Beyond Angkor Wat, Saigon & Luang Prabang

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Ho Chi Minh City

  When landing in Ho Chi Minh City, formally the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon, you will be welcomed by the guide at the airport and transferred via private vehicle to your hotel. Enjoy a relaxing night's stay.

  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City

  Experience Old Saigon with a one-day city highlights tour. You'll take a morning stroll around Chinatown, admiring the sacred Thien Hau Temple and the Binh Tay Market. This afternoon goes with visits to significant French colonial buildings, such as the Reunification Palace (the former Presidential Palace), the Old Saigon Post Office, and the City Hall. As you like, walk into the War Remnants Museum for an insightful yet somber look into Vietnam's most recent history.

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  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City, Day Tour to Ben Tre in Mekong Delta

  Drive to Ben Tre, a waterfront town in the Mekong Delta, to enjoy a full day exploring the Mekong River. Once arrive, look for some favored items at a bustling local market. Board a boat to marvel at the Mekong's powerful waters and the impressive mountain peaks, to immerse in unspoiled vistas of tropical jungles. After a leisurely walk in the local village, a Tuk Tuk (Moto cart) will bring you to see hand brooms made from coconut leaves. Conclude the morning by cooking some traditional "homemade food". After lunch, say goodbye to Ben Tre and return to Saigon.

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  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh

  Free at leisure until you are driven to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh.

  Upon arrival, be escorted to the hotel for check-in and take a rest or have a stroll around on your own.

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  • Phnom Penh

• Day 5: Phnom Penh

  The highlights of your day in the Cambodian capital consist of the majestic Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda in Siamese style, the National Museum, which is renowned for its great archaeological value, and Wat Phnom, the oldest shrine of the city. In the afternoon, take an insight into the country's recent history at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. These two somber places remind visitors of the darkest time in Cambodia's history during the 1970s when the Khmer Rouge Regime was in control of the country.

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  • Phnom Penh

• Day 6: Phnom Penh - Kampong Thom - Siem Reap

  In the morning, leave for Kampong Thom on a 2-3 hours drive via the central Skun District. Stop by a village known for its fried spider, a famous local delicacy. Afternoon proceed to Kuk Nokor Temple, the pre-Angkorian temple complex of Sambor Prei Kuk, and the ancient stone bridge of Spean Kompong Kdei (Dragon Bridge). Another 2-3 hours’ drive will take you to Siem Reap, check into your hotel, and have a good rest.

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 7: Siem Reap

  After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, visit the Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace, and the Leper King Terrace. This will be followed by an afternoon trip to the spectacular Angkor Wat complex where the five domineering towers represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, home of the gods and sacred core of the Hindu universe. After that, enjoy the sunset view at Bakheng Hill or the less crowded Pre Rup temple.

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 8: Siem Reap

  It is highly recommended to go to Angkor Wat in the early morning to watch the breathtaking sunrise and enjoy chatting with the amicable monks and nuns. After breakfast, proceed through the tranquil countryside to the pink sandstone Banteay Srei Temple, the "jewel of Khmer art". This afternoon you will visit Ta Prohm Temple where you can see the temple stones and the lush forest vegetation intertwine, and the Ta Keo Temple, which has five sanctuary towers arranged in a quincunx built entirely of sandstone by the Khmer civilization.

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 9: Siem Reap - Luang Prabang

  In the morning, go to visit a Khmer village, to see the scenic countryside and Khmer houses, then enjoy a long-tail boat trip on the beautiful Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and take a glimpse of Kompong Phluk, a small village lying by the lake. After that, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang in neighboring Laos. Upon your arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel.

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 10: Luang Prabang

  Begin the day with a cultural excursion to the Royal Palace Museum of Luang Prabang, Xieng Thong, and Wat Sene which was built with 100,000 stones from the Mekong River. After that, you will board a cruiser upstream to get a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside and marvel at the Pak Ou Caves, which are noted for hundreds of miniature wooden Buddhist figures. Take a short stop at Ban Xangkhong Village, known for weaving and Saa-paper making. This afternoon, have a visit to Wat Visoun, the oldest Buddhist temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Aham, and Wat Mai, one of the most richly decorated temples in the city.

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 11: Luang Prabang

  Get up early and watch the traditional morning alms-giving ritual where monks walk across the city barefoot and collect alms. After that, proceed to the Morning Market and come back to the hotel for breakfast. The afternoon tour starts at Ban Na Ouane Village, a small minority village where people live in wooden huts. Go ahead to the famous Kuang Si Waterfalls, a picturesque and tranquil place that is perfect to swim in. You can also take some time to walk along the nearby forest trails. Transfer back to the city to catch the sunset at Wat Phabath on a hillside.

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 12: Luang Prabang - Hanoi

  Enjoy some leisure time this morning before taking a private transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in and free time in the evening.

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  • Hanoi

• Day 13: Hanoi

  Get a glimpse of Vietnamese history by visiting the famous Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside only), the remarkable Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, the unique thousand-year-old One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature. Spend the afternoon exploring the Museum of Ethnology, before taking an hour's cycle ride through the Old Quarter of Hanoi by Rickshaw. Proceed to have a leisurely walk around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. To better understand Vietnamese traditional culture, a Water Puppet Show will also be arranged for you today.

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  • Hanoi

• Day 14: Hanoi - Halong Bay

  Depart Hanoi in the morning and drive about 3 hours to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise. Fully enjoy the beautiful scenery including the 450-meter-long Surprise Cave, the most charming in the area, among the tropical karst islands that are scattered around the Bay. Allowing for good weather, you can also engage in abundant activities such as kayaking, swimming, etc.

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  • Halong Bay

• Day 15: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Da Nang

  Join in a Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck in the early morning if you'd prefer. Then continue the relaxing cruise up to brunch time. After the cruise, you will be met at the pier by your guide and driver and transferred back to Hanoi for the flight to Da Nang. Once you arrive, check in to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.

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  • Da Nang

• Day 16: Da Nang - Hoi An - Da Nang

  This morning less than one hour's drive will take you to Hoi An to visit the world cultural heritage site Hoi An Ancient Town. You may also explore the Japanese Bridge, a footbridge with a temple atop initially built by Japanese merchants dating back to the late 16th century. Proceed to the Chinese Temple, which was established by Chinese immigrants, and Vietnamese former merchants' houses. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

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  • Hoi An

• Day 17: Da Nang, Leisure Day

  Today is left for your arrangement to fully relax in Da Nang. My Khe Beach, which is reputed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, is highly recommended to spend your free time.

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  • Da Nang

• Day 18: Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City, Departure

  In the morning, depart to Da Nang airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City, where you can then board your return flight.

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