15-Day Indochina Highlights: Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos Tour
Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, the three Indochinese countries call for beauty seekers. This 15-day trip gives you a free rein to immerse in beautiful landscapes, magnificent wonders and heart-touching interactions with the locals.
Highlights
- Angkor Wat wonder and learn about the story of a bomb-removing expert in Siem Reap
- Get undergound to relive the life of Viet Cong in Cu Chi Tunnels of Ho Chi Minh City
- Cruising in Halong Bay and sample fresh seafood
- Be a mahout in Luang Prabang and help bathing the elephant
Suggested Itinerary
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will be warmed by your tour guide's smile. Transfer to hotel and free at leisure.
- Entering Cambodia:
1. Bangkok can be an easy gateway to fly to Siem Reap. Extend your China trip to Cambodia? Guangzhou has direct flight.
2. Apply for visa-on-arrival in Siem Reap: you will need 2 passport-photo-sized photos, a valid passport and USD30 in cash.
Accommodation
3 nights at Tara Angkor Hotel (4-star) / Angkor Village Hotel (5-star)
The famous Angkor Wat Complex consists of three major parts and the most important one is the central loop that is made of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm. Today your local tour guide will take you for a deep visit at this section.
Angkor Wat is the main site of the temple structure; Angkor Thom used to be the king's palace; Bayon Temple is widely known for the mysterious smile, Smile of Angkor; Ta Prohm, a must-see for movie fans of Tomb Raider and travelers alike. All of these four sites are different in styles and building purposes yet one thing in common is that they stand for the essence of Angkorian arts.
Most travel groups would put Bantey Srei as a backup option yet today you will see your trip is perfected with a visit to this sparking pearl of Angkor. The entire temple was built with pink sandstones and the carvings are nothing but esquisite.
Learn about Mr. Aki Ra's life in Cambodia Landmine Museum. He was raised to plant bombs during the time of Khmer Rouge and now he's dedicating his life doing the opposite: removing bombs throughout the contry. Next stop is the less-seen site of Beng Meala, where giant thress stretch out from giant rocks and scattered stones of the old temples.
Tonight, you will enjoy an Apsara Dance over dinner.
After breakfast, have some free time in the city. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and free at leisure for the rest of today.
Accommodation
3 nights at Parkroyal Saigon Hotel (4-star)/ Grand Hotel Saigon (5-star)
Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City welcomes every traveler with undying passion. Today you will visit its highlights including Reunification Palace , Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Central Post Office, before stopping for a coffee at a local café. After lunch, explore local's daily life at Chinatown and Binh Tay Market .
- Motorbike option:
For group with less than 5 people, we would recommend an option by motorbike. Local rider (your tour guide) can take you to some back alleys that big travel groups cannot get in.
After breakfast, transfer to the famous site of Cu Chi Tunnels. Back in wartime, the Viet Cong dug a web of tunnels as a battle system against the American and today you will have a great chance to see what's like underneath.
Ttransfer to the airport and fly to Danang. Transfer to Hoi An within 40 minutes. Free at leisure.
Accommodation
2 nights at Essence Hoi An Hotel (4-star)/ Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa(5-star)
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An Ancient Town has a lot of stories to tell. Today you will walk around this delightful town with your local tour guide, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tran Family Chapel, Fukian Assembly Hall and the Old House of Tan Ky. Learn to make paper lanterns after sightseeing. Free time on your own afterwards.
Enjoy some free time in Hoi An. Later, transfer to Danang and fly to the capital Hanoi. Check in and have the rest of today free at leisure.
Accommodation
1 night at Hanoi Pearl Hotel (4-star)/ Apricot Hotel Hanoi(5-star)
Halong Bay is 3-hour driving away from Hanoi. The drive is tasteless yet the cruise experience is all worthy.
Itineraries differ for each cruise, but you will probably visit: Cua Van Fishing Village, Vung Vieng Fishing Village, Me Cung Caves, Virgin Cave, and Surprise Cave, as well as passing some small islets, such as Flight Cock Islet, Human Head Islet, and Toad Islet and etc. Some cruises also include a cooking class at night and a taichi lesson in the morning.
Accommodation
1 nights on Halong Bay Paloma Cruise (4-star)/ Paradise Luxury Cruise (5-star)
Finish your cruise in the afternoon. Transfer back to Hanoi and enjoy some free time.
Accommodation
2 nights at Hanoi Pearl Hotel (4-star)/ Apricot Hotel Hanoi(5-star)
Hanoi is the witness of Vietnam's history and today you will share its insight. Today's city tour will take you to an interesting museum outside the city: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Later, learn the mind-provoking history at Hoa Lo Prison before lunch at a local restaurant.
At Ho Chi Minh Presidential Palace Historical Site, your private tour guide will tell you stories about Uncle Ho. Later, walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter before the last stop at Dong Xuan Market.
Fly to Luang Prabang and have the rest of today free at leisure.
Accommodation
2 nights at Belle Rive Boutique Hotel (4-star)/ Satri House Secret Retreat(5-star)
The peaceful town of Luang Prabang enamors its travelers with the poetry-like tranquility and Buddhism is their answer of life. Today you will feel Luang Prabang's spirit, visiting Xieng Thong Temple, the Traditional Art Exhibition Center and the Royal Palace Museum. At the evening, visit a local market to see what people prepare for their dinner.
- Sunset at Phousi Mountain:
Walk up to the top of Phousi Mountain and get a nice view of the town at sunset.
Rise up early in the morning, and you will be waiting in line for the monks. Alms-Giving is an important routine for local people and believed to be bless-promising with a sincere heart.
Drive out of town to the Elephant Village. You will spend some quality time with these smart and cute creatures. Master mahout will teach you how to train, feed and bath the elephants. Later, take a boat trip to Tad Sae Waterfall where you can jump into the cool water. Lunch will be simple Lao and internation food in the village.
- Clothes to change:
Do remember to bring a bathing suit for swimming and a clean outfit to change into after the swim.
Trip Notes
1. Visas
Travelers may apply Visa-On-Arrival at the airports of Siem Reap, Ho Chi Mminh City and Luang Prabang. Cambodia visa, USD30 per person; Vietnam visa, USD25 per person; Laos visa, USD30 per person. (Updated July 12th, 2016)
2. Tailoring Your Tour
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, extend or shorten it to suit your price, interest, and schedule. If you would like to book the hotels on your own, we can remove the hotel cost from quotation. Please inform your travel advisor about your preference.
Options to further extend your tour:
Extend the trip to Thailand: Bangkok is the best transit point to fly home from Luang Prabang. Make some extra days in Bangkok and experience something different. Normally, 3 days is good enough for a quick glance of the city. Talk to our expert to plan your trip.
3. Booking Procedure:
Step 1: Submit your name, email address and traveling dates for the tour. The price may vary according to the location of your hotel.
Step 2: Choose to make payment via PayPal and your request will be listed as our top priority. We guarantee a 100% refund if you are not satisfied.
Step 3: Receive a reply within 24 hours. The tour will be tailor-made to meet your requirements and the booking confirmed.
Step 4: Enjoy the tour!
4. Payment Methods:
We now offer three payment methods: PayPal, credit card authorization via fax, and wire transfer. PayPal is recommended for its safety and efficiency. You can pay with USA dollars, Australian dollars, European dollars, and British pounds directly with your credit card or debit card if you do not have a PayPal account.
5. Cancellation Policy:
In the event of cancellation, we will refund any payment made to China Highlights (unless any cancellation fee is applicable) within 14 days of our receipt of your written cancellation request. Visit here for more details.
7. Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is not included. We carefully selected some insurance providers from your region that give you the best value for money. Click here to go to the travel insurance page.
Price includes: