Day 1: Australia - - Ho Chi Minh

City

Today, depart Australia for Ho Chi

Minh City, locally known as Saigon and

Vietnam’s economic powerhouse. On

arrival you will be welcomed at the

airport and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels -

Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)

This morning we will leave Saigon to visit the

tunnel network of Cu Chi. This unbelievable

system served as communication routes,

storage facilities, hospitals and living quarters

for Vietnamese fighters throughout the Vietnam war. Afterwards, return to the city

centre by early afternoon and explore Saigon’s historic landmarks: the Old Saigon

post office, Notre Dame Cathedral and Opera House. Continue your tour by visiting

the Reunification Palace. Your day will end after a visit to Ben Thanh market – the

biggest local market in Saigon.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Today is a free day to lap up all Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. Ho Chi Minh City is

Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has

driven the whole country forward with its pulsating energy. A chaotic whirl, the city

breathes life and vitality into all who settle here – visitors cannot help but be hauled

along for the ride

Optional Tour— Mekong Delta— Start your Mekong Delta experience by exploring Ben Tre

Province before embarking on a cruise on Ben Tre river. Stop at a local brickwork to see how

bricks have been made for hundreds of years in handy traditional style by printing and baking.

Next, visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along the canal.

Return international airfares

All internal airfares

All transfers

Breakfast daily

14 nights twin share

accommodation

Key sightseeing

Professional guides

16 Day Treasures of

Indochina

8 October 2016

20 October 2016

10 November 2016

28 November 2016

8 January 2017

8 March 2017

20 March 2017

4 April 2017

30 April 2017

4 May 2017

4 June 2017

16 June 2017

8 July 2017

22 July 2017

6 August 2017

20 August 2017

10 September 2017

24 September 2017

8 October 2017

22 October 2017

20 November 2017

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Process

(B) - Breakfast / (L) - Lunch / (D) - Dinner

Flight

Cruise

Train

Watch as we meander up the river villages get smaller and smaller to before stopping and enjoying

some local fruits and tea. Continue by taking a motor cart or cycle ride through green rice ­fields and

vegetable plantations to get a feel for local life. Lunch is then served at a riverside restaurant.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City - - Danang - Hoi An (B)

Today after breakfast you will be met and transferred to the airport for your flight to

Danang. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Ancient Town of Hoi An for

check-in at your hotel. En-route visit the incredible Cham Museum. This fine museum has

the world’s largest collection of Cham artefacts, housed in buildings marrying French-

colonial architecture with Cham elements. The rest of the afternoon is then free to explore

this colonial wonder at your own pace.

Day 5: Hoi An (B)

Today you are free to do as little or as much as you like in the beachside town. Hoi An is a

known for its well-preserved Ancient Town, cut through with canals. The former port

city’s melting-pot history is reflected in its architecture, a mix of eras and styles from

wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings.

Day 6: Hoi An - Hue (B)

After breakfast we will leave for the ancient city of Hue. Upon arrival, we will visit

Imperial Citadel. Surrounded by a moat and thick stone walls. It encompasses the Imperial

City, with palaces and shrines; the Forbidden Purple City, once the emperor’s home; and a

replica of the Royal Theater. It is then on to the tomb of Tu Duc before taking a cruise up

the placid Perfume River to visit the Tomb of Nguyen Dynasty – Emperor Minh Mang and

the traditional Thien Mu Pagoda. We finish off the day by enjoying the local life at Dong Ba

market before returning to the hotel.

Day 7: Hue - Danang - - Hanoi (B)

This morning we make our way back to Danang airport for a flight to Vietnam’s northern

capital city, Hanoi. On arrival, we spend time to exploring this incredible and sophisticated

city including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (outside), the traditional stilt house and the One-

Pillar Pagoda, regarded alongside the Perfume Temple, as one of Vietnam's two most

iconic temples. Next is the Temple of Literature. Built in 1070AD to temple is dedicated to

Confucianism. The rest of the afternoon is then at leisure.

Day 8: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)

After breakfast we head for the UNESCO World Heritage site, the spectacular Halong Bay.

Our drive takes us through the rice field of Red Delta River to Halong Bay – one of the

Seven Natural World Wonders. Embark on an overnight boat cruise on board a traditional

and luxurious Vietnamese junk boat enjoy. On board you will enjoy a fresh seafood lunch

as you cruise through the stunning Halong Bay which consists of beautiful secluded caves

and remote bays. There is the option to try your hand at kayaking between the giant

limestone pillars. Tonight, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay on Halong Bay.

Day 9: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B)

This morning, awake early to participate in Tai Chi on the top deck as the sun rises over

Halong Bay. If early mornings aren’t your thing simply relax as your boat makes its way

through the towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to

explore nearby islands by rowboat. After, we return to the junk for breakfast and then take

advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Halong Bay as we

make our way back to port. On arrival you will be transferred back to Hanoi where the rest

of the evening is at leisure.

Optional Tour—Hanoi Street Food Tour— Street food is generally considered artisan food sold on

the street, or to be concise, not served from restaurant or café. Visiting Hanoi without exploring

some delicious street food would be a great regret. These inexpensive delicacies provide an insight

into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese cuisine. Hanoi’s tempting food stalls and family-

run cafes are waiting for you. You will have a taste of Northern Vietnamese delicacies such as

foreigners’ top favorite dish Bún Chả - grilled fatty pork over a plate of fresh rice noodles, herb and a

side dish of dipping sauce. Enjoy a refreshing glass of Che, a sweet desert soup served over ice, a

perfect desert after consuming grilled food.

Day 10: Hanoi - - Luang Prabang (B)

After the breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the UNESCO city

Luang Prabang. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel before continuing

to explore Luang Prabang and its incredible temples and rich Buddhist culture. Start by

discovering Vat Xieng Thong – a vast collection of sacred buildings and the most beautiful

temple in the city. It is then on to Vat May – a capped sanctuary featuring a five sided roof

surmounted by three parasols before Vat Visoun – the oldest temple in the city. We cap off

our temple visits with Vat Aham – framed by two large Banyan trees and Vat Senna – the

first monastery whose roof was to be covered with yellow and red tiles. End your first

memorable day in Laos by climbing Mt. Phousi for the sunset panoramic view before

discovering the H’mong Night Market on your way back to the hotel.

Day 11: Luang Prabang (B,L)

Following breakfast, we depart hotel to the boat landing and take an excursion by boat

upstream on the Mekong to visit Pak Ou cave. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two

large caves, both are repositories for thousands of Buddha images. In the lower cave a

photogenic group of buddhas are silhouetted against the stunning riverine backdrop.

During our journey we make a stop at Ban Muangkeo, a well-known village for Lao

traditional rice whisky, namely Laoh-Khao to be distilled. We then meander our way back

down the Mekong arriving back in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. We then continue

to the outskirt of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, a village renowned for its wood paper

making and Lao silk weavings with natural dyes.

Day 12: Luang Prabang (B,L)

This morning we begin with a visit to the National Museum. The former Royal Palace, the

palace houses a collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue and

gifts received from foreign dignitaries. Then we take a drive to visit Kuang Si Waterfall, the

spectacular and exquisite waterfall with green surroundings. Kuang Si is a giant waterfall

that flows through limestone-rich jungle and empties out into a series of three gently

cascading pools. From the lowest one, each pool seems like a step on your way up to a holy

temple. En-route visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of the hill-tribe group “Hmong”,

possibly the best-known minority group in Laos. Before arriving at Kuang Si waterfall, we

also visit the village of the Khmu minority group, namely Ban Tha Pane to view their way

of life. On arrival into the falls enjoy plentiful time relaxing and a swimming in cool water

before we head back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.

Day 13: Luang Prabang - - Siem Reap (B)

Today, wake up early and participate in the daily morning ritual when saffron-clad monks

line the streets to receive offerings. Despite being a highly revered ritual for locals, visitors

are encouraged to be involved as long as a level of respect is maintained throughout. As

the sun rises in Luang Prabang around 200 Buddhist monks depart from their various

temples to gather their daily meal. The tradition of alms gathering dates back to the 14th

century, yet still today locals wake early to prepare the food for the monks and wait quietly

by the roadside to give their gifts. Witness their black Alms-giving bowls being given

offerings from the local people including the ubiquitous sticky rice. Later this morning say

goodbye to this charming city before taking a flight to Siem Reap. On arrival you will be

met and transferred to your hotel. Get to know this friendly town. Why not head to the

central market or the aptly named ‘Pub Street’ for a relaxing drink.

Day 14: Siem Reap (B)

Today is the day many have been waiting for, Angkor Wat! We head off in the morning to

visit the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor plain: Angkor Wat. The temple

complex, cover 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its

distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century

masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art

and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks, the enclosed wall

represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes

the ocean. Continue your visit to the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible

sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the

stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed

by the powerful forces of nature. We explore this masterpiece as well as some of the

surrounding temples including Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau

Say Tevado. Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century); See the South Gate

(with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), Bayon Temple (unique

for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal

Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Day 15: Siem Reap - - Australia (B)

This morning is free to explore Siem Reap at your own pace before being transferred to the

airport for your onward flight home.

Optional Tour - Tonle Sap Lake—Start with Kampong Kleang, a floating village on the Tonle Sap

Lake, and as yet bypassed by mass tourism. All the houses are on stilts offering an exceptional

natural environment with breathtaking views of floodplains, rice fields and water vistas as far as the

eye can see. Walk through the village meeting the locals and a family who raises crocodiles.

Afterwards, travel by boat over the canals to a large lake where people live when they are displaced

from their homes because of the seasons.

Day 16: Australia

Arrive home today