INTENSIVE MEKONG CRUISES AND INDOCHINA CRUISE

(18 DAYS 17 NIGHTS)

CODE: STS – CRU MEK 03

Day 1: HCMC (D)

Arrival in HCMC, the biggest city in Vietnam, pick up, hotel check-in.

Afternoon city walk downtown to admire the sparkling charm of the busy city. O/N in HCMC

Day 2: HCMC – BEN TRE BY CAR (B-L-D)

Transfer to Tien Giang, the upper branch of the Mekong River, visit Vinh Trang pagoda on route; enjoy boating, walking, and tuk tuk riding in Ben Tre, a province famous for huge green palm plantations and fruit orchards. Overnight at a lovely home stay

Day 3: BEN TRE – CAN THO BY CAR (B-L-D)

Transfer to Cai Be, a bustling town on the Mekong River, enjoy another wonderful boat trip along canals, orchards, with visits to family factories on islands. Transfer to Can Tho, the economic, cultural, educational center of the Mekong delta. O/N in Can Tho

Day 4: CAN THO – SADEC – OVRENIGHT ON BOAT(B-L-D)

Early fantastic boat trip on Can Tho River through lively floating markets and scenes of floating life. Cruise onto to Sadec, disembark for a guided tour of this charming and peaceful town, walking along its narrow streets where beautiful old French houses, Chinese temples and Vietnamese temple are dating from the last century. Visit the local market, the Trung Vuong primary school where well known writer Marguerite Duras (of “The Lover) spent her childhood, a splendid ancient house dating from the early 19th century. Enjoy delicious dinner in a unique atmosphere. O/N on boat

Day 5: SA DEC – LONG XUYEN – CHO MOI  – OVRENIGHT ON BOAT (B-L-D)

Proceed the cruise upstream the river to Long Xuyen, pass by several luxuriant islands, crossing countless sampan boats carrying sand, rice, fruits and vegetables, fishes, showing an intense activity on the river.

Tour of Long Xuyen, cruising further to “Cu Lao Ong Ho” (The Tiger Island), cycling tours on the island. O/N on boat mooring in Cho Moi

Day 6: CHO MOI – CHAU DOC  BY BOAT (B-L-D)

Cruise on a little arm of the Mekong River where several traditional activities can be observed on the banks (boat building, bamboo baskets making, palm leaves cutting, net fishing). Arrival in Chau Doc, visit a floating house of fish cages and a Cham village. Disembark the boat and check in a hotel. Visit Sam mountain and impressive temples for the Homeland Goddess. O/N in Chau Doc

Day 7: CHAU DOC – PHNOM PENH BY EXPRESS BOAT (B-L-D)

Take express boat to cruise along the Mighty Mekong River to Phnom Penh. Enjoy the views of tranquil villages and friendly people. City tour in Phnom Penh: Wat Nom, National Museum, Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace, Russian market. O/N in Phnom Penh

Day 8: PHNOM PENH – SIEM REAP BY EXPRESS BOAT (B-L-D)

Transfer to Siem Reap by express boat. Afternoon: Visit thw world wonder of Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng temple where you can admire the sunset. Buffet dinner with Apsara show. O/N in Siem Reap

Day 9: SIEM REAP (B-L-D)

Full day visit more highlights of Angkor temples: Angkor Thom (the Bayon, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Terrace of Elephants), Ta Prohm, Bangtey Srei, Eastern Mebon, Eastern Baray. O/N in REP

Day 10: SIEM REAP – KONGPONG CHAM BY CAR (B-L-D)

Transfer to Kongpong Cham by bus.  Afternoon visit Wat Nokor, Koh Paen Island. O/N in Kongpong Cham

Day 11: KONGPONG CHAM – KRATIE BY CAR (B-L-D)

Transfer to Kratie by bus, visit a rubber plantation on the way. Afternoon boat trip to see Irrawaddy dolphins playing in the Mwkogn River. O/N in Kratie

Day 12: KRATIE – SI PHAN DON BY BOAT (B-L-D)

Transfer from Kratie to Stung Treng and then to the border with Laos by boat.

Land and boat transfers to the wonderful laid-back Ban Khone Island in Si Phan Don (Laos). O/N in Bane Khone tranquil village

Day 13: BAN KHONE – MUANG KHONG BY BOAT (B-L-D)

Visit French railway, old bridge, Liphi waterfall, boat trip to Khone Papeng the biggest fall in South East Asia, then cruise upstream to Muang Khong. Afternoon bicycle ride on the island. Overnight on Muang Khong.

Day 14: KHONG ISLAND – CHAMPASAK – PAKSE (PKZ) (B-L-D)

Cruise to Champasak, sightseeing with stops at interesting villages, visit Wat Phou, a pleasant Pre-Angkor temple, and then transfer by bus to PKZ.

Day 15: PAKSE – VIENTIANE BY PLANE (B-L-D)

Flight to VTE, city tour: That Luang, Patuxai (Vientiane ’s own Arc de Triumph), Ta Lat Sao market, and end at oldest Wat Sisaket temple. From here, take a nice walk along interesting streets of Thanon Setthathirat, Thanon Fa Ngum, Thanon Pang khan etc. and back to the hotel on foot. Dinner with music show

Day 16: VIENTIANE – LUANG PRABANG (LPQ) BY PLANE (B-L-D)

Flight to LPQ. City tour on foot to visit Wat Xieng Thong, the National Museum, some free time, climb on Phou Si Hill for a beautiful sunset over the Mekong River, walk to night market. O/N in LPQ

Day 17: LUANG PRABANG (B-L-D)

Morning boat trip to Pak Ou cave with stops at the rice wine village, Sa paper village

Afternoon tuk tuk ride to the black smith village and the countryside, then kayaking downstream back to LPQ.

Day 18: DEPARTURE (B)

Departure flight from Luang Prabang airport

Inclusions:

-         Hotel and sampan accommodation with breakfast (based on tween sharing)

-         All meals indicated in the program

-         All ground transport on tour with A/C vehicles, boats, tuk tuk, etc., 2 domestic flights in Laos.

-         Visa upon arrival for VN ( 840,000 VND/pax), Cambodia (525,000 VND/pax), Laos ( 525,000 VND/pax).

-         All entrance fees for sightseeing

-         Local English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Korean speaking guide

-         Portable water in the car

Exclusions:

-         International flight tickets to HCMC and from Luang Prabang

-         Personal Insurance

-         Personal expenses such as drinks, tips

-         All other accounts not mentioned in the above inclusions.

Exchange Rate: 1  USD = 21,000 VND