Indochina's
Hidden Charms

Tour members gather in Toronto or Vancouver for the evening flight to Bangkok, arriving early Monday morning. 

En route to Bangkok

Connecting in Bangkok, we continue to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam and second largest city. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel with the balance of the day at leisure to relax.

Pan Pacific Hanoi (3 nights)

Immersing ourselves in Hanoi’s vibrant back alley culture will be a treat this morning, as we wander through the labyrinth of hidden alleyways to uncover secret water wells and ancient staircases. We’ll marvel at the fascinating and innovative architecture and enjoy a refreshing drink at a ’locals only’ store. Photo opportunities abound!

We will see a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, and one of the best serving examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture at the Temple of Literature, followed by the miniature One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House (viewed through the windows). After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll embark on a walking tour of the Ancient Quarter or 36 Streets District. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise. An exciting traditional water puppet show will top off our day! 

We drive to Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay and board a not-so-traditional wooden Junk for a cruise amongst this UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its magnificent natural beauty. On board, we will enjoy a seafood lunch and cruise through the islands as we explore a series of breathtaking caves and grottoes.

Paradise Junk Cruise (1 night) 

We disembark and make our way back to Hanoi, with lunch at a local restaurant en route, to board our flight to the southern city of Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon.  We will visit the majestic Presidential Palace, delve into the rich heritage at the History Museum, marvel at the stunning Notre Dame Cathedral,     reflect on the past at the War Remnants Museum, and experience the vibrant atmosphere of Ben Thanh Market.

Sofitel Plaza Saigon (2 nights)   

Saigon, once the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and the “Paris of the Orient” is now Vietnam’s largest city. This industrial, cultural and educational hub still retains vestiges of its colonial past. We will tour the incredible underground network at Cu Chi Tunnels, followed by China Town and Temples. 

We depart for the port for embarkation, enjoy lunch, then journey by sampans through mangroves and bamboo forests to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre while sailing along the Mekong Delta.

RV Mekong Pandaw (7 nights)
 

Our first taste of life on the Mekong River today, as we visit Con Phuoc Island to see local craftspeople weaving bamboo baskets the traditional way. You may wish to try your hand at making one on your own following a demonstration. 

Visit a Moslem Cham tribal village and a catfish farm in Chau Doc, followed by a short drive to Sam Mountain, where we climb the 400 steps to visit the Hang Pagoda. Back on board for lunch, we sail upstream to the Cambodian border for formalities. 

This morning we are in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, famous for its French colonial architecture, busy cafes, vibrant nightlife and renovated river “corniche.” Our morning visit will be by private cyclo, a style of transport unique to the Orient which provides an excellent way to experience the hustle and bustle of the city. Visit the Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum displaying Khmer crafts. After lunch, we visit the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum. We will spend the night in port.   

We embark on a scenic cruise along the picturesque Tonle Sap River. Visit a silver-making village near Kampong Tralac, explore riverside villages, markets, and temples by ox-cart, immersing ourselves in the local way of life. The villagers are eager to share their culture with us, featuring a traditional dance performance and cocktails around a village fire pit.

Following a stop at the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre, we drive to the ancient capital of Cambodia, Oudong. Discover some of the historical wonders before returning to the ship to sail to Koh Nghe Tei (Silk Island) to study the entire silk-making process from worms to weavers. 

We delight in a sunrise cruise to Angkor Ban village to observe the daily lives of the locals and visit the library donated by Pandaw to Angkor Ban Secondary School. Our journey continues to Wat Hanchey, a significant center of worship during the Chenla period, situated atop a hill overlooking the majestic Mekong River.

After breakfast on board, we transfer by coach to Siem Reap.  This afternoon is at leisure to relax at our resort or head into the market to shop or have a drink. 

Victoria Angkor Resort (3 nights)

This morning we visit Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmers. We shall see the Elephant and Leper King Terraces together with the stunning Bayon Temple, with its extensive and detailed relief carvings, and the Baphuon. Our next stop is Ta Prohm, a temple site reclaimed by the jungle and only recently rediscovered. This afternoon explore the world’s largest temple, Angkor Wat. With the volume of stone equaling that of the pyramids in Egypt, this temple took 30 years to complete and has been occupied by Buddhist Monks ever since. Of special note are the bas-reliefs on the exterior walls. Then, we visit a school dedicated to teaching traditional arts, stone and wood carving, lacquerware and more. 

This morning we have a special treat; a Khmer cooking class at a local restaurant. Following a briefing we will visit the morning market to purchase the ingredients that we will need. Back at the restaurant, we will help prepare a three-course meal of local delicacies which we will then enjoy at lunch. This afternoon, we visit the Banteay Srei, the “Citadel of Women”. This tiny enchanting temple is one of the jewels of this Khmer. Built with red sandstone in the 10th century and dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, this is the most Indian of all Angkor temples. Finally, we visit Banteay Samre, dating from the early 12th Century. 

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, we take the hotel shuttle to our hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. 

Novotel Bangkok Suvarna Airport Hotel (1 night) 

After breakfast we join the hotel’s free shuttle transfer to Bangkok airport for our flights home.