10-   15 DAYS: THAILAND, LAOS & VIETNAM

The Mekong Delight tour is an excellent introduction through the heart of Indochina, taking you on an unforgettable journey across three nations linked by the Mekong River. You will explore the Northern delights of Thailand, the sleepy hollow UNESCO World Heritage city Luang Prabang, the unspoiled paradise town of Vang Vieng, Vietnam’s stylish capital Hanoi, the impressive and scenic Halong Bay, and the delightful Vietnamese towns en–route to bustling Ho Chi Minh City.

Arrive in Chiang Rai airport. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Remain of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Chiang Rai

This morning you have an early morning transfer from the hotel to Chiang Khong, the exit point from Thailand. After passing through immigration, you cross the Mekong River to HoueiSay in Laos where your guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. After completing border formalities, you board the LuangSay Cruise ready for the trip downriver. Serene, timeless Laos is one of Asia’s most unvisited and unchanged countries. This once–powerful kingdom known as Lane Xang (Million Elephants) was founded in the 14th century with the help of the Khmers, and it went on to become one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia until its demise in the late 19th century. Bisected and bordered by the Mekong River, omnipresent symbol of Indochina, Laos today is an amalgam of cultural influences; Theravada Buddhism, animism, France, and the socialist ideal. It is a peaceful place, and the legendary hospitality, resilience and friendliness of the Lao people is much in evidence. Laos is Old Asia preserved. As you journey downriver you will stop at some tribal villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu. Overnight in Luang Say Lodge (B, L, D)

After breakfast, as you sail downriver, you’ll pass areas of un–spoiled forest with little villages along the riverbanks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You visit a fishing village and a rice winemaking village and perhaps even taste some of the infamous beverage known as Lao wine. You also visit the mysterious Pak–Ou caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. You arrive in Luang Prabang around sunset and transfer to your hotel. This evening you can take a stroll around this enchanting little town. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B, L)

After breakfast we explore this charming city of UNESCO world heritage site, The Luang Prabang is a small, dream–like town on the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, in a beautiful mountain setting. From 1353 until 1545 it was the capital of Lane Xang before power was transferred to Vientiane. Despite the move Luang Prabang reMained the seat of monarchical power, and when the kingdom broke up in 1694, one of the deceased king’s grandsons established a rival kingdom to those in Vientiane and Champassak. Though weakened, the Luang Prabang royalty endured until 1975, when after the reign of 63 kings it was formally dissolved. You spend the day exploring the temples and sites in what is called one of the last Shangri–La’s of Southeast Asia. You will visit Wat Xiang Thong, the most important Buddhist monastery in the country, Wat Visoun, Wat Khili and Wat Mai. Later, you visit the former Royal Palace, now a National Museum (close Tuesday) where you will find ornate, gilded and brocaded reception rooms, as well as Buddha and spectacular artefacts including the Prabang, a large holy image, which was given in the 14th century by the Khmers to King Fa Ngum. At sunset we climb the nearby temple–topped hill of Mount Phousi where you will catch a spectacular view out over the town and the river. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron–clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. From there you will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill–tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional handicrafts, and today you will visit local village of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay and Ban Thapene. We also drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well–known weaving village, and then return to the city by late evening for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

After a leisurely breakfast, you begin the drive south to Vientiane, on the way; drop off visiting minority villages along 13th north route, via Vang Vieng where unspoiled natural resources remained and enjoying the view of mountain and beautiful landscape. After a short stop, we are heading out to Vientiane, a capital city of Laos, built by the French on the site of Wieng Chan, the 16th century capital of Lane Xang. Wieng Chan was already bristling by the time Europe was emerging from obscurity, and today is a small bustling city that retains an air of Its French colonial past. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

AM: This morning, you will commence sightseeing with a visit to the market. The market is a wildly colorful and olfactory delight – amid baskets piled with rice, eggs, and tea, ducks, pigs and fish both alive and dead, are food stalls selling noodles, soup, and ’food to go’ wrapped in banana leaves, existing cheek by jowl with sellers of jasmine, orchids, and marigolds – the latter being woven into garlands for temple offerings. From there you begin a Walking Tour of the city’s old Wats beginning with the venerable Wat Sisaket with its many wall niches holding small Buddha, Wat Prakeo – a former royal temple, the major Wats of Wat Mixai, Wat Ong Tu, Wat Haisok and Wat In Paeng, ending with some French colonial houses.
PM: You will pay a visit to the studio of Carol Cassidy, an American who has done much to advance the Lao weaving tradition. Later this afternoon you visit That Luang Stupa, a national symbol of Lao sovereignty and a Buddhist shrine, overnight in Vientiane. (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital is a stylish, modern and gracious city that retains a unique old world charm and some of Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. If time permits we enjoy a short cycle ride around the streets in the Old Quarter where each street still trade in the same speciality goods they dealt in 500 years ago. Hanoi boasts an abundance of restaurants and bars for dining and drinking. Overrnight in Ha Noi (B)

After breakfast, we start our city tour with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the President Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi. We then continue our trip to the Temple of Literature, well known as Vietnam’s first university and the History Museum, which displays an excellent collection of artefacts illustrating Vietnamese history. After a visit to the peaceful and atmospheric lake of Hoan Kiem with its sacred temple, we make our way to Halong Bay, stopping over at a pottery village. Overnight in Halong (B)

Today, we embark on a boat cruising around Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnam s most impressive scenic sights. A five hour cruise provides a fantastic view of the magnificent bay, dotted with some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. Along the way, we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of many beautiful caves. A seafood lunch on board is a delightful part of the trip. We then return to Hanoi, arriving in time to see some traditional entertainment, an evening performance of Hanoi’s famous water puppets. Overnight in Hanoi (B)

We board an early afternoon flight to Danang. The sightseeing tour of central Vietnam begins with Hoi An Town, which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. The tranquility and charm of the town with its low tiled houses and assembly halls scattered along the small streets make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Vietnam. After checking into hotel, we will have time to stroll around the town to explore the lively Central Market and visit the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, the many temples and pagodas of Chinese appearance. Overnight in Hoi An. (B)

Heading out of town, we drive north to Hue, Vietnam’s imperial capital between 1802 and 1945. Along the way, we make stopover at the sensational Marble Mountains before arriving in Danang City for a visit to the Cham Museum, home to Vietnam’s largest collection of Cham treasures. We then follow the road hugging the central coast before crossing over the scenic Hai Van Pass and dropping down to the fishing villages of Lang Co. On arrival in Hue, we enjoy a cruise on the Perfume River, stopping at bustling Dong Ba Market and the beautiful Thien Mu Pagoda, and then visit the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Overnight in Hue (B)

We visit the royal mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc this morning before boarding a flight south to Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. A half–day sightseeing tour takes us in the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnants Museum, we continue our trip to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where you will find anything and everything for sale. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Heading out of town, we travel by road to My Tho province. On arrival, we embark on a boat trip navigating around the small canals in the Mekong Delta, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyles close–up. We pass through the lush green vegetation before arriving at an orchard where there are some opportunities to visit the various fascinating local industries. After feasting on a huge lunch followed with seasonal fruits, we return to Ho Chi Minh, stopping off along the way to see the beautiful Ving Trang Pagoda and the Cho Lon, Saigon’s Chinatown, which is crammed with fascinating temples and mysterious narrow lanes. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh (B)

There is free time to relax or to explore Ho Chi Minh further. Your spectacular 15–day tour will end after your transfer to Tan San Nhat Airport for departure (B)

• Domestic airticket without airport tax
• Transportation in private air–conditioned
• Accommodation in twin shared
• Join boat cruise LuangSay& HalongBay
• English speaking guide ( each city)
• Admission fee to indicated sights
• Meals: daily breakfast at hotel
• Meals:2 lunches & 1 dinner LuangSay
• Gov’t tax and service charge
• Luggage handling and drinking water

• Visa stamping fee on arrival
• Int’l airport departure tax
• Int’l air ticket to/from Thailand-Laos-Vetnam
• Travel Insurance in all kinds
• Meals:(lunch or dinner, quoted separately)
• Single room (quoted separately)
• Additional tour require beside above sights
• Tip, drinks, personal expenses and others