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View our Indochina Photo Book |
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We've offered our classic Indochina trip just about every one of the last twenty plus years. It's a favourite for the wonder of its scenery, for the inspirational grandeur of its monuments and the colourful chaos of the lively cities. This time we've approaching our classic voyage with a little twist: a two-day voyage on the Mekong from Saigon to Phnom Penh.
We'll visit all our favourite sights. We begin in the colonial charm of Hanoi, Vietnam's cultural centre, exploring the venerable French Quarter and the mazelike Old Quarter and indulging in Hanoi's world class French-influenced Asian cuisine. An overnight cruise on mysterious Halong Bay is like stepping into a classical Chinese painting as we navigate the nature-sculpted limestone islands. In central Vietnam we'll dally in Hue, the walled Imperial City on the Perfume River, and the quaint, old world gem of Hoi An. Chaotic Saigon welcomes us with its endless stream of motor bikes burdened with all manner of loads from multi-generational families to hundreds of crated chickens.
The magnificent Mekong takes our attention next. This is the rice basket of Vietnam and the land is a patchwork of bright green rice paddies where water buffaloes are used instead of tractors. We'll make our way by boat from Can Tho upstream to Chau Doc, a lazy riverside burg with a large floating market. Our water route ends at Phnom Penh, the loveliest of the French-built cities in Indochina where we visit the Silver Pagoda compound. And then, the grand finale: iconic Angkor Wat, the multi-towered Bayon Temple and the small, recently discovered, remote temples entangled in the dense tropical jungle. |
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| FACTS: |
| • | 16 days |
| • | Start in Hanoi and finish in Siem Reap |
| • | Maximum 16 participants |
| • | Includes all internal flights |
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| HIGHLIGHTS: |
| • | Taking a cyclo ride in Hanoi |
| • | Overnight cruise on Halong Bay |
| • | Bargaining in Hoi An |
| • | Witnessing daily life in the Mekong Delta |
| • | Watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat |
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| ACCOMMODATIONS: |
| Pilgrimage Village Hotel, Hue |
| Mövenpick Hotel, Hanoi |
| Caravelle Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Life Resort, Hoi An |
| Victoria Angkor, Siem Reap |
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| ITINERARY IN BRIEF: |
| Day 1: |
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Arrive in Hanoi |
| Day 2: |
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Hanoi |
| Day 3: |
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Hanoi |
| Day 4: |
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Halong Bay |
| Day 5: |
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Fly to Hue |
| Day 6: |
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Hue |
| Day 7: |
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Drive to Hoi An |
| Day 8: |
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Hoi An |
| Day 9: |
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Fly to Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 10: |
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Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels |
| Day 11: |
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Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho, Mekong Delta |
| Day 12: |
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Can Tho-Chau Doc |
| Day 13: |
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Boat to Phnom Penh, fly to Siem Reap |
| Day 14: |
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Siem Reap: Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Siem Reap Market |
| Day 15: |
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Siem Reap: Roluos Group, Angkor Thom |
| Day 16: |
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Depart Siem Reap |
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Laurielle's love of travel has taken her from Asia to Europe and South America. Heading up the Cultural team with a focus on affinity groups and special interest travel gives her free rein to create each trip's signature moments. 
