Heritage Indochine
TOUR OVERVIEW
- 18 days
- Max people: 25
- Wifi available
- Jan 01 - Dec 31
- Min age:
- Pickup: Airpot
You will begin your journey in Luang Prabang, a UNESCO heritage jewel in the heart of Laos, and then fly to Hanoi, the vibrant cultural capital of Vietnam. From here you will explore the majestic Halong Bay, a UNESCO natural heritage site, and continue to the ancient capital Hue and picturesque Hoi An.
The tour will continue to Saigon, where you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in history by visiting the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels and enjoy a romantic cruise on the Mekong River. You will then cross the border into Cambodia, reaching Phnom Penh and finally Siem Reap, gateway to the majestic archaeological site of Angkor.
This journey through Indochina will give you a complete and authentic experience, discovering breathtaking natural landscapes, ancient capitals rich in history and culture, and world heritage sites. An unforgettable adventure to explore the wonders of this fascinating region.
ITINERARY
Day 1Luang Prabang Arrival
Reception by the driver and guide at the airport exit (recognizable by the sign with your name), after collecting your luggage and completing customs procedures. Transfer and hotel accommodation will be provided.
Rooms will be available from 02 P.M. Early check-in is not included, but can be requested for an additional fee.
The rest of the day will be at your disposal (guide, transportation and sightseeing not included).
Day 2Luang Prabang Visit
Optional: Get up early around 05:30 A.M. to watch and participate in the offering of alms to hundreds of monks clad in saffron-colored robes (Buddhist monks) who receive alms from locals-a sight that inspires wonder in many travelers.
Inform your guide if you wish to make an offering so that he can prepare food for you. This morning ritual goes back generations in Laos. Watch the town come alive again in the morning and then return to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, take a trip into the countryside (30 km south) to visit Kuangsi Waterfall, which although not very high is spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings, being a protected national park. We will stop along the way to visit a fresh produce market called Talad Phosy, and we will also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of a mountain “Hmong” ethnic group, probably the best known minority group in Laos. Just before we get to Kuangsi Waterfall, there is another village of the Khmu ethnic group, called Ban Tha Pane, which we will visit. Our picnic lunch will be served in the shady park near Kuangsi Waterfall. There will be plenty of time to relax and bathe in the cool waters before returning to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.
In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic tour of the sacred city of temples; nearly fifty of which still remain in the city and surrounding areas. Visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace housing the collection of precious objects, including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries… etc, Wat Visoun, the 16th-century temple that has served as a small museum for religious objects; Wat Aham, the 19th-century temple, whose two guardians at the base of the steps represent two characters from the Ramayana–Hanuman, the monkey god, and a fierce Yaksa; Wat Xiengthong, the 16th-century temple, which more than any other temple in Luang Prabang, embodies all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture.
The rest of the day is yours to relax in one of the city’s many quaint cafes and bars or stroll along the beautiful riverbank.
Day 3Luang Prabang Visit- Flight to Hanoi
Breakfast included in the hotel.
After breakfast, you will head immediately to Phousi market, where you will be able to find dried buffalo skin, local tea, vegetables and textiles from the different local tribes. Afterwards, you will visit the beautiful Kuangxi Falls, where we can cool off with a leisurely swim in one of the natural pools or take a leisurely walk along the forest trails.
Transfer to Luang Prabang airport by private car to catch a flight to Vietnam. Arrival in Hanoi, welcome without guide and transfer to hotel. Free time.
Day 4Hanoi City Tour
Breakfast included at the hotel.
Meet with our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30 am. Your guide will take you on a tour of the Museum of Ethnography, which offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural richness of the many ethnic groups in Vietnam. After visiting the museum, you will head to the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam), considered Vietnam’s first national university. It was built under the Ly Dynasty in the 11th century and served as a place of worship for Confucius and a school for the education of royal children.
You will have free lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (from the outside only, as it is closed on Mondays and Fridays) and take a leisurely stroll through the botanical gardens. You will also visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts, where he lived and worked. Then we will reach Ba Dinh Square, the place where Ho Chi Minh read Vietnam’s declaration of independence from the French in 1945. Afterwards, you will visit the single-pillar pagoda, considered one of the city’s most important symbols.
Finally, you will visit the Tran Quoc pagoda, which dates back to the 6th century during the dynasty of Emperor Ly Nam De. Finally, you will take a cyclo (xich lo) ride for about 40 minutes around Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the Lake of the Returned Sword, which brings to life the legend of a giant turtle and a magic sword used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. You will also explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter with its famous lively streets full of life.
The day will end with an exclusive lesson in Hanoi’s city-famous Egg Cafe. The tour will end around 6-6:30 pm.
Dinner will be free and you will spend the night in a hotel in Hanoi.
Day 5Hanoi - Halong
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet at 08:30 with driver at hotel reception for private transfer to Halong (about 3 hours with a break in between).
Halong Bay, called “the bay where the dragon goes down to the sea” in Vietnamese, is a beautiful bay with thousands of limestone islands, karst caves, stacks and islets that make it a picturesque and fascinating place. Magnificent, mysterious and majestic, Halong Bay has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 and is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Arrival at the port scheduled for 12:00-12:30 pm. Afterwards, the schedule of the shipping company will be followed.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Lunch and seafood tasting dinner on board the junk boat (included – no drinks).
- Overnight stay on board in private deluxe cabin (air-conditioned and with shower).
- The cruise program may be subject to change without notice due to weather conditions or decisions of local authorities.
- Only a guide in English provided by the cruise line is available on the junkboat.
Day 6Halong - Hanoi - Flight to Hue
06:30: You can join the sunrise Tai-chi session on the sun terrace or simply enjoy the beautiful view of the bay while sipping a cup of tea or coffee.
07:00: Breakfast will be served Western style. Time for relaxation.
10:00: Brunch will be served on board as the junker slowly sails through the emerald-colored waters and through the many karst formations toward the harbor. You will check out from the cruise. Remember to bring all your luggage with you.
11:30-12:00 a.m.: Return to port and disembark at the Ha Long cruise port.
12:00 p.m: You will be escorted back to Hanoi by private car and taken directly to Noi Bai Airport to catch a flight to Hue. Once you land at Phu Bai Airport, you will be met by a driver at the pick-up lobby. You will be provided with a transfer and hotel accommodation in Hue.
Please note: for flights that have a foreign country as their destination, you must be at the airport 3 hours in advance, while for domestic flights, you only need to be there 2 hours before takeoff. Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 7Hue City Tour
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
You will meet with our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30 am. The day begins with a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, which dates back to 1601. This pagoda is considered an important spiritual place in the city and is famous for its majestic octagonal tower and beautiful view of the Perfume River. Next, you will visit the Hue Citadel, which is one of the most famous vestiges of Vietnam’s ancient imperial city. The Citadel consists of three distinct parts: the capital city, the imperial city and the forbidden city, known as Kinh Thanh, Hoang Thanh and Cam Thanh respectively.
Free lunch at local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon will be devoted to visiting the traditional village of Thuy Xuan, famous for incense production. In this place, highly talented artists keep the precious tradition of the Vietnamese people’s soul alive. Afterwards, you will visit the Tu Duc Imperial Tomb, a monument that best represents the architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty and one of the most outstanding constructions of the 19th century. The day will end with a visit to Dong Ba Market. You will have the opportunity to explore and discover the wonders of this fascinating market. Pleasant evening with dinner served on a private junk boat along the Perfume River (from about 6 to 8:30 p.m.) Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 8Hue - Danang - Hoi An Visit
Breakfast included at the hotel and depart to the picturesque city of Hoi An to Da Nang.
En route, you will cross the Cloud Pass, which represents the geographical, climatic and cultural boundary between North and South Vietnam. You will take a short break to admire Da Nang from above, including the famous “China Beach,” which stretches over 30 km. In Da Nang you will visit the Cham Museum, which houses the richest collection of archaeological artifacts from the ancient empire, including splendid works of great importance belonging to this very ancient people. Arrive in Hoi An around noon.
You will have free lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit the old town, which includes the famous Japanese bridge dating from the 17th century, Fukien Temple, founded by a Chinese community devoted to the Goddess of the Sea, and Phung Hung Old House. You will settle in the hotel for the night.
Day 9Hoi An - Flight to Saigon
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, depart for a visit to My Son, one of the best examples of Hindu civilization in Vietnam. This site is known as the ancient “Holy City” of the Champa Kingdom, which was a contemporary and rival of the Angkor Empire. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My Son is located in a magnificent rocky amphitheater, covered by dense wilderness, where the Cham rulers built their brick and sandstone shrines between the 6th and 14th centuries. Rituals in honor of Shiva and Vishnu were celebrated here for centuries. Return to Hoi An. Lunch of your choice at a local restaurant. Transfer to Da Nang airport by private car (about 1 hour) to catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh.
Day 10Saigon - Cu Chi Speedboat - City Tour
The luxury speedboat tour to Cu Chi is a group tour (8-12pax)
07:00: After breakfast at the hotel, very early in the morning, the speedboat guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and drive you to our speedboat at Bach Dang pier.
07:20: Then you will depart Saigon by speedboat. After 15 minutes, the banks of the river will change from the city to the lush jungle. You will be served a light breakfast of sandwiches or pastries, fresh tropical fruits and cold Vietnamese coffee (Ca phe sua da), while your guide explains rural traditions and aspects of life along the banks.
08:50: You will arrive at the Cu Chi Tunnels site before most of the large groups arrive by bus. You will watch a short introductory ‘propaganda’ video about the Cu Chi area.
09:00: You will explore the tunnels site, which includes displays of weapons and traps, navigate authentic Viet Cong tunnels, visit several underground bunkers (kitchens, meeting rooms, ammunition, etc.), a firing station, and more. You will be able to try the local cassava root that sustained Viet Cong fighters for years.
11:00: Enjoy a delicious traditional Vietnamese lunch along the river, consisting of fried spring rolls, chicken and beef dishes, and soup.
11:30: Say goodbye to the Cu Chi Tunnels and return to Ho Chi Minh.
1:00 p.m.: Arrive at Bach Dang pier. The speedboat staff will drive you back to the hotel.
The afternoon is devoted to visiting the Independence Palace, once the seat of the Presidents of South Vietnam. During our visit, you will have the opportunity to admire the North Vietnamese tank that crossed the threshold of the presidential palace in 1975, ending the controversial Vietnam War. The five-story palace contains original furnishings inside that reflect the style of the 1960s and 1970s, with a basement converted into a bunker. Next, we will continue our leisurely tour by heading to the pedestrian street of Nguyen Hue, where you will see an inescapable landmark of the city. The Saigon Central Post Office is a splendid building designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. The rest of the day will be at your leisure to visit the city’s most famous market, Ben Thanh Market, which has been open since 1870.
Dinner will be free and we will spend the night at the hotel.
Day 11Saigon - Mekong Song Xanh Cruise
Today we leave for an exclusive 3-day 1-night cruise excursion on the Mekong Delta.
Meet at your hotel at 8:00 am and we transfer to Cai Be by road. Your trip starts from Phu An pier at 10:00 am. Start with a bicycle ride through this remote countryside area, ending at Le Longanier restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite colonial-style villa set in a lush tropical garden by the river. After lunch, begin your leisurely boat ride along the beautiful waterways of the Delta, with stops along the way to explore the local cottage industries that provide livelihoods for the people of the river. Before arriving in Sa Dec, visit a traditional brick factory where everything is made by hand. Arriving in Sa Dec, go ashore and take a walk through the open-air market. Visit the Kien An Cung, the ancient Chinese architecture that has played an important role in the Dong Thap Chinese community for nearly a hundred years.
Dinner is served on board. Enjoy your first night aboard the Song Xanh on the Mekong River.
Day 12Mekong Song Xanh Cruise
Breakfast is served on board as you sail to Long Xuyen along a narrow channel, crossing several picturesque monkey bridges. After enjoying lunch on board, arrive at Long Xuyen to visit Tiger Island, the birthplace of Vietnam’s second president. Return to the sampan for dinner and resume sailing to Chau Doc. The boat continues sailing until about 10 pm before anchoring for the night. Overnight stay on board.
Day 13Mekong - Chau Doc
Breakfast is served on board as your sampan sails toward Chau Doc. Near the border with Cambodia, Chau Doc is the gateway to Phnom Penh. Known throughout Vietnam for its pagodas and temples, Chau Doc is also famous for the Tra Su Bird Sanctuary, a superb eucalyptus mangrove. Disembark at Victoria Chau Doc around 10:00 am. Transfer to visit Tra Su forest then Hang pagoda and then return to check into Victoria Nui Sam hotel. Free time.
Note: Actual itinerary may vary depending on river tides, arrival time or other conditions.
Day 14Chau Doc - Phnompenh
07:00 Transfer to Chau Doc pier to board the Victoria speedboat bound for Phnom Penh. Arrival at Phnom Penh port, followed by completion of customs formalities to obtain your entry visa. You will be met by a local guide who will take you to your hotel in the city center. You will be assigned a room at the hotel. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to explore the capital city of Phnom Penh, visiting in particular the Royal Palace, built in 1866, the Silver Pagoda located in the heart of the Royal Palace, and Wat Phnom, an ancient pagoda located on a hill. For dinner, you will be free to choose a local restaurant and then return to your hotel for the night in Phnom Penh.
Day 15Phnompenh - Siem Reap
Mornings begin with a delicious breakfast served in the hotel.
The day continues with a visit to the National Museum, which is devoted exclusively to displaying Khmer artwork and sculptures. The vast majority of the exhibits date from the Angkor period (9th-15th centuries), while some even date from the 4th century. Next, you head to the Tuol Sleng Museum, which used to be a high school called Tuol Svay Pray, but was turned into a prison by the Khmer Rouge to become a torture and execution center. Also known as “Prison S21,” it imprisoned some 17,000 Cambodians. Only seven of them managed to survive after the end of the regime. The last stop of the day is the Royal Palace, built in 1866, and the Silver Pagoda, located in the heart of the Royal Palace. Afterwards visit Wat Phnom, an ancient pagoda located on a hill. During lunch, you will have the freedom to choose a local restaurant. Afterwards, depart for Siem Reap with your driver on board. Arrive in Siem Reap in the late afternoon and settle in the hotel. Dinner will be free and overnight stay will be at the hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 16Siem Reap Visit
Breakfast at the hotel.
08:30: Start the day with a visit to the Angkor area, where you will spend the entire day exploring the wonderful ancient ruins. Sights not to be missed include the South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous for its colossal human faces carved in stone, the imposing Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Leper King’s Terrace, and the majestic Angkor Wat Temple, the largest and most complete of all. This architectural masterpiece dates back to the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares.
You will have free lunch at a local restaurant.
You will explore this impressive structure, admiring the many columned galleries, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and water-filled ponds that reflect the majestic Ta Prohm temple in the jungle, a spectacle of rare beauty. The huge fig trees and giant vines that wrap around the structure’s stone foundation give the impression that human creation is claimed by the powerful forces of nature. We will end our day admiring an enchanting sunset over Ta Prohm Temple.
In the late afternoon, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the sunset on Bakeng Hill.
Optional Option: You will take a short Tuk Tuk ride and have the opportunity to participate in the Buddhist ceremony, where you will be blessed by monks wishing you happiness and prosperity for your vacation, at an additional charge of US$10 per person.
For dinner, you will be free to choose from local restaurants. We will stay overnight in Siem Reap.
Note: During the visit to the Bakan Tower of Angkor Wat Temple:
- Visitors are required to wear appropriate clothing that covers shoulders and knees (no shorts, miniskirts or shorts are allowed).
- Visitors must wait in line and wait their turn to climb Angkor Wat’s Bakan Tower.
- Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to climb this tower.
- The tower will be closed during Buddhist Sabath days, which are Buddhist religious days (four days a month).
Day 17Siem Reap Visit
Breakfast at the hotel.
At 08:30, the tour guide will go to the hotel to meet you. Get up early in the morning to head to the floating village of Kompong Khleang, which is about an hour away from Siem Reap and is visited by thousands of tourists every year. Kompong Khleang is one of the most impressive villages because of the height and size of its houses on stilts. You will perform a walk through the village to meet the villagers and visit a house where a family that breeds crocodiles lives. Afterwards, you will board a local boat that will take us through all the canals to the large lake, where the inhabitants move their houses according to the season.
Free lunch at the local restaurant.
Next, visit the temple of Banteay Srei (10th century), considered the treasure trove of classical Khmer art. After that, continue your visit to the Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. This complex consists of a central temple with four wings, preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, which is extremely well preserved. Continue the visit to Preah Khan, Kravan and Neak Pean. Overnight at a hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 18Siem Reap Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will have free time in Siem Reap until your transfer to the airport without a guide present. Please note that the room will be available until 12 noon. Please inform us in advance if you wish to extend your stay in the room beyond your departure time. We wish you a safe journey back!