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Indochina, 19 Days · Private tour
Vietnam with Mai Chau, Cambodia and Laos
The best of Indochina at your fingertips
Always curious about how people live on the other side of the world? And about what's beyond the photos? Indochina is waiting for us to broaden our horizons by exploring the very best of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Starting from Ho Chi Minh City, we'll see how the locals around the Mekong Delta live and what the Cu Chi Tunnels harbour; in Cambodia we'll marvel at the temples of Angkor, untouched by the passage of time. Our tour then continues to Luang Prabang, one of the largest cities in Laos. Afterwards, we'll head back to Vietnam, this time to the north, to discover Hanoi, the vibrant capital; the immense Ha Long Bay; and the verdant landscapes of the serene Mai Chau Valley.
When should we get going?
Departure date
Departures from December 2024 till April 2025
From
Dublin, Knock, Galway, Shannon, Donegal, Cork, Kerry county...
Private Tours. Enjoy a personalized vacation
What are the advantages?
- Choose who you travel with: Travel alone, as a couple or as a group of up to 9 people and they will be the only ones you share the experience with (it’s you, traveling with your own). In many tours the price per person is reduced the more you are!
- Choose your departure date: Most private tours have daily departures. Don’t you conform to the journey, let the journey conform to you.
- Organized and flexible: Everything is organized but when traveling privately, you don’t depend on strict schedules, providing agility and flexibility in visits.
- Customization and Attention: Being private, both guides and drivers give all their care and attention to you.
- Travel without worry: You have the advantages of a trip on your own but with the peace of mind that everything has been designed so you don’t miss anything. Your only concern is to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Travel details
City of origin - Ho Chi Minh City
Departure with destination Ho Chi Minh City. Night on board.
Ho Chi Minh City
Arrival at the airport. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation.
Ho Chi Minh City
Breakfast. We'll set off on a city tour today. First stop will be at the War Museum. We'll then head to the neighbourhood of Binh Tranh, with its vibrant winding streets that are home to the Ba Chieu Market. If we want to hear what the future has in hold for us, we'll stop at the temple of the national hero Le Van Duyet, where we can have our fortune told using a mysterious box of one hundred incense sticks. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we'll walk through the Cho Lon neighbourhood and visit the Thien Hau Temple. To end, we'll take a stroll around the Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants in District 5. We'll also walk along the streets of Tan Nguyen Thai and Tien Phat Dim Sum, very popular among locals. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation.
Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City
Breakfast. Morning departure to Ben Tre. Once there, we'll take a boat trip along the canals formed by the Mekong Delta. The cruise will let us see how life unfolds on the river banks. We'll stop off at family-run businesses involved in the production of bricks, salt and confectionery, and we'll also get to see Cai Son and Nhon Thanh. There'll be an option of a bike ride here, too. If we're not so keen on pedal power, we can cover the same route on a motor-powered xich lo (rickshaw) through paddy fields and plantations. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we'll board another boat to explore the Cai Coi Canal. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation.
Ho Chi Minh City
Breakfast. We'll set off for the Cu Chi Tunnels, an immense network of connecting underground tunnels constructed during the war by the communists, and the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968. The tunnels were used as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes. Afterwards, there's a visit to the Cao Dai temple. Lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation.
Ho Chi Minh City - Siem Reap
Breakfast. Airport transfer for the flight to Phu Quoc. Once there, transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Siem Reap
We'll meet at the hotel reception around 5.00 am to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Afterwards, we'll return to the hotel for breakfast and then continue visiting the Angkor Wat temple. We'll then take you to Ta Prom or the Jungle Temple. This is a place where the creation of man and the force of nature mix, also famous because it appeared in Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we'll arrive at the Angkor Thom complex through the Victory Gate. This complex houses, among others, the Bayon and Baphuon temples, the Terrace of Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation.
Siem Reap
Breakfast. We'll start the day with a visit to the floating villages of Kompong Phluk or Kompong Khleang, depending on the water level. In the dry season, we can see the piles of the floating houses that are exposed by the low water level, while in the rainy season the waters rise one or two metres up the base of the buildings. Lunch at a local restaurant. On the way back to Siem Reap, we'll stop at the Roluos Group, home to temples such as Bakong, Preah Ko, and Lolei. From here, we'll visit some of the most important temples on the grand tour, such as Pre Rup, East Mebon, Neak Pean, and Preah Khan. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation.
Siem Reap - Luang Prabang
Breakfast. Airport transfer to take a flight to Luang Prabang. Once there, transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves - Luang Prabang
Early morning visit to Ban Vat Sean to observe the long lines of monks collecting offerings from the villagers. After breakfast, we'll head to the local Ban Pakham Market. The rest of the day is a fully immersive experience into Lao traditions. We'll then sail upstream on the Mekong until reaching the Pak Ou Caves, which house thousands of Buddha statues of all sizes. To round off the day, we'll climb Phousi Hill to watch the sunset from Wat Siphouthabath. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation.
Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Falls - Luang Prabang
Breakfast. Morning visit to Laos' most emblematic temples: Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Mai and Wat Visoun. To round off this cultural morning, we make a stop at the Lao School of Fine Arts. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we'll set off for the famous Kuang Si Falls. A waterfall cascading down a limestone wall from a height of several storeys, forming natural pools of cold water that are perfect for a relaxing dip. Journey into Luang Prabang. Accommodation. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation.
Luang Prabang - Elephant Village Sanctuary - Hanoi
Breakfast. Tour of the Elephant Village Sanctuary with English-speaking tour guide. We take a walk around the valley and learn how these pachyderms live and interact with each other. Picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we continue trekking along an exclusive waterfall trail leading to the Tad Sae waterfall, where we can swim in its natural pools. We return to the camp by traditional boat on the Nam Khan River. Airport transfer to take a domestic flight to Bali. Arrival, transfer to the hotel and overnight stay.
Hanoi
Breakfast. Today, accompanied by our guide, we'll take an immersive tour through the streets of Hanoi, where history, culture and life intermingle. The first stop will be at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which is guarded by the famous Ba Dinh Square. Onwards to Ho Chi Minh's house and the Stilt House and the Single Pillar Pagoda, a curious building that resembles a lotus flower. We'll then stroll through a network of streets near the complex to see the makeshift markets that appear each day on the maze-like Vietnamese streets. Before driving towards the old town, we'll stop at the Temple of Literature. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we'll head off on a walking tour through the labyrinth of streets that make up the city's most famous shopping area, even visiting a traditional Vietnamese house. To round things off, we'll head to Hoan Kiem Lake to visit the Ngoc Son Temple. Accommodation.
Hanoi - Mai Chau
Breakfast. Morning departure to the Mai Chau Valley. On the way we'll gradually be able to see how the landscape becomes greener, as rice fields and sugar cane and tapioca plantations appear. Before arriving, we'll stop off at the Thung Khe Pass to enjoy the scenery and meet the locals. Upon arrival, we'll head to the village of Poom Coong, where Thai ethnic minorities live in stilt houses. They are mainly engaged in agriculture. Lunch. In the afternoon, we'll set off on a walk of around twenty-five minutes to the Muong village. Arrival at hotel. Accommodation.
Mai Chau - Ninh Binh
Breakfast. Early departure towards Ninh Binh. Mid-morning, we'll arrive in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam. We'll visit the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties and the remains of the citadel. Then we'll take a short bike ride, passing through tiny villages and rice fields. Lunch included. In the afternoon, we'll arrive at the pier of Tam Coc for a 1 ½ -hour boat trip through one of the most exotic landscapes in Vietnam. Accommodation.
Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay
Breakfast and road transfer to Ha Long Bay. The landscape will get greener and greener throughout the journey. On arrival at the port of Tuan Chau, we'll embark on a junk boat and receive a briefing about the route and the activities available both onboard and off the boat. Brunch onboard. The boat sails past the limestone mountains until it reaches the Tra Bau area of Lan Ha Bay. Here you can kayak or bathe in the emerald green water of the bay. Back on the junk, we'll continue on our cruise with time at our leisure until a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. Dinner and night on board.
Cat Ba Island - Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
Early risers will have the chance to attend a tai chi class on the deck. Breakfast will be served after the session. Afterwards we head to Cat Ba Island where we take a bus to visit the Trung Trang Cave, located in the Cat Ba National Park in the Kim Giao Forest. After the visit, we'll head back to the boat to check out and have brunch on board. We'll arrive back at the port and return to the hotel in Hanoi around 11.30 a.m. Accommodation.
Hanoi - City of origin
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Flight to City of origin destination. Night on board.
City of origin
Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Your trip includes
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Return flight.
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Internal flights.
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Overnight stay in the listed hotels, or similar.
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Transfers according to the itinerary.
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Transport in vehicles appropriate to the size of the group.
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Visits in private tour as per itinerary and not marked as optional.
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Cruise around Ha Long Bay.
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English-speaking local guides.
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Diet: 16 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 1 dinner.
Your trip doesn't include
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Electronic Visa to enter in Cambodia.
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Visa to enter in Laos.
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Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
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Insolvency protection.
Destinations Visited
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Flight
Overnight stay on board.
Important remarks
- Triple rooms in Vietnam are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in Vietnam.
- Depending on the return flight, the trip may be one day longer.
- To reconfirm services at the destination, please send us your passport details within 24 hours of booking.
- Check-in time at the hotel on the day of arrival depends on each establishment, but in no case will it be before 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
- It's not possible to accommodate three adults in a cabin on the Ha Long Bay cruises. So, in this section of the trip, it will be necessary to use a double cabin and an individual cabin. Check supplement.
- The flight from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang on Tuesdays and Sundays is not direct, so the order of visits in Siem Reap will vary in these cases.
Since January 2020, restoration work has been underway at the Bayon Temple on the Angkor archaeological site, so some areas will remain closed to the public.
- Triple rooms in Cambodia are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in Cambodia.
- Triple rooms in Laos are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in Laos.
- The cruise itinerary around Halong Bay will depend on the ship confirmed in each case.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.
- Consult the necessary documentation to enter the destinations visited and for transit in the countries where air stopovers are made.