Itinerary in Brief:
Day 1: Luang Prabang arrival (D)
Day 2: Luang prabang – Pak Oucave (B, L)
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 4: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
Day 5: Hanoi - Halong bay – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 6: Hanoi – Ho chi minh city (B, L)
Day 7: Ho chi minh- Cu chi tunnel (B, L)
Day 8: Ho chi minh – Siem reap (B, D)
Day 9: Siem reap – Angkor tour (B, L)
Day 10: Siem reap departure (B)
Itinerary in Details:
Day 1: Luang Prabang arrival (L, D)
Upon arrival at the airport, you are met and transferred to the hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave (B, L)
After breakfast, 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 represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the distillation of local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Hanoi (B, L)
The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign, and the Central Market are not to be missed. After visiting these sights in the morning, you will have free time for your own exploration of the town and strolling around the shopping area. Transfer to the airport for short flight to Hanoi. Arrive at Hanoi and transfer to the hotel in city center, check in, relax. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 4: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
This morning we start city tour with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh ( Close on Monday, friday & November), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. Afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnology Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, Quan Thanh Temple, West lake, the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple. Take a cyclo tour around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Enjoy water puppet show- a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi - Halong bay – Hanoi (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, departure for Halong bay. Halong is located in Quang Ninh province, 170 km north-east of Hanoi. (Listed by UNESCO as natural heritage site in 1994, Halong bay has been a famous tourist destination in Vietnam). We will take some stop-overs on the way for photo or refreshment. Boarding upon arrival. Lunch will be served on board with welcome drink. Cruising around the Bay with famous sites such as: Fighting cock's islet, Stone dog or Joss stick bowl islet. Visit Thien Cung cave - the Cave of the heavenly palace. Round walking to visit beautiful stalactites which have been formed millions of years ago. Back to the Junk boat and keep cruising to view fabulous scenery of Halong bay. After a 4 hours boat trip. We will take a coach trip back to Hanoi. We will be back in Hanoi around 19:30.
Day 6: Hanoi – Ho chi minh city (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to the airport for flight to Ho chi minh city. Pick up at Tan Son Nhat airport, transfer to city center, check in, relax. We then discover dynamic city with the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight at hotel in Saigon.
Day 7: Ho chi minh - Cu chi tunnel (B, L)
After breakfast, we drive to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. At the height of the Vietnam war, the tunnel system stretched from the outskirts of Saigon all the way to the Cambodian border of over 250 kilometers of tunnels. The tunnel system, built over 25 years starting in the 1940s, let the Viet Minh and, later, the Viet Cong, control a huge rural area. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was several stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth,going to school. The ground here is hard clay, which made this whole thing possible. But even so, the planning and construction was incredible. People dug all this with hand tools, filling reed baskets and dumping the dirt into bomb craters. They installed large vents so they could hear approaching helicopters, smaller vents for air and baffled vents to dissipate cooking smoke. There were also hidden trap doors and gruesomely effective bamboo-stake booby traps. Today, the trees and bushes have grown back. And since 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for visitors. Drive back to Ho chi minh City.
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh - Siem Reap (B, D)
Breakfast at hotel Transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. (the room might not be ready). Start your tours to the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. We explore this masterpiece as well as some of the surrounding temples including Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevado. The grand circuit with Preah Khan, Kravan, Neak Pean, Krol Ko, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup Temples, is also visited this afternoon before we walk up to Phnom Bakheng Hill for a view of the spectacular sunset over these sandstone monuments. Overnight in Siem ReapVisit to South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baksei Chamkrong, Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Angkor Wat until sunset. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 9: Siem Reap (B, L)
The sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with colums, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 10: Siem Reap departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit Floating Village and take a boat trip on the Tonle Sap. Then transfer to the aiport for your departure flight. End of tour.
Thank you for traveling with Asia View Travel.
Accommodation Options
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Location
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Standard
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Superior
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First class
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Deluxe
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LuangPrabang
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Villa Chitdara 3*
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Villa Chitdara 3*
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Villa Santi 4*
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Villa Maly 5*
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Hanoi
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Hanoi Paradise3 *
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La Dolce Vita 3*
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Hanoi flower garden 4*
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Moevenpick 5*
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Saigon
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Le Duy 3 *
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Tan My Dinh 3*
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Grand 4*
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Legend 5*
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Siem reap
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Casa 3*
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Steung Siemreap 4*
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Angkor Century 4*
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Sokhar Angkor 5*
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Tour includes:
• All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
• All tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Private English or French speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary at local restaurant with local foods (B = breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Boat cruise as stated
• Flight Ticket Luang Prabang – Hanoi, Hanoi – Ho chi minh, Ho chi minh – Siem reap
• Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
• Mineral water & towel
• Government taxes & Service charges
Tour excludes:
• International flights that not mentioned above
• International departure tax
• Vietnam visa arrangement (upon request visa on arrival at 15 USD, not including stamping fee at 25 USD)
• Cambodia Visa (available at the airport at 20 USD/person)
• Laos visa (available at the airport at 30 USD/person)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Surcharge on 24,31 December and Lunar New Year
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
• Personal expenses such as Telephone and Laundry bills
• Tips and gratuities