An adventure in the heart of Indochina: three countries, three histories, three wonders. This Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia tour begins with the discovery of the magnificent ethnic groups of Sapa – the gem nestled in the mountains of northern Tonkin. The journey then continues along the Nam Ou River, where you’ll explore unspoiled nature and the daily life of various ethnic communities in Laos. Your Indochina journey ends with the majestic temples of Angkor – architectural and cultural marvels of Cambodia. All of this in a breathtaking setting.
Brief itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi arrival Day 2: Hanoi city tour Day 3: Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay Day 4: Lan Ha bay – Hanoi, night train to Lao Cai Day 5: Lao Cai – Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van Day 6: Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Dien Bien Phu Day 7: Visit of the historical sites in Dien Bien Phu Day 8: Dien Bien Phu – Muang Xai Day 9: Muang Mai – Muang Ngoi Day 10: Walk in Muang Ngoi vicinity Day 11: Muang Ngoi – Luang Prabang Day 12: Luang Prabang’s treasures Day 13: The surroundings of Luang Prabang Day 14: Luang Prabang – flight to Siem Reap Day 15: Siem Riep – Angkor Vat and Angkor Thom Day 16: Siem Reap – Kbal Spean – Banteay Srei Day 17: Siem Reap – Roulos – Kampong Kleang Day 18: Siem Reap departure
Highlight
Encounters with ethnic minorities in the mountain region of Vietnam and Laos
Discovery of the many cultures of Indochina
Scenic landscapes in the high mountains
Cruise and unforgettable night aboard a comfortable junk in Lan Ha Bay
Unspoiled nature and local life of ethnic groups in Laos
Exploration of ancient temples in Luang Prabang
The famous temples of Angkor
Full itinerary
B (Breakfast), L (Lunch), D (Dinner)
Open and close
Arrival in Noi Bai airport, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in the city center. The check – in will be available at 2 pm. The rest of the day is free to rest or discover the city at your own pace. Car: 20km Night: hotel
You will be picked up at the hotel at 8:00 am, starting the day trip with a visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays) and his former stilt – house residence. We will continue with the Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. The site also honors 82 Vietnamese doctorates who passed a number of rigorous exams in the feudal ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are engraved in 82 headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring one luck. Its peaceful green compound and its neatly maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds make it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle and heat. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative being the History Museum), which offers informative and well – documented displays on the country’s 54 ethnic groups cultures, including elaborate and colorful hill tribe costumes. The display continues in the museum’s garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses of numerous minority groups, from the Kinh to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. Then back to the Old Quarter for a one hour and a half walking tour to give you a deeper insight into local daily life. Head to Ngoc Son Temple set on a tiny island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Ngoc Son Temple dates back to the 13th century, and the lake itself is the picturesque heart of Hanoi, frequented by tourists and locals alike. The day ends with a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) before watching the traditional water puppet show. Car: 30km Night: hotel
After breakfast, depart to Lan Ha Bay via Hung Yen and Hai Phong city. We will arrive at Lan Ha’s tourist wharf around noon and embark on an elegant wooden junk. Lunch will be served while the boat gently cruises past numerous islands and limestone structures rising from the emerald water. A fresh seafood dinner will be prepared by an experienced chef and served on deck. A peaceful night on board in your private cabin. Car: 170km/3h Night: on boat
Wake up early to admire the sunrise over the bay. Breakfast on board around 7:30 am. The junk continues to sail in Lan Ha Bay, approaching the most beautiful peaks and rocks. Around 8:45 am, arrival at Viet Hai village, a small isolated fishing village. Bike ride to visit the village and discover its superb landscapes. Back on the junk to take a shower and free your cabins while the junk returns to Ben Beo. Lunch – brunch on board around 11am, then disembark and return to Hanoi. Transfer to the station and night train to Lao Cai. Car: 100km/2h Night: on the train
We will arrive in Lao Cai around 6:00 am and continue to Sapa, situated 40km further, with a private car. This day is devoted to a beautiful hike through the breathtaking scenery of Sa Pa valley. Start your walk in the ancient and busy Cau May Street in the center of Sapa Town. Admire the rice terraces playing hide and seek with the morning mist, a truly awe – inspiring sight. Follow a small track and cross Muong Hoa River on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Past the colorful rice terraces, you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River, you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement. Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and decorative patterns. Night at the homestay. Car: 40km/1h Night: homestay
After having breakfast at your homestay, continue your walking through lush paddy fields and bamboo forests. You can admire a beautiful waterfall. Visit Giang Ta Chai village, inhabited by Red Dao and Black H’mong. Transfer to Lai Chau. In the afternoon, walk through the villages of Ban Giang and Ban Hon inhabited by the Lu (or Tai Lu) ethnic group. The Lu women wear black clothes decorated with coins and metal jewelry and have black lacquered teeth. Little girls have their teeth painted as young as 10 years old. This is a very important beauty criterion for this ethnic group. Continue your journey to Dien Bien Phu, passing through Muong Lay and Muong Cha. Several stops are planned along the way to meet ethnic minority groups such as the Thai, Hmong, Khmu, Mang, and Dzao. Late arrival in Dien Bien Phu. Night at the hotel. Car: 270 km / 5h Night: hotel
Discover the historic sites at Dien Bien Phu. Your guide will tell you the stories of the Indochina War, including the famous 56-day battle between the French and the Viet Minh. Visit of the hill Eliane 2, of the PC GONO (Command Post of the Operational Group North - West) and of the war museum of Dien Bien Phu. Night at the hotel. Car: 30 km Night: hôtel
In the morning, short drive by car to Tay Trang, the newly opened border crossing between Laos and Vietnam for foreign tourists. Welcome by your local Laotian guide, then transfer to Muang Xai. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Free time in the late afternoon and evening. Car: 200 km / 5h Night: hotel
In the morning, transfer by car to Nong Khiaw, a small town on the banks of the Nam Ou River. Upon arrival, continue by local boat to the village of Muang Ngoi. On the way, stop at the village of Ban Houy Hoi for a hike to the Khmu ethnic village of Ban Sop Khoun to observe the daily life, lifestyle, and culture of the local people (2–3 hours of walking). Then continue downstream on the Nam Ou River to reach Muang Ngoi. Check-in at a local guesthouse (basic comfort). Meals at your own expense. Night in Muang Ngoi. Car: 200 km / 5h Night: guesthouse
After breakfast, take the boats for a few minutes downstream. In the village of Sopkhan, hike in karst scenery to reach a H'mong village. Lunch break. Resume the hike to discover a Khmu ethnic village. Cross the Nam Ou River and return to Muang Ngoi. Night: hotel
After breakfast, continue your boat trip to Nong Khiew, a village on the Nam Ou River banks, then drive to Luang Prabang. Stop several times along the way to explore villages. Then head to the Pak Ou Caves, located along the Mekong River. Pak Ou sanctuaries consist of two large caves and thousands of Buddha representations ranging from a few centimeters to two meters in height. Stop at Ban Xang Hai village to learn about the local distillery of sticky rice alcohol. Arrival in Luang Prabang, transfer and Night at the hotel. Car: 140km/3h Night: hotel
This day is dedicated to the most important sites of Luang Prabang: venture into Wat Visoun, a temple from the 16th century rehabilitated into a small religious museum, then into Wat Aham, a temple from the early 19th century. Two guardians, laid at the foot of the staircase, represent two characters from the Ramayana (Hanuman, the monkey god and the ferocious Yaksa). Next, Wat Xiengthong, the most important temple of the city dating from the 16th century and embodying the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture. Climb up the 328 steps of Mount Phousi leading to the top of the sacred hill. This shady Mount dominates the sky of Luang Prabang and offers a splendid 360° panorama of the surrounding villages and the Mekong. At the end of the day, enjoy some free time to wander through the wide night market, where you can find a collection of beautiful textiles handmade by local tribes. Night at the hotel. Walking: 2h Night: hotel
After breakfast, drive south for about 30 km to a protected national park where are the Kuang Si Waterfall. These famous low waterfalls offer a spectacular and beautiful sight in their green setting. Stop along the way and explore Talad Phosy Market, famous for its fresh fruits from all over the region. Discover the village of Ban Na Oune, populated by Hmong, probably the most famous minority group in Laos. Continue your journey and just before getting there, explore the village of Ban Tha Pane, inhabited by the Khmu ethnic minority. Take a short walk to Kuang Si waterfalls. Return to Luang Prabang. On the way, stop for a short visit to the Ok Pop Tok center, where you will be given information about the local weaving craft. Back at the hotel, enjoy some time to rest or to explore the old town and its local market. Car: 60km/2 h Night: Hotel
Depending on your flight to Siem Reap, enjoy some free time to explore Luang Prabang at your own pace, then transfer to Luang Prabang airport. Flight to Siem Reap. Welcom by guide and driver at Siem Reap airport and transfer to the city center to check-in at your hotel. Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor temples, is considered as the “tourist capital" of Cambodia, travelers staying there for the millennial temples, a must-see. The rest of the day will be free for you to discover Siem Reap at your leisure. Car: 40 km/1h Night: hotel
Hop on a tuk tuk (motorized tricycle, carry up to three passengers) and follow the river to reach by the west the famous temple of Angkor Wat. Have lunch in a local restaurant then head to the temple of Angkor Thom (Great City). Entering the southern gate, admire the famous Bayon dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, and the 11th century Baphuon, dedicated to Brahmanism (ancient Hinduism). Proceed with the Elephant Terrace or the Leper King Terrace. Night: hotel
This day trip is first focused on the visit of Kbal Spean (River of a Thousand Lingas), at about 30 km (1-hour drive) north of Angkor. Next, head to Phnom Kulen Sacred Mountain (487 meters above sea level). You will reach it after a 45 minutes hike through a dense rainforest. Then, explore Banteay Srei temple (Citadel of Women), dedicated to Shiva, whose architecture and pink sandstone sculptures are a Khmer masterpiece. The temple turns a beautiful shade at sunset, a sight not to be missed. Car: 80km/2h Night: hotel
After breakfast, a short transfer will show you the surroundings of Siem Reap along a beautiful country road. Venture into Roulos, the oldest temple complex in Angkor, called "Roluos Group", located 12km east of Siem Reap. These temples are the remains of Hariharalaya, which was for 70 years (and under four successive kings) the first Khmer capital.
The Preah Kô is dedicated to Jayavarman II, first king and founder of the kingdom of Angkor
Bakong is by far the largest temple of the Roluos group and the first "state temple" supposed to mark the center of the capital
The remains of Lolei, four dilapidated brick towers laid on a two-level basement
Continue your journey to Kampong Khleang, a lakeside village. After lunch at a local’s home, hop on a traditional wooden boat. Cruise gently on the river and the great Tonle Sap Lake, discover the lakeside Khmer life: everybody’s fishing, 70-year-old women and 6-year-olds included! Transfer to Kampong Thom. Car: 200km/4h Night: hotel
Free time then transfer to the airport for your return flight.
$ 1,650USD/personUSD
The price includes
þ Accommodation and breakfasts in hotels on the accommodation list
þ Meals clearly mentioned in the program: B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = dinner
þ The entrance fee to the sites
þ Competent English–speaking guides throughout the trip except the free days when it is mentioned clearly: without a guide
þ Private air – conditioned car for all land transport except free days when it is mentioned clearly: without driver
þ One litre of drinking water per person per day
þ Domestic flight in economy class
þ All logistic services necessary for the program
The price does not include
ý International flights and airport taxes from/to your country
ý Bank commission
ý Means of transport not mentioned in the program
ý Meals not mentioned in the program
ý Tipping for services: local guides, crew members, drivers, porters…
ý Drink, telephone, linen or all personal expenses not mentioned in the "price includes" section
You need to know
Trip price
All prices mentioned in the quotes provided to clients are in US Dollars (USD). Euros are accepted, but the exchange rate will be determined by the international website https://www.xe.com/ on the date the payment is made. iLOTUS TOURS guarantees the rates mentioned in the quotes, invoices, or documents given to the client. Upon payment of the deposit or the full price, we guarantee the price of your trip (excluding changes made by you). However, certain force majeure situations may require us to adjust our prices to meet the travel conditions described in the quote. These force majeure situations may include: • An unpredictable and significant increase in the rate of our local providers (hotels, trains, planes, junks, boats, road vehicles...) • A significant currency fluctuation that has a considerable impact on the exchange rate • The introduction of a new tax imposed by the government Proof of these force majeure events will be provided to the client. In these cases of force majeure, even after the deposit has been paid, the client may refuse these increases and cancel their trip. We commit to refunding the deposit you have paid.
Reservation and Confirmation
All reservations must be sent to iLOTUS TOURS by email at: contact@ilotustours.com • Registration must be accompanied by a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the trip and 100% of the cost of international flights. • The deposit required for trips lasting less than one week is 50% of the total trip cost. • A larger deposit may be required in the case of last-minute bookings or depending on the specific requests of certain high-category hotels or airlines. • The balance must be paid upon your arrival, without any reminder from our side. • Upon confirmation of the booking, an invoice will be sent to the client by email.
Payment
The trip can be paid for in cash, by bank transfer, by credit card, or through an application (Wise, Revolut, One Pay...): • Cash payments must be made at the iLOTUS TOURS office located in Hanoi, and the client will not be charged any payment fees. • Credit cards: we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and JCB. Any bank fees are the responsibility of the client. • Bank transfer in US dollars or euros.
Cancellation by the Client
In the event of trip cancellation, all cancellations must be confirmed by email. The client must pay cancellation fees corresponding to the following rates: • 25% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS less than 30 days before the trip start date. • 50% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS less than 10 days before the trip start date. • 75% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS less than 3 days before the trip start date. • 100% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS 2 days before the trip start date or in case of no-show. For trips to Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, your travel advisor will provide you with all the information regarding the deposit and cancellation fees.
Cancellation by iLOTUS TOURS
iLOTUS TOURS reserves the right to cancel trips agreed upon with clients for reasons related to a force majeure situation: war or the threat of war, riots, a natural or nuclear disaster, a port blockade, looting, fires, and any terrorist activity, adverse weather conditions, an epidemic, quarantine, or any similar event. In all these cases of cancellation, iLOTUS TOURS will deduct the amount of these penalties from the deposit paid by the client but will refund the remaining amount to the client by bank transfer, with the client covering all bank fees.
