Must-sees of Cambodia Laos Vietnam - 19 days itinerary

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam!

Get pick up at the airport upon arrival and transfer to the downtown of Hanoi for hotel check-in.

Remainder of the day is at your leisure to rest and/or explore the central area at your own pace.

Boasted as one of the liveliest and loveliest city in Asia, Hanoi – the capital city of Vietnam with its thousand year history retains in it a deep sense of tradition and at the same time containing very sparky character of a fast growing city.

The city is home of tree-lined boulevards characterized by yellow painted colonial buildings, the Old Quarter with a maze of narrow streets where you can get lost among thousands of colorful shops, traditional guilds, ancient temples, food venues, street café, sounds and smells.

What an interesting experience to join with local for morning exercise around lakes, strolling around capturing scenes of people daily life or just sitting back sipping café au lait watching fast moving currents of the city’s traffic.

Summary of inclusions

Private airport transfer

Hotel in hanoi

Start your sightseeing day of Hanoi with the visit to Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex that includes the Mausoleum, the Presidential Palaces, Ho's humble house on stilts.  Next is the iconic One Pillar Pagoda that built from 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong then followed by the Temple of Literature, the first University of Vietnam where remains nearly a hundred of huge stone stelas standing on turtle back, bearing names of country's prominent men who received Doctor Laureate through Royal examinations.

This afternoon you will spend time to explore the Hoa Lo Prison - nicknamed Hanoi Hilton by American pilots who detained here during the war.

Continue with one of following museums: National History museum with huge display of National history and culture artifacts, the Army History Museum, the Women Museum or the Ethnology museum with colorful display and exhibits of Vietnam various ethnic groups.

Later, visit the Ngoc Son temple built on a little island of the Hoan Kiem Lake where the legendary turtle got back the magic sword from the King Le Loi after the national victory against foreign invaders hence named the lake.

Spend the remainder of the day for a leisurely walking tour of Hanoi Old Quarter, a maze of colorful streets with thousands of photo opportunities around you.

Along the way, you will sightsee local street life, traditional guilds, local markets, shopping areas, food venues, ancient houses and temples.

Enjoy tasting some Hanoi specialties and end the day with a cup of Hanoi special egg coffee in a hundred years old family shop.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

hanoi Sightseeing

Breakfast

Hotel in hanoi

After breakfast, get picked up from hotel and leave Hanoi for a drive to Halong City where you board the boat for cruise on spectacular Halong Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay. 

Said to be one of the most beautiful nature wonders in the World, Halong Bay consists of thousands of limestone islands soaring up from the emerald water of the bay. The different shape of islands here is the result of the work of wind and water through millions of year. With dotted pristine beaches, floating villages, amazing natural caves and fascinating scenes, Halong and its surroundings is the must-see for travelers to Vietnam.

Check in on board upon arrival at noon time.

Have lunch while leisurely cruising to the core of the bay amongst thousands of dramatic lime stone islands.

In the afternoon you will enjoy kayaking through the karsts and breathtaking nature or swimming on one of the beaches

Enjoy sunset party while your cruise is sailing to the overnight anchorage.

Dinner and overnight on board amongst islands and under star live sky.

Note: The cruise itinerary can be different depending on tide condition, boat and route assigned.

Summary of inclusions

bus

halong bay cruise

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

o/n on board cruiser

Early risers will have chance to catch stunning sunrise over the Bay’s spectacular landscape and take part in a Taichi class on the rooftop ground.

After breakfast, take a rowing boat tour around to visit to a floating village and natural tunnel, lagoon. Back to the mother boat and cruise to visit another part of the Halong Bay.

Lunch is served on your way cruising back to the harbor.

Drive to the airport for your late afternoon flight to Hue, the former Royal Capital of Vietnam. 

Get pick up from the airport and transfer to hotel to check in. Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

halong bay cruise

Private private airport transfer

Internal flight

Breakfast & lunch

Hotel in hue

Today you will have an exciting day with bicycle to explore beautiful Hue city (You can take car drive or motorbike ride instead – up to your choice). 

Ride your way out of the town center to visit to the traditional bronze casting village where you see locals make beautiful stuffs with traditional tools and methods.

Across the Da Vien Bridege to the southern bank of the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu, the oldest pagoda in Hue and is iconic symbol of the city then continue along the Old Quarter where you will visit the Tinh Tam Lake & the Museum of Royal treasure.

This afternoon you will spend time for a walking tour to explore the Hue Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today.

Next, stop by the Dong Ba Maket, the central market of the town with plenty of local produces then cycle to a traditional village that is famous with traditional handicraft of making paper flowers. Enjoy local interaction, learn for yourself some interesting things about this kind of art and and have some best photos.

Back to hotel in the late afternoon and evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

bicycle ride

hue royal city explore

Breakfast

Hotel in hue

Breakfast at the hotel then check out and enjoy our exciting day tour to discover Hue royal monuments, countryside and fascinating nature by motorbike (sit at the back - you can also choose to take car/van drive instead).

Ride your way along little paths on hidden villages where traces of time remain intact. Visit a local market which located in beautiful and very poetic country scenery, the centuries-old covered bridge of Thanh Toan and a farming exhibition house then continue through hidden alleys, off the beaten track, visiting to traditional villages with traditional handicraft such as conical hat, paper and incense making. Later, pay a visit to one of Emperor Mausoleums, a special royal architecture, in line with the Royal City, built as eternal resting place for Emperors of the dynasty.

Enjoy a vegetarian lunch in a pagoda prepared by Buddhist nuns and get pick up by van then drive toward Da Nang with stop at Lang Co Beach where of white sand and blue water for a swim if you wish then drive up to the top of Hai Van Pass for a spectacular view of the land, mountains and sea.

On the way down to Hoi An Ancient Tow, you can take optional visits to the Cham Museum, the largest museum for Champa sculpture in Vietnam and the Marble Mountains, exploring caves, pagoda on the top of Thuy Son Mountain.
Check in hotel in Hoi An late afternoon and evening is free at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

hue country adventure

private vehilce

Breakfast & lunch

Hotel in hoi an

Nested by the bank of the Thu Bon River, Hoi An ancient town once was the largest sea port the Centre Vietnam from 15th to 19th century and was the hub for merchant boats from both East and West. The town is characterized by medieval streets with yellow painted ancient houses, communal halls, temples all are designated as part of the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1999. The exceptionally well preserved architecture, traditions and life style along with benficialbe tourist services making Hoi An today one of the top destinations in the World.

Today you have a free day to enjoy your walk around Hoi An and exploring featured sights of the town such as central market, former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese communal halland Hoi An museum and so on…

As Hoi an is a paradise for shopping lovers, it is the chance for you to indulge yourself with some fantastic shopping of tailor made clothes and souvenirs.

Also, you will also have chance try some local specialties such as: Cao lau, Quang noodle, white rose, VAC cake, fried wonton, chicken rice and so on.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast

Hotel in hoi an

Breakfast at the hotel then meet up with your guide for for an exciting bicycle tour to explore Hoi an country.  

Cycle our way through stunning villages and green farm lands, visiting Tra Que herb garden veggie village, meeting local farmers, listening to tour guide explained why it is called “Organic farm” and how it is consumed around Hoi An and local people.

Joining into farming activities like: hoeing soil, using seaweed, transplanting and watering vegetable…

Keeping biking to the rice paddy field throughout the shrimp farm, on the ways, taking picture about duck farms, shrimps farms, cows, birds, bamboo...

Later, enjoy a round bamboo boat rowing trip thru the water coconut forest which war the lair of Viet Cong during the war and listen the story about the history of the land.

Back to hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

hoi an country ride

farming experience

Breakfast

Hotel in hoi an

Morning free until getting transferred to the Da Nang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. 

Being the largest metropolis in Vietnam, Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City is a very dynamic city that contains a big blend of old and new, East and West. This place is characterized by busy traffic, fast moving daily life, skyscrapers, exciting nightlife and is home of some best street foods.  

This afternoon you will have a sightseeing tour of Saigon Ho Chi Minh City with visits to the War Remnant Museum that houses a huge display of documents and artifacts of and about recent wars in Vietnam, the century-old Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Independence Palace (former Presidential Palace of the South of Vietnam).

End the day with a visit to Ben Thanh Maket, the central market of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City.

Evening is free at your own pace. It is good idea to head out to the night market where you have chance to enjoy a wonderful street food crawl. Another option is Pham Ngu Lao street - the tourist hub in Saigon - where you can grasp a cold beer, enjoying the colorful night there or, get up the the top of Lanmark 81 buiding for a cocktail and enjoy fantastic view of Saigon by night.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Internal flight

Sightseeing ho chi minh city

Breakfast

Hotel in ho chi minh city

Leave Saigon for a 2 hour drive through scenic country land to the Mekong Delta with stops to visit a Cao Dai church of Caodaism whose architecture that could have come straight from a Walt Disney fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world blend together in a unique religious cocktail, and the Vinh Trang Pagoda, a special Buddhism architecture in Mekong with more than hundred year history.

In the Mekong, you will take boat cruise on a branch of the Mekong River, exploring lively activities along river such as fishing, water transferring etc, visiting to local cottage industries such as coconut candy processing, sleeping mat weaving, salt making, pottery making and so on.

Also, you will have an exciting ride on motor cart (or bicycle) along shady paths, pass by coconut forest, green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about this fascinating tropical land and take little sampan rowing along meandering canal to explore the local way of life.

Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City and evening is free to enjoy the town at your own pace.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Boat cruise mekong

mekong delta explore

Breakfast

Hotel in ho chi minh city

Get transfer to the airport for morning flight to Phnom Penh, capital city of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

This afternoon you will take a sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh with first visit to the National Museum that has a great collection of Khmer art, with over 5000 objects are on display.

Following is the Royal Palace that contains the Royal Residence and the Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda which is known for its floor paved by silver tiles and functions like a national repository for cultural treasures of which is a 90 kg golden Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds.

Also, visit to the Wat Phnom Temple, one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh, built in 1373 on an artificial hill by the wealthy widow Penh from whom the city got its name. 

Enjoy the remainder of the day to stroll along the Mekong River bank, watching sunset over the river and exploring nearby market.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Internal flight

Sightseeing phnom penh

Breakfast

Hotel in phnom penh

Breakfast at hotel then start the tour with your first visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum also called the S-21 Prison. This prison was converted from a secondary school and used by Khmer Rough during the bloody rule from 1975 to its fall in 1979. There was an estimate of 20,000 people were imprisoned, tortured, coerced to confess what so called “revolutionary reaction crimes” before being taken to be executed at the extermination camp – the “Killing Fields” of Choeng Ek, located 15 km south of Phnom Penh which you will visit after the Toul Sleng. The places of Toul Sleng and Choeng Ek is the reminders of Cambodia's bloody past under Pol Pot rule and may call distressing for someone but it is necessary for you to learn about the never-to-be-forgotten page in the country's history.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Siam Reap.

Early this evening, you will take the Tuk Tuk to cruise around the town and get a blessing ceremony by Buddhist monks for happiness, prosperity and safety for your journey

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Internal flight

phnom penh Sightseeing

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Breakfast is at the hotel then enjoy your full day exploring the Angkor with first visit to Angkor Thom - The Great City which was built in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII. Step along the causeway that characterized by the two rows of devas and asuras pulling huge naga snakes, referring to the Hinduism myth of Churning of the Sea of Milk, into the impressive South Gate of Angkor Thom. Admire the majestic Bayon Temple that consists of 54 towers featuring multitude of Buddha’s serene and mysterious smiling faces. Wander around and discover the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and more.

In the afternoon, visit to the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm, one of the most famous sights within the Angkor Archeological park, known in the movie ‘Tomb Raider’ by Angelina Jolie. This Bayon style temple was built between late 12th and early 13th centuries during the reign of the King Jayavarman VII and originally called Rajavihara. The temple left relatively untouched since it was discovered and there are enormous fig trees embracing over parts of the temple giving the impression of natural forces claim over man-made works, making it a very photogenic site.

Your last visit today is the Angkor Wat temple, one of the most impressive religiuos monuments in the World, representing the soul of the Great Khmer Empire and its glorious history. This temples complex consists of two plans: the temple-mountain with five prominent towers featuring the 5 holy peaks of the Mount Meru which is home of gods in the Hindu mytholgy and, the galleried temple decorated by extensive bas-relief, depicting episodes from Hindu epics. This temple was built in the 12th and said to have taken more than 30 years of intensive labor. What amazing architecture constructed neary thousand years ago and remains for us to see today. The view of Angkor Wat becomes most impressive during sunset time when it looks like floating on the background of the magical twilight.

Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

angkor temples explore

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

Optional hot balloon ride over the temples of Angkor is available at your disposal.

Breakfast is at the hotel then drive out the town to visit to the Kulen Mountain, the birthplace and capital of the Khmer Empire in the early 9th century. Here you will visit countless ancient temples then take a short trek through the original jungle to explore the Kbal Spean which also known as River of 1000 Lingas, consisting of a series of stone rock relief carvings in sandstone formations of the river bed and banks, depicting Hindu mythological motifs. Perhaps, enjoy our swim under the torrent of cascading waterfall.

One the way back, you will visit the temple of Banteay Srei that is a masterpiece of religious architecture and carving with no space left undecorated. Also, visit the local village of Preah Dak where you have chance to learn something about local life and enjoy local interaction and the Banteay Samre temple which is adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu and Krishna legends.

Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

kulen mountain & temple

Breakfast

Hotel in siam reap

After breakfast, drive to the remote land of Siam Reap, of the beaten track and the crowd for our discovery of the fascinating Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia at its most pristine and stunning side.

Here you will take a boat cruise through flooded forest and around to explore the natural splendor and visit Kompong Khleang Floating Village village the largest village at the Tonle Sap Lake, where you will meet the local life at the rural to learn about typical traditional life style of people on the water and to know how important the lake is with the Cambodian people.

During the dry season when the water level low, you will be amazed by the scene of a forest of stilts supporting wooden and bamboo houses rising up to 10 meters in the air. In the wet season when the lake size becomes ten time bigger, the waters rise up making the village a photogenic floating community.

Get transferred to the airport for flight to Luang Prabang, the ancient capital and World Heritage town of Laos PRD.

Hotel check in and evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Boat

floating village visit

Internal flight

Breakfast

Hotel in luang prabang

The UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. 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, maybe in Indochina.

Today you have a bicycle/green tuk tuck tour to sightsee the Luang Prabang ancient town with visits to some of its highlights such as the most photographed Wat Xieng Thong with its several roofs sweeping low to the ground, Wat Visoun - the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa with the rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao, Wat Aham and Wat Sene Temple, Wat Mai which was built in 1796 known for its five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style, the former Royal Palace today is the National Museum that houses rare religious and cultural artefacts.

Late afternoon you will climb up to the top of Phousi Mountain for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. Night Market of Luang Prabang just right at the bottom of Mount Phousi, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by locals and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang, is a good place to kill some time in the evening.

Summary of inclusions

tuk tuk ride

Sightseeing luang prabang

Breakfast

Hotel in luang prabang

Early risers will have chance to participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people – a typical scene and activity of Luang Prabang.

Breakfast is at the hotel then get to the pier and board 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. This place is one of the most pilgrimage destination for locals.  

Along the way there and back you will also have some stops to visit to local villages to learn some about local business and handicraft of rice wine distillation handmade paper.

Remainder of the day is at your leisure to wander around the old quarter of Luang Prabang, sightseeing the colonial area with beautiful colonial architecture. Optional Laos cooking class is available at your disposal.

Summary of inclusions

Boat cruise mekong

pak ou cave explore

handicraft village visit

Breakfast

Hotel in luang prabang

Breakfast at the hotel then drive out to the outskirt of Luang Prabang for an exciting tour activity of farming experience. Enjoy the educational tour of traditional farm work of land ploughing with buffalo, seed preparing, rice growing, harvesting and processing and more other interesting activities around.

After lunch, transfer to visit the UXO center that features displays and information about unexploded ordnance, for what Lao is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in history during the Indochina war.

Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

local farming experience

Breakfast & lunch

Hotel in luang prabang

Breakfast at the hotel.

Enjoy your time for relax. Check out time hotel at 12.00AM.

Get transferred to the airport for your flight home or to onward destination. .

Safe travel and see you again!

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast

private airport transfer