HIGHLIGHT OF LAOS, CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM

Welcome to Siem Reap, the charming gateway to the famed Temples of Angkor. Be greeted by the local guide and be accompanied to the hotel for check-in. Settle in and enjoy some time at leisure to refresh.

If time permits, visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. In the late afternoon enjoy a relaxing cruise in a gondola paddle boat at the moat of Angkor Thom compound while hopefully watching a spectacular sunset at Prasat Chroung temple. Cocktails, champagne, canapés and a soft drink will be available on the boat, as the boat paddles slowly along the ancient moat.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

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Take a drive through the countryside to the Rolous Group on this half day Siem Reap temple tour. Located amid rice paddy fields and sugar palm tree plantations, the setting is quintessentially Cambodian. 

Take a closer look at the temples, named Lolei, Bakong and Preah Ko, with a three-kilometre walking tour. Step inside one of these ancient monuments for a special blessing ceremony. Seated in front of a Buddhist monk, receive wishes of good luck and good health while gaining a deeper understanding of Khmer culture and customs.

End the day with a tour to the temples of Angkor by remork (a Cambodian tuk tuk): Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, also known as the ‘pool of ablutions’. Note: As Ta Prohm temple has become increasingly popular, there is an option to visit Preah Khan, a larger temple built by the same king in honour of his father (Ta Prohm was built for his mother).

Less well known and therefore less frequently visited, Preah Khan is more grand in scale and yet provides a more intimate experience because of fewer visitors and it’s many collapsing and crumbling corridors. Note: Speak to the guide in the morning of the visit. Depending on the season there is a chance to visit a different temple to avoid the crowds as Ta Prohm is very crowded during peak periods.

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This morning, head out to the countryside to see the “gem” of the Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srei. Continue north to Kbal Spean, one of the earliest Hindu pilgrimage sites in Cambodia.

On the way back to Siem Reap, stop at the Landmine Museum which promotes mine awareness. On arrival back in Siem Reap continue exploring the Angkorian temples. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing the Mount Meru, home of the gods. The divine residence of Vishnu, the King himself was to reside here after his death. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Moreover, Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people. Today’s visit will coincide with the golden hour of the evening to catch the Apsaras gleaming in their best light.

Finally, the night ends with an incredible performance of ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus’. Starting at 8pm, professional artists of Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) will perform an inspiring show suitable for people of all ages. Set up in Battambang in 1994 by young returnee Cambodians from the refugee camps who learned about using art as a means of coping with trauma, PPS has played an influential role in promoting and developing Khmer culture over the years after the Khmer Rouge genocide.

The hour long show mixes traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society. Student performances can still be seen twice weekly in Battambang but now the circus has arrived in Siem Reap!

Overnight in Siem Reap.

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This morning embark on an interesting boat trip on the Tonlé Sap Lake, where there is an opportunity to learn about life on the lake. The Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and officially designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, covering an area of around 250,000 hectares in the dry season. Due to a unique phenomenon, when the monsoon begins, the swollen waters of the Mekong River force the Tonle Sap River to reverse its flow northwards, feeding the Great Lake and spreading over the surrounding flood plain.

Board a local boat and visit the village of Kampong Kleang, where only few tourists venture. Embark on a boat ride through the village where the fisherman and their families live in stilted houses among the petrified mangrove forests and waterways. Enjoy the fascinating scenery of Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. (Note: during the months Apr-Sep the water level may be too low for a visit by boat. However the village is still fascinating and can be visited by car. Quite dramatic to see how the stilted houses are exposed from lake when water levels are low!)

Return back to Siem Reap for an early afternoon at leisure to explore some of Siem Reap’s colourful markets before transferring to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang.

Welcome to Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos. Upon arrival, be greeted by the guide and transferred to the hotel.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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Start this morning with a visit to one of Lao’s most picturesque temples, Wat Xieng Thong. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong River, this temple was erected in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is deeply revered by the Lao people.

Walk to the boat pier, near the temple, to board the Nava Mekong, a beautiful wooden river boat for a cruise up the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves(depart around 10.30). The journey takes around 2 hours and along the way, be surrounded by spectacular views, pass by small villages on the river banks and witness fishermen out for their daily catch.

Upon reaching Pak Ou, disembark to explore the caves. Here, see thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues crammed into two caves carved out of a towering limestone cliff.

The statues range in size from a few centimeters tall to the size of a human, and the view from the mouth of the cave provides sweeping views of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. The caves are as well a destination for local pilgrimages, especially during the Lao New Year period of Pii Mai. 

Back onboard the Nava Mekong, cruise around the waters to a quiet location set amid limestone cliffs where the boat will moor for lunch. A selection of freshly prepared Lao dishes will be served before returning downstream to Luang Prabang.

This afternoon, have a chance to learn more about this culturally and historically rich city with a guided tour. The city tour begins with a visit to the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum to explore the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Evening performance at the Royal Ballet Theater

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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Today, enjoy a historical and cultural insight into the rich architectural history of the majestic UNESCO World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang with an expert who lives in Laos for more than 20 years.

This morning go on a city tour with Francis Engelmann and learn about four different types of buildings categorised by UNESCO. The first one is the traditional Lao house which is made from tropical hardwood or bamboo and built on stilts. The second is a half wood and half cement house built after the arrival of the French. The third is the traditional French colonial building that are similar to those found in Vietnam and Cambodia. The last form of architecture is an old Chinese shop houses that were built to be used for both commercial and residential purposes.

Enjoy a selection of local favourites at one of the best Lao restaurants in town, Tamarind (Note: closed on Sundays).

Then be driven through the Luang Prabang countryside to Kuang Si Waterfalls. Along the way, drive through beautiful landscapes of rice fields, hills, and small villages. There are also viewpoints overlooking the Mekong River.

Stop en-route to visit a small village which is home to one of the area’s many ethnic minorities. Have an opportunity to learn about their traditions and culture, much of which has remained unchanged for centuries.

Upon reaching Kuang Si Waterfall, relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. The jungle and dense woods surrounding the falls is perfect for exploring on foot. For the adventurous, it is possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track where stunning views await.

These waterfalls cascade down a multilevel limestone formation creating a series of turquoise blue pools perfect for swimming in on a hot day (Note: when bathing please be respectful, wear a sarong and be careful not to show too much skin).

Before leaving, there is an option to visit the bear sanctuary which is next to the falls, run by Free The Bears Fund Inc. There are currently 23 Asiatic Black Bears living in the sanctuary, which has saved them from poaching. The main threat to these bears is poaching due to the use of their bile in Chinese medicine. Read about their habits and observe their playful nature, whilst learning about the difficulties they are facing.

On the way back to Luang Prabang, stop at the Kuang Si Butterfly Park to visit the beautiful garden filled with hundreds of Laos’s butterflies! (Note: closed on Tuesday)

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Alms Giving

For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks collecting alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Laos people. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast spend some time at leisure. Be met by the guide and private car at the hotel for a transfer to the airport for the departing flight.

Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to the hotel in town (note that hotel check-in time is 2pm).

Spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

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Depart the hotel to visit the Temple of Literature, or Quoc Tu Giam. Next we visit Hanoi’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. T

We also visit The One Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. Close by is the mausoleum of the historic father figure of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and the former presidents house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969. His former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary (Viewed from the outside; closed Mondays & Fridays and from Oct.-Nov.)

Afterwards we continue to Hanoi’s picturesque West Lake area and the sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. From here transfer (or stroll along the lakeside) 700 meters to the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principal deities in Taoism. Next, visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the ‘36 streets’ area. Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake.

Overnight in Hanoi.

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Depart the hotel this morning for the 2.5-hour drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu. Visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968-80), and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980-1009). The ancient Hoa Lu Citadel (most of which has since been destroyed) once covered an area of three square kilometers.

After visiting Hoa Lu if time and energy levels permit, choose to take a half-hour walk up one of the surrounding limestone karst hills, the climb is rewarding with spectacular views.

In the late morning depart for Tam Coc Town for a Vietnamese lunch, along the way stop to take pictures of local villages and stunning landscapes.

After lunch, visit Trang An Landscape Complex which was listed on UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014. Take a relaxing boat ride on a peaceful river passing through a series of caves (one which takes 15-minutes to pass through in darkness). Trang An is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, some of which are submerged, and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs. As the boat gently slices through the water, notice the enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields giving rise to other name, ‘Halong on Land’. An ‘eco-tourism’ area, the only interruptions here are the sound of birds and the gentle paddle of the oar upon the crystal clear river.

If feeling adventurous climb up to Bich Dong Pagoda on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain, dating back to 1428 and comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order. After that, take a boat trip back by sampan to Tam Coc town.

Transfer to the hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

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Following an early breakfast leave Ninh Binh for a 4-hour (approximately) drive to Halong Bay, perhaps Vietnam’s most popular UNESCO World Heritage site! The name ‘Ha Long’ means the dragon descending into the sea and owes its origins to a Vietnamese myth. The towering limestone karsts represent the dragon’s back, surrounded by jade green water creating an unforgettable site. There are more than 1600 limestones of islands and islets with different shapes jutting out from the sea.. Most of them are still intact from human activities thanks to their uninhabited and uncultivated characters.

Arrive at the Halong Bay jetty around noon and proceed with check-in formalities before boarding a boat for an unforgettable overnight cruise on Halong bay. After welcome onboard, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight on board the boat in Halong Bay (private cabin on-board the join-in boat cruise).

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Enjoy the morning in the middle of Halong Bay as the sun rises on Halong and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessel cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards the port. Mid-morning the boat will return to shore. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport to board your flight home.

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