Grand Indochina Tour 17 Days

Welcome to Siem Reap, the gateway to the Angkor temples. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins, including Bayon, Banteay Srei, and the legendary Angkor Wat.

Upon arrival, your tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Spend the afternoon at leisure on a relaxing walking tour, exploring the town and visiting the Old Market.

Meals: N/A

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Enjoy an entire day dedicated to discovering the mysterious Angkor temples. Wake before dawn and take a “tuk-tuk” ride to visit Ta Prohm, the temple entwined with jungle vegetation. Sunrise is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric times to visit the temples, as the early morning rays bathe their ancient sandstone blocks in a golden glow. Return to the hotel for breakfast, then set out again for a full day of temple exploration.

Begin with magnificent Angkor Wat, the largest Khmer temple and one of the finest examples of Angkorian art and architecture. Continue to Angkor Thom’s imposing South Gate, topped with four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Today, we fly from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s modern capital. Despite its turbulent recent history, Phnom Penh’s wide, tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial mansions hold an undeniable charm. Your driver and guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Begin by learning about the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia’s recent, tragic history on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Choeung Ek “Killing Fields.” In the afternoon, put your bargaining skills to the test during a walk through the city’s expansive Russian Market, where you can find everything from motorcycle parts to valuable gems. End the day with a cyclo ride along Sihanouk Boulevard, followed by visits to the National Museum and the Royal Palace, home to the royal family and the opulent Silver Pagoda.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

We travel by speedboat down the Mekong River, passing through Cambodia and into Vietnam. Spending time cruising along the river and enjoying views of the surrounding river landscape is an unforgettable experience. Arrive in Chau Doc in the late afternoon, where your driver and guide will meet you at the dock and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc

This morning, we drive from Chau Doc to Saigon, stopping along the way to explore the tranquil Mekong River Delta. After breakfast, travel by car to the riverside town of Cai Be. Visit a candy factory and an orchard, where you will have the opportunity to listen to traditional Vietnamese music.

Enjoy a relaxing lunch at a riverside restaurant, then set out by rowboat to explore some of the delta’s many islands. In the afternoon, continue the drive to Saigon. Check in at your hotel, then enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

We leave Saigon and drive through the countryside of southern Vietnam to Tay Ninh Province to visit the fascinating Cao Dai Temple, home to Cao Dai, a syncretic religion that emerged in the 1920s. Attend a noon ceremony at the colorful temple, then stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, continue the journey to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network built by Vietnamese soldiers to shelter from American air raids during the Vietnam War. Those who are willing can crawl through sections of the tunnels to gain an insight into the living conditions of Vietnamese soldiers during wartime. Return to Saigon in the late afternoon.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Saigon, Vietnam’s largest city, is a vibrant, modern metropolis where East meets West. After breakfast at the hotel, spend the morning on a guided tour of this captivating city, visiting the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market.

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, your driver and guide will meet you at the arrival gate and take you on a short drive to the tranquil riverside town of Hoi An.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Enjoy some time to relax as you immerse yourself in the serenity and charm of this peaceful beach town. From the 16th to the 18th century, Hoi An was a thriving international port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Arab merchants, who came to trade in the high-quality silk still produced in the region.

Today, Hoi An is a popular resort destination, known for its eclectic architecture, skilled tailors, and numerous cafés. Take a half-day walking tour through the ancient quarter’s narrow, winding streets, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the famous Japanese Bridge. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to shop, explore, and relax.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then check out and drive north to Hue via the 500-meter-high Hai Van Pass. Stop at scenic Lang Co Beach for a drink before continuing to Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the afternoon on a leisurely walking tour of Vietnam’s ancient capital, visiting the Royal Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the Mausoleum of King Tu Duc, a replica of the king’s palace built for his next reincarnation.

Meals: B, D

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Today, we travel to the magnificent Halong Bay in northern Vietnam. After breakfast at the hotel, fly to Hanoi. Your driver will meet you at the airport and take you on a drive through the countryside of the Red River Delta to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive in Halong City in the late afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Halong Bay

Spend a full day and night on a traditional junk cruise in spectacular Halong Bay, a natural wonderland of towering limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood on board as you sail into the mystical bay.

In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong Bay’s numerous islands and visit one of the area’s most beautiful caves. 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 permitting. Spend the night on board the junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the calm waters.

Meals: B

Accommodation: On Cruise

Wake up early and participate in Tai Chi exercises 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 brunch, then take advantage of the sundeck while admiring the spectacular rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as the boat navigates back to Halong City.

Your driver will be waiting for you at Halong Pier for the drive back to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. In the evening, enjoy a traditional water puppet performance, a unique Vietnamese art form rooted in Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Spend half a 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 guide will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house); the Presidential Palace; the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Old Quarter; the Temple of Literature; West Lake; the tranquil Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city’s museums, with a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum.

In the afternoon, transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your flight to Myanmar. Upon arrival, your driver and guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

Travel to Bagan, Myanmar’s archaeological wonderland and home to over 3,000 ancient temples scattered across lush farmland. After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your short domestic flight to Bagan.

Begin the day by exploring some of the region’s many red-brick temples. Start with Shwezigon Pagoda, believed to enshrine a hair and a tooth of Gautama Buddha, then continue to the 11th-century Thatbyinnyu and Manuha pagodas. In the afternoon, visit a lacquerware workshop, then enjoy a beautiful sunset over the legendary Irrawaddy River. An optional hot-air balloon ride over Bagan is available, weather permitting.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

Begin the day with a flight to Mandalay. Your driver and guide will meet you at the airport for the one-hour drive through the beautiful countryside to Mandalay. Spend the day exploring the city, starting with Mahagandayon Monastery to observe the monks gathering for their afternoon meal and rice ceremony.

Next, visit the nearby U Bein Bridge, a wooden bridge, then continue to see the Mahamuni Buddha Image, a bronze Buddha statue believed to date back to the Buddha’s lifetime. Visit tapestry, woodcarving, and bronze-casting workshops, a marble-carving workshop, and a traditional silk-weaving cottage.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue your tour with visits to Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery, Atumashi Monastery, and Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the “world’s biggest book.” End the day with a sunset visit to Mandalay Hill, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the lush green countryside as the sun slowly sets in the west.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

Today, fly back to Yangon. Arrive in the late morning and begin your tour of this colorful city, known for its colonial architecture. Visit the Buddha’s Tooth Relic at Kaba Aye (World Peace) Pagoda and Maha Pasana Cave.

Enjoy a lunch of traditional Burmese cuisine, then continue your tour with a visit to a glass factory, followed by a visit to Myanmar’s largest reclining Buddha, a gigantic monument adorned with gold leaf. Next, head to Bogyoke Market for souvenir shopping before exploring Sule Pagoda and the Independence Monument in Mahabandoola Park, in the heart of Yangon.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then take a guided walk through Yangon’s historic colonial quarter. Starting at Sule Pagoda, walk to City Hall, passing British-era buildings such as Emmanuel Church and the Inland Water Transport building. Stroll past Burmese food stalls and admire the exotic selection of local delicacies.

After lunch at a downtown restaurant, visit Shwedagon Paya, Yangon’s magnificent golden temple complex and most impressive monument. In the late afternoon, transfer to the airport for your departure flight home.

Bon voyage!

Meals: B

Accommodation: