IndoChina Uncovered

We can also arrange a 3 country tour of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.  All 3 countries are very different, yet complement each other very well.  The tour takes in such diverse sights as Luang Prabang, Halong Bay and the famous temples of Angkor.

Day 1. Arrival – Luang Prabang
On arrival, we transfer you to your hotel. Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage City which is perhaps the best preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia, with a huge amount of tranquility and charm.  You have the rest of the day at leisure to recover from your flight.  Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day2. Luang Prabang City Tour
After breakfast, you enjoy a full day guided tour taking you to the main points of interest, including the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong. You also have time to visit the National Museum at the Royal Palace and a chance to climb the steps at Mt Phousi for a stunning view over the town.  In the evening you are free to explore the night market, where there is a wide range of locally made beautiful textiles and paintings. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day3.  Luang Prabang – Khouangsi Waterfalls
An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving it. Your guide will also take you to a local market and a number of local villages en route to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known traditional weaving village, and then return to the city by late evening. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day4.  Luang Prabang – Hanoi
You have the morning at leisure, before your guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Hanoi.
Upon arrival you will be met by your Vietnam guide and transferred to your hotel, If time permits we enjoy a short cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets. You have the evening at leisure.  Overnight in Hanoi (B)

Day5. Hanoi – City tour
This morning we enjoy a city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh complex, containing the mausoleum Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The complex also comprises the famous One Pillar Pagoda whose origins date back to the time of the foundation of Hanoi. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of Literature well known as Vietnam’s first university and the History Museum displaying an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating Vietnamese history. The peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem and the bustling Dong Xuan Market are also visited before the end of the day.  Overnight in Hanoi (B)

Day6. Hanoi-Halong Bay
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred out to the hauntingly beautiful Halong Bay.  We arrive just before lunch and you will embark onto your traditional Vietnamese overnight junk.  The overnight cruise will provide us with a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karts formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves, some of which you will have the chance to visit.  Overnight in Halong Bay (B,L)

Day7. Halong Bay – Hue
After the morning spent cruising on Halong Bay, and an early lunch on board, Your driver and guide will be waiting to transfer you back to Hanoi airport for your short flight to Hue.

Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel, where you have the evening at leisure.  Overnight in Hue (B,L)

Day8. Hue
Hue, the former capital of Vietnam is today a small and quiet city, widely known for magnificent architectures, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills. We today visit Hues’ citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This Royal Residence was destroyed during the 1968 Tet offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. After a pleasant boat trip we return to the town and enjoy a walk to the Dong Ba Market that sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts. Overnight in Hue (B)

Day 9. Hue-Danang-Hoi An
This morning we will embark for a Dragon boat to visit beautiful Thien Mu Pagoda riverside which now becomes the symbol of Hue and the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Upon leaving Hue we drive south to Hoian, which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. The scenic road is hugging the coastline before crossing over the winding Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. We stop en route to visit the Cham Museum in Danang City, the famous China Beach and the Marble Mountain, whose peaks represent the five elements of the universe. Overnight in Hoi An (B)

Day10. Hoi An
The ancient architecture of Hoian is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese with Chinese and Japanese influences. There is plenty to see in this delightful town, including the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, Pottery Museum, Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant market. Today we include these sights on a walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls, which reflect the town's multi-cultural past.  Overnight in Hoi An (B)

Day 11. Hoi An-Danang-Saigon
You will need to rise early today for your transfer to Danang Airport in time for your flight to Saigon.  The sightseeing tour of Saigon begins with a visit to the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the Southern Vietnam President. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon post office. We also visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda and War Remnants Museum before continuing to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where handicrafts, lacquer ware and much more are on sale. Overnight in Saigon (B)

Day 12. Saigon-Mekong Delta
Today we travel out of the city by road to My Tho province. Arriving in My Tho we embark on a boat navigating around the small canals in the Mekong delta, which is a great way to witness the unique local lifestyle. We pass through the lush green vegetation to an orchard where opportunities to visit various fascinating local cottage industries. After feasting on a huge lunch we continue on to Can Tho where you will overnight.  Overnight in Can Tho (B,L)

Day 13. Mekong Delta – Saigon – Siem Reap
This morning you will rise early for a breakfast cruise to the colourful Cai  Rang floating market.  After watching the local people sell their wares, we return by road to Saigon Airport, for your flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia, well known for the famous temple of Angkor Wat.  Here your Cambodian guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel where you havethe evening at leisure.  Overnight in Siem Reap (B)

Day 14. Siem Reap
This morning we visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), Bayon Temple(unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

In the afternoon, we visit the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor plain: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five tower symbolize Meru's five peaks, the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean beyond.

You can enjoy the sunset from Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat. Overnight in Siem Reap (B)

Day 15. Siem Reap
In the morning, you will continue your temple tour. Included are Prasat Kravan (with its unique brick sculptures), Srah Srang ("The Royal Boths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by four concentric walls), Eastern Mebon (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the "Mountain Temple" of Pre Rup. You will be transferred back to your hotel for a midday break, before heading back out to the archaeological sites and continuing the temple tour. We visit Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in the area, where the roots of the trees have merged with the ruins of the temple, creating a haunting spectacle. If time permits, we can also visit Takeo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda temples. Overnight in Siem Reap (B)

Day 16 Siem Reap – Departure
This morning we will visit the floating village of the Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. We take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia and the largest in Asia.   In the afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for your d