Grand Tour of Indo-China
A classic itinerary including the Mekong River, Ha Long Bay and 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 - 3 nights. Vientiane - 1 night. Siem Reap - 4 nights. |
18-night itinerary (Jul 2010 to Apr 2011)
Day 1 Fly overnight from London Heathrow via Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2 Transfer to the 4-star Equatorial Hotel for a stay of 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. Stay 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 8 Cruise 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 Hotel.
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.
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. Evening water puppet show, a Vietnamese art form.
Day 11 Fly to Luang Prabang for three nights at the 4-star Villa Santi Resort. Afternoon visit to the weaving workshop at Ok Pok Tok, Vat Xieng Thong, Vat Mai and Vat Vixoune.
Day 12 Cruise on the Mekong to visit sacred Buddhist caves and a rice wine distillery. Visit the paper making village of Ban Xang Khong. Evening Baci Ceremony (2011).
Day 13 Early morning, witness monks’ during their morning ritual of Tagbat. Visit Phousi Hill with its spectacular views, the Royal Palace Museum and the traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre. Afternoon visit to Khmu village and Kuangsi waterfall (opportunity to swim in a water pool).
Day 14 Fly to Vientiane for overnight at the 4-star Novotel Hotel. A city tour takes in Vat Sisaket, Vat Phra Keo Temple, That Luang Stupa and a stop at Patouxay. Take a walk along the Mekong at sunset.
Day 15 Fly to Siem Reap for four nights at the
4-star Royal Empire Hotel (4-star Khemara Angkor in 2010).
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 19Transfer to the airport for the flight to Bangkok and onwards to London.
Extension - Bangkok/Bangkok & Hua Hin
Stay on for a further three nights at the centrally located 5-star Amari Watergate hotel in Bangkok. Extend further for four nights at the 5-star Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort (the former Railway Hotel), set in magnificent tropical gardens on the Gulf of Siam. Breakfast and transfers included.
