14-Day Authentic Vietnam, Cambodia and Loas Tour from Hanoi: Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh, Siem Reap and Luang Prabang | Pak Ou Cave | Overnight on Cruise

When arriving, welcome at the airport and transfer to your selected hotel.

Take a rest after the flight.

Early in the evening, join a water puppet show, a distinct Vietnamese art in which a split-bamboo screen obscures puppets which stand in water and are manipulated using long poles hidden beneath the water.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Hanoi.

 

After breakfast, spend your day taking a tour around the capital and visiting such sites as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside),a large memorial in Hanoi, located in the centre of Ba Dinh Square, which is the place where Vietminh leader Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945.

His former residence, stilt house of Ho Chi Minh, the founder of modern Vietnam, fondly known as “Uncle Ho”.

One Pillar Pagoda, the emperor Lý Thái Tông constructed the temple in gratitude for this in 1049 by erecting a pillar in the middle of a lotus pond, similar to the one he saw in the dream that he met the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who handed him a baby son while seated on a lotus flower.

Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first national university where offering ceremonies, study sessions and the strict exams of the Dai Viet took place. Built in 1070 at the time of King Lý Nhân Tông, it is one of several temples in Vietnam which are dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars.

Lunch in a restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue to the Museum of Ethnology, which focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Then, you will enjoy a very interesting walking tour around the old quarter within 1,5 hours. Firstly the trip start from head of Cao Thang street where local people sell all traditional cooking spices of Vietnam such as onions, garlic, mushrooms, black mushrooms, peppers, lemongrass, ginger, galangal ... Then moving to Dong Xuan market, the biggest market in Hanoi, originally built by the French administration and surrounded by different streets, you will go through the market and turn right to Hang Ma street, the road is shimmered by decorating stuff , Chinese toys, the colorful lanterns, paper goods and in particular paper votive offerings.

Passing by Luong Van Can, Lan Ong, you arrive Hang Buom street where located the oldest temple of Hanoi - Bach Ma Temple, you will take some rest to admire the temple before continue walking through Ta Hien, Dinh Liet street to the most peaceful small alley of Hanoi - Trung Yen. On the way you have chance to explore daily life of local people who live and sharing their life in the confined spaces. We continue to Hang Be street - used to be one of the best well-known outdoor markets in town dating from medieval, with famous food”Mam Tep Chung Thit”, some years ago, it was disintegrated. At the end of this road, there is a coffee shop named Cafe market, where we will invite you a cup of coffee or iced fruit smoothies.

We end of trip at Hoan Kiem Lake, in front of Water Puppet show theatre, from here you can continue your walking or back to your hotel.

Discover Hoan Kiem Lake, meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword" , where emperor Lê Lợi was boating on the lake when his magic sword, Heaven's Will, was grabbed by a turtle who quickly disappeared into the depths.

Take a beautiful picture on the The Huc red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple.

Come back to your hotel. Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Hanoi.

 

8:00am - 8:30am: Leave Ha Noi city for Ha Long International Cruise Port in Bai Chay town, Ha Long city. Refresh up at the lounge.

12:00pm - 12:30am: Embark Oriental Sails. Enjoy welcome drink and get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Check-in your cabin.

13:15pm: Have lunch while cruising in the magnificent Ha Long Bay, admiring the fascinating nature, then anchor at Titop Island area.

15:00pm - 16:00pm: Join a guided visit to Sung Sot Cave (also called Amazing Cave), one of the biggest and the most beautiful cave in Ha Long Bay.

16:00pm - 17:00pm: Climb to the peak of Titop Island for the panorama view of the bay. Going down and relaxing on the beach, swimming in the crystal water.

17:20pm: Return Oriental Sails, enjoying the sunset while relaxing with Happy hour from now to dinner time at the bar

18:00pm: Enjoy happy hours with various drinks on discounts. Take part in a cooking demonstration and food décor with our Chef

19:00pm - 21:00pm: Dinner is served. Private dinner is available on requested

21:00pm - 22:00pm: Time to join squid fishing with the crew, sing karaoke or just laze around or relax in your cabin. Overnight on Oriental Sails.

Suggest flight: HAN - HUI (19:15pm-20:30pm ) or Similar - Charge from $120/ticket/pax (Airfare is not included)

6:30am: Welcome a new day with amazing dawn on the Legendary Gulf of Tonkin. Refresh your body & soul by a Tai-chi lesson on sundeck.

7:00am - 8.00am: Catch morning view of seascapes with a cup of tea or coffee, have breakfast while charming the labyrinth of Karst.

8:00am - 9.00am: Join a guided to explore hidden parts of the bay, Luon cave. You share a sampan with other tourists with a local rower or taking a kayak on your own.

9:00am: Return to Oriental Sails for shower.

9:30am: Check out your room. Oriental Sails weighs the anchor to continue to roam the picturesque route toward Bai Chay bridge for photos.

10:50am: Have lunch.

11:30am - 11:45am: Disembark. Say goodbye to Halong Bay, back to Hanoi. On the way, private car take you to the airport catch flight to Hue.

Arrival in Hue. Private car only take you to your hotel check in. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast at hotel, pick up at your hotel, take a boat for a cruise on the gentle Huong River.

Visit Thien Mu pagoda, built in 1601 on the order of the first Nguyen lords, Nguyen Hoang, who at that time was the governor of Hue.

Continue to a quiet Thuy Bieu village – 6.5 km from the city centre – a laidback village famous for growing the Thanh Tra fruit (a kind of small pomelo), visit many garden houses, a unique feature of Hue countryside, and enjoy a nice walking and biking around the village.

Visit an old communal house, pass by several ancient ancestral temples and communicate with local people.

Visit an incense making family and discover the daily life of local people while they are working strenuously with joy and enthusiasm. You may also join their activities: gardening, talking and drinking tea with them. 

Back to Thuy Bieu restaurant, relax by steeping your foot in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice and enjoy excellent massage by blind people.

Lunch at Thuy Bieu restaurant.

In the afternoon, discovery of Emperor Minh Mang’s tomb, ponds and gardens is known for its perfect harmony between architecture and its natural environment. It began to be built during his reign (1820-1841) and was completed only in 1843, two years after his death by his successor Thieu Tri.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast at hotel, discovery of the Imperial Citadel, city of the Nguyen Dynasty (1804-1945), Visit some of the most highly revered site in this World Heritage area; The Flag Tower, South Door, Edict Pavilion, Supreme Harmony Palace, and the Forbidden Purple City.

Transfer to Da Nang through Hai Van Pass and through the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co.

Continue to the riverside town of Hoi An, an important trading port during the 17th and 18th centuries and officially listed as a World Heritage Site.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, walk around Hoi An ancient town and exploring its treasures :

Quan Cong temple – the brave and loyal Chinese General.

Phuc Kien pagoda, This is the most well-known assembly hall in the ancient town.Fukjianese were Chinese traders who first came to Hoi An in great number, at least in the XVII century. That was the reason why all above mentioned gods were worshipped in this pagoda after the collapse of the old pagoda.

The Japanese Bridge, Hoi An’s signature landmark used widely as an emblem of the town. It was built by Japanese merchants in the 16the century.

Tan Ky ancient house, the most popular of Hoi An’s old houses.

Hoi An port, the World Heritage listed by Unesco.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hoi An.

Suggest flight: DAD - SGN ( 8:50am - 10:15am) by Vietnam airline or similar - Charge from $90/ticket/pax (Airfare is not included)

After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Ho Chi Minh, under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin-china and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam from 1955–75. On 2 July 1976, Saigon was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City, name of Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader who was prime minister (1945–1955) and president (1945–1969) of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam).

When arriving in Ho Chi Minh, transfer to your selected hotel.

In the same morning, discover a busy Saigon, enjoy a tour in the Old Colonial Residential Quarte and visit:

The City’s old Hotel, a palace built by the French architect Paul Gardès of 1902-19081 in the center of Saigon in Indochina at the time.

The Opera House, inspired by the architecture of the Opera Garnier in Paris, which was built in 1900. The facade of the opera is a replica of the Petit Palais in Paris.

Notre-Dame Cathedral, The famous central Saigon Cathedral, built in 1877, is one of HCMC's architectural marvels, built with materials imported from France.

Post Office signed by Gustave Eiffel.

Lunch in a restaurant.

In the afternoon, discover the Chinese quarter “Cho Lon” and its impressive Binh Tay market.

End of the day with a visit to a lacquerware factory.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Saigon.

Ben Tre is a province of Vietnam  It is one of the country's southern provinces, being situated in the delta  of the Mekong River.Ben Tre  is wedged between the two main branches of the Tien Giang - Upper River, which is itself one of the two main branches of the Mekong. The entire province is crises-crossed with a network of smaller rivers and cannels &  on average, only 1.25 meters above sea level.

In the  morning transfer to My Tho town, continuous to Ben tre by  passing to  Rach Mieu beautiful bridge. Arrival in Bentre town, take a boat trip around Ben Tre River. Enjoying Sightseeing local activities on river.

Stop to see how people make bricks, & coconut workshop.

Cycling trip to Mr. SauKhanh's home - local ancient porcelains collected.

Boat on Cai Son and Nhon Thanh creeks to see some family making mats.

Take a motor cart (xelôi) on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out  about tropical culture from Peasants.

Stop at  local restaurant by the river for lunch.

In the afternoon, take rowing boat along water palm creek and a long Cai Coi creek.

Back to Ben Tre town, where our vehicle is waiting to return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Saigon.

Suggest flight : SGN - REP (8:30am - 9:30am) or Similar - Charge from $215/ticket/pax (Airfare is not included)

In the morning you will take a flight to Siem Reap in Northern Cambodia to visit the fabulous ancient sites of Angkor, one of the wonders of the world.

Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will be met and transferred to your comfortable hotel for check in (subject to availability).

Siem Reap Orientation visit local main shrine of Preah Ang Chheck/Chhom temple, drive to southern party of Siem Reap to embark on a short cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia’s biggest natural water body. The experience is wonderful as we pass by floating village, friendly children in small boats and fishermen at work.

Then, come back to visit Artisans D’Angkor and Old Market before transfer back to hotel for overnight.

This morning we visit the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya which flourished in the late 9th and earlier 10th centuries. These are the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are referred to the Rolous group (Lo Lei, Preah Koh, and Bakhong temple). Lunch with local family house in the local village.

Then drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man.

On the way back, we stop to visit some activities of local people life such as making palm sugar, souvenirs made from palm trees and others activities…

And then, continue to visit the Banteay Samre temple adorned with impressive reliefs depicting scenes of Vishnu as well as Krishna legends.

Visit sunset on Pre Rup temple before transfer back to hotel for overnight.

Get up in early morning, ride Tuk-Tuk to visit sunrise in front of Angkor Wat temple and then come back to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we continue with our vehicle to visit South Gate of Angkor Thom City and then exploring the mysterious Royal City Angkor Thom. Bayon, its 50-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further, visit to the surroundings of the complex including the Elephant Terraces, Leper King Terrace and Royal Enclosure area. Lunch at local restaurant on your own account.

Afternoon, we continue to visit the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever.

Late afternoon, visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat – one of the world’s most impressive ruins. The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art. This evening, you will enjoy dinner with Apsara Dance Show and overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Suggest flight: REP - LPQ by QV - Charge from $175/ticket/pax (Economy class) (Airfare is not included)

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for a flight to Luang Prabang.

Meals on your own.

You will be welcomed to Luang Prabang by your guide.

Once the heart and soul of the ancient kingdom of Laos, Luang Prabang is now a designated World Heritage-listed site. The city is filled with ornate temples, French colonial architecture and has a truly magical feel about it.

You will visit major sites including the National Museum, the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Mai and Wat Xieng Thong. 

You will then climb up to the top of Phousi Mountain for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa, as well as see a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, you will go to explore the Night Market, where you can find lovely crafts and handmade textiles sold by local and hill tribe people from the surrounding area.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Luangprabang.

Breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, 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 boat embarking 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.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

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

On return, we overland local villages at Ban Xiengmene and Ban Chan continue seeing the royal temple at Wat Longkhoun, which once belongs to royal family patronage and near by Sackarine Caves.

We cross to city and take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in hotel in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast at hotel, free time until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Meals on your own. End of our services!