OVERVIEW

Highlights of Indochina

This 12 days trip features the major cities of Vietnam Cambodia and Laos. Including Hanoi, Halong bay, Ho Chi Minh, Mekong river, Siem Reap and Luang Prabang. This tour can be customized to meet your specific needs.

ITINERARY

Hanoi | Halong | Ho Chi Minh | Ben Tre | Siem Reap | Luang Prabang 

Show all Info Show less info
Day 01

Hanoi Arrival

Welcome to Hanoi!

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals: Not included

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Upon arriving in Hanoi, our driver and guide will personally meet you at the airport and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is time at leisure.
Day 02

Hanoi City Tour

Visit the highlights of Hanoi on a complete city tour

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

08.30 AM: Asia Top Travel's tour guide and driver welcome you at your hotel lobby departing for an exciting city tour of Hanoi's significant highlights.
Start with a tour of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum: the final resting place of Vietnamese Revolutionary leader President Ho Chi Minh (It is closed on Monday and Friday). 
Continue to Ba Dinh Square in front of the mausoleum: the site where President Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of Vietnam on September 2, 1945.
Visit the Presidential Palace, constructed between 1900 - 1906 by the French architect Auguste Henri Vildieu, was intended to be Ho Chi Minh’s official residence but he had opted for a traditional Vietnamese stilt-house instead. 
The humble traditional House-on-Stilts where president Ho Chi Minh lived intermittently from 1958 to 1969 is set in a well-tended garden adjacent to a carp-filled pond and has been preserved just as Uncle Ho left it is worth a visit.
Visit the Temple of Literature, originally built as a temple to Confucius. This is the site of Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society place then and now on education.  
Lunch will be served at the local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays), widely acknowledged as the best in the country. It has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the ground.
Discover Ngoc Son Temple, located on a jade island on the Hoan Kiem Lake. Its history dating back to the 13th century. The temple is reached by crossing the The Huc Bridge which literally means the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the local point of the city and the source of many legends.
A 45 minute - Cyclo Tour takes you through the Old Quarter that is also known as the 36 streets. This bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36s names’ was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities.
Attend to the Water Puppet Show, before heading back to your hotel, you will enjoy this traditional art performance at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Transfer back to your hotel around 17.30. The rest of the day you are at leisure.
Day 03

Hanoi - Halong Bay

Enjoy an overnight cruise trip on Halong Bay

Accommodation: Overnight on Halong bay cruise

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

09:00-09:30: Pick up at your hotel in Ha Noi by private car. After that we leave Hanoi for a 2.5 hour to reach Halong Bay.
12:00′ – 12:30′: At Tuan Chau International Marina, a tender boat will take you to  Halong Phoenix Cruiser. A refreshing welcome drink is served and you can check into your cabin.
13:00′: When you are putting all of your stuffs into your cabin, our boat starts gliding out to the centre of the World Heritage Site. Your lunch, at the boat’s restaurant, is would be served with fresh local seafood, but vegetable menu is always available at your request. From the marina area, our cruiser passes by Dog Head and Swan Islands, Ba Hang Floating villages (with floating houses), Incense Burner then Thumb Islands before reaching to Luon cave area for kayaking.
14:30′ – 15:00′: We have time to gear up for one hour kayaking around Luon cave area. Our guide will show you some basic safety guidelines and techniques to paddle before helping you to sit on our brand new sit-on-top kayaks. After that our boat will help you visit the Titop Island one hour for swimming, sun-bathing or getting a panoramic view on island peak.
17:00′: As the sun sets over the bay, we head back to our cruise and relax. Coffee, tea and fruits will be available on the sundeck or you can order your favorite drink while our boat cruises to the night’s anchorage area.
19:00′: Dinner will be served with local seafood. After dinner you may choose to enjoy drinks from the bar or top deck or experience squid fishing before retiring.
 
IMPORTANT NOTES: WIFI CONNECTION IS AVAILABLE ON BOARD BUT HAS LIMITED INTERNET CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE ITINERARY DUE TO THE SEA AND THE KARST LIMESTONES AND MOUNTAINS BLOCKING THE SIGNAL FROM THE SATELLITES. PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO YOUR CONSIDERATION
Day 04

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh

Say goodbye to Halong Bay and fly to Ho Chi Minh city

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

07:00′ – 07:45′: Enjoy the morning view of the beautiful landscape with a cup of coffee or tea. Have breakfast in the fresh air.
08:00′ – 09:00′: You will visit the impressive Cave of Halong Bay – Surprising Cave (Sửng Sốt) with your tour guide, a truly awesome and amazing cave to experience.
10:00′: Check out of your cabin and settle your bill as our boat begins cruising back to the harbor. Experience more views of Halong Bay such as Fighting Cocks Island (Symbol of Halong Bay)Incense Burner and Stone Dogs Islands.
10:20′: A cooking demonstration on board shows you how to make authentic Vietnamese Spring rolls. You will learn about the recipes and techniques that create this popular dish of Vietnamese people.
10:45′: Lunch is served on board during cruising towards the harbor.
11:20′: Depart the Halong Phoenix Cruiser and travel by tender boat back to Tuan Chau International Marina where you then board the private car to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh
Upon arrival pick up and transfer to the hotel for check in. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh
Dinner is on your own account.
Day 05

Ho Chi Minh - Ben Tre

Enjoy a boat trip to the Coconut capital

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

08:00 AM: Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the Capital of Coconut": Ben Tre.
On arrival in Hung Vuong Pier (Ben Tre town). Take a boat on Ben Tre river – one tributary of Mekong river, observe lively activities along river as fishing, water transfering, etc. Stop at brickwork to see how to make bricks in handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit a coconut processing workshop located along Cai Son canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to Nhơn Thạnh village. Take a walk to a family workshop making sleepmats and enjoying some fruits.
 
Take a tuk tuk or ride on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about tropical culture from Peasants.

Lunch at local restaurant.

On the afternoon, take rowing-boat along water palm creek and boat along Cai Coi creek back to Hung Vuong Pier where your driver is waiting you for a transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 06

Cu Chi Tunnels - Ho Chi Minh City Tour - Siem Reap

Fly to Siem Reap, gateway to the incredible Angkor temple

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

In the morning, your guide and driver meets you at the hotel lobby for a full day tour to Cu Chi, located about 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City, where you will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, the former stronghold of the Viet Cong with a network of tunnels three levels deep stretching over 200 km.

After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer back to Ho Chi Minh and you will take a half day city tour. Start by looking at the Notre Dame Cathedral built between 1877 and 1883. This is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Nearby is the Old Post Office, another example of French colonial architecture and also is the country’s largest post office. Then, Move on to the War Remnants Museum (Museum of American War Crimes), this is a poignant display of the futility of war.

Then, transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for a flight to Siem Reap.
Upon your arrival at the airport, meet up with your tour guide and driver for a transfer to the hotel. The rest of the days is free at your own leisure. 
Day 07

Siem Reap - Angkor Temples

Visit the historical and mysterious Angkor temple

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast

08:00 AM: Meet our guide and driver at your hotel lobby, depart to Angkor Complex. Start with South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone.
Visit 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. 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. 
Day 08

Siem Reap - Banteay Srei - Tonle Sap Lake

Vist Banteay Srei and sail on the biggest lake of the country

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, your guide picks you up at your hotel lobby to head out of town. Make your way by traveling on a newly paved road to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei. Along the way, stop at the Preah Dark village and visit the Banteay Samre Temple adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu as well as Krishna legends.

In the afternoon, visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 km south of Siem Reap. 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. Spend the rest of day 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.
Day 09

Siem Reap - Luang Prabang

Say goodbye to Siem Reap after a guided tour and fly to Luang Prabang

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, take a short walk along the road in front of the King’s Residence to see the Main Shrine, where the local people usually worship, with its statue of Yeay Teap, Preah Ang Chek and Preah Ang Chorm. Buying jasmine and lotus flowers to worship is very important for the Cambodians.

Continue to one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market”, where everything is for sale! Continue to Wat Bo, a large, highly respected pagoda, founded in the 18th Century.  The vihear of Wat Bo contains unique wall paintings of the Reamker that are said to be late 19th Century. Look for the daily-life market scenes such as an opium smoking Chinese merchant, the colonial era French officer at the market and the French soldiers attending a traditional dance performance.

Continue to Pouk to visit silk farm, a fascinating farm/workshop where you can see the entire silk creation process including growing the food for the silk worms, breeding the worms, silk extraction and refinement, traditional kit dying pattern creation and looming. Retail silk and souvenir shop. End of the tour, transfer to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be picked up and escorted to hotel.
Day 10

Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfall

After a few cultural visits, swim at the beautiful waterfall

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, climb the famous Phousi Mountain to enjoy stunning panoramic view over the city. Then, visit visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre located in a historical building preserved by UNESCO. The exhibition here consists of traditional clothing, religious artifacts and daily working tools of Lao minorities that will help you understand more about their lifestyle and traditions. Explore the old city with numerous ancient temples including Vat Xieng Thong, perhaps the most photographed temple in LuangPrabang and Wat Sene- one of the most beautiful temples in Luang Prabang.

In the afternoon, make your way to Khuang Sy waterfall, a stunning waterfall. On the way, you will pass through rice fields and beautiful small villages dotted along country road. Make a stop at some of the villages before relaxing at the waterfall. Take a fresh swim to refresh yourself in many basins.
 
In the late afternoon, transfer back your hotel, on the way back, make a stop at H’mong Night Market to admire various Lao-style souvenirs displayed on stalls.
Day 11

Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave

Discover the intriguing Pak Ou cave and a traditional village

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

Today set off your exploration with a visit to the Royal Palace also known as the National Museum to learn more about the long-lasting history and culture of the region.
 
Afterwards, transfer to the pier and take a long-tailed boat for an upstream cruise. During the cruise, you will be treated a stunning view of the nature along the river. From the distance you can see limestone cliffs where the hidden Pak Ou Caves are located. The cave is home to thousands of Buddha statues which make the region a revered one. Take your time to explore numerous images hidden in the cave.

Then, make your way back to the city. En-route, stop to visit Ban Xang Hai village to learn more about the making process of the traditional Lao rice whisky. It is a great chance to taste its unique flavor. Move onto Ban Xang Khong village- famous for its wood paper and Lao silk weaving.
Day 12

Luang Prabang Departure

Say goodbye to Indochina

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast is at hotel and free at your leisure until our driver picks up and transfers you to the airport for your flight departure. End of services!

Price

Start price bases on standard hotels, subject to change. We'd like to give you a rough quote for your preference. Feel free to send us an enquiry. We commit to give you the best price.


Price Per Person In USD. Valide from January to December 2024 

Category 2 People 4 People 6 People Others
3 Star $1385 $1050 $930 On Request
4 Star $1620 $1280 $1160 On Request
5 Star $2105 $1770 $1650 On Request

Remark: We can customize this itinerary to meet your specific needs. Chat with us now!

TOUR INCLUSIONS

For your peace of mind, our tours are designed to include as much as possible in the price, but also to give you the freedom to find a special place to eat or to seek out an independent adventure that especially appeals to you.
Trip Inclusions
  • Meals: 11 breakfast, 05 lunches, 01 dinner
  • Private transportation throughout the trip. 
  • English speaking guides
  • Entrance fees
  • Double/twin sharing room accommodation with daily breakfast (AC room)
  • Private boat trip in Mekong delta and Tonle sap lake
Trip Exclusions
  • Internal flights: Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh =~ US$ 95, Ho Chi Minh - Siem Reap = ~US$ 195, Siem Reap - Luang Prabang = ~US$ 165
  • Visa fees and arrangement   
  • Compulsory Gala Dinner on 24 Dec and 31 Dec
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

Related tours

Best Of Vietnam And Cambodia

Vietnam

Best Of Vietnam And Cambodia
16 DAYS | 15 NIGHTS
Hanoi | Hue | Hoian | Ho Chi Minh | Mekong Delta | Phnom Penh | Siem...
From US$ 1,139/Person
View Details
Indochina Odyssey

Vietnam

Indochina Odyssey
15 DAYS | 14 NIGHTS
Hanoi / Halong / Hoian / Ho Chi Minh / Mekong Delta / Siem Reap...
From US$ 1,317/Person
View Details
Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia

Vietnam

Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia
14 DAYS | 13 NIGHTS
Hanoi | Halong Bay | Ninh Binh | Hue | Hoian | Ho Chi Minh | Siem Reap
From US$ 1,124/Person
View Details