WORLD HERITAGE OF INDOCHINA

DAY 1 : HA NOI ARRIVAL

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, your visa should be pre-arranged, or be sure that your visa-on-arrival letter is in your carry-on luggage. Please go to custom desk as your first point of entry into the country and present these documents for visa upon arrival.

Welcome to Vietnam! A private vehicle and guide pick you up and transfer to Hanoi city for check in hotel. The driving distance is approximately 45 minutes.

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 2 : HA NOI FULL DAY CITY TOUR

The city tour begins with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. At the complex, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the nation’s founder’s body is preserved (closed on Monday, Friday and through October - November), the colonial Presidential Palace, originally the French Governor Office and a fine example of French architecture in Hanoi, and the rural style Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked.

Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond.

Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars.
Afternoon, continue the tour to one of the following museums of choice namely the Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Museum of Revolution, the Museum of Military History or the Museum of Ethnology.

Next, head for Hoan Kiem Lake, the center point of Hanoi whose name “The Return Sword Lake” originated from a legend of a sacred sword and home to a rare endangered giant turtle species and visit Ngoc Son Temple on the lake. Take a one-hour cycle tour of the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its ancient streets representing traditional trades from the past. Finish the tour at the Thang Long Opera Theatre with a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 3 : HA NOI - HA LONG - UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

Morning pickup at 8:00 AM from your hotel for transfer to Ha Long Bay, which is about 160 km or 3.5-hour drive away. The transfer is approximately 3 hours. You will see some rural areas of the Red River Delta with plenty of chances to take photos of Vietnamese farmers working in paddy fields and you may stop on the way to admire the local scenery.

Arrive in Ha Long City at 11:30 AM and check in aboard the booked junk right after the welcome drink is served. Start cruising while having lunch on board and enjoy the mighty bay view.Ha Long Bay meaning Descending Dragon Bay in Vietnamese as legend has it that it was where a holly dragon landed down from sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s wonders and heritage sites whose formation dates back 500 million years, consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2.

After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbath on the sundeck. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with local people who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. An optional kayaking trip is available weather permitting.

Back onboard enjoy a lavish dinner and enjoy the bay view at sunset. Spend a night on board.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Overnight on cruises in Ha Long Bay (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 4 : HA LONG - HA NOI - FLIGHT TO HUE

In the morning, refresh your body and mind with a Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck at the break of dawn. Have tea and coffee onboard and continue exploring Ha Long Bay sailing across its 2000 islets and visiting some of its major highlights. Normally, check out at  have a buffet brunch while cruising back to shore.

Disembark at 11:00 AM to transfer to Hanoi capital.

Free at leisure until meet our guide then transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Flight time is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes

Arrival Phu Bai airport, you are transferred to hotel by private car & guide. The transfer from is approximately 20 minutes.

Meal: Brunch

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hue (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 5 : HUE FULL DAY CITY TOUR - UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

Morning, meet our guide at your hotel and take a full day tour of Hue City, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam for the 1802-1945 period and the last refuge of Vietnamese feudalism. The city’s beauty is characterized by a natural scenic landscape and an extensive variety of historical relics. Begin with Hue Citadel, a well-known UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site which is a 520 ha fortress-like grand complex built in the early 1800s and featuring three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts namely Kinh Thanh Hue (Civic City) as the outer, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) as the middle and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) as the inner.

Continue to Khai Dinh Tomb, the burial site of Vietnam’s second-to-last king, and the most elaborate compared to other kings’ tombs. The tomb shows a vivid European influence in architecture despite its Asian style. Next, visit Tu Duc Tomb, one of the Nguyen Dynasty’s finest architectural works nested in a pine forest where the 4th emperor of the Nguyen family was laid to rest.

Afternoon, a boat cruise along the Perfume River will be made to enjoy the open view of the river and its surroundings. Stop along the way and land on shore to visit two prominent historical landmarks namely the Minh Mang Tomb, where the 2nd Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty was buried, and Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery overlooking the river from a vantage point with its origin dating back to 1601. End of day, stop for shopping at Dong Ba market, which is the city’s traditional commercial center.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hue (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 6 : HUE FULL DAY PHONG NHA CAVE

Today drive about 200km from Hue to the Son River in Quang Binh province, where we embark on boat trip to the famed caves at Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. The Park is one of the world's two largest limestone regions. Comparing with 41 other world heritage sites which have karsts, Phong Nha has dissimilar geomorphic, geologic and biotic conditions. The karsts of Phong Nha can be traced back to Palaeozoic 400 million years ago. This makes Phong Nha the oldest major karst in Asia. T

he area has numerous grottoes and caves. Vietnamese and British scientists have so far surveyed a total of 20 caves with a total length of 70 km. Of these surveyed caves, 17 were in the Phong Nha area and three in the Ke Bang area. Following the narrow underground river, you enter the most impressive Phong Nha cave. The Cave is famous for it’s rock formation which have been given names such as the "Lion", the "Fairy Caves", the "Royal Court", and the "Buddha".

Afterwards, you return to Dong Hoi for lunch before driving back to Hue.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hue (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 7 : HUE - HOI AN - HALF DAY CITY TOUR

Morning, transfer to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass). Enjoy a stunning headland-and-bay panoramic view from the pass, which for miles hugs the mountainside along the shoreline and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Stop on the way to visit Marble Mountain & Lang Co Beach.

In the afternoon, you will meet your private guide at your hotel who will take you to visit the town. Once a bustling maritime commercial port of Asia between 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is now a peaceful town of exceptionally well-preserved architecture, lifestyles and traditions. The town exemplifies a fascinating fusion of cultures between Vietnam and the outside world including China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines.

Your sightseeing will include the iconic 400-year-old Covered Bridge with a small temple attached to one side as a prominent example of Japanese architecture, the Museum of Trade Ceramics which is an elegant Vietnamese style wooden house built in 1858 showcasing antique ceramic artifacts, the 200-year-old Tan Ky House typifying an ancient Chinese merchant residence, the Ong Temple built in 1653 by Chinese settlers to worship Guan Yu, an ancient Chinese general whose character stands for loyalty, bravery and justice and the local market vibrant with colors and activities.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hoi An (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 8 : MY SON TOUR - THEN VISIT THANH HA AND KIM BONG VILLAGE

Today, transfer about 40 km West of Hoi An to visit My Son Sanctuary, another UNESCO recognized world heritage which was once a religious center of Cham people where royal ceremonies and burials were performed. The site now is a colony of partially ruined Hindu temples from the total of 70 constructed by Cham Kings between the 4th and the 14th Centuries in dedication to god Shiva. It is regarded one of the foremost Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia and is often compared with other temple heritages of Southeast Asia such as Angkor in Cambodia, Ayuthaya in Thailand or Borobudur in Java.

In the afternoon, continue to The village Craft Centre and workshops showcases craft items and the painstaking process by which they are produced, using specialist tools and techniques passed down since the 15th century when Hoi An flourished as a major sea port. The workshops today make hand crafted furniture and sculptures as well as a range of tempting souvenirs, some of which are exported a field as Europe and North America. Kim Bong craftsmen made a vital contribution to the recent restoration of historic buildings after Hoi An was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. Moreover, they have been encouraged and rewarded by UNESCO for their preservation efforts.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hoi An (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 9 : HOI AN - DA NANG - SIEM REAP

Morning, transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Siem Reap. Flight time is approximately 2 hours. Meet your driver for an airport transfer to hotel. The transfer distance is approximately 30 minutes.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 10 : SIEM REAP - TEMPLES WITH TA PROHM – PREAH KHAN

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up and transfer to visit the unique brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Ta Prohm. One of the area’s most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking like very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. A visit will also be made to Takeo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda afterwards.

Afternoon, continue to visit Preah Khan temple. It was built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.

Continue your visit to Neak Pean, a fountain (built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som, Eastern Mebon, guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation, and Pre Rup, the mountain-temple until sunset. Then, back to the hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 11 : ANGKOR THOM & ANGKOR WAT TOURS

Today, visit to the antique capital of Angkor Thom, built in the 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 Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

After a short your rest, you will 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 Cambodian flag. This 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, the ocean beyond. End of day take a relaxing stopover at Prasat Chrung visiting Tadev Hole and temple with the best Sunset.

Return to your hotel and end of the tour

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 12 : SIEM REAP - THE TONLE SAP LAKE - LUANG PRABANG

Morning, explore the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. During your boat ride through Chong Khneas, you will see ordinary Cambodians going about their daily life in the floating village.

Your boat will briefly enter the edge of the Great Lake before docking with the Tara – the biggest boat on the Tonle Sap Lake. We will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" move from place to place following water levels and current.

Afternoon, you’re transferred to airport for flight to Luang Prabang. The flight time is approximately is 2 hours.

Arrival airport in Luang Prabang, please go to custom desk as your first point of entry to get visa-on-arrival into the country and pay stamping fees directly by cash to custom office there. Meet with guide then transfer about 6km to the city center

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 13 : LUANG PRABANG FULL DAY CITY TOUR

Today, we explore the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong - the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang with its mosaic decoration and the former royal carriage. Its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Next, visit the Museum (former king’s palace).

Afternoon, a visit will be made to Photisak silver shop, and Minority Art centre where you’ll learn to know different type of minority groups in Laos, their ways of living, and their survival. The tour is uncompleted without climbing up Mt Phousi overlooking the city of Luang Prabang before passing by the night market and head back to hotel

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 14 : LUANG PRABANG FULL DAY PAK U CAVE & XIENGMENE

Morning, take a traditional wooden boat upstream to visit the famous cave of Pak Ou. The cave locates just right on the cliff; it’s a very impressive and stunning sight. Inside the cave, there are more than one hundred Buddha images which have been brought by local people since the early 14th century when the cave was found.

On the way, stop shortly at Ban Muang Kham, which specializes in river weed making. Next, a stop will also be made at Ban Xanghai where you can enjoy the taste of the local rice wine. Lunch will be served on the terrace facing the Nam Ou River (lunch not included) After lunch, drive to Kuang Si Falls, located 30 kilometers south of Luang Prabang. The many tiered waterfalls have scooped out small basins of turquoise color. You can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools and hike around the falls if wanted.

Return to Luang Prabang and on the way back a stop will be made at one of the local villages.

Meal: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 15: LUANG PRABANG - RICE EXPERIENCE - KUANG SI WATERFALLS

We drive to Living Land Lao Organic Farm at Phoung Van village where you understand about the historical and activity of the farm in Laos. Upon arrival, your guide and representative of the farm will briefly introduce about the farm after that you experience the real activities and life of a Lao farmer. You will really have your hand on all the activities including ploughing, seeding until reaping the harvest. You will indeed know how hard to grow the rice. Last but not least, we will shortly visit the vegetable garden and the guide also teaches you how to realize many type of vegetable. It is really exciting to learn all those things for the first time.

In the afternoon, go to see the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall, located 30km south of Luang Prabang. You can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools and hike around the falls if wanted. Before coming back to Luang Prabang, we still have time to visit Kuang Si Falls Butterflies Park, newly opened January 2014; it is now one of the must-see spots in Luang Prabang. Return to Luang Prabang late afternoon for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath

Meal: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang (3*, 4* or 5*)

DAY 16 : LUANG PRABANG DEPARTURE

You are free at leisure until transfer to the airport for flight departure

Meal: Breakfast