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Best of Indochina
Best of Indochina
TK

Highlights: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Luang Prabang - Siem Reap - Da Nang - Hue - Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta


Hotels:
Hanoi - Hanoi Pearl Hotel 4*
Ha Long Bay - Huong Hai Sealife Cruise 4*
Hue - Eldora Hotel 4*
Hoi An - Hoi An Silk Marina Resort & Spa 4*
Ho Chi Minh - Liberty Central Saigon Centre Hotel 4*
Siem Reap - Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa 4*
Luang Prabang - Maison Dalabua Hotel 4*


Itinerary:


Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Upon arrival at Noi Bai International airport. You will then be escorted to your hotel in town for check in.
Free at leisure until welcome dinner at a nice restaurant and overnight in Hanoi.


Meals: Dinner


Day 2: Hanoi city tour & street food tour
This full day tour takes you around Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilts House, the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda and, nearby, the Old Quarter also known as the 36 streets and guilds. Also on the tour, the Temple of Literature, the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and the Ethnology Museum.
Late afternoon is Street food tour of Hanoi:
This afternoon explore Hanoi's culture through a street food tour. Start off with a stroll around a local market to experience the sights and sounds of an authentic daily scene. Then wander about the Old Quarter streets to enjoy aromas from local street food stalls. The first stop will be made at Ly Quoc Su Street to taste the pan fried "Banh Goi" which is made of mashed rice, pork, and vermicelli served with vegetables and bean sprouts. Continue to Hang Manh Street where you will have a chance to taste fantastic "Bun Cha", a Hanoi noodle soup, which is served with fried "Nem", or spring-rolls filled with pork or crab. After this snack, a short stroll to Hang Da market will allow you to try some assorted sweet fried fruits "O Mai". End the trip at a well-known rustic restaurant - Cha Ca La Vong. There is only one dish - grilled fish fillets, smothered in dill and saffron-infused oil, served straight from the frying pan onto your plate.
Overnight in Hanoi.


Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner



Day 3: Hanoi – Halong
Today you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay (a World Natural Heritage site) via the Red River Delta. Upon arrival, you will set out on a junk cruise on the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons' teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay, swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. In the late afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. At sunset, you can kayak or simply take a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on board, you can enjoy watching the peaceful sunset and later unwind at a restaurant.
You will stay overnight onboard.


Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner


Day 4: Halong – Hanoi – Luang Prabang
You’ll wake up on the bay to the sounds of waves and birds welcoming the new day. You will have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay and after breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto. You will have a walk back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Then you will drive back to Hanoi and stay overnight. Then rejoin your car and transfer to Hanoi airport for flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will be transferred directly to your hotel and have free time before an overnight stay.


Meals: Breakfast


Day 5: Luang Prabang
Breakfast at the hotel, we will first visit the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene. After that, we embark on the leisurely cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, a 16th century cave monastery filled with thousands of Buddha images, which locates 25 Kilometers North of Luang Prabang in the limestone cliffs overlooking the Mekong river.  En route, you will stop at Ban Muang Keo, a well-known village for its traditional Lao rice whisky distilling. You will arrive back in Luang Prabang. On arrival back in the city, we visit Wat Mai, which is one of the most beautiful temple of Luang Prabang. We then continue to Wat Visoun,dating back to 1513 during the reign of King Wisunarat (Visoun), this is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and was once home to the Prabang Buddhas. Our last stop today is the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center(closed on Monday) to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.


Meals: Breakfast


Day 6: Luang Prabang – Siemreap
Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14thcentury. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets. From there, we will visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. This is the best chance to experience the taste of local life. After breakfast, your city tour begins with a visit to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall. If time permits, we will take a short walk around the small streets of city center, watching the life of local people, and visiting the traditional house of Heuan Chan, the Chantal wooden house dating back to 100 years old. After that, you will visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. Then transfer to airport for flight to Siemreap. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Siemreap.


Meals: Breakfast


Day 7: Siemreap
Breakfast at hotel: Start your sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. Overnight in Siem Reap.


Meals: Breakfast


Day 8: Siemreap – Danang – Hoi An
Breakfast at hotel and Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. We take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. We spend the rest of time visiting the "Chantiers Ecoles - Les Artisans d'Angkor" which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting. Then transfer to airport for flight to Danang. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel in Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An.


Meals: Breakfast


Day 9: Hoi An – Farming & fishing life
Breakfast at hotel and Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. We take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. We spend the rest of time visiting the "Chantiers Ecoles - Les Artisans d'Angkor" which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting. Then transfer to airport for flight to Danang. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel in Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An.


Meals: Breakfast & Lunch


Day 10: Hoi An Walking – Hue
In the morning, you will enjoy a half day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge and Hoi An market. You will then head to Hue world heritage city over the Hai Van pass. You will stop in Danang to visit Cham museum and Marble Mountain. You will stay overnight in Hue.


Meals: Breakfast & Lunch


Day 11: Hue World Heritage
At 8:30 a.m., you will be greeted at the hotel by a driver and guide. You will board the Dragon Boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River heading out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to the most beautiful tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. You will enjoy a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the symbol of Hue, and of Buddhism in Vietnam. From here you rejoin your car and go visit King Minh Mang's Tomb and King Khai Dinh’s Tomb. You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to visit Hue Citadel and Dong Ba Market.


Meals: Breakfast & Lunch


Day 12: Hue – Hochiminh
Free until transfer to airport for flight to Hochiminh. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Free at leisure and overnight in Hochiminh.


Meals: Breakfast


Day 13: Hochiminh – Cu Chi tunnel & city tour
In the morning, drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, which consist of more than 200km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life was like during the U.S.-Vietnam War. You will stay overnight in HCMC. Afternoon, you will have a private tour of Ho Chi Minh City, the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. You'll visit the Reunification Palace, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral the Opera House and the Hotel de Ville. Later, explore colorful outdoor Markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's main shopping boulevard, with fashionable boutiques and accessories designed by up-and-coming Vietnamese designers.


Meals: Breakfast & Lunch


Day 14: Mekong Delta by speed boat
8:00 am: Your Mekong Delta Tour guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and bring you by car to your boat at Ho Chi Minh City pier.
8:15 am: The boat departs and you slip away from downtown Saigon via narrow canals and enter the verdant green tributaries of the Mekong Delta. A light breakfast is served on board.
8:45 am : Enjoy a brief stop at the ornate, overwater Tuong Van Pagoda, while your Mekong Delta Tour guide explains the importance Buddhism to many people of the Delta.
9:30 am: Visit a bustling, colorful riverside market full of local curiosities, tropical fruits and all manner of fish and shellfish. Great photo opportunities!
10:30 am: Reach the idyllic watery expanses of the Mekong Delta itself, known as the Delta of Nine Dragons for the 9 tributaries that splinter from the main Mekong River.
10:45 am : Turn off the delta into small, winding canals of the Thu Thua area, shaded by a canopy of foliage as you drift along lazily.
You will enjoy a rowboat trip along small canals of the Delta surrounded by thousands of coconut palms, you will visit a quaint Mekong village, and then a traditional farmhouse where you’ll sample coconuts and Mekong whisky. 
You’ll walk along the banks of the river to a traditional rural Vietnamese house where 3 generations live.
12:30 pm: Enjoy a traditional Mekong Delta lunch at a local pagoda prepared by our private chef. After lunch, you will visit an orphanage run by Buddhist monks.
01:30 pm: Visit a colorful Cao Dai Temple, one of the highlights of our Mekong Delta Tour.
02:30 pm: Return to the speedboat and depart for Ho Chi Minh City.
04:00 pm: Arrive back in Saigon. Les Rives’ staff will return you to your hotel by car.


Please note that due to the individual nature of the tours, times are approximate and can vary slightly.


Dress code: Proper wear is strongly recommended when visiting Cao Dai Temple and pagodas.


Meals: Breakfast & Lunch


Day 15: Hochiminh departure
Free until transfer to airport for your onward flight.


Meals: Breakfast



Offer Includes

  • Flights from London Heathrow with Turkish Airlines
  • Airport taxes
  • 14 nights accommodation as per itinerary
  • Private door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services
  • All private transfer and transportation
  • Experienced English speaking guide
  • 2 days 1 night on Halong sharing cruise with private cabin
  • Private Boat trip as per tour in Hue and Hoi An
  • All intour flight ticket (Domestic)
  • Speed boat for mekong
  • All sightseeing tickets

Meal Plans

  • As per Itinerary