This trip offers a great chance to explore 5 of the most laid-back and interesting countries in South East Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar). You will experience the similarities and differences between these Buddhist countries. You will be delighted by the gorgeous landscapes, splendid religious temples, friendly and hospitaple peoples, delicious local foods, and many other fantastic sites and activities.

Schedule: First Wednesday of the month

Code: ST-SEA

Day 1: Ha Noi (L-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, enjoyable walk in the famous Old Quarter of the 36 streets.
The day is ended with an interesting water puppet performance.

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B-L-D)
Morning 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 .
After lunch, seat back and enjoy a scenic drive through rice paddies and mountains to Halong bay, a World Natural Heritage Site.
Check-in aboard, cruise along the terrific sceneries.
Overnight aboard

Day 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 2 hours’ 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 6: 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 7: HCMC– Chau Doc (B-L-D)
Transfer to Chau Doc through the scenery of the Mekong Delta. Explore this busy town at the border with Cambodia.

Day 8: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (B-L-D)
Morning boat trip around Chau Doc, then further to the border, cross the border and continue to Neak Luong ferry station. From here transfer to Phnom Penh by bus. Arrival in Phnom Penh in the afternoon, lunch , city tour visit the most popular attractions : Toul Sleng Museum, Wat Phnom, the Royal palace and Silver pagoda, and the Russian market (time permitting).

Day 9: Phnom Penh - Battambang
(B-L-D)
Transfer to Battambang, a lovely small town with French colonial influences.
Afternoon enjoy terrific motorbike trip around the countryside and a unique ride by bamboo train.

Day 10: 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 11: 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 12: Siem Reap – Pakse (PKZ) – Ban Khone (B-L-D) (Sunday)
Arrival at PKZ airport, pick up, then go on to Ban Khone, a very pleasant island on the Mekong River, stop at Phou Asa for elephant ride.

Day 13: Ban Khone – Champasak - Pakse (B-L-D)
Visit French railway, old bridge, Liphi waterfall, and boat trip to Khone Papeng the biggest fall in South East Asia, then transfer by bus to Champasak, visit Wat Phou, a pleasant Pre-Angkor temple, a World Cultural Heritage. Continue transfer to Pakse by bus.

Day 14: Pakse – Vientiane (VTE) (B-L-D)(Tuesday)
Morning flight to VTE (8:10-9:20), a small charming capital city of Laos.
Afternoon city tour : 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 K han etc. and back to the hotel on foot.
Dinner with music show .

Day 15: VTE – Luang Prabang (B-L-D)
Morning flight to Luang Prabang (PLQ) , the former Royal Capital of Lan Xang dynasty, a laid-back World Cultural Heritage, enjoy city walk to the National Museum, Wat Xieng Thong, free time for self explore the charming peaceful city, afternoon climb on Phou Si Hill for the sunset over the Mekong river.
Evening visit the colourful night market.

Day 16: Luang Prabang (B-L-D)
Morning excursion to Kuang Si waterfall
Afternoon tuk tuk trip to wood paper village, tin blacksmith village, go on highway 13 for a loop tour, end at a p lace to kayak downstream back to LPQ.

Day 17: Luang Prabang – Chiang Mai (CNX) (B-L-D) (Friday)
Take a midday flight to CNX (11:10-12:10; QV, 2,5)
Arrival in CNX, a irport pick-up, hotel check-in, lunch.
Afternoon city tour with a tuk tuk ride around the old city and onward to visit Bo Sang handicraft village. Then drive by bus to Doi Su Thep, cable car to the summit.
Enjoy traditional Khan Tok dinner

Day 18: Chiang Mai – Elephant safari – Chiang Mai (B-L-D)
A pleasant day with excursion to Elephant camp, watch the elephants at work, take exciting elephant ride and cow-cart ride, have buffet lunch, then enjoy a very pleasant bamboo drafting, and finally visit a beautiful orchid garden and an interesting paper factory made from elephant dung .
Evening walk to Night Barzar

Day 19: CNX – Mae Hong Son (B-L-D)
Morning transfer to Mae Hong Son, en route visit a national park, hot spa, Lisu and La Hu tribes, Lod cave, fish cave and temples.

Day 20: Mea Hong Son – CNX (B-L-D)
Boat trip to a village of long-neck women. Further transfer to CNX by bus.

Day 21: Chiang Mai – Rangoon via Bangkok (B-L-D) (Tuesday)
CNX-BKK: 10:15-11:25 (TG, DX47)
BKK-RGN: 13:10-15:00 (PG, daily) (lunch on plane)

Arrival in Rangoon, Airport pick-up, hotel check-in
Afternoon city tour: Drive through colonial buildings, China town, Indian quarter , stop at Kandawgyi for taking photos, visit Shwedagon pagoda and admire the sunset from there.
Dinner at Karaweik Palace restaurant with a live dancing performance.

Day 22: Rangoon – Bagan (B-L-D)
Morning flight to Bagan , City tour by bus right after arrival: visit Nyaung U market, Shwezigon pagoda, Htilominlo temple, Ananda temple, Thabyinya temple. Lunch
After lunch, take horse-cart excursion for half day to the lacquer ware factory, follow sand paths through villages, groups of stupas, the countryside, stop at Minanthu village and Shwe San Daw temple for sunset. Back to the hotel

Day 23: Bagan – Heho – Inle Lake (B-L-D)
Morning flight to Heho, bus pick-up , and then d rive to Inle Lake, transfer to the hotel by boat, rest till lunch.
After lunch, be delighted by the first boat trip on Inle Lake , a photographer’s dream : floating vegetable gardens, jumping cats monastery, silk weaving place, cigar making place, photo hunting on the lake

Day 24: Inle Lake (B-L-D)
Second pleasant boat trip on the lake: cruising to an interesting market of that day, one of the most scenic boat trip to Indaing, more photo hunting

Day 25: Inle lake – Heho – Rangoon (B-L-D)
Morning flight to Rangoon, bus pick-up, hotel check-in, rest till lunch
After lunch, ex p loring the city by local train for about 1 hour , then visit Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda to see huge reclining Buddha image, Yangon’s unique glassware factory, and Scott market , b y bus back to the hotel, time at leisure.

Day 25: Departure for Bangkok
(B-L-D)
Airport pick-up, hotel check-in, lunch
Afternoon city tour by bus visit Wat Pho, Royal Palace, then walk to Tha Tien boat station, board local ferry to Silom station, walk along splendid boutiques in Silom street. Bus pick-up to go back to the hotel, passing by China town and interesting streets.

Day 26: Departure Home Sweet Home (B)

Transfer to the airport for home departure

End of service

Price: VND/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., 8 domestic flights and 4 international flights REP-PKZ, LPQ-CNX, CNX-RGN, and RGN-BKK
• All entrance fees
• Local English, French, German speaking guides
• Gifts and maps

Exclusions:

• International flight tickets to Hanoi and from Bangkok
• All domestic and international flight taxes : In Vietnam: 252,000 VND/pax (international flights from SGN), tax included in domestic flights; In Cambodia: 126,000 VND/pax (domestic flights), 525,000 VND/pax (international flights); In Laos: 210,000 VND/pax (international flights), 21,000 VND/pax (domestic flights); In Thailand: 500B/pax (international flights), included domestic flight tax; In Myanmar: 210,000 VND/pax (international flights), domestic flights tax included.
• Visa upon arrival for VN (840,000 VND/pax), Cambodia (630,000 VND/pax), Laos (735,00 VND/pax) upon arrival; Free visa for Thailand for most nationalities; Myanmar (735,000 VND/pax)
• Domestic and International Insurance surcharge
• Personal Insurance
• Personal expenses such as drinks, camera fees
• All other accounts not mentioned in the above inclusions.
Exchange Rate: 21,000 VND/USD