TREASURE MEKONG RIVER

Detailed Itinerary

• Day 1

  LUANG PRABANG – ARRIVAL - START MEKONG RIVER TOUR

  Upon arrival at the airport, you are met and transferred to the hotel.

  Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia and the most peaceful city in this Mekong River tour. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then 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 Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

  Overnight in Luang Prabang.

• Day 2

  LUANG PRABANG – ALMS-GIVING – PAK OU CAVE (B)

  This morning you may want to wake up early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people. 

  Back to hotel for breakfast. This morning, we enjoy a short-guided tour in Luang Prabang seeing the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. 

  We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us 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. 

  Overnight in Luang Prabang.

   
• Day 3

  LUANG PRABANG – KUANGSI WATERFALL – HANOI (B)

  In the morning, drive to the beautiful Khuangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths, return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village. 

  Free time for relax for relax until time for transferring to airport for flight to Hanoi, Vietnam - the second country in Mekong River tour.

  Meet at Noi Bai airport and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi city for overnight.

   
• Day 4

  HANOI (B)

  The full day tour commences with a cyclo to visit Hanoi’s Mausoleum (view from outside on Mondays, Fridays and afternoons as it closed for maintenance), His House on Stilt, One Pillar Pagoda and the West lake. Next up, continue by car to the Temple of Literature which regarded as the First University of Vietnam (Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam). Lunch on your expense.  

  In the afternoon choose one of three museums as you prefer Ha Noi Fine Art museum, History museum or Ethnology museum. Your day ends with a short old quarter walk then attend 45 minutes Water Puppet shows at Thang Long Theater. Overnight in Hanoi.

   
• Day 5

  HANOI – HALONG BAY (B/L/D)

  After breakfast, take a drive to Ha Long Bay (without tour guide), one of the World Natural Heritages recognized by UNESCO with thousands of spectacular limestone islands rising from the clear, emerald sea in the Gulf of Tonkin. Upon arrival, welcome aboard. Enjoy welcome drink before check in at your cabin. While the junk is passing many rocky islets, caves, floating villages and beaches, your lunch will be served on board with fresh seafood. Relax on the sundeck. Later on, the junk moves a quiet area to dock for overnight stay. Dinner with Vietnamese food is served on board.

  Overnight on board.

  Please note: 

  • -Itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions or local administration regulations.  
  • No guide from Hanoi to Halong
   
• Day 6

  HA LONG BAY – HANOI (BRUNCH)

  In the morning you have the option of a sunrise tai chi class before enjoying some tea and coffee. Delve into and explore a Halong Bay cave before brunch, which is served at around 9am. As you enjoy your final meal onboard, the cruise ship heads back to the dock. Disembark at the pier and head back to Hanoi (without tour guide). Free for rest of day. 

  Overnight in Hanoi. 

   
• Day 7

  HANOI – HUE (B)

  Free time in the morning before transferring to the airport of Hanoi for noon flight to Hue. Transfer to the city check in your hotel. Start your exploration of Hue at the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument take a cyclo through the ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lakewhere the Emperors used to come to relax, full of lotus flowers in summer there are many local style coffee shops around the lake where university students come to study. Following is the visit one of largest garden houses (Nha ruong in Vietnamese) An Hien. Overnight in Hue.

• Day 8

  HUE – HOI AN (B)

  In morning we embark on a dragon boat sail along the Huong River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, and the tomb of Ming Mang King.

  In the afternoon transfer to Hoi An through the famous of Hai Van Pass. The car will stop for the visit to Cham Museum where display an open air collection of Cham sculpture. Overnight in Hoi An. 

   
• Day 9

  HOI AN – HO CHI MINH CITY (B)

  Discovery Hoian truly life by walking tour around this enchanting port town. Follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the local fish market… Around the town we can see a numerous art galleries and tailor shops, get some made-to-order clothes if you like. 

  The next Hoian city tour is coming to the home of a craftsman in the old streets. Here you will have a brief introduction to the history, shape, and colour of the lanterns as well as the many stages of making them. After that you can make your own lantern, decorate, pack and keep it as a souvenir during the time in Hoian. 

  In the afternoon, we transfer to Danang Airport for late flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in HCMC.

   
• Day 10

  HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI (B)

  Morning excursion to Cu Chi tunnels and take a guided tour with a veteran guide to gain deep insight and personal accounts of the wartime era. On arrival he will meet the group and take them on a guided tour of the tunnels together with Vietnamstay guide (his service is subject to availability). If desired (and not for the faint hearted and on own account) a round of bullets can be fired from an AK47 gun at a target range at the tunnels. Back to Ho Chi Minh city for visiting the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Ben Thanh market.

  Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

   
• Day 11

  HO CHI MINH CITY – VINH LONG – CAN THO (B/L)

  Our car will pick up at your hotel in early morning.

  Upon arrival at Cai Be, embark a private boat to cruise around Cai Be Floating Market to see local people being selling, buying, ex-changing goods from their boats. Visit local garden and house to see orchard, rice crisped producing process... After lunch taking a cruise along river to see peaceful tranquil life of villagers, admire marvelous natural setting of Mekong Delta region. This is one of the highlights of our Mekong River tour.

  About 3 pm, the boat will arrive at Vinh Long, walking around to explore Vinh Long Market. Then transfer to Can Tho City for overnight. 

• Day 12

  CAN THO – CAI RANG – CHAU DOC (B)

  Take a cruise trip along the small and picturesque tributaries by boat, we will see the Cai Rang floating market (the nicest one with heaps of rowing boats). Take in the beautiful scenery and the daily activities of the locals who lives along the Mekong canals and you will roam through the village to visit a rice husking mill and a rice noodles making shop. Then continue going to Chau Doc via Long Xuyen. Check in on arrival. Visit the Sam Mountain to enjoy the breath-taking view on the Vietnamese-Cambodian border with flat rice fields and nice canals, visit caved pagoda. Overnight in Chau Doc. 

• Day 13

  CHAU DOC – PHNOM PENH (B)

  After breakfast, get on speed boat to Phnom Penh, going back one of the arms of the Mekong. Our guide and coach will pick up at Phnom Penh International Airport or Phnom Penh Boat Port, then transfer to hotel for check in. Then transfer to visit Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Preahkeo Morokot, National Museum & Central Market or Toul Sleng Museum. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

• Day 14

  PHNOM PENH – SIEM REAP (B/D)

  After early breakfast at hotel, transfer by land (without guide) to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, transfer to visit Banteay Srei – The place just 30 kim from city center with the unique temple to worship the maiden of Kings, back to Siem Reap city for dinner with Apsara show and overnight.

• Day 15

  SIEM REAP – ANGKOR COMPLEXES (B)

  Breakfast at hotel, then visit the Angkor Thom: South Gate, Bayon, Baphoun, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of Leper King and Phimean Akas temple. Afternoon, transfer to visit the famous temple of Cambodia, Angkor Wat to visit the huge World Heritage and in late afternoon take a romantic view sunset from the top of Bakheng Hill. Overnight in Siem Reap.

• Day 16

  SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE (B) - END MEKONG RIVER TOUR

  Morning breakfast at hotel then transfer to visit Tonle Sap Great Lake for cruising, visiting fisherman’s life, floating fishing village dot the semi-submerged forest that lines the flood plant rim of the lake, back to visit Chantier Ecole-Artisan d’Angkor, the place are in the Ministry of Education was constructed in 1992 and this place renowned woodworking, stone carving and polychrome training center and workshops. Free tour of the classes and workshops offer a glimpse into the unique skills training program, teaching young artists in the techniques and styles of classic Cambodian artistry. Afternoon, visit old market for shopping until transfer to the airport for flight off.

Kindly contact us or send email to tour@vietnamstay.com for the updated price!

Services Include:

• Accommodation with daily breakfast as mention or similar
• Transfer services in a private air conditioned vehicle
• Entrance fees, other boat fees where applicable
• Meals as listed in the program B= Breakfast; L= Lunch & D = Dinner: pre-arranged at local restaurants based on local food with set menu. 
• Tours with local English speaking guide (Other languages with supplemental charge)
• Boat trip as mentioned

• Dinks and other meals not clearly mentioned
• Surcharge for special request on food, and meals. 
• Entrance fees, permits and guide service during free time. 
• Insurance, gratuities and personal expenses
• Surcharge for public holidays (if any)
• Internal airfares in the tour (please refer to the supplement quotation)
• International airfare from/to Vietnam
• International airport departure tax
• Visa handling fee, visa stamp fee.
• Personal expenses such as Bar, telephone & Laundry bills 
• All other service not stated in the program

• More than 45 days before departure: No cancellation charge
• Between 45 and 30 days before departure: 10% of total tour cost 
• Between 30 days and 15 days before departure: 25% of total tour cost
• Between 15 days and 7 days before departure: 50% of total tour cost
• Less than 7 days before departure: 90% of total tour cost
• No-show at the airport on the day of arrival/departure: 100% of total tour cost

• Child from 1- 4 yrs:  Free of charge if sharing bed with parents 
• Child from 5 – 6 yrs: charge 30% of adult price if sharing existing bed(s) with parents
• Child from 5 – 6 yrs: charge 50% of adult price if using extra bed/mattress in parents’ room
• Child from 7 – 11 yrs: charge 75% of adult price if using extra bed/mattress in parents’ room
• Child from 12 yrs up: pay as adult rate