Exotic Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos Holiday for Archana

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival - Half day city tour

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam! Driver &  tour guide welcome you at the airport. Pick you up and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi city center. In the afternoon, head out to Ba Dinh Square, the political heart of modern Vietnam, where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2nd 1945. This complex features the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, the founder of modern Vietnam. If it is open, you can walk through the mausoleum to view his body. You can also see the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minhs house on stilts in the park-like complex. The nearby One Pillar Pagoda was first built in 1049 by Emperor Ly Thai Tong to mark the birth of his heir, after a dream in which a goddess gave him a son floating on a lotus. The small structure rises out of a pond covered in lotuses and its unique profile, standing on a single pillar, gives it its popular name. Then discover The Old quarter by cyclo. The Old Quarter, the bustling heart of Hanoi, has been a commercial centre since King Ly Thai To built his palace there in the 11th century. Skilled craftsmen started to migrate and artisan guilds were formed on the famous Streets. Previously, each street carried the name of the item produced and sold there, and many still have the same names. This is a place you must see to experience Hanoi, where you will find shopping and cultural / historical sites all wrapped into one. Located at the heart of the city, Hoan Kiem Lake is a historical site and one of the symbols of Hanoi. The picturesque Turtoise Tower stands on a small island in the middle of the lake, and Ngoc Son Temple occupies the larger island, accessible by an iconic red wooden bridge. Overnight in Hanoi

Stay: La Casa Hotel Hanoi or Similar

Room Category: Deluxe Room

Day 2: Full-day Ninh Binh Tour (Trang An - Bai Dinh)

• 08:00 Pick up at the hotel

• Travel by car to Ninh Binh. Honored to be one of the most beautiful regions of Northern Vietnam, Ninh Binh has been a perfect combination of karst formation. Your first eyesight in this area will be drawn to the magnificent and enormous limestone mountains, which breaths in the scene a majestic atmosphere and brilliant feel. The vastness of tropical forests brings out the green canvas, while the enormous rice fields emphasize in the yellow palette, all
  together form a perfect harmony tone for the scenery.

• The trip will take you Bai Dinh, where you visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, one of the biggest pagodas in Vietnam with a huge gilded Buddha image inside. If you have a keen eye for details, notice the plentiful displays of brilliants work by the local artisans in this pagoda: the elaborate bronze work, the complex stone carving, the meticulous workmanship of sculpture.

• Continue with the boat to the main location of the tour: Trang An Grottoes. Prepare for the breath-taking moments as the boat brings you through a chaining series of natural limestone caves, which has been a product of wonderful nature throughout thousands of years. Enjoy hours of peaceful moments as the sound of the oars stirring the water, mixed harmonically with the breezing winds will make relaxing music to your ears. Seize the moment to find the
  peace of your mind. Alongside the river locate various pagodas which will provide some cultural insights to the curious mind. You always are proud of yourself as the excellent photographer. So do not forget to capture all the spectacular instances of this wonderful trip. Travel by car back to Hanoi. Drop off at your hotel

Meals: Breakfast 

Stay: La Casa Hotel Hanoi or Similar

Room Category: Deluxe Room

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay - by shuttle bus

Breakfast at hotel We gather in the lobby at 8.00am for a departure to Halong. We drive across the Red River
delta and reach the coast little before noon. We embark on a beautifully crafted wooden junk for an overnight cruise in the legendary seascape of Halong. Once on board, we are served a delicious seafood-based buffet lunch, while the limestone rocks are setting up the décor. In the afternoon, we reach a less travelled area and will devote ourselves to relaxation, sunbathing, and visiting a cave. The program is not fixed and depends on the time of the year and weather. We end the day on the sundeck while the sun sets. It is time for an aperitif or to attend a cooking demonstration before dinner. Overnight in a comfortable private cabin with attached bathroom.
Note: Only local and international food available on board. Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather. Unused services are not subject to a refund.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Stay: Syrena Cruise or Similar 

Room Category: Deluxe

Day 4: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi  - by shuttle bus
At dawn, an early Tai Chi session is proposed, coffee and tea are served early as well for the early birds wishing to see the beautiful lights of sunrise. Check out the cabin and we then hop on rowed sampan or kayak to visit a secluded floating village, one of the last remaining communities living on the bay. We return to the boat and a brunch is served as we are cruising back to the dock. We disembark and drive to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast & Brunch

Stay: La Casa Hotel Hanoi or Similar

Room Category: Deluxe Room

Day 5: Hanoi - Fly to Ho Chi Minh city - Half day city tour 
Post breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh city. You are welcome at Tan Son Nhat airport then transferred to hotel for check in and relax Afternoon, take a half day city tour of Ho Chi Minh City: Visit the Reunification Palace, the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Next to the cathedral stands the Saigon Post Office, a classic French colonial structure, is still a functioning post office today and features huge ceilings, a giant portrait of Uncle Ho, and many beautiful details. Following is War Remnant Museum, contains countless artefacts and photographs graphically representing the war and its devastating impacts. Final visit of the day is to Ben Thanh Market – an icon of the city, stands in the center of District 1. Packed to the rafters with everything from fruits to nuts, from tourist kitsch to true bargains, it is a definite must-see. Transfer back to hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city. 

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Acon Grand Hotel Ho Chi Minh or Similar 

Room Category: Grand Deluxe 

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh - My Tho (Mekong Delta) - Ho Chi Minh
Depart from the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City to the area referred to locally as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’ (My Tho) Upon arrival, boat trip on the Mekong river for sightseeing: Four islands of Dragon , Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix. Then landing on Unicorn island visiting abundant orchards of tropical fruits. En-route, visit a beefarm – enjoy honey-tea, you will have a chance to enjoy difefent kinds of seasonal fruit in Mekong Delta, listen to Southern traditional music played by the local amateur musicians and singers. After that, discover a small canal by rowing boat. Visitting coconut candy worshop – try fresh candies in Ben Tre province. Getting on a horse-cart on the countryside road. Then return to My Tho by big boat. On the way back to Ho Chi Minh city, stop at Vinh Trang pagoda, the beautiful structure of pagoda features a mixture of Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian architectural styles. Specially, the extremely beautiful structures in the pagoda are two triumphal arches bearing an art of inserting bottle and porcelain fragments which create harmonious pictures illustrating the Buddha’s legendaries. Back to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Acon Grand Hotel Ho Chi Minh or Similar 

Room Category: Grand Deluxe 

Day 7: Cu Chi Tunnels - Fly to Siem Reap

Depart Ho Chi Minh City, you head out to Cu Chi Tunnels - an elaborate underground network of 250 km of tunnels and chambers below the city. They were the location of several military campaigns during the war. After an introductory video, viewing various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters, you will explore the maze of tunnels to see how the Viet Cong survived in this underground network. Then transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Sue s'dey! Welcome to Siem Raep, Cambodia. Our driver and tour guide welcome and transfer you to your hotel at city centre. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Tara Angkor Hotel Siem Reap or Similar 

Room Category: Superior Room​

Day 8: Siem Reap - Tonle Sap 
Today you will head out to Chong Kneas “floating village”. Take a boat and cruise through this floating settlement seeing a floating school, farms, houses and many more curiosities. Greeted by waves of the friendly locals, here you can glimpse Cambodia’s lakeside culture and traditional family lifestyle. On the way back to Siem Reap’s town, stop at Old Market one of the various traditional markets in the Siem Reap area and the most popular with tourists and visitors, offering the greatest selection of souvenirs and curios of any of the traditional markets. And the area around the Old Market is burgeoning with shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, massage and more. The Old Market is located on the river at the south end of the Old French Quarter. Then can visit Senteurs d’Angkor shop a home fragrances Cambodia’s wonderful culinary and aromatic heritage is their inspiration. The moment you walk into our Senteurs d’Angkor shop you are immediately struck by an explosion of the senses with heady aromas floating from every corner. It can be difficult to choose which kind of scent you prefer so you can start with an everyday indulgence by trying our coconut oil- based handmade soaps. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Tara Angkor Hotel Siem Reap or Similar 

Room Category: Superior Room​

Day 9: Siem Reap Angkor Tour Full day 
Post breakfast at the hotel, head out to Angkor Complex. Visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, surrounded by an 8m high wall. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Continue to Bayon Temple in the exact centre of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur, its exterior gallery walls featuring extensive, superb bas-reliefs, particularly the East and South Galleries. In Angkor Thom you will see the fabulous Bayon Temple, Baphuon, the royal enclosure, and the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King. Continue to Ta Prohm Temple, unlike most other Angkor temples, has been left just it was when rediscovered: a photogenic and atmospheric maze of trees growing out of temple ruins amidst jungle surroundings, making it one of Angkor's most popular temples with visitors. In the afternoon you will visit the famous Angkor Wat, viewing the wonderful bas-relief carvings, and the reflection of the main towers in the moat. The trip to Pre Rup Temple will reward you with a spectacular sunset over the Angkor Archaeological Park and its surroundings. Back to your hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Tara Angkor Hotel Siem Reap or Similar 

Room Category: Superior Room​

Day 10: Siem Reap - Fly to Luang Prabang 
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang (Laos) Luang Prabang is a sleepy town, which has kept its long-standing reputation as a stronghold of Lao culture, with its splendid natural scenery and sense of timelessness. Set in a luminous tropical mountain range, located just 397km from Vientiane, Luang Prabang is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage listed town, which still retains its original enchanting character. It was also the Royal Residence of the last King, Sisavan Vatthana and is perhaps the best preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, we will be welcomed by our Local Guide, and transferred to our hotel, check in and enjoy your day at own leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Villa Chitdara Hotel Luang Prabang or Similar 

Room Category: Deluxe Room​

 
Day 11: Luang Prabang: City Tour – Kuangsi Waterfall 
After breakfast, you first visit to the National Museum. Housed in the former Royal Palace, uninhabited since the royal family was deposed in 1975, the museum showcases many treasures of Laos' royal past and allows visitors to glimpse the private and public quarters of Lao royalty. Also, displayed here is the Prabang, the sacred Buddha image for which Luang Prabang was named and come on to nearby Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas- relief. Then visit to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. Showing you more about Laos’ Ethnic group especially, minorities around the country. In the afternoon, you travel south of town to the famous Kuangsi Waterfalls, the turquoise colour of the water with a backdrop of white limestone cliffs gives the waterfall a magical appearance. Depending on the season the water level varies and you can be swimming in the beautiful pools. While there, you also will have the opportunity to visit the Sun Bear Reserve, a conservation centre that rescues animals from the wildlife trade. On the way, stop at Ock Pop Tok for a short visit to the Living Craft Center, where you will have a short tour so you get information about Silk, about weaver, about the Women that work in the Centre Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Villa Chitdara Hotel Luang Prabang or Similar 

Room Category: Deluxe Room​

 
Day 12: City Tour & Pak Ou Caves 
We have the possibility this morning to wake up very early to go witness the Tak Bat ceremony or Offering of Alms – usually set off around 05:30am to take part in the rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms Take a short drive to Wat Xieng Thong, the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang dating back to the 16th Century. Located at the end of the peninsula close to the Mekong, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics. Step down here to Luang Prabang Pier, where you will board on the local boat and cruise upstream on the Mekong River to the sacred Buddha caves of Pak Ou. Once you arrive the caves, you disembark to visit the Tham Ting or Pak Ou Caves, which house hundreds of Buddha statues. After visit the Cave, you cross the Mekong River to the other side and enjoy your lunch at local restaurant before cruising down to Luang Prabang. On the way, you will also have opportunity to visit the local riverside villages of Ban Xanghai, a popular stop-over producing some special varieties of Laolao, the local rice wine. Second stop at Ban Xang Khong, known for its handmade paper and weaving craft. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Villa Chitdara Hotel Luang Prabang or Similar 

Room Category: Deluxe Room

Day 13: Luang Prabang – Departure 

Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip. Complete the hotel check-out formalities after which you can visit the local markets and buy souvenirs. Later, proceed for departure home or next destination

Meals: Breakfast