Laos Vietnam Tour 13 days: Indochina Melody

Arrival at Luang Prabang airport, pick up and transfer to hotel in Luang Prabang. In the afternoon, visit Vat Visoun temple with its Singhalese-style stupa, That Makmo, and Vat Aham, one of the main city sanctuaries dedicated to the ancestors of the Laos Wat. Then, enjoy the sunset at Vat Siphouthabath Temple along the Mekong River. Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, visit Vat Xieng Thong, regarded as the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang with low sweeping roofs. Then set sail on a traditional river boat for a 2-hour cruise up the Mekong River to Pak Ou, at the confluence of the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers and visit the sacred caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum, home to hundreds of Buddha statues.

On the way, visit Vat Longkhoune temple, famous for its 18th century frescoes. Then continue to Ban Xang Hai Village and discover the distillation of sticky rice wine. Return to Luang Prabang and proceed by road to Ban Xang Khong weaving village where traditional mulberry leaf paper is also produced. Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we visit the local Phosi Market, this is the place where all the locals shop and your guide will show you the diverse offerings on display. We also stop at Ock Pop Tock, a silk weaving centre. Here you will be given a guided tour and the silk weaving process will be explained. Next we drive to Ban Thinkeo, a Hmong village and start trekking with the villagers. Your guide will explain to you the common use of the plants for the Hmong people.

You will go to the garden and cut some vegetables and herbs with the local people. We then continue to Kuang Si Waterfall, where you will enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the beautiful multi tiered falls. You also have the opportunity to cool off in the turquoise blue pools. Afterwards you return to Luang Prabang in time to catch the sun setting over the Mekong. Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang

Early morning offering the food to Monks, over 300 Monks walking a line on street side for collecting food. And then do not miss to see local market, we then come back to hotel for breakfast, you have free time till transfer to Airport for flight to Vientiane.

Afternoon in Vientiane, taking for sight seeing tour to visit religious museum Wat Sisakhet Temple, the oldest temple, its cloister contains more than 8.000 Buddha statues, Hor Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statues, but today it contains a collections of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found around Vientiane. Visit That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa containing a piece of the chest of Buddha. Overnight at the hotel in Vientiane.

Morning take flight to Siem Reap and transfer to the hotel, visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. 

Bakong, the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor.  Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, 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 and the 12th century 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. Afternoon. Visit the South Gate , the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Overnight in Siem Reap

Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors

Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Overnight in Siem Reap. 

Morning after breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Phnom Penh. pick up and transfer to hotel in Phnom Penh. Afternoon, visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures – from throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda.

Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Morning we take a sobering look at Cambodia's disturbing past with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum, a testament to Cambodia's recent bloody past under the Khmer Rouge regime. At noon time A transfer to pier, board the speedboat to Chau Doc by Hang Chau Express boat.  Arrive Chau Doc around 17 pm. Pick up and transfer to your proposed hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Chau Doc.

Breakfast at hotel then departure for Can Tho, at noon time, boarding Le cochinchine boat, enjoy welcome drink. We take a small boat to explore the Cai Rang market one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong. The boat will take you through the palm-shaded creek to see local houses and green orchards. Return to the boat and then the cruise continue to Tra On. Leisurely cruise down the Mekong while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Lunch served on board.

After lunch we go for pleasant walk on the footpaths of the countryside to discover tropical fruit orchards and the local people's activities, especially some orchards (orange grove) with its farmers. Then return the boat and head out to Caibe. Enjoy the magnificent sunset on the Mangthi canal and Nicola river. Dinner and overnight on board in Cochinchine cruise. Le Cochinchine Cruise

After breakfast on board over splendid sunrise on the Mekong.LeCochinchine continues its cruise toward Caibe. Explore the lively Cai Be floating market. Walking amongst the lush vegetation to visit the handicraft villages  and meet with local people and go ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral and colorful port area, with its colonial buildings, delightful flower gardens and local coconut candy and rice paper manufacturers.

We explore evergreen islands and visit the former Imperial residence the An Kiet House, where surviving members of the Kiet family will welcome us with tea, and we can wander in the fruit orchards around the house. 11h00 Disembark in Caibe. Pick up and transfer to Saigon. Overnight at the hotel in Saigon

Morning departure for the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war.

Afternoon we will visit some major sights of the city. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office.

After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale! Overnight at the hotel in Saigon.

There is free time to relax or further explore Saigon. The tour ends after your transfer to airport for departure. End of Asia King Travel’s services.