Cambodia - Vietnam - Laos Tour 14 days: The Natural Treasure Indochina

Upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, meet and transfer by the local guide to the hotel for check-in (Early check-in is NOT included and is subject to the hotel’s availability). Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city in Cambodia. Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonization of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's economic, industrial, and cultural center. Set out on a tour to visit the National Museum which houses Khmer art and sculptures from different periods of Cambodian history. Continue to visit the Central Market and end the trip with a visit to the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh. Enjoy the boat ride along the Mekong River to view the sunset and a welcome dinner at the local restaurant on the riverbank.

Meals included: Welcome dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

After breakfast at the hotel, visits Toul Sleng, which was a high school prior to 1975, an interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge era, and today it is a genocide museum. It tells the sad story of the thousands of innocent Cambodian people who were tortured on its grounds. Walking through the narrow corridors and former classrooms of the buildings will give you an eerie feeling of being part of Cambodia’s turbulent past. The stories of the victims are documented and some torture devices are on display for visitors to learn about the suffering the people endured. Photographs were taken of each prisoner passing through the prison and hundreds of the haunting black and white photos are now on display in the museum. While this experience may be depressing, it is recommended to visit in order to truly understand the cruel methods of control the Khmer Rouge implemented over the country.  Continue to visit the Cheung Ek Killing Field, the peaceful stretch of green fields of Cheung Ek may not indicate what kinds of horrors have taken place there. Situated 17km from Phnom Penh town, Cheung Ek was made famous by the movie “The Killing Fields”. Nowadays, a large memorial has been built to commemorate the 17,000 victims who died here under the reign of Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. The remnants inside the memorial and the mass graves that dot the area remind you of the suffering of the victims. This journey into Cambodia’s past will provide you with a background on the cruelty of the Khmer Rouge regime. It will also give you an appreciation of the struggle that Cambodian people have faced and their tremendous courage to move on and rebuild their nation. Visit the Russian Market. Lunch is on your own, our guide will recommend one of the best local restaurants in town. Afternoon, visit The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda two of the most striking buildings in the capital and are considered some of the finest examples of Khmer architecture. They were initially constructed in 1866 by the French. The Royal Palace is home to the current King Sihamoni. The neighboring Silver Pagoda stands out in its own distinctive way. The floor consists of 5,329 solid silver tiles to which the building owes its name. The building houses many golds and jeweled Buddha statues including the highly prized 17th-century baccarat crystal Buddha. Other important buildings that can be found within the compound include Wat Preah Keo Morokat, where Royal ceremonies are performed, and stupas such as King Ang Doung Stupa – the burial site of former King Norodom.

Meals included: Breakfast  

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Morning is free at your own leisure until noon time, our driver will meet you at hotel lobby and transfer to boat pier for boat trip on Mekong river downstream to Chau Doc.

Arrival in Chau Doc at the end of day. Check in hotel. Time free. Overnight in Chau Doc.

\Meals included: Breakfast  

Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc

After breakfast at hotel, you will visit by boat to the Bang Lang stork sanctuary in Thot Not, which offers also the view of the local people’s vivid life on the water.

In the afternoon, visit Sam Mountain, Lady Xu Temple, Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple, floating fish farm and boat trip to Champa Village. After that, heading to Can Tho. Overnight stayed in Can Tho

Meals included: Breakfast  

Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Morning after breakfast transfer to little town of Cai Be. Where our boat trip start pass through floating market, viewing the people of Mekong Delta are doing business on the water.

Tourist will be on board at the tourist boat station in Cai Be and welcomed with cold towels, fresh coconut.

Boating and enjoying the fresh air on the Mekong river, the tourists visit the Cai Be floating market, the original style of commerce on the Mekong river

Visiting the local poprice, coconut candy workshop and knowing the ways bee-breeding tasting honey tea by breezy river.

Boating to visit the local fruit gardens and a way of horticulture and listening to the traditional music, is the best chance for relaxation. Taking about 20 minutes for rowing sampan with discovery feelings.

Crossing the Mekong river to An Binh island to see the daily life along the river.

Visiting the brick & pottery factory where the tourist know how to make the brick and the pottery from the local clay and styles with the traditional technique.

End the tour in Vinh Long. Afternoon transfer to Saigon, check in the hotel and the rest of day is on your own. Overnight in Saigon.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Morning we departure for the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese soldiers in the American war. Nowadays, the tunnels have become a popular tourist attraction of Vietnam.

Return to HCM for lunch. 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

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Free time on your own until transfer to airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon the arrival, you are met at the Noi Bai airport and transferred to the hotel by Asia King’s guide. Check-in and relax. In the late afternoon, enjoy the Water Puppet Show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art. This art originates from rural festivals in Vietnam. The artists-men and women-stand waist-deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move about, talk and laugh and even dance on the surface of the water.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast, our guide will pick you up and show you around Hanoi, Vietnam’s gracious capital. We enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, home to his mausoleum, garden, house on stilts and a museum which traces his life and work.

Our first stop is to visit the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh. Located in the center of Ba Dinh Square, this is the most important monument of Vietnam in which Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved. This site only opens on Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from 08:00 – 11:00.

The next destination is the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house was completed on May 19th, 1958 as a birthday present for uncle Ho and becomes a symbol of his simple life.

Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda. The pagoda looks like a lotus blossoming from the square pond. It was constructed in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong based on his dream of Goddess of Mercy seating on a lotus flower and giving him a boy. In 1954, it was destroyed by the French and then restored in 1955.

We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. This temple provides an opportunity to learn more about education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago until recent history.

In the afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnologic Museum that is dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. This museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibition area with the most popular architectural styles of house’s ethnic people. The museum closes on every Monday.

To round off the day tour around the city's Old Quarter by a bicycle rickshaw, called a cyclo. In this part of town, each colorful street is devoted to a particular craft or ware. You will be pedaled amongst the quaint French buildings along Shoe Street, Silk Street and Banner Street (to name just a few), ending at the historic Hoan Kiem Lake - the social center of Hanoi.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Breakfast served at hotel and then starts a 3-hour drive through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta to Ha Long City.

Declared as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1994, Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural attractions. Nearly 200 km far from Hanoi, the bay is dotted with 1600 limestone islands, capturing visitors’ attention.

Arrive in Halong ad board a luxury wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island.  Dinner served on board. Overnight on Junk

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Onboard on Halong bay cruise

Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back-up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor where our private vehicle waiting for you for a 3-hour journey back to Hanoi.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast, have free time until transfer to your next flight to Luang Prabang.

Arrival at Luang Prabang international airport and meet your guide, then transfer to your hotel. Check-in time is between 13h30-14h00. Time for resting at hotel

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession. Stop and visit fresh local markets and back to hotel for breakfast.

This morning, depart to visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao.  Continue to visit Wat Aham. Then, visit to the most photographed temple, Vat Xiengthong. Located at the end of peninsular closed to the confluence of Mekong and Khan River.

This afternoon, continue to former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Visit Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. During Pimai, the Lao New Year, the Prabang normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum is brought and put on public display in this temple.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

This morning transfer to the pier where you board a traditional long trail boat, for a relaxing cruise upstream on the mighty Mekong River. Enjoy stunning mountain scenery and witness the simple rural lifestyles. You will reach Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. In these 2 caves are displayed hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images which are the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities around mid-April. Cruise back Luang Prabang. Stop and visit Ban Xangkhong, a weaving village, where you can jump into wooden looms with local expert for practical and experience.

This afternoon, driving through green rice paddies and farms. On your arrival at the Kuang Si waterfall, enjoy your short walking on trails of falls to visit the bear rescued centre. Enjoy spectacular views and surrounding of orchids inside the park and falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. Return to Luang Prabang.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

Free time until your transfer by our driver to the airport for your international flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: None