Indochina Trail: Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia

Three countries: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, the temples of Luang Prabang, Phnom Penh and the Angkor temples.

Your route

1. 1 Hanoi 2 nights
2. 2 Ha Long cruise 1 night
3. 3 Luang Prabang 2 nights
4. 4 Phnom Penh 2 nights
5. 5 Siem Reap 3 nights

1. Day 1 Hanoi

   Arrive, Old Quarter.

   Welcome to Vietnam, the start of your journey through three countries. Indian travellers need an e-visa for Vietnam, approved before flying. Our representative meets you at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi and takes you to your hotel. In the evening, walk through the Old Quarter, a maze of narrow streets full of shops and food stalls, or sip egg coffee at a cafe overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. Carry some Vietnamese dong in small notes, as street cafes and markets prefer cash. Overnight in Hanoi.

2. Day 2 Hanoi

   Hanoi city tour.

   A city tour of Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital. See the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from outside, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake to the red Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple. In the evening, enjoy a water puppet show, a traditional art performed on water, at extra cost. Hanoi's Old Quarter is best explored on foot or by cyclo, a pedal rickshaw, and the street food is some of the best in Asia. Overnight in Hanoi.

3. Day 3 Ha Long Bay

   Overnight cruise.

   Drive about two and a half hours to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO site with nearly two thousand limestone islands rising from emerald water. Board your cruise ship and settle into your cabin. Sail among the islands, visit a cave, and go kayaking or swimming when the weather allows. Watch the sunset from the deck, and enjoy dinner on board. Vegetarian meals can be arranged in advance. Carry a light jacket for the evening breeze on deck. Overnight on the Ha Long Bay cruise.

4. Day 4 Luang Prabang

   Fly to Laos.

   After brunch on board, the cruise returns to the harbour and you drive back to Hanoi airport for your flight to Luang Prabang in Laos, about one hour. Indian travellers can get a Laos visa on arrival or an e-visa. Our representative meets you and takes you to your hotel. In the evening, browse the night market, with handwoven textiles and crafts, and climb Mount Phousi for sunset over the Mekong if you have energy. Carry US dollars for the visa. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

5. Day 5 Luang Prabang

   Kuang Si Falls and temples.

   Rise before dawn to watch the alms-giving ceremony, when lines of saffron-robed monks walk through the streets collecting offerings, a quiet ritual to watch respectfully from a distance. Later, visit Wat Xieng Thong, the town's most beautiful temple, and the old Royal Palace. In the afternoon, drive to Kuang Si Waterfalls, with turquoise pools for swimming and a bear rescue centre. Dress modestly for the temples, covering shoulders and knees, and do not touch monks or stand in their path during the alms round. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

6. Day 6 Phnom Penh

   Fly to Cambodia, Royal Palace.

   Fly from Luang Prabang to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, usually via a connection. Indian travellers can get a Cambodia visa on arrival or an e-visa. Our representative meets you and takes you to your hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, whose floor is covered with silver tiles, and the National Museum. Enjoy the evening on the riverside promenade. Cambodia uses both the riel and the US dollar, so carry small dollar notes for tuk-tuks and markets. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

7. Day 7 Phnom Penh

   Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek.

   A sobering but important day. Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school turned prison under the Khmer Rouge, and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, about 15 km away, which honour the victims of the 1970s genocide. The audio guide tells the stories with care. In the afternoon, visit the Central Market or the Russian Market for silk, silver and souvenirs. Dress respectfully and keep your voice low at these memorial sites, which are places of remembrance for the Cambodian people. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

8. Day 8 Siem Reap

   Travel to Siem Reap.

   Travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, by road about six hours through rural Cambodia, or by a short flight. Siem Reap is the gateway to the temples of Angkor. Check in to your hotel and relax. In the evening, walk through the old market and Pub Street, with restaurants, massage shops and night markets. Buy your Angkor pass at the official ticket office for tomorrow. Tuk-tuks are the easiest way to get around Siem Reap, and your hotel can arrange a trusted driver. Overnight in Siem Reap.

9. Day 9 Siem Reap

   Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm.

   An early start to watch sunrise over Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, built in the twelfth century as a Hindu temple to Lord Vishnu. Explore its galleries carved with scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Then visit Angkor Thom and the Bayon Temple, with its giant stone faces, and Ta Prohm, where huge tree roots grow over the ruins. Wear modest clothes covering shoulders and knees. Carry water, a hat and sunscreen, as the temples are very hot by midday. Overnight in Siem Reap.

10. Day 10 Siem Reap

    Free day.

    A slower day to enjoy Siem Reap at your own pace. Visit more temples such as Banteay Srei with its fine pink sandstone carvings, take a boat trip on the Tonle Sap lake to see floating villages, or relax at your hotel pool. In the evening, watch the Phare circus, a lively show by young Cambodian artists, at extra cost, or enjoy a traditional Khmer dinner with Apsara dance. Siem Reap is also known for its fine silk workshops and cooking classes. Overnight in Siem Reap.

11. Day 11 Siem Reap

    Departure.

    After breakfast, enjoy a final stroll through Siem Reap or pick up souvenirs such as silk scarves, kampot pepper and carvings. Our representative transfers you to the airport for your flight home, which usually connects through Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Please reach three hours before departure. Pack souvenirs carefully, and keep your Cambodian exit card and passport together for the airport checks. Your Indochina journey through Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia ends here, with memories of bays, monks and the temples of Angkor.

What's included

Good to know