GLIMPSE OF INDOCHINA by Realistic Asia Independent and Partially Guided

Your Itinerary

1. Day 1 WELCOME TO VIETNAM - HANOI ARRIVAL

   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.

   Accommodation

   Hotel in Hanoi (please note that the check in is from 2PM)

2. Day 2 EXPERIENCE VIETNAMESE LIFESTYLE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

   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.

   Accommodation

   Hotel in Hanoi

   Activities Included

   • Harvest Tea Leaves with Douc
   • Cooking Class with Mrs. Chin
   • Cycling Trip
   • Foot Soak with herbs
   • Breakfast
   • Lunch
3. Day 3 CRUISING TO THE NATURAL WONDER OF THE WORLD SHUTTLE BUS, SHARING CRUISE

   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.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.Note: In case of bad weather, the itinerary might be changed or canceled if the boats will be not allowed to leave the port. Your travel consultant will plan other arrangements for you in this case.

   Accommodation

   Halong Bay Cruise Ship

   Activities Included

   • Halong Bay Cruise
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4. Day 4 MORNING RISE WITH THE DRAGON IN THE BAY SHUTTLE BUS

   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.

   Accommodation

   Overnight in Hanoi

   Activities Included

   • Breakfast and Lunch
5. Day 5 HANOI - FLY TO HO CHI MINH CITY - FLIGHT INCLUDED

   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.

   Accommodation

   Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

6. Day 6 A TRIP TO THE FERTILE MEKONG DELTA - GROUP TOUR

   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. In 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.

   Accommodation

   Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

   Activities Included

   • Breakfast
   • Lunch
   • River Cruise
   • Ride a Hand-Rowed Sampan Through Thoi Son Canal
   • Cycling around Tan Thach Village
7. Day 7 EXPLORE THE MAZE OF CU CHI TUNNELS

   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 travellers 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.

   Accommodation

   Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

   Activities Included

   • Breakfast
   • Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
8. Day 8 TRAVEL FROM HO CHI MINH TO SIEM REAP

   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.

   Accommodation

   Overnight in Siem Reap

   Activities Included

   • Breakfast
9. Day 9 EXPLORE THE ANCIENT TEMPLES OF KHMER

   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.

   Accommodation

   Overnight in Siem Reap

   Activities Included

   • Breakfast
   • Ankor Sightseeing
10. Day 10 VISIT THE FLOATING VILLAGES OF TONLE SAP LAKE

    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

    Accommodation

    Overnight in Siem Reap

    Activities Included

    • Breakfast
    • Floating Village visit Western Baray Visit
11. Day 11 TRAVEL FROM SIEM REAP TO BANGKOK

    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.

    Accommodation

    Overnight in Bangkok

    Activities Included

    • Breakfast
12. Day 12 EXPLORE THE AMAZING TEMPLES OF 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.

    Accommodation

    Overnight in Bangkok

    Activities Included

    • Breakfast
    • Bangkok Sightseeing
13. Day 13 FREE AS A BIRD 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.

    Accommodation

    Overnight in Bangkok

    Activities Included

    • Breakfast
14. Day 14 BANGKOK - FLIGHT TO LUANG PRABANG

    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.

    Accommodation

    Overnight in Luang Prabang

    Activities Included

    • Breakfast
15. Day 15 VISIT LOCAL VILLAGES AND KHUANGSI WATERFALL

    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.

    Accommodation

    Overnight in Luang Prabang

    Activities Included

    • Breakfast
    • Morning Market visit
    • Drive to Khouangsi Waterfall
16. Day 16 TIME TO SAY GOODBYE - LUANG PRABANG DEPARTURE

    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

    Activities Included

    • Breakfast