BEST OF INDOCHINA – Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia
ACTC Tours SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Choice of Superior, First class & Deluxe Hotels with private bath/shower
- American Breakfast daily.
- Special welcome and farewell dinner with local music & dance presentation
- Junk Cruise (refurbished) of Halong Bay with all meals
- Local English-speaking guides for sightseeing tours
- Entrance fees to monuments, guide fees etc.
- Transportation by chauffeur driven private car, van, bus (as applicable)
- Baggage handling and porterage
- Assistance by A Classic Tours Collection representatives at airports and Hotels
DAY 1: ARRIVE HANOI
On arrival in Hanoi, meeting assistance by A Classic Tours Collection representative and escorted to the hotel. Rest of the day free or explore the city. This evening enjoy a Water Puppet Show- a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water followed by Dinner. HOTEL- D
DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR
After breakfast embark on a guided half day tour to explore the architecture and history of Hanoi. Visit the one Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Lunch is at a local restaurant. This afternoon is at leisure or Optional Half day tour: Quan Ho Folk Song: Drive to Bac Ninh, the cradle of traditional Vietnamese music and theatre. On arrival take a horse-drawn cart through country lanes to visit the Dinh Bang communal house and Do Temple. Enjoy local folk songs before returning to Hanoi. HOTEL- B
DAY 3: HANOI/HALONG BAY/BOAT CRUISE
Early breakfast at Hotel and travel overland to Halong Bay. Board a refurbished wooden sailing junk for cruise through magnificent Halong Bay. Fresh seafood lunch is served on board. Take a swim in the emerald waters (weather permitting). Afternoon visit a Grotto and spend the evening and overnight on board boat. CRUISE- BLD
DAY 4: HALONG BAY/HANOI/LUANG PRABANG- LAOS
Spend the morning cruising through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Halong bay. After brunch on board, disembark and return to Hanoi, stopping en route at the Dong Trieu ceramic factory. Connect with flight to Luang Prabang in Laos, a country that is just awakening from its long slumber and explore its rich cultural heritage and pristine landscapes.
The city of Luang Prabang has remained almost unchanged for the last century and boasts of a fascinating array of shimmering gold temples, historic monuments and French colonial houses becoming a World Heritage site in 1995. This evening visit the night market and browse through local handicrafts including handmade textiles. HOTEL- B
DAY 5: LUANG PRABANG- ALMS GIVING, PAK OU CAVES & BAN PHANOM EXCURSION
An optional early start offers opportunity to participate in the alms giving ritual to Buddhist monks. You may also visit the morning Phosi market. After Breakfast embark on city tour visiting the oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong representing classical Laotian architecture. Board our boat to cruise along the Mekong River to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves which houses thousands of Buddha statues of varying sizes inside a towering limestone cliff. Stop enroute at the small village of Ban Xanghai, where local rice wine is distilled. On return visit the riverside village of Ban Phanom where traditional Lao textiles are woven on ancient wooden looms. After lunch continue to Khouangsi waterfall, Lao ethnic minority villages of Ban Ouay, Ban Ou, Laoloum & Ban Thapene. Your last stop before returning to Luang Prabang in the evening is the village of Ban Xangkhong well known for silk hand weaving and traditional Saa paper. HOTEL- B
DAY 6: LUANG PRABANG/ VIENTIANE
Time free to explore city on own before flying to Vientiane, capital of Laos, once the royal capital of Luang Prabang and Xien Khuang. This evening visit a local market to witness local life and trading. HOTEL- B
DAY 7: VIENTIANE TOURING
Tour the city today, visiting Wat Simuang, Vientiane’s most sacred site and the Religious Museum at Wat Sisaket, where thousands of statues of Buddha in wood, bronze and stone are displayed. The tour includes a stop at Wat Pra Keo, original home of the Emerald Buddha now residing at Bangkok, 16th century That Luang Golden Stupa, and Ratuxai Victory Gate also known as the Laos’ Arc de Triomphe. In the afternoon visit Buddha Park which houses an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, dating back to 500 years. End the day’s tour with a sunset along the banks of the Mekong River. HOTEL- B
DAY 8: VIENTIANE/ HO CHI MINH CITY (Saigon)
Time free until transfer for flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon the largest and busiest city in Vietnam. Modern high-rises dominate the city’s skyline, but the Saigonese continues to live in their traditional life style, an interesting contrast of old and new. Upon arrival, meeting assistance and transfer to hotel. Time free to explore the evening markets and local attractions on own. HOTEL- B
DAY 9: HO CHI MINH CITY & IRON TRIANGLE
Start your tour with a visit to the former Presidential Palace, the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and the bustling Chinese district of Cholon, Binh Tray market & Thien Hau temple. After lunch travel to Cu Chi to visit the impressive underground tunnel network built by Vietnamese guerilla fighters during the long years of struggle for independence. HOTEL- B
DAY 10: HO CHI MINH CITY / SIEM REAP – Cambodia
After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap. On arrival transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon explore Khmer temples from the early Angkor period. Visit the Roluos group of temples dating from the 9th and 10th century, including the Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei temples. Return to the hotel in the evening. HOTEL- B
DAY 11: FULL DAY TOUR:
Begin exploration of the ancient city of Angkor by entering Angkor Thom via the south gate. Continue the journey by viewing the ruins at Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, The Royal Palace, the Elephant terraces and the Leper King terrace. In the afternoon, visit the epic Angkor Wat, viewing its extraordinary architecture and bas-reliefs. End the day with a spectacular sunset viewed from the mountain temple of Phnom Bakheng. HOTEL- B
DAY 12: SIEM REAP- day at leisure
Breakfast at Hotel and rest of the day is at leisure to explore the town on own , sightsee or shop..
Evening enjoy a special dinner with Khmer cultural dance and music. HOTEL- BD
DAY 13: DEPART SIEM REAP
Breakfast at Hotel. Time free until transfer to airport for your international flight – B
or extend your stay to visit Thailand, Myanmar and more.
