Indochina Discovery In Depth

Be welcomed at the airport by our Authentik Travel's tour guide and transfer to your hotel in the city center.

Check in at your hotel (after 12:00pm) or leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy a walk in the old quarter. The city was built in the 10^th century by the villagers near the Red River Delta. You can see the special architecture in the houses with their narrow width and deep length. You will be able to discover some popular streets such as Ma May, Hang Ma, Hang Dong, Hang Bac and Hang Gai and for tourist sites stop at Dong Xuan market, the biggest market in the northern Vietnam, Bach Ma temple (White horse temple) and the traditional ancient house at 87 Ma May Street.  

Exploring the Temple of Literature or Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam, the outstanding Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, visiting the French Quarter, and discovering the Hanoi Old Quarter

9:00 AM: Get picked up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "stone steles” which shows the names of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered the first national university of Vietnam.

The next stop is the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (closed every Monday) which offers a deep insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments, and traditional houses of many ethnic groups. To fully explore this interesting museum, it takes you around two hours. 

In the afternoon, visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum before continuing the day with a walking tour in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Start with a small pagoda named Ba Da quietly located in a small alley - only a few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by French colonialism in the 19th century. Your tour guide takes you to typical streets of Hanoi, such as Lan Ong Street, which sells traditional medicine, and Lo Ren Street, where metal items are produced. Stop to visit the Dong Xuan Central Market - the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the famous area for night activities and street food - Ta Hien Street, where you can see the vibrant streets with a lot of amazing local foods and drinks. Try to taste some for an unforgettable experience.

In the late afternoon, take a night train to Sapa.
Overnight on Train

Arrive in Lao Cai in the early morning, our local guide will pick you up at the railway station and transfer to Sapa town. 

Enjoy breakfast at local restaurant and start a full day of trekking from Cat Cat Village of the Black Hmong. Visit its beautiful waterfall then follow the path to Y Linh Ho village.
Arrive at Y Linh Ho bridge. Stop to relax a little bit then resume trekking along the buffalo path through the hills. You will have chance to enjoy the splendid view over the rice terrace valley considered one of the most fantastic of the world.

Lunch will be served on the way.
After lunch take a short break before trekking to the Lao Chai village of the black Hmong and Ta Van village of the Zay people.
At 16.00 meet our driver and transfer to Sapa
Overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast at your hotel, our guide will meet you for a visit to Silver Water fall. This is one of the highest and most beautiful falls in Sapa.

Transfer further 3 km to reach Tram Ton Pass – 2000m from the sea level. You will feel the drop of temperature but the views are so gorgeous.
It time for you to relax and take photos before driving back to Sapa town for your own lunch, relax then checkout the hotel before exploring the Dragon Jaw Mountain. Walking up to the mountain is the way to enjoy the beauty of the landscapes and alot of flowers on the way.

From the top of the Dragon Jaw Mountain, you will able to view all charming Sapa town and the Peak of Fansipan from distance.
Dinner is on your own then transfer to Lao Cai railway station for night train to Hanoi.
Overnight on train ( Share 4 berth AC cabin).

Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning, check in a hotel by the railway station for your refreshment and breakfast.

08:00 - Meet our driver for a transfer to Halong via Bac Ninh and Sao Do. Extensive rice fields as far as your eyes can see will follow you along the way.
12:00 - Embarkation at Hon Gai port, relax with a welcome drink.
13:00 – Enjoy a seafood lunch on the boat while cruising in to the bay through the enchanting landscapes of Bai Tu Long Bay ( Small Dragon Bay).
15:30 - Take part in activities according to the boat such as: visit Thien Canh Son cave, go kayaking, take a bamboo sampan ride to the Vang Vieng fishing village or simply just relax on the boat.
18:00 - Return to the boat, shower and take a rest.
19:00 - Enjoy a delicious dinner on the boat.
Stay overnight in a private cabin (with air conditioner and shower)

You are advised to get up early to enjoy the fresh air and sunrise in the beautiful scenery of Bai Tu Long.
Breakfast on the boat.

08:30 - Enjoy activities. Either visit the cave or embark a small bamboo sampan to visit Vung Vieng Fishing village, one of the spectacular floating villages in Halong. Encounter the locals and fishermen’s farm as well as a floating school (depends on the boat’s activity schedule)
09:30 - Return to the boat and check out of the cabin.
10:00 - Cruise back to Hon Gai port. On the way back, we will enjoy lunch on the boat. Last look at the legendary bay where dragons once descended.
11:45 - Arrive at the pier and transfer back to Hanoi and directly to airport for a short flight to Danang city.
On arrival, pick up and transfer to Hoian ancient town.
Note: Cruise’s activities order will be depend on each cruises and tide. It is adjustable.

Overnight in Hoian.

Enjoy a city tour in Hoian ancient town which is listed in the Heritage of Humans.

Some real treasures that need to be discovered are Hoian Museum, Japanese bridge, China Town, Quan Thang ancient house, the local market and the old busy port of the 15th century for the international boats from China, Netherlands, Japan, and Poland.
Finally, visit the Thang Loi silk factory, known as a good establishment in Hoian to have tailor-made silk clothes.

In the evening, Embark on a small boat in Hoian town then depart to Thu Bon River which was once a very busy exchange place for a lot of international ships throughout the 15th century. The boat trip will take you along the river. This is a good chance for you to appreciate the landscape of the peaceful village by the river bank and admire the fishermen’s activities on the river. Enjoy the sunset in the late afternoon from April to November.
Overnight at Hoian.

Transfer to Danang airport and take a morning flight to Saigon.

On arrival, Meet our tour guide and driver and transfer to your hotel. Leave you luggage and enjoy a full day city tour.
Visit the Reunification palace (or the war memorials Museum), Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office inspired by Orsay Station in Paris.
Then, transfer to Cho Lon District to discover its old quarter, Binh Tay Market and the colorful Quan Am pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in the city. Its architecture and decorations have remained since its construction.

Return to Saigon city for a walk in the city center visiting sites like the former Catinat streets, the Opera house, City Hall as well as Ben Thanh market.
Overnight in Saigon.

Get picked up from your hotel and transfer to Cai Be ( 120km – 2.5 hour driving). Visit Cao Dai temple on route.

Upon arrival, embark on a boat trip on a branch of the Mekong River to Vinh Long. Experience the rhythm of life on the legendary Mekong River with a visit to Cai Be floating market and the orchid canals .
Visit crafts workshops of rice, popcorn, coconut caramel and rice cake.
Cycle or walk on the village paths to discover the ancient and beautiful Phu Chau pagoda where serenity reigns and meet the local people.

Enjoy  lunch in an open air restaurant where you can taste a famous local specialty, the Elephant ear fish. Then enjoy tasting delicious fruits while rowing a small rowboat in the canals shaded by the fruit trees.
Continue your boat trip to Vinh Long and meet our driver at the pier for a transfer to Can Tho. Arrive in Can Tho in the late afternoon.  Check in at your hotel and relax.

Enjoy free time on your own to discover the city located on the Mekong River.
Stay overnight in Can Tho.

Have breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the pier for a boat trip to visit Cai Rang floating market, the largest and most lively market in the Mekong Delta.

There are so many colors and smells in the bubbling atmosphere where hundreds of sampans are filled with goods such as rice, fruits, and craft products. Everything is shown to sell from the early morning.
Leave the market and continue the boat trip through the canals and visit a fruit garden (Option - replace the garden with the nursery field by the river)
Head back to An Binh Market which is full of fish, fruits and vegetables.

Stop at Binh Thuy ancient house which contains the orchid garden where “The Lover” was filmed.
Transfer back to Saigon and arrive in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Saigon

Free till meet our driver for a transfer to airport for a short international flight to Phnom Penh.

Upon arrival, our local tour guide will welcome you and transfer to the city center. Check in your hotel and enjoy a briefing tour as well as some first information about this beautiful region and visit the famous sites in the city:
Start with a visit to the impressive colorful Khmer-style royal palace complex built in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom. Nearby is Silver pagoda (the emerald Buddha temple), which contains plenty of decorated Buddha Statues made of gold, diamond, gemstones and silver. Then visit the National Museum.

A welcome dinner will be served in the finest restaurant in the city.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Have breakfast at your hotel, then spend a full day learning about the Khmer rouge in the past and Cambodia in the present.

In the morning, start to visit Choeung Ek museum or the Killing fields, where about 17 000 innocent Cambodian people (during1975 and 1978) including men, women, children and infants were detained and tortured at S-21 prison then transported for their extermination. 

We continue to Tuol Sleng prison, now the Genocide Museum, the most secret part of the Khmer Rouge regime. It’s also called S-21 (abbreviated for Security Office 21), Khmer Rouge's premier security camp, specifically designed for the interrogation and extermination of anti-Angkor elements.
It's surprising to know that S-21 used to be a high school before becoming this awful place during Khmer Rouge regime.

Return to the city to discover the local daily life at the Russian market and enjoy the bustling daily activities of the locals. 
Go back to your hotel and relax.
Note: Please consider a different trip to the killing fields and S2-1 prison if you have small children in the group. We will offer other suitable alternative programs such as Koh Dach Island or Tamao wildlife rescue center.

Transfer to airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, get a pick up and transfer to hotel. Check in your hotel and enjoy a briefing tour as well as some first information about this beautiful region.

Enjoy a trip to Rolous Group. This is the ancient capital of King Indravarman I during 877AD – 889AD, also known as the birth place of the classical Khmer art and Architecture.
Among the Roluos Group temples, there are some of the earliest permanent structures built by the Khmer empire, dating from the late 9th century. Some were totally built with bricks, others built with laterite or sandstone.

In the afternoon, visit Bantey Srei temple known as the Women’s citadel and a cradle of the Angkor’s finest stone carving.
The temple is a masterpiece built with red sandstone.
Return to Siem Reap and relax
 

After breakfast at your hotel, meet our tour guide and enjoy a full day discovering the mysterious Angkor complex temples, starting from the South Gate of Angkor Thom, known as Big Angkor, the last capital of Angkor Empire surrounded by a wall and moat.

Bayon temple is in the heart of Angkor Thom. It is a special architecture with 54 towers and 4 smiling face statues. All are impressive bas-relief. 
Our guide will lead you to the Terrace of Elephant. This is a terrace wall adorned with carved elephants Followed by Baphuon – a huge temple mountain and Terrace of the Leper King – a double wall carved with many mythological beings.

Traveling out of Angkor Thom and through the jungle will lead us to the sacred Ta Prohm temple ruin which is a great combination between human genius and natural beauty. Admire giant trees which have grown here for centuries. This is also the place where the “Tomb Raider” was filmed.
Lunch will be served in the restaurant by the Srah Srang Lake.
In the afternoon, discover Angkor Wat temple, the largest Khmer temple and the finest example of architecture and Angkorian art.

Enjoy the sunset from the Phnom Bakeng hill before returning to your hotel for dinner and relaxation.
Stay overnight in Siem Reap.
 

Transfer to Tonle Sap Lake, located 10km from the city center. On arrival, embark a boat and discover the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia, known as one of the world’s most varied and productive ecosystems the region that has always been of central importance for Cambodia's food provision.

Discover the beauty of the water landscape and local life on the lake, visit a floating village and enjoy the encounters with the locals.
Back to hotel, check out and transfer to airport for your flight to Luang Prabang
On arrival, get a pick to hotel.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast at your hotel, meet our tour guide and driver to go to Mount Phousi where you can enjoy a great panoramic view of the City and the river.
Take a short drive to Vat Xien Thong (the temple of Royal city). This is one of the most important Laotian monasteries and still remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, traditional art and royalty.

The next  stop will be Wat Visoun temple, dating back to 1513 and the reign of King Visoun . This is the oldest temple in Luang Prabang and was once the home to Luang Prabang Buddhas. Wat Visoun temple is with an unusual structure which represents the earliest Laotian style.
Follow this with a visit to Wat Mai, a beautiful temple built in the 18th century, located by the Royal palace. It is the biggest temple in Luang Prabang with beautiful decorations.
Enjoy a driving through rice fields and a beautiful small village. Make some stops to discover their daily life before reaching Khuang Si fall, a gorgeous turquoise waterfall. Refresh and swim in the clear water.

Return to city and spend the rest of day at your leisure.
Stay overnight at a hotel in Luang Prabang.
 

In the morning, meet our tour guide at your hotel and you cross the Mekong River via a local ferry towards Khmu village. En route, make a short visit to Ban Chan pottery village. It is a rare chance to try your hand at creating beautiful pots from clay. 

Along the way, you will pass through some rustic villages, encounter the local people, and see the children playing together or farmers doing their work on the fields. Visit Ban Boum Xieng to observe the ethnic traditions and daily life. Continue driving to a Khmu family and enjoy lunch with them.
In the afternoon, drive back to the Mekong River and discover the decorative, less visited Wat Long Khun temple. From here, take a short transfer to Wat Tham Xieng Maen located in a limestone cave and visit its Buddha images. 

The last highlight of the day is Wat Chom phet - This is an excellent spot for a panoramic view of the area as well as an excellent photo opportunity for a sunset photo hunter.
Return to your hotel and stay overnight in Luang Prabang.
 

Have breakfast at your hotel then visit a local market in the town to discover the daily life. (We recommend visiting early in the morning).

Transfer to the pier, embark a boat and enjoy a trip upstream along the Mekong River. Discover the numerous Buddha images in the Pak Oo caves such as Pak Oo cave (the mouth of the Oo River), Tham Ting cave ( Lower cave) and Tham Theung ( Upper cave). They are on the right side and overlook the Mekong River. Travel a short distance from the caves to the village of Ban Xang Hai.

Encounter the locals and learn how to make LauLao (Laotian whisky) and LauHai (Laotian wine). Return to the city, making stops at  Ban Xang Khong village and Ban Xieng Lek village, well known for handmade Jute Sar paper.
Back to the city for the short flight to Vientiane, upon arrival, get a pick up to hotel.
Overnight in Vientiane.

Enjoy your breakfast at hotel and meet our tour guide for full day Vientiane city exploration.

The first highlight of the trip is Vat Phra Keo temple, built in 1565. It is one of the most interesting and impressive temples in Vientiane. It previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha image.
Next, visit Vat Sisaket temple which is well known for not only its cloister wall storing thousands of small Buddha images but also its beautiful architecture and decoration with dating back to 1818.

Transfer to visit Pha That Luang temple, built in 1566 and reconstructed in 1930. It is the most important Laotian religious and national monument. The temple has a special architecture reflecting the culture and identity of Laos, becoming a symbol of Laos nationalism.
Later, discover the Patuxay arc, a memorial monument built in 1957 and the most prominent landmark in the city. Its architecture was inspired by the 'Arc de Triumph' in Paris combined with typical Laotian style. From the top of the monument, you can enjoy a great panoramic view of the city.
Next, move to Talat Sao market where you can do some shopping and uncover the local life.

In the afternoon, visit the famous Buddha Park, located 25km from the city. The park is home to over 200 Buddha statues and characters of Hinduism made from concrete, especially the enormous Buddha statue which is 40m in length propping its arm. Furthermore, there are many other statues you could visit to understand more about Buddhism.
Stay overnight in Vientiane

Free till meet our tour driver for a transfer to airport for your flight home or next destination.

Tour ends.