Best of Indochina 15 Days

On arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be greeted and welcomed by our guide and driver, then be transferred to the hotel. You might have a sleep to recover, or wander around for some own exploration. 

Meals on your own account. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

We will pick you up after your breakfast at the hotel. First visit of day 2 is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – a must-see for any tourists visiting Hanoi capital. Aside from the mighty gray-granite mausoleum and vast Ba Dinh Square, you may find Uncle Ho’s vestige and historical objects of the wars in his Stilt House, Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda. Next destination is the well-preserved Temple of Literature. It is Vietnam’s memorial of education as well as greatest example of traditional Vietnam architecture.  

We save Museum of Ethnology - biggest and most vibrant museum in Hanoi for the afternoon. The museum has wide range of exhibitions (both indoor and outdoor) focus on Vietnam’s officially recognised 54 ethnic groups.

Afterwards, you get to spend the rest of the afternoon at the Old Quarter where Hanoi’ most authentic goods are. Our guide will take you around the Old Quarter’s maze-like streets and alleys. You can observe locals life and have yourself some local treats.

Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight stay at your hotel.

We’ll start our adventure to Ninh Binh by 2-hour driving to this city (around 110km)

Upon arrival, you’ll have a 1.5-hour visit to Van Long Nature Reserve - home to supernova Kong: Skull Island by a rowboat which enable you to have an insightful look into marvelous limestone caves and vast green rice fields. 

Next, we’ll grab a bicycle and ride along Boi river bank to explore Gia Hung village and its neighboring areas. From here, we travel to Nho Quan village for a lunch with locals. After your meal, pay a visit to Hoa Lu ancient capital. This picturesque little citadel surrounded by mountains and rivers was once the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries, during the reign of the Dinh and the Le dynasties.

Get ready to head back to Hanoi. Dinner on your own account. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Early breakfast as we will go on a ride to the second city – Ha Long. The iconic Ha Long Bay on the Gulf of Tonkin offers exceptional natural scenic beauty of limestone islets, designated World Heritage site. On the way to Ha Long, you might enjoy infinite rice paddy fields, rolling mountains scene of the Red river delta. As soon as you reach Ha Long, it is the beginning of an exciting cruise on this charming bay. 

After your lunch on boat, you will be taken to some of glorious limestone caves. Each caves have stories of its own, possesses splendid and sacred exquisiteness made from stalactite. Finishing visiting the caves, tourists should reward themselves with a revitalizing swim in emerald water when the cruise comes to a halt. Kayaking is another option if you want to explore more of the bay by yourself.

The boat cast its anchor for a stay through the night. Have your dinner on board along with other fun games.

Kindly be informed that transportation used for moving from Hanoi to Ha Long is a shared shuttle bus (with an English speaking guide). Contact our travel consultants for more information about private transfer service.

Early morning on Ha Long bay is dreamy. Wake up to immerse yourself in a peaceful morning with fresh air and soothing light of the first sunshine.  Enjoy your breakfast in such breezy atmosphere while the ship sails you further to the ocean then back to the land.

A light lunch on board will be served, followed by a trip from the dock to Hanoi by shuttle bus. A private car (with no guide) is waiting to pick you up and take you to Noi Bai airport where you will catch a flight to Da Nang.

On the other side, our guide and driver are already waiting for you at the airport for a pick up and transfer you to Hoi An Ancient town.

Have dinner by yourself and relax for the rest of the day in your hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, make a visit to one of Hoi An local markets in the morning. You can see how people sell things on the ground, eye-catching displays of herbs, fruits, meat and seafood. If you are keen on interacting with natives, this is a great chance.

Afterwards, we will head to Bay Mau nipa palm forest, hop on a coracle - a special means of transport in this area. You will find yourself floating under verdant mangrove forest. There are plenty of adorable souvenirs in shape of hats, rings, watches made of palm leaves being sold by locals along the way.

We have an exhilarating game for tourists called “bit mat dap nieu” - a Vietnamese folk game. After the game, take a sip of local tea before joining the cooking class. You will learn a lot about Vietnam cooking style in particular and Vietnamese culture in general.  Enjoy your self-made lunch afterwards.

After lunch, a chilling boat ride on Thu Bon river is ready for you. From the boat, you can observe the day-day-day activities of rural inhabitants.

Return to the town center in the afternoon. Walk around the old town – living museum of unique architecture which consonantly influenced by French, Japan, China and Vietnam’s culture. Pay a visit to Hoi An Museum to learn more about the town, go see the remarkable Phuoc Kien Assembly hall. Wrap up your tour with a sight-seeing at Tan Ky Old House and one-of-a-kind Japanese Covered Bridge.

Return to the hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure. 

Meals on your own account. Overnight stay at the hotel.

You will be transferred to Da Nang Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City in the morning with no guide. Our driver and tour guide will be ready at Tan Son Nhat Airport to pick you up and send you to the hotel.

Meals on your own account. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Continue the trip to Cu Chi Tunnels – a 250km network of connecting underground tunnels. These was used in the 40s and again in the 60s, they were not only corridors but also all kinds of rooms for sleep, dining and hospital; as well as storages for weapon and food. It is allowed for visitors to try getting into these tunnels to see the poor conditions people used to endure during wartime.

Come back to the city center from Cu Chi tunnels. Lunch is on your own account.

In the afternoon, you will go on an arranged tour around Ho Chi Minh City exploring stunning French architectures includes the Old Saigon post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Opera House, Reunification Palace and Chinatown Cholon.

Dinner on your own expense. Overnight stay at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.   

Another day-tour to an interesting place – Mekong Delta. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to 3 hours’ drive from Ho Chi Minh city center to Ben Tre. Arrive at Phong Nam pier, you will get on a cruise on Chet Say river – one of nine branches of Mekong River. From the boat, you have opportunity to get closer to local life and their handicrafts, i.e. activated coconut charcoal, coconut-based products and mat weaving.

Pay a visit to nearby village where you can hop on “xe loi” (a special motorized trishaw) or cycling around through green vegetation and endless rice fields. Taste some delicacies for lunch at a local house.

Return to the dock after enjoying a fun boat trip along a narrow canal. 

You will be transferred without guide to Chi Minh airport for your flight to Siem Reap. When you arrive, our guide and driver are ready to take you to the hotel for check in. Dinner on your expense. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Being recognized as UNESCO World Heritage protected site, he magnificent Khmer temple ruins of Angkor Wat will be the first spot to see today. Built by Vishnu worshippers in King Suryavarman II Dynasty in the 12th century (from 1112 to 1152), Angkor Wat earns its place as national symbol and emerges on Cambodia flag. 

Angkor Wat’s intricate bas-relief sculptures exemplify the apex of Khmer artistry as well as tell stories of Hindu divinities and their eternal life. By just looking at the temples, you can visualize how prosperous the kingdom was during Angkorian era. Despite some damage, weathering, and periods of neglect, majority of Angkor Wat is extremely well-preserved and continues to be a site of religious pilgrimage today

The trip go on to Banteay Srei - a small temple by Angkor standards but is a must-see for temple buffs. Translated from Khmer roughly as “citadel of women”, this site has a storybook ambiance with delicate carvings of Ramayana and other pink sandstone structures.

The final destination of today’s tour is Ta Prohm - the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor Archaeological Park. Construction on Ta Prohm began in 1186 C.E.; it was built in honor of the mother of King Jayavarman VII.  This Buddhist monastery was home to 12,500 civilians, boasting of control over 80,000 people in surrounding villages.  After the fallen of Khmer Kingdom, Ta Prohm was deliberately abandoned and took over by the tree and vegetation, making the background of famous movie Tomb Raider where temple and jungle collide.

Take time to contemplate the impressive carvings of the temple and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere here. After that, you will be escorted to the hotel. 

Meals on your own. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Our tour continues with Preah Khan - the biggest complex in Angkor. King Jayavarman VII demanded construction of Preah Khan as an interim place to stay while waiting for Angkor Thom to be finished entirely.

Next up is Neak Pean which is the solely island temple of Angkor. To access to the central chamber you need to walk through a food bridge on east side. In front of the East entrance stands a statue of Balaha - the flying horse would appear on the island to rescue stranded sailors according Buddhist legends.

After Neak Pean, we head to Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda which is also known as the twin temples of Angkor. Constructed under the leadership of King Suryavarman II, the most captivating features of these temples are well-preserved carvings that bear images of Vishnu and Shiva.

More on sacred destination, Angkor Thom is our next visit. Also known as “Great City”, it was the last capital of Khmer empire. Angkor thom was founded by King Jayavarman II in the late 12th century during his reign. Consisting of 9-square-kilometer area, the site contains various types of buildings with different purposes, plus numerous temples from King Jayavarman to his next generations. You can find the National Temple of Jayavarman, the Bayon Temple and many remarkable vestiges around the Victory Plaza.

It is time to come back the hotel. Lunch and dinner on your own. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Travel by road to Kompong Khleang floating village which is about an hour away from Siem Reap. Kompong Khleang is most impressive floating community because of its size and the height of its stilt houses. Walking in the village to meet the locals, stopping at one house where the family raises crocodiles. Then, go by local boat along the canals to a further part of Tonle Sap lake where a number of displaced Vietnamese people live. Return to the village for a picnic lunch with our nice set up in a local home.

Start the journey by one-hour ride to Kompong Khleang from Siem Reap. Kompong Khleang is an extraordinary floating village due to its size and height of the stilt houses. Wander around the village and watch a family raises crocodiles, hop on a local boat sailing further to Tonle Sap lake where a number of immigrated Vietnamese people live. Have your picnic lunch in one of a local home after morning excursions. 

After lunch, you will be moved to the airport to prepare for your flight to Luang Prabang. Arriving at Luang Prabang, you will be picked up and moved to the hotel for check-in. 

The rest of the day is your leisure. Enjoy overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang. Meals on your expense. 

First day in Laos, we will explore the former Royal Palace to learn more about history and culture of Luang Prabang in particular and Laos in general. Chosen as UNESCO World Heritage town, Luang Prabang attract tourist from everywhere with its antique beauty.

After that, we pay a visit to Vat Xieng Thong (Royal City’s Temple) where store incredibly important evidences of Laos ancient religion, royalty and art. Next location to be is Wat Visoun  temple which owns a strange and notable structure of Lao former construction style.

Then, we will take a two - hour cruise to the upstream of Mekong River from the center of Luang Prabang. There, plenty of Buddha images in Pak Ou caves are wonderful to contemplate. Pak Ou (mouth of the Ou river), the Tham Ting (lower cave) and the Tham Theung (upper cave) are located at the ideal positions to overlook the Mekong river.

Back to your hotel in the afternoon. Meals on your own account. Overnight at the hotel.

Wake up early in the morning to participate in a longstanding ritual of Laos Buddhist culture - Almsgiving. As the sun rises, you will take your spot on the sidewalk and wait for the procession. Saffron-clad monks start to walk in silence, meditating as they collect their daily alms from devotees to their bowl. 

Begin to browse at the Phosi Market where you might find wide range of products from dried buffalo skin, local tea and spices to weaving on display. Afterwards, visit the Ban Ouay, Hmong Hill Trivem Ban Ou, Lowland Lao and Ban Thapene of Khmu village to open your eye on their craft of textile.

The tour go on to Kyangsi Waterfall where you get to dip yourself in the cool water and walk along the forest dust trail. Return to Luang Prabang visiting Ban Xienglek and Ban Xang Khong which well-known for their handmade Jute Sar paper.

Transfer back to the center and free at your leisure. Meals on your own account. Overnight stay at the hotel in Luang Prabang.

As it is the last day of your adventure, go browsing through stores and stalls to find some souvenirs for your friends and family back home.

You will move to the airport to prepare for your flight (without guide). Meals on your own. End of tour.