Indochina culture and history 22 days

The first destination in your journey of Indochina culture and history is Laos, the million-elephant Lan Xang Kingdom, founded by Prince Fa Ngum in the 14th century, who brought prosperity to the country and made Theravada Buddhism the national religion. Historically, the country fought off Siamese attacks, was occupied by the Japanese during WWII, and was then under French colonial rule. 

Upon your arrival in Vientiane, you will meet your local tour guide and travel from the airport to the city center for hotel check-in.

In the morning, you will explore Vientiane’s main attractions. Start with the largest and most marvelous temple, Wat Sisaket. Next, you will visit Wat Phrakeo, which was re-erected in 1965 and resembles the original from 1942. This traditional sloping-roof temple houses the Emerald Buddha and is surrounded by a peaceful garden. You then pay a visit to the iconic Pha That Luang, the country’s national monument.

This afternoon, stop at the COPE Center, which works cooperatively with the government to support the war invalid victims and raise awareness on unexploded ordnances (UXOs). During the Vietnam War, Laos was bombarded by the USA troops with roughly 2 million tons of explosives that caused about 25% of the villages in Laos to be contaminated with UXOs. The documentaries and exhibitions at the center will tell you more about the situation and their projects.

Lastly, you will stop by the Patuxay, Arch of Triumph in Vientiane, which was constructed to commemorate Laotian who died during the pre-revolution war.

After breakfast, you will travel to Talat Sao Market, a place with a variety of goods, both locally made and imported. Next, head to Buddha Park, home to an impressive collection of Buddha and Hindu deity statues. Dating back to 1958, the construction of this garden was undertaken by Luang Pu, a yogi-priest-shaman who surrealistically and mystically re-consolidated two religions. There are some sculptures that you can walk up and get a view of the compound from above.

This afternoon, you will take a flight from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Upon your arrival, you will meet your local tour guide and travel to the hotel in Luang Prabang for check-in. The rest of the day is at your own leisure.

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage city situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Kham rivers. This extraordinary city is an outstanding destination for your Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos tour package, offering a uniquely laid-back experience to nourish your spirit and find peace.

This morning, you will take a leisurely walk around Luang Prabang and visit Wat Mai, with its distinctive 4-tiered roof, which played a significant role in sheltering the royal family and serving as the royal family’s temple when the Chinese destroyed the town. Wat Mai also housed the sacred Phra Bang Buddha statue. Within walking distance of Wat Mai is the Royal Palace, which was designated a national museum in 1975 following the royal abdication. The walking route along the Mekong River will then lead you to Wat Xieng Thong, a vast compound with several temples and shrines. This was the place where kings were crowned, where a significant temple held religious rites, and where a colorful, appealing mosaic of life trees stood.

In the afternoon, a sail on a local boat will take you to Pak Ou Cave, renowned as a cave in the cliff sheltering thousands of Buddha images. You can hike through the upper and lower caves and admire the view toward the Ou River’s estuary. When the sun is setting, the boat will sail you back to the Luang Prabang center.

Early morning, meet your tour guide and tuk-tuk driver, then head to a local temple to observe the tak bath ceremony in Luang Prabang and the local culture. After the chanting ends, monks and novices in Luang Prabang leave the temple, walk slowly, barefoot, in line along the town's streets, and collect the morning alms from devout locals. Buddhist followers, who make up around 67% of the Laotian population, believe they will earn merit from monks and accumulate good karma when they offer food to monks. Strolling along the street, you will have an up-close view of this almsgiving ritual in Luang Prabang. Stop by a local market before heading back to your hotel for breakfast and rest.

This afternoon, you will head to Khuang Sy Waterfalls or Tat Kuang Si, one of the must-see attractions of Luang Prabang. Before entering the main premise of the waterfalls, you will get out of the car at Ban Long Lao Kao and begin a short trek through valleys and Hmong minority villages. Keep wandering, passing by rice fields and lush forests; you will find the staggering Khuang Si Waterfalls, a paradise nestled amidst the jungle. These tiered waterfalls with crystal-turquoise pools are an intriguing place to cool off and swim. After a pleasant time here, you can walk down and see the Bear Rescue Center in Kuangsi Waterfalls, which is home to wild bears, before getting back to your hotel in Luang Prabang.

Have leisure time to chill out at the hotel before your transfer from Luang Prabang town to the airport for your flight to Hanoi.

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam, where you can witness vast economic development while still preserving the country’s cultural quintessence, rituals, and colonial heritage.

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will meet your driver and local tour guide, then travel to the Hanoi city center. The rest of the day will be at your leisure.

Start a full day exploring Hanoi City at Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist pagoda in Hanoi since the 6th century. Later, the walk along the lovely Thanh Nien Road, situated between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, offers exciting opportunities to observe local life. The stroll leads you to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which you can visit from Ba Dinh Square. Located in the same compound as the mausoleum are the former houses of Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace, and One Pillar Pagoda, like a lotus flower on the lake, erected during the Ly Dynasty in 1049.

This afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Literature, renowned as Vietnam's first university. Originally, this was a Confucius Temple since 1070, and then a study sanctuary for royal children and elite students. The temple showcases Vietnamese culture over a thousand years. Next, you will visit the house of an artisan whose family has performed water puppet shows for 7 generations. Lastly, have a stroll and discover Hanoi's Old Quarter.

This morning, at around 9:00 am, you’ll check out and travel east to the secluded Halong Bay in a roughly 2.5-hour drive. Embark on the Halong Bay overnight cruise at noon. You will have lunch on board while sailing among the captivating seascape of thousands of karst peaks and grottos. The cruise’s schedule will include plenty of activities for your exploring, like kayaking through the water cave, hiking up to the dried cave, going swimming on an island, relaxing at sunset time on the boat, and sumptuous meals on the cruise.

The early risers can wake up and enjoy the breathtaking view of sunrise, as well as join with the Master and do some Tai Chi on the top deck. After breakfast, the boat will continue its schedule so you can delve further into the scenic beauty of Halong Bay. Back on the shore at noon, you will return to Hanoi and head to the airport for the flight to Hue.

Upon your arrival in Hue, your local tour guide will welcome you and transfer you from the airport to the hotel in Hue for check-in and overnight.

Hue was the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty, ending in 1945 when the French colonialists took over Vietnam. Start off your Hue City at the Imperial Citadel, a majestic royal enclosure with a fortress and moat built in 1804. Move on to the charming village in Phu Mong and visit the ancient house, up to a hundred years old, a typical traditional house with verdant green gardens surrounding it. Have a cup of tea with the host and hear more stories of the house before leaving for Thien Mu Pagoda, located on the bank of the Perfume River.

Have lunch at a garden restaurant, and then you will visit Tu Duc King’s tomb on Van Nien pine Hill, an impressive exemplar of Vietnamese art. On the way back to Hue center, you can stop at a local house and try making traditional incense sticks with the instructions of local people.

On this day, you will travel 2.5 hours to the demilitarized zone from Hue and visit the Vinh Moc tunnel, which was a bombing target during the Vietnam War. Descend to the three-floor tunnels, an underground village that shelters the people from bombing. Next, stop at Hien Luong Bridge and Doc Mieu Base, which was the American base located closest to the DMZ. After your trip, you will return to Hue City. The rest of the day will be free & easy.

Leaving Hue in the morning for Hoi An old town, you will travel along a stunning path passing pristine Lang Co Beach, the Hai Van Pass, where the ocean meets the clouds. You can stop along the way and take in the picturesque scenes, and tentatively arrive in Hoi An at noon.

In the afternoon, explore and enjoy the atmospheric Hoi An old town by meandering through tiny alleys lined with Chinese houses over two centuries old, the Japanese-style bridge, and the Tan Ky house, which once belonged to a rich merchant. This town is a place of cultural fusion, where the architecture is influenced by Asian and Western styles. The evening will be free for you to enjoy the night in Hoi An, with colorful lanterns, plenty of local street food, and the night market.

This morning, you will hop on your bicycle and travel through the lush countryside of Hoi An toward Tra Que Village. Participate with local people; you will learn and do gardening work, including planting herbs and regional vegetables. Afterward, hands-on making one of Vietnam's best dishes - Banh Xeo or sizzling pancake, followed by lunch. 

After lunch and a short break, continue your cycling to Cam Thanh Village, crossing the floodplain and rice fields, and enjoying the scenic countryside and the villagers. From here, board the local boat at the mouth of the Thu Bon River and learn about the local fishing styles and catch fish. The bamboo basket boat will then take you into the mangrove forest. Have a break before returning to Hoi An town by transfer.

This morning, you will fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's most vibrant and developed southern city. 

Upon your arrival, you will meet your local tour guide and travel to the city center. In the afternoon, explore the historical sites of Ho Chi Minh City. You will visit the War Remnants Museum for an insight into the Vietnam War with the exhibitions of US weapons, photos of the war consequences, chemical weapons, and so on. Then admire the French colonial buildings, such as the old Post Office, the nearby Notre Dame Cathedral, and the pedestrian Dong Khoi Street.

Late evening, travel to the Saigon River pier and board the dinner cruise for a dinner of delicious Vietnamese gastronomy. There are performances of traditional art and music on the cruise while you are enjoying the food, too.

This morning, travel to the Mekong Delta region in southern Vietnam. Arriving at Cai Be town, you will board a local boat and cruise toward Vinh Long for a tropical hideaway. Make stops to taste fruit from local villagers' orchards and learn about local handicrafts. Have lunch at a local house; afterward, you will head back to Cai Be by boat and return to Ho Chi Minh City by late afternoon. The rest of the day will be at your own leisure.

In the morning, head to the Cu Chi Tunnels, which were dug by the Vietnamese Resistance during the war against the French and later expanded by the Viet Cong troops during the Vietnam War. Besides the bunkers and bootstraps, this shelter's tunnels include functional rooms, such as meeting rooms, sleeping areas, hospitals, kitchens, and weapons caches. You will first see a documentary regarding the tunnels and the war. Next, coming down to explore those dark tunnels reaching 200km long and around 3 to 4 meters deep. Finish your touring of Cu Chi Tunnels, head back to the city center, and head to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight to Phnom Penh.

Arriving in Phnom Penh, you will be welcomed by your local tour guide and take a transfer from Phnom Penh Airport to the city center. Check into the hotel and stay at leisure till the rest of the day.

Spend this day discovering Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. Before the devastation of war and the revolution of the Khmer Rouge since 1975, Phnom Penh was the Pearl of Asia during the French colonial period. A full day around Phnom Penh reveals the past and the present, the vibrant cultural beauty, and the scattering of religious temples throughout this riverside city.

You will visit the majestic Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the astounding old building National Museum to gain a glimpse of Phnom Penh and make friends with this city. In the afternoon, visit the somber Toul Sleng Museum or S21 prison; then hike up to the hilltop Wat Phnom, from which the city's name is derived. Lastly, visit the sobering Killing Fields at Choeung Ek.

In the morning, you will fly from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the most important stop on your Cambodia holiday itinerary. This city is the gateway to the mysterious Angkor Temples hidden in the lush jungle. 

You will be welcomed by your driver and local tour guide and transferred from Siem Reap Airport to the hotel for check-in.

This late evening, you will enjoy the astonishing Phare – Cambodian Circus Show, which tells the stories of Cambodia through circus art, theater, music, and dance. The show is performed by young, talented Cambodians who have been supported by the vocational training center, Phare Ponleu Selpak.

In the morning, travel to the jungle and embark on your timeless journey through the intriguing Angkor Archaeological Park, visiting the Angkor Temples, most dating back to the 9th – 14th centuries, a prosperous time for Khmer civilization. You will visit the famed Angkor Wat, the largest and most religiously significant temple, with breathtaking scenes. Then, the Bayon Temple, with 54 giant 4-faced towers, is believed to have been assembled by King Jayavarman VII and the Buddha. Next, you will walk and discover other highlighted temples in Angkor Thom, including Baphuon Temple, the Terrace of Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper Kings. Lastly, you will explore the thrilling Ta Prohm Temple, mostly embraced by the giant tree roots.

Depart in the morning for Tonle Sap Lake in Siem Reap, the largest freshwater lake in South-East Asia, whose water level fluctuates annually. You will visit the Kompong Khleang Village by a local boat, travel through the canals for a glimpse of local life, and then to the giant lake. 

Though the landscape changes in different ways during the dry and rainy seasons, this trip offers wonderful opportunities to explore Cambodia's countryside. Afterward, travel to Preah Vihear, which earns it the title “mother of the mountain temples”. Upon arrival, you will check into the hotel and stay overnight in Preah Vihear.

In the morning, you will visit Preah Vihear Mountain Temple, built to worship Shiva and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located on a hilltop, it offers a spectacular view of the Cambodian plains. After the visit, you will travel to Siem Reap in a 3.5hrs drive.

At leisure on your own till the transfer from the hotel in Siem Reap to the airport for your flight to the next destination.