Images of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos

Day 1 London - In flight Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport and a scheduled Vietnam Airlines flight to Hanoi, which may touch down in Frankfurt. Day 2 Hanoi We arrive in Hanoi and transfer to the Hilton Hanoi Opera (4T+) or The Lapis Hotel (4T), your hotel for the next three nights. This afternoon our first exploration of the country’s elegant capital commences, travelling along wide, tree-lined boulevards of the French Quarter, where fine examples of colonial architecture can be seen. We visit the Fine Arts Museum, before continuing to Ngoc Son Temple and concluding with a stroll through the old quarter. Day 3 Hanoi Ho Chi Minh’s stilted house stands in a peaceful lakeside setting, where we have a view of the interior from an outer staircase and as we walk back through the park we see the famous 12th century One Pillar Pagoda. We continue to the Temple of Literature, and tread the paths once reserved for the Emperor and his mandarins. We conclude at West Lake and Tran Quoc, one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Hanoi. After lunch the afternoon is at leisure and this evening we have arranged a visit to the theatre for a water-puppet show. Day 4 Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hanoi This morning we travel to Halong Bay, whose rugged limestone islands, rising pinnacle-like out of the South China Sea and numbering over 3,000, are one of the great natural sights in the world. Our lunch cruise this afternoon around jagged cliffs, caverns and grottoes promises an unforgettable experience. Day 5 Hanoi - Hue This morning we transfer to Hanoi Airport for our short flight to the imperial city of Hue, once the economic, religious and cultural epicentre of Vietnam. On arrival we transfer to the Indochine Palace (4T+), where we spend the next two nights. Day 6 Hue Our full day tour takes us to the Thien Mu Pagoda, an octagonal tower of seven tiers. The hills surrounding Hue are dotted with the tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty Emperors. After lunch we visit Tu Duc and Khai Dinh Tomb before returning to our hotel. Day 7 Hue - Danang - Hoi An We head to one of the most ancient cities in Vietnam, Danang, and make a visit to the semi open-air Cham Museum before continuing overland to Hoi An stopping en route to view the majestic Marble Mountains and China Beach. Following lunch, we take a walking tour of Hoi An, cut off by destroyed rail lines and a silted river, the town has been left untouched by war and frozen in time. We also take a short boat ride on the Thu Bon River before arriving at the Hoi An Historic Hotel (3T+). Day 8 Hoi An Today you are at leisure to explore this relatively untouched town further, or simply relax at the poolside of your hotel. Day 9 Hoi An - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City We make our way to Danang Airport for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival we check in to the Renaissance Riverside Hotel (4T+), our base for the next two nights. One of the highlights of today’s tour is a visit to the former Presidential Palace, and a tour of a local museum. The tour continues with a visit to the neo-Romanesque cathedral, and a drive past Dong Khoi Street. This evening we cruise on the Saigon River with dinner. Day 10 Cu Chi Tunnels This morning we head outside the city to the region of Cu Chi, where we visit the extensive underground tunnel system. Built originally to shelter the guerrillas from the French during the 1940s, the tunnels became the base of the Viet Cong during the American war. We continue to our lunch stop and then return to the hotel for the afternoon. Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho We make a visit to a Cao Dai temple, before continuing our journey south of the city to the Mekong River town of Cai Be, where we board a motorised boat for an introduction to the river's central focus on life. The river provides a lifelong flurry of activity and as we wend our way along one of the nine tributaries we can catch glimpses of the hard working locals in the rice fields. Later we board our coach to Can Tho and our hotel, the Victoria Can Tho (4T). Day 12 Can Tho - Chau Doc Our early morning boat journey will enable us to visit a floating market. We return to the township of Can Tho to visit the Mekong Delta museum and local Khmer pagoda before lunch. This afternoon we drive to Chau Doc and take a boat ride to visit a traditional house boat and a nearby Cham community before viewing some of the temples characteristic to the region. We check in to the Victoria Chau Doc (4T) hotel, where dinner is included. Day 13 Chau Doc - Phnom Penh This morning we board our boat and make our way to the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. We arrive and transfer to the Palace Gate Hotel (4T+), located in the French Quarter, where lunch is included. Spend the afternoon at the central market and Wat Phnom Monument. Day 14 Phnom Penh This morning, we visit the beautiful Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. After lunch, we continue to the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields. Late in the afternoon we take a boat ride on the Mekong River in time for sunset and dinner at a local restaurant. Day 15 Phnom Penh - Siem Reap Today we journey by coach to Siem Reap, stopping for lunch en route, at a local restaurant. On arrival we check in at the Sokha Angkor (4T+). There is time at leisure before our included dinner at the hotel. Day 16 Siem Reap This morning we visit the magnificent ruins of Angkor Wat, an architectural masterpiece and the largest religious building in the world. We visit some of the local temples including the romantic Ta Prohm and, after a stop for lunch, we have a boat trip on Tonle Sap lake. We have dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by an Apsara show. Day 17 Siem Reap Our day begins with a visit to the most remote and exquisite ruins of Banteay Srei - The Citadel of Women - built in the 10th century and renowned for its superb decoration. Returning to Siem Reap we have lunch before visiting the school of arts and crafts. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure before dinner this evening. Day 18 Siem Reap - Luang Prabang This morning our exploration begins at the South Gate of the colossal fortified city of Angkor Thom, and continues to the inspirational Bayon Temple. We then transfer to Siem Reap Airport for our flight to Laos and Luang Prabang. On arrival we are transferred to our hotel, the Santi Resort (4T) and the remainder of the day is free. Day 19 Luang Prabang Visit the triple-tiered Kuang Si Waterfalls and take the opportunity to visit the bear sanctuary located by the falls. After lunch, continue to the former royal palace, Wat Mai, and the most revered temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Xienthong. Day 20 Luang Prabang This morning we have a leisurely cruise along the mystical Mekong River in a traditional river boat, witnessing rural life and peaceful sceneries along the river’s banks. Pak Ou Caves show displays of sacred centuries-old Buddha images. After an onboard lunch we sail back to Luang Prabang, stopping at the village of Ban Xang Khong, where the art of producing beautifully woven silks and Saa Paper (paper made from the bark of the Mulberry Tree) continues to follow traditional techniques. Day 21 Luang Prabang - Hanoi - In flight We transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for a Vietnam Airlines flight to Hanoi and onward overnight flight to London, which may touch down in Frankfurt. Day 22 London Arrival at London Heathrow Airport where you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.