INSPIRATION OF INDOCHINA (VNTS09)

FULL ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVE HANOI
Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will be met and transferred to a hotel downtown. Take a rest and visit the city on your own. In the late afternoon, enjoy the Water Puppet Show – the unique art only in Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HANOI - HA LONG (B, L, D)
In the morning, we head for a 3-hour drive to the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay, where our boat and sumptuous seafood feast await us. Cruising amongst the limestone islets, you’ll have a chance to explore various caves, including Dinh Huong Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, Dog Islet, Sail Island, and the Cave of Surprise – the natural cave of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

Enjoy swimming at Titov Beach. Passing across a fishing-floating house and bargaining for some fresh shrimps, crabs, and fish. Overnight on board.

DAY 3: HA LONG BAY - HANOI (B, L)
After a night on board our deluxe junk, you will awake to see daylight filtering through the early morning mist and the towering rock formations, leaving you with unforgettable memories of your visit. Lunch on board. Transfer to Hanoi in the afternoon. It is your free time to discover the city and go shopping. Have dinner on your own and overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 4: HANOI - HUE CITY (B)
Have breakfast at your hotel, visit the HCM Mausoleum and HCM House before departing for a flight to Hue.

Arrive in Hue at noon; we drive you to the hotel, check in, and have lunch on your own. Visit the Forbidden Purple City and discover the outstanding architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. Hue is the only ancient capital that keeps the complex of legacies of the last Vietnamese feudal dynasty in a fairly perfect place. Refresh yourself by boating on the Perfume River. Overnight in Hue.

DAY 5: HUE - DA NANG - HOI AN (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. It is your leisure time in the city before departing to Hoi An at 10 AM, passing Da Nang with a stopover to visit the Marble Mountains, also known by their Vietnamese name of Ngu Hanh Son (Five Mountains Range), and China Beach en route.

Arrive in Hoi An, and spend your afternoon visiting the town of Hoi An. Along with your guide, walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit the ancient town, the Chinese Assembly Halls, and Trading Houses, pagodas, and stroll into the market located by the Thu Bon River. This is also a wonderful town to shop for silk and clothes that can be tailor-made within a day. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 6: HOI AN CYCLING (B)
This day is for your leisure at the beach or cycling with our tour guide along Cua Dai Beach or around Hoi An Ancient Town. The beach and crystal-clear water of Cua Dai is marvelous for a full-day at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 7: HOI AN - DA NANG - HCMC (B)
Transfer to Da Nang for the morning flight to HCMC. We are engulfed by the dynamic energy of HCMC as we explore historic landmarks including Notre Dame Cathedral and the former US Embassy.

In the afternoon, we venture beyond the city limits to the former Viet Cong stronghold at Cu Chi, where we explore this remarkable tunnel network.

DAY 8: HCMC - MY THO DAY TRIP IN MEKONG DELTA (B, L)
In the morning, you will depart for My Tho Town in the Mekong Delta, the “rice basket” of Vietnam. Stop at Do Den Winery to see how they make taste sticky rice wine and interact with local people. After arrival in My Tho, you will take the boat ride across the Mekong River. Transfer to a sampan rowboat along the natural canal. Visit a local house, orchard garden, bee farm, sampling honey tea, taking horse-cart ride, coconut candy factory… Have lunch at a local house on the island with local specialties. Drive back to HCMC in the late afternoon. Have dinner on your own and overnight in HCMC.

DAY 9: HCMC - PHNOM PENH (B, D)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Meet and transfer to the hotel.

In the afternoon, you will visit Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and National Museum Central Market. Have dinner and overnight in Phnom Penh.

DAY 10: PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP (B)
In the early morning, transfer to Phnom Penh boat port for taking Express boat to Siem Reap. Lunch at a local restaurant upon arrival then transfer to the hotel for check-in and relax.
Then take a romantic view of sunset from the top of Bakheng Hill. Have dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at a hotel in Siem Reap.

DAY 11: SIEM REAP - ANGKOR RUINS (B, D)
After breakfast, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of Leper King, and Phimeanakas Temple. Have lunch on your own.

Afternoon, transfer to visit the famous temple of Angkor Wat at noon; we drive you to the hotel, check in, and have lunch on your own. Visit the Banteay Srei Temple and discover the outstanding architecture of Nguyent Dynasty. Hue is a highly ancient capital that keeps the complex of legacies of the last Vietnamese feudal dynasty in a fairy perfect place. Refresh yourself by boating on the Perfume River. Overnight in Hue.

DAY 12: SIEM REAP - LUANG PRABANG (B, L)
Visit the Great Lake (Tonle Sap Lake) in Indochina with a 100km in 1-2 hours cruise you will experience visiting the Fishing Village where fishermen are living on the water, you will see how different their lives with other Fishing Village all around the world. Back to Siem Reap Town, visit Artisan d’Angkor, the place is in the Ministry of Education that was constructed in 1992, this place renowned woodworking stone carving and polychrome training center and workshops. For free tour of different classes and workshops of stone sculptors and wood carving training program teaching young artists about the techniques and styles of classic Cambodian artistry. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, transfer to the hotel for check-in. It is your free time and overnight in Luang Prabang. Depending on your time, a self-discovered trip to Mount Phousi and the Night Market is recommended.

DAY 13: LUANG PRABANG - PAK OU - LUANG PRABANG (B, L)
Have breakfast at the hotel. Embark at the local pier of Luang Prabang on a traditional boat and go upstream on the Mekong River to visit the sacred Buddha caves. On the way, stop at Hin Hong, a picturesque village, and get a glimpse of the daily life. Visit Tham Ting and Tham Phoum caves housing hundreds of Buddha statues. Have lunch at a local restaurant near the caves.
Return to Luang Prabang by boat. On the way backstop at Ban Xang Khong handmade paper village. Drop in the old city for a walk or shop at H’Mong market etc. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 14: LUANG PRABANG DEPARTURE (B)
In the morning, we visit the impressive stupas of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, and discover the art facts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. The National Museum and the Central Market are not to be missed.
After visiting these sights in the morning, there will be free time to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. Transfer to the airport and departure to Vietnam or other cities.