Indochina Heritage Road - 14 Days/ 13 Nights

Travel on the heritage route to explore the Indochina countries: Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia that share the same river of the Mekong. Walk on the peaceful streets of the spiritual town designated as the World Heritage by the UNESCO, Luang Prabang in Laos, rich with lovely traditional cultures and serene old temples; visit the historic Hue in Central Vietnam, home to several imperial dynasties; wander the streets of charming Hoi An; cruise the Mekong Delta; before ending this fantastic overland tour in Siem Reap for the most stunning and marvelous sights, the Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

Tour Highlights

• Take a brief orientation tour of Luang Prabang and tour different old temples such as Wat Aham, Wat Visun and Wat That, on the streets paralleling the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers
• Take a boat trip up the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves (locally known as Ting Caves), where thousands of Buddha statues were found, en route stopping at Ban Xang Hai weaving village.
• Visit Ban Xang Khok where the production of silk and cotton and natural paper products (Sa paper) is being held.
• Take a city tour in Vientiane, to different temples, stupas such as That Luang, Wat Ho Phra Keo, Patuxai Monument (Vientiane’s Arc de Triomphe), and the Morning Market (locally known as Talad Sao).
• Travel to southern Lao town, Savannakhet on the Lao- Vietnam border, for overland trip to Hue before exploring the city of the Perfume River and Imperial Citadel.
• Drive via the scenic fishing village of Lang Co in Danang, with a relaxing visit to the beautiful Non Nuoc Beach and gaining an insight about Cham people at Cham Museum.
• Visit Hoi An the major trading port in the 17th and 18th century and take a walking tour around this ancient town for architectural buildings remaining from the past and colourful market.
• Take a day trip to My Son south west of Hoi An, in a lush green valley with dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dated back from the 7th and 13th centuries.
• Give yourself a chance to leisurely cycle along the beach of Cua Dai nearby.
• Boat to explore the floating market in Cai Be in the Mekong Delta and visit Binh Hoa Phuoc Island of tropical fruit orchards.
• Visit Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence.
• Cross the Vietnam- Cambodia border and enter Phnom Penh, before exploring the city’s must- see attractions such as the National Museum, the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom Hill.
• Enjoy Siem Reap trip, for its spectacular Angkor Wat, stunned by its astonishing early Angkor- era Rolous Temples Group, including Ta Prohm Temple and other ruins at the South Gate, Angkor Thom and Bayon.
• Take a boat trip to Tonle Sap the great lake of Siem Reap, added before ending the trip with a wood and stone carving market tour, or a trip to the Landmine Museum of Mr.Aki Ra (optional)

Detailed Tour Itinerary

• Vat Sisaket (Vat Sisaket Temple): This temple was the only one that was left intact after the Siamese invasion in 1828. It is a Siamese style temple that stands in the center of a quite and peaceful garden. Within its walls you can admire thousands of small silver, bronze or stone statues.
• Vat Ho Phra Keo (Vat Ho Phra Heo Temple): This temple used to house the Emerald Buddha from 1565 to 1779. Now it is used as a religious museum where Laotian and Khmer works of art are displayed.
• That Luang Stupa: This place shelters the residence of the Great Venerable for Lao Buddhism. It has become the emblem of Laos.
• Patuxai Monument, Vientiane’s own “Arc de Triomphe”: From its roof you can enjoy a great panoramic sight over the city and the surrounding landscapes.
• Talat Sao (Talat = market) (if half-day tour is in the morning), or the Morning Market: At the market, you can find lots of souvenirs, woven clothes, silk textiles, jewelry, etc.

Transfer to your hotel and overnight in Vientiane.

Day 4: Vientiane – Savannakhet – Lao Bao – Hue (B)
After breakfast, head to Lao Bao with stop en route. Arrive at Lao Bao on the Lao-Vietnam border. After completing visa formalities, continue by road to Hue. Arrive in the former imperial capital of Hue in the late afternoon or early evening, and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

Note: Visas for Vietnam must be obtained in advance.

Day 5 - Hue (B,D)
A boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon, visit the elaborate mausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. If time permits visit one of Hue’s many garden houses or explore the lively Dong Ba Market. Overnight in Hue.

Day 6 - Hue – Danang – Hoi An (B)
Leave Hue after breakfast by road for Danang via the scenic fishing village of Lang Co and the Pass of Ocean Clouds. Stop in Danang to visit the beautiful Non Nuoc Beach and the Cham Museum containing the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. On the road from Danang to Hoi An, visit five sacred hills known as the Marble Mountains containing dozens of Buddhist shrines. On arrival in Hoi An transfer to hotel. Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7 - Hoi An – My Son- Tra Kieu – Hoi An (B)
Take a half day trip to visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km south-west of Hoi An, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13thcenturies. On the way back to Hoi An stop to visit Tra Kieu, formerly known as Simhapura or the Lion Citadel, the capital of Champa between the 4th and 8th centuries. Some of the finest sculptures in Danang’s Cham Museum originated from here. On returning to Hoi An, the afternoon is free to relax perhaps browsing for souvenirs in Hoi An’s art galleries and silk shops, or maybe cycling to the nearby Cua Dai Beach.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8 - Hoi An – Danang – Ho Chi Minh City (B)
After breakfast, transfer to Danang Airport for the earliest flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival a sightseeing tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, takes in the former Presidential Palace, the War Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, a lacquer ware factory and Thien Hau Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling Chinatown.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9 - Ho Chi Minh City – Vinh Long – Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)
Leave Ho Chi Minh City after breakfast for Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta. On arrival at Cai Be, board a boat to explore the floating market, typical of the Mekong Delta. Continue by boat to Binh Hoa Phuoc Island to visit orchards of tropical fruit and have lunch in the famous Bonsai garden of Mr Sau Giao. After lunch, continue by boat to Vinh Long and then by road back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10 - Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi – Phnom Penh (B)
After breakfast, leave Ho Chi Minh City for Phnom Penh by road, stopping en route to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. Continue to Moc Bai on the border between Vietnam and Cambodia, and complete the visa formalities.

Note: Visas for Cambodia must be obtained in advance.

Arrive in Phnom Penh and transfer to hotel.

Phnom Penh was once considered the Pearl of South East Asia and one of the most beautiful in the Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history it still retains a colonial charm.

In the afternoon, visit the National Museum, the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace and the Wat Phnom Hill, founding place of the city.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 11 - Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B)
After breakfast transfer to Phnom Penh Domestic Airport for the morning flight to Siem Reap. Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire.

Start visits immediately with the early-Angkor era temples of the Rolous Group (Preah Ko, Ba Kong and Lo Lei).

In the afternoon continue to Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei, Chau Say Tevoda, Thommanon, and the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 12 - Siem Reap (B)
A morning tour of the temples takes you to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King.

In the afternoon, visit the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat. Return to hotel after watching the sun set over Angkor Wat.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 13 - Siem Reap (B)
After breakfast depart for a visit to Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean (River of 1000 Lingas) andBanteay Samre.

In the afternoon, visit the “Grand Circuit” taking in Pre Rup, Neak Poan and Preah Khan.Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 14 - Depart Siem Reap (B)
After breakfast, take a boat trip on the great lake Tonle Sap and visit the Siem Reap market and the workshops of Artisans d’Angkor (wood and stone carving) AND/OR visit the Landmine Museum of Mr. Aki Ra, before your transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your departure flight.