Best of Indochina: Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos

Itinerary

• Day 1: International Arrival, Hanoi

  Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, your tour guide greets you at the airport with Indochina Odyssey Tours welcome sign and escorts you to the hotel for check-in. Have some leisure time on your own.

  • Hanoi

• Day 2: Hanoi City Tour

  In the morning, explore Hanoi by touring some major historic sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House on Stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda an Quan Thanh Temple.

  In the afternoon, you will visit the Museum of Ethnology and then explore the Old Quarter of Hanoi by rickshaw (about 1hr). Continue to Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and then enjoy a Water Puppet Show to learn more about Vietnamese traditional culture.

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  • Hanoi

• Day 3: Hanoi - Sapa

  After breakfast, you will be taken to Sapa from Hanoi with a 5 hours' drive, stop for a break or take photos en route. After check in hotel and take a rest at Sapa, we will visit the Silver Waterfall - the most beautiful waterfall in Sapa then enjoy the great view and feeling at the "Heaven Gate" of Sapa - the highest point of Hoang Lien Son mountain range where you can see majestic Lai Chau Valley and imposing Fanxipan mount.

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  • Sapa

• Day 4: Sapa Trekking Tour

  Today you will take a morning walking tour to a busy market where Red Dao, Black & Flower H'Mong, Tay and other ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their silverware and handicrafts and to buy provisions. Afterward, you will do a trekking tour (about 3 hours hike) to Lao Chai and Ta Van Village of the Black H'mong and the Day people, you will enjoy the fresh air, amazing scenery of the imposing mountain range, trek down world's most beautiful terraced rice fields, visit some local family on the way and learn unique culture and life of these ethnic groups. Drive back to Sapa for overnight.

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  • Sapa

• Day 5: Sapa - Hanoi

  This morning, you will visit Ma Tra Village first and then trek through the rice terraces to Ta Phin Village of the Red Dao minority (about 3 hours trekking). After lunch in the village, drive back to Hanoi.

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  • Sapa

• Day 6: Hanoi - Halong Bay

  Upon arrival in Hanoi, take a short rest in your hotel and set out for a rich Halong Bay cruise. After a 3.5 hours' scenic drive to the pier, check into your private cabin and start cruising. Besides admiring the stunning scenery and visiting the Vong Vieng Fishing Village to discover the life of local people, you will also enjoy optional activities like kayaking, kite-flying, cave adventure, etc. Spend a romantic night on board at Halong Bay.

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  • Halong Bay

• Day 7: Halong Bay - Hue

  Today continue your unforgettable Halong Bay cruise. You will enjoy your brunch before disembarking the cruiser at around 10 am. When the cruise ends, your guide and driver will meet you at the pier and escort you to Hanoi Airport (around 3.5 hours' drive) for your flight to the imperial city of Hue. Upon arrival, be transferred to the hotel and enjoy some leisure time.

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  • Hue

• Day 8: Hue City Tour

  After breakfast, you will first visit the majestic Tomb of Minh Mang erected in the 1840s. Then sail the Perfume River by Royal Dragon Boat to the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda, the tallest one in Vietnam. Transfer to visit Imperial Citadel with cobbled paths and tour the Forbidden Purple City, a walled fortress and palace in the former capital. Later on, absorb the energy, sounds, and odors of the bustling Dong Ba Market.

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  • Hue

• Day 9: Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An

  Morning head for Hoi An, en route stop by the Hai Van Pass for a stunning view of the coast and Da Nang City from the top. Upon arrival in Da Nang, visit shimmering Non Nuoc Beach, the Cham Museum housing the world's largest collection of Cham sculptures, and last, the famous Marble Mountain composed of five hills. Arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

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  • Hoi An

• Day 10: Hoi An Sightseeing

  Morning is a half-day join-in Eco-tour, by learning traditional fishing technique; paddling unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats to the now tranquil waterways of a past war, joining some hands-on activities, you'll get an authentic social and cultural insight into the local Vietnamese way of life.

  In the afternoon, go around the tiny town of Hoi An and visit the 400-year-old Japanese Bridge, renowned Chinese Temple, and former Vietnamese merchants' houses. Your guide will tell you all the stories behind these historical relics.

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  • Hoi An

• Day 11: Hoi An - Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City

  Today head back to Da Nang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Check in to your hotel upon arrival, and then begin our visit to Binh Tay Market and War Remnants Museum. From there, the Tan Dinh Church, Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall are all within walking distance and perfect for a nice stroll.

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  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City - My Tho - Can Tho

  Today you will head for My Tho in Mekong Delta to take a boat trip on Tien River and visit My Tho Fish Market and four islands. Later, ride a cart through a beautiful village to the Mr. Muoi Hai's House to enjoy honey tea. After a sampan cruise along the canals of Mekong River return to My Tho pier and drive to Can Tho. Check in to the hotel and enjoy some leisure time on your own.

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  • Can Tho

• Day 13: Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh

  Today you will have a boat cruise on sparking streams along the endless waterway of Mighty Mekong River to Cai Rang Floating Market before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City for your flight to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Upon arrival, you'll be met and escorted to the hotel and enjoy your leisure time.

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  • Phnom Penh

• Day 14: Phnom Penh City Tour

  Today starts with the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town. Then a visit to Silver Pagoda, so named because of its floor made up of 5,000 silver tiles, National Museum and Wat Phnom, the most visited temple of the city.

  Afternoon, head to Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields of Choeung EK. The evening is free at leisure on your own.

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  • Phnom Penh

• Day 15: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

  After breakfast, fly to Siem Reap. Check in to your hotel upon arrival and take a rest. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument. Later climb up to visit the Phnom Bakheng Temple, which is the best place to view an Angkor Wat in the sunset.

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 16: Siem Reap Sightseeing

  Breakfast then head for the "Great City" of Angkor Thom and visit the famous Bayon Temple, Elephant Terrace. The afternoon is your free time to relax. In the evening, enjoy the Apsara Dinner Show at Angkor Village Resort.

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 17: Siem Reap Sightseeing

  Breakfast then visit the Banteay Srei, en route stop by some local villages to discover the joy of village life from the villagers themselves. After lunch, savor in the exquisite architecture and trace Khmer myths and legends at Ta Prohm Temple and Takeo Temple. You'll also have time for a leisure walk at the end of sightseeing.

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 18: Siem Reap - Luang Prabang

  In the morning, you will go to visit Khmer Village, then board on boat in Tonle Sap Lake. After that, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Upon your arrival, be met and escorted to your hotel for check-in and leisure for the rest of the day.

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 19: Luang Prabang Sightseeing

  If you get up earlier, today you can observe the Morning Alms Giving Ritual and get a better understanding of local people's piety towards their religion. After that, visit the Morning Market or Phousi Market, the largest market in Luang Prabang, go back to your hotel for breakfast and enjoy some free time.

  Afternoon, your half day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, Wat Xieng Thong, stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. Before sunset, climb up to the top of Mountain Phousi for sunset and then visit the Phousi Night Market.

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 20: Luang Prabang Sightseeing

  After breakfast, you will enjoy a cruise on the Mekong River with an exploration of the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, crammed with Buddha images of all shapes and sizes. Along the way, stop by the village of Ban Xanghai to sample local rice wine. On return to Luang Prabang, you will take a short drive to the Ban Xangkhong noted for Saa (jute) papermaking.

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 21: Luang Prabang - Hanoi

  Today your driver and guide will drive to the famous Kuang Si Waterfall for a refreshing swim in the turquoise pools or a walk along the forest trails. Have picnic lunch near the waterfall and enjoy the fresh air there before driving back to Luang Prabang for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival, be transferred to your hotel and enjoy some leisure time.

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  • Hanoi

• Day 22: Hanoi, Departure

  After breakfast at the hotel, have some free time in the morning until your tour guide escorts you to the airport for your international flight home.

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