18 Days Indochina Culture Tour

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1 Depart from Sydney
Transfer via: International flight on our arrangement
With Malaysia Airlines, you will start your journey to Asia to explore exotic culture and history of Indochina.

Day 2 Arrival Ho Chi Minh City
On arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, your guide will escort you to your hotel with private can/van. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.

Day 3 Hochiminh half-day city tour – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
Full day visiting the city: Ho Chi Minh City is the largest and busiest city in Vietnam with a population of 6 million people. Much of the daily life takes place on the streets, which are lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath. We start our tour with a visit to the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to this sight are some of the best French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office. Visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda, the War Remnant and the bustling Ben Thanh Market. Here anything and everything is for sale. Lunch at local restaurant. Afterwards we continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war. Turn back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 4 Hochiminh-Danang-Hoian (B, L)
After breakfast at hotel, you are free until your guide will pick up you and drive to airport for flight to central Vietnam. Upon arrival at Danang, local guide will meet you and escort you to the Ancient town of Hoian. After check-in and lunch at local restaurant, you will ride by bicycle to the home of a craftsman in the old street in Hoian Town where you will discover the daily life of Hoian people and see how they make a lantern. You will have a chance to enjoy making the lantern and keep it as a souvenir. Continue to explore the ancient houses, tailor stores in the old town.

Day 5 Hoian-Cham discovery (B, L)
Exploring Cham Culture begins with the real temples and sanctuaries at My Son - the religious center of Cham people in Vietnam. After the My Son complex was discovered, many of its artifacts, especially statues of female dancers and genies worshipped by the Cham people, worshipped animals and artifacts of the daily communal activities were collected and displayed at the Cham Architecture Museum established from 1915 in Danang city. In the afternoon, discover the life of Cham people at Cham Museum.

Day 6 Hoian-Hue (B, L)
After breakfast at hotel, your guide will meet you and drive to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam. Along the coastline, you will enjoy the wonderful view of Lang Co beach – one of the most beautiful beaches of Vietnam, and Hai Van pass. Arrival at Hue to have lunch and then have Imperial Citadel tour including Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, Forbidden Purple City.

Day 7 Hue- Demilitarization tour (B, L)
Today your guide will lead you to learn the history of Vietnam. During Vietnam-American War, the Ben Hai River was demarcation line between North and South of Vietnam. It makes a Demilitarized Zone of 5km each from the river. During the war, the Southern area of DMZ was one of the bloodiest battlefields. You will visit Benhai River, Hienluong Bridge, Vinhmoc Tunnel, Khesanh Combat, Hochiminh Trail, Dongha Town, Rock Pile, Ethnic minorities' people and their new life in the Central of Vietnam. Return to your hotel.

Day 8 Hue-Hanoi (B, L)
Take morning flight to Hanoi, one of the most important cities in Vietnam. Your guide will meet you at airport and lead you to have city tour: Ho Chi Minh President Mausoleum and Museum, One pillar pagoda, Tran Quoc pagoda, Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam, Army museum (or Art museum, History museum, Women museum is at your choice). Wonder around Hoan Kiem Lake then visit Ngocson Temple.
(Note: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh Museum will be closed on Monday and Friday. The body at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will be in Russia from Oct to Nov each year.)

Day 9 Hanoi-Halong Bay (B, L, D)
Leave Hanoi at 8:30 for Halong Bay, on arrival at Halong city at about 12:00. Upon arrival, get on a Chinese style Junk cruising around Ha Long Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch, passing Dog island, Incense Urn island, Ga Choi island, Finger island, Hoa Cuong Island and visit Surprise Cave and short swimming at Titov beach (if weather permitted). Have dinner on board and enjoy the night fishing. Overnight on board.

Day 10 Halong-Hanoi-Luang Prabang (B, L)
In the morning, cruise to Bai Tu long Bay, Fire Island, Bo Nau Island, fishing village. Having lunch on boat and arrive at Ha long wharf about 12.00 noon. Drive back to Hanoi and take late afternoon flight to Luang Prabang, the ancient first capital of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today the World Heritage City. Your guide will welcome you and escort you to your hotel for rest.

Day 11 Luang Prabang (B, L)
After breakfast, we visit The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign and the Central Market are not to be missed. Continue to visit Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana - Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa; Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture; Phousi Hill, the 328 steps leads to the summit of Phousi hill that dominates the sky-line of Luang Prabang overlooking the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang.

Day 12 Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave (B, L, D)
Following breakfast, we depart hotel to the boat landing, and take an excursion (a few hours) by boat, upstream on the Mekong to visit Pak Ou cave in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Ou rivers. Slender canoes bobbing by the shore, bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Our first stop will be at Ban Muangkeo, a well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky, namely Laoh-Khao to be distilled. We are welcome to taste it and also take away. Lunch is served at a riverside restaurant. We arrive back at Luang Prabang in late afternoon, and continue to drive outskirt of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, a well-known village for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes.

Day 13 Luang Prabang-Siem Reap (B, L, D)
(Note: Flight is not available on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday)
Take morning flight to Siem Reap, where the Angkor Ruins locates. Upon your arrival, your local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. After lunch at local restaurant, you will visit grand circuit: Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, Neak Paon, Mebon oriental and Pre Rup. We should not miss a visit to Ta Prohm temple to see a root of giant trees cover the temple, the view is so interesting. Enjoy dinner with Apsara Dance Show at local restaurant.

Day 14 Angkor Ruins (B, L)
Visit Angkor Ruin full day.
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning departure to visit the city of Angkor Thom, South gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon temple, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, Terrace of Leper King and Elephants, lunch local restaurant, afternoon continue to visit the famous of Angkor Wat, the largest component of this complex is known as Angkor Wat and admire sunset tours on the top of Phnom Bakheng Hill. Transfer to your hotel at Siem Reap.

Day 15 Siem Reap (B, L)
Today, you will have a chance to try Khmer cooking. Learning to cook Khmer food is a great way to introduce your Cambodia experience to your family and friends. Recreate the real recipes back home and invite them to a mouth-watering meal.
Program:
---Step 1: 1 and 1/2 hour
Visit to the market, explanation on local products
---Step 2: 1 hour
Theoretical overview of the Khmer gastronomy, the specificity of its ingredients
---Step 3: 2 hours
Demonstration on how to prepare 4 Khmer dishes (2 starters, 1 main course and 1 dessert)
---Step 4: 1 hour
Lunch at le jardin des délices training restaurant with our chef
Afternoon you will be free to walk around the city center with the old French shop-houses to experience the leisure of old days as well as the colorful nightlife.  

Day 16 Siem Reap- Hochiminh City (B) 
Morning is free at your own until your guide pick up you from your hotel and escorts you to airport for flight to Hochiminh. Upon arrival at Hochiminh, your local guide will escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.

Day 17 Mekong river tour (B, L)
Leave at 8:00 from your hotel for My Tho, on arrival, get on a private boat cruising Floating Fish Market and along small creek to Mekong River estuary, to Phoenix Island and stop at a garden restaurant for Vietnamese lunch. The motorized boat cruises more along natural creeks and quiet village in Ben Tre Province. Visit orchards, bee - keeping farm, taste natural honey and honey wine, enjoy tropical fruit, traditional music, wonder around a distillery, explore the local coconut candy production process, taste candy & coconut pulp. On the way back to Hochiminh, stop at a bonsai garden in My Tho. End tour in the late evening.

Day 18 Hochiminh-Sydney (B)
Transfer via: International flight on our arrangement
You are free to enjoy the last morning of this trip at Vietnam before your guide escorts you to airport for Malaysia Airlines back to Sydney.

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Tips for saving you money:

• Internal flights as specified in the itinerary (economy cabin including tax: Shanghai-Hong Kong, Hong Kong-Hanoi, Hanoi-Hochiminh)
• Internal train from Shanghai to Suzhou (soft seat)
• Accommodations: for 10 nights at four star hotels rooms with a private bath, air-conditioning, television, telephone and minibar; and 1 night on boat in comfortable twin-bedded cabin at Halong Bay.
• 18 meals: 11 full breakfasts, 6 lunches and 1 dinner;
• Round-trip transfers between airports, hotels, and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned
vehicles with experienced licensed drivers
• A local English-speaking guide in each city
• Entrance fees to all scenic spots listed in the itinerary
• Luggage transfers between airports and hotels
• China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance
• Government taxes and service charges except tips for tour guides and drivers

What's included?

• Internal flights as specified in the itinerary (economy cabin including tax: Shanghai-Hong Kong, Hong Kong-Hanoi, Hanoi-Hochiminh);
• Internal train from Shanghai to Suzhou (soft seat);
• Accommodations: for 10 nights at four star hotels rooms with a private bath, air-conditioning, television, telephone and minibar; and 1 night on boat in comfortable twin-bedded cabin at Halong Bay;
• 18 meals: 11 full breakfasts, 6 lunches and 1 dinner;
• Round-trip transfers between airports, hotels, and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned
vehicles with experienced licensed drivers;
• A local English-speaking guide in each city;
• Entrance fees to all scenic spots listed in the itinerary;
• Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
• China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance;
• Government taxes and service charges except tips for tour guides and drivers.