Tour Code: 9VN6CB5LACL1
Dates: 19 Days / 18 Nights
Tour Route: Hanoi - Halongbay - Hanoi - Hoian - My Son - ancient town - Hoian - Ho Chi Minh - Ho Chi Minh city tour - Cu Chi tunnel - Ho Chi Minh Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh - Phnom Penh - Kampong Thom - Siem Reap - Angkor - Siem Reap - Vientiane - Xiengkhouang - Luangprabang - Pak Ou Cave - Luangprabang - Departure
Itinerary Details:
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Greeting and transfer from Noibai international airport to your hotel in town and free at your leisure. Welcome dinner at a good restaurant in the city
center. Overnight in Hanoi. (D)
Day 2 : Hanoi city tour
Hanoi is also called 'Paris of Easter', date back to thousand years of history, Hanoi now is the mixture of Old and New. Today, our tours will prove all
above. Start in the morning to visit must - see place in Hanoi of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (Closed on Friday & Monday) where his body actually still in well -
preserved. Right behind Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is a very famous pagoda called 'One Pillar Pagoda' which was built in 1049 under Ly Thai Tong King. The design of pagoda is unique. It is really good to stop for a while and taking some photos while listening to other nice stories of Vietnamese Buddhism from our tour guide.
Another must - see sight in Hanoi is our next stop, Temple of Lecture, also built on 11th century under Ly dynasty. Every single small hall in the temple can explain you all about the history of Vietnam feudalism, educational as well as talented people in the past. This area also sometimes is in use for government's guest reception ceremony and other important events.
After sightseeing, we drive back to the Old quarter of Hanoi for a short visit to Ngoc Son temple before boarding on one of the most popular transportation
means of Hanoi in old days - Xich Lo. It is an impressive drive to visit Hanoi 36 streets, local activities, and daily life of people who have been living here in generations. Free to enjoy your lunch before heading out to new Hanoi's development areas. Stop to visit Vietnam's biggest museum of Ethnology.
Free time for sightseeing on open air exhibition. Back to Hanoi West Lake where you can have a slight walk along Thanh Nien street which is considered as the
most beautiful street in Vietnam.. Later afternoon, sit back to enjoy your last activity of the day - Water Puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi. (B, L)
Day 3 : Hanoi - Halong bay
After breakfast, follow our tour guide and driver to travel to Halong. Halong is located in Quang Ninh province, 170 km north-east of Hanoi. (Listed by
UNESCO as a natural heritage site in 1994, Halong bay has become a famous tourist destination in Vietnam). Our bus trip will take some stop-overs on the way
for photography or refreshment. Upon arrival, we are boarding to Bai Tho junk, one of the most luxury junk in Halong bay. After a welcome drink, we will be
checked in to our cabin while our cruise start sailing to the bay. Sea food lunch will be served on board. Going through the maze of limestone mountains and
floating markets, we reach to one of the biggest and most beautiful cave of Halong - Sung Sot cave. Having your sightseeing in the cave with our tour guide.
Keep cruising to Ti Top beach where you can have a swim or walking up to Ti Top mountain for a bird view down to Halong bay. Back to the night basement while
sunset. Dinner and overnight in the junk. (B, L,D)
Day 4 : Halong - Hanoi - Danang - Hoian
Wake up with sounds of wave, after having your western breakfast, we following our captain and crews to visit Luon cave by rowing bamboo boat. Going under the tunnel and get inside the cave which looks like a quiet lake at middle of the bay. If you lucky enough, you can see some monkey on the rock and bushes surroundings. Back to our junk and depart to another part of Halong - Bai Tu Long. Famous for small rock and millions of shapes from limestones, this part is a must see place during your trip on the bay. Cruising along Hon Gai part, highlight is local market, daily lives from locals. Having lunch and dock back to Halong pier where our awaiting Van take us back to Hanoi, then to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Danang in late afternoon. Picked up at Danang airport and transfer to your hotel in Hoian. Overnight in Hoian. (B, L)
Day 5 : Hoian - My son - ancient town
After breakfast, we embark on a journey out to My Son, the former pilgrimage site of the Cham people who once inhabited much of what is today modern Vietnam.
Afternoon, transfer back to Hoian for sightseeing in the little charming town. We take the tour visiting to ancient merchants' houses, a Phuc Kien temple, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful riverside market. Coming to a workshop where artisans make Hoi An's famous lanterns, guests learn how the lanterns are made then have a chance to create their own lanterns, from designing the frame to gluing the cloth. Have dinner and stay overnight in
Hoian. (B, L,D)
Day 6 : Hoian - Ho Chi Minh
You are free for leisure at your hotel in Hoian until we pick you up and transfer to Danang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh. Greeting at Tan Son Nhat airport and taken to your hotel in the center. Welcome dinner is served at a good restaurant in Ho Chi Minh city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.(B, D)
Day 7 : Ho Chi Minh city tour - Cu Chi tunnel
In the morning we go for sight seeing in to Ho Chi Minh City which is also called Saigon by locals. Ho Chi Minh is a new name of Saigon since 1976 after
Vietnam war to remembered one of the greatest leaders of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh. Saigon was the capital of southern government before 1975. There are quite
a few of relics from war time still remaining and now become tourist sights. Our first stop is Unification Palace where the tank of northern military ran
into and made Vietnam's independence day on 30th April 1975. Afterward, we continue to visit Crime War museum where you may find lots of shock photos in
Vietnam war. Our last place is China town, inhabited by over one million Chinese with the highlight of Binh Tay busy wholesales market. After lunch,
continued with the trip to Cu Chi tunnel. Cu Chi tunnel was created since French war to hide away from the flat area. However, Cu Chi was really widen during
Vietnam war and became very useful for VC, not only to hide but also to fight, to live and growing up. The whole tunnel network stretchs about 250km, passing
many villages like a maze along Saigon's river. Today, Cu Chi are opened for visitor in two parts. Ben Dinh & Ben Duoc. Our trip today visit one of them:
Ben Dinh. After one and a half hour, we arrive in Ben Dinh.Watching a short documentary film about Cu Chi then following our guide to see the real tunnel.
Highlight of the trip is that we can actually crawling through the tunnel to understand how incredible of guerrillas were! We learn more about people who
used to live and fight inside the tunnel. Attend more sights in area with explanation about other function of under ground tunnel system. Back to Saigon in
the afternoon. Overnight in Saigon. (B, L)
Day 8 : Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta
In the morning, you are picked up from your hotel to depart for Mekong delta. Mekong is also called by Vietnamese as 'Nine Dragons River' as Mekong river
meets china sea in Vietnam by nice gates. Mekong delta famous for its agriculture products such as rice, tropical fruits, as well as aquatic products. Our
tour today not only shows you how wealthy Mekong river is but also is another great triangle looking over the people in Mekong. After about 2 hours driving,
we arrive in My Tho city which is the closest town to Mekong from Saigon. Upon arrival, we board on local sampan and start our cruise throughout narrow
canals in Mekong river. Our first stop is a tropical garden where we have a little musical show represented by local family. A short walk takes us to
handicraft villages on the island, such as coconut candy making, pop corn and pop rice making. We are transferred by rowing boat to see another island, visit
a family with bee's farm. Enjoy local fruits and honey tea. Our trip becomes more adventurous with a driving of local unique transportation: 'Xe Loi' to
Phung island where we have local specialties lunch. Boarding again and transferred to our car. Back to Saigon. Enjoy your farewell dinner. Overnight in
Saigon. (B,L,D)
Notes:
As it's an excursion trip, recommend bringing light day bag, sun block, hat and comfortable walking shoes.
Sight destinations and activities subject to switch depending on current conditions of water level of the Mekong.
Early departure is recommended to avoid rush traffic and strong sunlight in summer (May to September )
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh - Phnom Penh
Free at your hotel until we pick you up and take you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight. Tour ends at Tan Son Nhat airport. Arrival Phnom Penh
Airport, welcome by English speaking guide and transfer to hotel, lunch local restaurant, afternoon departure to visit short city tours: independence
monument, Wat Phnom, national library, central market, walking along road on the Mekong river, dinner local restaurant and over night at hotel.
Day 10:Phnom Penh
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning departure to visit the capital city the Royal Palace and Silver pagoda, National museum, lunch local restaurant, afternoon
continue to visit the genocide museum and Russia market, free time and dinner local restaurant, over night at hotel.
Day 11: Phnom Penh - Kampong Thom province (168km)
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning departure to Kampong Thom (take 2hour on the road) via the central Skun dist and visit the dries of spider, visit the
local village, lunch local restaurant, afternoon continue to visit the Kuk Hak Nokor, arrival kampong Thom transfer to hotel, dinner local restaurant and
over night at hotel.
Day 12: Kampong Thom - Siem Reap (157km)
Breakfast at hotel, excursion to visit the Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk, lunch local restaurant, afternoon, continue to Siem Reap via the Kampong Kdei and visit
the Spean Neak (dragon bridge), arrival Siem Reap and transfer to hotel, dinner local restaurant and over night at hotel.
Day 13: Siem Reap
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning departure to visit the city of Angkor Thom, Bayon temple, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, Terrace of Leper King and Elephants, lunch
local restaurant, afternoon small circuit: Ta Keo, ta Prhom, Banteay Kdei, Thommanon, Chau seytevoda and Srah Srang, dinner local restaurant and over night
at hotel.
Day 14: Siem Reap - Banteay Srey (35km)
Breakfast at hotel, excursion to visit Banteay Srey "the city of women" continue to Banteay Samré, lunch local restaurant, afternoon continue to visit the
famous of Angkor Wat temple and admire the sunset tours at Phnom Bakheng, dinner local restaurant and over night at hotel.
Day 15: Siem Reap - Vientiane
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning departure to visit the grand circuit: Neak Paon, Preah Khan, Ta Som, Mebon Oriental and Pre rup, lunch local restaurant,
free leisure and transfer to airport for departure to Vientiane. On arrival in Vientiane Capital, you are met and transferred to our centrally located hotel.
After a short rest, we start to visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the
former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we
stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph, sunset by the Mekong Riverside and late
evening. Overnight in Vientiane
Day 16: Vientiane - Xiengkhouang
Breakfast at hotel , free at leisure until your short afternoon flight to Xiengkhouang, which was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973. Upon
arrival, we transfer out to visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars
