger for accommodate foreigners- more than a touch of irony here!

It is also the chance for us to try some shots of the AK47, the rifle that uses by Viet Cong during the war. We return Ho Chi Minh City in the early afternoon. We tour around the city to visit the highlight of Saigon including Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office, Former Presidential Palace, Museum of War Remnants.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (B, L)

After breakfast, we leave Saigon behind and head to Vietnam’s rice basket of Mekong Delta. We will pass through idyllic, rural scenes until we arrive at My Tho, a peaceful town on the bank of the Mekong River, where we will visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda. Next, we will have a boat ride on the Mekong, visit local homes and orchards, a coconut candy workshop, a honeybee farm, take a sampan ride on palm-shaded creeks, try a taste of seasonal fruit and honey tea and enjoy a performance of traditional Southern singing. We return to Ho Chi Minh about 6 pm.

Cambodia Itinerary 5 Days

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap (B, L)

Today we transfer to the Ho Chi Minh city airport for our flight to Siem Reap (Cambodia). Upon our arrival in Siem Reap, we will be greeted by our guide and transfer to the hotel. After that, we will head out for the majestic temples of Angkor. This afternoon visit to the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 13: Siem Reap – Angkor Complex (B, D)

An early start to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat followed by a tour of the temples including the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphoun Temples, the Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King and Phimean Akas. Afternoon tour visits Srah Srang, Bantey Kdei, Ta Keo, Chau Say Tevoda, Thammanon, and Ta Prohm Temple. Then we go back to hot air balloon station where we can ride a stable hot air balloon for a truly memorable sunset look over one of the Wonder of the World, Angkor Wat. Overnight in the hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 14: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh (B)

Early morning drive to Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre. This afternoon we visit the local market before transferring to the airport for a flight to Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. Overnight Phnom Penh.

Day 15: Phnom Penh City Tour (B)

The city tour includes the National Museum, the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace, and Wat Phnom. Afternoon visits to the Russian market, the infamous Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes and Cheung Ek, better known as the Killing Fields. And followed by a sunset cruise on the Mekong River. Overnight in the hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 16: Phnom Penh Departure (B)

Free time until transfer to the airport for your flight home. Indochina tour itinerary 2 weeks ends.