Day 1:
Saigon
City
Arrival
Our
representative
will
greet
and meet
you upon
arrival
to Ho
Chi Minh
City,
which is
formerly
known as
Saigon,
Ho Chi
Minh
City is
a
sprawling
metropolis
that is
home to
over 5
million
people
and a
fast-paced
city
full of
contrasts
as
street
vendors
selling
fruit
and
vegetables
can be
seen
next to
glitzy
western-style
bars and
boutiques.
Saigon’s
history
is only
300
years
old. In
1859 the
city was
captured
by the
French
and
became
the
capital
of
Cochin
China.
From
1956
until
its
dramatic
demise
in April
1975 it
was the
capital
of the
US-backed
Republic
of
Vietnam.
Today,
Ho Chi
Minh
City is
very
much the
heart of
Vietnamese
business
and
entrepreneurs.
And yet
the city
still
retains
its
connections
to the
past,
particularly
in Cho
Lon,
Saigon’s
Chinatown.
Here
dozens
of
elegant
temples
and
pagodas
can be
seen.
The
French
also
left
their
mark
with
some
fine
colonial-era
buildings
such as
the
Notre
Dame
Cathedral
and the
Central
Post
Office.
Day 2:
Saigon
Touring
& Cu Chi
Tunnels
(Meals:
B)
Our city
tour
will
help you
to see
the best
of
Saigon.
In the
morning
we visit
the
historic
Reunification
Palace
and War
Remnants
Museum,
followed
by the
architectural
treats
of
French
colonial
Notre
Dame
Cathedral
and the
Post
Office.
In the
afternoon.
In
the
afternoon,
we
drive
to
Cu
Chi
district,
50
km
to
the
Northwest
of
Saigon
City.
On
arrival
watch
a
video
presentation
on
the
construction
of
the
tunnels
before
making
your
way
into
the
tunnels.
Here
you
can
spend
around
an
hour
exploring
the
maze
of
tunnels
and
also
view
the
various
mantraps
on
display
and
the
remains
of
an
American
tank
as
well
as
numerous
bomb
craters
made
by
500
pound
bombs
dropped
by
B52
bombers.
This
unique
experience
gives
a
fascinating
insight
into
what
underground
life
in
the
war
must
have
been
like.
The
return
journey
to
Ho
Chi
Minh
City.
Free
time
at
leisure
or
shopping
at
Ben
Thanh
Market
nearby.
Overnight
at
hotel
in
Saigon
Day 3:
Mekong
River
Cruising
in Style™
(Meals:
B, L)
We
will
start
the
trip
at
07:30
am
and
head
for
Vinh
Long
province.
Boarding
our
beautiful
traditional
boat.
This
five
hour
river
cruise
takes
you
through
Vietnam’s
most
productive
agricultural
area.
Enjoy
the
beautiful
landscapes
of
coconut
palms,
sugar-cane
groves
and
fruit
orchards
from
the
vessel
as
you
head
to
the
Cai
Be
floating
market.
Here
you
can
cruise
through
the
colourful
barges
full
of
fruits
and
vegetables
and
then
proceed
to
local
home
factories
such
as
rice
paste
making,
rice
pop
corn,
coco
candies,
and
longans
drying
processing.
The
trip
continues
along
the
Mekong
canals
to
Dong
Hoa
Hiep
Island
located
between
Vinh
Long
and
Cai
Be.
Along
the
way
you
will
find
the
local
people
engaged
in
their
daily
tasks
and
see
brightly
coloured
Khemer
pagodas.
Stops
on
the
way
can
be
made
upon
request
for
particular
visits
or
photos
making.
These
evergreen
islands
among
the
Mekong
River
still
remain
unknown
to
many
people.
Arrive
at
La
Residence
de
Phu
An
resort
where
you
will
be
welcomed
and
served
Vietnamese
culinary
delights.
You
will
then
walk
along
a
narrow
canal
to
an
air-conditioned
vehicle
that
will
transport
you
back
to
Ho
Chi
Minh
City.
Overnight
at
hotel
in
Ho
Chi
Minh
City
Day 4:
Saigon -
Hoi An
(Meals:
B)
This
morning
we will
take
flight
to
Danang.
Pick up
and
transfer
to Hoi
An.
Visit
the
fascinating
Cham
Museum,
famous
China
Beach
and the
Marble
Mountains
en route
to
charming
Hoi An.
Known as
Faifo to
early
Western
traders,
Hoi An
Ancient
Town is
an
exceptionally
well-preserved
example
of a
South-East
Asian
trading
port
dating
from the
15th to
the 19th
century.
Its
buildings
and its
street
plan
reflect
the
influences,
both
indigenous
and
foreign,
that
have
combined
to
produce
this
unique
heritage
site. At
leisure
for the
rest of
time.
Overnight
at hotel
in Hoi
An.
Day 5:
Hoi An
Touring
(Meals:
B)
In
the
morning,
you will
enjoy a
walking
tour
with
first
stop is
the
bustling
fish and
vegetable
market
and then
we will
go
through
the Old
Quarters
to see
the
town's
landmarks
of
Japanese
Covered
Bridge,
ancient
Assembly
Hall, Phuc
Kien
Temple
and then
we take
a river
trip and
you will
enjoy
the
scenery
along
the Thu
Bon
River
and the
general
view of
Hoi An
Ancient
Town. It
transforms
itself
at
night,
when
many of
the
shops
hang
lanterns
outside.
We will
transfer
you back
to the
town and
rest of
time at
your own
leisure.
Hoi An
is well
know for
souvenir
shopping
with
great
prices
and also
famous
for its
large
number
of
tailor
shops,
so if
you want
to get a
cloth
tailor
made to
measure,
this is
the time
to do
it.
Overnight
in Hoi
An.
Day 6:
Hoi An -
Danang - Hanoi
(Meals:
B)
Our tour
guide
will
meet and
greet
you upon
arrival
to Hanoi
City-
the
capital
city of
Vietnam,
is an
elegant
city
located
on the
banks of
the Red
River
with
tranquil
Restored
Sword
Lake at
its
heart.
North of
the lake
are the
bustling
streets
of the
Old
Quarter,
each
street
named
after
the
trade
that
used to
take
place
there.
Much of
the city
was
transformed
by the
French
when it
became a
French
protectorate
in the
1880s
and
there
are wide
boulevards
and
large
colonial
buildings
which
are now
home to
government
departments
and
foreign
embassies.
Transferring
to your
hotel in
the city
center
to
refresh.
Overnight
at hotel
in Hanoi
City.
Day 7:
Hanoi City
Tour
(Meals:
B)
This
comprehensive
day tour
takes in
all of
Hanoi's
essential
sites.
In the
morning
we will
visit
the Ho
Chi Minh
Mausoleum
and
historical
presidential
relics
and then
the
Temple
of
Literature
nearby.
Afterwards
we head
to Ngoc
Son
Temple
and Hoan
Kiem
Lake.
The Ngoc
Son
temple
is set
on a
tiny
island
on the
Hoan
Kiem
Lake and
dates
back to
the 13th
century.
The lake
itself
is a
picturesque
focal
point of
Hanoi,
frequented
by
tourists
and
locals
alike.
In the
afternoon,
we will
visit
Museum
of
Ethnology,
widely
acknowledged
as the
best in
the
country
which
houses a
display
dedicated
to
Vietnam's
54
ethnic
minority
peoples. Then we
will
take 1
hour by
cyclo
ride
through
Hanoi's
Old
Quarters
to
experience
daily
life of
people
who are
living
in the
oldest
parts of
the
city,
Enjoying
the
famous
traditional
water
puppetry
show in
Thang
Long
Theatre
where
you will
have
chance
to get a
general
picture
of the
daily
activities
typical
to
Vietnam's
rural
areas.
Overnight
at hotel
in
Hanoi.
Day 8:
Hanoi -
Halong
Bay
(Meals:
B, L, D)
Morning
depart
for
Halong
Bay,
we
go
through
the
scenic
countryside.
The
wondrous
Halong
Bay
is
truly
one
of
Vietnam’s
most
impressive
scenic
sights.
Check-in
at
12:00
at
noon
and
embark
on a
junk
boat
for
an
exploration
of
the
legendary
Halong
Bay.
This
exciting
cruise
will
provide
us a
fantastic
view
of
the
picturesque
scenery
blending
with
the
sky
and
some
3,000
limestone
islands
rising
amazingly
from
the
clear
and
emerald
water.
The
limestone
karsts
formations
are
littered
with
beaches,
grottoes
and
beautiful
caves.
Along
the
way
we
will
anchor
for
a
leisurely
swim
in a
secluded
cove
and
an
enjoyable
visit
to
one
of
the
many
hidden
grottoes
beneath
towering
cliffs.
Stay
overnight
on
the
Junk
Cruise.
Day
9:
Halong
Bay -
Hanoi
(Meals:
Brunch)
Greet
the day
with a
morning
Tai Chi
exercise
with an
opportunity
to view
the
sunrise
over the
bay.
After
breakfast,
visit
beautiful
limestone
grotto
then
back to
the boat
for a
final
glimpse
of the
Halong
Bay
while
cruising
back to
the
dock.
Transfer
back to
Hanoi
City.
Rest of
time at
your own
leisure.
Overnight
at hotel
in Hanoi
Day
10:
Hanoi -
Luang
Prabang
(Meals:
B)
Morning
flight
to Luang
Prabang.
On
arrival
at the
airport,
you will
be met
and
transferred
to your
hotel.
Luang
Prabang
was the
royal
capital
of the
former
Lane
Xang
Kingdom,
with its
gleaming
temple
roofs,
colonial
architecture
and
stunning
mountain
backdrop retains
a unique
charm
rarely
found in
all
Asia.
Overnight
in Luang
Prabang
Day 11:
Luang
Prabang
Touring
(Meals:
B)
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.
Later,
we visit
the
National
Museum
(closed
Tuesdays)
at the
former
Royal
Palace.
It
displays
a
collection
of
artefacts
reflecting
the
richness
of Lao
culture
dating
from the
days of
the
early
kings
right
through
to the
last
sovereign.
In the
afternoon,
we enjoy
a
short-guided
tour
seeing
the
city’s
oldest
temple
of
impressive
stupa of
Wat
Visoun
and the
shrines
of Wat
Aham and
Wat Mai,
Wat Sene
and the
magnificent
Wat
Xieng
Thong
with its
roofs
sweeping
low to
the
ground,
which
represents
classical
Laotian
architecture.
Overnight
at hotel
in Luang
Prabang.
Day 12:
Luang
Prabang
Touring
(Meals:
B, L)
The day
starts
with a
visit to
the Big
Brother
Mouse
shop to
select
some
books
for the
village
visit.
We then
head
north by
car
along
route
13,
before
taking a
unpaved
road to
Ban Khia
Luang
village.
We then
have
ample
time to
visit
the
school,
play
with the
kids and
watch
them
enjoy
their
new
books.
We also
take
some
time to
explore
the rest
of the
village,
where
you can
see
weaving
and
visit
the
local
temple.
We stop
for
lunch at
the
village,
which
can
either
be a
western
picnic
lunch,
or
traditional
Lao food
such as
sticky
rice,
fresh
vegetables
cooked
by the
villagers.
After
lunch we
say good
bye to
the
village
and
drive to
Ban
Khoklin,
which
takes us
through
some
beautiful
scenery
of
mountains
and
paddy
fields.
At Ban
Khoklin
we then
board a
private
boat
down the
Nam Ou
river
for 30
minutes
to Pak
Ou
Caves,
two
linked
caves
crammed
with
thousands
of gold
lacquered
Buddha
statues
of
various
shapes
and
sizes
left by
pilgrims.
and
continue
down the
Mekong
River
back to
Luang
Prabang,
arriving
back
there by
late
afternoon.
Overnight
in Luang
Prabang
Day 13:
Luang
Prabang -
Siem
Reap
(Meals:
B)
Today we
will fly
to Siem
Reap,
the
charming
riverside
which is
located
in
Northwest
Cambodia,
Siem
Reap is
the
major
tourist
hub in
Cambodia,
as it is
the
closest
city to
the
temples
of
Angkor.
The most
recognizable
of the
temples,
Angkor
Wat,
literally
Capital
Temple,
built by
King
Suryavarman
II the
early
12th
century.
Check-in
hotel
and at
leisure
or spend
your
time to
walking
around
the Old
town.
Overnight
at hotel
in Siem
Reap.
Day 14:
Siem
Reap
Angkor
Temple
Tour
(Meals:
B)
Your
private
tour of
Angkor
Wat
starts
from the
South
Gate of
Angkor
Thom
City.
Explore
the
centrepiece
of the
ancient
city,
The
Bayon.
The
Bayon is
known
for it's
decorative
Khmer
temple
and it's
distinctive
features
are the
serene
and
massive
stone
faces
that
tower
around
the
central
peak.
Your
tour
continues
with
visits
to
Baphuon
temple,
the
Royal
Enclosure
and
Phimeanakas
as well
as the
Terrace
of
Elephants
and
Terrace
of Leper
Kings.
Enjoy
lunch in
front of
Angkor
Wat
before
entering
this
magnificent
temple -
easily
the most
famous
and
best-preserved
of all
structures
within
the
Complex.
Enjoy
most of
the
afternoon
here to
watch
sunset
over the
Angkor
before
heading
back to
Siem
Reap.
Overnight
at hotel
in Siem
Reap.
Day
15:
Angkor
Temple
Touring
(Meals:
B)
In
the
morning,
you
will
continue
your
temple
visits.
Included
are
Prasat
Kravan
with
its
unique
brick
sculptures,
Srah
Srang
("The
Royal
Boths"
was
once
used
for
ritual
bathing),
Banteay
Kdei
(surrounded
by
four
concentric
walls),
Eastern
Mebon
(guarded
at
its
corner
by
stone
figures
of
harnessed
elephants,
some
of
which
are
still
in a
reasonable
state
of
preservation)
and
the
"Mountain
Temple"
of
Pre
Rup.
In
the
afternoon,
transfer
to
the
archaeological
site
and
continue
to
the
temple
tour.
Visit
Ta
Prohm,
one
of
the
most
beautiful
temples
in
the
area
-
The
Buddhist
monastic
complex
of
Ta
Prohm
is
one
of
the
largest
sites
at
Angkor.
Having
been
left
untouched
by
archaeologists,
this
Bayon
style
temple
is
ethereal
in
aspect.
Stone
pillars
and
tree
roots
intertwine
in
this
impressive
complex.
Ta
Prohm
has
been
left
relatively
untouched
since
it
was
discovered
and
retains
much
of
its
mystery,
then,
visit
Takeo,
Thommanon
and
Chau
Say
Tevoda
temples.
Stay
overnight
in
Siem
Reap.
Day
16:
Siem
Reap -
Bangkok
(Meals:
B)
Free at
leisure
until we
will
transfer
you to
the
airport
to take
a short
flight
to
Bangkok.
Pick
up
upon
arrival
at
Suvarnabhumi
International
Airport
and
transfer
to
the
hotel
in
the
city.
Welcome
to
Thailand,
the
land
of
smiles.
Bangkok
is
the
financial,
political
and
cultural
capital
of
Thailand,
located
in
the
centre-south
of
the
country,
in
the
heart
of a
fertile
rice-growing
region.
Bisected
by
the Chao
Phraya
River,
which
is
overlooked
by
all
the
major
palaces,
Buddhist
temples
and
luxury
hotels,
Bangkok
is
seventh
heaven
for
those
who
love
their
food
and
their
shopping.
Overnight
at
hotel
in
Bangkok.
Day 17: River Cruising Tour (Meals: B, D)
This half-day sightseeing tour in Bangkok will allow you the opportunity to explore the Grand Palace complex, which houses a number of attractions including Wat Phra Keow (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and then we will proceed to see Wat Traimit, Wat Pho and Wat Benchamabophit. A Wat is a Buddhist building where both men and women can be ordained as monks or nuns. Wat Traimit is also known as the temple of the Golden Buddha. The 3 meter tall statue is made from solid gold and weighs 5.5 tons and is a fine example of Sukhothai style art. You will then pass through Chinatown on your way to Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha. At 46 meters in length and 15 meters high the Buddha is the largest in Bangkok and illustrates the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. Your last stop is at Wat Benchamabophit, or the marble temple. This magnificent monastery was built out of white Italian marble from Carrara in the late 19th century. Treat yourself and your loved ones with a 2.5 hour evening cruise along Bangkok's Chao Phraya river. Watch river life go by and feast on a Thai dinner feast as the band on board entertains you. This will be a memorable night on board one of Bangkok's most luxurious restaurant boats relaxing in modern comfort and dining like King Rama V on a variety of Thai dishes. As you cruise slowly along the Chao Phraya River you will pass The Temple of Dawn and the Grand Palace complex which both provide sensational twilight photo opportunities. It is also a great vantage point to watch the life along the river as people slowly start to unwind or head home after a busy day. Transfer back to hotel and overnight at hotel in Bangkok.
Day 18: Floating Market & River Kwai Tour (Meals: B, L)
Your day commences with a scenic drive through sugar cane fields, rice paddies and pineapple plantations before embarking on an exciting long tail speed-boat ride to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, passing traditional stilt houses and scenes that have changed little over the centuries. Enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the famous market where you will find hundreds of Thai style canoes laden with fruits, vegetables, sweets and meats. The tour then heads west to Kanchanaburi Province, home to the Bridge on the River Kwai and the infamous ‘Death Railway’ – part of a huge Second World War project to link existing Thai and Burmese railway lines to create a direct route from Bangkok in an effort to support the Japanese occupation of Burma. Thousands of Allied POWs and local labourers lost their lives constructing the bridge and the railway line. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant before visiting the bridge itself, followed by a visit to the Allied War Grave Cemeteries before hearing the POWs stories at the hauntingly fascinating Death War Museum.
Day
19:
Depart
Bangkok
(Meals:
B)
Free at
leisure
until we
will
transfer
you to
the
airport
to take
your
flight
onward.
End of
service.
