Indochina Family Adventure

Morning
After breakfast, we will take a cycle ride (45 minutes for cycling) or drive to the world heritage areas on the roads less traveled. Ride among the jungle passing local villages and local shops. It’s a very special and acting day as you will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples.

The walking tour will begin at West Gate of Angkor Thom Complex – undiscovered by mass tourism. The sites at the Complex we will visit including the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), the South Gate, Bayon Temple- unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, The Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, The Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Leaving the Angkor Thom complex, we will proceed to the Tah Prohm, famous for the temples that are overgrown and covered by trees. Ta Prohm has been left as it was found, showing exactly what the jungle can do when it takes over control.

Afternoon
Continue your tour to explore Angkor Wat, an architectural and artistic masterpiece of the mighty Khmer Empire before witnessing dusk at Phnom Bakheng or Pre Rup casting the temple in an orange hue.

Overnight in Siem Reap
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Morning
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer for 2 hours to Phnom Kulen which is believed to be the birthplace of the Khmer Empire where King Jayavarman II was crowned as ‘God-king’. At present, Kulen Mountain is a favorite spot among Cambodian families for weekend getaways and special holidays. This is where families usually gather together and the place where visitors go for outdoor activities.

After one hour of driving up the hill, we will arrive at Kulen Mountain. Here we will visit the River of 1000 Lingas, a reclining Buddha and cascading waterfall. You can swim in the waterfall so please make sure you bring your swim gears.

On the way back, you will visit another of the lesser-visited temples – Beng Mealea, similar in size to the better known Angkor Wat (both were built by Jayavaram VII). Utterly swallowed by the jungle, and with minimal restoration work, it is easy to imagine what it must have been like for early explorers discovering these temples for the first time.

Overnight in Siem Reap
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Morning
After breakfast, you will move in tune with the rhythm of the great annual flood of Tonle Sap. Take a boat ride to the village of Kompong Phluk. Explore this great ecosystem by way of canoeing and hear the calls of the macaque monkeys while observing the forest beneath the lake’s surface.

Afternoon
In the afternoon, you will take a short flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, you will meet up with your tour guide and driver then transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be yours to explore at your leisure.

Overnight in Vientiane
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Morning
After breakfast, your private tour guide will pick you up and take you for a sigh-seeing of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Hor Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image.

You will continue to take a trip by road to outskirts of Vientiane, following the road along the bank of Mekong river to visit the Buddha Park of Xieng Khuan, the park (28km East of Vientiane), containing a combination of hundred status of Hindu divinities and Buddha.
You will pass villages on the bank of Mekong through beautiful views of a vegetable garden, tobacco plantation, etc. You will also have a nice view of the Mekong Friendship Bridge as the border between Laos and Thailand.

Return to Vientiane town and continue to visit Ban Nongbuathong the hand weaving Village. Take a walk on Mekong Riverside before transfer back to Hotel.

Overnight in Vientiane
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Morning
After breakfast, your private tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to Wattay Airport to take a short flight to Luang Prabang.

Afternoon
Upon arrival, you will be met by your private tour guide and embark on a guided tour of Luang Prabang.

Visits:
– National museum
– The impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai
– Wat Xieng Thong
– Climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River.

From there, you will explore Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang
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Morning
After breakfast, your private tour guide will pick you up and take you to enjoy a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives you a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes.

Along the way, you will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the distillation of local rice wine. On return, you will take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong, well known for its hand weaving.

The rest of the day will be yours to explore at your leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang
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After breakfast, drive out of town to visit the Jewel land Elephant camp at Ban Ann. En route stop at the famous and well-known village, Ban Phom Nom, almost of those villagers are weavers. They used to be servants and made handicraft souvenirs for the last king of Laos.

You also visit Henrimouhot monument at Kang Noon, a French man, who founded Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, but he died at Kang Noon when he moved to Laos for his discovery as Mararia.
Then continue to the Elephant camp.

On arrival your guide brief about those elephants, where they come from and their daily living condition. You can take some vegetables to feed those elephants. If you wish you can take an elephant ride for one hour.

Returne to Luang Prabang, the rest of the day will be yours to explore at your leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang
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Morning
After breakfast and a leisurely morning on your own, you will check out by midday and your private driver will pick you up and take you to Luang Prabang airport for a short flight to Hanoi.

Afternoon
Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport, your guide will take you to your hotel in Hanoi to check in. After checking in to your hotel, the rest of the evening will be yours to explore at your leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi
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Morning
After breakfast, you will enjoy a full-day tour of Hanoi with the assistance of your private guide.

Start your day with a cyclo tour of the fascinating Old Quarter – 36 streets in old-schooled French colonial style would present you the past days. Cycling ends in the Old Citadel, from where you will walk along the beautiful tree-lined boulevards until you get to Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Complex. Here you will start the walking tour.

You will visit:
– Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
– The Presidential Palace
– The humble House on Stilts, in which Uncle Ho lived and painted a brighter day for Vietnam.
– One Pillar Pagoda

Continue your morning tour to visit the Temple of Literature and then the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’ – Hanoi’s former central prison made famous first for the incarceration of the leaders of Vietnam’s national liberation movement and later US Air force pilots shot down over North Vietnamese airspace.

Afternoon
You will enjoy a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake visiting Ngoc Son Temple. Then you will attend a performance of the traditional water puppet show, a typical northern Vietnam art form at the nearby Theater.

Overnight in Hanoi
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Morning
After breakfast and checkout, you will depart Hanoi and take a 5,5-hour road journey to Sapa, a lovely charming town established as a hill station by the French in the early nineteen century. At an elevation of 1,500 meters, Sapa was once a hill resort of French administrators when the summer heat became unbearable. The remoteness and the simple lifestyle of ethnic minority people are a highlight of Sa Pa although conditions are basic.

Afternoon
Freshen, relax and take a walking visit to Sapa town, Sapa market, then we’ll drive to Lao Chai – Ta Van villages followed by a short trek to Lao Chai, Ta van villages to meet and talk with Giay people and to explore their daily life and beautiful landscape. Enjoy a home-hosted dinner at the local family and return to town.

Overnight in Sapa
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Morning
After breakfast and checkout, you will start your day with a 02-hour drive to the lowest valley of Sapa. Along the way, you will have many chances to see the breathtaking views of the largest terraced paddy fields and cornfields of the Sapa District.

Passing Ban Ho village, you will ascend to My Son Village then Nam Cang Village. Here minorities live, such as Xa Pho, Red Dao and White H’mong. Stopping at Nam Thang Village, you will visit a minority home and then cross a suspension bridge. Along the way, you will see many waterfalls, together with stunning views of the lowest valley, paddy terraces and Buffalo houses on stilts, while listening to the birds singing in nearby forests. This wonderful 2-hour trek ends with lunch at a minority stilt house in Thanh Phu Village.

Afternoon
You will return to Sapa while viewing the sun setting over the mountains. The rest of the day will be yours to explore at your leisure.

Overnight in Sapa
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Morning
The whole morning will be yours to explore at your leisure. You can visit the town market or climb the Ham Rong “Dragon’s Jaw Mountain”. You will then check out of the hotel room at midday.

Afternoon
You will be picked up by a private guide and driver and transferred to Lao Cai station to board the overnight train to Hanoi (20:12pm – 05:00am).

Overnight on A/C train
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Morning
Morning arrival in Hanoi, you will be picked up and transfer to a mini-hotel nearby the station for a shower and relax.

After breakfast will be transferred through green rice paddy fields to Halong Bay to board our authentic traditional Vietnamese Junk sailing boat. Seafood lunch will be served on board while you cruise among the hundreds of islets of Halong Bay, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.

Afternoon
Take a short visit to Titop Island for kayaking, swimming, and relaxation. Enjoy the sunset before you drop anchor for a delicious meal and a peaceful overnight stay.

Overnight on boat
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Morning
Morning rising to the sound of Halong Bay you will take part in a Tai Chi class on sundeck. It is followed by breakfast and then you will explore Sung Sot grotto where stalactites hanging from the high ceiling take on numerous shapes and forms.

You will return to the boat for check-out and brunch as you continue cruising amongst the islands and islets.

Afternoon
At mid-day, you will get back to the pier for dismemberment. From here, you will be picked up again and driven back to Hanoi Airport for a short flight to Hue.

Upon arrival in Hue, you will be picked up and driven to the hotel to check-in. The rest of the evening will be free at your leisure.

Overnight in Hue
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Morning
After breakfast and check out, you will see your private motorbike driver waiting for you at the hotel lobby. Today you will enjoy fun bike rides through the lush rice fields and local villages visiting the major attractions of Hue. After a short tour briefing, you will be picked up (01 person per bike) and driven to Thanh Toan Village where you can see the lively morning market. This is where the locals come to buy their daily food. Nearby are the 300-year-old Thanh Toan bridge and a Cultural Museum where you can visit and talk to the locals.

Note: if you are not keen on the motorbike tour, it can be replaced by private car.

Continue your visit to the Royal Tomb of Tu Duc King, the final resting place. Then you will head to the nearby Vong Canh Hill to watch the stunning panorama view of the Perfume River below.
Return to our bikes and drive to a local Buddhist Monastery for a delicious vegetarian lunch, prepared and served by the nuns.

Afternoon
Following lunch, you will return to town to visit the Forbidden Purple City, former home to the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 – 1945.  End up your day by visiting the central Dong Ba Market sited on the bank of the Perfume River. Walk across the historic Trang Tien Bridge to return to our hotel.

Overnight in Hue
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Morning
After breakfast and check-out, you will be picked up by our private tour guide and driver then transferred to the Ancient Town of Hoi An via Da Nang. It will be a 4-hour scenic journey hugging the coastline with some photo stops en‐route at Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass and the Marble Mountain.

Around mid-day, you will arrive and check in to your hotel in Hoi An.

Afternoon
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to wander the peaceful lantern-lit streets of this picturesque town. Hoi An is a great place for tailor-made clothes so you may visit the tailor shops to get a whole new wardrobe.

Overnight in Hoi An
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Morning
After breakfast and check out, your private tour guide will pick you up and take you to a cycling/bike trip to visit Hoi An’s hottest attractions: Japanese Bridge, Old Merchant House, China Assembly Halls and some other interesting shops. You will ride by bicycle to the home of a craftsman in the old street in Hoi An Town, where you will discover the daily life of Hoi An people and see how they make a lantern. You will have a chance to enjoy making the lantern and keep it as a souvenir. Later, you will walk deep into a narrow alley in search for a special lunch in a secret garden-like restaurant.

Note: If you don’t want the bike ride, it will be replaced by private car.

Afternoon
In the afternoon, a fisherman will greet you at the shore and help you step on Hoi An’s special boat: Basket Boat. The basket-shaped transportation is widely used in Southern Vietnam; sitting in one would be one of the most precious fun moments in your Vietnam holiday. Just as other fishermen, you will be back to shore with a boat-load of fish when sunset. What a harvest!

Overnight in Hoi An
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The whole day will be free to relax. Perhaps choose to join an optional Vietnamese cooking class or learn more about the ancient Champa civilization with a trip to My Son Cham Towers.

Overnight in Hoi An
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Morning
Your private driver will pick you up at the hotel and transferred to Da Nang International airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon.

On arrival, you will be picked up by your private tour guide and transferred to downtown for a guided tour of this Metropolitan City. The tour begins with a visit to Post Office and the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Neo-Romanesque in form, Notre Dame is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern time. You will pass the historic Ben Thanh market – where all kind of goods is offered.

After that, free time for you to hang out at the local coffee shop or local market.

Overnight in HCM City
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Morning
After breakfast and check out, you will take a 02-hour drive to the ornate temple of Cao Dai in Tay Ninh Province which is a combination of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. Then, attend the fantastic mid-day service together with the followers.

Afternoon
After lunch, you will be transferred back and stop to visit Cu Chi Tunnel system, the incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. From 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for visitors.

After that, you will be back to HCM City. The rest of the day will be yours to explore at your leisure.

Overnight in HCM City
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Morning
At 08:00 AM, you will depart HCM City to drive to Vinh Long, located in the heart of the Mekong Delta. A three-hour journey through the lush fields and farms will take you to the southernmost region of Vietnam – the Mekong Delta. This is the end of a 4,500 km journey the Mekong River makes after traveling through six countries towards the China Sea.

Upon arrival, you will embark on a boat trip to visit local cottage industries, such as the production of floor tiles, pottery, soya bean and tofu. You will also visit one of many local orchards where you can enjoy some of the exotic fruit and have a taste of Mekong cuisine.

Afternoon
You will arrive at your homestay in the late afternoon, where you can check into your bedding and explore the island to get a feeling of the area. Delicious dinner will be prepared and served by your host family.

Overnight in Vinh Long
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Morning
At 08:00 AM, bidding a farewell to the local the host family, you will continue our boat trip to visit the Cai Be Floating Market. This is a local retail market where you can witness hundreds of boats loaded with fruit, vegetables and other produce for trade. Afterward, you will visit a family business where they make popular sweets such as coconut candy, pop rice cakes, and rice paper. You will return to the dock and drive back to HCM City, stopping en route to have lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon
You will arrive at your hotel in the afternoon, where you can spend the rest of the day to explore at your leisure.

Overnight in HCMC
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After breakfast and a leisurely morning on your own as your tour package in Indochina draws to an end, you will check out by midday and your private driver will pick you up and take you to HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight home.

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