Highlight of Indochina

Transfer via: Private vehicle/share bus arranged by Great Tours

After breakfast, you will be escorted to Halong Bay to embark the ship. When you arrive at Halong Bay, you will embark the ship. Itineraries are differ from different ship company, however, you won’t miss Bai Tu Long Bay, Coc Island, Cap De Island, Bo Cau Island, Vung Vieng fishing village, Trong Cave, Ho Dong Tien Cave. For more info, please view the homepage of the ship company.

Stay overnight on the ship.

Transfer via: Private vehicle/share bus arranged by Great Tours

Ending your Halong Bay cruise with a brunch on deck whilst the junk navigates in the tranquil water. After disembark the ship, you will be met by your local guide and then transferred back to Hanoi. You will be met at pier after you disembark your cruise ship. and then we will drive back to Hanoi.

Transfer via: Flight & Private vehicle arranged by Great Tours

Today, you will visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple. In the afternoon, get a deeper reading into Hanoi with the visit to Van Mieu Temple. Later, you will make a one-hour cycling ride around the Old Quarter. Stop at Ngoc Son Temple for a short visit.

And then, transfer to the airport to take flight to Da Nang. Be met at airport in Da Nang airport and then transfer to Hoi An (about 40 minutes).

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– Ho Chi Minh House on Stilt: It is the house Ho Chi Minh lived on and off from 1958 to 1969. The house is an interpretation of a traditional rural dwelling, and has been preserved just as Ho left it. It’s set in a well-tended garden next to a carp-filled pond.
– Hoan Kiem Lake: is on the eastern shore of West Lake, this is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam. The current structures are very impressive and date back to 1842.
– Quan Thanh Temple: formerly known as Tran Vu Temple, is a Taoist temple in Hanoi. Dated to the 11th century, the temple was dedicated to Xuan Wu, one of the principal deities in Taoism. As one of the Four Sacred Temples of the capital, Quan Thanh Temple is located near West Lake in a ward of same name, Quán Thánh Ward, and is one of the leading tourist attractions in Hanoi.
– Van Mieu Temple: is also known as The Temple of Literature. The Temple of Literature in Hanoi was Vietnam’s first university, and held the central place in higher education in Vietnam for 700 years, from 1076 to 1779.

You will have cooking class in the morning and will have chance to go to purchase the material in the local market and then take a boat trip (about 25 minutes) to the cooking school. In the afternoon, you will have a slight tour in the town to see Japanese Bridge, Chinese Temple and an old house of a Vietnamese merchants.

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– Cooking Class: the experience starts with a walk accompanied by the best chef in town of a local restaurant to the local market, where you get a chance to learn all about Vietnamese ingredients.
– Japanese Bridge: The covered bridge, also known as the Pagoda Bridge (Chua Cau), was built by Japanese craftsmen who were part of a larger community of Japanese merchants active in Hoi-An.
– Chinese temple: It’s called the ‘Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation’. The Chinese dominated Vietnam’s commerce, trade, & economy, for centuries. Hoi An was an international trading port, with a large Chinese community.
– It is 200 years old house was ever the place for Vietnamese merchants to have meetings and share information.

Half day Fishermen & the waterway tour in the morning. After lunch, have some free time for your own exploration.

– The Fishermen & the Waterways: On the Fishermen & the Waterways of a Past War Eco-Tour you will enjoy a wide range of experiences – from learning traditional fishing techniques to paddling the strange and unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats while exploring the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war.
On this tour we provide an authentic social and cultural insight into the local Vietnamese way of life. As well you will take part in some hands-on activities that are fun, safe and interesting to people all of ages.
o Pick up at hotel by car/van
o Transfer to a local fishing village
o Learn about daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families and their community
o Board Hoi An Eco-tour boat and commence cruising on the Cua Dai River
o Join local fisherman on the river and enjoy hands-on experience of round net and cast net fishing
o Learn to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats and join in a basket boat race
o Explore the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers of both sides
o Back on-board our Hoi An Eco-tour boat, enjoy lunch and cold beer or soft drink
o Return to hotel by car/van

Transfer via: Private vehicle & flight on economy class arranged by Great Tours

Today,our guide will escort you to airport in Da Nang for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon your arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, our guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. And then you will have tour to Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Thien Hau Pagoda, Central Post Office and Ben Thanh Market.

Do you know?

– Notre Dame Cathedral: Peaceful and somber, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City is an easy place to escape the maniacal buzz of motorbikes for a few minutes. Constructed by the French in the 1800s, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City appears strangely out of place with its Gothic and Roman-style architecture. Twin towers reaching to 190 feet capture the interest of people strolling by.
– Thien Hau Pagoda: Thien Hau Pagoda is a Chinese style temple located on Nguyen Trai Street in the Cho Lon (Chinatown) district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is dedicated to Thiên Hau, the Lady of the Sea (“Tian Hou” as transcribed from the Chinese), who is also known as “Mazu”.
– Central Post Office: The Central Post Office is another magnificent leftover from the French occupation – a French Colonial-style building designed in part by the famous Gustave Eiffel.
– Ben Thanh Market: It is a large marketplace in the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in District 1. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and one of symbols of Ho Chi Minh City, popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, textiles and souvenirs, as well as local cuisine.

Today, we will have tour to Cao Dai Great Temple and Cu Chi Tunnels.

– Cao Dai Great Temple: Cao Dai Great Temple is the cathedral of the Cao Dai religion and is the main attraction in Tay Ninh.
– Cu Chi Tunnels: This tunnel system was established and used by the Vietcong during the war of independence. From 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for Vietnam tours visitors. This gigantic underground network connects villages around, making it a wonderful destination for all kinds of Vietnam Tours.

Transfer via: Private vehicle arranged by Great Tours

Today, we will drive to Mekong Delta for your Mekong River trip. Enjoy a relaxing day by Mekong river with local boat. Sail through the broad waterways and small creeks of the Mekong River, enjoy a sumptuous three course lunch and see traditional rural life including a local village, communal temple and traditional matt weaving at a local farmer’s house. We will drive back to Ho Chi Minh City after the trip.

Transfer via: Flight arranged by Great Tours

Today, you will have free time till your guide meets you and escort you to airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon your arrival in Siem Reap, our guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel.

After breakfast in your hotel, we will visit Angkor Wat. At noon, your local guide will drive you back to Siem Reap for lunch.
This afternoon, we will focus our Cambodia holiday on Angkor Thom, including Pimeanakas, Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King and finally, the Bayon. Later amble through the atmospheric ruins of tree-covered Ta Prohm. We will go up to the Bakheng Temple for amazing sunset.

Do you know?

– Angkor Wat: Angkor Wat is the largest and most breathtaking monument at Angkor. Built as the funerary temple for Suryavarman II, who ruled from 1112 to 1152, Angkor never fails to reward the Cambodia tour fans with its grand scale, surreal bas reliefs and unbelievable attention to detail.
– Angkor Thom: Angkor Thom whose name means “The Great City,” was the capital of the Khmer empire from the time of Suryavarman I (1002-1049) to the end of the Classic Period (c. 1327).
– Phimeanakas: Phimeanakas is a Hindu temple in the Khleang style, built at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman (from 941-968), then rebuilt by Suryavarman II in the shape of a three tier pyramid as a Hindu temple. Impressive laterite and sandstone pyramid.It is the tallest scalable temple in Angkor Thom, providing a nice view from the top.
-Baphuon: it is located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain built as the state temple of Udayadityavarman II dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva.
– Elephants Terrace: Elephants Terrace was used by Angkor’s king Jayavarman VII as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army. It was attached to the palace of Phimeanakas, which only a few ruins remain.
– The Terrace of the Leper King: The Terrace of the Leper King is located on the north side of the Elephant terrace. It’s a smaller terrace, but it’s unique in that there’s an ‘alley’ filled with intricate carvings, from top to bottom. Plus, there are more carvings on the outer side.
– Bayon Temple: Bayon Temple is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. The Bayon’s most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. The temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes.
– Bakheng Temple: is a Hindu temple in the form of a temple mountain. Located atop a hill, it is nowadays a popular tourist spot for sunset views of the much bigger temple Angkor Wat.

This morning, we will visit Banteay Srei, aka Queen City and Banteay Samre. Have lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we will take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake and visit the local villages.

Do you know?

– Banteay Srei: It’s almost every Cambodia tour maker’s favorite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its compact size, remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of it decorative carving.
– Banteay Samre: Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.
– Boating in Tonle Sap Lake: Enjoy a boat ride passing by floating villages completed with schools, restaurants and hospitals.

Transfer via: Flight on economy class arranged by Great Tours

Free time until be transferred to airport for flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival, local tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel.

Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as explore 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 return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving.

Do you know?

– Wat Sene: Wat Sene was built in 1714, otherwise known as the Temple of the Patriarch. This temple is located right on the main road in all its conspicuous glory with gold stencilling applied directly to the outer walls. The doors are carved with gilded figures of divini-ties and mythical animals. The windows are adorned with gold stencilled balusters.
– Wat Xieng Thong: Wat Xieng Thong is a Buddhist temple (wat), located on the northern tip of the peninsula of Luang Phrabang, Laos. Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most important of Lao monasteries and remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art. There are over twenty structures on the grounds including a sim, shrines, pavilions and residences, in addition to its gardens of various flowers, ornamental shrubs and trees.
– Pak Ou Cave: The caves are noted for their miniature Buddha sculptures. Hundreds of very small and mostly damaged wooden Buddhist figures are laid out over the wall shelves. They take many different positions, including meditation, teaching, peace, rain, and reclining (nirvana).
– Ban Xanghai: It is a village you can find people make local rice wine and you can have chance to try some in local shop even free.
– Ban Phanom: This village, located 4 km to the north of Luang Prabang, was a former royal weaving village, and is now an official tourism village. You can view women working on their looms, buy their products and stroll in the village. It can be reached by bicycle or tuk-tuk.

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. From there you will visit the morning Phosi Market.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Kuangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turtoise pools or walk along the forest trails. After returning to Luang Prabang by late afternoon, we continue to Ban Xangkhong village. We return to the city by late evening to observe the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath.

Do you know?

– Ban Xangkhong: a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermaking.
– Tat Kuang Si Waterfalls: Tat Kuang Si Waterfalls, is a three tier waterfall about 29 kilometers (18 mi) south of Luang Prabang in Laos. These waterfalls are a favourite side trip for tourists in Luang Prabang. The falls begin in shallow pools atop a steep hillside. These lead to the main fall with a 60 meters (200 ft) cascade.

Day at leisure until to transfer to the airport to take flight back to your country.