15-Nights Inspiring Indochina from $8,195

Luxury Gold

OFFER ID 1463170

Inspiring Indochina
Be inspired across Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos during this 16-day guided tour. Take in the spectacular sight of Siem Reap’s ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus,' a theatre, music, dance, and acrobatics performance by the region’s youth. Explore Angkor Archaeological Park and watch the sun set over the ancient Angkor Wat. See the glittering skyscrapers of Ho Chi Minh from a speedboat. Travel to Ha Long Bay, through glistening emerald water as you step aboard a deluxe junk for a memorable overnight cruise. In Hue, enjoy a VIP visit to the Imperial Citadel; open just for you, you’ll have the royal court and its gardens all to yourself. Learn about Hanoi’s signature street food dishes during a guided tour, then indulge in a feast of crab spring rolls, beef noodle soup, and com cake. Ascend to the top of Mount Phousi in Luang Prabang for a panoramic view of the city below.

Dining Summary

9 Dinner (D)
15 Breakfast (B)
5 Lunch (L)
1 Lunch with Wine (L)

Choice Highlights

Choose between two carefully selected activities
Ho Chi Minh City: Meander through the streets of Ho Chi Minh and hear more about the local street-side café culture, which sprung up when many French lived in the country. Discover the art of making the perfect cup of Vietnamese coffee before trying one.
Ho Chi Minh City: Continue with your exploration about the troubled past of the country at the War Remnants Museum.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Hue: Meet the headmaster of the Vietnamese Royal Martial Arts Academy and hear about the rigours of training for each martial art. Afterwards, watch at a live performance by the martial artists, admirably demonstrating their skill and discipline.
Hue: Take a boat ride to the private museum of Tran Dihn Son, whose great-grandfather was a high ranking mandarin during the Nguyen Dynasty and see the vast collection of rare antiquities collected by him and his ancestors.

Additional Included Highlights

: You will be escorted by one of our fine Travel Concierges, handpicked to serve as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
: Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary, available on departures with 15 or more guests.
: At every hotel, you'll be treated to seamless baggage handling, with prompt delivery inside your room.
: Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
: Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available, does not apply to Halong Bay Cruise).
: Complimentary airport transfers are included on start and end dates, when flights are included within the itinerary and when additional accommodation has been booked through Luxury Gold. Guests will be transferred with fellow Luxury Gold Travellers that arrive on the same flight.

Exceptional Dining

Krong Siem Reap: Join your Travel Concierge and fellow travellers for your Welcome Dinner at Mahob, set in a traditional Khmer wooden house. Enjoy tasty delicacies created from local ingredients as you immerse yourself in Khmer culture and get to know Siem Reap.
Ho Chi Minh City: Admire the marvellous views from a lively rooftop restaurant in Saigon. Dine on local delicacies in a sophisticated setting, with the lights twinkling across the city.
Mekong River Delta: Pause for lunch at the enchanting Mango Home, a thatched restaurant located on the Mekong. Savour delicacies enjoyed in the delta, including noodle soup, grilled fish, and giant prawns fresh from the river, as you enjoy views of the lush countryside.
Hue: Arrive at the home of celebrated painter and singer, Camille Huyen, for a memorable meal and private concert. Stroll around the traditional home she shares with her husband and hear about their fascinating lives and the dream that brought them home.
Hoi An: Dine out with Your Choice this evening. Choose from one of three hand-selected restaurants, known to our local foodies, each specialising in different cuisine from traditional to modern Vietnamese, or a fusion of east and west to tantalise your taste buds.
Hoi An: Visit the beautiful Cam Thanh Village with its dense coconut jungles that were once a shelter for local people and soldiers during the Vietnam War, but today the village is an important supplier of seafood, vegetables and rice to the region. Step into a traditional bamboo-basket boat and glide across the water to the Thanh Dong village where you learn from the villagers how they cultivate and harvest vegetables according to local customs. Continue your voyage through a peaceful water coconut forest to a riverside restaurant overlooking the rice fields. Enjoy and participate in a hands-on cooking class alongside a local chef. Savour your creations for your Highlight Lunch.
Hanoi: Join a local foodie in the Old Quarter to explore the street food culture of Hanoi. Dine as the locals do, on delights such as steaming pho (a beef noodle soup), rice paper rolls and crab spring rolls.
Luang Prabang: Join your fellow travellers for a family style lunch that gives back to the community. Kai Phaen restaurant reinvests all profits back into their trainees and supporting social programs, so you are helping give them a brighter, more secure future.

Journey Highlights

Angkor Wat: Meet a renowned archaeologist to explore the sprawling Angkor Archaeological Park, the largest religious complex on earth. See the significant Buddhist temples that were at the centre of the Khmer Empire from the ninth to four...

15 nights from $8,195 per person

Itinerary

Click here for Full Itinerary Details

Itinerary Details

Luxury Gold: Inspiring Indochina

Day 1 - Arrive Siem Reap.
Transfer to your elegant hotel, which was once the home of royalty. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Stroll through the manicured hotel gardens, relax under the frangipani trees beside the magni?cent architect-designed pool or perhaps enjoy a massage to ease your way into your holiday. At 19:00 meet your Travelling Concierge and fellow travel companions for your Welcome Dinner at Mahob, set in a traditional Khmer wooden house you will enjoy delicacies created from locally produced ingredients.
Accommodations: Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort, Siem Reap.
Meals: Dinner with Wine

Day 2 - Angkor Wat in Style.
Explore Angkor Archaeological Park accompanied by a renowned archaeologist. Begin with Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm, the temple is a perfect example of how nature crept in and reclaimed its land after the fall of the Angkorian empires. Finishing the day with a sunset over Angkor Wat, it is easy to see why it has become the symbol of Cambodia and took 30 years to build. Step outside for sunset and admire the views as the last light of day shines on the temple. This evening, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and attend a performance of ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus’. Set up in 1994 by young returnee Cambodians from the refugee camps who learned about using art as a means of coping with trauma. The hour long show mixes traditional and modern theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society. The theatre supports the lives of local at-risk youth through gainful employment in the arts. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant Malis. Malis was born out of a desire and passion to restore Cambodian cuisine to its former glory and put Cambodia back on the map as a culinary destination. Renowned for its fresh seasonal produce, delicate flavours, and generous hospitality, this flagship restaurant of Master Chef Luu Meng and his team offer cuisine from the past that has been adapted to the present.
Accommodations: Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort, Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 3 - Dynamic Ho Chi Minh City.
Fly to Ho Chi Min City to start the next part of your journey. Once you have checked in to your central hotel you will meet up with your fellow travellers. This evening enjoy dinner in one of the busy rooftop restaurants of Saigon and watch the lights of the city from a perfect vantage point.
Accommodations: InterContinental Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 4 - Marvels of Saigon.
See the best of Saigon as you travel from the city’s glittering skyscrapers to the green paddy ?elds scattered along the Saigon River by speedboat. Your destination is the Cu Chi tunnels, which were dug in 1948 for guerrillas to hide from combatant forces during the Vietnam War. These extraordinary tunnels form part of a network of tunnels that cover most of the country. During your visit to these underground villages, meet a Viet Cong veteran who used to live here and find out how challenging the living conditions really were like. Back in the city, embark on a leisurely walking exploration that reveals highlights including Notre Dame Cathedral and Gustave Eiffel's Central Post Of?ce. Your Journey, Your Way. Choose to meet a local coffee shop owner and learn about the Vietnamese coffee culture, then brew and taste your own. Alternatively, continue with your exploration at the War Remnants Museum and learn about country's troubled past.
Accommodations: InterContinental Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 - Cruise the Mekong Delta.
Travel to the Mekong Delta and board a private charter. At your first stop see coconut production and processing, then enjoy a taste of juice fresh from the fruit. Further along, stop to see where locals still use centuries-old methods to make bricks at a small brick kiln. Next you'll enjoy a ride on a tri-motorcycle along narrow village roads, arriving at a rice noodle factory to see the most popular breakfast in the region being produced. Continue your cruise to Mango Home for a tasty lunch of Mekong Delta specialties. Then walk along the shady village roads to the home of Mr. Sau Tuong, a former soldier who fought the deadly Khmer Rouge, known for orchestrating the Cambodian genocide. Learn how life in Vietnam has evolved for him and his wife since the 1960s and how they earn a living from making rice paper.
Accommodations: InterContinental Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 - Royal Refinement in Hue. Relaxed Start
Marvel at vistas of lush countryside, as you fly to Hue for the next chapter of your journey. Enjoy a cyclo's ride to Phu Mong village, take in a traditional garden house and craft houses, enjoy a serene life here. You will be impressed by green sceneries on the journey. This evening, take a visit to a special venue where it's not only a dining place but also a culture exchange experience - Ben Xuan Garden House Theatre. It is set in a magnificent structure built in Hue royal architectural style — located by the Perfume River between Thien Mu pagoda and the Temple of Literature Van Thanh.You are invited to meet with the owner Ms. Camille Huyen - a celebrated painter, singer and all-around renaissance woman with royal ancestry and her husband, a former Swiss banker. Combined, the two put on an intimate and welcoming hosted meal which includes a stroll of their own designed traditional house and a small concert that features Huyen on vocals, accompanied by local musicians playing traditional instruments, a scrumptious meal. Chat with the family about their career and life in the Western world and how the nostalgia brings them back to their hometown to nourish their dream and passion.
Accommodations: Pilgrimage Village, Hue.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 7 - Highlights of Hue.
Rise early for a private VIP visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Imperial Citadel, before it opens to the public. Enjoy an escorted journey on a state-of-the-art electric cart, as a renowned local historian guides you through the towering main gates and shows you the majestic architecture and splendid gardens of the former royal court. Return to your hotel for breakfast, then visit the royal tomb of Minh Mang, the second Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. Lunch is served at a local restaurant on the Perfume River with views of the Thien Mu Pagoda. Your Journey, Your Way. Choose to meet the headmaster of the Vietnamese Royal Martial Arts Academy at an ancient temple. Learn about the intricate training activities of the practitioners and attend a performance showcasing the different martial arts techniques. Alternatively, take a boat ride to the private museum of Tran Dihn Son, whose great-grandfather was a high ranking mandarin during the Nguyen Dynasty, and see the vast collection of rare antiquities collected by him and his ancestors.The evening is at your leisure, perhaps ask your Travelling Concierge to make restaurant reservations for you.
Accommodations: Pilgrimage Village, Hue.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine

Day 8 - Romantic Hoi An.
Enjoy a scenic drive over the spectacular Hai Van Mountain pass to reach Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend a half day with a local guide, exploring the ancient town. Explore former merchants’ homes, colourful communal halls, narrow lanes lined with traditional houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge. Leave the crowded venue behind and discover some untouched stories in the beautiful old town.Meander down the small alley to discover an ancient house where the art of healing through martial art is passed down through generations. This healing method is the master’s invention, combined between Qigong and traditional Vietnamese martial art. Have a chance to learn some basic steps under the guidance of the master. This evening, choose to dine at restaurants focusing on traditional local cuisine, modern Vietnamese or East-meets-West fusion.
Accommodations: Anantara Hoi An Resort, Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 9 - The locals in Hoi An. Relaxed Start
Your Journey, Your Way. Choose to visit the beautiful Cam Thanh Village with its dense coconut jungles that were once a shelter for local people and soldiers during the Vietnam War, but today the village is an important supplier of seafood, vegetables and rice to the region. Step into a traditional bamboo-basket boat and glide across the water to the Thanh Dong village where you learn from the villagers how they cultivate and harvest vegetables according to local customs. Continue your voyage through a peaceful water coconut forest to a riverside restaurant overlooking the rice fields. Enjoy and participate in a hands-on cooking class alongside a local chef and savour your creations for your lunch. Alternatively, visit the peaceful and cosy essential oil workshop, and learn how each smell and oil has a different use and effect on the mind and body. Create your personal mix, a ‘one-of-a-kind’, essential oil, before enjoying a light lunch.
Accommodations: Anantara Hoi An Resort, Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine

Day 10 - Hanoi street-food tasting tour.
Board a morning ?ight to Hanoi, Vietnam’s glistening capital city known for colonial-style architecture, ancient temples and vibrant culture. Enjoy a ride aboard an electric cart to see the historic Opera House, avenues lined with French mansions, Sword Lake and the 18th century Jade Mountain Temple. Join a local foodie in the Old Quarter for an exploration of Hanoi’s robust street-food culture, that will delight all the senses. Learn what locals love to eat and taste the city’s very best dishes, including rice paper rolls, crab spring rolls, beef noodle soup, com cake and other delights. The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax at your five-star hotel or ask your Travelling Concierge to recommend city-centre attractions nearby.
Accommodations: Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 - Cruise along Ha Long Bay.
Travel to Ha Long Bay, known as the bay with a thousand islands and glistening emerald water. Step aboard a deluxe junk for a memorable overnight cruise. Visit the mysterious Tien Ong Cave, where human bones dating back to 10,000 B.C. were discovered by archaeologists, and explore the Cua Van area. In the evening you'll have the choice to learn more about local cuisine with an on-board cooking demonstration, or simply relax on the top deck as the sun gently dips beyond the horizon, before sitting down to dinner.
Accommodations: Paradise Cruise, Ha Long Bay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine, Dinner with Wine

Day 12 - Ha Long to Hanoi. Relaxed Start
Start the day with Tai Chi on the upper deck while cruising through the limestone formations of Halong Bay. Enjoy a brunch on-board as you cruise to Ha Long City to disembark. Journey back to Hanoi where the evening is at leisure.
Accommodations: InterContinental Westlake, Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 - The Temple of Literature. Relaxed Start
Visit the Temple of Literature, built in 1076 as the ?rst university for the sons of mandarins. Meet a scholar who will share their insights into this famous institution. Learn about Hanoian culture and Vietnamese architecture before exploring the temple grounds. In the evening, join your travel companions and toast to your travels during your Celebration Dinner.
Accommodations: InterContinental Westlake, Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 14 - Welcome to Laos.
Start the day with a flight to Luang Prabang, known as the centre of Lao culture and once the royal seat of the Lane Xang Kingdom. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a sleepy town nestled in a mountain valley at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan Rivers. On arrival at the airport, you'll be welcomed and transferred to your hilltop luxury hotel, where there is free time to relax. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your beautiful resort.
Accommodations: The Luang Say Residence, Luang Prabang.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 15 - Luang Prabang and Sunset Cruise.
In the morning, you may wish to rise early and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks, a living Buddhist tradition going back generations. Then watch as the town comes to life at the morning market. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, before walking to the top of Mount Phousi to admire spectacular views of the Mekong and Khan rivers and surrounding mountain ranges. Experience a delectable family style lunch at local restaurant, Khai Phaen, named after a popular Laotian snack that is unique to Luang Prabang. The restaurant focuses on vocational training with all profits re-invested in the trainees and their supporting social programs, enabling them to become skilled, productive professionals with a more secure future. During your free time, discover the secret alleyways and hidden gems as you explore Luang Prabang at will. Hear stories of the rural lifestyle of the local people as you travel to visit Wat Xiengthong. Known as the the Temple of the Golden City, it remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art for the locals. Your adventure culminates with a private sunset cruise on the mighty Mekong River. Witness the vibrancy of daily life along its banks and enjoy a cool drink as you toast your newfound friends.
Accommodations: The Luang Say Residence, Luang Prabang.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine

Day 16 - Depart Luang Prabang
Your journey draws to a close after breakfast, with private airport transfers timed to meet your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast

Featured Destinations

Siem Reap

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is often referred to as Vietnam’s jewel and the Pearl of the Orient. Located in south Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the country’s largest city, with more than six million people and over one million motorbikes. Under the current regime the city is once more being rebuilt. Whole blocks are disappearing, being replaced by concrete, steel and glass structures. Central Saigon, which is still the official name for the city center, shows evidence of the French colonial city, with wide, tree-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés and elegant French architecture. The city is divided into two sections: Saigon, the municipal and historical district, and Cholon (Chinatown), where the entrepreneurial talent and private funds are concentrated. Cholon appears to be the most populated and in general the most vigorous part of Ho Chi Minh City. It is well worth a visit for its bustle and activity and its pagodas, which are reputed to be the finest in the whole city.

Excursions

Cu Chi Tunnels & Sai Gon Highlights Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Mekong Delta Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Saigon Port

Saigon City Highlights

Saigon - History of Architecture with History Researcher

Saigon - Cooking Class at Ambassador's Former Residence

Saigon - Retracing The Past

Saigon City Tour on Vintage Car

Saigon - City Highlights & Musician Family Visit

Saigon - In The Dark: A Blind Experience

Saigon - City Highlights & Lunch at Ambassador's Home

Hue

Hue is at the heart of central Vietnam. The landscape – with its misty Perfume River and pagodas – has long been a source of poetry and paintings. Always an important cultural, intellectual and historical city, Hue remains one of Vietnam’s main attractions.

Excursions

Hoi An’s Countryside & Ancient Town – 8 hours - Hue

Hue - Full Day Hue Classic Tour / Chan May Port

FULL DAY HUE CLASSIC TOUR / CHAN MAY PORT

Destination: Hue
Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour Description:
On arrival to the port (Chan May port) disembark and meet your guide. Then drive 1.5 hours to Hue along a scenic coastal route passing mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Upon arrival Hue, enjoy a short cyclo ride from your hotel to the Imperial Citadel at the centre of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Enter through the towering main gate and appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Despite being heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, there are some incredibly well-preserved sections intact and others which are being carefully restored.

Lunch is on your own.

After lunch, drive to the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument. Built in 1601, the seven-storied tower pagoda, perched on top of on a hill overlooking the Perfume River, is one of Vietnam’s most recognizable icons.

Continue to visit the elaborate Khai Dinh Royal Tomb. Its architecture and atmosphere showcase elements of eastern art and western designs. Make a stop for a drink at Vong Canh hill which offers an amazing view of breath-taking scenery and ancient relics. The hill itself is now covered with pine trees and daisy.

Later, transfer by road back to the port to embark the ship.

Note: There is an extra charge for transfer from other ports.

Inclusions:
• Private transfers and transportation on tour
• Sightseeing with local English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days

Non-inclusions:
• Vietnam visa
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Other meals where not mentioned in the program
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column

Royal Culinary & Historic Landmark - Hue

ROYAL CULINARY & HISTORIC LANDMARK

Destination: Hue
Tour Duration: 5 hours
Code: MDHANSE004

Tour Description:
On arrival to the port (Chan May port), disembark and meet your guide. Then drive 1.5 hours to Hue along a scenic coastal route passing mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. The delicate ingredients, preparation, and presentation of Hue Royal cuisine have long been considered cultural hallmarks of the ancient imperial city. It is considered not only a sophisticated work of culinary art but the embodiment of the philosophy of the ancestors. Hue royal food not only has a delicious taste but is also eye-catching. It creates a harmony between color, and taste, between yin and yang, between hot and cold. Meet your experienced chef in her late 60s who was born and grew up in a Royal family. Stroll through a fresh market. Learn about and taste some of the ingredients used in the Royal cuisine and watch the buying and selling rituals of a Vietnamese market. Then get to her home for a hands-on cooking class of the food of the Imperial Court. Share her life and experiences, and enjoy what dishes you have made. Then enjoy an electric cart ride through the Imperial Citadel, once the exclusive residence of the royal family and its entourage. Enter through the towering main gate and you will appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains about the events and the intrigue of the former royal court. Despite being bombed heavily during the 60's and 70's, there are some incredibly well preserved sections still intact and others which are being lovingly restored. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.

Notes:

Availability: Morning, Afternoon.
There is an extra charge for transfer to/ from other ports.

Inclusions:

Private transfer
Port pick-up and drop-off
Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
Entrance fees
Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
Cold towels and water on sightseeing days

Exclusions:

Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
Other meals where not mention in the program
Drinks/ waters on meals
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Tips and Gratuities
Other services not listed

Hue - Home Hosted Lunch & Historic Landmark

HOME HOSTED LUNCH & HISTORIC LANDMARK

Destination: Hue
Tour Duration: 5 hours
Code: MDHANSE005

Tour Description:
On arrival to the port (Chan May port), disembark and meet your guide. Then drive 1.5 hours to Hue along a scenic coastal route passing mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. There is nothing more interesting than visiting a local family in Hue which still preserves the traditional virtues dating from the feudal time under the Nguyen Emperors. Meet and greeted by your host to learn about traditional culture and lifestyle of people at the former Royal land. Visit the family ancestral temple to learn about the customs associated with ancestral worship. Optional accompanying the hosts to a fresh market to purchase ingredients and help them to prepare lunch. Then enjoy a home-hosted meal in the cozy family setting over interesting life stories shared by the hosts. Then enjoy an electric cart ride through the Imperial Citadel, once the exclusive residence of the royal family and its entourage. Enter through the towering main gate and you will appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains about the events and the intrigue of the former royal court. Despite being bombed heavily during the 60's and 70's, there are some incredibly well preserved sections still intact and others which are being lovingly restored. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.

Notes:

Availability: Morning, Afternoon.
There is an extra charge for transfer to/ from other ports.

Inclusions:

Private transfer
Port pick-up and drop-off
Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
Entrance fees
Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
Cold towels and water on sightseeing days

Exclusions:

Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
Other meals where not mention in the program
Drinks/ waters on meals
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Tips and Gratuities
Other services not listed

Hoi An

Hoi An is an ancient port town that was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the rare places in Vietnam to discover genuine Vietnamese architecture. Walk through the Old Quarter and get a glimpse of a medieval Vietnam that no longer exists in the other areas of the country. Visit the Phuc Kien Pagoda, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful bazaar

Excursions

Hoi An - Full Day Hoi An Town with Lantern Making

FULL DAY HOI AN TOWN WITH LANTERN MAKING

Destination: Hoi An
Tour Duration: 08 hours

Tour Description:
On arrival in Danang (Tien Sa port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive for 1 approximately hour to the ancient town of Hoi An. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An known then as ‘Faifo’, was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient town is recognized for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many atmospheric sights including: the old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings; and the colorful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two.

Lunch is on your own.

After lunch, meet with Mr. Huynh Van Trung who was born in a traditional lantern making family and learn about the silk lanterns. Silk lanterns, the simple yet colorful handicraft is now an essential part of Hoi An culture. The lantern is inspired and hand-made by local artisans and is meant to bring good fortune. It has really made a comeback thanks to an experienced man - Trung inherits valuable skills in making lanterns from his father - the well-known artisan Huynh Van Ba. Chat with him for a brief introduction to the history, shape, and color of the lanterns as well as the stages of production. Try creating your own lantern and take it home as a souvenir. Later, transfer by road back to the port to embark the ship.

Inclusions:
• Private transfers and transportation on tour
• Sightseeing with Local English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees and boat rides if any
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days

Non-inclusions:
• Vietnam visa
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips & gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column

Hoi An Culinary Experience at Market Restaurant

Hanoi

Hanoi is a city with a history that dates back to the 7th century. In 1954 Hanoi was declared the capital of the Democratic Republic of North Vietnam, and in 1976, following the Vietnam War, it became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This political history has made Hanoi one of the country's most fascinating cities to explore. The most renowned of all the monuments is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is dedicated to Vietnam's most well-respected President, who in 1945, led his country to independence. Other highlights include the Museum of History, containing ancient artifacts from Cambodia, Thailand, Japan and China, the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda and legendary Sword Lake.

Excursions

Hanoi - Hon Gai / Hai Phong Port

Hanoi Full Day Tour (10 Hours)

Shore Excursion Hai Phong - Hanoi

Shore Excursion Halong - Hanoi

SHORE EXCURSION HALONG - HANOI

Destination: Ha Noi
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Code: MDHANSE004

Tour Description:
Disembark at the Port of Cai Lan where your guide will be waiting to take you on a 3.5hr drive into Hanoi to explore this charming capital city, often referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’, with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes. Begin your tour of the highlights of Hanoi with a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university built in the late 11th century. The picturesque temple is an example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese dong banknote. Continue to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, offering broad insights into the people of Vietnam, including its 54 ethnic groups, through the lens of women’s topics. Walk through diverse exhibitions showcasing everything from street vendors and marriage to family life and traditional fashion. Enjoy lunch at Cau Go Vietnamese cuisine restaurant - located on the top floor of old building which was built 90s with amazing view overlook to Hoan Kiem lake. Conclude with a cyclo tour through the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century. Explore the fascinating maze of back streets, fronted by narrow houses known as “tunnel” or “tube houses”, built to avoid taxes based on the width of their frontage onto the street, a wonderfully eclectic glimpse into Hanoi street life. Drive back to the Port of Cai Lan and board the ship.

Notes:

There is an extra charge for transfer from other ports.

Inclusions:

Private transfer
Port pick-up and drop-off
Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
Entrance fees
Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
Cold towels and water on sightseeing days

Exclusions:

Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
Other meals where not mention in the program
Drinks/ waters on meals
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Tips and Gratuities
Other services not listed

Halong Bay (Hanoi)

Meaning “Bay of the Descending Dragon,” Halong Bay’s water is calm and undisturbed despite the jutting limestone mountains that soar out of the water and toward the sky. As if a tail of a Dragon plunged into the earth, the mountains are craggy, sharp, and barren, and are dotted with thousands of small caves of various depths and heights. At dusk, they all take on mysterious shades of gray, mauve and olive, lending credence to the local legends.

Excursions

Ha Noi City Tour & Street Food Tour – 12 hours - Hanoi

Halong Bay Cruise (5 Hours)

Halong Bay Cruise (7 Hours)

Shore Excursion Hai Phong - Halong City

Luang Prabang

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

01/10/2025 - 01/25/2025

from $8,195 per person

02/07/2025 - 02/22/2025

from $8,195 per person

02/21/2025 - 03/08/2025

from $8,195 per person

03/14/2025 - 03/29/2025

from $8,195 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $8,195 per person

Length

15 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Luxury

Remarks

Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discounts. Trip prices and discounts are subject to change. Airfare is additional. Tour prices, dates and itineraries are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Other restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1463170

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Escorted Tours Only

Land Only Tours

15-Nights Inspiring Indochina from $8,195

Itinerary Details

Excursions

Cu Chi Tunnels & Sai Gon Highlights Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Mekong Delta Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Saigon Port

Saigon City Highlights

Saigon - History of Architecture with History Researcher

Saigon - Cooking Class at Ambassador's Former Residence

Saigon - Retracing The Past

Saigon City Tour on Vintage Car

Saigon - City Highlights & Musician Family Visit

Saigon - In The Dark: A Blind Experience

Saigon - City Highlights & Lunch at Ambassador's Home

Excursions

Hoi An’s Countryside & Ancient Town – 8 hours - Hue

Hue - Full Day Hue Classic Tour / Chan May Port

Royal Culinary & Historic Landmark - Hue

Hue - Home Hosted Lunch & Historic Landmark

Excursions

Hoi An - Full Day Hoi An Town with Lantern Making

Hoi An Culinary Experience at Market Restaurant

Excursions

Hanoi - Hon Gai / Hai Phong Port

Hanoi Full Day Tour (10 Hours)

Shore Excursion Hai Phong - Hanoi

Shore Excursion Halong - Hanoi

Excursions

Ha Noi City Tour & Street Food Tour – 12 hours - Hanoi

Halong Bay Cruise (5 Hours)

Halong Bay Cruise (7 Hours)

Shore Excursion Hai Phong - Halong City

Vacation Details

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