Ancient Capitals of Indochina

Overview

Itinerary at a Glance

• 1 Depart USA
• 2 En route
• 3 Arrive Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• 4 Phnom Penh
• 5 Phnom Penh & Siem Reap
• 6 Siem Reap
• 7 Siem Reap & Luang Prabang, Laos
• 8 Luang Prabang & Pak Ou Caves
• 9 Luang Prabang & Kuang Si Waterfalls
• 10 Luang Prabang & Hanoi
• 11 Hanoi
• 12 Hanoi & Halong Bay
• 13 Halong Bay, Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City
• 14 Ho Chi Minh City
• 15 Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta
• 16 Depart Ho Chi Minh City/Arrive USA

Bangkok Independent Optional Extension

• 16 Depart Ho Chi Minh City/Arrive Bangkok, Thailand
• 17 Bangkok
• 18 Bangkok
• Optional Excursion: Ancient City of Ayutthaya (purchased locally), $135
• 19 Depart Bangkok/Arrive USA

Dates & Prices

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA

• Your journey to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam begins as you check in for your flight bound for Phnom Penh, Cambodia via Taipei, Taiwan

Day 2 En route

• Cross the International Dateline and lose a day. (You'll recover this day on your return trip.)

Day 3 Arrive Phnom Penh, Cambodia

• Arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in
• Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra or similar Dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Arrive today in Phnom Penh, the bustling capital city of Cambodia. The city sits on the banks of three rivers, the Mekong, the Tonle Sap, and the Tonle Bassac. Meet your guide, who will accompany you to your hotel for check-in. This evening, join fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at your hotel.

Day 4 Phnom Penh

• Tour the remarkable sights of Phnom Penh by Cyclo
• Explore the Khmer architecture and statues of Wat Phnom
• Explore the National Museum containing over 5000 statues and others artifacts
• Pay a respectful visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
• Stop by a non-profit that teaches Cambodian traditional arts

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, take a tour of the most remarkable sights of Phnom Penh by Cyclo, a local means of transportation and an exciting way to explore this lively city. First, stop by Wat Phnom to explore the Khmer-style statues and architecture. Continue to the National Museum, built in 1917. There are over 5000 statues, lingas, and other artifacts arranged according to pre-Angkor and post-Angkor periods of Cambodia's history. This afternoon, pay a respectful visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a Khmer Rouge prison and torture chamber from which only seven out of more than 30,000 inmates survived. Afterward, visit the Champey Academy of Arts (CAA), a non-profit offering the youth of Phnom Penh training in Cambodian traditional arts, including music, dance, drawing, and painting.

Day 5 Phnom Penh & Siem Reap

• Transfer to the airport to board for your flight to Siem Reap
• Meet your guide and transfer to hotel for check-in
• This afternoon visit Lake Tonle Sap where you will learn about life on the lake

FCC Angkor by Avani or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

This morning transfer to the airport for your short flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to the Angkor Archaeological Park. Upon arrival, meet with your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Later this afternoon, visit Lake Tonle Sap, where you will have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. Tonle Sap is Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, whose size varies greatly depending on the season. Embark on a boat ride to visit the village of Kampong Kleang, where local families live in stilted houses. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

Day 6 Siem Reap

• Set off for the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visit the intricately carved ruins at Angkor Wat
• Explore the temples of the Small Circuit
• Discover the mysterious royal walled city of Angkor Thom
• See the Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city
• Enjoy dinner with an Apsara dance performance

FCC Angkor by Avani or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Set off for the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the ruins of more than a thousand stone temples. The temples are the remnants of a grand religious, social, and administrative metropolis whose other buildings were built of wood and are long since decayed and gone. Built by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, the great city and the temples surrounding them are one of mankind's most astonishing architectural achievements.

Satellite photographs reveal Angkor to have been the largest preindustrial city in the world, with an urban sprawl of 3000 square kilometers and supporting a population of up to one million people. Mysteriously abandoned in the 15th century, the site remained largely cloaked by the forest until the late 19th century, when archaeologists began clearing the forest away and embarked on a lengthy restoration process.

Visit the intricately carved ruins at Angkor Wat, built by Suryavarman II during the early 12th century to honor the Hindu god Vishnu. Consisting of an enormous temple symbolizing the mythic Mt. Meru, its rectangular walls and moats represent chains of mountains and the cosmic ocean. Hundreds of delicate carvings and scenes from Hindu mythology can still be viewed here.

Explore the temples of the Small Circuit. The Ta Prohm temple is most famous, shrouded in jungle and left untouched among twisted banyan trees and stone pillars. It has the most mysterious atmosphere of the temples in the Angkor area.

Continue to the mysterious royal walled city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Its temple is a fantastic and surreal sight that most visitors never forget. Be enraptured by the enigmatic gaze of four giant and barely-smiling faces of Khmer royal rulers as Buddhist deities. See the Bayon Temple, located in the center of the city of Angkor Thom. This monument includes dozens of towers featuring faces that some believe depict King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist deity.

This evening, join fellow travelers for dinner in a local restaurant and watch a classical Apsara dance performance.

Day 7 Siem Reap & Luang Prabang, Laos

• Transfer to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos
• Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in
• Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure before dinner with fellow travelers

AVANI+ Luang Prabang or similar Breakfast & dinner

Day 8 Luang Prabang & Pak Ou Caves

• Take a guided city tour of Luang Prabang, including the National Museum and Wat Mai
• Visit Wat Xieng Thong
• Cruise up the Mekong River to the famous Pak Ou Caves
• Time permitting, stop at Ban Xang Hay, a village that specializes in making rice wine
• Partake in Laos' special Baci Ceremony

AVANI+ Luang Prabang or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, set off on a guided tour of Luang Prabang. View the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, and Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. Stop for a brief visit to Wat Xieng Thong, one of the country's oldest and most prominent temples. Then enjoy a selection of favorites at a local restaurant.

Continue to the pier for a boat ride on the Mekong River. Cruise up the river to visit the famous Pak Ou Caves. Locally called Tam Ting, these caves are filled with thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues of all different sizes. While departing from the caves, notice the local villages along the Mekong, which play a crucial role in daily life as one of the only means of transport and commerce. Time permitting, stop at Ban Xang Hay, a village that specializes in making rice wine.

This evening, take part in a Laos special Baci Ceremony. This ceremony expresses goodwill and good luck to others and is performed to celebrate an important event, such as a wedding, birth, or welcoming guests. The Lao believe that each person has 32 spirits, constituting their spiritual essence, and the Baci is the ritual used to call back any escaped spirits into the body.

Day 9 Luang Prabang & Kuang Si Waterfalls

• Early morning alms giving
• Discover the natural views around the Kuang Si Waterfalls
• Climb the 328 stairs to the summit of Mt. Phousi

AVANI+ Luang Prabang or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

If interested, rise early this morning at dawn to enjoy a special visit to watch a procession of monks garbed in orange walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. Through this serene ceremony, viewers can see the spiritualism of the Laos people. Return to your hotel for breakfast.

Drive through the Luang Prabang countryside to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls, seeing panoramic images of the rice fields, hills, and small villages along the way. Enjoy the natural surroundings, where visitors can walk to the top of the falls for stunning views or swim in the pools at the base of the falls.

After returning to Luang Prabang, climb the 328 stairs to the summit of Mt. Phousi for a lovely panoramic sunset. Continue to the nearby evening hill tribe market before returning to the hotel.

Note: If swimming at the Kuang Si Waterfalls, it is suggested to wear a modest bathing suit and/or covering.

Day 10 Luang Prabang & Hanoi

• Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam
• Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in

Pan Pacific Hanoi or similar Breakfast

Day 11 Hanoi

• City tour of Hanoi
• See the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university
• Have lunch at Know One Teach One "KOTO", a non-profit restaurant that trains young people
• Visit the highly-acclaimed Vietnam Women’s Museum
• Learn more about Hanoi’s gastronomy through a foodie tour

Pan Pacific Hanoi or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, begin your city tour with a drive past the historic Ba Dinh Square, where Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam in 1945. Next, visit the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the 11th century. Venture inside and explore the underground war bunker. Continue through the streets past sewing shops that have been in family hands for generations. Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, constructed in 1070 by King Ly Thanh Tong to pay tribute to education and those of high academic achievement. Today, art students sit on the grass and try to reproduce traditional Vietnamese architecture on paper while enjoying the beautiful and well-preserved gardens of this quiet retreat into Vietnamese educational history. Afterward, have lunch at Know One Teach One "KOTO" restaurant, a non-profit restaurant and vocational training program for young people in Vietnam.

This afternoon, visit the highly acclaimed Vietnam Women's Museum, offering insight into the lives of Vietnamese women throughout history. Learn about historic and modern-day traditions around spirituality, motherhood, weddings, and more. Afterward, embark on a walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter, also known as the "36 streets." This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers.

Take your taste buds on a foodie tour to sample the best food Hanoi has to offer. Begin at a "wet market" to peruse aisles of fresh produce. Outside of the market, wander the narrow streets for some local snacks, such as a fresh spring roll or crispy pancake. Savor fresh rice noodles in grilled pork, called bun cha. Continue on your foodie tour to try traditional sweet cakes or fresh fruit in coconut milk. Walk through the bustling Old Quarter and sip a cup of traditional Vietnamese coffee at a side street café.

Day 12 Hanoi & Halong Bay

• After breakfast, drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay
• Board the Orchid Trendy Cruise and enjoy a welcome drink and orientation
• Cruise through Halong Bay, passing by beautiful limestone karst formations
• Join a traditional cooking class with the ship’s chef
• Enjoy a happy hour with shipmates before a sumptuous Vietnamese dinner

Orchid Trendy Cruise or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay. This amazing bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is dotted with thousands of limestone karsts and isles.

Local legend states that long ago when the Vietnamese were fighting Chinese invaders, the gods sent dragons to help defend the land. The dragons spit out jewels and jade, which turned into the islands and islets of Halong, forming a great wall against the invaders.

Board your cruise ship and enjoy a welcome drink while receiving a comprehensive safety and boat orientation. Cruise through the most beautiful and quiet areas around Halong Bay. Proceed to see unique limestone karst formations that rise out of the sea. Continue to Ba Trai Dao beach, known for its pristine beaches. Here, try kayaking or enjoy a swim in the clear water. Return to the ship and enjoy a cooking class held by the ship’s chef, who will show you how to prepare traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Later, join your fellow shipmates for happy hour before your sumptuous Vietnamese dinner. After dinner, relax on the top deck, viewing the evening landscape. Guests can even try their luck at squid fishing from the boat!

Day 13 Halong Bay, Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City

• Enjoy an early morning Tai Chi lesson
• Explore the bay by canoe near the Sang Toi cave, followed by an early lunch
• Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
• Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in

Pullman Saigon Centre or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

Rise early for a Thai Chi lesson on the sundeck, followed by breakfast. Afterward, head out on canoes to explore the bay near the Sang Toi cave. Return to the ship and enjoy an early lunch. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi to take your evening flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Once in Ho Chi Minh City, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Day 14 Ho Chi Minh City

• Depart this morning for a tour of vibrant Ho Chi Minh City
• Sunset cruise along the Saigon River

Pullman Saigon Centre or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

This morning take a city tour of Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. Start with a visit to the iconic Saigon Central Post Office, considered a symbol of the city and one of its most famous landmarks. Stroll along Dong Khoi street, formerly Rue Catinat, and visit the Gia Long Palace (Ho Chi Minh City Museum). Continue to “Le Loi Street” and visit a local artisan specializing in traditional engravings. Walk through the old central market and get a chance to interact with a resident. Following this meeting, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Later this afternoon, embark on a sunset cruise along the Saigon River. View the modern skyline behind you while traveling through quiet canals dispersed with traditional wooden houses perched on the waters’ edge.

Day 15 Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta

• Depart this morning for Cai Be, deep in the heart of the Mekong Delta
• Visit to a local home factory which produces rice paste, rice popcorn and coconut candies
• Enjoy lunch at Ut Kiet Mandarin Home before slowly cruising back Cai Be
• On your return, stop at Cao Dai Temple then continue back to Ho Chi Minh City

Pullman Saigon Centre or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Depart this morning for Cai Be, deep in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Embark on a private cruise to the colorful Cai Be floating market. Your tour continues with a visit to a local home factory that produces rice paste, rice popcorn, and coconut candies, followed by a walk to a roof leaf-sewing workshop. Then, enjoy lunch at Ut Kiet Mandarin Home before boarding the junk again and slowly cruise back from Cai Be as you take in the beautiful landscapes and observe typical rural life on the Mekong Delta. On your return, stop at Cao Dai Temple to witness a fascinating fusion of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, native Vietnamese spiritualism, Christianity, and Islam. After returning to Ho Chi Minh City this evening, join your group for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 16 Depart Ho Chi Minh City/Arrive USA

• Today, transfer to the airport to check-in for your return flight to the USA

Breakfast

Bangkok Independent Optional Extension

Day 16 Depart Ho Chi Minh City/Arrive Bangkok, Thailand

• Transfer to the airport to board your short flight to Bangkok, bustling capital of Thailand
• Upon arrival, you'll be escorted to your deluxe, centrally located hotel

COMO Metropolitan Bangkok or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Transfer to the airport to board your short flight to Bangkok, the bustling capital of Thailand, situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. You'll be escorted to your deluxe, centrally located hotel upon arrival. Your hotel boasts a prime location within walking distance of many attractions.

Day 17 Bangkok

• Enjoy an included half day sightseeing tour of Bangkok

COMO Metropolitan Bangkok or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, enjoy a half day sightseeing the major landmarks of Bangkok. Visit the Grand Palace, which for 150 years functioned as the home of the King and his court and the entire administrative seat of government. Within its grounds, you'll also visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), built to house a large Buddha image carved from a solid piece of green jadeite (jasper). Continue to Wat Pho, Bangkok's oldest temple, home to the magnificent reclining Buddha and the first school of traditional medicine and Thai massage, also regarded as Thailand's first University.

Day 18 Bangkok

• Full day at leisure in Bangkok or take an optional excursion to Ayutthaya

COMO Metropolitan Bangkok or similar Breakfast

Optional Excursion: Ancient City of Ayutthaya (purchased locally), $135

This morning, drive to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. King U-Thong founded the city of Ayutthaya in 1350 as the capital of his kingdom of Siam. By 1700, Ayutthaya had as many as a million inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in the world at the time. But in 1767, the city was invaded and destroyed by the Burmese army. Nevertheless, magnificent ruins of the old city remain, some having been restored. Exciting archaeological excavations are still proceeding at many sites in the area.

Upon arrival, visit some of Ayutthaya's historical sites. Among the ruins, you will see the most significant monument, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Mahathat to discover a Buddha head entwined in tree roots, and Wat Yai Chaimongkhol to view the reclining Buddha statue. Continue to a vibrant market to sample Roti Sai Mai, a Thai dessert similar to cotton candy and sometimes served in a sweet, colorful crepe.

After an included lunch of local Thai dishes, continue exploring with a leisurely one-hour long-tail boat ride down the Chao Phraya River. See riverside villages and Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, a Gothic-style Buddhist temple on a small river island. Continue to Bang Pa to view King Rama IV's summer palace, used occasionally by the king and queen to host receptions and banquets. The palace and surrounding temples represent an appealing fusion of Thai, Chinese, and European architectural styles. Return to Bangkok this evening.

Note: This optional excursion is sold locally at approximately 4,270 THB

Day 19 Depart Bangkok/Arrive USA

• Today, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA via Taipei, Taiwan

Breakfast

Hotels & Ship

Hotels

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra

Deluxe

Sofitel Phnom Penh is located in Old Quarter, featured in a 12-story colonial-style architecture hotel steps from Aeon shopping center and Riverside.

More information

FCC Angkor by Avani

Deluxe

Surrounded by the nature of Siem Reap, the FCC Angkor by Avani is conveniently located within walking distance of shops and restaurants and only a 10-minute drive to the largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat. 

More information

AVANI+ Luang Prabang

Deluxe

AVANI+ Luang Prabang is a modern boutique hotel, surrounded by dozens of temples and located between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Situated within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a short walk to the night market, cafes and restaurants and 15 minutes from the Luang Prabang International Airport.

More information

Pan Pacific Hanoi

Deluxe

Pan Pacific Hanoi offers breathtaking views of West Lake, Truc Bach Lake and the Red River and a refreshing new experience in the capital of Vietnam. The hotel is complete with an indoor pool with natural skylight. There is a well-equipped fitness center with a range of state-of-the-art equipment as well as Jacuzzi, sauna and various scheduled sessions of Yoga, Pilates and Aerobics led by professional instructors. Unwind with a soothing massage at the in-house spa, with a range of spa treatments to choose from, performed by skilled therapists who will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

More information

Pullman Saigon Centre

Deluxe

The 5-star Pullman Saigon Centre is located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, close to Ben Thanh market and other major tourist attractions. Pullman Saigon Centre offers multiple options to relax and recharge from a long day of sightseeing. There is a swimming pool as well as a fitness center that has state-of-the-art cardio and weight-lifting equipment. Pamper yourself with massages and beauty treatments at the spa.

More information

COMO Metropolitan Bangkok

Deluxe

COMO Metropolitan Bangkok is a contemporary and stylish hotel located in the central district of Sathorn. The hotel is located 10 minutes away from Silom’s vibrant nightlife scene with close access to train stations, including the Skytrain Station. COMO Metropolitan is a mixture of relaxation and excitement, quietly removed from Bangkok’s traffic, yet steps away from the areas nightlife, shopping and restaurants.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

Cruise Ship

Orchid Trendy Cruise

When it comes to 5-star cruising in Halong Bay, Orchid Trendy Cruises are at the top with a high level of customer service and an unbeatable relaxing environment. Their ship houses 24 luxury cabins with an elite, professional crew, and incredible views of the natural seascape. 

More information

Reviews & Photos

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Cambodia? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Thailand? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Vietnam? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Laos? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.

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