Gems of Indochina - 16 Days

Your Vietnam adventure begins with your arrival in Hanoi. Your private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. He will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city, with the fascinating Old Quarter at your fingertips. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight. Overnight in Hanoi.

Location: Moc village, Ba Vi district, Hanoi (About 68km from central Hanoi city, 1.5 hours by car) Highlights: Harvest tea leaves on a traditional, 30-year-old tea plantation. Enjoy a cooking class with a friendly local host. Visit local workshops in the village. Cycle through beautiful paddy fields and interact with farmers. Soak your feet in warm water with herbs, following Muong ethnic minority traditions. 8:00 AM - Private guide and car pick you up at your hotel. 9:30 AM - Arrive in Ri village, meet your host Mr. Duoc, a Vietnam War veteran and tea farm owner, who will share historical stories. 10:00 AM - Learn how to harvest tea leaves on Duoc's tea farm. Help pick the best leaves and see the manual tea production process. 11:15 AM - Drive to Moc village, join a cooking class with Mrs. Chin, then enjoy the Vietnamese lunch you helped prepare. 1:30 PM - Stroll around the village, visit local families to learn about rural lifestyle and local products. 2:45 PM - Cycle through the paddy fields, interacting with farmers. 3:30 PM - Relax with a traditional foot soak in warm water with herbs. 4:00 PM - Drive back to your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Halong Bay is a natural wonder of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Get ready to be amazed by the breathtaking views and enjoy a relaxing cruise with exciting activities. After breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart for Halong Bay. The cruise team will meet you at the hotel lobby between 8:00-9:00 AM (exact time confirmed the day before). Arrive at the jetty around noon and board the cruise. After check-in, enjoy lunch as the cruise makes its way through the limestone islets. In the afternoon, participate in activities like swimming, kayaking or cave visits (depending on the boat's itinerary), or simply relax on board. Towards evening, the boat will anchor for the night in a beautiful spot. Don't miss the sunset before dinner. Overnight on the cruise. Note: In case of bad weather, the itinerary may be changed or canceled if the boats are not allowed to leave port. Your travel consultant will make alternative arrangements.

Enjoy an early breakfast as the vessel cruises slowly back to port. Have an early lunch before disembarking. You will be transferred back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Spend your free time exploring Hanoi, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Depart from the bustling Ho Chi Minh City and head to My Tho, situated on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit the historic Vinh Trang Pagoda, dating back to the late 19th century. Next, board a sampan and cruise down the river, passing through the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise. Stop at Unicorn Island and stroll through the country lanes, enjoying the orchards and tropical fruits. Visit the fruit plantation and enjoy the local folk song music.I n the afternoon, ride a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and visit local family businesses, honey-bee farms, and enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshops. Have lunch at a local restaurant and take a break. In the afternoon, cycle around Tan Thach village and experience local daily life in the Mekong Delta. Relax in a hammock and enjoy the cool breeze for those who cannot join the cycling trip. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi minh.

Start 8:00 AM - END 2:30 PM Cu Chi Tunnels is a legendary underground system of over 220 km of tunnels, a must-see for both Vietnamese and foreign travelers interested in the history of the Vietnam War. The tunnels are now a historical structure of Vietnam and are considered a heroic district for the role they played in the resistance to US forces during the Vietnam War. The tunnels are located approximately 60km from Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy the scenery along the way, passing lush rice fields and water buffaloes swimming in the rivers. Once you arrive, you will get a chance to walk through some of the tunnels and imagine what life was like for the resistance soldiers. If you like, try to cook with the smokeless stoves used by Vietnamese soldiers during the war. You can even try foods the soldiers lived on. If you’re feeling brave, you can even try your hand at shooting at AK-47, one of the guns used during the war. Head back to the city in the afternoon; the tour finishes at 2:30 PM. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel and have a relaxing time before your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, our driver will meet you at the airport holding a signboard with your name and take you to your hotel. Overnight in Sieam Reap.

Start your sightseeing tour of Angkor area, spending a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins. Visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous for its colossal human faces carved in stone. Continue to the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the largest and most complete temple of Angkor Wat.This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. Stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle-covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, visit the floating village and take a ride by traditional wooden boat on Tonle Sap Lake to experience the human occupations at the edges of the lake. Visit the Western Baray (Baray Occidental), measuring 8 km by 2.3 km, which provided water for the intensive cultivation of lands around Angkor. In the afternoon, visit the Chantiers Ecoles - Les Artisans d’Angkor, which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting. End your visits at one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market", where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Relish the remaining time in Siem Reap before your private driver escorts you to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival in Thailand, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation in the heart of the city. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Bangkok.

After breakfast, we'll take you through the hustle and bustle of Bangkok to visit Wat Traimit, a visually stunning temple in Chinatown that houses one of the largest solid gold Buddha statues (5.5 tons). Continue to Wat Po, the home of the famous 45-meter reclining Buddha and the original school of traditional Thai massage.The afternoon is free at your leisure. Overnight in Bangkok.

Spend the day exploring Bangkok at your own pace. You could visit Chinatown and try the delicious street food, or spend the day shopping at Siam Paragon. If you're visiting on a weekend, don't miss the massive Chatuchak outdoor market. For sports lovers, consider seeing a kickboxing fight, which is a signature sport in Thailand. For cultural immersion, you could see a puppet show or visit Warehouse 30 for modern art exhibitions. And of course, wrap up your day with a traditional Thai massage. Overnight in Bangkok.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. You have a free day until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. Upon arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport, our driver will meet you and transfer you to your accommodation in the city center. Have a rest after the flight and explore the city at your own pace. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Start your day with the opportunity to participate in the daily morning ritual of saffron-clad monks collecting alms (sticky rice) from faithful residents - a unique tradition in Laos. Then visit the Morning Market, with diverse offerings from dried buffalo skin to local tea, chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Continue to local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Na Oune (Hmong), Ban Ou (Laoloum) and Ban Thapene (Khmu). Then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall, where you can swim in the turquoise pools or walk the forest trails. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Enjoy a healthy breakfast on your final day. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, then you can visit local markets to buy souvenirs. Later, your private driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. Trip Ends.