Indochina – Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos

02.11.2024, Saturday: DOHA - Ho Chi Minh (SAIGON) /Vietnam/ early check-in / dinner
We arrive at 07:15 on 02.11.2024.
Transfer to BAY HOTEL HO SHI MIN 4* or similar. Early check-in, immediately on arrival. Free time to relax.
In the afternoon, we will start our tour with an exploration of the central part of the city: a walk along Dong Khoi Street, formerly Rue Catinat, known during French colonial days as Saigon's central shopping district. We will walk along Ho Chi Minh Square, see the Saigon Central Post Office designed by Gustaf Eiffel in Gothic style, Notre Dame Cathedral built in 1863 - 1880 on the model of the Paris Cathedral. From here, we will walk to Ben Thanh market, one of the most typical symbols of Saigon, to experience the daily life of the locals, to feel the liveliness, the color, the exoticism of the eastern markets. You will be able to choose souvenirs, handmade goods and much more.
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant (included).
Return to BAY HOTEL HO SHI MIN 4* or similar. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. /1/

03.11.2024, Sunday: Ho Chi Minh City (SAIGON) - DANANG - GOLDEN BRIDGE - BANA HILLS - Hoi An /Vietnam/ Breakfast and lunch
Early breakfast and hotel check-out.
Transfer to the airport for morning flight Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Da Nang.
Flight VN 114 Ho Chi Minh-Danang, 08:00 - 09:25.
Upon arrival at Da Nang Airport, transfer directly to Bana Hills. Located 20 kilometers from downtown Da Nang, Sun World Ba Na Hills is not only one of the best amusement parks in Vietnam, but also one of the most amazing in the world. Perched on a high hill that guarantees a magnificent natural landscape, the park combines a variety of entertainment, European architecture, beautiful gardens and the Golden Bridge - an attraction whose beauty will leave you breathless. Since Bana Hills is located at the top of the Chua Mountains, the only way to get there is by cable car. The system was completed in 2013 and holds several Guinness World Records, including for the longest distance between stations, the greatest change in elevation and the longest single-cabin lift with one station. We continue by visiting the other interesting sites in the amusement park.
Lunch at Ba Na Hills restaurant.
In the late afternoon, transfer to Hoi An for check-in at HOIAN CENTRAL BOUTIQUE HOTEL & SPA 4* or similar.
In the evening, take a walking tour of this charming city, following the narrow streets dotted with charming houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architecture. Overnight in Hoi An, Vietnam. /1/

04.11.2024, Monday: Hoi An /Vietnam/ - Siem Reap /Cambodia/ Breakfast and lunch
Breakfast at the hotel. We will head to Cam Thanh village, where the houses are built in traditional style with the main material - the leaves of the "nipa" or water coconut palm. We'll sit with local families and learn about their way of life and daily activities before boarding the region's traditional round-coach boat. Local paddlers will give us a river tour and we will float on the river which flows into the Cam Thanh nipa palm forest. We'll return to the village jetty and cool off with a drink of water coconut.
We will then continue on to the "vegetable village" of Tra Que, located by a quiet stream. Tra Que village is known for cultivating high quality and diverse vegetable and herb farming in Vietnam. They are grown using a special method of organic farming. We will tour the gardens with a local farmer who will tell us about the different plants. We will join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with algae from the local lake. We will explore the local way of life by helping with activities such as raking the land, sowing seeds, watering vegetables, picking vegetables and many other garden activities. We return to the farmer's house to learn how their family's special dishes are prepared. Cooking lesson and preparation of local specialties followed by lunch in the farm garden.
After lunch, transfer directly to Da Nang International Airport for flight to Siem Reap
Flight K6 841 Da Nang - Siem Reap, 17:20. - 19:20 ч.
Welcome to Cambodia - Siem Reap, the treasure trove of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Our local guide and driver will take us to MEMOIRE D'ANGKOR BOUTIQUE HOTEL 4* or similar for accommodation.
Overnight in Siem Reap, Cambodia. /1/

05.11.2024, Tuesday: SEEM RIPE WITH ANKGOR WAT and ANKGOR TOM / Breakfast and lunch
Breakfast.
In the morning we head to the majestic temple complex of Angkor Thom - the last administrative and religious centre of the Khmer Empire. The fortified town of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 sq. km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor's most popular attractions. We will visit the temple of Baphuon and Fimeanakas, an 11th century temple built by Suryavarman I. We will see the mysterious temple of Jayavarman VII - Bayon, one of the most popular and fascinating temples in Angkor, as well as Ta Prohm Temple. Built between the middle of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century. The temple is engulfed in jungle - trees and lianas have entangled its foundations and remains over time.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon we will explore Angkor Wat - considered the largest religious monument in the world. Built in the early 12th century, originally as a Hindu temple, it was gradually converted into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the century. Angkor Wat was built by the ruler of the Khmer Empire Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in the then capital Yasodharapura (present-day Angkor) as a state temple and future mausoleum of the monarch. Angkor Wat is the best preserved temple in Angkor and the only remaining important religious centre from its founding to the present day. The building is an example of the classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, is depicted on its national flag and is the country's most famous tourist attraction.
Return to MEMOIRE D'ANGKOR BOUTIQUE HOTEL 4* or similar.
Overnight in Siem Reap, Cambodia. /2/
*Joker for free time: the Siem Reap Night Market or a dinner show with national dishes and performing arts. Whatever you choose you won't go wrong.

06.11.2024, Wednesday: Siem Reap /Cambodia/ - Luang Prabang /Laos/ Breakfast and lunch
Breakfast.
Early in the morning, take a boat trip and visit the Floating Villages, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. We will take a traditional boat ride on the Tonle Sap, Cambodia's "big lake" and the largest in Southeast Asia. Here you will see the very interesting and unusual daily life for the "lake dwellers" and the Khmer way of life.
Flight VN 930 Siem Reap-Luang Prabang 4:55 pm. - 18:25 ч.
Transfer to Siem Reap airport for flight to Luang Prabang /Laos/
Landing in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang is the old capital of the ancient state of Lansang (present-day Laos) and a royal residence until 1545. Since 1995, the city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with 33 Buddhist temples and 111 historic buildings in a distinctive style combining local traditions and French influence.
Transfer to the city's Night Market and free time for dinner. Accommodation at MAISON DALABUA 4* or similar;
Overnight in Luang Prabang, Laos. /1/

07.11.2024, Thursday: LUANG PRABANG - elephant back ride - KUANG SI FALLS / Breakfast and lunch
*In the morning we will have the opportunity to witness a remarkable ritual in Laos - how the locals donate food to the Buddhist monks. It is a tradition in the country that each family does not sit down to eat without sharing some of the food with the monks.
Breakfast.
After breakfast, we will explore the National Museum, located in the former Royal Palace, to learn more about the history of Laos. We will visit the temples Wat Visen /Wat Sene/ and Wat Xieng Thong/
Lunch in a traditional restaurant.
In the afternoon, we drive 30 kilometres from Luang Prabang to Kuang Si Falls, a set of cascading waterfalls with small pools where you can swim in the rainforest. Quang Si Waterfall cascades down a limestone cliff that gives the water a turquoise colour. Free time for the beach.
Back to Luang Prabang
We then head to the elephant park where we will have the opportunity to touch this incredibly gentle giant, as well as ride on the back of an elephant and help the mahouts bathe them in the Mekong.
In the evening, we will climb up to Phusi Hill to see the sacred gilded stupa, as well as to enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the city and temples. This place is very popular, where tourists and residents of this magnificent city watch the sunrise or sunset in the romantic company of the majestic Mekong River and its little brother the Nam Khan River.
Transfer to MAISON DALABUA 4* hotel or similar;
Overnight in Luang Prabang, Laos. /2/
*Leisure Joker: Luang Prabang Night Market, like any Asian market, is a picturesque and intriguing place where we can find collections of textiles, jewelry, souvenirs, locally prepared delicious street food, and experience the atmosphere of local evening life.

08.11.2024, Friday: LUANG PRABANG - MEKONG CRUISE - HANOI / Breakfast and lunch
Breakfast.
A cruise on the Mekong River awaits us. We will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful landscapes along the river. 25 km from Luang Prabang (Laos), near where the Nam Ou and Mekong rivers converge, are the sacred Pak Ou Caves. One is located at water level and the other is on top of a hill. They are filled with over 2,000,000 Buddha statues, covered with gold lacquer, in different sizes and dimensions.
Lunch at a local restaurant on the river or on the ship.
Docking in Luang Prabang
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Landing at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi.
VN 930 Luang Prabang Hanoi, 7:10 p.m. - 20:10 ч.
About 40 minutes transfer to THANG LONG OPERA HOTEL 4* or similar.
Accommodation and overnight in Hanoi, Vietnam. /1/

09.11.2024, Saturday: HANOI - rickshaw tour of Hanoi and water puppet show / Breakfast and lunch
Breakfast.
Today, we have an interesting full-day sightseeing tour of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, featuring distinctive French colonial architecture.
We'll head to Train Street - a small narrow street hidden in one of Hanoi's central districts and surrounded by tall narrow houses packed tightly together. The yards of these families are the railway tracks along which the train passes several times a day. We will try the Vietnamese coffee with egg while we wait for the train to pass😊
We head to Ba Dinh Square - the largest square in Hanoi, where the most important cultural and political events in the city take place. We will see the Ho Chi Minh complex /including the Mausoleum, outside/, the Presidential Palace, the home where Ho Chi Minh lived, Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, his fish pond and the One-Pillar Pagoda/. Our tour will continue with the Temple of Literature - built in the late 11th century by Emperor Lai Tan Tong in honor of Confucius. The temple is located in the famous Imperial Academy, which is considered the first university in Vietnam.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
We will continue with a rickshaw tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter. We will stop to visit Ngoc Son temple, located on Hoan Kiem Lake, the Sword Lake. From here, we'll wander the narrow streets of the Old Quarter to experience the daily life of the locals.
In the late afternoon we will enjoy a Water Puppetry show - a traditional performing art of North Vietnam. An interesting and childishly naive show, from which we will learn about the myths, traditions and customs of the Vietnamese people.
Return to THANG LONG OPERA HOTEL 4* or similar.
Overnight in Hanoi, Vietnam. /2/
*Leisure Joker - The location of our hotel allows you to immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of evening Hanoi. A simple stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and the "Temple of the Turtle" or a first encounter and love forever with Vietnamese cuisine, a walk among the hundreds of shops and stalls, and first timid attempts to cross the roadway in battle with the countless mopeds. J
Stroll through Hanoi's Old Quarter, a charming network of narrow streets and shops also known as the '36 streets' - each street is named after the goods traditionally sold there. Finish your walk today by enjoying a cup of Egg Coffee at the original café where the drink was born - Café Giang at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street or various cafes in the Old Quarter.

10.11.2024, Sunday: HANOI - HA LONG / Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Breakfast.
We take a bus to Ha Long Bay (about 3 hours).
Ha Long Bay is an incredibly beautiful natural area that is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Ha Long is also unanimously accepted in the list of the 33 most beautiful bays on our planet. This paradise is located in the northeast of Vietnam, within the boundaries of Quang Ninh province. From the capital Hanoi is a little more than 160 km. Because of the amazing natural scenery and features, the Vietnamese are adamant that this bay of theirs is among the wonders of the world.
Literally translated, Ha Long means "Bay of the Descending Dragon". The name of the bay is associated with a legend that long, long ago, when the ancestors of today's Vietnamese were defending themselves from invading Chinese warriors, the gods came to their aid and sent them a family of dragons to help them defend their lands. A family of dragons descended from the sky to the exact spot where Ha Long now stands and began showering them with fire and jade, creating a natural defensive wall of small islands and rocks and thus helping the Vietnamese to protect their lands.
Accommodation on a cruise ship similar to the traditional junk boat - ERA CRUISE 5* or similar.
Cruise programme*:
Sailing.
Seafood lunch on the ship.
In the afternoon, an opportunity to explore beautiful caves and islands.
Dinner.
Overnight.
*The program during the cruise is tailored to the cruise ship's program, the group is not independent and is in combination with other tourists. The capacity of the ship is about 40 passengers.
Overnight on a cruise ship in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. /1/

11.11.2024, Monday: HA LONG - HANOI / Breakfast and brunch
Breakfast.
Early in the morning on the sun deck of the ship you will have the opportunity to attend a Tai Chi class (an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both self-defense and health. Nowadays it is also practiced as a kind of health gymnastics).
Next, explore the Sung Sot Caves.
You'll enjoy brunch on the ride back to port.
Arrival in Hanoi around 16 hours.
Accommodation at THANG LONG OPERA HOTEL 4* or similar.
Overnight in Hanoi, Vietnam. /1/

12.11.2024, Tuesday: HANOI - DOHA / Breakfast
Early breakfast. Release of rooms.
Transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for your 08:40 flight to Doha /Qatar/.
Landing in Doha at 13:00.
Transfer and check in at 4* hotel in Doha.
Panoramic tour of the capital of Qatar - Doha.
Overnight at 4* hotel in Doha, Qatar. /1/

13.11.2024, Wednesday: DOHA - SOFIA
Early transfer to Doha Airport for flight to Sofia at 07:30.
Landing in Sofia at 11:40.