Vietnam Travel Info

Indochina Tour

Indochina tour 15 days 

Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Ha Long - Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long - Can Tho - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide

Day 1: Vientiane arrival (B, G)

On your arrival in Vientiane, you'll be met and driven to your hotel. You'll then be free until dinner. Your overnight stay will be in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, you'll be picked up to visit the That Luang Stupa, Vientiane's most sacred shrine. You'll then visit the Wat Si Saket, Vientiane's oldest temple and easily the most impressive. In the afternoon, you'll visit Wat Ong Tu, the Temple of the Heavy Buddha and an important centre of learning and Patuxai, the Victoria Monument in Vientiane. You'll stroll around the local market for shopping around. You'll spend the night in Vientiane.

Day 3: Vientiane/Luang Prabang (B, L, D, G)

In the morning, you'll take the flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival, you'll be picked up to travel to your hotel. In the afternoon, you'll visit Wat Xieng Thong, a beautiful temple justifiably described as a scene from an oriental fairytale, and the dazzling. After a climb up the steps to the top of Mount Phousi, you'll be able to enjoy an good view of Luang Prabang. You'll spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou/Luang Prabang (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, the boat leaves Luang Prabang pier at 07:30 am for a cruise along the Mekong River for you to visit Pak Ou Village and Pak Ou Cave, at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, a brief stop is made to observe the traditional process of obtaining local rice alcohol, visit Tam Ting "Cave of a thousand Buddha's". You'll then visit Ban Xanghai (the local Lao liquor production village) and Ban Phanom (the local hand weaving village) before returning to Luang Prabang for your overnight stay.

Day 5: Luang Prabang/Hanoi (via Vientiane) (B, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll then be free until you'll be picked up to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you'll be met and driven to your hotel. 

17.15: You'll be picked up to watch the Water Puppet show. 

18.30: Dinner at one of the local restaurant. 

You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi city tour (B, L, G)

9.00: Pick up at your hotel for your Hanoi city tour.

9.30 - 10.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, his simple stilt  house where he lived

10.30 - 11.00: You'll visit the Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest pagoda located on West Lake

11.00 - 12.00: Visit Temple of Literature - the first university in Vietnam

12.00 - 13.15: Lunch at local restaurant

13.15 - 15.30: Visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam's 54 distinct ethnic

15.30 - 16.15: Visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake, the heart of city.

16.15 - 17.15: You'll have around 1 hour to walk around the Old Quarter. You'll drive back to your hotel. You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

8.30: You'll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world's largest marine limestone "karst" landscape.

10.00: You'll take a short break at Hong Ngoc Embroidery workshop.

10.30 - 12.00: You'll continue driving to Ha Long Bay.

12.00: You'll board your boat, a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels. It will take you first to the World Heritage area where you'll visit Amazing Cave and a famous beach in Ha Long Bay. You'll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay's remarkable seascape. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood.

You'll spend the night on the boat.

If you don't like seafood during this trip, please let us know what you like so we can arrange for you.

Day 8: Ha Long/Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

7.30: You'll have western breakfast on boat.

8.00 - 8.30: You'll venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan.

8.30 - 11.45: You'll spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking to the harbour.

You'll then be escorted to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive, you'll be picked up to your hotel.

You'll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City tour (B, L, G)

8.30: Your car and driver will come to take you for your Ho Chi Minh City tour

8.30 - 10.30: You'll be driven to visit History Museum, an exhibition of the 5th century Oc Eo civilisation.

10.30 - 12.00: You'll visit the Museum of War Remnants provides a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the American War

12.00 - 13.15: Lunch will be served at the local restaurant

13.15 - 14.00: You'll visit Centre Post Office with colonial building and the Cathedral Church.

14.00 - 14.45: Drive to visit the Jade Emperor Temple. It's one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam

14.45 - 17.00: You'll have approximately two hour to visit the Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City and a visit to lacquer workshop.

You'll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Can Tho (B, L, G)

8.30 - 10.30: Drive to Vinh Long, a city famous by the Mekong River and floating market

10.30 - 15.30: You'll cruise to visit Cai Be floating market, fruit orchards, some traditional cottage industries. You'll have a lunch at one of the local family and have a shot show of traditional music in Mekong Delta which is operated by the local people.

15.30 - 16.00: You'll have time to wonder around the fruit market to buy some kind of famous tropical fruit such as banana, pomelo, dragon fruit and so on.

16.00 - 17.30: You'll be driven further into the Mekong Delta to Can Tho where you'll spend the night.

Day 11: Can Tho/Chau Doc (B, L, G)

8.00 - 10.45: You'll have breakfast at your hotel and then be picked up to Ninh Kieu Harbour. You'll then take about two hour boat trip to cruise along the Mekong River to Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets. You can enjoy the Mekong rural lifestyle.

10.45 - 14.00: You'll take the high-speet boat to Chau Doc. You'll check in your hotel and free in the evening in a town on the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

You'll spend the night in Chau Doc.

Day 12: Chau Doc/Phnom Penh (B, L, G)

7.00 - 7.30: Breakfast at your hotel. You'll then take a high-speet boat again to Phnom Penh.

On arrival in Phnom Penh, you'll be picked up to visit Silver Pagoda, National Museum, Royal Palace and Ounalom Monastry and join sunset cruise on Mekong Rivers. You'll spend the night in Phnom Penh.

Day 13: Siem Reap (B, L, D, G)

In the morning, you'll take the flight to Siem Reap. On arrival at Siem Reap airport, you'll be picked up by our driver to check in your hotel. You'll then visit the Temple complex, of which Ankor Wat is a key element. You'll begin with a visit to Ankor Thom, starting with the Bayon, a bizarre structure of several architectural changes reflecting a switch from Hinduism (the foundations) to Buddhism (the superstructure). Your next visit will be to the Elephant and Leper King Terraces followed by the Baphoun Temple, which is now nearing the end of an eight-year multi-million dollar restoration programme. Afternoon visits to some of the outer sites including Takeo, a five-tiered pyramid, Sras Srang Lake and landing terrace and Prasat Kravan (also known as the Cardomom Sanctuary). Overnight in Siem Riep.

Day 14: Siem Reap (B, L, D, G)

A full day to explore the grand circuit with visits to Pre Rup and East Mebon,  both built in the tenth century, Ta Som, an unrestored temple, and Neak Pean, a Himalayan-style lake and sanctuary. In the afternoon, you'll explore Angkor Wat itself, the largest, and for most people, the most impressive temple in the complex after which you can watch the sunset from the top of Phnom Bakheng Hill. You'll spend the night in Siem Riep.

Day 15: Siem Reap departure (B, G)

You'll be picked up to the airport for your international departure flight.  

Prices per person in US$: 

Valid until December 31, 2007

Surcharge for peak season of hotels are not inclusive in the prices above.

Prices include:

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.

• Domestic flight tickets in Laos: Vientiane - Luang Prabang, including domestic airport taxes.

• Domestic flight tickets in Vietnam: Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City, including domestic airport taxes.

• Domestic flight tickets in Cambodia: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap, including domestic airport taxes.

• International flight tickets: Luang Prabang - Hanoi, excluding airport tax.

• High-speed boat: Can Tho - Chau Doc, Chau Doc - Phnom Penh.

• Boats cruise as programme.

• Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced, safe driver.

• English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary

• Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.

• Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the best local restaurants and full board on the boat in Ha Long Bay.

• Government taxes

Price do not include:

• Other international flight tickets and airport tax.

• Visas.

• Dinners except as specified above.

• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

• Insurance.

Hotel list for First Class standard

• Vientiane: Settha Palace Hotel (***** colonial building, restored to its former Cham) or similar

• Luang Prabang: Pansea Phou Vao Hotel (****on the hill of Kites in the confluence of the Mekong River) or similar

• Hanoi: Sofitel Metropole Hotel (***** colonial building in a city centre) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Caravelle Hotel (***** colonial building in the heart of the city) or similar

• Can Tho: Victoria Hotel (**** beside the Mekong river, Deluxe River View)

• Chau Doc: Victoria Hotel (**** near the Mekong river)

• Phnom Penh: Raffles Hotel Le Royal (***** in the heart of the city) or similar

• Siem Reap: Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor (***** colonial building) or similar

Hotel list for Deluxe standard

• Vientiane: Lao Plaza Hotel (**** city centre) or similar

• Luang Prabang: Villa Santi  Hotel (**** the former residence of Lao Royal Princess) or similar

• Hanoi: Sofitel Plaza Hotel (***** overlooking the West Lake, indoor swimming pool) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Majestic Hotel (**** colonial and historic building in the city centre overlooking the Saigon River) or similar

• Can Tho: Victoria Hotel (**** beside the Mekong river)

• Chau Doc: Victoria Hotel (**** near the Mekong river)

• Phnom Penh: Inter-continental (***** in the heart of the business district of Phnom Penh) or similar

• Siem Reap: Sofitel Royal Angkor (***** closest to the Angkor Wat Temple complex) or similar

Hotel list for Superior standard

• Vientiane: Novotel Hotel (**** city centre) or similar

• Luang Prabang: Muang Luang Hotel (***) or similar

• Hanoi: Sunway Hotel (**** near the city centre) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Grand Hotel (****in the heart of the city) or similar

• Can Tho: Victoria Hotel (**** beside the Mekong river)

• Chau Doc: Victoria Hotel (**** near the Mekong river)

• Phnom Penh: Sunway Hotel (**** city centre) or similar

• Siem Reap: Angkor Hotel (**** inspired by the rich heritage of Khmer culture) or similar

Hotel list for Mid-range standard

• Vientiane: Asean Pavilion (***local standard) or similar

• Luang Prabang: New Luang Prabang (***local standard) or similar

• Hanoi: Army hotel (*** city centre with swimming pool) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Empress Hotel (*** city centre) or similar

• Can Tho: Saigon Can Tho Hotel (*** in the city centre) or similar

• Chau Doc: Victoria Hotel (**** near the Mekong river)

• Phnom Penh: Diamond Hotel (*** city centre) or similar

• Siem Reap: City Royal Hotel (*** ten minutes from the airport) or similar

Hotel list for Budget standard

• Vientiane: Dansavan Hotel (local standard) or similar

• Luang Prabang: Sanakeo (city centre) or similar

• Hanoi: Nam Hai Hotel (** in the Old Quarter) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Chancery Hotel (*** city centre) or similar

• Can Tho: Ninh Kieu Hotel (** city centre) or similar

• Chau Doc: Chau Doc Hotel (local standard) or similar

• Phnom Penh: Princess Hotel (** city centre) or similar

• Siem Reap: Seaside Hotel (** city centre) or similar