Best Of Indochina: Hanoi – Halong – Luang Prabang – Siem Reap – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh city

Upon arrival Noi Bai airport, you are met and transferred to your hotel (check in time: 14:00). Then you are free. Overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is rich with culture thanks to an eclectic mix influences including French, which is evident through the fine old colonial building and tree lined boulevards. Meet your local guide in the morning to discover the city, taking in sights including Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, The Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stils and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Enjoy traditional local fare for lunch before visiting The Temple of Literature (Vietnam’s first university, built in 11th century), The Tran Quoc Pagoda (the oldest pagoda in Vietnam), Sword Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Finish the day with a ride on a three-whelled cyclo and discover the vibrant Old Quarter of Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Remarks:
– Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his Museum are closed on Monday, Friday and the whole months of Oct/Nov
– Ho Chi Minh House and all Museums are closed on Monday

Breakfast at hotel, around 08:00 we transfer to Halong City, the drive takes about 4 hours, stopping off for a refreshment break en route.
11.30 Check-in at Paradise Lounge – Tuan Chau Island
Your first stop on arrival at Tuan Chau Island is the Paradise check-in lounge. You will have time to refresh yourself after the long drive from Hanoi.

12:30 Embark on Paradise Luxury
After your transfer to Paradise Luxury, you will be checked-in, then taken to the restaurant, where you will be briefed about your cruise while enjoying your welcome drink.

13:00 Lunch in the restaurant
As the Paradise Luxury makes its way to Halong Bay, you will have time to savor your delicious lunch while enjoying the stunning views – your first introduction to this majestic landscape.

14:00 Cruise Halong Bay or enjoy a Spa Treatment
After lunch, you will have time to be enchanted by the stunning landscape of Halong Bay. If the first stop isn’t for you, you can opt for an afternoon of pampering and indulgence at Le Parfum Spa*.

14:30 Visit Tung Sau Pearl Farm or kayak*
Your first excursion is a visit to Tung Sau Pearl Farm, an area in Halong Bay dedicated to growing pearls and practicing a handmade technique based on Vietnamese tradition and Japanese technology. This is also an ideal destination for kayaking. If this excursion doesn’t take your fancy, stay on board and treat yourself to a delicious afternoon tea.

16:00 Visit Sung Sot Cave
Your next stop is the magnificent Sung Sot Cave, where you will be surprised by the breathtaking panoramic view across the Bay once you exit the cave. This is the largest cave in Halong Bay, and the stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years have taken on fascinating shapes.

17:45 Pre-Dinner Sunset Cocktails* and Cooking Demonstration
Paradise Luxury will anchor overnight at Coconut Tree Island. This is the perfect time for you to enjoy a cocktail or two as the sun sets over the karst landscape. Foodies can partake in Vietnamese cooking demonstration before dinner, and guaranteed to whet the appetite.

19:30 Royal Bao Dai Dinner
Dress like kings and queens for the Royal Bao Dai dinner at the restaurant. The rest of the evening is free for you to relax with a drink* or two, go squid fishing, book in for a spa treatment at Le Parfum Spa* or watch a movie in the restaurant.

06:30 Tai Chi on Sundeck
Welcome your second day on board Paradise Luxury with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck as the sun rises, followed by a light breakfast in the restaurant.

07:30 Visit to Titov Island
Hike to the top of Titov Island for stunning panoramic views of the Bay. After your hike, go for a refreshing swim in Halong Bay’s emerald waters, or sip from a coconut in the shade. If you choose to stay on board, book in for a pamper session in the Le Parfum Spa*.

08:30 Breakfast at the restaurant
Back on board, you can opt for your breakfast to be served in the restaurant or your cabin. Paradise Luxury will pass Thien Cung and Dau Go Caves and Fighting Cocks Islet before you settle your bill, check-out and return to Tuan Chau Island.

10:30 Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina
After disembarking from Paradise Luxury, and for guests booked on the Paradise shuttle bus, you will be served a light lunch at Paradise Lounge before the drive back to Hanoi.

12:00 Return to Hanoi. Then you are free. Overnight in Hanoi.

Notes: Due to cruising conditions, itineraries may change without prior notice. Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant/bar area, but internet connectivity is limited due to the geography of Halong. Thank you for your understanding.

*Additional charges

Flight: VN931 @ 12:50pm – 1:55pm

There is some free time for your own exploration in Hanoi until we transfer to airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. You are met at the airport and taken to your hotel. We then take a half day star your city tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will explore the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai temple, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm temple, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade. Next we visit Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham. For the rest of time free at leisure at hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

We’ll pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. Start your city tour to visit Wat Xieng Thong temple, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics. We then board an upstream cruise on the Mekong River, which gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. We’ll make sure to stop at the Pak Ou Caves, sanctuaries consisting of two large caverns, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images. We will also stop at a few villages during the day, including Ban Xanghai where the local rice wine is produced. We return to Luang Prabang and continue to Ban Xangkong, a village well known for silk hand weaving and making traditional Saa Paper. We come back to Luang Prabang and continue to 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, we explore the night market, where you can find a wide collection of handmade textile by local and hill tribe people in the surrounding towns before transfer to the hotel for relaxing.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Flight: VN931 02:40 – 04:10 (No flights on Tuesday and Sunday)

08:00pm: We excursion towards Khouangsi Waterfall, stopping to visit some ethnic minority villages and see how these colorful people live. Once at the falls you can swim in the turquoise pools or walk along forest paths.

10:30pm: We return to Luang Prabang for Lunch and continue to transfer to airport to catch your departure flight to Siem Reap. On arrival in Siem Reap, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Visit to the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Enjoy wonderful sunset from the top of Pre Rup Temple. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Visit to BanteaySrey, known as Citadel of Women or a Pink Temple, and BanteaySamre Temples.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Visit to the unique interior brick sculptures of PrasatKravan, SrahSrang (“The Royal Baths” was once used or ritual bathing), BanteayKdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. NeakPean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake) and Preah Khan temple, Built by the King Jayavarman VII. Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Flight: VN3818 @ 11:35am – 1:05pm

You are free until we transfer to airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Upon arrival Tan Son Nhat airport, you are met and followed by our tour guide to visit the city including: the Reunification Palace, the former place of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today a museum and venue for official receptions, it features the private rooms of the president, the “War Room” form where the South Vietnamese forces were controlled, and the room where the North Vietnamese army finally took contral in 1975. Near by more iconic city landmarks, the Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral (closed for renovation – visit outside only), which were built between 1877 and 1883. Built in Neo-Romanesque style, Notre Dame is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern Vietnam. Continue to market, where a wile section of goods are on offer. Overnight in Saigon

The cruise boat tours leave from Can Tho to Cai Be (on odd dates, e. g. Sept 1, 3, 5, 7 etc.) or from Cai Be to Can Tho (on even dates, e. g. Sept. 2, 4, 6, 8 etc.). Daily departures.

Breakfast at hotel,

In the morning we take you to Can Tho or Cai Be (The drive to / from Cai Be takes about 2 hours, to / from Can Tho about 4 hours). You board your comfortable wooden river cruise vessel around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink we show you our on-board facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served, the boat starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.

In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits.

Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong river. The cruise boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. You stay overnight on board your floating hotel in the Mekong Delta.

Overnight on cruise

Wake up well rested to the sound of the river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 6.30h the cruise vessel sets off for a sunrise cruise. Watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast.

After breakfast, we will board a sampan boat to Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively markets. On even dates, you will explore the small channels of the mekong delta around Cai Be with a small sampan or by foot. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skilfully handcrafted regional products. We will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. We will also visit some of the local candy and cake making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards.

N. B.: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.

Transfer back to Saigon for your stay

Overnight in Saigon

Breakfast at hotel, this morning we head to Cu Chi Tunnels which are located in an area known during the American War in Vietnam as the ‘Iron Triangle’, on account of the strength of its Communist insurgency. Cu Chi was also the conclusion to many caravan paths that traced down from the Chinese border, across mountain borders with Laos and into the Mekong Delta, which later became known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The network, which is several storeys deep in some parts, includes trapdoors, living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens. Then we return to Ho Chi Minh to take take your flight departure. The trip ends at airport.