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Indochina loopRoute: Bangkok - Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Sapa - Halong Bay - HCMC - Cu Chi tunnels - Mekong Delta - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Bangkok
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| Duration |
29 days / 28 nights Departs Bangkok on Mondays |
Accommodation |
18 nights including breakfast in charming, comfortable hotels (comfort 3-4); 5 nights in basic hotels during the tours (comfort 2-3); 1 night on a junk cruise boat; 3 nights on overnight sleeper trains. Click here to jump to accommodation photos. |
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Price |
£1858 per person - based on 2 people |
Includes |
Accommodation with breakfast; excursions as mentioned (modules); transport as described, 3 flights Vientiane - Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang - Hanoi, Hanoi - HCMC; overnight train Bangkok - Vientiane, Hanoi - Sapa and v.v; boat and minibus; entrance fees Halong Bay and Cu Chi tunnels |
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Transport |
Plane, train, boat and minibus |
Excludes |
International flight to Asia, other meals and drinks, optional excursions. |
Day 1 Arrival BangkokOn arrival at Bangkok airport, you’ll be transferred to a lovely hotel in central Bangkok for the start of your Indochina travels. It's around 10 minutes walk (or 5 minutes by tuk-tuk) from the popular traveller haunt Khao San Road. The hotel is close to the Chao Praya river where you can take a river taxi to the major sights. The river taxi is not just a fast and easy way to get around the city, you also get a fascinating glimpse into life on the water in Bangkok. |
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Day 2 Bangkok - Tuk-Tuk and Longtail boat tourOn day two of your Indochina travel package, you'll be met by your guide in the lobby of your hotel, and together you'll embark on an exciting drive through Bangkok by tuk-tuk. You'll travel to Thewet river pier where you will first visit the local 'fresh market and then board a classic longtail boat!Your boat journey will give you a great insight into how much the city life still revolves around the river and its network of 'klongs' (canals). In some ways it is a trip through the past where you'll see wooden houses on stilts, local folks doing their laundry in the klongs, monitor lizards suddenly swimming by, and lots of other fascinating sights. Back at the pier again your guide will return you to your hotel by tuktuk! You should be back before noon, and the rest of your day is free to explore the city. |
Day 3 Bangkok departure - overnight train to VientianeToday is your last day in Bangkok before boarding the overnight train to Vientiane for the next stop on your Indochina travels. You can spend the morning and afternoon doing a last bit of sightseeing or shopping. If you want to take it easy today, then head to Lumpini Park. Nicknamed the green lungs of Bangkok, it’s a haven of peace in the chaotic, noisy city. This is where the local Thai come for exercise, walking or to have a picnic on the banks of the river. You can also rent a boat and paddle around on one of the lakes in the park. In the early evening take a taxi to the station where you can stock up on snacks and drinks before you board the train. The ticket master will direct you to your seat and you can place your order for breakfast for tomorrow morning. After a friendly chat with your Thai neighbour, the beds are folded out and you’re on your way. |
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Day 4 Vientiane arrivalEarly in the morning, you’ll arrive in Nong Khai in the north-eastern tip of Thailand. Take a tuk-tuk from the train station to the Friendship Bridge where you will cross the border into Laos. You can get a visa for Laos at the border, just make sure you bring two passport photos. From here, take a taxi to the centre of Vientiane, where you will be staying in a cosy guesthouse close to the Mekong river, the morning market and plenty of restaurants. The inner garden is a wonderful place to relax. Breakfast is included for this part of your Indochina travel experience.Vientiane has several interesting sights that are definitely worth a visit. Climb the Patuxai (a kind of Arc de Triomphe) for a magnificent view across the city and the Mekong river or head a further outside the city to see the very impressive Wat Phra Keo and Wat Sisaket temples. The most significant temple complex is Pha That Luang which, with its gold-covered stupa, is considered the national symbol of Buddhist Laos. The market is also a great place for woven fabrics and clothes and the antique shops in the city centre sell reasonably priced opium pipes and Laotian silver. |
Day 5 VientianeOn day five of your Indochina travel, you'll have plenty of time to see the sights of Vientiane. Renting a bike is a fun and easy way to explore the city. Cycle along the tree-lined streets and the banks of the Mekong river where lots of fruit is grown. Don’t worry about finding a good place for lunch, on just about every street corner you’ll find a small bakery selling fresh French baguettes. If you’re interested in Buddhism then you can visit one of the many temples where you can find out more about how Buddhism plays a role in the daily lives of the Laotians. Chat to one of the monks, they’re usually very friendly and open.25 km outside the city you’ll find the Buddha park Wat Xieng Khuan with its colossal Hindu and Buddhist stone statues. The park is well worth a visit. In the afternoon, find a seat at one of the outdoor cafes along the Mekong, order a cool drink and enjoy the beautiful sunset. |
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Day 6 Vientiane - Luang PrabangThe Laotians usually begin their day around sunrise so you'll probably be woken early in the morning by the crowing cockerel. After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Vientiane and continue your trip to Luang Prabang, considered by many travellers to be one of the nicest places in Laos, Mainly, thanks to its location on the legendary Mekong river, the Laotian hospitality and the friendly atmosphere in the little streets of the city. Luang Prabang has been declared a World Heritage Site, which won’t come as a surprise when you see all the spectacular temples and museums.On arrival in Luang Prabang, you can take a tuk-tuk to your hotel for the next stop on your Indochina travels. Your guesthouse (within walking distance of the town centre), is built in traditional French style and is run by a friendly Laotian ‘Vieng’. You’ll feel right at home here with the friendly relaxed atmosphere that’s typical to the city. |
Day 7 Luang Prabang surrounding area: Live like a MahoutOn day seven of your Indochina travel package, you’ll be an elephant trainer for the day in the Elephant Camp. Hidden away in the green jungle the sanctuary provides a home for logging elephants and allows them to enjoy a well-earned retirement. After breakfast, you’ll be picked up by our driver and taken to the nearby Nam Khan river where you’ll board a small boat to the elephant camp. After you’ve dropped your bags in your bungalow, you’ll meet the ‘mahout’ (elephant carer) who will accompany you. Climbing onto these huge animals takes a bit of practice, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. You’ll also learn some useful mahout lingo such as ‘hau’ (stop), ‘sai’ (left) and ‘kwa’ (right). Armed with buckets and huge brushes, you’ll wade into the river to scrub their thick skins, a real highlight of your Indochina travels. After a day of hard work, you’ll probably have built up quite an appetite, so back at the lodge you’ll find a wonderful Laotian dinner waiting for you. |
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Day 8 Luang Prabang surrounding area: trekkingThere’s a short trek planned on day eight of your Indochina travel package, so together with your guide you’ll head off into the jungle. Breakfast is served out on the terrace with views across the river and lush green countryside.As you enter the Khmu village the local children run out to meet you. They don’t see many tourists in this area so the people may be a bit shy when you greet them. Luckily, the guide can help out with the translations as very few people here speak English. You’ll be treated to a freshly prepared traditional Laotian lunch of rice or noodles with vegetables and fresh fruit for dessert. After lunch, you’ll continue through the green countryside. The truck will be waiting for you at the end and, after saying goodbye to your guide, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in Luang Prabang. |
Day 9 Luang PrabangOn day nine of your Indochina travel experience, you can spend the day as you please. You could explore the city a bit more and perhaps visit the Wat Xieng Thong temple. Interestingly, the mosaics of the temple depict scenes from the daily life of a Laotian. You’ll notice the striking roofs of the temples in Luang Prabang with long points reaching down to the ground. The temple of the former king of Laos serves as a municipal museum housing the largest and most sacred gold statue in Laos, the Phra Bang. |
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Day 10 Departure Luang Prabang, arrival Hanoi (Vietnam)After your last Laotian breakfast, you’ll be heading to the north of Vietnam to the city of Hanoi and the next stop on your Indochina travels. You’ll immediately notice it’s a completely different world here compared to the serenity of Laos. Narrow houses, vendors along the side of road and lots and lots of mopeds.Your hotel is situated in the old centre of Hanoi, surrounded by food stalls and little restaurants. The maze of narrow streets is lined with stalls displaying all kinds of local goods. Each street (Hang) has its own trade - you'll find silver on Hang Bac, copper on Hang Dong, and silk on Hang Gai. Your hotel is a wonderful example of the classic Vietnamese narrow architecture and the whole hotel is just one room wide. The charming rooms have a private bathroom with warm water, air-conditioning, TV and mini-bar. Once you’ve settled into your hotel, you can go for a wander through the small streets or visit the Hoan Kiem Lake and try your first Vietnamese spring roll. |
Day 11 Hanoi - SapaThere’s nothing planned on day eleven of your Indochina travel package so you can explore the temples, pagodas and museums of the city at your own pace. The temple of literature is an oasis of tranquillity in the middle of the hectic city. Take a rickshaw to some of the major temples, it’s a great way to get around the city and costs just a few dollars. If you want to take it easy today you could also visit the water puppet theatre. The stories are told by traditional puppets wading through the water, much like the farmers have done in the rice paddies for centuries. In the early evening, you’ll be picked up by your driver and transferred to the train station where you’ll board the overnight train to Lao Cai, the next stop on your Indochina travels. You can buy some snacks and drinks at the station for the train journey. You’ll be sleeping in 4-person berths but the beds are quite small. |
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Day 12: Overnight train - Sapa - Y Linh Ho village - SapaThe next morning, you'll arrive in Lao Cai, where you'll be met by your local guide to begin the 2½-hour road trip to Sapa. On the way, you'll see paddy terraces climbing up the mountainsides like giant staircases. When you arrive in Sapa you'll check into your comfortable hotel and have breakfast there. It is full of local charm and lies in the centre of Sapa, with wonderful views across the rich, green valley.Today, your Sapa trip will start with an easy half-day trek from your hotel to Y Linh Ho village, located about 7 km southwest of Sapa town, on the west side of Muong Hoa River. On the way, you'll cross a couple of bamboo bridges over clear mountain streams. There will be plenty of magnificent views and you'll come across many women working in the fields. Though they may only speak a few words of English, they are incredibly warm and welcoming people, and may even invite you for tea in their homes. Initially, the villagers might seem rather shy, but if you give them a smile, you'll quickly be rewarded with beaming faces. You'll spend the night at your comfortable hotel in Sapa. |
Day 13: Sapa - Red Dao Village of TaPhin - SapaAfter breakfast you'll be driven to Khoang village where you'll begin trekking to Taphin, home to the striking Black H’mong people. The Black H'mong wear mainly black clothing, as their name suggests. The dye that they use tends to run and, as a result, their hands are also stained a little black. Along the way you'll trek through numerous Hmong and Red Dao villages, through some of the most stunning scenery Vietnam has to offer.On Saturday evening from about 7pm, the Love Market takes place in Sapa. Young eligible men and women from the Dzao region meet here, dressed in finery, in the hope of snagging a partner. We can definitely recommend taking a look at this spectacle during your Sapa trip. Note: This trek is approximately 10km and takes around 5 hours on average. As lunch is not included, we would recommend that you prepare a picnic lunch before your trek begins. Alternatively, you can ask your guide to prepare a lunch for you for a small fee. |
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Day 14 & 15: Bac Ha Market – Overnight Train to HanoiThis morning, it's time to grab your backpack and say farewell as your Sapa trip comes to an end. You'll travel by car to Bac Ha, a small mountain village famous for its busy market. You'll visit this market, where many mountain tribes come to sell their wares. It is a feast for the senses, with traders dressed in a rainbow of colours displaying fresh vegetables, meats, flowers and other products. It's also a perfect opportunity to pick up a few unique Vietnamese souvenirs made by local people.After exploring the market, you'll take a walk to nearby Ban Pho, a H’Mong village where you'll encounter some of the kindest local villagers in Vietnam! You'll pass by a local school, sweeping rice terraces and also visit a local house to spend some time relaxing and sharing stories with the owner. At the end of the afternoon, you'll travel to Lao Cai where you'll have plenty of time to grab an evening meal before boarding the night train back to Hanoi. You'll arrive in Hanoi the following morning at about 5.30am and this is where your Sapa trekking tour ends. Taxis and tuk-tuks will not be in short supply, so you can easily travel from the train station back to your hotel. It will be a little too early to check in at your hotel, so we would recommend arranging an early check-in in advance. If this is something that you would like to organise, then just let one of our Cambodia travel specialists know. |
Day 16 Departure Hanoi, arrival Halong BayToday is the start of your two-day cruise through the magical world of Halong Bay, an archipelago of 3000 tiny limestone islands. Sailing on a traditional wooden junk, you’ll float through the mysterious looking rock formations offer a spectacular view across the bay. In the morning, you’ll be picked up and transferred to the small coastal town of Halong where you’ll find your traditional wooden junk waiting for you. You’ll kick off the cruise with a lunch of freshly caught fish. During the cruise through the archipelago, you’ll visit the islands of Dinh Huong, Ga Choi, Dog Island and Sail Island. You’ll then visit the Sung Sot cave and take a dip in the sparkling blue sea at Titov beach. Fishing enthusiasts can attempt to catch their evening meal with a traditional rod and tackle. In the evening, you can mull over the impressions of the day and watch the sunset, sipping on a glass of Vietnamese wine. The junk will anchor in nearby Bai Tu Long Bay, a much quieter bay, away from the other tourists. You'll spend the night here on board the junk. |
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Day 17 Departure Halong Bay, arrival HanoiThe next morning you'll be woken with a delicious breakfast and begin your day with a visit to the many islands and rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay. Keep your camera at the ready because these islands are incredibly photogenic and a real highlight of your Indochina travel experience.Lunch will be served aboard the junk on your way back to Halong, where you’ll board the bus for a 2-3 hour drive back to Hanoi. You’ll arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon where you’ll head back to your charming hotel in the centre. |
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Ha Long literally means ‘descending dragons’, which according to ancient legend, is exactly what happened at Halong Bay. Long ago when the ancestors were fighting invaders from the North, the gods decided to send help. They sent a family of dragons from heaven to help the local people defend their land. The dragons descended into Halong Bay and began to spew jewels and jade and, as soon as the gems touched the water, they turned into islands, forming a barrier to keep the invaders away. The ancestors were able to retain their land and formed the country of Vietnam. The dragons were so taken with our planet Earth that they decided to stay. The mother dragon now lies in Halong and her children are in Bai Tu Long. The tails of the dragons form the Bach Long Vi area. You can learn a lot about the culture of these countries during your Indochina travel experience. |
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Day 18 and 19 Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh CityIt’s best to fly directly to Ho Chi Minh City so you can spend the rest of the day there. At around midday you’ll arrive in HCMC in the tropical south for the next stop on your Indochina travels. You'll have your own ‘luxury’ room, which in this case means air-conditioning. We’ve chosen this hotel for its comfort and central location.Tham Street, Saigon's popular backpacker's street, is right around the corner. There are many fine restaurants and small shops close by and you can spend the rest of the day acclimatising. In the evening, you can head to one of the local restaurants to try a typical Saigonese dish like Ba Lo Lop, marinated beef strips on lettuce leaves. You can spend the next day as you like, perhaps just wander through the city and soak up the atmosphere. |
Day 20 Ho Chi Minh CityOn day nineteen of your Indochina travel experience, a local guide will take you to the Cu Chi tunnels, 30 km northwest of HCMC. Looking out the window of your minibus, you’ll get a good impression of rural life in Vietnam with endless fields of rice, rice and more rice.The Cu Chi area was the hiding place of the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War in the 1960’s. Approximately 250 kilometres of narrow, deep tunnels were used as a hiding place from the Americans, but as an unexpected point of attack. The tunnels housed living quarters, kitchens, ammunition stock rooms and even weapon factories and command centres. The Vietcong also built an ingenious system of fake entrances and booby traps to mislead the enemy. |
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Walking through the area, you’ll see bomb craters and old tanks. If you like you can crawl into one of the tunnels. Some of the tunnels have been modified to accommodate ‘Western’ size visitors making them relatively accessible. It’s a unique experience to crawl through the tunnels and get an impression of the underground life of the Viet Cong. An English-speaking guide will tell you all about the history and use of the tunnels and, in the Cu Chi museum, you’ll be able to watch a video featuring historic (American) film footage. At around 2pm you’ll travel back to HCMC by minibus where you’ll arrive mid-afternoon, leaving you the rest of the day of your Indochina travel experience free. You can head into the city or just have a drink at an outdoor café. You’ll be spending another night in your comfortable hotel. |
Day 21 Mekong Delta, on the way to CambodiaThe next two days of your Indochina travel package will be spent in the mighty Mekong Delta. The Mekong River and its enormous delta filled with fertile soil has brought prosperity to the South and enables the growth of one of the most important export products, rice.At around 7.30am, you’ll leave by minibus for Cai Be where you’ll board a little boat with a small group of other passengers and head into the Mekong Delta. In Cai Be you’ll sail past the colourful floating markets where vendors offer their wares from their fully laden boats. The boats have a stick on their bow hung with whatever products they’re offering. Many of the boats are crammed closely together, busily trading with everyone- a really amazing sight. |
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You’ll then sail on through the narrow canals home to the people of the Mekong Delta. Little children excitedly wave at you from the banks of the river and you'll get your first impression of the friendly character of the south. Daily life on the river drifts by as you sail past small villages, rice paddies and family factories where they process rice or make coconut sweets. You’ll visit Vinh Long Island, one the many islands within the labyrinth of the Mekong Delta. After lunch, with specialties from the delta, you’ll be able to explore the island by bike. Later that afternoon, you’ll sail on to Can Tho where you’ll arrive around sunset for the next stop on your Indochina travels. In unforeseen circumstances, such as exceptionally low water, you’ll cover this stretch by minibus. The boat will then take you to your basic but comfortable hotel in Can Tho. Later that evening, you can head to the river for a drink on one of the outdoor cafes. |
Day 22 Mekong DeltaYou're just over three weeks into your Indochina travel experience and early in the morning, you’ll travel by boat in small groups to the largest floating market in the Mekong Delta, Cai Rang. Hundreds of boats and vendors gather here to trade all kinds of exotic fruits. On the larger boats you’ll notice a long stick hung with the products they’re selling, making it easier to find whatever you’re looking for in the sea of boats. To get closer to the action, you’ll step into smaller bamboo rowing boats and weave your way through the market. You can test your haggling techniques as you buy some tropical fruit.Thanks to the rice farmers of the Mekong Delta Vietnam has become the second largest exporter of rice (No. 1 is Thailand) so you can’t miss a visit to a rice factory. Later you’ll travel by coach from Can Tho to the border town of Chau Doc where you’ll arrive late afternoon. You’ll be staying the night in a basic but comfortable hotel before continuing your Indochina travels. |
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Day 23 Mekong Delta, arrival Phnom PenhBefore you continue on to Cambodia, the last country in your Indochina travel package, you’ll visit the floating riverside village of Chau Doc. Many people here make a living from fishery and have a small fish farm under their floating houses. You’ll visit one of the houses, where your guide will tell you about the fish farm and life on the water. At the Cambodian border, you’ll find a Cham village, home to the descendants of the ancient kingdom Champa of central Vietnam. The villagers here are Muslim and the village has a mosque and Arabic school. You can buy a last Vietnamese souvenir at one of the weaving shops in the village, where they sell beautiful hand-woven shawls and clothes. After a short visit, you’ll travel by speedboat to Cambodia, stopping off at the border to buy your visa (around 25 USD). You’ll arrive in the harbour of Phnom Penh around 1.30pm where you can take a tuk-tuk to your comfortable, cosy hotel. |
Day 24 Phnom PenhOn day twenty-three of your Indochina travel adventure, you'll visit Phnom Penh's major attractions with your guide. You'll see the Silver Pagoda and National Palace and also the haunting remnants of the Pol Pot regime at the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields.In 1975 the Red Khmer invaded the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Pol Pot became prime minister of Cambodia and made a very cruel and bloody attempt to turn Cambodia into a communist agricultural state. Currency, education, religion and private property were abolished. From this point on, marriages were arranged and children were separated from their parents. Anyone who did not cooperate was executed. The Tuol Sleng Museum is an incredibly moving museum. It confronts visitors quite directly with Cambodia's brutal past by means of a series of photographs. An old primary school was used as a prison for torturing political enemies during the rule of the Red Khmer. For many this was their last stop before they were taken to the mass graves of the Killing Fields, located just outside of Phnom Penh in an orchard. Over 17,000 people were killed. At the Apsara Foundation in Phnom Penh poor Cambodian children can take singing and dancing lessons. Opening hours permitting, your guide will take you to see this interesting project. You'll be staying another night in your small, comfortable hotel. |
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Day 25 Siem ReapOn day twenty-five of your Indochina travels you'll continue by bus to Siem Reap. The bus trip should take about 5 hours. During the trip you can some nice views of people going about their daily lives. Villages on stilts, endless rice paddies, children playing and people selling their wares will pass you by. We can also arrange for you to take this journey by boat instead, during which you'll travel across the famous Tonle Sap Lake. If you would like to arrange this instead, please make a note of it on your quote request form or let one of our friendly Indochina travel specialists know. On arrival in Siem Reap you'll be greeted by a crowd of rickshaw drivers, so just pick one and travel to your hotel in Cambodian style! Your centrally located hotel has air-conditioned rooms and friendly staff. |
Day 26 Siem Reap, Angkor WatToday you will visit part of the Angkor temple complex with your guide, a real highlight of your Indochina travels. You would need a couple of days to cover the whole Angkor complex, which consists of dozens of temples scattered across an area over 25 square km. You could wander through the temples, statues and ruins forever but make sure to stay on the paths, there are lots of mines in this area.The temples date from different periods as each ruler built his own temple, giving it a unique character. The most famous temple Angkor Wat is strongly Hindu influenced, whereas Angkor Thom is more Buddhist. After a day of temples and culture you’ll be spending another night at your hotel in Siem Reap. |
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Day 27 Siem ReapToday you can spend another day exploring Angkor on your own. Angkor is the name of the ancient capital of the Khmer empire which was founded in the 8th century AD. The empire stretched all the way to southern Vietnam and China. Later it was the Siamese empire of the Thai that ruled the area and brought many Buddhist influences to the region. Siem Reap literally means ‘conquest by Siam’ so it’s rather noble of the Khmer to have kept the name to this day.The temples were once surrounded by a thriving city filled with wooden houses. For centuries the city was overgrown by jungle until the ruins were discovered by French explorers in 1900. Several temples have been restored but others are still overgrown. At the Ta Prohm temple you can see how the jungle still has a hold on the buildings. Giant trees tower over them and the roots have wrapped themselves around the temple walls. It’s a sight you won't forget on your Indochina travel itinerary. Tonight you'll spend another night in Siem Reap. |
Day 28 and 29 Departure Siem Reap, arrival BangkokAfter a final Cambodian breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to this amazing country and get ready for a long drive. You’ll travel from Siem Reap to the Thai border town Aranya Prathet. The road from Siem Reap to the border is very bumpy which is why this stretch will take the longest. You'll notice a stark contrast between rich and poor here. Just before the border, you’ll pass a luxury casino in the middle of a street scene of rusty cars and old wooden carts. After the border formalities you’ll go to your hotel on foot where you can get a good night’s sleep before boarding the train the next morning for the 5-hour train journey to Bangkok. On arrival in Bangkok, you’ll check into the same charming hotel with pool where you started your Indochina travel itinerary almost a month ago.If you prefer you can travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok by plane for an additional cost. |
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Day 30 DepartureToday is the last day of your Indochina travel package. Depending on your flight you'll leave either late afternoon or evening. |
A Peek at Your Accommodation (click to enlarge)
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