World Heritage Sites Discovery and Superb Food and Cultural Immersion in Indochina 16 days

DETAILED INTINERARY

Day 1: Arrival - Luang Prabang World Heritage Site (D)
You will bewelcomed to Luang Prabang, the ancient first capital of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today the World Heritage City.Transfer to our hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, you will take a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples, where nearly fifty temples still remain in the town and surrounding areas.

You will visit Wat Visoun (the 16th century temple which served as a small museum for religious artifacts) and Wat Aham (an early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana – Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa). You will also visit Wat Xiengthong (the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture) and Phousi Hill (whose 328 steps lead to the summit that dominates the skyline and offers a panoramic view of the area. You will have an overnight stay in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave (B/L)
An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual.

Following breakfast, you will depart to the boat landing and take an excursion by boat upstream to visit Pak Ou Cave, which is in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite the mouth of the Mekong and Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeters to two meters in height.

En route, you will stop at Ban Muang Keo, a well-known village for its traditional Lao rice whisky distilling. Lunch will be at a riverside restaurant. You will arrive back in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon and continue by car to the outskirts of town to visit Ban Xangkhong , a village well-known for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes. You will stay overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: Luang Prabang – KuangSi Waterfall (B/L)
Today you cross the Mekong River by boat, to picturesque Ban Chan, a pottery village. You will visit the morning market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. You then continue to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. You will return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and have free time. In the evening you will enjoy the Ramayana Dance Show at the Royal Palace before an overnight stay in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Hanoi (B/D)
In the morning you will have free time for shopping and then say goodbye to Luang Prabang and head to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. You will be welcomed upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. You will have free time, followed by a water puppet performance, and then a welcome dinner at a local restaurant before anovernight stay in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi (B/L)
The post-colonial capital city of Hanoi is a unique Asian city, with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, numerous lakes, pagodas and temples. This full day tour takes you to visit Hanoi 's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his house on stilts, the Presidential Palace, the One Pillar Pagoda, sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple. Today you will also enjoy Cha Ca La (braised fish), one of the famous dishes in Vietnam and generallyonly available in Hanoi. You'll continue your trip with the Temple of Literature, the Lake of the Restored Sword, Ngoc Son Temple, and one of the city's museums, either the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum. You'll also visit the Old Quarter, known for its 36 streets and former craft guilds, before an overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi – Halong World Natural Heritage Site (B/L/D)
oday you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay and a four hour drive through the Red River Delta. Upon arrival, you can relax in the Cruise Lounge before transfer by tender to the boat. You will have a welcome aboard drink and a cruise briefing. You will have lunch, featuring deluxe Vietnamese and international cuisine. You can stop at Ti Top Island for a swim, relax on the beach and climb to the top of the mountain for fantastic views and photos. You will return to the boat and sail for about 45 minutes to the second stop, the Bat Cave, where there are two optional programs waiting for you:

Option 1 – Kayaking

Take a 40 minute kayaking program to the nearby Bat Cave, lagoon and surrounding waters.

Option 2 – Cua Van Floating Fishing village

Visit the Cua Van floating fishing village, the largest floating fishing village in Halong Bay. There are about 130 floating houses and about 600 people live and work in the village. You will travel to the village on the tender and tour the village for approximately 20 minutes.

You will continue sailing on the main boat for about 30 minutes to Luon Bo area, where you will anchor overnight. You will have free time for relaxing before enjoying a deluxe Vietnamese and Western buffet or set menu dinner.

Evening activities include:

Film entertainment in the dining room at approximately 21:00, board and card games, and massage services are available.

Alternatively, you can take an excursion to a nearby squid fishing boat and see how the local fishermen catch squid and fish (the excursion lasts about 45 minutes and cost US$10 per person). Availability depends on several prevailing conditions. If available, we will inform you after dinner and will depart at 20:30. Please note that those joining will miss the beginning of the movie.

Day 7: Halong – Hanoi – Cooking Class (B/D)
Rising to the sound of the ocean welcoming another lovely day you will enjoy sunrise and tai chi on the sundeck. After breakfast, you will sail to the Surprise Cave and take an optional tour of the cave for approximately 45 minutes or relax onboard the boat. Upon return to the boat, you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove your belongings from the cabins, and you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins (staff will transfer directly to the pier).

You will depart for Bai Chay/Halong pier and sail back as you enjoy brunch in the dining room. Upon arrival, you will have free time before joining the “Street Eats and Market Tour”, which begins introducing you to the local food scene over a hearty bowl of pho (noodle soup), the quintessential Hanoi street food. Then it is off to a bustling local market where your chef will demystify the local produce, and encourage you to taste along the way. You will finish the tour with typical Vietnamese ca phe or che (Vietnamese tea) and local sweets, and share some of our favourite eating and shopping places in Hanoi before an overnight stay.

Day 8: Hanoi – Hue World Heritage Site (B/D)
You are free until transfer to the airport for a flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Phu Bai Airport, you will be transferred directly to your hotel. This afternoon you will embark on a tour of the, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market. Tonight you will enjoy the fine cuisine of Hue at Tinh Gia Vien restaurant before an overnight stay in Hue.

Day 9: Hue (B/L)
Rising up in this ancient land, you will have breakfast in the hotel before setting off on a romantic cruise on the Perfume River. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be a wonderful experience for you. Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the unofficial symbol of Hue, and the center of Buddhism in Central Vietnam. You will go by car and drive to King Minh Mang's Tomb and King Tu Duc's Tomb. In the evening you will enjoy more cruising before an overnight stay in Hue.

Day 10: Hue–My Son World Heritage Site – Hoi An (B/D)
Today you will travel over the Hai Van pass and visit ruins at My Son Holy Land. My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century. Their religion was primarily derived from Indian Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a must-see for those people who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations, and it is now one of five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam. Once in Hoi An, you will check into your hotel and have some free time to explore before an overnight stay in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An Ancient Town World Heritage Site (B/L)
From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. You will enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 year old Tam Ky Ancestral House, and the Japanese Bridge. Following the tour there will be free time to shop or relax or take part in an exploration of fishing village life.

You will board a boat to fish at the mouth of the sea, learning to fish with the local fisherman and using their special fishing nets. You should be a fast learner, because the fish you catch will be used for lunch and the captainwill cook on boat. You will drive back to the hotel and have a restful overnight stay in Hoi An.

Day 12: Hoi An – HCMC (B/D)
You will transfer to Danang for a flight to HCMC, where you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel for free time. In the afternoon you'll take a private tour of Ho Chi Minh City, the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. You will visit the Reunification Palace, the Opera House, the Hotel de Ville, and perhaps also the powerful War Remnants Museum . You will explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's main shopping boulevard with fashionable boutiques , hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. You will dinner on the Bonsai Cruise on the Saigon River before and overnight stay in HCMC.

Day 13: Mekong Delta Excursion (B/L)
You'll leave HCMC on your way to lush My Tho, located in the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, you will take a boat trip to four beautiful islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix , and Tortoise. You will discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe typical rural life on the delta. You'll visit traditional houses (all made from coconut) in Quoi An village, enjoy seasonal fruit and listen to traditional music. Next you'll take a horse cart along the village path and stop at Ben Truc orchard where you can taste honey with tea or Mekong whisky (the establishment has a funny rule for guests to enter). You can also take a boat to visit a coconut candy mill (a special product of Ben Tre province), then enjoy a fantastic lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to HCMC.

Alternative:

Our one day cruise excursion starts at 8:00 from the lobby of your hotel in Saigon with a drive to Cai Be, Phu An where you will board the Cai Be Princess at around 11.00 am. The tour will start with visit of Cai Be colorful floating market. You will proceed to visit some local home factories making things such as rice paste, rice popcorn, coco candies, and also involved in the longans drying processing. The trip continues along the Mekong canals to Dong Hoa Hiep Island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. During this 40 minute cruise, you will discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe typical Mekong rural life. Stops on the way can be made upon request for particular visits or photos making. Lunch awaits you at Le Longanier restaurant at La Residence de Phu An Resort, a superb Indochine style resort. After a short walk along a narrow canal, you will drive back to HCMC.

Day 14: HCMC – Siem Reap – Angkor (B/D)
Today you say goodbye to Vietnam and take a flight to Siem Reap for a visit to Angkor Wat, another World Heritage site. Upon arrival at Siem Reap Airport, you will be met and welcomed by our friendly guide, then transferred directly to your hotel. Start your visit at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Temple, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Then, view a wonderful sunset from the top of the Phnom Bakheng Hills. Tonight you will enjoy dinner with a Khmer Apsara dance show and anovernight stay in Siem Reap.

Day 15: Siem Reap – Angkor (B/L)
You will continue to visit fabulous Ta Prohm (embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers) Pre Rup, East Mebon, and Neak Poan. You'll also visit Krovan, the Royal Bath of Srah Srang and the Banteay Kdei temples. You will stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 16: Departure (B)
You will have free time in the morning or you may choose to board a boat and explore Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake “of Cambodia andthe largest in Asia. Here, you will enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals. You will then have free time to explore local markets and other shopping venues until transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your departure.