Indochinal Cities

View 12 photos

Duration: 14 days/13 nights

Tour Code: MCHL01

Tour Valid: Until December 30th, 2013

Highlights: Ho Chi Minh (Mekong Delta) - Ha Noi (Ha Long Bay) - Luang Prabang (Pak Ou Buddha Caves - Weaving Village - Kuang Si Waterfall) - Vientiane (Wats - That Luang monument) - Siem Reap ( Angkor - Temples - Tonle Sap Lake) - Phnom Penh (Silver Pagoda - Wat Phnom- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - Killing Fields)

• Day 1 - Ho Chi Minh City Arrival

  Place Transport: Airplane->Car
  Meals: Dinner

  Arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport, welcome by our private Vietnam tour guide and transfer to you hotel for check in. Ho Chi Minh, the most exciting city of Vietnam, a mecca of commerce, also a city with a chequered history and a rich culture, its pagodas, museums, public buildings, parks and boulevards make it one of the most delightful Vietnam Tours and cities to visit in Vietnam.
  In the afternoon, we will do the city tour of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, visiting to Reunification Palace, Vietnam War Museum and the environment of Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

  Day 2 - Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta

  Place Transport: Car->Boat
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After breakfast, we Drive to My Tho (65km) - The quiet capital city of Tien Giang province, is the traditional gateway to the Mekong Delta, an interesting and beautiful Vietnam Tour to catch a glimpse of the famous river. On arrival, we visit the beautiful Vinh Trang pagoda, the most famous pagoda in the south of Vietnam whose architecture is a mixture of Vietnamese, Kh’mer and Chinese before taking a private boat trip along the small canals of Mekong River seeing the daily life of the Mekong River people in both sides of the river. Then take a short tour by “xe loi” (motorized rickshaw) on the rural lane to the bank of Mekong River visiting a rice farm, coconut candy factory and honey bee farm. Continue our journey by sampan through the canals and mangrove forests to reach an island. Stroll on a fruit garden, taste diverse types of seasonal fruits, tea mixed with bee’s honey and enjoy a special folk show of traditional Mekong Delta music. Afternoon drive back to Ho Chi Minh.

  Day 3 - Fly to Ha Noi City

  Place Transport: Airplane->Car->Cyclo
  Meals: Breakfast - Dinner

  Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to hotel for check in. Afternoon, you enjoy a Hanoi city tour of this charming capital city including the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh (close on Monday & Friday), the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, and take one hour cyclo tour for a short excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. In the evening, we end Hanoi city tour with a fantastic traditional water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi. 

  Day 4 - Ha Noi - Ha Long Bay - Ha Noi

  Place Transport: Car->Cruise
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Our bus and guide will pick you up at your hotel at 8 AM. On the way to Halong city enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. arrive there after 3,5 hours ,having agoodlunch after that getting on the boat for 4 hours cruising to visit the bay with stopover to discovery Dau Go and Thien Cung caves that are the most beautiful caves in bay with great stalactites and stalagmite .Coming back harbor byanother way to see Fighting cock ,Sea dog ,Tortoise ,Sail islands and stop for swimming in blue bay or gazing sunset on sunny day .Getting on the bus for coming back Ha Noi ,arrive at 20h30. Overnight in Ha Noi.

  Day 5 - Luang Prabang Arrival - City Tour

  Place Transport: Airplane->Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Welcome to Luang Prabang! Your guide will meet you upon arrival at the airport and bring you to your hotel. Then enjoy a half-day to visit a number of Wats and some of this peaceful town’s main highlights. In the late afternoon, you will climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. Enjoy dinner and overnight in Luang Prabang. 

  Day 6 - Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Buddha Caves - Weaving Village

  Place Transport: Boat
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After breakfast, begin a Mekong Riverboat trip with your guide on the mighty Mekong River to visit the famous & sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Ou Rivers from on high, have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since 16th century, when King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot. Today many still pay respect with this old tradition. Walk through the caves before returning to your boat and to Luang Prabang town. Enjoy lunch en route. Then visit the village of Ban Xang Khong where weaving of traditional Lao textiles takes place on traditional wooden looms. Return to Luang Prabang and spend the rest of the day exploring or relaxing on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang. 

  Day 7 - Traditional Lao rite of Almsgiving - Kuang Si Waterfall - Fly to Vientiane

  Place Transport: Car->Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  If you wish, get an early start (5:30am) and go watch or participate in the traditional Lao rite of Almsgiving to the monks. In the city, monks file through silently collecting alms. This is an amazing sight and your guide will be on hand to demonstrate and explain this important ritual. Return to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, drive with your guide by car to the Kuang Si waterfall. The falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top! Enjoy a local lunch and later in the afternoon return to the hotel for check-out, transfer to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel for overnight and dinner. 

  Day 8 - Vientiane City Tour

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Today after breakfast, enjoy a city tour to Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Other sites you will see include the huge golden That Luang monument, and next door, Vientiane’s own Victory Monument, which looks like the Arc de Triomphe. This was built at the end of the Indochina war with money rumored to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway. Thus the departing Americans dubbed this monument the vertical runway! Have a look at the lovely arches inside the monument. Also visit Wat Simuang and Wat Prakeo, which was the original home of the famous Emerald Buddha, which today lives in Bangkok. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and then return to your hotel, and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Vientiane.

  Day 9 - Vientiane - Fly to Siem Reap - City Tour

  Place Transport: Airplane->Car->Tuk Tuk
  Meals: Breakfast - Dinner

  After breakfast, tranfer to airport for flight to Siem Reap. Arrive in Siem Reap and check in hotel. Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. Start with a visit to the Roluos Group including Preak Ko, Ba Kong and Lo Lei. In the afternoon, depart by Tuk Tuk to visit the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat. The day ends with a spectacular sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Overnight in Siem Reap.

  Day 10 - Siem Reap - Angkor Thom - Bayon Temple - Banteay Kdei - Ta Prohm Temple

  Place Transport: Car->Tuk Tuk
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Today there is an early start to catch the sunrise (optional) before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Then depart to visit Angkor Thom’s famous South Gate where you will take an elephant ride to Bayon Temple which depicts intricate scenes of traditional Cambodian life. From the Bayon continue on foot to the Baphuon, recently re-opened to the public, where you will pass by the wooden Royal Palace. Then continue to the Terrace of the Elephants where a parade used to be held for the king. In the afternoon continue to Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei, Chau Say Tevoda, Tommanon and the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. Overnight in Siem Reap.

  Day 11 - Siem Reap - Banteay Srei - Tonle Sap Lake

  Place Transport: Car->Boat
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After breakfast, drive to Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean (River of 1,000 Lingas) and Banteay Samre. These temples are amongst the most intricate in all of Cambodia. In the afternoon, continue to enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floatting schools, floatting police station, etc. It is same as a big village floatting on the lake, and the "village" move from place to place following water levels and curant. Overnight in Siem Reap.

  Day 12 - Siem Reap - Fly to Phnom Penh

  Place Transport: Car->Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  After breakfast, visit the Siem Reap market and/or the workshops of Artisans d’Angkor (wood and stone carving). Then transfer to airport for flight to Phnom Penh. Check in hotel and relax.Overnight in Phnom Penh. 

  Day 13 - Phnom Penh City Tour

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After breakfast, start the morning with ea cycle rid to the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace and the National Museum. Later in the day you will depart by car to visit Wat Phnom followed by Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Russian Market and the infamous Choeung Ek ‘Killing Fields’. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

  Day 14 - Phnom Penh Depature

  Place Transport: Car->Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  After breakfast you will be free to explore Phnom Penh at your own leisure before the transfer to Phnom Penh Airport for departure flight.

  The Tour Inclusion:

  - 13 Nights Accommodation in deluxe twin / double room view with daily breakfast.
  
  - Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above.

  - Domestic flight tickets, including domestic airport taxes.

  - Boat cruises as specified in the program 

  - The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary.
  
  - Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program
  
  - Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available.

  The Tour Exclusion:

  - International flight tickets and airport tax.Visas.
  
  - Dinners, except as specified above.
  
  - Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
  
  - Surcharge for peak season (if any) & other not mentioned in the above detail program.

  Additional Information

  Importance note
  - The itinerary is just a sample of our tours; we'll be pleased to design similar programs with dates and itinerary customized to your personal preferences in Tailor Made Tours section. Rates may vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.
  
  What to bring?
  - Sun Block, Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain gear, Warm clothes, original Passport...
  
  How to start?
  - MinMax Travel is a fully escorted tour and best-available all year round; the only thing you need to prepare in advance is the international air-ticket from/to your country.
  - You can get Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Visas on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport).