Indochina Uncovered Sites: Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam 26 days

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Airport, meet your local guide and driver, who will assist with your transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Note: Standard check-in time is 14:00. Early check-in can be arranged at an additional cost.

The remainder of the day is free to rest or explore Siem Reap at your own pace.

Morning

Meet your tour guide at the hotel and begin your exploration of Angkor Wat, a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex known for its remarkable architecture and historical significance.

Continue to Angkor Thom through the South Gate, lined with enormous statues depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Then visit Bayon Temple, recognised for its 54 towers and more than 200 carved faces associated with Avalokitesvara.

Continue past the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, and Terrace of the Leper King before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant at your own expense.

Afternoon

Visit Ta Prohm, an ancient Buddhist temple associated with the reign of Jayavarman VII. Explore its atmospheric ruins, where large tree roots grow through the stone structures and create one of Angkor’s distinctive landscapes.

Choose a departure time between 08:30 and 13:00. Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and take you to Chong Kneas Floating Village.

Board a traditional wooden boat and cruise along Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia’s “Great Lake”. As you travel through Chong Kneas, observe daily life on the water, including floating homes, schools, police stations, and other community structures.

After the boat docks, step ashore to explore the village and learn more about the traditions and everyday life of the local community.

Continue to Les Artisans d’Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles, where skilled artisans practise traditional crafts including wood carving, stone sculpture, and silk painting. Discover how these crafts contribute to Cambodia’s rich artistic heritage.

Return to your hotel after the tour and enjoy the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time at the hotel before transferring to Siem Reap Airport for your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city.

Upon arrival, meet your guide and driver and transfer to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore Hanoi at your own pace.

Morning

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel lobby at 08:00 and begin a half-day sightseeing tour. Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university and an important symbol of Confucian education during the Ly Dynasty.

Continue to Ba Dinh Square and see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, while your guide shares the historical significance of the square and Ho Chi Minh’s Declaration of Independence.

Stroll along Thanh Nien Road and visit the sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda, located on a small island in West Lake.

Afternoon

Enjoy lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant before returning to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free to relax or explore Hanoi independently.

Note: The tour can start in either the morning or afternoon, depending on availability.

Morning

After breakfast, depart from your hotel and travel to Mai Chau by van. Arrive around midday and enjoy a traditional lunch in the village, with a vegetarian option available.

Afternoon

Choose from optional activities at your own expense, such as cycling through the terraced rice fields to explore the local landscape and learn more about traditional customs and culture. You can also spend your free time cycling, walking, or shopping at your own pace.

In the evening, enjoy a dinner featuring traditional Thai ethnic cuisine. For groups of more than five people, the evening also includes a traditional Thai dance performance and a tasting of ruou can, a communal rice wine.

Morning

Join a local guide to visit the more remote Na Meo and Na Mo villages, where you can learn more about local culture and customs. Return to the homestay for lunch and check out.

Afternoon

Enjoy some free time for shopping or relaxing before departing Mai Chau between 15:00 - 15:30. Say goodbye to your hosts and board the bus for the journey back to Hanoi, which takes approximately 3.5 - 4 hours.

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Morning

After breakfast, a luxury limousine will pick you up from your hotel between 08:00 - 08:30 for the approximately 2.5-hour journey to Halong Bay, with a short stop along the way.

Upon arrival at the cruise lounge, meet the cruise staff and complete the check-in process. Transfer by speedboat to the cruise, where the cruise manager will introduce the bay and share information about the journey.

Board the cruise at 12:15, receive a welcome drink, and settle into your cabin. Enjoy lunch while taking in views of the limestone islands and islets rising from the bay’s emerald waters.

Afternoon

Take part in water-based activities according to your cruise itinerary, which may include climbing an island peak, exploring caves, or kayaking among the limestone formations.

Return to the cruise for some time to relax. You can join a Vietnamese cooking demonstration or enjoy cocktails during Happy Hour, with a Buy 1 Get 1 offer.

Evening

Enjoy dinner at the onboard restaurant. Later, choose from evening activities such as squid fishing, watching movies, playing board games, or relaxing at the night bar.

Note: The cruise itinerary may vary depending on the specific cruise you choose.

Morning

Start the day with a Tai Chi session or simply enjoy the fresh morning air from your cabin. After a light breakfast, continue exploring the bay with a visit to a fishing village to learn more about local life, or enjoy some time swimming.

Return to the cruise for brunch and complete check-out while cruising towards the pier. Transfer by speedboat to the port, where you will say goodbye to the cruise crew.

Afternoon

Travel back to Hanoi by luxury limousine. Enjoy free time in the city before transferring to Hanoi Railway Station for your overnight train to Dong Hoi.

Morning

Arrive in Dong Hoi early in the morning and meet your driver at the train station. Continue to Phong Nha, stopping at a local restaurant for breakfast before exploring the Phong Nha - Ke Bang area.

Travel through the surrounding forest landscape and take a 25-minute boat ride to Phong Nha Cave. Explore the cave and admire its distinctive limestone formations before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon

Continue to Paradise Cave, known for its impressive limestone formations and extensive dry cave system. After the visit, return to your hotel in Dong Hoi for the evening.

Morning

After breakfast, meet your driver at the hotel and depart Dong Hoi for the Vinh Moc Tunnels. Along the way, stop at a small church that still bears signs of mortar damage and visit former US military bases.

Continue through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and cross the Ben Hai River via Hien Luong Bridge, which marked the former division between North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975.

Afternoon

Explore the Vinh Moc Tunnels, an underground complex built during the war. Walk through the tunnels and see bomb craters, fighting trenches, living quarters, food and weapons storage areas, and a former school.

After the visit, continue your journey to Hue and check in at your hotel.

At 08:00, meet your guide and begin a half-day tour of Hue’s historic landmarks. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda, set on a hill overlooking the Perfume River and known as one of the city’s best-known religious sites.

Continue to the Imperial Citadel, the former political and cultural centre of the Nguyen Dynasty. Walk through the fortified complex and explore its historic gates, courtyards, temples and royal buildings, learning more about Hue’s imperial past along the way.

Then explore Dong Ba Market, Hue’s largest traditional market, where you can browse local products and everyday goods.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and meet your driver for the road transfer to Hoi An by shuttle bus or private car.

Upon arrival in Hoi An, check in at your hotel and take some time to settle in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore the local area, or head into the Ancient Town at your own pace.

Morning or Sunset Option

Travel from Hoi An to the historic My Son Sanctuary, where ancient temples are set within a green valley. Explore the ruins as your guide introduces the history of the Champa civilization, followed by a traditional cultural performance.

Continue to a local home to learn how rice paper is traditionally made. Enjoy a hands-on experience and taste the rice paper you have prepared.

Next, visit another local house for a simple meal and herbal tea in a peaceful setting. For the sunset option, this meal is replaced with a light local snack such as banh mi and fresh coconut.

Afterwards, take a boat ride along the Thu Bon River and enjoy the surrounding scenery on the return journey to Hoi An. The tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel.

After breakfast, enjoy a free day to explore Hoi An at your own pace. Wander through the Ancient Town, browse local shops, or simply relax and enjoy the city’s atmosphere.

For a deeper look at Hoi An’s culture and local lifestyle, consider one of the following optional experiences:

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer by private car to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, meet your transfer driver and continue to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the city at your own pace.

For an evening cultural experience or dinner on the river, consider these optional activities:

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel lobby at 08:00 and begin a half-day tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s historic landmarks.

Visit the Reunification Palace, formerly the official residence and workplace of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. Walk through its grand halls, meeting rooms and historic spaces to learn more about its role in the country’s modern history.

Explore the War Remnants Museum, which displays exhibits documenting the Vietnam War and its impact. Continue to the Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, two prominent examples of the city’s French colonial architectural heritage.

Note: Notre Dame Cathedral is currently under renovation.

Visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda, a historic Chinese temple known for its colourful decorative details.

Then wander through a local market to browse everyday goods, souvenirs, and traditional items such as silk Ao Dai. Return to your hotel after the tour.

Morning

After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Our driver and guide will meet you and start traveling to Cai Be 

Visit Cai Be Dry Market to observe local trading and browse regional products. Then board a wooden boat and cruise through the Mekong Delta, surrounded by canals, orchards, and rural landscapes.

Along the way, stop at a local family factory to see how traditional products are made, including coconut candy, rice paper, puffed rice, jackfruit wine, banana wine, and other local goods. Learn about the production process and purchase some products as souvenirs if you wish.

Continue by sampan to Tan Phong Island. Enjoy Don Ca Tai Tu, a traditional form of Southern Vietnamese music, sample tropical fruits, and hear local residents share stories about their culture and daily life.

Afternoon

Enjoy lunch at Mr. Vo’s ancient house, featuring local specialities including elephant ear fish, also known as fried giant gourami.

After lunch, drive to Can Tho and check in at your hotel. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing, or head to the local night market in the evening to sample regional dishes at your own pace.

Morning 

Wake up early for breakfast before checking out of your hotel. Then travel to Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the Mekong Delta’s best-known floating markets.

Arrive and observe the lively trading activity along the river. Watch local vendors and boat operators transport passengers and goods by water, while products are displayed on tall poles to let buyers know what each boat is selling.

After exploring the market, continue your journey back to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a free day to explore Ho Chi Minh City at your own pace. You can visit local markets, explore historic neighbourhoods, shop for souvenirs, or simply relax at a cafe.

For a more structured day trip, consider one of the following optional experiences:

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some free time before transferring to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight to Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

Upon arrival, meet your local guide and begin exploring Vientiane’s cultural landmarks. Visit Wat Sisaket, one of the city’s oldest surviving temples, known for its collection of Buddha sculptures in various sizes.

Continue to Wat Prakeo, a former temple built to house the Emerald Buddha, a sacred image carved from a single piece of jade.

En route,  pass by That Luang Stupa, a major Buddhist monument with a distinctive gold-covered exterior. Continue to Patuxay, a prominent war monument where you can stop for photographs.

Evening

Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant and settle into your hotel for the evening.

Morning

When you finish savoring your breakfast, you are transferred to Buddha Park, an intriguing sculpture park with over 200 huge religious statues of both Buddha and Hindu deities. If time permits, Morning Market and the weaving village of Ban Nong Bouathong will be the next destinations, where you can observe lively local lives and traditional handicrafts.

Afternoon

After that, an express train transfers you to Vang Vieng, a serene town on a bend of the Nam Song River famous for its unspoiled, poetic beauty of lush forests and limestone mountains. This is a perfect haven for nature lovers and rejuvenators.

The day ends with fabulous sunset scenery reflecting over the Nam Song River.

The Namsong River

Morning

This day begins with an excursion to Tham Jang Cave, an untouched natural cave once used as a hideout for locals from Chinese invaders.

Subsequently, a drive will take you through verdant rice paddy fields to Tham Phoukham Caves, where you can explore its beautiful formation of glimmering stalactites and the huge bronze reclining Buddha. The cave also has a small pristine pool in the front, allowing visitors to submerge in the cool water and relax.

Morning

After breakfast, board the express train to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and take some time to rest before beginning the afternoon sightseeing programme.

Visit the National Museum, housed in the former royal residence of King Sisavang Vong. Explore its collection of historical artefacts and learn more about the cultural heritage of Laos.

Afternoon

Continue to Mount Phousi and climb to the summit for panoramic views across Luang Prabang. If conditions are suitable, enjoy the changing scenery as the sun sets over the city.

Then explore the Night Market, where you can browse local products, handicrafts, souvenirs, and street food.

Note: Under local regulations, vehicles with more than 16 seats are not permitted in Luang Prabang.

Morning

Begin the day with a cruise upstream along the Mekong River, enjoying views of the surrounding countryside. Continue to Pak Ou Caves, a well-known cultural and religious site located on the western side of the Mekong River.

Explore the caves and see the numerous Buddha statues placed within their limestone chambers. The visit offers an insight into the spiritual traditions and religious heritage of the Luang Prabang area.

Continue to Ban Muangkeo, a local village known for its traditional rice wine. Then visit Ban Xiengmene and continue to Wat Chomphet, a hilltop temple offering views across Luang Prabang and the surrounding landscape.

Afternoon

Return to Luang Prabang and take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xieng Lek. These nearby villages are known for traditional silk weaving and Saa paper making, providing an opportunity to observe local craft practices.

Return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some free time to explore Luang Prabang at your own pace. Take a final stroll along the Mekong River, browse local handicraft shops for souvenirs, or relax at a café before your departure.

At the appointed time, your driver will transfer you to Luang Prabang International Airport for your onward flight, marking the end of your Indochina journey.