Indochina Delights

Venture deep into the heart of Indochina, traversing the Southeast Asian peninsula through the vastly contrasting landscapes and fascinating heritage of three magnificent countries – vivacious Vietnam, enchanting Laos and captivating Cambodia.

Places Visited

SA (1N) - Saigon (3N) - Hoi An (2N) - Halong Bay (1N) - Hanoi (2N) - Luang Prabang (3N) - Siem Reap (3N) - SA (1N)

tour duration 17 Days from
tour price On Request
Moderate
Group Tour
Classic
Fully inclusive
Days 1-2 Fly to Saigon
Fly overnight to Saigon. On arrival you will be met by your expert tour guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 3 Discover Saigon
Sightseeing today includes a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Later, stroll through Cholon and Ben Thanh Market.
Day 4 Cu Chi Tunnels & Tay Ninh
Explore the amazing network of Cu Chi Tunnels before travelling to Tay Ninh to attend the noon service at the Cao Dai Temple, which is one of the most striking structures in Asia. Return to Saigon.
Day 5 Journey to Hoi An
Fly to Danang and transfer to the UNESCO town of Hoi An, stopping at the Marble Mountains en route.
Day 6 Hoi An Walking tour
Take a morning walking tour of charming Hoi An, a wonderfully laidback, graceful and wilfully traditional town. Visit one of the oldest homes, still occupied by descendants of merchants that built it over 200 years ago. Also visit the elaborate Japanese Bridge, Hoi An Market and a local Chinese Pagoda. The afternoon is at leisure to visit the local markets or relax in a riverside café.
Day 7 Explore Hanoi
Fly to Hanoi, a charming and richly historic city of lakes, parks and shaded boulevards. Sightseeing includes a visit to the Temple of Literature and Ngoc Son Temple – you'll also take a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter, an area of market alleys still laid out as they were 300 years ago.
Days 8-9 Halong Bay Junk Cruise
Spend the day aboard a traditionallydesigned junk cruising amongst the spectacular seascapes, fringed by jagged karst formations jutting from emerald waters. Halong Bay, with its 1,600 islands and islets, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and is a vision of awe-inspiring beauty. It isn't hard to see why it is one of Vietnam's most popular destinations. Enjoy fresh meals on board and spend the night anchored amongst the magnificent seascapes. Return to Hanoi the following day and in the evening, watch a performance of the famous water puppets.
Day 10 Fly to Luang Prabang
An enchanting city, Luang Prabang is the quintessential image of Laos – a place of vivid colours, an extremely rich heritage and enduring French legacy. The afternoon is free for your own exploration. Ascend Phousi Hill for delightful city views and browse the wares at the bustling market.
Day 11 Discover Luang Prabang
Rise early to watch a Takbat alms giving ceremony. Visit Wat Xieng Thong, then cruise along the Mekong River to see the Pak Ou Caves. Return to Luang Prabang and visit Thin Hong and Ban Xong Khong Village en route.
Day 12 Local Villages & Waterfalls
Visit Wat Sene and the National Museum before continuing to the cascading turquoise waters of the enchanting Kuang Si Waterfalls. Return to Luang Prabang via Ock Pop Tok Weaving Centre. This evening witness a local Baci Ceremony.
Day 13 Fly to Siem Reap
Fly to Siem Reap and visit Banteay Srei Temple. Climb to the summit of Pre Rup Temple at sunset for a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape.
Day 14 Explore Angkor Wat
The Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses over a thousand temples, all the remains of different capitals of the Khmer Empire between the 9th and 15th centuries. Rising early, the tour begins at the walled city of Angkor Thom where you'll pass through the magnificent South Gate. At Angkor Thom's centre is the enigmatic Bayon, a breathtaking temple of innumerable sculptural decorations. Also admire the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. The rest of the day is dedicated to the indescribable Angkor Wat, the most magnificent and best preserved of all of Angkor's treasures. It is easy to while away an afternoon in its shady precincts, examining its wealth of fascinating and intricate embellishments.
Day 15 Tonle Sap & Beng Melea
Enjoy a morning cruise on the Tonle Sap Lake where you can see the floating villages and observe the way of life of these lake communities. Back on dry land visit Beng Mealea, a mysterious temple completely overrun by the jungle – release your inner adventurer and explore. On the way back to Siem Reap, visit Les Artisans D'Angkor, a workshop which teaches traditional crafts to local people.
Days 16-17 Fly Siem Reap to SA
Fly overnight to South Africa, arriving home the following day.

Also Available

Private Departures for this tour

If the dates we have available for this tour don't suit your needs, or you are not sure travelling as part of a group is for you, maybe a Private Departure would be more ideal. Based on exactly the same itinerary as the group tour, our Private Departures give you the freedom to choose your own departure date and simply enjoy your holiday with your family, your partner, or your friends. On most Private Departures your tour will be led by an English speaking driver and you will be met by local guides at each site.

see our private departure itinerary of this tour

Tailor Your Tour

If you like most of the itinerary which we have suggested but you'd like to change the route and the accommodation, speak to our specialist Tailormade team, who can build your perfect itinerary based around where you would like to go, what you would like to see and how much you'd like to spend. Just call us on 0800 9884 888 and we'll help plan your dream holiday.

Wendy Wu Tours, inspect all of our hotels to ensure they meet the high levels of service which we require for our guests. If the hotels details below for your tour are not available, hotels of a similar standard will be used.

Lan Lan 1 Hotel - Saigon, Vietnam (3 Nights)



Thanh Binh Riverside Hotel - Hoi An, Vietnam (2 Nights)



The Palmy Hotel & Spa - Hanoi, Vietnam (2 Nights)



Chitchareune Muang Luang Hotel - Luang Prabang, Laos (3 Nights)

In a residential area outside of town near to Dara market and Chao Anouvong Monument, The Chitchareune Muang Luang Hotel provides guests with comfortable en-suite rooms in a quiet location. All rooms are generously sized and feature a TV and telephone. Other amenities include a swimming pool, fantastic restaurant and massage treatments.



Angkor Holiday Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia (3 Nights)

This small hotel features air conditioned rooms with flat screen satellite television, en-suite facilities, safety deposit box and complimentary bathrobes. There is also a spa with sauna, an outdoor pool with a hot tub, and an onsite restaurant offering international cuisine. Room service is available and there is also an onsite bar.



A visa is not required for visitors to Vietnam if your stay is less than 16 days. If your stay is for longer than 16 days then a visa is required by all nationalities and a single entry visa should be arranged in advance of travel.
Unlike many other tour operators, we include your entry visas in the price of our tour. We handle the entire visa process – all you need to do is fill out the form and send your passport to us. We are always on hand to help you with any questions or queries you might have when completing the form. 

Phone Calls
International and domestic calls can be made from your hotel room. To call the UK the international access code is 00, followed by the country code 44, then the local area code (omitting the first 0), then the number. To call Wendy Wu Tours it is 00 44 207 403 7860. Emergency 24 hour telephone (out of office hours) is 00 44 7984 041 625.
 
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are growing in popularity and you will find good coverage. There are active roaming agreements with all phone carriers; however SMS and call rates can be expensive. We recommend that you contact your mobile supplier if you intend to use international roaming during your holiday and ensure you investigate all associated costs before you leave the UK.
 
Internet & Email
Internet cafes can be found in all major cities and even in some small towns. This is often the easiest and cheapest way to stay in touch. Most hotels have a business centre with internet access, but at a slightly higher rate. Some hotels may have Wi-Fi which usually comes at an additional cost and may only be available in hotel lobbies. 

Tipping is an expected element in the tourism industry today and Vietnam is no exception. Many passengers are often uncertain of how much to tip so we have established a tipping system whereby every passenger gives a set amount (in US Dollars) to the National Escort who will distribute the amount appropriately. On multi-country tips, this amount will be paid in stages on arrival in each country. If there is no National Escort, you will need to give your money to your Local Guides and tipping amounts for each city will be shown in your final itinerary. The amount for the kitty is calculated for each tour depending on the length, group size and services used during the trip.
 
For independent passengers, or group passengers with pre/post tour arrangements, you should allow USD5-10 per person per day. We will indicate the tipping amounts in your final documents for guidance.

Shopping can be a fun and entertaining component to any travel adventure.  In keeping with most people’s interests whilst on holiday, your tour will include a reasonable number of opportunities to shop for local goods and souvenirs.
 
We have included visits to establishments that not only provide an opportunity to purchase a locally produced, great-value souvenir; but you’ll witness first-hand how these local products are made, their history and how they support the local economy. We are aware that people like to take home souvenirs, so we endeavour to ensure the shops you visit have a reputation for quality, honesty, and authenticity – we do our best to ensure that you don’t get ripped off. 

The cost of all meals is included in your group tour cost. Breakfast is a combination of local and western food, usually served buffet style at the hotel you are staying in. Lunches and dinners consist of traditional cuisine and are served at reputable local restaurants. As is traditional in this region, lunch and dinner consists of small dishes of local cuisine which is then placed on the table for everyone to share so you can experience the variety of speciality dishes. The amount served is more than ample for the whole group. We aim to cater to the tastes of the majority of people and so the food is not too spicy or unusual in taste.
 
Drinks will be at each tour members’ own expense and paid for at the end of each meal. Beer is widely available and cheap. Western style wine is very expensive to import and is not widely available except at upmarket restaurants. Bottled drinking water, soft drinks, and fruit juices are also widely available – remember that you should only have ice or fruit juices from a trusted restaurant, where they will use boiled or bottled water.
 
Due to the French colonial influence in some Southeast Asian countries, black tea (commonly referred to as ‘lip-ton’ by the locals), coffee, and baguettes are available in most places. However, the local style is to have sweet condensed milk with their tea and coffee. Fresh dairy milk is not usually served but many restaurants will provide this if requested. ‘Cafe Sua-da’ (or iced coffee with milk) is a favourite choice amongst the locals.


Why Book This Tour?

This tour is suited for those who have reasonable time to spend and who want to see the very best bits of three incredibly diverse destinations. We have designed the tour to make the most of the time available to showcase the key highlights and cities of Indochina.

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