Essential Indochina - Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia

Day 1 - Hanoi Arrival
Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam. You are greeted by your driver at Noi Bai International Airport for your transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi
Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society.

DAY 2: Hanoi city by jeep (Breakfast & Lunch)
Today you will join Jeep Tour with a group. Our tour starts at your hotel in and around Hanoi Old Quarter, You will be greeted by our guide and driver at your hotel lobby or our meeting point for safety briefing, we then begin our adventure!

On the first part of our Hanoi Jeep Tours, we expose you the REAL HANOI with a day in the life experiences, featured with the parts-unknown of the city with slices of life in the maze of backstreets, tiny alleyways, local homes, schools, random markets and black market, experiencing where & how locals live, work and play. Other travel companies show just you the beautiful and tell you to run away from the bad and the weird of your destinations. On Hanoi Backstreet Tours’ journeys, not only do we show you the good but we also expose the bad and the weird of your destinations as it is what it is. For us, the run-off-the mill tourist sites are only the tip of the iceberg, the majority of your destinations remains hidden in the parts-unknown. On the second part Hanoi Jeep Tours, we pass by & stop at the MUST-SEEE places ofour beautiful city such as Ho Chi Minh mausoleum-the Mecca of Vietnamese, The 1000 year-old Buddhist and Toasist temples of Tran Quoc, temple of Literature, the historical train-street, the enchanting French Quarter, The hustling & bustling Old Quarter, the romantic lakes of Hoan Kiem, West lake , Hanoi Opera House & famous Long Bien bridge etc. On the last part of Hanoi Jeep tours is food! We have AUTHENTIC, HEALTHY & ORGANIC FOOD at Hidden Gem Cafe where we savor the tastiest of the tasty dishes of Hanoi including family heirloom & secret recipe dishes and local delicacies. Vegan & Vegetarian options are available.

DAY 3: Hanoi – Halong bay (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Today, depart from hanoi for a 2.5-hour drive to Tuan Chau harbour via the new highway. You will be welcomed aboard and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons' teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, and then go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you can enjoy cocktails while watching the sunset. Later, you will unwind ata lavish dinner before an overnight stay on the deluxe junk.

DAY 4: Halong bay – hanoi (Breakfast, Brunch)
Greet the day with a morning tai chi session, with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will visit a beautiful limestone grotto and then go back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Checkout is at 11:45 am and the boat arrives at the harbor by noon for the drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 5: Hanoi – fly to luang Prabang (Breakfast)
Free at leisure until transfer to Hanoi airport for flight to Luang Prabang. Sabaidee! Welcome to Luang Prabang. You are greeted by your driver at the airport for your transfer to the hotel. Free at leisure and overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 6: Ancient town & kuang si waterfall (Breakfast)
After breakfast, we visit Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. Our next stop in the city is the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then transfer to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. You have the rest of the afternoon to refresh at the waterfalls. If you wish, we also see up close Asiatic bears at the Bear Rescue Centre along the jungle walk to the waterfall. Arriving back in town, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour. Transfer back to Luang Prabang, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 7: Luang Prabang – fly to siemreap (Breakfast)
The day is free at your leisure until transfer to the airport for your flight to Siemreap. Sous sa rye! Welcome to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, our driver will pick you up at airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Siemreap. Siemreap is the gateway to Angkor Wat, the millennium-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Set along the Siem Reap River, this small provincial capital boasts hundreds of sightseeing opportunities such as well-preserved colonial buildings, museums, traditional markets, and cultural performances. Following its rapid growth, the lively town offers all the facilities expected by experienced world travellers.

DAY 8: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm & Blessing Ritual (Breakfast & Brunch)
Start your sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. Enjoy the sunset over Pre Rup temple then transfer back to the hotel. Early evening, you will be taken by Tuk Tuk, a small open-sided taxi common in Cambodia, to cruise around the suburb of Siem Reap town and for a blessing ritual by Buddhist monks for happiness, prosperity and safety for your journey. Overnight in Siemreap.

DAY 9: Free at Leisure (Breakfast)
Free at leisure to explore Siemreap. Overnight in Siemreap.

DAY 10: Siemreap – fly to hochiminh (Breakfast)
The day is free at your leisure until transfer to the airport for your flight to Hochiminh. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport - Hochiminh City (Aka Saigon), you are greeted by your driver for your transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city of Vietnam. It is the bustling economic capital and cultural trendsetter of the country, yet holds the timeless traditions of an ancient culture.

DAY 11: Ho chi minh city – fly to phu quoc (Breakfast)
Free at leisure until transfer to Hanoi airport for flight to Phu Quoc Upon arrival at Phu Quoc airport, you will be transferred to the hotel. Free at leisure and overnight in Phu Quoc.

Day 12: Free at Leisure (Breakfast)
Free at leisure and overnight in Phu Quoc.

Day 13: Free at Leisure (Breakfast)
Free at leisure and overnight in Phu Quoc.

Day 14: Free at Leisure (Breakfast)
Free at leisure and overnight in Phu Quoc.

Day 15: Phu quoc – fly to hochiminh (Breakfast)
Free at leisure until transfer to Phu Quoc airport for flight to Hochiminh. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, you will be transferred to the hotel. Free at leisure and overnight in Hochiminh.

Day 16: Free at Leisure (Breakfast)
Free at leisure in the morning. Overnight in Hochiminh.

Day 17: Hochiminh departure (Breakfast)
Free at leisure until transfer to Hochiminh airport for flight back UK.