As the name suggests, this tour is truly the essence of Indochina. Visit the historically and culturally important sites of the three countries Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia to understand their people, their way of life, as well as natural wonders that these countries hold dear.
Upon arrival, your private guide will meet you and take you to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel after your flight or taking a stroll along the busy streets of the city.
Visit the tunnel network of Cu Chi. This incredible 250-kilometer underground system was sheltered to over 16,000 Vietcong guerrillas during the Vietnam war. In the afternoon, set out on a tour of the former capital of French Indochina with historic landmarks like the Old Saigon post office and Notre Dame Cathedral (under construction until 2027). Visit Reunification Palace which was used to be the headquarter of the Saigon Government in the 60s and the War Remnants Museum to learn some more about the Vietnam war's history.
In the morning you will depart from Ho Chi Minh City to explore Ben Tre in the Mekong delta, also known as the “Green Venice” of Vietnam. After visiting a brick factory, you will make several stops along the way to discover different local family-own business. The boat will then cross a small canal and stop at a small village, where you will continue your discovery of the delta by visiting the local specializing in carpet-weaving. You will see traditional farms, rice fields and vegetable plants, before stopping at a small local restaurant to taste a delicious (and generous) lunch made of regional specialties.
We meet our tour guide and continue to the heart of Mekong Delta, arrive at your eco lodge to check in. Later, hop on the bike and we get around the village. Cycling further to the field and admire the sunset. Back to the lodge for dinner.
This morning, after breakfast we get on the boat and start our adventure. You would see loaded boats are already heading to local squatting market and transporting goods such as coconuts from one factory to the other, crossing local ferry to visit beautiful Cao Dai temple as well as the busy local market. Situated alongside the river, these are small coconut-processing operations.
We head back to Hochiminh and drop by the Ancient House Cai be, listen to the host about the history of this land. Have lunch in the lush garden. Then, transfer directly back to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for a short fly to Danang. Upon arrival, you will be picked up by local driver and transferred to the hotel in Hoi An.
Explore the beautiful countryside of Hoi An today. Breathe in the fresh aroma of many kinds of herbs when you come close to Tra Que herb village. Here, ride a bike through the village and help the local farmers with their garden.
After lunch at a local house, drive back to the Old Town. Take a leisure stroll to see Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples, and an ancient bridge.
Explore Hoi An at your own leisure, seeing what interests you. Along with the historic buildings, this UNESCO World Heritage town captivates millions of visitors with its charming vibe and mouthwatering food. Banh mi, Com ga, Cao lau,... you make your own list.
Fly to Hanoi and transfer to your next hotel. After spending time for yourself, meet your guide to get acquainted with Hanoi. Visit Temple of Literature and the Museum of Ethnology - two of the best attractions in the city. Later, a cyclo will take you around the Old Quarter to listen to the music of Hanoi that comes from its architecture, small pagodas nestled in crowded streets, and lively sounds from sidewalk restaurants and cafes. All are combined to make a unique Hanoi experience
There is no better way to navigate around Hanoi than scooter. Today, as pillion passenger at the back seat with our experience driver, we depart early around 5.30 and discover such charming city from dawn. Our first stop is the whole sale flower market. Our next stop is the 100-year-old Long Bien Bridge for some great photo shot then back to center, negotiate around the narrow street to witness the local life at the early stage. We pass by central
market, mural painting street, train street, Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum located. Finally, we arrive at the local restaurant and enjoy the breakfast as the local, a steaming bowl of Pho and then enjoy an Egg Coffee or Cafe Sua Da, just as the way the local start their day. After that, continue to visit the Temple of Literature.
In the afternoon, you will return to your hotel for free. You will have the rest of the day at your leisure to further discover the old streets.
Drive from Hanoi to the emerald waters and thousands of limestone islands of Halong Bay. You will board the luxury cruise for your overnight cruise through the bay. Enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Site from your cabin then followed by a fresh seafood meal as you watch the amazing sunset over the dramatic seascapes.
Cruise among the islands to discover more about the bay. Return to the dry land after a hearty lunch and drive to the airport. Fly to Luang Prabang and transfer to Sofitel Luang Prabng. This poetic city is your next destination.
After breakfast, drive to discover some treasures of Luang Prabang. You will visit the Royal Palace and gorgeous Kuang Sy Waterfall where you have a picnic lunch. Return to Luang Prabang and start exploring the old city on the left bank of the Mekong River by visiting some of the most beautiful temples like Vat Xieng Thong, Vat Visoun, Vat Phou, Vat Aham, and a Hmong Night Market.
Wake up early for the Buddhist ritual of 'Tak Bat' at Vat Nong temple. Next stop is a local market where sights, sounds, and smells can awaken your senses. Sample some tasty snacks but not too many as you will enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant then relax by the Mekong with a cup of coffee.
Embark a traditional boat to cruise along the Mekong River to visit the sacred cave of Pak Ou which is home to hundreds of Buddha statuettes. After lunch, visit Ban Xang Hai to discover how Lao people make their traditional rice wine.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cambodia. Arrive at the airport and meet your local guide who will drive you to your hotel. After a short rest, explore by bicycle one of the most ancient temple sites in the region: the Roluos Group. You will visit a 9th-century Bakong temple, impressive Preah Ko, and Lolei which today houses a small monastery. Continue your ride to a local house where you will try Khmer pastries and talk with the locals.
Angkor Wat is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. It's famed for extraordinary ruins and bas-reliefs that feature the great architectures of the Khmer Empire. Meet your guide this morning to explore the marvelous temple of Angkor Wat by tuk-tuk. Your visit includes the famous Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Bayon temple, and the raised terrace of Leper King. A private lunch at a secret temple will make your day unforgettable.
Enjoy a leisurely morning in the magic city before transferring to the airport for your flight home.
From the moment we first made contact with Exotic Voyages the staff was attentive with great communication and execution! Lacey, our sales rep, listened to exactly what we wanted out of our vacation and put together the perfect plan for our timeframe. She made sure every detail was taken care of in ...
From the moment we first made contact with Exotic Voyages the staff was attentive with great communication and execution! Lacey, our sales rep, listened to exactly what we wanted out of our vacation and put together the perfect plan for our timeframe. She made sure every detail was taken care of in advance – all we had to do then was show up. And along our custom journey each guide was unique and top-notch. I could give an example of each of them making small adjustments based on our conversations of stops to add to show us things based on our questions and interests, and it felt like the activities were tailored exactly to us. We had the most amazing food experience on our entire trip, and much of that was thanks to our guides. We told them our restrictions (mainly that we didn’t have any and wanted to eat what was local and recommended), and the most amazing food showed up in front of us each time. As any traveler knows hiccups happen on every trip, and while this one was no exception the local and office staff made sure the issue was resolved and other than a few unsure minutes in the moment everything worked out and it all becomes part of the story of our amazing trip. Based on our experience from start to finish I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Exotic Voyages to anyone looking to have their dream vacation tailored to their schedule – it was a seamless experience worth every penny and we can’t wait to book again ourselves!
READ MOREJust returned from a week in Vietnam with travel arrangements by Exotic Voyages. It was wonderful and everything went smoothly without a hitch. Hotels and service were exceptional.
Just returned from a week in Vietnam with travel arrangements by Exotic Voyages. It was wonderful and everything went smoothly without a hitch. Hotels and service were exceptional.
We were extremely happy with the tour from Exotic Voyages. Everything worked out perfectly. We had the best tour guides. They took us to the best places and they explained everything,they were all bi-lingual. In the Hanoi office Hoa was our tour director. Hoa is the perfect tour planner. Hoa ...
We were extremely happy with the tour from Exotic Voyages. Everything worked out perfectly. We had the best tour guides. They took us to the best places and they explained everything,they were all bi-lingual. In the Hanoi office Hoa was our tour director. Hoa is the perfect tour planner. Hoa planned an excellent tour for us !!! We were able to plan exactly what we wanted, Hoa knew what would make the very best tour for us. We were glad we could plan it together with her knowledge. We started with a flight from the US to HoChiMen City. Our 14 day tour ended in Hanoi. Wow what memories...... Hoa was fantastic!! Thank you, Bill & Georgia
READ MOREAfter much online research we opted for a 12 day personal tour of Vietnam offered by Exotic Voyages. Our travel coordinator was Hoa Tran and we could not have been more pleased. ...our trip included Hanoi, Mai Chau, Han La Bay, Hoi An, Saigon and Mekong Delta. We let Hoa know what type of ...
After much online research we opted for a 12 day personal tour of Vietnam offered by Exotic Voyages. Our travel coordinator was Hoa Tran and we could not have been more pleased. ...our trip included Hanoi, Mai Chau, Han La Bay, Hoi An, Saigon and Mekong Delta. We let Hoa know what type of travelers we were and what we would like to see and do; she took it from there and arranged a wonderful trip for us. Her personal recommendations/suggestions made our trip even more special. We has an opportunity to take cooking classes, meet several local families and truly experience Vietnamese culture. Our entire trip was arranged online and any questions/concerns were answered promptly. Our hotels were lovely, tours fun and exciting and our guides/drivers knowledgeable and professional. I highly recommend paying a little extra for the Visa expediting upon arrival...this made our entry smooth and fast. We especially loved the cruise of Han La Bay overnight from Heritage Cruise Lines and the Vietnam By Scooters Food Tour in Saigon. Not to be missed. Thank you Exotic Voyages, we look foward to our next journey to South East Asia.
READ MORETran Thuy (Judy), Exotic Voyages organized our 7-week tour of Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos & Cambodia. She was so attentive to our every request. She followed our stated budget, made many changes to our itinerary (5 drafts) before issuing a detailed itinerary with all important details, ...
Tran Thuy (Judy), Exotic Voyages organized our 7-week tour of Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos & Cambodia. She was so attentive to our every request. She followed our stated budget, made many changes to our itinerary (5 drafts) before issuing a detailed itinerary with all important details, contacts, times etc. etc. Even after we paid the full payment, she was quick to respond to any concerns we had. In addition, when we arrived at each destination, we received a letter indicating what times we would be picked up for various tours or to go to the airport. Evaluations were done throughout the journey and we were always met by someone at least 15 minutes prior to our pick-up time. It was so comforting to be met at the airport in-spite of numerous airplane delays. The guides all expressed how happy they were to work for Exotic Voyages. Special mention to some of the outstanding guides - Tukta in Thailand (did so many extra things for us - above and beyond her duties - very caring and made accommodations for us as needed); Mr. Thong in Lao, Mr. Buu, Hoi An, Sherry in Kaula Lumpur, Miss Pitsamai Lurthoo in Thailand. All the drivers were simply outstanding - always calm in-spite of difficult traffic conditions. We took 3 cooking sessions and they not only provided us with great food and how to prepare it but provided us with an opportunity to get to know the day to day experiences of the locals. To us this is what travel is all about - getting to know the locals. This was a journey of a lifetime. We would recommend Exotic Voyages highly and are very grateful to Thuy and the whole team for their efforts. We were provided with 24/7 emergency contacts for each country - we contact Mr. Mark in Thailand and he was so calm and reassuring in sorting out our problem.
READ MORETalking about Cambodia is talking about a land of rich history, mighty Khmer empire, cultural splendor, artistic craftsmen, and mind-blowing temples. A land that your curiosity is never satisfied until you see it.
Capital: Phnom Penh
Population: 17.27 million (2022)
Currency: Cambodia riel (KHR)
Home to a vibrant culture apart from its religious traditions, where your heart feels peace by the genuine natural landscapes and heartwarming people, Laos is still a timeless place in Southeast Asia.
Capital: Vientiane
Population: 7.53 million (2022)
Currency: Lao kip (LAK)
Vietnam is an incredible mixture of cultural diversity and natural highlights. The scenery on offer ranges from lush green paddy fields to winding mountain passes.
Capital: Hanoi
Population: 98.45 million (2022)
Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND)