21 Day Indochina Discovery with Flights

Mekong Delta excursion

After breakfast, travel to the city of My Tho (approx. 1.5 hours) on the banks of the Mekong. Upon arrival, board a motorboat and cruise along the Mekong River. The boat will take you to Xep Canal, a lovely place where you can escape the traffic of the main river. Here you will cruise under coconut trees before arriving at a small islet. Disembark and walk around a small local village. Stop at a local family's home to enjoy tropical fruit, honey tea, and wine and listen to traditional Vietnamese music performed by the villagers. Afterward, continue onwards to another islet where a traditional Vietnamese lunch will be prepared by a local family (included). In the afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh City and your hotel accommodation.

Inclusions: Transfers to and from your hotel, English speaking tour guide, Mekong River boat trip, lunch, honey tea, and honey wine, seasonal fruits, traditional music performance.

Accommodation: Le Duy Hotel or similar, Ho Chi Minh City

Meals included: Breakfast

Ho Chi Minh City

Today you are free for your own exploration in Ho Chi Minh City.

Accommodation: Le Duy Hotel or similar, Ho Chi Minh City

Meals included: Breakfast

Optional activities at additional: cost. To be booked and paid for locally.

Cu Chi Tunnels tour - Depart at 8:30 am or 2 pm from your hotel. This is a great half day trip to see the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels where we learn first hand how the Viet Cong survived the extraordinary underground existence during the Vietnam war. The Cu Chi tunnels, 70 kilometres North-West of downtown Ho Chi Minh, is a well-known historical vestige of the Vietnamese revolution. As a distinctive architecture, this cobweb-like tunnel complex is a network of underground dug-outs of over 200 kilometres long, consisting of many layers and turnings with meeting, living and fighting quarters.

Danang and Hoi An

After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Hoi An. Stop en route to visit the Marble Mountain and Stone Village. The rest of the afternoon is yours at leisure to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Hoi An.

Accommodation: Kiman Hotel or similar, Hoi An

Meal included: Breakfast

Hoi An

Tour guides will collect you from your hotel in their bikes and cycle for about 1 hour to the dock on the Co Co River where your day’s adventure will start. Board the boat to take you downstream towards our first destination, where you are given the opportunity to learn more about the local life. Meet some local fishermen and chat about their work. You will have a chance to learn how to lift the big fishing net out of the water and how to spread the unique fishing net named “RO” into a circle to catch fish and other daily activities of the local fisherman.

We arrive at The Coconut Palm area. Meet a local fishing family who will bring some traditional basket boats for us to board. You will be getting on a very unique round basket boat or Thung Chai in Vietnamese. Learning the technique on how to maneuver the boat, start discovering the floristic composition with relaxing and then having fun with catching the special Purple Crabs.

A family home constructed from bamboo and water coconut is our tea stop and have a taste of what life is like for traditional fisher-folk. Relaxing in the Coconut Houses and enjoying your lunch. Then you have your time to walk around the village to explore. The trip ends at around 2:00 pm. Then you are free.

Accommodation: Kiman Hotel or similar, Hoi An
Meal included: Breakfast and lunch

Hoi An

Today you are free for your own exploration in Hoian.

Accommodation: Kiman Hotel or similar, Hoi An

Meal included: Breakfast

Hoi An

You are free for your own exploration in Hoi An until we transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival at Noi Bai airport, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Then you are free to explore on your own.

Accommodation: Kiman Hotel or similar, Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast

Hanoi

You are free for your own exploration in Hoian until we transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival at Noi Bai airport, you are met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure.

Accommodation: La Suite Hotel or similar, Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast

Optional tour to My Son
Depart early this morning and travel to My Son (approx. 1 hour), a UNESCO World Heritage site located 40km southwest of Hoi An. My Son was once the capital and religious centre of the Cham people and is believed to be the longest inhabited archaeological site in Indochina. The ruins of My Son were built between the 7th to 13th century BC and are located in a valley surrounded by mountains, the sides of which are covered in thick jungle. Hon Quap (Cat's Tooth Mountain) overlooks the site, its crooked peak mimicked by the architecture of some temples' roofs. These mountains are the source of the Thu Bon River, a holy river, which flows through the site. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant and after the day’s tour, be transferred back to the hotel in Hoi An. Inclusions: Transfers to and from your hotel to My Son Holy Land, English speaking tour guide.

Hanoi

Meet your tour guide at your suggested place around Hanoi Old Quarter at around 7.45-8.30am.

Start the tour with Tran Quoc pagoda, a Buddhist relic and national heritage lying on the West Lake. Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, the final resting place of Viet Nam’s greatest father; his house-on-stilt and One pillar pagoda – modelled after a lotus flower, a symbol of Hanoi. Visit Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 dedicating to Confucius, sages and scholars. It was also the first university of Viet Nam once. Relax and have lunch at a local restaurant in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Explore the daily life of traditional ceramics village of Bat Trang. Visit showrooms and see how they model the products. Visit legendary Hoan Kiem lake. Visit Ngoc Son Temple dedicated to Tran Hung Dao - General Commander for his struggle against Mongolians.

The tour will finish at approximately 3.30pm. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Accommodation: La Suite Hotel or similar, Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast

Optional activities at additional cost. To be booked and paid for locally.

Hanoi Evening Street Food tour - This tour into the Old Quarter will begin from your hotel in the early evening. Your English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture, including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. Walk through the maze of bustling streets that is Hanoi’s Old Quarter, and tempt your tastebuds with the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch as the skilled chefs demonstrate to you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing onwards, wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can discover how the local’s live in the old quarter. Afterwards, you will stop at the barbeque stalls. Settle down with the locals and sample various meat, vegetables and bread specialties grilled over hot coals for extra flavour. The search for dessert will bring you down to a small alley, here you will find fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed ice and condensed milk – this speciality is one not to be missed! Your local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi’s best kept secrets, a hidden street food restaurant to taste top ten street foods in Hanoi include Banh My Hanoi, Vietnamese Rice Wine and famous Egg Coffee along with many other specialties. Follow these delicious meals with an ice-cold local beer. Your trip ends in the middle of the old quarter and you will continue onwards to discover Hanoi by night at your own leisure, or the tour guide can arrange a taxi for you to go back to your hotel (taxi at own cost).

Bai Dinh Pagoda and Trang An Caves site

Depart for Bai Dinh pagoda and Trang an eco-tourism attraction area (120kms and around 2 hours south of Hanoi) at around 7.40-8.30am.

Arrive in Buddha Sanctuary place of Bai Dinh Pagoda, the biggest one in Vietnam with 500 Arhan statues. You can see the biggest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam with 10 meters in height, 100 tons in weight. Tour guide also gives you an introduction of beliefs and religions in Vietnam.

Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, and then visit Trang An ecological tourist site with a boat trip through cave chains: Lam cave, Thanh Truot cave... with 3 spiritual places (Cao Son temple, Suoi Tien temple, Vu Lam Historic Area) and an exciting “ Kong – Skull Island” film studio.

You will be returned to Hanoi at around 6.30pm and then your evening is at leisure.

Accommodation: La Suite Hotel or similar, Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast

Halong Bay overnight cruise

You will be picked-up from the hotel at 8-8.30am and start the scenic, 3 1⁄2 hour drive to Halong Bay.

12.15-12.45pm Embark on Oriental Sails cruise boat followed by a short cruise briefing.

13.00-15.30 Savour a delectable lunch as the boat cruises further along the limestone islands of Bai Tu Long Bay, heading to Vung Vieng fishing village – one of the largest fishing villages in Halong Bay to see the life of local fishermen.

– Option 1: Take a bamboo rowing boat trip around Vung Vieng Fishing Village

– Option 2: Take kayak and go kayaking by yourself with the help and instruction of tour guide around

the Village.

5.30-6pm Return to Oriental Sails and have bath then relax as the sun starts to set. Enjoy the Happy Hour at the bar and on the sun deck while cooking demonstration is organizing.

7pm Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, night squid fishing or just laze around. Singing and dancing activities are available till 10pm.

Accommodation: Oriental Sails Cruise Boat on twin share basis with private bathroom facilities

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Hanoi

6:30 -7am Start your day with Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck.

7-9am Catch morning view of seascapes with a cup of tea or coffee and have breakfast while cruising toward Thien Canh Son Cave. Visit Thien Canh Son Cave – the medium size and less visited cave in Bai Tu Long Bay.

9.30am Check-out room. Luggage can be delivered to the reception area.

9.30-11am Head back to the Harbor. Have an early lunch on board. Disembark Oriental Sails at around 12pm.

12-4.30pm Transfer back to Hanoi and trip finishes at the hotel around 4.30pm. Then you are free.

Accommodation: La Suite Hotel or similar, Hanoi

Meals included: breakfast and an early lunch

Hanoi

Today you are free for your own exploration in Hanoi.

Accommodation: La Suite Hotel or similar, Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

You are free until we transfer to airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. We’ll pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. You’re free to explore this best-preserved traditional city in South-East Asia, for the rest of time free at leisure in your hotel.

Accommodation: Sada Hotel or similar, Luang Prabang

Meals included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. You can also visit the morning Phosi Market where you can see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Pick-up is at 5am.

8:30am. Start your city tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will explore the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai temple, which is renowned for its golden bas-relief. Next we visit Wat Visoun and Wat Aham, we then visit The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) it is more than a museum to visit and a boutique for fine handicrafts. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Lao, PDR, TAEC is the only independent resource centre in Laos dedicated to the country's many and diverse ethnic groups

In the afternoon, continue our excursion towards Khouangsi Waterfall, stopping to visit some ethnic minority villages and see how these colorful people live. Once at the falls you can swim in the turquoise pools or walk along forest paths. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to 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 the night market, where you can find a wide collection of handmade textile by local and hill tribe people in the surrounding towns before transfer to the hotel for relaxing.

Accommodation: Sada Hotel or similar, Luang Prabang

Meals included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

We’ll enjoy a short-guided tour of the city's oldest temple magnificent Wat Xieng Thong

where you can see the impressive “tree of life” mosaic set in colored glass. We then board an upstream cruise on the Mekong River, which gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. We’ll make sure to stop at the Pak Ou Caves, sanctuaries consisting of two large caverns, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images. We will also stop at a few villages during the day, including Ban Xanghai where the local rice wine is produced. Upon our return to Luang Prabang we'll visit Ban Xangkhong, a village known for its paper making and for its naturally dyed silk weavings.

Accommodation: Sada Hotel or similar, Luang Prabang

Meals included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. The driver and guide would pick you up from the hotel at 5.30am. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. You can also visit the morning Phosi fresh Market where you can see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Leaving at around 8am, visit the 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.

Then spend a few hours travelling down the Mekong River on a long-tailed boat. Visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves inside the limestone cliff opposite the mouth of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. Our lunch will be at a local restaurant on the banks of the Mekong River (at own cost).

After lunch we'll visit the village of Ban Xanghai, best known for its production of the traditional delicious rice of this country. Return to Luang Prabang to visit Ban Xangkhong, a village known for its paper making and for its naturally dyed silk weavings.

Accommodation: Sada Hotel or similar, Luang Prabang

Meals included: Breakfast

Siem Reap

After breakfast free at leisure until the airport transfer for your flight to Siem Reap. You will be welcomed by an English Speaking Guide at Siem Reap International Airport. After you have collected your luggage they will then take you to the hotel for check in. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Accommodation: Mother Home Inn

Meals included: Breakfast

Siem Reap

After breakfast, enjoy a full day excursion to discover Angkor Thom and Temples. Firstly, you will visit the wonderful Angkor Thom (the Great City) including the Southern Gate, famous Bayon temple (12th century in the centre of the city remains one of the most enigmatic temples of the Angkor group composed of 54 gothic towers decorated with 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. Baphuon temple is lying just to the north of Bayon a pyramidal representation of mythical Mont Meru. Terrace of Elephants used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king’s grand audience hall; Terrace of the Leper King a platform 7m high, with statue. Visit to Ta Prohm. One of the area’s most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the way most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them.

In the afternoon, visit the wonderful Angkor Wat Temples – one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world, as a temple and a mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of the 12th Century. Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorian temples, with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. The central monument represents the mythical Mount Meru, the holy mountain at the centre of the universe, which was home to the Hindu God Vishnu. The whole complex covers 81 hectares, a rectangular wall measuring 1025 meters by 800 meters borders the inner edge of the moat, and temple's greatest sculptural treasure is its 2 km-long bas-reliefs around the walls. In the late afternoon, visit the Phnom Bakheng temple, is the first temple in Angkor region build by the Yacovarman I King in the first of the 9th century. It’s located on a gently sloped hill, a popular spot for catching a marvellous view of the sunset with Angkor Wat and the jungle.

Evening is your free time for walking at busy pub street. Pop up at a bar for a cool drink or shopping at Angkor Night Market.

Accommodation: Mother Home Inn

Meals included: Breakfast

Siem Reap

Today you are free for your own exploration in Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Accommodation: Mother Home Inn 

Meals included: Breakfast

Return home to Australia

There is some free time for your own exploration in Siem Reap until the departure transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals included: breakfast and inflight