Great Indochina Loop Tour – 16 Days

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 Vientiane. 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 Wat Sisaket, Wat 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, 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 go up 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 for the rest of the day. Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang.

Vietnam Itinerary 8 Days

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Hanoi (B, D)

Leave Laos we for traveling 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 World Heritage Site. The 5-hour boat journey will take us around the secluded bay (Passing the Dog islet, Cockfighting islet, Tuttle islet then we will stop to visit Thien Cung (Heavenly cave). Seafood lunch will be served on the boat. Disembark we will transfer back to Hanoi.

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 stilt, One Pillar Pagoda. After that we visit Hanoi Hilton (the prison that keeps the American pilots when their aircraft were brought down during the war) then we continue to the Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, we have one hour on the Cyclo (the pedal rickshaw) to see the Old Quarter. Tonight we will enjoy the unique water puppet show in the theater.

Notes: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum opening time from Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from 8 am to 11 pm and 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 experts. Hanoi Museum of Ethnology will be the alternative destination.

Day 7: Hanoi – Fly to Hue (B, L)

Morning free at leisure until we transfer to the airport for an hour flight to Hue. Arriving in Hue we can look forward to exploring the superb sights of the city. In the afternoon we visit the Hue Citadel, the Imperial City and Dong Ba market.

Day 8: Hue – Hoi An (B)

This morning, we make our way down to the Perfume River. 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 go to Hoi An along the Highway 1A. We stopover at Hai Van Pass, My Khe beach, and Marble Mountain for short exploration. Overnight 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 – Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)

Transfer in the morning for the early flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, we will be picked up and transfer to our hotel. After check-in, we leave Ho Chi Minh City for the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, which was dug and used by Viet Cong during the second Indochina war. It is likely that the 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 to 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 Ho Chi Minh City including Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office, the former Presidential Palace, and Museum of War Remnants.

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

After breakfast, we leave Ho Chi Minh City 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. After that we take a boat ride on the Mekong river, 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 City around 5 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. This afternoon we will head out for the majestic temples of Angkor, visit 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 Temple, Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King and Phimean Akas.

Afternoon tour visits Srah Srang, Banteay 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 Siem Reap.

Day 14: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh (B)

Early morning drive to 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 in 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 visit 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 Phnom Penh.

Day 16: Phnom Penh Departure (B)

Free time until transfer to the airport for our flight home. Laos Vietnam Cambodia itinerary 2 weeks ends.