BEST INDOCHINA HIGHLIGHT: VIETNAM, LAOS & CAMBODIA (14 DAYS / 13 NIGHTS)

Description of the programme

• DAY 1: SAIGON ARRIVAL – WELCOME TO VIETNAM (Meals: Welcome Dinner)
  • Morning / Afternoon: Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), you will be warmly greeted by your private driver and professional English-speaking guide holding a Link Asia Travel welcome sign.
  • Private transfer to your hotel in central Saigon for check-in and leisure time to relax after your flight.
  • Evening: Gather for an authentic Welcome Dinner at a handpicked local restaurant, sampling delicate Southern Vietnamese culinary specialties.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (4★).
• DAY 2: SAIGON – CU CHI TUNNELS & HISTORIC CITY TOUR (Meals: Breakfast)
  • 08:00 AM: Depart Saigon for a 1.5-hour drive northwest to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. Explore the vast underground network spanning over 250 km used by Vietnamese soldiers during the war. Watch a documentary film, walk through jungle trails, see booby traps, and crawl inside preserved tunnel sections.
  • 12:00 PM: Lunch break at a local restaurant on the return route.
  • 13:30 PM: Return to Saigon for a guided city tour. Visit the historic Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace), the French colonial-era Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, and the sobering War Remnants Museum.
  • 16:30 PM: End your afternoon with a stroll through the bustling Ben Thanh Market.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
• DAY 3: SAIGON – MEKONG DELTA DAY TRIP (MY THO & BEN TRE) (Meals: Breakfast)
  • 08:00 AM: Depart Saigon for a scenic 2-hour drive south to My Tho town in the heart of the Mekong Delta.
  • 10:00 AM: Board a private motorboat to cruise along the Mekong River past floating fish farms and four iconic islands (Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Turtle).
  • 11:00 AM: Disembark at Unicorn Island to walk through fruit orchards, sample fresh tropical fruits, and listen to traditional Southern folk music (Don Ca Tai Tu).
  • 12:30 PM: Take a hand-rowed sampan ride along narrow palm-shaded canals. Visit a traditional coconut candy workshop and a local honey bee farm in Ben Tre province.
  • 15:30 PM: Return to the harbor and drive back to Saigon, arriving around 17:30 PM.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
• DAY 4: SAIGON ✈️ FLIGHT TO DANANG – HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN (Meals: Breakfast)
  • Morning: Transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for a short domestic flight to Danang.
  • Afternoon: Arrive at Danang International Airport (DAD). Met by your Central Vietnam private driver and guide, transfer 45 minutes to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An.
  • 14:30 PM: Enjoy a guided walking tour through Hoi An Ancient Town. Explore the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Ancient Merchant House, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, and local silk and lantern craft workshops.
  • Evening: Free time to watch thousands of colorful silk lanterns illuminate the Hoai River banks.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Hoi An (4★).
• DAY 5: HOI AN – BAY MAU COCONUT FOREST BASKET BOAT EXPERIENCE (Meals: Breakfast)
  • 08:30 AM: Drive a short distance to Cam Thanh village and the Bay Mau eco-coconut forest.
  • 09:00 AM: Board a unique bamboo basket boat (Thung Chai) rowed by local villagers. Navigate through lush nipa palm canals, watch exciting basket boat spinning performances, and try traditional crab fishing.
  • 11:30 AM: Return to Hoi An town center.
  • Afternoon: Free at leisure to relax at An Bang beach, cycle through rural rice paddies, or visit local tailor shops to get custom clothing made within 24 hours.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Hoi An.
• DAY 6: HOI AN – DANANG ✈️ FLIGHT TO HANOI – OLD QUARTER CYCLO (Meals: Breakfast)
  • Morning: Transfer to Danang Airport for your domestic flight to Hanoi.
  • Afternoon: Arrive at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). Private transfer to your boutique hotel in central Hanoi Old Quarter for check-in.
  • 15:30 PM: Enjoy a 1-hour traditional cyclo (rickshaw) ride through the 36 guild streets of the Hanoi Old Quarter. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and the sacred Ngoc Son Temple located on an islet inside the lake.
  • 18:00 PM: Attend a traditional Water Puppet Show—a unique Northern Vietnamese folk art performing art form originating from rural rice fields.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Hanoi (4★).
• DAY 7: HANOI – HALONG BAY 5★ LUXURY OVERNIGHT CRUISE (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • 08:00 – 08:30 AM: Pick up at your hotel and transfer via modern highway to Halong Bay (approx. 2.5 hours).
  • 11:30 AM: Arrive at Tuan Chau Marina lounge and step aboard your 5-star luxury cruise ship.
  • 12:30 PM: Enjoy a welcome drink and safety briefing while checking into your ocean-view Balcony Suite.
  • 13:00 PM: Savor a gourmet lunch as the ship sails deep into Halong Bay past iconic limestone karst formations.
  • 15:00 PM: Explore Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave or go kayaking and swimming in the emerald waters of Titov Island / Luon Cave.
  • 17:30 PM: Sunset cocktail party and cooking demonstration on the sundeck.
  • 19:15 PM: Sumptuous seafood dinner served onboard, followed by evening squid fishing or relaxation at the bar.
  • Overnight: Onboard 5★ Luxury Cruise (Private Balcony Deluxe).
• DAY 8: HALONG BAY TAI CHI – HANOI RETURN (Meals: Light Breakfast, Brunch)
  • 06:30 AM: Start your morning with a rejuvenating Tai Chi session on the sundeck as the sun rises over the bay.
  • 07:00 AM: Enjoy coffee, tea, and fresh pastries.
  • 07:45 AM: Visit Luon Cave by bamboo rowboat or kayak, admiring the enclosed natural lagoon.
  • 09:30 AM: Cabin check-out and luggage departure.
  • 10:00 AM: Enjoy a lavish international buffet brunch while the cruise navigates back to harbor.
  • 11:30 AM: Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi, arriving around 15:00 PM. Evening at leisure in Hanoi.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Hanoi.
• DAY 9: HANOI ✈️ REGIONAL FLIGHT TO LUANG PRABANG (LAOS) (Meals: Breakfast)
  • Morning: Free time in Hanoi for cafe hopping or last-minute souvenir shopping.
  • Midday: Private transfer to Noi Bai Airport (HAN) for your international flight to Luang Prabang, Laos.
  • Afternoon: Arrive at Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ). Warmly welcomed by your local Lao driver and English-speaking guide. Transfer to your boutique hotel for check-in.
  • 16:30 PM: Climb 328 steps up Mount Phousi to enjoy 360-degree panoramic views over Luang Prabang town, the Mekong River, and surrounding mountains at sunset.
  • Evening: Explore the vibrant Luang Prabang Night Market.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Luang Prabang (4★).
• DAY 10: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU CAVES & KUANG SI WATERFALL (Meals: Breakfast)
  • 08:00 AM: Board a private longtail boat for a scenic 2-hour cruise upstream along the Mekong River to the sacred Pak Ou Caves (Tham Ting & Tham Theung), set inside limestone cliffs and filled with thousands of Buddha statues left by pilgrims. Stop at Ban Xang Hai craft village en route to observe local rice whiskey making.
  • 12:30 PM: Lunch break at leisure.
  • 14:00 PM: Drive through rural villages to the breathtaking Kuang Si Waterfall. Swim in the turquoise jungle pools, walk along forest trails, and visit the Asiatic Black Bear Rescue Center.
  • 17:00 PM: Return to Luang Prabang town center.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Luang Prabang.
• DAY 11: LUANG PRABANG UNESCO HERITAGE ✈️ FLIGHT TO SIEM REAP (Meals: Breakfast)
  • 05:30 AM (Optional): Witness the morning Tak Bat (Alms Giving Ceremony), where saffron-robed monks walk silently through ancient streets to receive alms.
  • 08:30 AM: Visit the Royal Palace Museum (National Museum) and Wat Xieng Thong, the most magnificent 16th-century temple in Luang Prabang with sweeping roof architecture.
  • 11:30 AM: Transfer to Luang Prabang Airport (LPQ) for your regional flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
  • Afternoon: Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport (SAI). Met by your Cambodian guide and private driver, transfer to hotel for check-in.
  • Evening free to explore Pub Street and local night markets.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Siem Reap (4★).
• DAY 12: SIEM REAP – FULL DAY ANGKOR TEMPLE COMPLEX (Meals: Breakfast)
  • 08:00 AM: Enter the walled royal city of Angkor Thom via the monumental South Gate. Explore Bayon Temple with its 54 towers featuring 216 smiling carved stone faces, Baphuon Temple, Elephant Terrace, and Terrace of the Leper King.
  • 12:00 PM: Lunch break at leisure.
  • 13:30 PM: Discover the crown jewel of Khmer art—Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument. Walk through bas-relief galleries, central towers, and reflecting ponds.
  • 16:30 PM: Visit Ta Prohm jungle temple, famously choked by gigantic strangler fig tree roots embracing ancient stone walls (featured in Tomb Raider).
  • Overnight: Hotel in Siem Reap (4★).
• DAY 13: SIEM REAP – BANTEAY SREI PINK TEMPLE & TONLE SAP LAKE (Meals: Breakfast)
  • 08:00 AM: Drive through rural Cambodian countryside to Banteay Srei ("Citadel of Women"), a 10th-century Hindu temple carved from pink sandstone with exquisite carvings. Stop at Preah Dark village to observe palm sugar making.
  • 12:00 PM: Lunch break at leisure.
  • 14:00 PM: Drive to Tonle Sap Lake (Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake). Board a private wooden boat at Chong Kneas floating village to observe floating homes, schools, markets, and fish farms.
  • 17:00 PM: Return to Siem Reap town center for relaxation.
  • Overnight: Hotel in Siem Reap.
• DAY 14: SIEM REAP DEPARTURE (Meals: Breakfast)
  • Morning: Relaxed breakfast at hotel. Free time for last-minute souvenir shopping at local artisan markets until your private transfer to Siem Reap International Airport (SAI) for your departure flight home. End of services with Link Asia Travel!