Indo China Pilgrimage

Day 1 Bangkok Arrival

Welcome to Bangkok, transfer to your hotel for check in and have a short time to rest.
Afternoon, transfer to visit the Royal Grand Palace - the nation’s landmark and most praised royal monument in Thailand, dazzling WatPhraKeo, the Golden Chedi, the Pantheon of the Chakri Kings, and the Eight Colored Towers. Wat Po is also considered to be the first center of public education and is sometimes called ‘Thailand’s first university’. They use Mural paintings, inscriptions, and statues in the temple to educate people on subjects such as literature, warfare, archaeology, astronomy, geology, and meditation and it also is regarded as the home of Thai traditional massage.

Day 2 Bangkok – Siam Reap Flight

Morning half is free for any individual activities in Bangkok.

Later you board a local flight to Siem Reap.Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, our tour guide will meet you and transfer to hotel for check in. Special welcome buffet dinner with Apsara dancing show is arranged. Overnight at hotel



Day 3 Siam Reap

Today you'll visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: The temple complex covers 81 hectares and as wide as the size of the Imperial Palace in Beijing. You'll explore its distinctive five towers considered 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 surrounding moat and the ocean beyond.

Afternoon you will visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century masterpices), you'll encounter the South Gate with its huge statues, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the LeperKingandBayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara). Afterwards, drive back to PrasatBeyTemple located in the north of Phnom Bakheng south gate of Angkor Thom in TONLE OUM behind PrasatBey temple, you'll depart from ports visits south gate of Angkor Thom and the wall along the TonleOum while listening romantic traditional music and histories of the Khmer. End of day take a relaxing stopover at PrasatChrung visiting Tadev Hole and temple for a fantastic Sunset.



Day 4 Siam Reap

You start your tour in the morning to visit an ancient Hindu temple at the countryside called BANEAY SREY - the citadel of women. It is 35KM north of Siem Reap and built from 968-1001AD, dedicated to Shiva God. It is considered to be the most beautiful and unique temples with pink sandstone and very deep carvings in Cambodia. Stop at BanteaySrey and BanteaySamre on the way back Siem Reap. Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon your guide & driver transfer you to Tonle Sap Lake - the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia and is the heart of the Cambodian fishing industry and the lifeblood for millions of Khmers living on and around it. You will embark on a comfortable boat to see the true way of life in one of the floating villages of the Tonle Sap. Here you can see how Khmers and Vietnamese live and work side by side years later.



Day 5 Siem Reap – Ho Chi Minh City (Ho Chi Minh)

This morning, transfer to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, welcome by our guide and start a city tour right away. Begin with visiting the War Remnants Museum, which features an extensive collection of exhibits including weaponry, photos and documentation on Vietnam’s wars with the French and Americans, the Reunification Palace which was formerly the South Vietnam President’s residence and symbol of the Southern Administration’s reign until end of April 1975. Stop at Ho Chi Minh Notre-Dame Basilica, a neo-Roman cathedral built by the colonial French with materials entirely imported from Marseilles, Ho Chi Minh Central Post Office, former US Embassy, Cho Lon or the city’s China Town with its Quan Am Pagoda.



Day 6 Ho Chi Minh – Tay Ninh – Cu Chi Tunnels

Morning, transfer to Tay Ninh province, 99 km Northwest of Ho Chi Minh City to visit the Great Temple also known as The Holy See Temple of a rare religion named Cao Dai native to the province. Cao Dai was established in 1926 as a monotheistic religion with its name meaning “Way of the Highest Lord” and its symbol of the left eye standing for Highest Lord’s clairvoyant power and wisdom. However it incorporates some aspects of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and even Catholicism. The Great Temple, which was built in 1933, has a unique cross-architectural style akin to the religion’s blended nature.

Afternoon, on the return to the city, stop to discover the Cu Chi Tunnels which were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the two wars against the French and later on Americans. The tunnels, entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel passageways at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totaling over 120 km in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination containing meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches and emergency exits all aimed for guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges. Back to Ho Chi Minh.



Day 7 Ho Chi Minh – My Tho (Mekong Delta)

Morning, after breakfast, travel by road to the Mekong Delta, the world’s largest delta and Vietnam's largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho City, capital of TienGiang Province, embark on a boat and navigate through intricate canals while observing the local daily life up close as well as the landscape of waterways and lush islands. Land on the Unicorn Island to enjoy wandering through verdant orchards, tasting fresh fruits and listening to some Southern style traditional music. Move on to the second delta province, Ben Tre, where you will watch local villagers make coconut candy in a rural workshop, walk around briefly and try riding a horse-pulled carriage. More cruising to some bee-keeping households to taste fresh homegrown honey and honey tea. Go back Ho Chi Minh City and take a stroll through the French-built Ben Thanh Market which dates back to 1870 and whose main entrance clock tower has become a city’s symbol. Conclude the day with a cup of Vietnamese coffee or beer on the street while watching the commotions of city life.



Day 8 Ho Chi Minh – Da Nang – Hoi An

Morning is free at leisure until transfer to airport for domestic flight to Danang.
Arrival Danang Airport, welcomed by our guide and transfer to Hoi An. Stop en route in Da Nang City to visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture, built in 1915 and housing the most extensive collection of Cham ethnic sculpture artworks worldwide. Lunch en route before arriving in Hoi An. Once a bustling maritime commercial port of Asia between 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is now a peaceful town of exceptionally well-preserved architecture, lifestyles and traditions. The town exemplifies a fascinating fusion of cultures between Vietnam and the outside world including China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. Check in hotel and free at leisure.



Day 9 Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue

Morning, take a town tour of Hoi An to see its beauty up close. Included for your sightseeing will be the town’s iconic 400-year-old Covered Bridge with a small temple attached to one side as a prominent example of Japanese architecture, the Museum of Trade Ceramics which is an elegant Vietnamese style wooden house built in 1858 showcasing antique ceramic artifacts, the 200-year-old Tan Ky House typifying an ancient Chinese merchant residence, the Ong Temple built in 1653 by Chinese settlers to worship Guan Yu, an ancient Chinese general whose character stands for loyalty, bravery and justice. Enjoy strolling the small streets of antique low tile-roofed houses, which reflect the town’s multi-cultural past.

Afternoon, transfer to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass). Enjoy a stunning headland-and-bay panoramic view from the pass, which for miles hugs the mountainside along the shoreline and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Stop in Danang to visit Museum of Cham Sculpture and stone carving villages at Marble Mountains. Then continue your travel to Hue for overnight.



Day 10 Hue – Hanoi

In the morning take a sightseeing tour of Hue City beginning with Hue Citadel, a well-known UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site which is a 520 ha fortress-like grand complex built in the early 1800s and featuring three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts namely KinhThanh Hue (Civic City) as the outer, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) as the middle and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) as the inner. Move on to KhaiDinh Tomb, the burial site of KhaiDinh, Vietnam’s second-to-last king, and the most elaborate compared to other kings’ tombs. The tomb shows a vivid European influence in architecture despite its Asian style. Stop by Dong Ba market, the city’s traditional commercial center, for shopping.

Afternoon, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Hanoi.On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel.



Day 11 Hanoi – Halong Bay

The morning sightseeing tour will first take you to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder, and his rural style residence with a house on stilts and the Presidential Palace. Also part of this complex is the unique One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. The tour will continue on with a visit to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology showcasing the prominent cultural heritages of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups.

Afternoon, after lunch we transfer to Ha Long Bay, which is about 160 km (approx 3.5-hour drive). On the way, you will see some rural areas of the Red River Delta with plenty of chances to take photos of Vietnamese farmers working in paddy fields. Stop half way to visit a handicraft workshop of fine clothes and embroidered paintings. Arrive in Ha Long City and check in to your hotel to relax. Enjoy the nightlife.



Day 12 Halong Bay – Hanoi

After an early breakfast at hotel between 6-7 AM, transfer to the dock for boarding a cruise boat to explore the legendary Ha Long Bay. Ha Long means Descending Dragon in Vietnamese as legend has it that a holly dragon landed down here from sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s wonders and heritage sites whose formation dates back 500 million years, consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2. The boat will stop at Dau Go Island for you to visit ThienCung Cave (Heaven Palace) and Dau Go Cave (Wooden Stakes). Dau Go Cave in 13th Century was a depot to store pointed wooden stakes, which later were used by Vietnamese great military commander Tran Hung Dao to trap and puncture Mongolian naval boats in famous battles of Bach Dang. Continue cruising while fresh seafood lunch is served on board. Return to the dock, disembark and travel back to Hanoi.

Late afternoon arrival Hanoi, take a Cyclo tour through Hanoi’s downtown to sightsee the Old Quarter of 36 ancient streets. End the tour by enjoying special Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry as well as Vietnamese folklore through a compelling puppet show at Thang Long Theatre.Overnight in Hanoi.



Day 13 Hanoi – Laos: LuangPrabang

This morning fly to LuangPrabang. Upon arrival, meet our guide and transfer to hotel for check-in. Time to explore this interesting and historic city on foot.
Late afternoon, explore Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribes.



Day 14 LuangPrabang

Morning, meet our guide and take a half day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent WatXiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of WatVisoun and the shrines of WatAham and Wat Mai.

Afternoon, continue to visit former royal temples, WatVisun where one can see the Biggest statue and the Museum (former king’s palace). You’ll also stop at the impressive stupa of WatVisoun and the shrines of WatAham and Wat Mai. End of day climb up to Phousi Hill to take a sunset over the city and Mekong River



Day 15 LuangPrabang – Kuang Si Waterfalls & Ban Chan

Today you cross the Mekong River by a boat to reach the picturesque village of Ban Chan - a pottery village. You'll visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will find many things sold as local tea, dried buffalo skin, saltpeter along the chickens, vegetables and hild-tribe weavings. Continue to visit local villages of Laos ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay-a Hmong village, Ban Ou - a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene-a Khmu village Laos to watch they make their famous traditional crafts. End of day go to beautiful Khouangsi Waterfalls where you can swim in a refreshing pools or just walk along the forest trails



Day 16 LuangPrabang – Departure

Free at leisure until check-out, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.