Pearls of Indochina

Breakfast at the hotel.

The day is dedicated to discovering the city of Hanoi, beginning with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, which includes: the Mausoleum (exterior only, closed on Mondays and Fridays), the Presidential Palace, Uncle Ho’s house on stilts, and the One Pillar Pagoda, built of wood in 1049, resting on a single pillar and representing the purity of a lotus flower. The tour continues with a visit to West Lake – the city’s largest natural lake – and the Tran Quoc Pagoda, which stands on the lake’s eastern shore. Next is the unmissable Temple of Literature, the ancient university built in 1070 in honor of Confucius to pay homage to scholars and men of letters.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

You will begin the afternoon with a “xich lo” (cyclo) ride through the Old Quarter, the city’s historic center – a place with a thousand-year history teeming with vitality and commerce. The Quarter is composed of 36 streets, each dedicated to the sale of a specific product and thus named after it; for example, spice street or shoe street. These streets often carry the prefix “Hang…” followed by the product name (e.g., Hang Ma). You will pass through a lively city market to reach the Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem). You will visit the Ngoc Son Temple, an oasis of peace and tranquility, which offers a beautiful view of the Turtle Tower (Thap Rua). The day concludes with a Water Puppet show.

Free dinner and transfer to the station to catch the train to Sapa. 

Overnight stay on the night train.

Arrival at Lao Cai station around 06:00 – 06:30 AM.

Welcome by your local English-speaking guide. 

Breakfast at a local restaurant.

Departure for the mountainous areas of Lao Cai province; along the way, you can enjoy breathtaking views of mountains, rivers, and lakes. The Lao Cai region is well known for its vibrant and colorful weekly markets, surrounded by an enchanting landscape of wild nature. These markets are not just for exchanging goods but also serve as the epicenter for cultural encounters between the different ethnic groups living in harmony in this region. You will visit a colorful ethnic market that takes place once a week (Alternatives: Coc Ly market – Tuesday, Sin Cheng market – Wednesday, Lung Khau Nhin market – Thursday, Lung Phinh market – Friday, Can Cau market – Saturday, Bac Ha market – Sunday). You can browse through the market and see products for sale such as vegetables, poultry, horses, and buffaloes. Your attention will surely be captured not only by the liveliness of the market but also by the many minority groups in their most colorful traditional attire.

After visiting the market, you will take a short walk through several small ethnic villages interspersed with cornfields, cassava hills, clay houses, and plum orchards.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

Finally, we will head toward Sapa. Return to Sapa. Free time in Sapa.

Free dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Sapa or a lodge in the village (4–5km from the center of Sapa).

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure from Sapa at 9:00 AM.

During the journey, you will cross the Muong Hoa River, traveling along small dirt roads with alternating ascents and descents to reach the Lao Chai village, inhabited by the Black Hmong. Along the way, you can admire the spectacular panorama of colorful terraced rice fields, with the opportunity to visit some of the ethnic families living here. You will cross rice fields and small rivers to head toward Ta Van village, home to the Zay ethnic group. Descending again toward the Muong Hoa River and crossing a small suspension bridge, you can admire a site with ancient rock carvings. From this point, you can choose between a quick ascent back to Sapa or continuing along the road toward the Hmong and Dao villages located further south.

Return to Sapa in the afternoon and free time for shopping.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

Shared Limousine transfer from Sapa to Hanoi.

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Sapa is located in a splendid valley near the Chinese border and is known as the “Queen of the Mountains.” It is beautifully perched at a viewpoint overlooking a stunning valley, surrounded by high peaks that soar above the city on all sides. This is the quintessential destination in northwestern Vietnam, a gateway to another world of mysterious ethnic cultures and enchanting landscapes. The spectacular scenery surrounding Sapa includes cascading rice terraces that spread across the mountains like a multicolored quilt.

Departure for Ha Long by cruise company shuttle bus or private car.

A fascinating and majestic place: words alone cannot do justice to this natural wonder that is Ha Long Bay. The bay is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It features thousands of limestone karsts and islets, making it a highly picturesque location that draws thousands of travelers from all over the world every year.

The journey to Ha Long takes about 4 hours and includes a short stop. Arrival in Ha Long around noon; embarkation and check-in on a boat for the bay cruise.

Follow the cruise itinerary. Meals on board based on seafood. Overnight stay on board the junk in a private cabin (with air conditioning and shower).

Notes:

• Lunch and dinner with seafood tasting on board the junk (included – drinks not included).
• Overnight stay on board in a private deluxe cabin (with AC and shower).
• The cruise program may change without prior notice based on weather conditions or local authority decisions.
• Only one English-speaking guide provided by the shipping company is present on the junk.

Breakfast on the deck of the junk where, while sipping your coffee, you can admire the splendid bay at sunrise.

Spend the morning relaxing on the cruise among the magical landscapes of Ha Long Bay.

Brunch on board.

Disembarkation and return to Hanoi. Transfer by our means to Hanoi airport for the flight to Hue.

Arrival in Hue, welcome (without guide), and transfer to the hotel. Check-in and overnight stay at the hotel.

Along the quiet banks of the Huong River (the Perfume River), the city of Hue, in central Vietnam, offers travelers the relaxed and romantic atmosphere of a place outside of time. It is the most romantic city in Vietnam, a title recognized by travelers with a poetic soul. It is also the city with the best cuisine in the entire country, according to those who have dined in the many restaurants lining the Perfume River.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. It is the city’s spiritual highlight, well known for its majestic octagonal tower and splendid view of the Perfume River. Next, visit the city’s most important sites – the Hue Citadel, the sole surviving symbol of what was once the Imperial City of Vietnam. Its design is inspired by Vauban fortifications. The city is composed of three parts: Kinh Thanh (the Capital City), Hoang Thanh (the Imperial City), and Tu Cam Thanh (the Forbidden Purple City). Hue’s most beautiful sites are concentrated in this area, including the Flag Tower, the Noon Gate, the Palace of Supreme Harmony, the Dynastic Temples area, and the residential quarters.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit the Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, an architectural masterpiece that harmoniously blends nature with imperial religious works, and the Xuan Thuy village. The day concludes with a visit to the Dong Ba Market.

At the end of the day, check in to your hotel and enjoy your stay in the ancient capital.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Hue.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for Hoi An, with stops at the Lang Co fishing village and the Cloud Pass (Hai Van Pass).

Arrival in Hoi An; the rest of the day is dedicated to visiting the town of lanterns.

The first stop is Cam Pho – one of the oldest communal houses in Hoi An. It was built following traditional Chinese architecture, serving as a center for worship, trade negotiations, and cultural exchange between locals and Chinese and Japanese merchants. Take a short walk to the symbol of Hoi An – Chua Cau, or the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 17th century to allow access to the Japanese quarter from the Chinese quarters. Continue toward the Ancient House of Quan Thang – one of the most authentic ancient houses in Hoi An, featuring lively and refined architecture and sculptures created by artisans from the famous Kim Bong carpentry village in Oriental style. The house offers a glimpse into the daily life of a Hoi An family. Conclude the day at the Phuc Kien (Fujian) Assembly Hall, built in the 17th century as a meeting place for residents, merchants, and visitors from the Fujian region of China.

Free lunch at a local restaurant during the visits.

Check-in at the hotel. Free dinner at a local restaurant and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time in Hoi An. Transfer to Da Nang airport for the flight to Saigon.

Arrival in Saigon. Welcome by the guide and transfer to the hotel. Free lunch at a local restaurant.

The rest of the day is dedicated to visiting the Independence Palace, once the seat of the South Vietnamese Presidents. Our visit includes seeing the North Vietnamese tank that crashed through the gates of the presidential palace in 1975 to end the controversial Vietnam War. Next is the unmissable War Remnants Museum (Bao Tang Chung Tich Chien Tranh), which offers a unique opportunity to understand the Vietnamese perspective on the bloody Vietnam War. Continue your pleasant tour toward the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street and walk to the city’s must-see landmark, the Saigon Central Post Office, a splendid building designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. For the rest of the day, you are free to visit the most famous market in the city, the Ben Thanh Market, open since 1870.

Check-in and accommodation at the hotel.

At the end of the civil war, ancient Saigon took the name of the political leader of the winning side, North Vietnam. Today, it represents the beating heart of Vietnam, as well as its largest city, reflecting its essence through that unique fusion of native culture and deep French and Chinese influences, perceptible at first sight in its architecture.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning journey toward Ben Tre, a beautiful region of the Mekong Delta famous for the production of coconut candy. Arrive at the Phong Nam Bridge for a boat trip on the Ben Tre River to discover local daily life. Stop at a brick kiln to observe traditional brick-making. Along the canal, you will visit one of the many coconut processing workshops where you can taste fresh coconut and see how every single part of this fruit is transformed into its derivative products. Continue your boat trip along a canal to Nhon Thanh village. This will be an opportunity to taste fresh fruit. Take a bike ride (or Tuk Tuk) along a small path through the villages and enjoy the view of coconut trees, rice fields, and vegetable gardens.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

We then head to Jardin du Mekong (Mekong Garden), located in a small village near Cho Lach. Free time for some relaxation or to discover the surroundings on your own. Around 6:30 PM, you can participate in a short cooking lesson with the host family to prepare delicious rice crepes.

Dinner included and overnight stay at the Jardin du Mekong homestay.

Breakfast at the homestay.

Transfer to Chau Doc.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

During the afternoon, transfer and visit to Tra Su (110km ~ 3h) to explore the famous and evocative melaleuca rainforest: an enchanted landscape immersed in vegetation and the natural habitat for approximately 70 species of birds. Aboard a small boat, we slowly enter the canals surrounded by a surreal scenery inhabited by storks, cranes, and tropical birds. During the Vietnam War, this area served as a base for revolutionaries. Today, it welcomes us with all its natural charm, featuring mangrove forests, local bamboo houses, and numerous animal species including colorful birds, storks, bats, snakes, and turtles.

The final stop is the Hang Pagoda on Sam Mountain, which offers a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape.

Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

06:30 AM: Meeting with our driver (no guide) at the hotel reception.

Transfer by driver to the port of Chau Doc. After crossing the border into Cambodia, you will travel up the Lower Mekong on a speedboat, which takes about 4 hours to reach Phnom Penh.

Arrival in Phnom Penh followed by customs formalities to obtain your entry visa.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit the city of Phnom Penh, which only today, after 25 years, is beginning to regain its former beauty. The best-preserved colonial architecture is found around the Victory Monument where, along the boulevards laid out by the French, you can admire elegant Art Deco villas. From there, take a rickshaw to the Royal Palace, which houses within its complex the Throne Hall, the Royal Treasury, and the Silver Pagoda with its diamond-encrusted Buddha statue. Afterward, visit the Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21) and Choeung Ek – The Killing Fields. These sites are dedicated to remembering the war crimes of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot, and the darkest period of Cambodian history.

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21) and Choeung Ek – The Killing Fields. These sites are dedicated to remembering the war crimes of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge and the darkest period of Cambodian history.

Afterward, transfer by private car or shared bus to Siem Reap. You will head toward Siem Reap along National Road 6. Leaving the city, you can observe the bustling activities of the Cambodians who begin their day very early.

Stop for a free lunch at a restaurant in Kompong Thom, then continue along National Road 6, which follows the route of the ancient Khmer “Royal Road.” Here, you can still find the majestic Spean Praptos, a bridge made of laterite and sandstone built by Jayavarman VII eight centuries ago.

Arrival in Siem Reap in the late afternoon and check-in at the hotel.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Begin the excursion with a visit to the Angkor area, where we will spend a full day exploring marvelous ancient ruins such as the South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the imposing Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the largest and most complete temple, Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was built in the 12th century and covers an area of approximately 210 hectares.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

You will stroll around this enormous building, admiring the many colonnaded galleries, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds filled with water that reflect the towering temple. The jungle-covered Ta Prohm temple is a sight of rare beauty; enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers embracing the structure from its stone foundations give the impression that man’s creation is being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature.

In the late afternoon, you will have the opportunity to admire the sunset on Bakheng Hill.

Free dinner at a local restaurant and overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Optional Choice: A short Tuk Tuk ride and the chance to participate in a Buddhist ceremony, where you will be blessed by monks wishing you happiness and prosperity for your holiday (supplement of $10 USD per person).

Meeting with our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30 AM.

Leaving the city, we set off along a newly paved road to reach the Banteay Srei temple (10th century), considered the crown jewel of classical Khmer art. Then, continue your visit to Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries; the southern example is remarkably well-preserved.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue to Tonle Sap (50km ~ 1 hour), the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and an ecologically critical point, declared a UNESCO “Biosphere Reserve” in 1997. The name means “Great river of fresh water,” but it is more commonly translated as “Great Lake.” Head toward the floating village of Kompong Phluk, located about an hour’s drive from Siem Reap and visited by thousands of tourists every year. Kompong Phluk is one of the most impressive villages due to the height and size of its stilt houses.

Return to the hotel. Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Siem Reap.

Please Note:

• Rainy Season (Aug – Jan): You will take a boat to explore the village and continue toward Lake Tonle Sap (walking inside the villages is not possible).
• Dry Season (Feb – Aug): You will take a car to the village followed by a walking tour through the village. Afterward, you will board a local boat to pass through all the canals toward the great lake, where inhabitants move their houses according to the water levels.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight, concluding your Cambodia and Vietnam Journey.

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