LUANG PRABANG - VIENTIANE - HANOI - HALONG - DANANG - HOI AN - HUE - HO CHI MINH CITY -  PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP

Seat-in-coach tour (GIN): Departure every Saturday from Luang Prabang with English, German or French speaking guide - minimum 2 persons.

Private tour (GIP): Daily departure from Luang Prabang with English, German or French speaking guide

ITINERARY:

LUANG PRABANG – ARRIVAL    (-/L/-)

DAY 1 SAT 13.20 hrs meet upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport by PG 632, transfer and check-in at hotel. 

The crown jewel of Laos and former Lanexang, Luang Prabang, is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in South East Asia. Magical and charming, it has preserved its long-standing reputation as a stronghold of Lao cultures with its splendid natural scenery and sense of timelessness. In 1995 UNESCO voted Luang Prabang as a World Heritage City.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Visit Vat Visoun, the site of an impressive stupa, That Makmo, stylistically more Srilankalese than Lao. Then walk to the nearby Vat Aham, which is one of the city’s major tutelary shrines, dedicated to Deveta Luang (spirit) Pu Gneu Ya Gneu (ancestors). Continue to visit Vat Mai, built in 1796, famous for the five – tiered roof of its wooden sim built in the standard of Luang Prabang style. Climb Vat Phousi hill for an outstanding overview of the city. Sunset at Vat Prabaht Tai, located along the Mekong River (dinner – own account). Overnight in Luang Prabang.

LUANG PRABANG     (B/L/-)

DAY 02 SUN  Breakfast at hotel. Visit Vat Xieng Thong, considered as the most beautiful temple. The main sanctuary represents the classic Luang Prabang temple architecture with roofs that sweep low to the ground. In the compound stand several small chapels housing bronze Buddha images, which were displayed in Paris in 1911. Near the East gate stands the Royal funeral chapel. Inside are an impressive 12 meter high funeral chariot and various funeral urns of each royal family member. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts a semi-erotic episode from Ramayana.  Then board a traditional boat for a trip upstream the Mekong River to visit the famous caves of Pak Ou housing thousands of statues representing Lord Buddha. 

Picnic lunch at a bamboo cottage overlooking the confluence between the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers.  Return to Luang Prabang by boat and continue by car to visit Ban Xang Khong, a weaving village where traditional Sa paper is also produced. (Dinner – own account).  Overnight in Luang Prabang.

LUANG PRABANG     (B/L/-)

DAY 3 MON  Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the Khuang Xi Waterfall, located 30 kms (approximately 1 hour drive) South of Luang Prabang. The waterfalls tumble over multi-tiered limestone formations into cool, clear pools ideal for swimming and relaxation.  Picnic lunch nearby the waterfalls.

Close to the waterfall is the Khmu minority village of Ban Thapaene. Take a walk through the village before continuing to Ban Xom, a lowland Lao village, known for its cotton production. (Dinner – own account). Overnight in Luang Prabang.   

LUANG PRABANG – VIENTIANE     (B/L/-)

DAY 4 MON  Breakfast at hotel. Visit the National Museum (former King’s Palace) displaying a collection of personal artifacts of the Royal Family. Next, visit the Central Market where ethnic minorities come daily.  Transfer to the airport for flight Luang Prabang – Vientiane (flight time: 40 minutes).

Meet upon arrival at Vientiane Wattay airport, transfer and check-in at hotel.

Vientiane’s major attractions are the serene Buddhist monasteries that dominate the center of town. The city has kept its timeless charm with tree-lined avenues, brightly painted temples and quaint French architecture.

Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon visit Vat Sisaket, the oldest original temple in Vientiane. Built in 1818, Vat Sisaket is the sole survivor of an invasion in 1828. All other temples in the city have undergone extensive restoration. Vat Sisaket features remarkable frescoes and 6,840 Buddha images. Nearby is Ho Phra Keo, once the royal temple of Lao monarchy. Built in 1565, Ho Phra Keo has been used as a museum since 1970 and contains some of the finest Buddhist sculptures and artifacts in the country. Special displays include antique brass drums and palm leaf manuscripts. The main structure originally housed the famous Emerald Buddha that now resides in Bangkok’s Wat Phraw Kaew. One of the most photographed images of Vientiane is Patousay, the victory gate also known as Anousavari. Constructed in 1958, its architecture is inspired by the Arc of Triumph in Paris. Another famous Vientiane landmark is the That Luang stupa. King Sethtathirat built this great sacred stupa, considered the national symbol, in 1566. Its central structure is 45 meters tall and echoes the curving lines of an elongated lotus. The original stupa was said to contain relics of Lord Buddha. (Dinner – own account), overnight in Vientiane.

VIENTIANE – HANOI     (B/-/-)

DAY 5 TUE   Breakfast at hotel. Visit the surroundings of Vientiane, including the Buddha Park and Friendship Bridge (if time permits). The Buddha Park is a religious sculpture park located by the Mekong River, 24 KM south of Vientiane. The Buddha Park captivates visitors with an unusual blend of Buddhist and Hindu imagery. Short stop to admire the impressive Friendship Bridge, which links Laos and Thailand. Return to hotel.

(Lunch – own account)

In the afternoon, visit the Morning Market.

Transfer to the airport

17:40 hrs Depart Vientiane by VN 840 for Hanoi

18:40 hrs Meet on arrival at Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport, transfer to hotel for check in. (Dinner – own account). Overnight in Hanoi

HANOI – HALONG     (B/L/-)

DAY 6 THU  Breakfast at hotel. In Hanoi we experience the rich cultural and artistic traditions of Vietnam’s capital.  We visit Ho Chi Minh’s former residence and mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda & the Temple of Literature.

Check out of the hotel and enjoy a cyclo ride through the old quarter past the Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son temple to a local restaurant for lunch. 

Visit the History Museum and drive to Halong Bay (165 km east of Hanoi).  Halong Bay is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea“ as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has more than 1,500 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes.  (Dinner – own account), overnight in Jalong.

HALONG – HANOI     (B/L/-)

DAY 7 FRI  Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy a relaxing 5 hour boat trip through Halong Bay with a fresh Seafood lunch prepared and served on board (please let us know if you do not eat seafood). Cruise around the islands, relaxing and swimming before returning to Hanoi. 

In the evening we attend a performance of water puppetry, a traditional art form dating back to the 11th century and have some free time to explore Hanoi. (Dinner – own account), overnight in Hanoi.

HANOI – DANANG – HOI AN     (B/-/D)

DAY 8 SAT  Breakfast at hotel. At leisure until transfer to airport for flight to Danang in the early afternoon.  

(Lunch – own account)

From the port town of Danang we drive the short distance south past famous China Beach onto the enchanting town of Hoi An.  Known to early Western merchants, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs.  We take a walking tour to discover Hoi An, the UNESCO World Heritage listed Ancient town, visiting 300 year old Tan Ky and Phuc Kien houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge and Hoi An market. 

We soak up the atmosphere of these narrow streets, lane ways and friendly atmosphere before dinner in a local restaurant to sample some of Hoi An’s culinary delights. Overnight in Hoi An.

HOI AN – DANANG – HUE     (B/L/-)

DAY 9 SUN  Breakfast at hotel. Free morning at leisure until boat ride to local restaurant for an early lunch before the departure from Hoi An, via the Marble Mountains, over the most spectacular Hai Van Pass and onto Vietnam’s former imperial capital and charming town set on the banks of the Perfume River. An afternoon of culture takes us by dragon boat to the Thien Mu Pagoda before an evening of leisure in this quiet town. (Dinner – own account), overnight in HUE.

HUE – HO CHI MINH     (B/L/-)

DAY 10 MON  Drive to visit the Imperial Citadel and the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Check out of the hotel, and follow by a lunch at local restaurant.

After lunch, visit the local Dong Ba market in Hue where the famous conical hats are made. Transfer to the airport to flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel to check in.

HO CHI MINH – CU CHI – HO CHI MINH     (B/L/-)

DAY 11 TUE  Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, drive to Cu Chi district (150 km from HCMC) to visit the amazing complex of underground tunnels at Cu Chi. There are more than 200 km of underground tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels.  You have the chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels before returning to Saigon for Lunch. 

Afternoon orientation by foot from the Saigon River past the Opera House, Town Hall & Notre Dame Cathedral.  Visit Reunification Palace (museum) and the famous Ben Thanh Market. (Dinner – own account), overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

HO CHI MINH – PHNOM PENH     (B/L/-)

DAY 12 WED  Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport

11:55 hrs Depart Ho Chi Minh by VN 817 for Phnom Penh

12:45 hrs Meet upon arrival at Phnom Penh International airport and transfer to hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon)

Lunch at hotel

Phnom Penh city tour: Visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures - throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilos and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset. (Dinner – own account), overnight in Phnom Penh.

PHNOM PENH – SIEM REAP     (B/L/-)

DAY 13 THU  Breakfast at hotel. Transfer from hotel to Phnom Penh International airport. Departure to Siem Reap by Siem Reap Airways International or similar airline.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International airport, meet and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon)

In the morning visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12th century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King

Lunch at hotel

In the afternoon visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: 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 Cambodia 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 towers 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. Enjoy the sunset on Angkor Wat. (Dinner – own account), overnight in Siem Reap.

SIEM REAP     (B/L/-)

DAY 14 FRI  For early birds: Sunrise from Phnom Bakheng, one of the two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and the surrounding plain. Return to the hotel.

Breakfast at hotel

Morning, visit Victory Gate, the twin temples of Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda twin temples, Takeo and Ta Prohm.  The latter is one of the most beautiful temples in the area.  It has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.  Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it has been left to be swallowed by the jungles, and looks very much the way most of the monuments of Angkor appeared when European explorer first stumbled upon them. Banteay Kdei, surrounded by 4 concentric walls, Srah Srang, "the pool of ablutions" which was doubtless used for ritual bathing and Kravan temples with unique brick sculptures.

Lunch at hotel.

Afternoon, visit the North Gate of Angkor Thom, Pre Rup, the "Mountain Temple", Mebon Oriental, guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation.  Continue your tour at Ta Som, Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake, and Preah Khan temple, built by the King Jayavarman VII and, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. However, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. (Dinner – own account), overnight in Siem Reap.

SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE     (B/-/-)

DAY 15 SAT  Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure to your next destination (airfare not included).

Notes: 

1. The detailed program and schedule flights are subject to change without prior notice.

2. Angkor Complex: A passport-sized photo must be attached to multiple day entrance passes to the Angkor complex. Visitors can have their picture taken at the entrance checkpoint at no extra charge. However, we recommend that all visitors arriving in Siem Reap have a passport photo ready prior to arrival all visitors arriving in Siem Reap have a passport photo ready prior to arrival.

Our tour prices are inclusive of: accommodation in shared twin - bedded room, meals as specified in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), tours & transfers with English, German or French speaking local guides, International air-tickets for the routing Vientiane - Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh- Phnom Penh, domestic ticket Luang Prabang - Vientiane, Hanoi - Danang & Hue - Ho Chi Minh & Phnom Penh - Siem Reap, domestic airport taxes in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, service charges, room tax and baggage handling.

Not included are:

- Arrival and departure flights

- Departure airport tax in Bangkok at BHT 500.- per person

- Departure airport tax in Vientiane at USD 10.- per person

- Departure airport tax in Ho Chi Minh at USD 12.- per person 

- Departure airport tax in Siem Reap at USD 25.- per person

- Laotian visa stamped fee

         Upon arrival at the airport in Luang Prabang = USD 30.- per person (2 photos are needed)

- Vietnamese visa arrangement

        Vietnamese visa stamped fee

        In Taiwan = TWD 1,500.- per person (2 photos are needed) with ARC copy or 

        Upon arrival at the airport in Hanoi = USD 60.- per person (2 photos are needed)

- Cambodian visa stamped fee

        Upon arrival at the airport in Phnom Penh = USD 20.- per person (1 photo is needed)

- Personal travel insurance

- Compulsory Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinner at hotel

- Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs laundry and gratuity etc

- Other tours & meals than mentioned in the program

- The presently applicable airfare of Bangkok - Luang Prabang & Siem Reap - Bangkok is USD 360 per person (subject to change without prior notice). 

- Gratuities to local guide & driver