Indochina Past and Present – 21 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Check into the hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or go out to explore the city. If possible, we will have a cyclo tour around Hanoi Old Quarter in which you can taste some great street food, then purchase lovely souvenirs or take several photos of the hustle and bustle here.
Overnight in Hanoi

Hanoi Old Quarter

Day 2: Hanoi City tour
The whole day is to explore Hanoi, seeing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his own home, then visit One Pillar Pagoda nearby.
The next stop is optional, choosing one of the following museums: Women’s Museum, Museum of History or Army Museum.
Having lunch at a traditional restaurant before dropping by the Temple of Literature (Confucius Temple), the 1st National University of Vietnam and Hoa Lo prison, “the hell on the earth” during Vietnam war.
Afterward, walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, come over Ngoc Son Temple and then enjoy a traditional water puppet show, a particular type of art in the rural north of Vietnam.

In Hoa Lo Prison

Day 3: Hanoi – Mai Chau
At early morning, you are taken and driven to Mai Chau – a stunning mountainous district and enjoy a wonderful homestay trip. We may drop in the local market in Hoa Binh to taste the original savor of Vietnamese coffee and take photos of spectacular mountains by the way.
Check into the homestay upon arrival, then take a rest after a long drive in order to discover the next interesting things.
The half-day is to explore some ethnic villages, communicate with the locals, witness their daily activities. The dinner will be a cozy meal cooked by the host.

Panoramic view of Mai Chau

Day 4: Mai Chau – Buoc Village – Hanoi
Today, come over another famous ethnic village – Buoc Village, where a lot of White Thai people dwell. You will have the chance to watch paddy fields, stilt houses on the way. Pay a visit to a local family, see how they work, learn about their typical customs and then having a traditionally cooked lunch.
Back to Hanoi and take a rest in the hotel.

Ethnic village in Mai Chau

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Onboard Ship
Today’s included a boat tour around Halong Bay. Having a seafood lunch right on the boat. The rest of the day is to voyage the various gorgeous small islands with many different shapes. Next, discover some caves and then take a kayak or go swimming in the cool, fresh water if you want. The dinner is served on the ship. The schedule may change a little based on cruise ships.

Cruise along the World Heritage – Halong Bay

Day 6: Halong – Hanoi – Hue by flight
Morning is a good time to see the majestic beauty of Halong. We can enjoy the scenery, welcome the very first rays of sunshine and have a delicious breakfast on the deck. In the afternoon, drop over the main harbor and then back to Hanoi. In return, we will drop in the Ancient Pottery Village of Phu Lang.
After the visit, catch a late flight to Hue, check into the hotel and relax.

Morning Tai Chi on Cruise Halong

Day 7: Hue city tour
Begin the day with an adventure Dong Ba Market, a famous local market for foreigners, displaying a variety of products. The next destination is Imperial Palace which has the same structure as the Forbidden City of China. Also, it has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage for its historical value.
Afterward, go to the suburb to see several of the most famous royal tombs of kings in feudal history including Ming Mang, Tu Duc, and Khai Dinh. Having a Buddhist lunch at a monastery where we will converse with the nuns there and also have the opportunity to get the knowledge about Buddhism.
On this afternoon’s included a Huong River ( Perfume River) trip and then come over Thien Mu pagoda. End the day by returning to the hotel and relax.

The tomb of King Tu Duc

Day 8: Hue – Hoi An Ancient Town
Leave Hue, we depart to the ancient town, Hoi An. Via Hai Van Pass, we can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the sea. On the journey, also stop to encounter My Khe Beach and Marble Mountain so as to watch old pagodas.
Check into the hotel upon arrival. The rest of day is leisure time.

Scenic view of Hai Van Pass

Day 9: Hoi An Walking tour
Start the day by wandering around small corners of the town, dropping by Chua Ong pagoda, Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tan Ky house, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Having lunch and go on the boat to visit Thanh Ha village, learning how they create a pottery.
This evening is optional: relaxing or taking part in a cooking class to learn several local foods.

Thanh Ha Pottery Village

Day 10: Hoi An free day
This whole day is up to you, enjoy the free time or discover additionally the town.

Ancient town of Hoi An

Day 11: Hoi An/ Da Nang – Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City by flight
This morning, we are far Hoi An taking the flight to Saigon ( Ho Chi Minh city) from International Da Nang airport. First stop is Cu Chi Tunnel, a very complicated system of tunnels built in the Vietnam war. There we will watch a short video introducing the Tunnel. Also, many of the traps and weapons in the war are illustrated for visitors.

Experience the Tunnel of Cu Chi

Later, we transfer to Saigon, check into the hotel and have a tasty lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon’s included an interesting trip, visiting the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the General Post Office. After that, you will take a rest in the hotel and then explore Ben Thanh night market for shopping.

War Remnants Museum

Day 12: Saigon – Ben Tre – Can Tho/ Mekong Delta
First stop today is the Mekong Delta, the rice bowl of Vietnam. We will visit Ben Tre Town, cruising along Ben Tre River, digging into the daily life of the locals. See the process of making bricks, sleeping mats and products made from coconut. Then a motor cart will bring us past spacious fresh vegetable gardens. This is the most significant thing about the trip.
Subsequently, we have lunch at a native restaurant, then go on the journey. Goodbye Ben Tre, we together discover the beautiful city – Can Tho, called the capital city of Mekong Delta.
Check into the hotel in the evening. Enjoy yourself in the room or step on the streets and see sank the night beauty of the city.

Boat trip through the canals of Mekong Delta in Ben Tre

Day 13: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Chau Doc
Breakfast is well served then we hire a local boat to investigate Cai Rang Floating Market. Next, take a walk into nearby villages in order to learn the way the local people produce rice paper mill as well as rice noodle. One of the most exciting things to do in the southwestern is experiencing to pass Monkey Bridge, a typical kind of bridge here which is made from small and thin trees. Your heart will not stop pounding when crossing it the first time. Additionally, you can choose to ride a bicycle, spinning throughout the peaceful and watch the quiet but stunning views.
After Can Tho, we depart to Chau Doc, another interesting site. Check in the hotel and rest.
Overnight in Chau Doc.

Local boat with full of fruit and vegetable in Cai Rang Floating Market

Day 14: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh by speedboat
First, have breakfast and come to the wharf and have a trip lasting approximately 5 hours to begin the journey to discover the beautiful country, Cambodia. Until the afternoon, we reach in the capital Phnom Penh, check into the hotel room.

Rowing boats in a floating village in Chau Doc

Enjoy a memorable lunch at a special restaurant cooked by adorable kids who used to be poor street ones. You will definitely be impressed by their skillful hands.
Then, spin around the city, come over the National Museum of Khmer art, where a huge amount of spectacular works of art in every period of Cambodia history. Other remarkable destinations are Royal Palace or Silver Pagoda which is, as its name, made from a lot of silver. The rest of the day is free.

The Throne Room of the Royal Palace

Day 15: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap by flight
Enjoy the breakfast in the room then check out. You will be taken to the airport to come to the next stop – Siem Reap. Later, check into the hotel. In the rest of time, you can relax in your room or jog over this enchanting city.

A little girl in a small vendor in Siem Reap

Day 16: Siem Reap – Angkor Temples
The whole day is to explore the renowned Angkor complex. The order can be flexible, depend on your interest as long as you feel comfortable. Start with the ancient city, Angkor Thom. Discover every corner of this place, from Bayon – a structure with 54 towers featuring countless lively faces carved on it, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings.

Southern Gate of Angkor Thom

After that, return the hotel, have a delicious lunch. In the late afternoon, go over to a gorgeous here – Ta Prohm. It is considered as a brother of famous Angkor Wat due to the same structure. However, because located deep in the forest, covered by layers of trees, not too many tourists come here. Besides, the special is many of scenes of the blockbuster “Tomb Raider” were shot. At the end of the day, we leave to drive to Pre Rup and enjoy the stunning owl-light.

Ta Prohm Temple

Day 17: Siem Reap: Sunrise Watch – Banteay Srey – Rolous Temples – Tonle Sap boat trip
Today, wake up early to keep up the majestic dawn moment from Angkor Wat. Then, step on Banteay Srey Temple, which was built with the largest number of pink sandstone compared to any temple in Angkor complex. Next, drop in Tonle Sap and take a boat to get an excursion of this Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. The lunch is prepared carefully at the hotel. Take a rest before continuing the journey in the half day.
This afternoon visiting-place is Roluos Temple Complex. Here you can admire some of masterpieces leftover of a glory period of Khmer Empire such as Bakong, Preah Ko, and Lolei. The evening is a relaxing time.

Sunrise over the Angkor Wat

Day 18: Siem Reap – Afternoon flight to Luang Prabang
The total time of this morning is to feel yourself in the hotel. Check out in the middle of the day.
Later, take a flight to the extremely attractive land, the ancient capital of Laos, Luang Prabang. It has been considered the religious center of the whole country for hundreds of years. Also, it is recognized as a World Heritage by UNESCO for its unique value. After check-in, you can freely enjoy the rest of day in the room.

Luang Prabang Night Market

Day 19: Luang Prabang City tour – Boat trip to Pak Ou Caves
First to come is the National Museum and the bygone Royal Palace. Here is the place displaying the famous Prabang Buddha as well as a diversity of gifts from foreign dignitaries. Next, dwell in Wat Visoun which is the living witness of the invasion of Black Flags from southern China. At that time, this place was almost re-constructed. Besides, Watermelon Stupa with its special shape is an interesting thing to watch when coming here. Some other places are Wat Aham in which was set the altar of Luang Prabang and Wat That where kept the skeleton of King Sisavang Vong.

The ancient Wat Aham in Luang Prabang

After the noon, an excursion along Mekong River is well-planned, discovering mystic Pak Ou Caves standing on the side of a dramatically beautiful rock cliff. After that, call on Ban Xanghai, where is popular with traditional rice.
On the way back Luang Prabang, drop in Ban Xangkhong, that is very famous for the tradition of paper craft and silk weaving

Boat trip to visit Pak Ou Caves

Day 20: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall
This morning’s included a tour of a local market for tourists can buy some souvenirs. The highlight today is to see Kuang Si Waterfall, a gorgeous 3-layer waterfall located 29 kilometers to the south of the city. This is the most famous natural destination in Luang Prabang. Tourists visiting this place usually fond of a jump into the fresh water, cool off the body as well as the soul and enjoy the stunning natural wonder.

Kuang Si Waterfall outside Luang Prabang

Lunch is served right close the fall. After that, we turn back the city. On the departure, we may come by Ban Na Oune, a peaceful village of Hmong people, and Tha Pane village where the Khmu people inhabit.
The final activity of the day is climbing Mount Phousi in which tourists can admire the marvelous scenery of the gloaming. The remainder of the time is for relaxing.

Local children in Ban Na Oune Village, Luang Prabang

Day 21: Luang Prabang: Departure
After breakfast, we check out and spend the day for yourself and wait to be taken to the airport.

Luang Prabang morning alms giving ceremony