This trip offers a thorough exploration through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. You will be exposed to as much splendid tropical nature, interesting old-fashioned daily life, colourful Buddhist cultures, and well-known historic sites as possible.

Schedule: First Saturday of the month

Code: ST- IN 01

Day 1: Home – Hanoi (D)
Arrival in Hanoi, the ancient intricate capital of Vietnam, bus pick-up, hotel check-in
Afternoon: 1 hour rickshaw tour around the town center to be amazed by the unique hustle and bustle of the city.

Day 2: Hanoi (B-L-D)
Full day for exploring the fascinating city of Hanoi where old and new things blend together, Vietnamese, Chinese and French cultures mix together.
Activities: a pleasant walk around the peaceful Ho Chi Minh area, another pleasant walk at the beautiful Temple of Literature, a fascinating walk through the famous 36 busy streets of the Old Quarter, and a good visit at the Fine Arts Museum
The day is ended with an interesting water puppet performance.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong bay (B-L-D)
A scenic drive through rice paddies and mountains to Halong bay, a World Natural Heritage Site.
Check-in aboard, enjoy fabulous lunch and cruise along the terrific sceneries.
Overnight aboard

Day 4: Halong – Hue (B-L-D)
Morning drive to Noi Bai airport, take mid-day flight to Hue, the last Royal capital of Vietnam, a World Cultural Heritage Site.
Afternoon: visit the Royal Citadel of Hue, enjoy a pleasant walk in this interesting area, then visit the amazingly full Dong Ba market.
Evening enjoy Hue Royal Feast.

Day 5: Hue – Hoian (B-L-D)
Morning, take a lovely boat trip on the Perfume River to the beautiful Thien Mu pagoda, and Minh Mang tomb, 1 hour cooking lesson to have some impressions of the artistic style of Hue cuisine; Afternoon drive to Hoian, a charming ancient town, a World Cultural Heritage.

Day 6: Hoian (B-L-D)
Full day enjoy the wonderful features of Hoian: relaxing, charming, and great shopping
Activities: Early morning optional visit to the unique fish market, then enjoy boating along fishing villages, palm plantations and gardens, pleasant city walk to a temple, old Chinese merchant’s houses, the famous Japanese pagoda bridge, and many beautiful shops.
Afternoon enjoy a uniquely fabulous bicycle ride through the gorgeous sceneries of the countryside.

Day 7: Hoi An – HCMC (B-L-D)
Morning flight from Danang to HCMC, the biggest city of Vietnam, visit the hustle and bustle of China town.
Afternoon visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels.

Day 8: HCMC – Can Tho (B-L-D)
Start your exploration of the terrific tropical Mekong Delta with a bus drive to Xeo Quit, a former communist military base, and then enjoy wonderful boat trips around scenic swamps and forests of eucalyptuses and ivies.
Late afternoon drive to Can Tho, the capital of the Mekong delta

Day 9: Can Tho – HCMC (B-L-D)
Morning a wonderful boat trip to lively floating markets and villages along the lower Mekong branch, a fascinating tuk tuk ride along evergreen rice fields and orchards.
Afternoon drive back to HCMC

Day 10: HCMC – Phnom Penh (B-L-D)
Arrival in Phnom Penh by plane, airport pick up, hotel check-in
First city tour vis i t the well-known Killing Field , Wat Phn om , the symbol of PNH , and the interesting Russian market .

Day 11: Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville (B-L-D)
Second city tour in PN H : visit the splendid Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.
Transfer to Sihanoukville by bus
Afternoon: free time enjoying the tranquil beaches .

Day 12: Sihanoukville – Phnom Penh (B-L-D)
Boat trip in Ream National Park, visit untouched beaches and pristine magrove forests.
Afternoon: transfer back to Phnom Penh by bus

Day 13: PNH – Battambang (B-L-D)
Transfer to battambang, a lovely small town with French colonial influences.
Afternoon enjoy terrific motorbike trip around the countryside with a unique ride by bamboo train.

Day 14: Battambang – Siem Reap (B-L-D)
Morning: take one of the most scenic boat trip s in Cambodia from battambang to Siem Reap .
Afternoon: visits to Angkor Wat, truly a World Wonder and Phnom Bakheng for Sun Set

Day 15: Siem Reap (B-L-D)
Full day visits to Angkor Thom (the Bayon, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Terrace of Elephants), Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei, Eastern Baray, Eastern Mebon
Dinner: Apsara show

Day 16: Siem Reap – Pakse – Champasak – Muang Khong (B-L-D)
( Sunday )
Arrival at PKZ airport, pick up, then transfer to Champasak, visit Wat Phou, an impressive Pre-Angkor Temple, A World Cultural Heritage site, then land transfer to Muang Khong with stop at Phou Asa for elephant ride.

Day 17: Muang Khong – Ban Khone (B-L-D)
Morning bicycle ride on the island, then cruise downstream to Ban Khone, visit French railway, old bridge, Liphi waterfall, boat trip to Khone Papeng the biggest fall in South East Asia.

Day 18 : Ban Khone – Pakse (B-L-D)
Morning transfer to Pakse, then go on to Bolaven Plateau to visit some minority villages and plantations.

Day 19 : Pakse – Vientiane ( VTE ) (B-L-D) (Wednesday)
Morning transfer by bus to Pakse to catch the morning flight to VTE , a small sleepy capital city of Laos.
Afternoon city tour in VTE , start at That Luang, Patuxai, Ta Lat Sao market, and end at Wat Sisaket. From here, take a nice walk along interesting streets of Thanon Setthathirat, Thanon Fa ngum, Thanon Pang khan etc. and back to the hotel on foot. Dinner with music show

Day 20: Vientiane – Xieng Khouang (B-L-D)
Morning transfer to Xieng Khouang by bus.

Day 21: Xieng Khouang – Luang Prabang (B-L-D)
Morning visit the plain of jars
Afternoon transfer to Luang Prabang.
Evening walk to the night market.

Day 22: Luang Prabang (B-L-D)
Morning city tour visit Wat Xieng Thong, National Museum,
Afternoon excursion to Kuang Si waterfall, swimming at the fall. Back to LPQ visit Phou Si hill for the sunset.

Day 23: Departure (B) Home sweet Home
Transfer to LPQ international airport for flight to Bangkok or Vientiane and then connecting flight to home.

End of service

Price: USD/pax (valid till May 2006)

Inclusions:

• Hotel accommodation with breakfast (based on twin sharing, superior rooms)
• All meals indicated in the program
• All ground transport on tour with A/C vehicles , boats, motorbike, bicycle, rickshaw, tuk tuk, etc., all the domestic flights and 2 international flights SGN-PNH and REP-PKZ.
• All entrance fees
• Local English, French, German speaking guides
• Gifts and maps

Exclusions:

• International flight tickets to Hanoi and from Luang Prabang
• All domestic and international flights tax : In Vietnam: 12USD/pax (international flights from SGN), tax included in domestic flights; In Cambodia: 6USD/pax (domestic flights), 25USD/pax (international flights); In Laos:10 USD/pax (international flights), 1USD/pax (domestic flights).
• Visa upon arrival.for VN (40USD/pax), Cambodia (30USD/pax), Laos (35USD/pax)
• Domestic and International Insurance surcharge
• Personal Insurance
• Personal expenses such as drinks, camera fees
• All other accounts not mentioned in the above inclusions.