***Entering Laos at Chiang Khong (Thailand)/ HuayXai (Laos). 

This is a new experience for many clients and we therefore make sure that you have full assistance. We will change your guides as you move from one country to another and it is both their duty to see you safely across the border.

 

Please note with thanks that: on some occasions, a guide is not allowed to accompany you all the way to the immigration table - this is completely standard procedure and there will be border staff on hand to answer any questions you may have. 

 

After your breakfast, our guide will transfer you Laos through Chiang Khong. 

 

After passing the Mekong River, our Laotian guide will lead you to a traditional boat for your seven hour cruise to Pakbeng. Here you will have chance to admire splendid landscape and explore view along the banks of the Mekong. It is an important and busy route- which is the main entry to Northern Laos and LuangPrabang. 

 

After enjoying gorgeous sights on the Mekong, you will stop in a village nearby the river. At the end of the afternoon, you will get to Pakbeng- where you can find a variety of tribes such as H'Mong, Lue and Khamou. Then, you will check in to your lodge and have wonderful time to walk around to discover surroundings on your own.  

Overnight in Pakbeng.

After your breakfast, you will take a boat to continue your trip towards Luang Prabang. En-route, you will make some stops to some villages and the famous cave- Pak Ou Caves- the “mouth” of the “Ou” River, a famous cave with hundreds of statuettes of Buddha. Overlooking the river, it shows a splendid view of the Mekong.

 

In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang is the capital city of Luang Prabang Province in north central Laos. It is exceptional for both its rich architectural and artistic heritage that reflects the fusion of Lao traditional urban architecture with that of the colonial era .The city is well known for its numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries.

 

In the evening, you have free time to walk around and enjoy some some truly authentic Lao flavours from the local restaurant, especially Beer Lao. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

You are recommended to get up early, around 5.30 to 6.30am to visit Vat Nong temple. Here, you will witness The Tak Bat ceremony ("Tak Bat" means giving alms to monks). In this ceremony, from the early morning Thai people go to the temple and bring food with them. They are filling monks’ bowl with food such as rice, soft drinks, cakes and so on… This ceremony happens in peaceful and respectful atmosphere. That’s why we recommend that you should wear decent clothing when watching the rituals or if you want to save this moment, you should take photos from a distance to show your respect.

 

Another choice that you could make is visiting a monk school in the city. This will be a great chance for those who are interested in monastery because you will have time to talk with young monks, learn about their daily life. 

 

After your breakfast at the National Museum - where remains a collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments…, you will start your city tour. IN this tour, you will visit some most famous temples of the city. Highlights include: 

Vat May- the largest and most richly decorated of the temples in Luang Prabang.

Vat Xieng Thong or Temple of the Royal City- one of the most important of Lao monasteries and remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art.

Vat Visoun- the oldest and one of the most beautiful temples of Luang Prabang.

The last one you will visit in this morning is Arts and Ethnology Centre.

In the afternoon, you will Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek- the weaving and textile villages. Here, you will have time to explore traditional handicrafts, admire diverse and unique products made by skillful hands of artisan. After that, you will return to town to visit a monk school. To finish a long day, you will climb Mount Phousi to enjoy spectacular panoramic view of the city at sunset.

 

Overnight in LuangPrabang.

In the morning, you will transfer to the airport to get a flight to Pakse. When you arrive, your guide will meet and take you to the 4000 Islands by boat. On the way, you will make a stop to visit an ancient ruin of WatPhou- a ruined Khmer Hindu temple complex in southern Laos. It offers stunning views over the surrounding land and Mekong River. Wat Phu is considered one of the oldest archaeological sites in Laos. Like other notable Khmer architecture in Southeast Asia, it was constructed using sandstone, laterite and bricks. Wat Phu has been an active temple for Buddhist religious practice for quite some time because Buddhism replaced Hinduism in Laos in the mid 13th century. It will be an ideal place for those who are interested in history and archeology of Laos.

 

Then, continue your water transfer to Done Det Island. After reaching the island, take time to relax or explore the island on your own.

After your breakfast, you will visit Done Det and Done Khone- where you could explore the ruins of French railway tracks and the beautiful Liphi Waterfall.

 

In the afternoon, you will turn back to your hotel. On the way, you will have chance to spot rare Irrawaddy dolphins in the region. You could spend the rest of day to relax or discover the island on your own. Overnight in the 4000 Islands.

In the morning, you will depart for the Cambodia border. Your Cambodian guide will meet and take you to the town of Kratie- a province of Cambodia located in the northeast.

When you arrive in Kratie, you will have chance to discover the enchanting town. There are some nice-looking homes of French and Khmer style scattered about, adding to the pleasant feel of the place. You will also find a bustling market where you could sample some delicious food and take in rural life. Kratie town is sleepy but picturesque with sandbars and big islands out front and bends in the river. The rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins make their home in the Mekong River, just north of Kratie. With only around 120 remaining, they are surely worth a visit.

 

After crossing over to Koh Trong- an almighty sandbar in the middle of the river by ferry, you will continue your short journey to your lodge. You could spend the rest of day relaxing or exploring the island on your own.

 

Overnight on Koh Trong.

Your day is at leisure. Meals on your own. Overnight on Koh Trong.

In the morning, you will cross the river back to Kratie, have time to visit an animated local market Rokadandal Pagoda. Then, continue to take a land transfer to Siem Reap- located in northwest Cambodia via Kampong. 

 

Siem Reap is a popular resort town as the gateway to Angkor region. Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market. In the city, there remains museums, traditional Apsara dance performances, a Cambodian cultural village, souvenir and handicraft shops, silk farms, rice-paddies in the countryside and fishing villages.

 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

In your tour to visit Angkor temples, you will discover the finest and most ancient in Cambodia. Highlights include:

 

Angkor Wat- a temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. Built in the first half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the best preserved-  an architectural masterpiece. Its perfection in composition, balance, proportions, relief's and sculpture make it one of the finest monuments in the world.

 

Ta Prohm- located in southwest of the East Mebon and east of Angkor Thom. Ta Prohm is among the largest of the monuments in the Angkor complex. The complex included 260 statues of gods, 39 towers with pinnacles and 566 groups of residences. The trees growing out of the ruins are perhaps the most distinctive feature of Ta Prohm. 

 

The Bayon- the heart of Angkor Thom capital city. It is a Buddhist temple and it was the last mountain temple in Khmer Arts. Bayon Temple is surrounded by two long walls bearing an extraordinary collection of bas-relief scenes of legendary and historical events. This temple is one of the most famous after Angkor Wat, and millions of tourists come each year to see.

 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After your breakfast, you will continue your journey to Tonlé Sap. Located about 15 km south of Siem Reap town, Tonlé Sap is the largest fresh water in South East Asia. Continue drive down the eastern side of the lake. Then, arrive at Kampong Klaing- a small and peaceful village. Here, you have time to visit stilt houses, schools and shops. You will continue embark on a private boat for a cruise along a short tributary and then make a stop to visit a typical floating village.

 

Heading off to the ‘Great Lake’, you will travel north to Kampong Phluk- a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. You could also make a visit of the nearby fishing village- where you have chance to know more about some techniques used by the locals.

 

After that, transfer to the main land and turn back to Siem Reap. Spend the rest of day relaxing.

 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

In the morning, you will transfer to Siem Reap Airport to get a flight to Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia, located at the confluence of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap rivers. It has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security, politics, cultural heritage, and diplomacy of Cambodia. Check in to your hotel. 

 

After a short rest, you will begin your journey to discover this charming city by visiting the Royal Palace- one of Phnom Penh’s most splendid architectural achievements. The palace was built in 1866 by His Majesty Preah Bat Norodom, great grandfather to our current King. The Royal Palace is built on the site of the old town. Then, stop to visit the National Museum - where remains a collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments… and Wat Phnom- the namesake and symbol of the capital city of Phnom Penh. With the height of 27 meter (88.5 ft), it is the tallest religious structure in the city.

 

Overnight in Phnom Penh. 

Today, you will have visits to learn historical period of time of this city. The first visit is TuolSleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes- a museum in Phnom Penh. In 1975, Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). This soon became the largest centre of detention and torture in the country. Between 1975 and 1978 more than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the killing fields of Choeung Ek. S-21 has been turned into the Tuol Sleng Museum, which serves as a testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge. Today the building houses exhibits, paintings and photographs of many of the victims. Another place that you should make a visit is Cheung Ek- the best-known of the sites known as The Killing Fields. Today, Choeung Ek is a memorial, marked by a Buddhist stupa.

 

Then, you will have a lunch at Friends the Restaurant. In the afternoon and evening, you have free time at leisure or discover further the city. The best choice will be sightseeing on the banks of the Mekong river, walk around and admire the sunset.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Morning is your free time to relax.

 

In the afternoon, you will transfer by water to Chau Doc, Viet Nam for four hours. On the way, you have chance to admire stunning view of the delta. After reaching the border at Kaam Samnor (Cambodia)/ Vinh Xuong (Vietnam), continue your journey to Chau Doc. Then, you will be transfer to your hotel. After checking in to your hotel, you can spend the rest of day relaxing and watching the locals’ life on the Mekong river. 

 

Chau Doc is a city in An Giang Province, bordering Cambodia, in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. It is famous for its variety of fish sauces (nước mắm) and mainly "mắm tai", a kind of anchovy. The town is a busy trading center due to its border position with Cambodia.

 

Overnight in Chau Doc. 

In the morning, you continue your journey along the Bassac River to a Muslim Cham village. After  exploring some floating villages in this area, you will turn back to Chau Doc to visit some local temples.

 

Continue your land transfer to Can Tho- located in the center of the Mekong Delta. As the political, economic, cultural and transportation centre of the Mekong Delta, it’s a buzzing town with a lively waterfront. You could spend some time visiting some key sites and enjoying some local delicacies.

 

After your lunch, you will transfer to the outskirts of Can Tho, crossing the Ba Lang River by the local ferry. After having time to visit a typical delta house, you will take a bike ride along the canals to enjoy peaceful atmosphere of the rural area as well as have insight into daily life of the locals living outside of the city.

 

Make a stop to visit Gian Gua- a local pilgrimage site and then ride along the canal with a sampan to enjoy the beauty of nature at sunset.

 

Turn back to your hotel, take time to relax.

 

Overnight in Can Tho.

Early morning, enjoy a  visit to Cai Rang floating market or cruising by boat, then visit Binh Thuy Old House- which has been recently recognized as a national relic for architect arts by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It is a rare and perfect example of the character of the Mekong Delta.

 

Then, drive to Ho Chi Minh city, check in to your hotel and take time to relax,

 

Ho Chi Minh City is now the most populated city in Vietnam. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Oriental style pagodas and food stalls along the street, create a dynamic urban area in very special sense. Ho Chi Minh City’s architecture and lifestyle is the reconciliation between American and Chinese influence, with many dots of modernity yet without losing Vietnamese traits.

 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After your breakfast, you will depart your tour for some highlights of Ho Chi Minh City, particularly:

 

The Reunification Palace- a historical relicof an era that ended only 40 years ago. It is known as the famous historical witness which passed through the two fierce wars against the French and American colonists. The palace was built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City

 

Notre Dame Basilica- a cathedral located in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Established by French colonists, the cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1880. It has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters. At the time it was built, the Basilica was the most beautiful cathedral of this kind amongst all French colonies.

Saigon Central Post Office -one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. The Central Post Office was built around 1886 – 1891 based on Villedieu’s design, a famous French architect.

 

Continue your trip to Cho Lon- Vietnam’s largest Chinatown with roots dating back to 1778; it’s also a place of great historical and cultural importance. It’s the traditional and distinctive lifestyle of ethnic community here that makes Cho Lon famous and attractive to people everywhere it exists. Here, you have chance to Taste the local favorite noodle for lunch. After your lunch, make a visit of Quan Am Pagoda- one of Cholon’s most active and colorful temples. This shrine was founded in the early 19th century.

 

Return to your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.