Grand Tour of Indo-China
A classic itinerary in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from Saigon and the Mekong River to Angkor Wat
In Brief:
| Flight - 1 night. Ho Chi Minh - 3 nights. Hoi An - 2 nights. Hue - 1 night. Ha Long Bay - 1 night. Hanoi - 2 nights. Luang Prabang - 2 nights. Vientiane - 2 nights. Siem Reap - 4 nights. Flight - 1 night. |
Day 1Fly overnight from London Heathrow via Kuala Lumpur* to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2 Transfer to the 4-star Equatorial Hotel for three nights.
Day 3 Visit the underground tunnel network at Cu Chi and enjoy a tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Evening cruise and dinner on the Saigon River.
Day 4 A scenic drive through the Mekong Delta includes a cruise on the Tien River.
Day 5 Fly to Danang. Two nights at the 4-star Pacific Hotel in Hoi An. A walking tour visits merchants’ houses.
Day 6 Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the My Son ruins. Sunset cruise on the Thu Bon River.
Day 7 Travel to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam, for overnight at the 3-star Huong Giang Hotel. Visit the Imperial Citadel and the elaborate Emperors’ Tombs.
Day 8Cruise on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Afternoon flight to Hanoi. Transfer to Ha Long Bay for overnight at the 4-star Novotel.
Day 9 An extended cruise in Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with seafood lunch. Two nights at the 5-star Hotel Melia Hanoi. Evening water puppet show, a Vietnamese art form.
Day 10 Tour of Hanoi including the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh’s home and Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Hoam Kiem Lake and old Quarter.
Day 11 Fly to Luang Prabang for two nights at the 4-star Villa Santi Resort. Visit a Hmong village and Kuangsi waterfall (opportunity to swim in a water pool).
Day 12 Visit a rice wine distillery. Cruise on the Mekong to visit sacred Buddhist caves. Visit the weaving village of Ban Xang Khong.
Day 13 Visit the Royal Palace Museum, Vat Mai and other exquisite temples, the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre. Walk through the old city. Fly to Vientiane for two nights at the 4-star Novotel Hotel.
Day 14 A city tour takes in Thong Khan Kham market, Vat Sisaket and Vat Phra Keo temple and Nong Bua Thong. Free time at Talat Sao market. (Special note: From July 2010, itinerary comprises 3 nights in Luang Prabang and 1 night in Vientiane with a programme of enhanced sightseeing in Luang Prabang).
Day 15 Fly to Siem Reap for four nights at the 4-star Lotus Resort (Feb-Apr 2010 Khemara Angkor Hotel).
Day 16 Explore the fabled temples of Angkor, ancient capital of the Khmer empire, including the magnificent 12th-century Angkor Wat, the South Gate of Angkor Thom and Bayon.
Day 17 Further visits include the Temples of Banteay and Srei Ta Prohm and the Elephant Terrace. Visit the national Silk Centre in Puok and the Khmer Ceramic Centre.
Day 18 At leisure.
Day 19 Fly to Kuala Lumpur and onwards to London.
Day 20 Arrive Heathrow in the early morning.
