Essential Indochina - Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia

Day 1 - Luang Prabang Arrival
Welcome to Luang Prabang, a tranquil town with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop has been claimed by UNESCO to be “the best preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia”. You are greeted by your guide and driver at the airport for your transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 - Luang Prabang highlights with Khuang Si waterfall full day (Breakfast & Lunch)
After breakfast, you first visit to the National Museum. Housed in the former Royal Palace, uninhabited since the royal family was deposed in 1975, the museum showcases many treasures of Laos' royal past and allows visitors to glimpse the private and public quarters of Lao royalty. Also, displayed here is the Prabang, the sacred Buddha image for which Luang Prabang was named and come on to nearby Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. Then visit to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. Showing you more about Laos’ Ethnic group especially, minorities around the country. And last visit for morning is the Wat Xieng Thong–Luang Prabang's largest and most splendid temple, is best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story. Enjoy your lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, you travel south of town to the famous Kuangsi Waterfalls, the turquoise colour of the water with a backdrop of white limestone cliffs gives the waterfall a magical appearance. Depending on the season the water level varies and you can be swimming in the beautiful pools. While there, you also will have the opportunity to visit the Sun Bear Reserve, a conservation centre that rescues animals from the wildlife trade. On return, you stop to visit local villages of Ban Tha Pane (Khmu) and Ban Na Ouane (Hmong). You will learn more about the life style of these people.

Day 3 - Luang Prabang - Fly to Hanoi (Breakfast)
The day is free at your leisure until transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society. You are greeted by your guide and driver at Noi Bai International Airport for your transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4 - Hanoi behind the scenes (Breakfast & Lunch)
Get ready to see Hanoi as very few others do. This tour is the perfect blend of iconic cultural sites of Hanoi and offbeat districts to sample some genuine local life. The guide meets you in the hotel lobby and off we go. After a short car transfer to the South of Hanoi through a busy urban area, we veer off the main road and enter a very special district. It suddenly feels like stepping back in time, into the 1960’s when Hanoi was a quaint capital populated mostly by modest workers. Wander around these narrow alleys covered in colourful market stalls, feel the incredible vibe and let the guide tell you the story of these unusual big yellow buildings. After a coffee break, we transfer to the Temple of Literature. We visit the little gem of architecture and huge piece of History. Lunch will be served not far from here in a local garden restaurant. Simple setting, but great atmosphere and delicious foods. In the afternoon, we continue to the garden of the Presidential Palace, where you can also see the one-pillar pagoda and the house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived. End your tour at The Old Quarter, the bustling heart of Hanoi, has been a commercial centre since King Ly Thai To built his palace there in the 11th century. Skilled craftsmen started to migrate and artisan guilds were formed on the famous "36 Streets". Previously, each street carried the name of the item produced and sold there, and many still have the same names. This is a place you must see to experience Hanoi, where you will find shopping and cultural/historical sites all wrapped into one

Day 5 - Hanoi – Halong Bay (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
We gather in the lobby for our departure to Halong Bay. We drive across the Red River delta and reach the coast a little before noon. We embark on a beautifully crafted wooden junk for an overnight cruise in the legendary seascape of Halong Bay. Once on board, we are served a delicious seafood-based lunch, while the limestone rocks set the décor. In the afternoon, we reach a less travelled area and will devote ourselves to relaxation, sunbathing, and a visit to a cave. The program is not fixed and depends on the time of the year and weather. We end the day on the sundeck while the sun sets. Enjoy an aperitif or attend a cooking demonstration before dinner. Overnight in a comfortable private cabin with attached bathroom.
Note : Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather.

Day 6 - Halong Bay – Hanoi Airport - Fly to Hue (Brunch)
One of the most special experiences for travellers in Vietnam is to watch the sunrise over Halong Bay. Rise early to watch this spectacular and peaceful scene. After a light breakfast we continue cruising through the bay to visit Sung Sot, a beautiful cave but also an archaeological site. We enjoy brunch on board before we arrive at the wharf in the late morning and return to the dock, where you will be met and transferred to the Hanoi Airport for your flight to Hue. Welcome to Hue, a dynamic cultural town and a paradise for foodies. You are greeted upon arrival and driven to your hotel. Rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hue

Day 7 - Hue heritage and people full day (Breakfast & Lunch)
Hue was Vietnam’s last feudal capital, and today you will get an insider’s point of view to the highlights of this nostalgic city. Your first stop is a visit to Tu Duc Tomb, which is located near the quiet Thuy Bieu Village, 6.5-km from the city centre. It’s a sprawling compound centred on the lake and several waterways, and includes numerous memorials connected by attractive walkways. Next, you’ll visit a local garden house where your host will welcome you with hand-made ginger jam and tea. Veer off the common path and enjoy a walking around the village to explore the daily local life in the peaceful countryside, before enjoying some traditional dishes of Hue. After the delicious home hosted lunch, take a leisurely boat ride across the Perfume River then transfer to Imperial Citadel, the best-preserved remnant of the vast citadel and royal quarters that once existed on the site. Here you can see the ravages of time and war on what was the carefully designed capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. Built in the early 19th century by armies of conscripted labourers under Emperor Gia Long, the citadel was surrounded by a 10-kilometre moat while earthen walls formed the outer perimeter. We exit the citadel to visit the nearby workshop and gallery of famous Vietnamese artist Truc Chi, who is a contemporary artist that created his own art based on bamboo paper carvings. We then head back to the hotel where you can spend the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure

Day 8 - Hue - Hoi An - Orientation walk of Hoi An town (Breakfast)
Today you continue by road to the South and Hoi An. The scenery is remarkable, as the route hugs the coastline of the East Sea before winding up the spectacular Hai Van Pass. Here you can stop to admire the stunning views: north over Lang Co Beach and south over Da Nang. Reach Hoi An at noon time and check in at your hotel. This afternoon, walk the ancient streets of Hoi An, lined with Chinese traders’ homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen and tailors. Hoi An's unique architecture is well displayed in what is arguably Vietnam's most tourist-friendly town. Explore the beautiful 16th century Japanese Bridge. A symbol of Hoi An and a testament to its fascinating history, the Japanese Bridge was constructed around the early 17th century, though the exact date is unknown. The bridge, also known as the Pagoda Bridge (Chua Cau), was built by Japanese craftsmen who were part of a larger community of foreign merchants active in Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 9 - Hoi An at leisure (Breakfast)
Today is at leisure for your own activities or join one of our wonderful optional tours in and around Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 10 - Hoi An - Fly to Saigon (Breakfast)
Rest at leisure before checking out and transferring to the airport for your  flight to Saigon. You are greeted by your guide and driver at Tan Son Nhat International airport for your transfer to the hotel. Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city of Vietnam. It is the bustling economic capital and cultural trendsetter of the country, yet holds the timeless traditions of an ancient culture. Overnight in Saigon

Day 11 - Saigon's street life and iconic landmarks full day (Breakfast & Lunch)
Your guide meets you in the hotel lobby at 8.00am and off we go for an original morning to explore the less traveled trails of this fascinating city. Prepare to travel back in time as we first head to District 3, where we visit the oldest café in town which was opened in 1938. Enjoy a refreshment, before we immerse ourselves into some genuine Saigon popular culture. Walk through a massive street-market, gently elbow your way between conical hats and mobile street food sellers to exit at Chung Cu. Here you will find yourself in the heart of Saigon’s working-class, which remains mostly unchanged since the 1960’s. Marvel at the size of these old residential buildings as we walk through and into the Ho Thi Ky quarter. A place known for its spectacular flower market, and its maze of quiet narrow streets. A place also surprisingly famous for its Khmer delicacies since the 1990’s. Here you will be able to enjoy some of these traditional snacks. We continue deeper into District 10, a fantastic destination where every street corner holds a surprise and a chance to amaze you. Our urban adventure takes us to one of the most famous street-food streets in the city, time for lunch! In the afternoon, we take a digestive walk around the colonial buildings of the District 1. We start at the Independence Palace, continue to the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Saigon Central Post office before we get to the beautiful Nguyen Hue street where stands the City Hall. We transfer back to your hotel afterwards, end of the day at leisure

Day 12 - Explore the Coconut Land in Mekong Delta full day (Breakfast & Lunch) 
From Saigon head South to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, a region famous for its coconut production. Upon arrival, set out on a boat trip on narrow channels winding through coconut forests. Stop at brick and coconut processing workshops to see how the locals make bricks by hand and learn how to make different products from coconuts as well. Then jump onto your bike and cycle on village roads through local hamlets, rice fields and coconut groves. Feel free to stop along the way to have a closer look at the local life and culture of this region.  Return to the pier and drive to Ho Chi Minh city

Day 13 - Saigon - Fly to Siem Reap (Breakfast)
The day is free at your leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Sua s’dei and welcome to Siem Reap! You are welcomed at the airport by your driver and guide who will transfer you to your hotel in the city centre (rooms are available from 2pm). Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure, absorbing the various atmospheres of Siem Reap

Day 14 - Visit Angkor Wat - Ta Prohm - Angkor Thom full day (Breakfast)
Today is dedicated to the discovery of the essentials of Angkor temples. Let’s first explore Angkor Wat, easily the most famous and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. It is a massive three-tiered structure crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65-metres from ground level. Next, visit the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Bayon Temple, Baphuon, the royal enclosure, and the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King are the main elements of this 12th century masterpiece. A lunch break will be arranged in a local restaurant and will be at your own expense. We continue to Ta Prohm Temple, which, unlike most of other Angkor temples, has been left just as it was when rediscovered: a photogenic and atmospheric maze of trees growing out of the ruins. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure.
Note : Appropriate attire when visiting Angkor temples is long pants (covering the knee) and shirts that cover shoulders. Skirts, small shorts, tank tops, and other items of revealing clothing are not allowed within temple grounds. Visitors can and are frequently turned away from temples when wearing revealing clothing

Day 15 - HD Tonle Sap visit (Breakfast)
Today Visit Cambodia’s largest freshwater lake: the Tonle Sap. Board a boat and spend rest of the time at one of the largest floating villages on the lake which is called Kompong Phluk. In the village you will witness the fascinating daily lives of the local people who live on the water. The boat service is provided by local people, and the profit goes directly back to the community. We enjoy a boat trip on the lake before returning to Siem Reap for some free time. Perhaps shop for souvenirs at the bustling central market or check out the bars and restaurants on lively Pub Street. Note: In dry season (Mar-Oct), when the water is low clients will visit Chong Kneas floating village instead.

Day 16 - Siem Reap Departure (Breakfast)
The day is free at your leisure until transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for your departure flight. We wish you a pleasant flight