Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Bangkok, and Phuket: January departure

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Depart Ottawa

Depart Ottawa for your first flight (overnight) to Paris.  Connect in Paris for your flight to Saigon.

Day 2

Depart Paris

Depart Paris on your second flight (overnight) to Saigon.

Day 3

Arrival in Saigon

Arrival in Saigon and transfer to your hotel.  Dinner at the hotel tonight (D).

Day 4

City tour of Saigon

Your morning is free to spend at your leisure. In the afternoon, depart with a local guide for a city tour. You will visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Post Office, Chinatown, Binh Tay Market, and Thien Hau Temple. Dinner at Hoa Tuc Restaurant. (B/D)

Day 5

Rice farm and Cu Chi Tunnels

Today you will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. En route to Cu Chi you will stop at a local rice farm to discuss how it is harvested. Return to Ho Chi Minh for lunch. The remainder of your day is free to explore the city. (B/L)

Day 6

Free day

Today is a free day to explore Saigon at your leisure.  Your Travac Tours Director will have suggestions on how to make the most of your time in this beautiful city.

Day 7

Da Nang

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival Da Nang, a local guide will take you on a short tour of Da Nang, to historic points of interest and the Cham Museum.  After lunch, you will be transferred to Hoi An and arrive in the late afternoon. (B/L)

Day 8

Hoi An

You will begin your morning with a half day walking tour of the village of Hoi An with a local guide. You will visit ancient merchants houses, a Hokkien temple, 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and Hoi An’s colorful riverside market. After lunch, you will visit a workshop where artisans make Hoi An’s famous lanterns and have the opportunity to make one of your own. (B/D)

Day 9

Free day

Today is a free day in Hoi An. Your Travac Tours Director will have optional tour ideas. ($) (B)

Day 10

Hue

Today you will be transferred from Hoi An to Hue. You will stop en-route at the Marble Mountains stonecutters and pass over the spectacular Hai Van Mountain pass.  Upon arrival in Hue, the remainder of your day will be at your leisure. (B/L)

Day 11

Hue

Today you will be transferred to the outskirts of Hue to visit the elaborate tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Stop en-route to see incense being made. You will then visit the Khai Dinh Tomb. After lunch, you will travel to Thien Mu Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel, and finally the Dong Ba Market before heading back to the hotel. (B/D)

Day 12

Hanoi

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to see the beautiful colors of Hanoi on a cyclo tour through the city’s old quarters. (B/D)

Day 13

Hanoi

Today you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s former home, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, and the Hoa Lo Prison.  The remainder of your day will be free.  (B/L)

Day 14

Halong Cruise

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Halong for your cruise. Lunch and dinner are included on board. (B/L/D)

Day 15

Return to Hanoi

After brunch onboard the ship, you will be transferred back to Hanoi.  The remainder of your day is free. (Brunch)

Day 16

Luang Prabang

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 17

Luang Prabang

Today we will board a private boat and head out to explore the mighty Mekong River and some of its villages along the way. We will cross the river to the village of Ban Xieng Mae where we’ll walk to Wat Chom Phet, a temple built by the Thai army in 1880. You need to walk up about 100 steps to visit this small-dilapidated temple from where you have an undisturbed and peaceful view over the Mekong River and Luang Prabang. Next, we will visit the ancient Royal temple of Wat Long Khoun, that was formerly used by Kings and Queens for meditation purposes. Our next stop is the village of Ban Chan, famous for its pottery making. Here we will meet the locals and learn about their daily lifestyle. We will reboard the boat and continue our cruise upstream the mysterious Pak Ou caves, two caves set in a limestone cliff facing the Mekong River crammed with thousands Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. We then return downstream to Luang Prabang, making a stop at Wat Done Khoun temple, a unique temple situated on an island in the Mekong. We arrive back at Luang Prabang by early evening, while the sun sets behind the mountains. End the day enjoying the sunset from the top of Mount Phou Si. (B/L/D)

Day 18

Luang Prabang and Siem Reap

This morning we will visit the Former Royal Palace (now the National Museum), the Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Sen, and Wat Visoun.

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap. After transferring to the hotel, we will have dinner with an Apsara dance show. (B,D)

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Phnom Penh

Today is free to enjoy at your leisure. (B)

Optional tour (NOT INCLUDING ON THE TOUR COST): Half day visit Koh Dach island – Cost TBA

We will embark on a boat for an exciting excursion along the Mekong River to Koh Dach Island to visit a traditional Khmer weaving village. You will be amazed to see how the villagers produce their own dyes and weave silk on old looms. Learn about the local way of life as you walk through the village. Enjoy a picnic lunch and then set out on your return journey to Phnom Penh. Enjoy the lush green scenery, a fishing village and a local pagoda as well as sunset over the Royal Palace when you approach the town. Transfer from the pier back to the hotel. (B,L)

Day 23

Depart Phnom Penh

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flights via Bangkok to Phuket. (B)

Day 24

Phuket

Today we will embark on a full day tour to Bamboo Island.  We will be transferred to Royal Phuket Marina pier and head to Phi Phi Islands by boat to enjoy swimming, sightseeing at Loh Samah Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, and relaxing on the beach at Maya Bay. (B/L)

Day 25

Phuket

Today is a free day to spend at your leisure. (B)

Day 26

Phuket to Bangkok

Today we will depart Phuket to Bangkok.  Upon arrival in Bangkok, we will embark on a tour to Temple City, Grand Palace, and Klong. We will visit Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), experience monk chanting at Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, Coronation Hall, Funeral Hall and the famous Emerald Buddha.

After lunch we will continue by long-tail boat along the canal to see a Thai houses and typical rural life and visit Temple of Dawn. (B/L)

Day 27

Bangkok to Paris

Today will will depart Bangkok for our transfer flight to Paris. Overnight in Paris. (B)

Day 28

Paris to Ottawa

Return to Ottawa. (B)