INDOCHINA HIGHLIGHT/13 DAYS

TOUR CODE: INDO-05

DESTINATION: Vietnam/ Cambodia, Laos : ( Hochin Minh, Hanoi ,Halong, Phnom Penh, Siem reap, Vientiane, Luang Prahbang, Xiengkhouang )

DURATION: 13Days

DAY 1: ARRIVAL - HO CHI MINH

On arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This bustling metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. (If time permits) we stroll around the downtown to explore the different local ways of life. O/N in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 2: HO CHI MINH - CU CHI - HO CHI MINH (B)

The sightseeing tour acquaints us with some major sights of the city. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the Cho Lon, Saigon’s Chinatown, which is crammed with fascinating temples and mysterious, narrow lanes. We then drive this afternoon, to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network of approximately 200 kilometres constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. O/N in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 3: HO CHI MINH - HANOI ( B)

After breakfast this morning transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi. On arrival group will greeting at airport and transfer to hotel. Our sight seeing in Hanoi included Ho Chi Minh complex area, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (Closed in the afternoon, Monday, Oct, Nov yearly), President Palace, House on stilts, one pillar pagoda, continuing our trip to visit first university of Vietnam temple of literature. We also enjoin an exiting cyclo ride in city and watch famous performance of Water puppet show. O/N in Hanoi

DAY 4: HANOI - HALONG - HANOI ( B/L)

After breakfast this morning we will transfer to Halong bay for exploration of 08 Wonder of the World candidate 2008. Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,696 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.  On arrival Ha Long we will embark for four hours cruise to explore great Ha Long with thousand islands and visit Thien Cung cave, Dau Go cave, enjoy seafood lunch on board. Late afternoon we return to Hanoi for overnight.

DAY 5: HANOI-PHNOM PENH- (B/L)

After breakfast this morning transfer to airport for departure. Our trip ends when group arrive at Noi Bai airport.Meet guide upon the arrival at Phnom Penh international airport transfer to the Hotel for checking in and afternoon start a tour to:National Museum, also called the (Musee des Beaux-Art).A French archeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed the khmer style building in 1917. It contains a large collection of Arts notably sculptures representing in each period of khmer history. Royal palace, Built by French in 1866 on the site of the 15th centuries Palace and silver pagoda also named because of the floor which is made up of 5329 silver tiles. With 90 kg of gold Buddha and 2086 diamonds. Wat Phnom. Wat Phnom was built by Madam Penh in 1372 when she found a Buddha inside a Koki tree on the site. It is still an important historical side with great religious significance for Cambodians today.

DAY 6: PHNOM PENH-SIEM REAP- (B/L)

Breakfast at the Hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight. Upon the arrival at Siem Reap airport transfer to Hotel and continue to see the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12 centuries) see the South Gate (with it huge statues depicting of the ocean of milk), Bayon Temple, Elephant Terrace and the terrace of the leper King. Afternoon visit the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor Plain: Angkor Wat the temple complex covers 81 hectares with five towers and built in 12 centuries and become the biggest religious temple in the world and symbolizes the Meru's mountain's five peaks, the enclosed wall represents the mountain at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean beyond, overnight in Siem reap.

DAY 7: SIEM REAP- (B/L/D)

Breakfast at Hotel transfer to visit Tomamnon, chau say Teveda, Takeo, and prasat kravan (with its unique brick sculptures), the mountain temple of Pre Rup, Eastern Mebon,( guarded at it corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants), Ta Som, Neak Pean( built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalyan mountain lake and the temple of Preah Khan, built by Jayavarman VII. Continue to see the sunset from Phnom Bakheng one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you can speculate the view of western Baray. Dinner at with the traditional dance of Apsara.

DAY 8: SIEM REAP- (B/L)

Breakfast at Hotel, visit Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical khmer art. Then continue your visit to Banteay somre, built the third quarter of the 12th century .it consist of a central temple with four wings proceeded by a hall and accompanies by a two libraries, the southernmost of which is remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble.Afternoon visit the floating village of chong khneas, located 10 km south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap, the great lake of Cambodia and the largest in Asia, overnight in Siem reap.

DAY 9: SIEM REAP- VIENTIANE (B,L,D)

Breakfast in hotel, free till you are transfer to airport for departure to Laos. On arrival in Vientiane Capital, you are met and transferred to our centrally located hotel. After a short rest, we start to visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to 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, sunset by the Mekong Riverside and late evening. Overnight in Vientiane

DAY 10 VIENTIANE – XIENGKHOUANG (B,L,D)

Breakfast at hotel, free at leisure until your short afternoon flight to Xiengkhouang, which was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973. Upon arrival, we transfer out to visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. We also have time, this afternoon seeing the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people. They have an interesting local culture and a colorful history. Overnight in Phonsavanh

DAY 11 : XIENGKHOUANG - LUANGPRABANG ( BY ROAD ) (B,L,D)

Early morning, we visit Central Market of Phonsavanh to watch different Hill Tribes to barter and exchange merchandises. Then heading out the this small town to Luang Prabang, on the way, we drop off and see a site more than 200 years old Buddha images in Thampra and varied Hmong and varied hill tribe minority villages along the road. They are nice, friendly and welcome you to visit. After a photo stop, we continue driving up hill, enjoying mountain splendid natural scenery, forest and landscape. After a tea or coffee break at Sala Phoukhoun, where the T-junction of bordering meets Vientiane-Xiengkhouang-Luang Prabang. The journey will take us over mountainous region to Luang Prabang. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After checking into hotel, [if time permits] we start seeing the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, we 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 Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.  Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 12 : LUANGPRABANG - PAK OU CAVE (B,L,D)

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, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. We then embark on a cruise 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. 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, well known for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 13 : LUANGPRABANG – DEPARTURE(B) 

Breakfast, visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign, and the Central Market are not to be missed. We visit these sights in the morning before catching a flight departs this small, charming city of former royal capital

END OF SERVICE/ MEALS: B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D = dinner

  HOTEL USE ABOVE PRICE

 TOUR INCLUSIVE:

·         Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver

·         Accommodation: twin sharing room at mentioned hotel or similar one

·         Meal as mentioned: B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D = dinner

·         Entrance fee to indicated sights

·         Boat trip in Ha Long bay

·         Boat trip in Tonle Sap

·         Domestic flight PNH-REP

·         English speaking guide

·         Domestic flight ticket Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi

·         Domestic airport tax in Vietnam

·         Boat trip to Pak Ou Cave

·         Meal Lunch, Dinner

·         Domestic flight VTE-XKH /

TOUR EXCLUSIVE:

Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room supplement, personal expenses, travel insurance, visa stamp at airport, flight in/ out Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Visa to Cambodia 20$, Laos 30 $ airport tax our of Cambodia any optional additional tours or activities during free time. all personal expense. are not include too.