16 Days | Amazing Indochina Experience | With Flights

Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels & Motorbike Food Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels.

Located 60km from HCMC, Cu Chi is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists - the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their day, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres & kitchens. Today, ducks and water buffalos happily co-exist in the rivers along the side of the road. However, the peaceful rural rice paddy scenery belies the area’s violent history.

Visitors will find it hard to imagine the destruction, damage & defoliation over this whole area, caused by bombing and mines. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a "Free Target Zone". Before entering the tunnels, visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea and cassava (the guerrilla’s food during the war).

After the tour, there will be a break at a local restaurant for lunch. 

Late in the afternoon, our talented guide with the motorbike picks you up at your hotel for the 4-hour motorbike tour. After a short riding instruction and program introduction, we hop on the motorbike. First stop is in District 1, including Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office A lovely book street next to the post office is worth wandering. We will also visit the Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument. Hear some lesser-known history and stories about the famous monk and his unburned heart.

Before reaching the coffee shop, we stop at one of Saigon’s Top 3 Banh mi shops. See how they make this iconic Vietnamese sandwich with its crispy crust and amazing fillings. Travel onwards to a small street food stall which is over 20 years old to learn how they wrap and grill one of top Saigon Street foods – Grilled banana & sticky rice in banana leaves. It is a good chance to stop at Cheo Leo Cafe – an 80-year coffee shop hidden in an alley and famous for its distinct “Vot” coffee. There you sit around a table, take a rest, enjoy the drink, eat Vietnamese bread and grilled banana in sticky rice, and chat leisurely with the local guide. You also learn how to make a cup of “Vot” coffee and interact with the nice owner of the coffee shop.

Then we head to District 10 and stop at Ho Thi Ky flower market – a huge wholesale flower market where you have a chance to see thousands of colourful flowers, fresh vegetables, live animals, and many strange things. After that, we drive around hidden parts of the city including fashion street, painting street, medicine street, electronic market, fabric market, lantern market, fruit market, bird market gives you an insider view of the hidden city which is often missed on normal city tours by car/bus. Escaping from the noisy and busy streets, we head to Thien Hau Temple to listen to mysterious stories, learn more about the unique architecture and religious life. On the way to District 1, we stop to eat again at an over 20-year-old restaurant known as one of the Top 5 Places to eat Vietnamese pancake in Saigon. The guide shows you how the cook makes thin, large, and crispy pancakes skillfully, how to wrap the cake in vegetables and then eat. There we also enjoy Rice noodles with grilled pork/fried roll – a specialty food of the city.

Accommodation: Central Palace

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner 

Ho Chi Minh City Mekong Delta

After an early breakfast at the hotel, your tour guide will pick you up and you will journey to the City of My Tho by bus (1.5 hours). On the way, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, the biggest pagoda in the Mekong delta. Upon arrival in My Tho, take a boat trip along the Mekong River, where you can see fish cages and floating houses on the river. The boat takes you to a small canal, where you can totally escape from the busy town.

The boat cruise in the coconut trees canal takes you to a coconut island in Ben Tre. Disembark and have a walk around the village. Stop at a local family home to enjoy tropical fruit, taste the honey tea, honey wine and listen to Vietnamese traditional music, performed by the villagers. Stop by the village coconut candy shop, learn how to make candy, and see some handicrafts made from coconut trees. Take a walk through the village and admire the fruits, flowers, trees, local houses, children, and people. Then, head to a local restaurant for a set lunch with special Vietnamese food. After lunch, relax, go for a walk or bicycle around the area. We’ll then travel back to the river ferry and head back to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) by bus, arriving at around 4:30 pm.

Accommodation: Central Palace

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Ho Chi Minh City Hoi An

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for afternoon flight to Danang. Local guide will greet and take you to Hoi An. Check in, enjoy free time for relaxing and an overnight in Hoi An.

Accommodation: Le Pavillion Luxury

Meals: breakfast

Hoi An

Visit the ancient town of Hoi An, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. It was an important trading port from the 16th to 18th century, attracting traders from China, Japan and even Europe. Explore unique structures and old houses here, including a Japanese covered bridge, Fujian assembly hall, Trieu Chau assembly hall and more. Enjoy free time for your own experience in Hoi An town, then take the boat trip to Thanh Ha pottery village where you can learn and enjoy the daily life of Thanh Ha people. Observe all the steps of making a pottery product: vase, pot, kettle, cooking pot, embark on the boat back to Hoi An town in a romantic sunset on Thu Bon river is unforgetable.

Accommodation: Le Pavillion Luxury

Meals: breakfast

Hoi An Danang Hanoi

Check out of your hotel then head back to Danang. Take a visit to Cham Museum, which houses a collection of stone sculptures from the Hindu-practing Cham Civilization. It’s the artistic quality of the figures: Shiva, garudas, nagas, lions, monkeys, elephants and some examples of the ancient Hindu icons of fertility: lingam altars make this museum is a worth to visit. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi.

Once you arrive, your local guide will meet and transfer to city center. Check in to your hotel and enjoy your first night in Hanoi.

Accommodation: The Q

Meals: breakfast

Hanoi Halong Bay

Enjoy breakfast at hotel before your guide picks you up for your coach trip to Halong Bay. Enjoy four hours of scenic driving through the paddy fields, to Ha Long Bay, one of the new Seven Natural Wonders.

Arrive at the La Regina Royal waiting lounge – Bai Chay- Ha Long, enjoy a welcome drink and express check-in before boarding. Check in aboard with another welcome drink from crew member, while your trip manager introduces the safety briefing and the boat cruising forward to Halong Bay. Let the journey start with a delicious lunch in the restaurant.

Your first excursion is a visit to Luon Cave. This is considered one of the most ideal places in Halong for kayaking or a rowing boat. After that, you can visit Titov Island, where you can go swimming or hike to the top for another stunning, panoramic view of the Bay. Come back the ship to relax for a special dinner in the restaurant. After dinner, it’s your choice: opt for fun squid fishing, a spa, karaoke or just relax.

Accommodation: La Regina Royal Cruise

Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner 

Halong Bay Hanoi

Light breakfast is served at the restaurant after greeting the new day on the sundeck with tai chi. Your next excursion is a visit to the magnificent Sung Sot Cave, where you can take in the panoramic views across Halong Bay. Check out of your ship cabin at around 09:00am. Vietnamese cuisine buffet is served at the restaurant while the boat heads back to the harbor. Disembark at the harbor at around 11:00, where your car and guide will pick you up for your transfer back to Hanoi. Check into your hotel and enjoy another night in Hanoi.

Accommodation: The Q

Meals: breakfast, brunch 

Hanoi

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, take a tour to visit Ho Chi Minh complex including Ba Dinh square, the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, Stilt house and the ‘one pillar pagoda’. Then, proceed to visit the Temple of literature – the first university of Vietnam, before visiting Hoa Lo Prison (known as the “Hanoi Hilton”).

Then, enjoy lunch and a free afternoon at your leisure.

In the evening, your guide will meet you for another fantastic street food tour. This tour begins in the Old Quarter, starting with a puppet show at Thang Long theatre that showcases a unique form of puppetry only found in Vietnam. After the show, your English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture, including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes.

Wander through the maze of bustling streets that is Hanoi’s Old Quarter and tempt your tastebuds with the famed Hanoi dish BanhCuon at a local eatery. Watch as the skilled chefs demonstrate to you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing onwards, journey past street stalls and through quiet residential lanes where you can discover how the local’s live in the old quarter. Afterwards you will stop at the barbeque stalls. Settle down with the locals and sample various meat, vegetable and bread specialties grilled over hot coals for extra flavour. The search for dessert will bring you down to a small alley, here you will find fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced and condensed milk – this speciality is one not to be missed!

Your local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi’s best kept secrets, a hidden street food restaurant to taste the top ten street foods in Hanoi, including Banh My Hanoi, Vietnamese Rice Wine and famous Egg Coffee along with many other specialties. Follow up these delicious meals with an ice-cold local beer.

Your tour ends in the middle of the old quarter, and you have the opportunity to continue onwards to discover Hanoi by night at your own leisure, or the tour guide can arrange a taxi for you to go back to your hotel (taxi not included).

Accommodation: The Q

Meals: breakfast, dinner

Hanoi Luang Prabang

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport for your fight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best-preserved city in South East Asia’. During our time here, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai, we then climb up to the top of mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: Villa Maydou

Meals: breakfast

Luang Prabang Pak Ou Caves

Breakfast at hotel. Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well time to explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. A long the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. Lunch at a local Restaurant at Pak Ou. On return, we continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermaking.

Accommodation: Villa Maydou

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Luang Prabang  Khouangsi Waterfalls

Breakfast at hotel. Today we visit the National Museum (Now Open Every day) 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. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. Return to the city by late afternoon.

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 unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual.

Accommodation: Villa Maydou

Meals: breakfast

Luang Prabang Siem Reap

Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy free time in the morning before transferring to the airport for departure. Upon arrival, you will be transferred by your guide to your hotel to check in and freshen up. Enjoy a free evening and dinner on your own.

Accommodation: Somadevi Angkor

Meals: breakfast

Siem Reap

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. This morning, visit Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia's ancient temple. This is one of the wonders of the oriental world. Masterpieces of decorative details as well as of architectural style, its awe-inspiring ruins survive as testament to the spectacular achievements of Southeast Asia's greatest civilization. It is a replica of the universe according to the Hindu mythology. It is designed to replicate Mount Meru, surrounded by the continents and the oceans. Its extraordinary bas-reliefs describe some of the most famous Khmer epics and myths. Angkor Wat's five famous towers rise into the sky, a geometrical arrangement of numerous galleries, adorned with beliefs and the stone images of celestial Apsara dancers, as well as portals, chambers, and courtyards.

Afterwards, head back to the hotel to rest and freshen up.

This afternoon, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom known as Big Angkor, a 32km walled and moated royal city and the last capital of the Angkorian Empire. Also see the famous Bayon Temple, an architectural muddle, in part because it was constructed in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for over a century. Terrace of the Elephants is an impressive, two and a half meter tall, 300-meter-long terrace wall adorned with carved elephants and gradual that spans the heart of Angkor Thom in front of Baphuon - a huge temple mountain in the heart of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace Area and Phimeanakas - impressive rite and sandstone pyramid. Terrace of the Leper King is at the north end of the Terrace of the Elephants, a double terrace wall with deeply carved nagas, demons and other mythological beings. Lastly, visit Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty, complete with giant trees that have grown here for centuries!

Accommodation: Somadevi Angkor

Meals: breakfast

Siem Reap

After breakfast, visit Banteay Srei; ‘the Womans Citadel’ - a tiny, enchanting temple, which is one of the jewels in this remarkable city. Built of red sandstone in the tenth century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the carved male and female figures in the niches are exquisitely executed in both style and proportion. This is the most Indian of all the temples in Angkor and in the words of H.W. Ponder, is “a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest.” Continue on to visit Banteay Samre, built under Suryavarman II and Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style.

Named after the Samré, an ancient people of Indochina, the temple uses the same materials as Banteay Srei. Head back to the hotel to freshen up.

This afternoon, In the morning, visit to Phnom Krom Village, walking through this lovely local village to experience how local people live, visit to a local market before transferring to Chong Kneas village to enjoy a boat trip on Tonle Sap Great Lake. You will find the different Khmer and Vietnamese floating households and the floating markets, clinics, schools, and other important buildings. 

On the way back, Experience the Monk Blessing at Wat Athvea, which the Khmer people believed cleansed the bad spirits of the past and brought good luck for the coming year.

Accommodation: Somadevi Angkor

Meals: breakfast

Siem Reap Home

Breakfast at hotel. This morning, explore Siem Reap town by Remok. Start by visiting the Apopo Visitor Centre. Apopo uses HeroRATs to save lives by detecting landmines and tuberculosis. Experience the realities of humanitarian demining and how we train rats to save lives. You will learn about the mine clearance process from their tour guide, enjoy a series of videos showing about their work, and read all about how Cambodia became one of the most mine-affected countries in the world. Then visit Artisans Angkor, a Cambodian organization dedicated to the preservation of traditional Khmer skills and culture since its creation in the late 1990s. After learning about the roots and techniques of Khmer arts and crafts while visiting the main workshop, Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to visit the Artisans Angkor shop for some of the best souvenir shopping in town. Transfer to the airport for your flight home by transiting in Ho Chi Minh city.

Meals: breakfast at hotel, then in-flight