Laos – Cambodia – Vietnam And Myanmar Culture Discovery

Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival – Sightseeing
Saibadee! Arrive Luang Prabang, you are welcomed by local tour guide, get transferred to hotel in town for check in. The rest of the day we will visit The Royal Palace (official name “Haw Kham”) which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. Continue our trip to Wat Mai, the largest and most richly decorated of the temples in Luang Prabang.
Before sunset, ascend the 328 steps to the top of Phou Si Mountain that offers a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding rivers and cityscape before wandering through the bustling Hill tribe Market for traditional textiles and handicrafts made by the hill tribes.
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves
This morning you will wake up early (05:30 AM) and take participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. Back to hotel for breakfast.
Take a morning cruise along the Mekong River, about two hours upstream from the centre of Luang Prabang, and discover the numerous Buddha images at Pak Ou Caves. Pak Ou (mouth of the Ou river) includes the Tham Ting (lower cave) and the Tham Theung (upper cave) are caves overlooking the founder name Mekong River. They are a group of caves on the right side of the Mekong River. It is then only a short distance from the caves to the village of Ban Xang Hai. We’ll stop here to learn about Lau Lao (Lao whisky) and Lau Hai (Lao wine). Before returning the old town we stop to visit Ban Xang Khong where the Lue peoples of this village are noted in particular for their arts and crafts. Back to center, we visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong – representative of classic Laotian architecture.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall
Today we explore Ock Pop Tok craft living center overlooking the Mekong, set in a tropical Mekong garden. Meaning “east meets west”, Ock Pop Tok brings the fascinating world of traditional Lao handicrafts alive for visitors. Continue our trip to the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.
Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will take soft trek to visit the Ban Ouay, Hmong Hill tribe and Ban Ou, Lowland Lao. Continue driving to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths. You are free to visit the Bear Rescue Centre which relies solely on partners, corporate sponsors and donations from the public. Back to the old town and relax.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 4: Luang Prabang – Fly to Siem Reap – Arrival
Today you say goodbye to Luang Prabang and take the flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Welcome to Siem Reap, the provincial capital and gateway to the ancient Angkor temples. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srei and the legendary Angkor Wat. Our guide will meet you at the airport and take you to hotel in the center of Siem Reap, then enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 5: Siem Reap – Angkor Temples
Enjoy an entire day dedicated to discovering the mysterious Angkor temples. Wake before dawn and take a tuk-tuk ride to visit Angkor Wat at sunrise. Dawn is one of the most beautiful and haunting times to visit the temples, whose ancient sandstone blocks are gilded gold by the early morning rays. Return to the hotel for breakfast then set back out on a full day temple tour.  Starting with the magnificent Angkor Wat – the largest Khmer temple and finest example of Angkorian art and architecture, you proceed to Angkor Thom’s imposing South Gate, topped with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon temple, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 6: Siem Reap – Kabal Spean – Bantaey Srei
Kbal Spean was the refuge of 11th – 13th century religious hermits and over the centuries they carved lingas stands, animals and sacral friezes into the surrounding rocks and riverbeds. Today, a well-marked path leads up the forested hillside to the central area that contains most of the carvings. The walk takes about 45 minutes. Visitors are rewarded for their effort by a stunning waterfall and rock pools in which to bathe and cool off. In addition to the carvings there is also a variety of fauna at Kbal Spean and the trees and rock pools attract a colorful array of butterflies.
After lunch drive to Banteay Srei, home to Angkor’s finest stone carvings, followed by Preah Khan (Sacred Sword): one of Angkor’s largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 7: Siem Reap – Fly to Saigon – City tour
It is your time to enjoy your last wonderful moments in Siem Reap. Today we will come and pick you up for airport transfer for your flight to Saigon, Vietnam.
Welcome to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Arrive in the late morning and enjoy an orientation tour through Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling streets en route to the hotel. Have lunch at a downtown restaurant of your choosing then set out on a guided city tour. In the afternoon you will visit such sites as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Post Office and Ben Thanh Market.
Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.
Day 8: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Cai Be – Vinh Long – Can Tho
Today you leave Saigon and travel to the Mekong River Delta. Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before driving to the riverside town, Cai Be. Along the way, stop at a candy factory and orchard garden, where you have an opportunity to listen to traditional music. Enjoy a relaxing lunch at a riverside restaurant, then cross the river by motorized boat to visit some fluvial islands and explore the countryside by bicycle. Your driver will meet you at Vinh Long pier and take you to Can Tho City for the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho
Day 9: Can Tho – Floating market – Hanoi
Wake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motorized boat. Continue the boat ride to visit the Mekong Delta’s famous fruit orchards and sample the fresh, exotic fruit. Then venture deeper into the country-side, passing traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves as you observe the activities of the local people. Return to Can Tho for lunch then drive back to Saigon for the afternoon flight to Hanoi.
Welcome to Hanoi: Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Your guide and driver will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. Check in at hotel and enjoy your time at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 10: Hanoi – Halong
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before setting out on a 2.5-hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay, a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as you sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin (weather permits). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.
(The itinerary is a sample and it will be different between cruises. Our travel consultants will provide the exact schedule and program if you book a specific cruise such as Hera Cruise, Halong President Cruise, Emperor Cruise, Halong Violet, Halong Jasmine, Paradise Luxury Cruises, Orchid Cruise, Indochina Sails, Au Co Cruise, Starlight Cruise etc.)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight cruise
Day 11: Halong – Hanoi
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as you navigate back to Halong City. Your driver will meet you at the Halong jetty and take you back to Hanoi. Check in at hotel and relax.
Meal: Breakfast, Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 12: Hanoi city tour – Fly to Yangon
Today you have a half day exploring Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas; Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house), the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; and one of the city’s museums (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum).
Finally, you take the flight to Yangon, the charming former capital of Myanmar. Welcome to Myanmar, the country has just opened its doors to the world after 60 years of isolation and now waiting people to explore its unique heritage and culture.
Yangon is the former capital and remains the most developed city of Myanmar. The bustling city of Yangon is the best place to witness the country in transition, where century-old buildings from the British colonial period vie for space with the emerging modern skyline. Head to the hotel to check-in and freshen up.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Yangon
Day 13: Yangon – Fly to Bagan – Sightseeing
After breakfast at hotel, you are leaving Yangon for Bagan. Spend the whole day exploring Bagan where over 2,000 ancient temples blossom from the countryside, including: Ananda Temple, Shwezigon Pagoda, Nanpaya Temple, Thatbinnyu… In the afternoon, you visit a traditional lacquerware workshop, try creating some products yourself and bring home some unique the handicrafts. Later on, from an elevated vantage point, you witness the panoramic view of the archaeological wonders in sunset. This is the most relaxing way to end a day in Bagan.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Bagan
Day 14: Bagan sightseeing
Begin the sightseeing with a visit at the colorful Nyaung U market which remains very authentic with a wide range of local grown products. Next, you take an exotic horse cart ride around the ancient land, feel free to drop by any temples in Bagan and many other interesting sites nearby. Now you proceed to the typical Burmese villages, discover their agricultural lifestyle, such as Min Nan Thu Village and Shwe Hlaing village…
Then you continue our journey to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 metres high. It is the center for worshippers of the pantheon of Burmese ‘Nat” spirits (which form an essential part of Buddhist beliefs in Myanmar).  Climb 829 steps with bare foot to reach the revered Popa Taungkalat Monastery perched dramatically on a large rocky outcrop. The adventurous is rewarded with sweeping views of Popa National Park.
In the afternoon, drive back to Bagan and stop en-route at the workshop making traditional palm sugar, cigar maker and peanut oil distillation.
You cap the day with an unforgettable sunset from a boat on the Irrawaddy River
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Bagan
Day 15: Bagan – Fly to Heho – Inle Lake boat trip
Today you leave Bagan for Heho. Upon arrival, our private tour guide & car will pick you up and proceed to the tour.
Journey by boat to the most outstanding sites, including: Phaungdawoo Pagoda, the holiest one of Inle Lake with five 800-year-old golden Buddha images. In the afternoon, you continue to Ngaphechaung monastery, the biggest and oldest one over Inle Lake. Here you observe the unique architecture, remarkable collection of Buddha images (But it’s best known for the ‘jumping cats’. In the past, they were trained to jump through hoops in the air). From here, you proceed to Nam Pan village; cigar house, cotton and lotus weaving factory of Intha people. If time permits, stop for some moments at Inthar Heritage House on the way back. The restaurant reflects the style and elegance of the Inthar. It’s also a hotel and catering school, a gallery and a Cat Sanctuary for nearly extinct Burmese cats.
Meals: Breakfast.
Acco8modations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 16: Local market – Indein boat trip
Boarding on boat again and sail toward Indein. En-route, you visit local 5-day market which is rotating between 5 different lakeside villages over 5-day period. The market is a unique culture; people all around the lake and mountains come here to exchange not only their daily products but also the indigenous cultures. Finally, you reach Indein village. Take an easy walk through verdant bamboo groves to the hilltop of more than 1000 ruined stupas embracing the Shwe Indein pagoda in the middle. All were constructed during the 17th and 18th centuries. You then visit small communities that live along the lake. Wrap up the fruitful day trip with fantastic sunset over the beautiful lake.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 17: Heho – Yangon city tour
Take the morning flight, leave Heho for Yangon. Today you have a trip downtown with a walking tour through the historic quarter. Along the way you visit the former City Hall and various other examples of 1940’s colonial British architecture. The hidden art galleries inside the small alley could also be the next stop on your tour. Continue to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, which houses the sacred reclining Buddhas as well as the country’s largest one. Spend time at Bogyoke Market, formerly Scott Market (closed on Mondays and public holidays). Built in the 1920s under British rule, the side is listed a heritage of Yangon. It has more than 2,000 stalls dominated by large selections of antique Burmese handicraft, clothing and jewelry… Last but not least, you go to Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist site of Myanmar and the oldest one in the world. The Pagoda contains a 99m high golden stupa and spires, adorned with 7,000 diamonds, sapphires and rubies and allegedly, hairs belonging to the Gautama Buddha. You may have the chance to join a special oil lamp lighting ceremony with thousand oil lamps are lit around the gilded pagoda. This ancient and symbolic Buddhist ritual will be the truly awe-inspiring spiritual experience.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 18: Luang Prabang departure
Breakfast at hotel. Today is your free day and we arrange you the airport transfer.
Get ready for the International flights. Thank you for your time with us!
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: N/A