SET DEPARTURE: INDOCHINA Red Line
Day 1: LUANG PRABANG ARRIVAL (-/-/-)
Welcome by TransIndochina Travel’s tour guide upon arrival Luang Prabang airport. You will be transferred to your hotel in the town.
Enjoy a city tour to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai. We visit Wat Xieng Thong, 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.
Proposed Hotel (As listed or equivalent):
Double/Twin-shared Standard room at Manoluck Hotel (3-star Manoluck Hotel: http://www.manoluckhotel.com/room_rate.asp)
Day 2: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU CAVE – KUANGSI WATERFALL (B/-/-)
After breakfast, we enjoy a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside and enjoy an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. After that, we visit the village of Ban Xanghai, where local people make the distillation of local rice wine. We will later drive to the beautiful Kuang Sii Waterfall, where you can swim, relax or take a soft trek to the top of the fall. On return, take a short stop at Black Hmong Village, where hill tribe’s hand-made handicrafts are offered as the souvenir for passing-by visitors. Evening at leisure for your own dinner. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Proposed Hotel (As listed or equivalent):
Double/Twin-shared Standard room at Manoluck Hotel (3-star Manoluck Hotel: http://www.manoluckhotel.com/room_rate.asp)
Day 3: LUANG PRABANG – VIENTIANE QV108: 11.20-12.00 (B/-/-)
Get up early morning today to witness or participate in the famous “Arm-Giving” ceremony, where hundreds of monks walking along the street to collect the offerings (rice and food) from local people. From there, we visit the Fresh morning market at Pra Kham village. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, we visit the National museum and the weaving village of Lu ethnic minority at Ban Phanom. Later on, you will be transferred to airport to take a short flight to Vientiane (QV108: 11.20-12.00).
Welcome by your tour guide in Vientiane and being transferred to hotel in the city center for checking-in. We will start visiting the major sights of the capital later today: the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We continue to visit the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. Visit the Central Market of Talad Sao and Talad Kouadin. Return to Mekong Riverside by late afternoon observing the sunset. Overnight in Vientiane.
Proposed Hotel (As listed or equivalent):
Double/Twin-shared Standard room at Lao Orchid Hotel (3-star Lao Orchid Hotel: http://www.lao-orchid.com/offer.html)
Day 4: VIENTIANE – HANOI QV312: 14.30-15.50 (B/-/-)
After breakfast, we take a morning visit to the weaving village at Ban Nong Bouathong. Back to hotel for checking-out and you will be transferred to the airport for and international flight to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam.
Welcome by your new tour guide upon arrival Noi Bai airport. We drive 45 minutes to your hotel in the city center for checking in. Optional walking tour around the Old Quarter to get the very first acquaintance to this city or free at leisure to relax. Overnight in Hanoi.
Proposed Hotel (As listed or equivalent):
Double/Twin-shared Standard room at Viet Hotel (3-star Viet Hotel: http://www.viethotel.vn/index.php?mod=rooms)
Day 5: HANOI – HALONG OVERNIGHT ON BOAT (B/L/D)
Within your time on boat, you will enjoy the visit to karts grottoes, swimming, and other activities as well as the magnificent sunset on Halong Bay. Dinner and overnight on the boat.
Proposed Junk (As listed or equivalent):
Twin-shared cabin on Bai Tho Junks or equivalent (Bai Tho Junks: http://baithojunks.com/vn/cruises/31/10-cabins.html)
Day 6: HALONG – HANOI (B/-/-)
The Vietnamese call the “South China Sea” by a point-oriented name “Eastern Sea”, so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. Our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscen like Sail island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Enjoy the brunch onboard before back to Halong Wharf. Your vehicle is waiting to bring you back to Hanoi for your leisure evening. Overnight in Hanoi.
Proposed Hotel (As listed or equivalent):
Double/Twin-shared Standard room at Viet Hotel (3-star Viet Hotel: http://www.viethotel.vn/index.php?mod=rooms)
Day 7: HANOI – SAIGON (HO CHI MINH CITY) VN1129: 13.00-15.00 (B/-/-)
After breakfast, we start exploring Hanoi with the very first stop at H Chi Minh Mausoleum and His old house (close every Monday and Friday). Continue to visit Temple of Literature, the very first university of Vietnam, the Hoan Kiem lake and Ngoc Son temple, Ma May Ancient House at 87 Ma May street. This is one of rare ancient house still preserved in Hanoi. The house was built at the end of the 19th century according to the structure of traditional house.
After a half-day city tour, you are transferred to the airport to take the 2-hour flight to Saigon, the biggest city of Vietnam.
Welcome upon arrival Saigon and transfer to hotel for checking-in. Visit the historic Reunification Palace that witnessed the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, explore bustling China Town, Cho Lon (Binh Tay market) and Thien Hau pagoda. Overnight Saigon.
Proposed Hotel (As listed or equivalent):
Double/Twin-shared Deluxe room at Family Inn Saigon Hotel (3-star Family Inn Saigon Hotel:
http://www.familyinnsaigon.com/RoomsAndRates.aspx)
Day 8: SAIGON – CAI BE FLOATING MARKET – SAIGON (B/L/-)
We leave Saigon after breakfast for 2.5 hours driving to the Mekong Delta. Upon embarkation on Cai Be Princess sampan, you are welcomed with fresh cotton towels.
The tour will start with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market, cruising among local sampans coming from all provinces of the delta full of fruits and vegetables. Your sampan will proceed to Dong Hoa Hiep island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. During a 40 minutes cruise, you will be able to discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong delta rural life. These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still remain unknown to many people.
Visit at an ancient mandarin house dating from the 19th century where the family will welcome you with a cup a tea.
Back on board, we will lead to you to observe the activity of the biggest rice stock market. Further, others stops will allow you to see a traditional bricks and tiles factory and how locals are using palm leaves for houses. Cruising 20 minutes further to Phu An hamlet passing by Cai Be beautiful church, we will have a visit at some interesting home factories to see how rice paste is made, but also rice cookies, coco candies, as well as longan fruits drying process.
Lunch will await you at Le Longanier, a superb Indochinese villa located in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit orchards. After a short walk along a beautiful canal, the excursion will end at approx. 3.30pm at Ba Bon Bridge where your own private transportation vehicle will await you. Return to Saigon in the afternoon. Free at leisure in the evening for your own dinner. Overnight in Saigon.
Proposed Hotel (As listed or equivalent):
Double/Twin-shared Deluxe room at Family Inn Saigon Hotel (3-star Family Inn Saigon Hotel:
http://www.familyinnsaigon.com/RoomsAndRates.aspx)
Day 9: SAIGON – TAY NINH – CU CHI TUNNEL (B/-/-)
Your day begins with a visit to Tayninh, the centre of Caodaism, a local sect of Buddhism founded by a Vietnamese countryman in early 20th century. Arriving at noontime, you will have the chance to witness the daily ceremony at the temple of Cao Dai called Tayninh Holysee.
The midday mass is very solumn and respectful. Today, the Caodaism numbers over 2 million members, who are vegetarians, obey the rules of chastity, and lead very simple lives helping the sick and the infirm. They are known for their séances and communications with the spirit world.
On the way back to Saigon is located Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the few remaining monuments to the Vietnam War. Beneath the ground lie 200 km of tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the forces of the Vietnamese guerillas during the conflict. At its peak, prior to the Tet Offensive in 1968, the tunnel complex was base to almost 10,000 troops. To this day, it remains one of the most impressive examples of how fierce the war was. Return to Saigon in late afternoon. Evenight at leisure for your own dinner. Overnight in Saigon.
Proposed Hotel (As listed or equivalent):
Double/Twin-shared Deluxe room at Family Inn Saigon Hotel (3-star Family Inn Saigon Hotel:
http://www.familyinnsaigon.com/RoomsAndRates.aspx)
Day 10: SAIGON – SIEM REAP VN827: 11.40-12.40 (B/-/D)
Breakfast then at leisure until your guide arrive to accompany you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for to flight to Siemreap. Welcomed in Siem Reap and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon departing to visit Angkor Thom: the Bayon temple, the Baphuan, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. View the sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Dinner with Apsara traditional dance and overnight Siemreap.
Proposed Hotel:
Superior Double/Twin-shared room at Angkor Home Hotel or equivalent (Angkor Home Hotel: http://www.angkorhomehotel.com/accommodation.php)
Day 11: SIEM REAP - Angkor Temples (B/-/-)
After breakfast, visit the Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty. Giant trees have grown there for centuries. Visit Ta keo, "Jewel of Crystal" is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and was erected at the end of the 10th century. Continue to visit the Thommanon, the Chau Say temples and the natural lake of Sras Srang. n the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat; The founder was Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century and dedicated them to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys, ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction. Overnight Siemreap.
Proposed Hotel:
Superior Double/Twin-shared room at Angkor Home Hotel or equivalent (Angkor Home Hotel: http://www.angkorhomehotel.com/accommodation.php)
Day 12: SIEM REAP – BANTEAY SREY - River of Thousand of Lingas (B/-/-)
After breakfast, spend the entire morning in one of the jewels of Angkor, the Banteay Srey Temple which means "Citadel of Women". This temple is built of pink sandstone and presents the most graceful carvings in stone you might ever seen in your life. The temple is dedicated to the god Shiva. Continue to Kbal Spean, the river of thousand Lingas, the phallic symbol of the God Shiva. Arrival near the site, walk for an hour through the forest to arrive at Kbal Spean. Return to Siem Reap for overnight.
Proposed Hotel:
Superior Double/Twin-shared room at Angkor Home Hotel or equivalent (Angkor Home Hotel: http://www.angkorhomehotel.com/accommodation.php)
Day 13: SIEM REAP DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
After breakfast, the time before departure is on your own, transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of services.
PACKAGE RATE (In USD/person)
USD 1,780 per person and USD 360 for Single Supplement.
SERVICES INCLUDED:
- Twin shared/double room in proposed hotels or equivalent and daily breakfast
- All transfer and transportation by private A/C vehicle as per program.
- English speaking guides in different regions
- International air ticket Vientiane - Hanoi with airport tax (Lao Airlines)
- International air ticket Saigon – Siem Reap with airport tax (Vietnam Airlines)
- Domestic air ticket in Laos: Luang Prabang - Vientiane with airport tax (Lao Airlines)
- Domestic air ticket in Vietnam: Hanoi – Saigon with airport tax (Vietnam Airlines)
- Package 2-day trip in Halong Bay with full board (Join-in basis)
- Other boat trips in the program are on private basis.
- Meals as mentioned in the program.
- Admissions to all sightseeing places as mentioned in the program.
- Mineral water and wet tissue during tour (One bottle of 500ml/person/day)
SERVICES not INCLUDED:
- International airfare & airport taxes to Laos and from Cambodia.
- An entry visa to Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam
- Any other meals apart from those mentioned in the services included.
- Drinks and personal expenses (Laundry, phone calls, tips for tour guide and driver, etc)
OTHERS:
Meals are quoted separately:
USD 09/lunch/person
USD 10/dinner/person
NOTICE:
The official check-in time at hotel is 14.00 and check-out time is 12.00. Early check-in or late check-out is subject to the availability of the hotel and there will be certain surcharges if early check-in or late check-out is definitely required.
