Vietnam Laos Cambodia Thailand Tour 22 days

Free at leisure and overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

In the morning you will have an excursion to the famous Cu Chi tunnels. This network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary during the 1960s. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the U.S.-Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon . At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specifically constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens.

Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life during the war must have been like. The tunnels have been widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be able to enter them!). For those interested there's even the opportunity to try an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.( pay by your own account. Back to Ho Chi Minh city for the afternoon tour.

In the afternoon, you visit:

•  The Reunification Palace : This is one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on April 30, 1975, what the Vietnamese refer to as the ‘American War' officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time, the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam .

•  War Remnants Museum : Formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes , this is a poignant display of the futility of war. Some of the black and white photography in the ‘Requiem' exhibit is particularly touching, dedicated to both foreign and Vietnamese journalists and photographers who perished during the conflict. The exhibit includes the last shots these photographers had taken before their deaths. The courtyard outside contains the spoils of war, namely rusting jets, tanks and cannons captured from the American military machine.

•  Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office : Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Remarkably every stone used in its creation was shipped from France to Vietnam . Her two 40m towers, topped with iron spires dominate the city's skyline. The Old Post Office is another example of French colonial architecture and is also the country's largest post office.

•  Ben Thanh Market: This bustling and well-organized market is very popular with tourists, primarily due to its central location. It has a wide selection of goods ranging from fake Nike shoes to beautiful silk Ao Dais.

After breakfast,  you will  be dropped off at the airport for your flight to  Hue.

Up on arrrive  in Hue, our driver & guide will pick you up & take you to hotel for check in

In the afternoon, you will see the Citadel of Nguyen dynasty, Thien Mu pagoda and the King Tu Duc’s Tomb. Overnight stay  in Hue

Rising up in the ancient land, enjoy your breakfast in the hotel.  Then you leave the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Hue for Hoi An.On the way, you visit Cham Musuem & Marble moutain.

In the afternoon, you will take the half day tour to see Hoi An ancient town.

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics.

Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. 

You enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 - year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge.

Free at leisure by your own way  in Hoi An to get the tailor dressed or  just relax  at nice resort. After check out time, you will be dropped off at the airport for your flight to Hanoi.

Up on arrive in Hanoi, our driver & guide will pick you up & take you to hotel for check in.

You will visit Ho Chi Minh's complex, including the mausoleum of the nation's founder and leader. Here, large crowds gather to pay their respects to the man they simply call “Uncle Ho. The Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho's wooden stilt house can also be seen here. One of must-see places in the complex is the One Pillar pagoda dating back tothe 11th century.

The next stop is the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's oldest university and dedicated to one of the world's most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds, huge steles rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnam's culture, the turtle represents longevity). The stele recorded the names of the successful candidates who later became mandarins in the Emperor's court.

You also will  visit the Musuem of Ethonology  where you will know about our people, culture and custom,our history. Then you will have 45 minutes on cyclo  to see Hanoi  Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc  Son Temple.

And then you will enjoy the water puppet  performance that you should not miss while   travelling  in Vietnam.

Free at leisure by your own way in Hanoi.

Today you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay (a World Natural Heritage site) via the Red River Delta. Upon arrival, you will set out on a junk cruise on the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons' teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay, swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck.

In the late afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. At sunset, you can kayak or simply take a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on board, you can enjoy watching the peaceful sunset and later unwind at a restaurant.

Overnight stay onboard.

You’ll wake up on the bay to the sounds of waves and birds welcoming the new day. You will have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay and after breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto. You will have a walk back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Then you back to Hanoi for an overnight stay.

All timing above is estimated, you will be reminded by tour guide on each day
Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels, etc..

After breakfast, you take flight to Luang  Prabang. On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel.

Situated in the centre of northern Laos, Luang Prabang is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural, historic and architectural values and its harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment.

You are free to stroll around the city for your own first impression of this ancient city. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, you will first visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. We then embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.  

Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine.

On arrival back in the city, we will visit magnificent Wat Xiengthong a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall.  Afterwards, we will visit the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday) to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. From there, we will transfer to visit Wat Prabath to admire the sunset; this is the really peaceful place to catch the last beauty of the day.

The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets.

From there, we will visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. This is the best chance to experience the flavor of local life

After breakfast at the hotel, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River.

If time permits, we will visit UXO Visitor Center (closed on Saturday, and Sunday), where you can find the documentation about the secret war in Laos.

We then visit the Buffalo Dairy Farm, which is the first of its kind in Laos. The farm helps Lao farmer have benefits from the dairy products from their buffaloes, that they cannot imagine before.

This then takes us to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls which is the biggest in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals.

You have the rest of the afternoon to refresh with the cool clear water, or hiking to the top of the waterfalls.

There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene, and explore the hidden waterfalls, which is rarely visited by other tourists

If you wish, we will also take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers.

On the way back to Luang Prabang, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour. This is also one of the best spots to admire the sunset in Luang Prabang

Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast at the hotel, you are free to stroll around the resort and the nearby village, or just relax at the inviting pool before taking the departure flight to Rep. Our tour guide and driver will pick up you from airport and transfer to hotel for check in. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel: Start your 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 columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and 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. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel, Heading out of town we make our way by traveling on a newly paved road to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei. Along the way we make stopover at the Preah Dark village and we follow these with a visit the Banteay Samre Temple adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu as well as Krishna legends. Afternoon we visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap.

We take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. We spend the rest of day visiting the "Chantiers Ecoles - Les Artisans d'Angkor" which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel and free time until transfer to the airport for flight departure to Phnom Penh, arrival in Phnom Penh and transfer to visit the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures - throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will continue our visit the Toul Sleng Prison Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek-both grim reminders of Cambodia's bloody past under Pol Pot. It is almost inconceivable to confront the nature of true evil here in this gentle land, but the Buddhist memorial at Choeung Ek, commemorates the 1.7 million victims of the 1975-79 Pol Pot regime. This excursion may prove distressing for some. It is, however, an important piece of this country’s historical and cultural puzzle. Then we discover Phnom Penh’s Psar Toul Tom Pong, known as the Russian Market, a great place to hunt for souvenirs, curios, and silks. and transfer to the airport for flight departure.

Arrival Bangkok airport, meet and greet by our guide, transfer to check in at hotel.

Pick up at hotel, then ride through the interesting parts of Bangkok with stop at the Golden Buddha - Wat Traimit houses the world s largest solid gold Buddha (5.5 tons of precious meta)

Then Visit the Grand Palace, Coronation Hall, Funeral Hall and famous Emerald Buddha.

and short ride Tuk Tuk to Reclining Buddha. Wat Pho, which is the oldest temple in Bangkok and houses of the Reclining Buddha,

a 45 meter-long statue which depicts Buddha entering Nirvana. What Pho is also Thailand s first university and houses a wealth of art.

It is still an important centre for traditional medicine and massage.  

Lunch at local restaurant.

After lunch continue by long-tail boat along the canal to see a Thai houses and typical rural life and also visit Temple of Dawn.

After tours, back to hotel. Free at leisure.

0700am - Early morning Pick up at your hotel.

Depart for Samutsongkram province. Arrive to Maeklong Raiway Market (Talad Romhoop), a must see attraction in Thailand. You will

see a train pushing through a busy market and watch as the shopkeeper pull their table of vegetable and meat out of the way.

It is a unique and exotic experience.

Drive to Ratchaburi province for Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

Arrive at a jetty pier and board a long-tailed boat ride for about 30 minutes, passing through remote plantations and Thai villages along the river

and winding canal. At the floating market of Damnoen Saduak, it is amazing to see a lively market scene of local vendors selling local foods, tropical fruits,

and numerous handicraft products on their boats. Lunch at local restaurant.  

Return to Bangkok.

1400pm – drop off at your hotel.

1500pm – Pick up at hotel and transfer to visit Chatuchak Weekend Market

Free for shopping until 1800pm then transfer back to hotel  (They opened from 10am-6pm)

Private van with ESG.

Check-out and transfer to BKK airport by private van with driver only