Signatures of Indochina 21 days

HIGHLIGHTS:

 

• Explore the vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh and take a cruise along the Mekong River.
• Discover the underground life in the historic Cu Chi Tunnels.
• Be mesmerized by the grand Angkor ruins.
• Experience a traditional water-puppet performance in the charming city of Hanoi.
• Journey to the hill tribe villages of Sapa and admire their beauty.
• Sail through the stunning Halong Bay.
• Admire the ancient relics of the former royal city of Hue.
• Visit the picturesque town of Hoi An and get some custom-made clothing.

 

BRIEF ITINERARY:

 

 

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh city for arrival

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh city tour

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh city – Cai Be – Can Tho

Day 4: Tra On – Can Tho – Vinh Long

Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi tunnels – Siem Reap

Day 6: Angkor Wat

Day 7: Angkor Wat

Day 8: Siem Reap – Vientiane

Day 9: Vientiane – Luang Prabang

Day 10: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave – Kuangsi Waterfall

Day 11: Luang Prabang – Ha Noi

Day 12: Ha Noi City Tour

Day 13: Ha Noi – Sapa

Day 14: Sapa – Ha Noi

Day 15: Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay

Day 16: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi

Day 17: Hue

Day 18: Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An

Day 19: Hoi An

Day 20: Hoi An

Day 21: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City

 

 

DETAILED ITINERARY:

 

 

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (D)

 

Upon arrival at Tan San Nhat airport, you will be greeted by your local guide and driver who will transfer you to your hotel. In the afternoon (if time permits), take an orientation tour of the city to get familiar with the surroundings. Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner on a river cruise in the evening. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

 

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B, L)

 

After breakfast, start your city tour by visiting the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of the war in 1975. Then, admire the beautiful French colonial architecture, including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Central Post Office.
Next, visit Cho Lon, the bustling town where you’ll see Thien Hau and Quan Am pagodas. The tour will end with a visit to Ben Thanh market, where you can find a variety of goods for sale. Enjoy dinner at a nearby restaurant and return to your hotel for the night.

 

 

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho via Cai Be (B, L, D)

 

After breakfast, depart for Cai Be by air-conditioned private car. Embark on a LE COCHINCHINE Mekong sampan for a cruise down the river and explore the vibrant Cai Be floating market. Sail through the maze of waterways to visit local crafts villages, meet the friendly locals, and taste some delicious tropical fruits.
Next, you will set off on a walking or cycling tour of Binh Hoa Phuoc islets in Vinh Long island. Later, the Le Cochinchine sampan will sail to Can Tho via Cho Lach and Tra On. Disembark at Cho Lach village and take a leisurely walk or bike ride along the countryside paths, visiting local farms and sampling seasonal fruits. Finally, enjoy a sunset cruise along the Mekong River to Mang Thit while sipping on aperitifs.
Dinner and overnight stay will be on board the boat.

 

 

Day 4: Tra On to Can Tho and Vinh Long (B,L)

 

Rise to the sounds of the bustling Mekong Delta as you start another exciting day.
After a delicious breakfast, set out on a scenic canal tour and visit the charming Co Chien village to immerse yourself in the local culture and hospitality.
Enjoy a leisurely boat ride up the Bassac River (Hau Giang River) and marvel at the breathtaking scenery.
Arrive in Can Tho and visit the bustling Cai Rang market, one of the largest floating markets in the Mekong Delta. Observe as hundreds of boats, loaded with fresh produce, jostle for space as vendors try to sell their wares.
Take a stroll through a palm-lined canal to see traditional houses where the locals live. Admire the lush orchards, busy shipyards, and lively markets that sustain the local economy.
After a memorable experience on the river, it’s time to depart the boat. You will be met by a car and taken to a local restaurant for lunch (at your own expense).
After lunch, continue the journey back to Ho Chi Minh City with a stop at the beautiful bonsai gardens in My Tho. Return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City late in the afternoon. Dinner is at your own expense.

 

 

Day 5: From Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels and Siem Reap (B)

 

Start the day with a hearty breakfast at your hotel. Then, head to Cu Chi to explore the famous tunnels used by the Vietcong during the war. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try shooting a gun.
Later, transfer to Tan San Nhat airport to board flight VN 3821 to Siem Reap (15.55-16.55 pm). You will be picked up and taken to your hotel by your local guide. Dinner is at your own expense.
Spend the night at your hotel of choice in Siem Reap.

 

 

Day 6: Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Exploring Temples (B,L)

 

Begin your day with an early start to witness the breathtaking sunrise at Angkor Wat. Afterwards, enjoy breakfast at your hotel before exploring the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants, and Leper King temples. In the afternoon, embark on a tour of the Small Circuit of Angkor, including Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, Thommanon, and Chausay Tevoda temples. Dinner is at your own expense.
Spend the night at your selected hotel in Siem Reap.

 

 

Day 7: Grand Circuit of Angkor and Floating Villages (B,L)

 

Start your day with breakfast, then embark on a tour of the Grand Circuit of Angkor, visiting Prasat Kravan, East Mebon, Pre Rup, and Preah Kan temples. After lunch, immerse yourself in local culture by visiting an ethnic village, followed by a scenic boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake to witness the Floating Villages. Dinner is at your own expense.
Spend the night at your selected hotel in Siem Reap.

 

 

Day 8: Siem Reap to Vientiane (B,L)

 

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Siem Reap airport for boarding flight 2904 to Vientiane. (16.45-17.45pm).
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. After freshening up, start your tour of the city and visit the famous Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple in the city with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the Ho Pra Keo, the former royal temple and museum.

 

 

Day 9: Vientiane (B,L)

 

Have breakfast and then continue your city tour to visit Patuxai, the Victory Gate, and That Luang, the most important national monument in Laos. After lunch, visit the COPE Visitor Centre to learn about the history of the country during the Secret War.

 

 

Day 10: Vientiane to Luang Prabang (B)

 

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival, you will be welcomed by your local guide and transferred to your hotel.

 

 

Day 11: Luang Prabang (B,L)

 

Start your day with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which houses the former royal family’s collections, and then continue to Wat Xieng Thong, one of the most important and beautiful temples in Luang Prabang. After lunch, visit the impressive Kuang Si waterfalls, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim and meet some of the local bears that are being cared for by a rescue center.

 

 

Day 12: Hanoi City Exploration (B,L)

 

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. Afterward, head to the Temple of Literature, which was Vietnam’s first university. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and Quan Thanh Temple. Take a tour of the Old Quarter on a cyclo, covering Hang Dau and Hang Gai Streets. Dinner will be at your own expense. Then, transfer to the train station to board a night train to Sapa. You will spend the night in an air-conditioned soft sleeper cabin.

 

 

Day 13: Hanoi to Sapa (B,L)

 

Arrive at Lao Cai station around 5 am and transfer to Sapa. After having breakfast and freshening up at the hotel, commence your tour. Trek downhill to Lao Chai Village to visit the Tay and Day tribes. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way and then continue along the valley to Ta Van Village, known for being the most beautiful village in the area. Return to Sapa for dinner, which will be at your own expense. Spend the night at your hotel of choice in Sapa.

 

 

Day 14: Sapa to Hanoi (B,L)

 

Begin your day with breakfast at the hotel before heading up to Giang Ta Chai Village, home to the Red Zdao tribe, for lunch. Then, visit Cat Cat and Sin Chai Villages, which belong to the Black H’Mong tribe. Enjoy a beautiful and cool waterfall in Cat Cat and picturesque scenery along the way. Dinner will be at your own expense. Transfer to Lao Cai Train Station to board the overnight train back to Hanoi. You will spend the night in an air-conditioned soft sleeper cabin.

 

 

Day 15: Hanoi to Ha Long Bay (B,L,D)

 

Arrive back in Hanoi around 5:30am and be picked up from the train station to depart for Ha Long Bay. You will travel for about 3.5 hours through the Red River Delta, a region of lush farmland dotted with small villages. Arrive around midday and board the Dragon Pearl Junk, where you will be greeted with a welcome drink and a fresh seafood lunch as you embark on a 4-hour cruise around the bay. Admire the incredible limestone formations such as Lion, Tea Pot, and Toad Islands, and sail past Tam Cung Cave and Dau Nguoi Islet (Human Head) to visit Sung Sot (Amazing) Cave. You will have plenty of time for swimming and sunbathing. After a great sunset dinner, relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin.

 

 

Day 16: Ha Long Bay to Ha Noi (B,L)

 

Start the day with a refreshing swim in the calm waters at the overnight anchorage. After a filling breakfast, continue exploring Ha Long Bay and see more of its stunning natural wonders such as Trong (Drum) Cave, Yen Ngua (Saddle) Islet, Ham Rong (Dragon’s Mouth) Islet, Am (Tea Pot) Islet and Mat Qui (Monster’s Face) Islet, which was used as a filming location for the movie “Indochina”. Return to the wharf around midday and disembark from the boat. Transfer to Noi Bai airport to catch flight VN 1545 to Hue (20.10-21.20pm). Upon arrival in Hue, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Dinner will be at your own expense. Spend the night at your preferred hotel in Hue city.

 

 

Day 17: Hue (B,L)

 

Begin the day with a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Take a morning boat ride on the Perfume River to visit the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, which are set in beautiful gardens and lakes. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Dong Ba Market, the Imperial Citadel, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945, and the ruins of the Purple Forbidden City. Experience a night boat ride on the Perfume River accompanied by traditional Hue folk music. Dinner will be at your own expense. Spend the night at your preferred hotel in Hue city.

 

 

Day 18: Hue to Da Nang and Hoi An (B,L)

 

 

Have breakfast at your hotel. Depart for Hoi An in the morning (approx. 4 hours). Drive along Lang Co beach and through Hai Van Pass to Danang city. Continue towards Hoi An, a former Cham seaport that has been influenced by traders from various cultures throughout the centuries. Make a stop to admire Marble Mountain along the way. Hoi An’s charm makes it one of the most charming places to visit in Vietnam. Dinner will be at your own expense. Spend the night at your preferred hotel in Hoi An.

 

 

Day 19: Hoi An (B,L)

 

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and visit the bustling early morning markets. Then, head to My Son to visit the Cham Holy Land, another World Heritage site. Afterwards, explore the town, visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Pottery Museum, Tan Ky Old House, the Cantonese congregation, Hoi An and Danang-style silk street, temples, and pagodas. Dinner will be at your own expense. Spend the night at your preferred hotel in Hoi An.

 

 

Day 20: Hoi An (B)

 

Begin the day with breakfast at your hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, either relaxing on the beach or shopping. Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense. Spend the night at your preferred hotel in Hoi An.

 

 

Day 21: Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City (B)

 

Have breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to Danang airport to catch flight VN 1307 to Ho Chi Minh City (8.00-9:10am) to join your connecting flight home. End of services. Conclude your 21-day signature tour of Indochina.

 

 

PRICE DETAILED:

 

Grade tour	Price per person in USD				Solo traveler with the private room
	2 pax	3 – 4 pax	5 – 7 pax	8 – 10 pax
3* Hotel	$3.311	$3.230	$2.990	$2.899	$800 extra
4* Hotel	$3.690	$3.502	$3.303	$3.299	$1.120 extra
5* Hotel	$4.310	$4.100	$3.942	$3.903	$1.700 extra

(Seasonal prices apply and will be confirmed when booking)