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In Vietnam 14 days / 13 nights: HANOI - MAI CHAU VALLEY / BAN LAC VILLAGE - HALONG BAY - DA NANG - HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN - DALAT HIGHLAND - PHAN THIET Beach / MUI NE Bay - HO CHI MINH CITY

This is quite an itinerary for our people, I would like to book this tour programe. Click here

Arrival in Hanoi, warm welcome to everybody, a moment of courtesy meeting of the tour guide in the meeting point's Noi Bai Airport.

Hanoi - its legendary beginnings from 1,010 to 15th century then before the World War II, after 1954 as well, is the cradle of Red River Delta civilization with green rice-fields, its Old streets and colonial Quarter, its calm lakes, the shaded boulevards, its verdant public parks and sunny smiles with truly Far-East Asian faces ...Our experienced tour guide will transmit you the most lovely aspects of Hanoi - the ancient city of 1,000 yrs, during 45' by coach from the Airport to your Hotel in the centre city. Transfer to hotel for check in and take your time to rest after a long flight.

Please note that standard check in time is 14.00, check out at 12.00. Early check in or late check-out is subject to room availability. Hotel would probably guarantee early check in or late checkout as an extra surcharge on depend to the rooming’s status at that time.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day tour of Hanoi, let’s experience the basic concepts of political Vietnam currently by visit to the Chairman Palace area, there are Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Ba Dinh National square, Stilt House; One Pillar Pagoda, a nice group picture should photo in the parade yard of Ba Dinh National square with the great back view of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. Continuing to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple are located on an islet of West Lake, then the Temple of Literature, is a classic Confucianism temple from the category "Confucianism", was founded as a Confucian Temple and a huge statue and alter to Confucius remain there today, the first university in Viet Nam was founded here and many rows and rows of big stone slabs that sat on the backs of stone tortoises. These slabs are actually the stele of the school's successful doctorate candidates.

In the afternoon, you visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology where contains more than 10,000 objects which depict all aspects of life, customs, and habits of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. You will enjoy later an interesting tour by traditional Pedi cabs, the best and most stylish way as far more charming to see Hanoi and to take in the sights and sounds of the Old quarter is by Cycle ( a tricycle ), your people will enjoy 1 hour cycle tour the Old Quarter and shopping streets to watch the daily lives of the people living on and around the busy areas, the small rickshaws will carry you strolling around the Old Quarter and shopping streets, to relax and view to daily-life surrounding or communicating is a good way to have a full impression of the city, catch the spirit of Vietnam. Rickshaws will return back at the Garden of Hoan Kiem Lake - the Return-Sword Lake, to visit Ngoc Son – Heroic Temple, But Tower, where you will be fascinating with legendary stories from 600 years that a turtle stole a king's sword and took it to the bottom of this lake.

Evening is the time of water puppet show, a unique art form of Vietnamese, at Thang Long Water Puppet Troupe, and you will also experience more about a specific culture in South-East Asia coming from agriculture of wet rice during the performance.

After breakfast, check-out then make an excursion day to Hoa Binh province with many mountany landscapes which its imposing beauty and beautiful like a poem. Sightseeing of Song Da (Da River) that you will feel its beauty and discover practical things are why it is very useful natural resource for producing electricity in Hoa Binh Hydro-Electric Power Plant - the largest one of its kind in Vietnam.

Continuing to Mai Chau which is the heart of a beautiful valley that is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi. The modern village is an unappealing sprawl, but as you emerge on the rice fields and rural living it is transformed into a real paradise. It's a stunning area, and most people here are ethnic White Thai, distantly related to tribes in Thailand, Laos and China paradise. It's a stunning area, and most people here are ethnic White Thai, distantly related to tribes in Thailand, Laos and China. Photo-stop in Cun Pass then viewing to Mai Chau : a valley of green vegetation and equilateral still-houses of Thai ethnic minority. All around you are mountain peaks, fertile valleys and lush vegetation. Visit to real hill tribe villages in Mai Chau to explore the lives of local people in houses-on-stilts.

Day 4: MAI CHAU Valley / Ban Lac Village TREKKING (by A/C car, trekking)

After breakfast, transfer to visit Mai Chau Market where local people coming from the surrounding neighborhood to trade. Or you can go to the market by walking if you like. After visiting, the market you can do a walk to some villages nearby. Continue to visit other hill tribe villages in Mai Chau to explore the lives of local people. Mai Chau Valley is one of the closest places to Hanoi where you can experience a 'real' Montagnard village. You will enjoy walking through the beautiful valley through the rice fields and trekking to minority villages : Lac village & Pom Coong village - home to the While Thai people.

The beautiful village of Ban Lac, spreads out under the your eyes and lies in a green valley of paddies fields dotted with rows of stilt houses. It is very enjoyable when you travel to these places, where you have opportunities to see the clear view of the beautiful scenarios of mountain ethnic villages, as well as learn about each local people's unique culture and life.

Located in Mai Chau, a destination for travelers in search of natural beauty, life and culture of ethnic minorities, Poom Coong Village is full of colorful products and colorful Thai ladies. The village is famous for traditional dances with stem wine brings unforgettable impression for visitors.

A pleasant evening are waiting you with music, melodies, Thai ethnic dancer-girls and its traditional instruments : The Cong-Chien. You also enjoy “Can” wine. The name comes from the reason that Vietnamese call a stem - a small bamboo straw - to consume wine from the jar. This kind of wine is the most special one in Vietnam even it belongs to minority groups in highland and some other places in Vietnam. Can wine is special for the way it is made and served. It is really a night worth remembering and experiencing.

Day 5: MAI CHAU Valley / Ban Lac Village - HALONG BAY (by A/C car 300km, Cruising tour by wooden junk)

Today, early morning check out then depart to Halong Bay. Breakfast in box. Landscapes en route are very interesting with the immense rice-fields, farmers are working in the fields, small and peace villages ....there are the sweet beginnings to talk with then explanation of Vietnam by our tour guide.

In 1994 UNESCO classified Halong Bay as a World Natural Heritage and in November 2000, the World Heritage Committee reconfirmed this classification, your excursion to Halong Bay will re-evaluate the classification of UNESCO to this fairyland.

In the book intituled “Wonders of the World” published in 1950. The French marshal Lyautey compared it with Venice rocks in the “Letters of Tonkin and Madagascar “ (June 24, 1895). The French novelist Yvonne Schultz did not hesitate to praise the miraculous beauty of this bay:

All heights and ten thousand forms; imagination, imitation, pagodas, Hindu temples, menhirs, Chinese towers, pieces of chess-board or true immense mountain. And the extraordinary flows simulating the ruined keeps, the broken down bastions, a succession of palaces with the open belly and tribes of mutilated idols.

HALONG BAY is nearly a hidden bay with thousands of limestone islands densely rising from the blue jade water in a sea area of over 1500 square kilometres. Its 1969 green islands enfeeble the strong winds blowing from the ocean to leave the transparent water of the bay often calm in cool and healthy air. From time to time, sailing Junk appearing and disappearing between the islands make the poetic sight more colourful like sparkling pearls or coral reefs found out in the bay. The beauty of the bay is not monotone, at different positions of viewing, it will astonish viewers with quite different fascinations. In the caves and grottoes of stone islands, visitors will discover and admire how many impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

12h00-12h30 Embark on V’Spirit Classic Cruise (or similar) followed by a short cruise briefing.

13h00-15h30 Savor a delectable lunch as V’Spirit Classic Cruises among the limestone islands…

16h30-17h30 Cruise to Soi Sim island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Soi Sim or climp up to the top of the island for a panorama view of Halong Bay.

17h30 Return to the main boat for a shower. Relax or snap photos as the sun starts to set 19h00 Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, fish for squid, or just laze around.

Day 6: HALONG BAY - Noi Bai airport - DANANG / HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN (by A/C car, Cruising tour by wooden junk, plane)

08h30-09h30 Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave – the nicest cave in Halong Bay.

09h30-10h30 Continue cruise exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet & more…

10h30-11h30 While heading back to the habor, watch the cooking demonstration before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

NOTES: Cruise itineraries and schedules are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions.

Our car is waiting for you at the pier and straight-up to Noi Bai airport for domestic flight to Danang by VN171 HAN/DAD at 18.20-19.40.

From Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An ancient town, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River, 30 km south of Danang, has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16^th century. All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with ornamental designs.

Transfer to hotel for check in and time of rest. Overnight in Hoi An. (B, L)

Day 7: HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN (by A/C car, walking tour, biking tour, motor-boat tour)

After breakfast, you will enjoy an interesting town-tour by walking. It is the best way to discover Hoian ancient town, visit The Japanese Covered Bridge where retains a harmony of architectural styles, combining Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese cultural characteristics. Ong Pagoda is one of the typical pagodas in Hoi An’s old quarter, built in 1653 and is dedicated to Quan Thanh De Quan (Quan Van Truong). Fukienese Assembly Hall was built in 1692 by Chinese Phuoc Kien merchants, is architecturally unique with its artistic ornaments and beautiful statues, Chinese architectural style combined with Vietnamese workmanship has enriched it with Hoi An’s cultural character. Tan Ky Ancient House, constructed almost two centuries ago as the house of a Vietnamese merchant. It has always been lovingly preserved and now looks almost exactly as it did in the early 19^th century, Hand-made Silk workshop as a last destination.

Then enjoy bicycle tour around Hoi An. This tour offers you the opportunity to discover the real Viet Nam countryside. The guide will meet you at the hotel’s lobby and take you by bicycle through the tiny village lanes to the river where you can learn about the daily life of the local people. Keep cycling through the corn fields, rice fields, water coconut forest, the lakes of shrimp and crab farm. On the way, we will visit houses for worshipping ancestors and houses of handicraftsmen such as: blacksmiths, carpenters and masons where you can learn many unusual things about life in Hoi An.

After that, you will enjoy sun set boat trip on the river. A tour to the river mouth gives you time to explore the magnificent sightseeing on riverside countryside, water- coconut forest and fishing village. From the Bach Dang dock, take a wooden boat sailing along the major branch of the lower section of Thu Bon River. Enjoy the beautiful sightseeing, fishing nets and many boats bobbing on the waters. Keep cruising down to Cua Dai river mouth, then going up to Co Co River and heading for Bay Mau Nipa (water coconut tree) grove. Have snack and make sure your camera is handy. You will have a lot of beautiful pictures.

Day 8: HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN / DANANG - DALAT Hightland (by A/C car, plane, cable car)

After breakfast, check out then transfer to the Danang airport for a flight to Dalat by VN1957 DAD/DLI at 10.20-11.45.

Arrival in Dalat is well known as “the City of Eternal Spring”, “Le Petit Paris”, “and Switzerland in miniature”, because of its cool climate, its environment, romantic landscapes of mountain ranges, pine forests, lakes and waterfalls…. For flower enthusiasts, Dalat is a real paradise with a great diversity of beautiful flowers. In the spring, Dalat is a “City of Thousand Flowers”. The whole city and its surrounding countryside are covered with impressive flowers beds.

After that, you will visit the Datanla Waterfall, situated in the middle of Prenn Mountain Pass. The cascading waterfalls down to the ground before disappearing again through layer after layer of marble lying scattered in a small stream. Nearby is Tuyen Lam Lake, a large attractive landscape. The site is suitable for some optional activities such as boating, fishing, elephant riding as your own account. Then walking through immense and poetical stretch of pine forest to visit the Thien Vien Truc Lam and then take a cable car on the way back. Proceeding to visit Dalat Flower Park, roses, orchids, daisies, sunflowers, poppies, geraniums, hibiscus, gladioli, glaieu, pensees, mimosas and others show their best robes of colors. In Dalat, many precious kinds of roses can be found such as the Josephine Rose, Brigitte Bardot Rose, Australian Indigo Rose, Monaco Rose, big dark-red rose as well as virgin beauty of wild and exotic orchid flowers. Then visit Linh Phuoc pagoda, also called Ve Chai Pagoda or Dragon Pagoda, was built from debris of glass, pottery bowls and porcelain between 1949 and 1952 in a remote residential area of Da Lat City. Finally, you will come to Dalat Market, one of the most beautiful markets in Vietnam, where you will be attracted by a wide array of flowers, fruits, and vegetables from the tropical and temperate zones. Moreover, the Dalat's famous items made of wool will offer to you the choices of sweaters, jumpers, pullovers, hats, and others famous as XQ Embroidering fine pictures.

Evening you would promenade along Xuan Huong Lake - a very beautiful lake. The surface of the lake is as smooth as glass reflecting the shadows of pine-trees which sing in the wind all day and night. Xuan Huong Lake is a poetic site, attracting leisure visitors.

After breakfast, you will enjoy full day trekking tour to visit the Tiger’s Cave waterfalls – about 15 kilometers far from Dalat city.

The waterfall has 25m in height and 10m in width. At the foot of the waterfall, the flow of water falls down strongly, making the dense mist covering the area. The white water then follows the rocks and flows into the primitive forest. Trek through pine forest, over Lang Bian River via suspension bridges to the remote tiny isolated Liengtro Chil Village (100 inhabitants). Spread your eyesight out on views of farmland (coffee, banana, vegetable, persimmon plantations), stream and forest throughout. Set your feet on top of the hill for fabulous scenery of La Ba river. Trek back to the paved road by a loop, relax in fresh water curtain at Tiger’s cave waterfall.

Breakfast at hotel, then check out for depart to Phan Thiet via Dai Ninh hydroelectric plant. The dam and plant are in Ham Thuan Bac District, Binh Thuan Province, 250km from Ho Chi Minh City. Two 150MW turbines provide the power for the plant. It generates 1.2 billion kilowatt hoursof electricity each year.

Phan Thiet beach - Mui Ne Bay, the tropical paradise, one of the leading relaxed destinations in Vietnam, where you have wonderful days for relaxation.

After that, you will visit Poshanu Cham Towers and the Prince’s Castle. The Prince’s Castle is a general area consisting of a group of hills, the beach, the Cham towers, a pagoda, a famous poet tomb Nguyen Thong and the ruins of a large French estate. The Poshanu Cham towers located on Ong Hoang hill are one of the most precious and important cultural vestiges of the Champa Kingdom.

Pô Sänü towers - ancient towers constructed by the Chams who once were the owners of a nation called the Kingdom of Champa which had been existing for more than a thousand years. Now the towers still stand there, old and weathered in the shape of a linga, standing on a rocky hilltop and overlooking the sea like the historical witnesses to the ups and downs of a nation on this land for over millennium. The towers seem to wait for you, the visitors coming from the distant lands to discover the left secrets of the ancient vestiges belonging to a lost kingdom. Just a very short distance of the ancient Champa towers is the old fighting bunkers, which its communication trenches, bartizans and fighting shelters are quite a must-see of the one-time civil-war, is really a memorable to meditative about the political upheavals.

Free time for enjoying activities at the beach-resort. Overnight in Phan Thiet. (B)

Day 11: PHAN THIET BEACH - Free at leisure on Full day (without transfer, guide & sightseeing)

In Phan Thiet beach, you would probably take time to free at leisure, enjoy your own activities for sun-sea bathing, lazy around or just self-discover the exotic sightseeing in surroundings by rent Bicycle or Motorcycle. A selection of particularly interesting water sports for Pro or just Initiate is available such as non-motorized water sports is available, inclusive of kayaking, catamaran, body boarding and wind surfing by your own, specially in a wind-surfing, diving ( for more information, access to www.windsurf-Vietnam.com or http://sailingclubvietnam.com or www.kiteboarding-vietnam.com … Let making the most of unforgettable senses of the restful day truly in your life.

After breakfast, transfer to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City, a young city with the age of more than 300 years, a centre of culture, education, commerce and tourism of Vietnam, the biggest city of Vietnam mix with the West and the Orient, and once known as the "Pearl of Far East".

In the afternoon, you will visit the Reunification Palace - a symbol of Saigon old Government before 1975, (also called former President Palace) to learn the sorrowful historic of Vietnam Ideology War from 1954-1975, then drive slowly along a historical boulevard which the impressive buildings as the old US Embassy the Prime Ministerial building and many more, there are like the historical witnesses to the ups and downs, political upheavals of a Nation and its generations. Stopover at Neo-Roman Notre Dame Cathedral - one of the most splendid and typical of the beautiful French-built churches in Ho Chi Minh city, next Municipal Post Office - Saigon's French-style main post office to admire and take photos of its nice architecture that is one of the Ho Chi Minh City’s symbolizing images. Later, pass by Ho Chi Minh City People Committee (also the old French City Hall before 1975), and Municipal Theatre built in 1899.

Evening, we highly recommend a good dinner cruise on Saigon River in a floating restaurant and getting the admirable feel of the charming views of Saigon river and city-by-night during a short river-cruising. (see supplement).

Day 13: HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG RIVERS / MY THO (by A/C car 70km, motor-boat, rowing-boat)

After breakfast, take an interesting excursion to Mekong Rivers, overland 70 kilometers to My Tho town - the "Gateway of Mekong River and its Delta". Mekong Delta - the rice granary of Vietnam and has vast areas of durian, mango, rambutan and other delicious tropical fruit trees.

Arrival My Tho and transfer to the bank of Mekong River, take a motor river-boat which to be rent exclusively for the group then crossing the Upper River and cruising along Tan Long Peninsula, let’s enjoy this golden moment to relax the verdant luxuriant sceneries of the watery region, taste very fresh coconut milk, disembark and visit a island, stop-over a handicraft village that produces house-hold items from materials of coconut trees. Walking on the quite country roads, you will reach to local lush orchards, taste delicious fresh fruits, drink hot tea with honey during the traditional melodies and folk music surround you. From here you can observe the life of the Mekong River Delta, the main source of rice and many other agricultural products of Vietnam. Enjoy also a short tilbury carriage tour on the village road. Take boat trip along the canal network with a bit of adventure mood in Ben Tre Province to visit a bee farm and then a coconut candy workshop. Till now rivers and artificial canals are an important circulation system of the Mekong Delta. Lunch will be served to you in a garden restaurant with the specialties of the Delta (see supplement).

Drive back to the city and left time is saved for you to do shopping at Ben Thanh Market – a most typical market of Vietnam, is a big marketplace in the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, with how many things are available for your choice. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and today is considered one of symbols of Ho Chi Minh City, popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, textiles, áo dài (traditional long-dress for female Vietnamese), and souvenirs, as well as local cuisine.

Day 14: HO CHI MINH CITY - SIEM REAP in Cambodia (by A/C car, plane, ox or buffalo cart riding)

After breakfast, check out then transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap by VN3825 SGNREP at 12.00-13.00.

Siem Reap - The Cradle of Angkor Civilization - Where Cambodian were Born, this is also a famous Archaeological City, as named as one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the World. Covering approx 600 sq km, it contains more than 100 fabulous ancient monuments and over dozen major compound Temples, which were built during the most splendid Era of the Khmer Dynasty between the 9^th - 13^th centuries and were the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy Buffalo and oxen cart trek (18 km east of Siem Reap town).

Experience trekking with an ox or buffalo cart ride to visit the beauty of the surrounding landscape, along the way discovering seasonal farming methods and other daily activities of local people. The cart is custom designed for your comfort with mat, pillows and roof made from palm leaves. Walk through rural communities, meet local families, learn mat weaving and making traditional palm-leaf cakes boxes. During your trip you will receive information concerning flora, including useful wild and home-grown plants. Your visit ends at the local market to see the diversity of fresh countryside products.

For those travelers thirsting for cultural highlights of Cambodia, No visit to Cambodia is complete without attending at least one traditional Khmer dance performance, often referred to as 'Apsara Dance' after one of the most popular Classical dance pieces. Traditional Khmer dance better described as 'dance-drama' in that the dances are not merely dance but also meant to convey a story or message.

We would strongly recommend a Cultural Show-Dinner on buffet, with the most traditional surrounds accompanied with the best of regional Cambodian cuisine in a local restaurant. Your clients will enjoy able the tradition Royal musical instruments of Cambodia. A traditional music band will sow in your mind the most memorable moments of lifetime thru the folk-music, folk-singers, folk-songs and folk-dances of Apsara dancers during dinner. (see supplement)

Firstly, you will visit the wonderful Angkor Thom (the Great City) including the Southern Gate, famous Bayon temple (12^th century in the center of city remains one the most enigmatic temples of the Angkor group composed of 54 gothic towers decorated with 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. Baphuon temple is lying just to the north of Bayon a pyramidal representation of mythical Mont Meru. Terrace of Elephants used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king’s grand audience hall ; Terrace of the Leper King a plateform 7m high, on the top stands a nude though sexless statue; Phimean Akas temple means “Celestial Palace”, dedicated to Hinduism.

Afternoon, visit the wonderful Angkor Wat - one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world, as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of 12^th. Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples, with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. The central monument represents the mythical Mount Meru, the holy mountain at the centre of the universe, which was home to the Hindu God Vishnu. The whole complex covers 81 hectares, a rectangular wall measuring 1025 meters by 800 meters borders the inner edge of the moat, and temple's greatest sculptural treasure is its 2 km-long bas-reliefs around the walls...

In the late afternoon, coming to the Phnom Bakheng temple, is the first temple in Angkor region build by the YacovarmanI King in the first of 9^th century, located on a slope gently hill where thousands tourist are grouping on the hilltop to catch a memorable time of life when viewing the marvellous sunset, the distant Angkor Wat in the jungle and Tonle Sap Lake.

Extra Charge For Elephant Riding On One-Way Up Or Down On Phnom Bakheng Hill : US$30 / PAX / WAY

Ending the day with a marvellous sunset view at the Phnom Bakheng with one way up on elephant riding, the best spot over the Angkor Wat and the outlying complex. The participants will be fascinated surely a unique feeling when they are oscillate riding on the big elephant in the forest rad of Angkor complex.

After breakfast, you will enjoy full day hiking adventure tour to the Kulen Mountain (trekking 12 km) : Kulen Mountain has become safe starting from 1999 after the Khmer Rouge had mobilized all he forces with the government. It is considered a holly place for local people as we believe in lingas and spirit and stones. It is a good combination of the trip to combine full day of trekking and the untouched temple of Beng Mealea hidden in the jungle at the other end of Kulen Mountain range.

Transfer from the hotel to the foot of Kulen Mountain which takes 50 minutes. On arrival, get water in the cool box. Begin walking up the hill.

Visit the River of Thousand Lingas lying under the river bed, people believe it brings fertility and blessing Angkor area as the river flows from Kulen to Siem Reap. Walk 700meters to visit the Grand Reclining Buddha. Kulen mountain remains the sacred place local people believes. From the Grand Reclining Buddha, walk another 500 meters to the water fall, where we enjoy swimming the 30 meters high water fall.

After lunch (see supplement), transfer to Beng Mealea temple. Beng Mealea is an untouched temple hidden in the jungle surrounded by its mood 900 meters by 1,200 meters. Beng Mealea is a beautiful, charming temple. It has it own character which cannot be found in any other temple. We can feel very peaceful sitting inside the temple as we can get rid of the many tourists at Angkor area.

After breakfast, free at leisure until the time for check out at noon, then transfer to Siem Reap airport for a departure flight back home. End of tour 17 days 16 nights.

It’s timely; you have to say Good-Bye Vietnam-Cambodia. GOOD-BYE & SEE YOU AGAIN! (B)

If your time is permit, you may extend just a few nights for experience a most fascinating adventure trip to Luang Prabang in Laos as below detail.

Day 17: from SIEM REAP, fly to LUANG PRABANG (by A/C car, motor boat, plane)

After breakfast, you will enjoy Tonle Sap and shopping tour. The floating village of the Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia and the largest in Asia, its extraordinary bio-diversity and hydrology make it an ecological wonder of the world, offer visitors an insight into the old tradition of riparian life and natural splendour of Cambodia. Left of the time for doing shopping at Old Market & colonial quarter, take your time to enjoy a busy market day, communicating with the local sales and all sorts of their products. It’s quite a sight to see, to give somewhat a picture of Cambodian social living.

Then transfer to the airport for flight to Luang Prabang by QV514 REP/LPQ at 14.40-18.00.

Luang Prabang - the ancient capital of the Lao Kingdom, list by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites in 1995. Luang Prabang today is a small, peaceful town with a remarkably well-preserved combination of Lao and colonial French architecture, which led to UNESCO World Heritage in 1995. Though virtually nothing of the magnificent 14th century capital of Fa Ngoum has survived the ravages of time and numerous invasions, the city is still a veritable treasure trove of beautiful temples, and historical monuments of the kingdoms that rose and fell in the centuries that followed.

Transfer to hotel for check-in and time of rest. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

After breakfast, we enjoy an excursion by boat for along the Mekong River to visit the holly caves of Pak Ou: Tham Ting and Tham Phoum. A repository for old or damaged Buddha images that once graced household shrines, the caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum have become highly venerated sanctuaries. During Lao New Year boatloads of Luang Prabang residents make the 25km pilgrimage up the Mekong River to the caves to wash the Buddha images and make merit, just opposite Mekong river’s bank is the village of Ban Xang Hai. Though for centuries the village made its living by crafting stoneware jars, more recently it has become famous for brewing particularly fiendish liquor, made from fermented sticky rice, called 'lao-lao.'

In the afternoon, you visit National Museum at the former royal Palace which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao cultural dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Then, you will visit some royal temples such as: Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple; Heading out of this area, we explore some other major sights including the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, inside you will see the stupa which is known as that Makmo because the form is like the half of Watermelon, the temple structures are decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes and doorways. You also have time for shopping at the central market and strolling around the shopping area, take your time to enjoy a busy market day, communicating with the local sales and all sorts of their products. It’s quite a sight to see, to give somewhat a picture of Lao social living.

Finally, you climb up to the top of the Phousi temple with 382 steps up to take a good view of the beautiful sunset, of greater Luang Prabang and Mekong rivers on surrounding.

On early evening, you may self-explore Street Night Bazaar street on 17.30-22.30, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile, silvers by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang & Laos also.

Back to your hotel and free at leisure at night. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

After breakfast, you will enjoy a full day trekking for visit: Ban Long Lao - Kuangsi Waterfall

We depart for one hour drive then begin with a visit to the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Longlao Nung before heading to the nearby Hmong village of Ban Longlao Song. You will be able to observe the lifestyles of these two culturally very different minority groups and see how despite their differences they manage to work together on a day to day basis and even sharing the same school.

As we continue onwards the trail leads through rice paddy and vegetable fields before reaching the mountainous forest. Along the way we explore a cave which was used as a bomb shelter by the locals during the second Indochina war.

After visiting the cave one more hour of trekking brings us to one of the many springs which feeds Kuang Xi waterfalls, here a beautiful pool full of sacred fish can be seen. After descending from the top of the waterfall we enjoy a Lao style lunch (see supplement) amongst some beautiful settings!

The afternoon is spent bathing and relaxing around the turquoise pools below the waterfall. You can also visit the bear conservation center which is located nearby and home to many bears which have been rescued from illegal farms.

Before returning to Luang Prabang we take a short walk to a nearby Khmu village of Ban Thapene which is home to some of the most beautiful pools of Kuang Xi Waterfalls.

Bring: hat, sunscreen, clothes/shoes to get wet, mosquito repellent, swim clothes, camera.

After breakfast, check out then transfer to airport for departure flight back home. End of extension tour 4 days 3 nights in Luang Prabang. Have a safe trip back home!

It’s timely; you have to say Good-Bye Laos. You surely have plentiful memories of Orient also my country. We (Toan Vinh Tours) thank you very much for your choice of our company as your ground handler in Laos and may be Indochina countries on further, be sure all our people are your best friends always and beyond. May we will meet and honoured welcome you have other voyages to Indochina in the days coming, continuing to discover, to experience the endless imposing landscapes, and then get the really restful moments in a diversified World and a colourful Sub region of Mekong River: VIETNAM - LAOS - CAMBODIA - THAILAND - MYANMAR! GOOD-BYE & SEE YOU AGAIN! (B)

This is quite an itinerary for our people, I would like to book this tour programe. Click here

Soft-Adventure Hiking Travel to