Jewels of Indochina

Day 1: UK/Ho Chi Minh City
Your Far East adventure begins today as you depart on your scheduled flight to Vietnam.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City
Your plane gets in to Ho Chi Minh City this morning, and you’ll check in to your hotel in time for breakfast. Perhaps better known to most as Saigon, the city was renamed in honour of Vietnam’s former leader. Almost dizzying in its contrasts, HCMC, as it’s often called, is an enticing blend of traditional and modern, east and west. Just walking a few minutes along one street will take you past busy ancient markets, quaint pagodas and French colonial mansions. During the afternoon, you’ll enjoy an included tour of the city, visiting sights such as the Presidential Palace, the War Remnants Museum and the shopping street of Dong Khoi, known as Rue Catinat during the days of French rule. Then discover downtown Saigon on a short walking tour which takes you past Notre Dame Cathedral, the imposing Central Post Office and the Opera House. You will stay in Saigon for two nights.

Day 3: Can Tho
Today you will take a fabulous journey into the Mekong Delta. The River Mekong descends for 3,000 miles from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea, and is constantly busy with sampans, barges and houseboats. You will drive first to Cai Be, on the River Mekong, where you will board a boat to cross the wide river, and then cruise along narrow inlets and canals to a lunch stop at a farmer’s house. Visits will be made to local workshops along the way. Very little has changed over the centuries in this part of Vietnam, and everything and everybody has to travel by boat.

Day 4: Phnom Penh
After a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, you’ll have a few hours free this morning to do a little sightseeing before heading to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, where you will stay overnight. Alternatively, you could use your time before the flight to join an optional excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels, dug into the ground by the Vietcong as part of the battles against both the French and the Americans. This evening, you’ll enjoy an included dinner at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Phnom Penh, which enjoys views overlooking the Mekong.

Day 5: Siem Reap
A guided tour of Phnom Penh this morning will introduce you to some of the city’s main sights and give you an overview of its history, which at times has been turbulent and tragic. You’ll see the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, as well as visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. This afternoon, you’ll fly to Siem Reap, for a three-night stay, ready to visit Cambodia’s main attraction – Angkor Wat.

Day 6: Angkor Wat
The majestic towers and intricate bas reliefs of the sprawling Angkor complex are a sight to behold, and today you’ll embark on a comprehensive exploration, starting at the most famous temple, Angkor Wat, and then continuing at the walled city of Angkor Thom. There’s a magical end to the day planned, as you climb to the top of the Pre Rup temple in order to watch the sun set over the jungle.

Day 7: Angkor Complex
Discover some of the Angkor complex’s lesser-known gems today, visiting Ta Keo, Chan Sey Tevoda, Thommanon, Preah Kahm and Preah Neak Pean. You’ll also visit Ta Phrom, beautifully overgrown by jungle. The sight of giant trees growing through the walls of the temple buildings is quite incredible, and makes for a truly atmospheric experience.

Day 8: Luang Prabang
After breakfast this morning, you’ll travel to Tonle Sap Lake, where you’ll board a boat for a tour of the floating villages. You’ll return to Siem Reap for lunch, before flying to Luang Prabang in neighbouring Laos in the afternoon, where a two-night stay has been arranged.

This evening, why not start your explorations of Luang Prabang with a visit to the evening market, where a kilometre-long stretch of road is closed to traffic and turned into a shopping street.

Day 9: Luang Prabang
With its idyllic mountain setting, mystical Luang Prabang has been proclaimed the best-preserved city in South East Asia. A guided sightseeing tour offers the best introduction, giving you a taste of the morning market, the wonderful architecture of Wat Xien Thong and gilded facade of Wat Mai, the National Museum and the former Royal Palace. A must for any visit to Luang Prabang is the climb up the 328 steps to the top of Phousi Mountain – it’s said that those who don’t take the steps have not really visited the city! The views from the top are quite remarkable, and you’ll return via the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre for an insight into the history of northern Laos.

Day 10: Hanoi
Whether you choose to relax, explore Luang Prabang further, or join the optional excursion to the Kuang Si Waterfalls this morning, you can be sure that you will see many wonderful things. The Kuang Si Waterfalls are truly idyllic.

Fly to Hanoi this evening, where you’ll stay overnight.

Day 11: Halong Bay
Following breakfast, you’ll journey to Halong Bay, where you’ll board the luxurious Bhaya Classic and enjoy a cruise amidst the stunning limestone karsts that punctuate the waters of the bay, carved over millions of years by the action of the wind and sea. You’ll also visit a floating village and take a short ride on a rowing boat as you view the breathtaking scenery of huge rock formations. Later, you might want to go kayaking or swimming.

Next comes one of the highlights of your tour – dinner this evening is served in a cave. The scenery and atmosphere are quite enchanting as you pass through the cave’s mouth and along the candle-lit pathway. The delicious food and your unique surroundings will certainly make this a meal to remember. You’ll spend tonight on board the boat in Halong Bay.

Day 12: Hanoi
There can be no more relaxing way to start the day than with a spot of tai chi before breakfast on board your boat. After breakfast, you’ll head back to Hanoi, arriving in the afternoon. An evening rickshaw ride around the old quarter has to be the best way to see this historic part of Hanoi. You’ll also have the chance to join our optional Water Puppets Show this evening.

Day 13: Hanoi
Your explorations of Indochina continue today as you will explore explore Hanoi on an included tour this morning. Visit Ba Dinh Square, where Ho Chi Minh lies in state, the Presidential Palace, and the humble house on stilts where ‘Uncle Ho’ lived and worked. This evening we have included dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 14: Hanoi/UK
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK via Singapore.

Day 15: UK
Arrive back in the UK.

Please note
This holiday includes walking in areas of rough ground, gradients and steps.

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotels you will stay in are:

4-star Park Royal Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
4-star Sunway Hotel in Phnom Penh
4-star Angkor Paradise in Siem Reap
Xien, Thong Palace or Sada Hotel in Luang Prabang
4-star Sunway Hotel in Hanoi
These hotels all have a bar and restaurant. The guest rooms all have en suite facilities and are air conditioned where necessary.

Your boat

You will sail along Halong Bay aboard the Bhaya Classic, a charming vessel built in Oriental style and incorporating many aspects of comfort and luxury. Features include a sundeck, cocktail bar, massage and spa area and a restaurant offering a variety of Vietnamese and international dishes.

Cabins feature handcrafted hardwood furniture, twin or queen-size bed, air conditioning, wall fan, hairdryer, mini-bar and en suite facilities. Each one boasts a picture window.

All hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Mekong Delta excursion with a cruise (full day)
Phnom Penh City tour including the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) (half day)
Sightseeing of Angkor Temples (two days)
Tonle Sap Lake cruise and floating village (half day)
Luang Prabang city tour (half day)
Overnight on Halong Bay, including an exclusive dinner in a cave
Hanoi City tour (half day)

Optional excursions

Cu Chi Tunnels (half day)
Kuang Si Waterfalls
Water Puppet show

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights, overseas transfers & other transportation
11 nights’ accommodation with breakfast plus 7 lunches and 2 dinners
1 night’s accommodation on board Bhaya Classic on a full-board basis
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guide
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
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