Please note the tour price reflected on the brochure is subject to change. Due to seasonality, and taxes prices of the tour are subject to change without due notice. Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price.
Inspiring Indochina (Small Groups)
Premier
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Angkor Wat: Meet a renowned archaeologist to explore the sprawling Angkor Archaeological Park, the largest religious complex on earth. See the significant Buddhist temples that were at the center of the Khmer Empire from the ninth to fourteenth centuries.
- Krong Siem Reap: See uniquely Cambodian tales brought to life by Phare. These incredible performances use theater, music, dance and modern circus arts to explore folk and history in a dazzling display by talented and energetic local artists. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports the lives of at-risk Cambodian youth through gainful employment in the arts. Profits generated from the circus support the free eduction, professional arts training and social support programs of Phare Ponleu Selpak.
- Ho Chi Minh City: Join a Viet Cong veteran to visit the underground Củ Chi tunnels and learn more about this complex network originally built in 1948. See where many thousands of troops trained and lived under difficult conditions during the Vietnam War.
- Ho Chi Minh City: Experience the vibrancy of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, as you visit its most iconic attractions, including the Central Post Office, designed by Alfred Foulhox.
- Mekong River Delta: Board a private vessel for your Mekong River Cruise, taking you down the most important waterway in Southeast Asia. Gain a fascinating insight into coconut processing, one of the major industries for people who live along the river.
- Mekong River Delta: Enjoy a ride on a tri-motorcycle through the tropical scenery of the Mekong delta, passing limestone mountains and rows of neat rice paddies. Arrive at a rustic rice noodle factory to see how the favored breakfast meal of Vietnam is produced.
- Hue: Cycle through rice fields to Thanh Toan village, admiring the green countryside as you pedal by. Visit the lively local market, bargain along with the locals and see traditional houses. Soak up the agricultural way of life, a suitable contrast to the city.
- Hoi An: Explore the Ancient Old Town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see well-preserved buildings that date back several centuries. See the 18th-century Japanese covered bridge with its elaborate carvings and spot many colored lanterns along the way.
- Hanoi: Take a spin on a nifty electric cart for a fun way to get around Hanoi. See the main sights of the city, including the beautiful French neoclassical Opera House, the center for cultural and historical events in Vietnam.
- Halong Bay: Board a luxury junk boat for a special cruise around the magnificent Ha Long Bay, famous for its emerald waters and thousands of limestone islands dotted with rainforests. Explore mysterious caves and marvel at a memorable sunset over this scene.
- Halong Bay: Visit the spectacular Tien Ong cave with its immense stalactites and stalagmites, resembling various forms, including one called “the fairy godfather.” Sail to Cua Van floating village, amid the towering rocks, where fishermen have lived for hundreds of years.
- Hanoi: Meet a renowned local scholar during a special visit to the famous Temple of Literature, built in 1070 to honor the great philosopher, Confucius. Learn more about the culture of Hanoi and Vietnamese architecture before touring the picturesque grounds and seeing the Well of Clarity.
- Luang Prabang: Rise with the sun to participate in the centuries-old Buddhist tradition of offering alms to the monks from the temples of Luang Prabang. Share this deeply spiritual ceremony with the local people as the barefoot saffron-robed monks collect “tak bat.”
- Luang Prabang: Take the gentle walk up the sacred mountain, Mount Phousi, to capture the breathtaking view over the surrounding landscape. Here, you can see the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers with the jungle-clad mountains rising in the distance.
- Luang Prabang: Join a sunset cruise on the Mekong for the final evening of your spellbinding journey. Observe rural life along the tree-lined banks of this magnificent river while enjoying a chilled drink and the sun melting into a glorious pink and orange-hued skyline.
- Luang Prabang: Uncover the highlights of Luang Prabang with your Local Expert during a walk through this UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the fusion of traditional and colonial style architecture, as you wander through the streets seeing the buzz of local life.
- Optional - Ho Chi Minh City: Meander through the streets of Ho Chi Minh and hear more about the local street-side café culture, which sprung up when many French lived in the country. Discover the art of making the perfect cup of Vietnamese coffee before trying one.
- Optional - Ho Chi Minh City: Continue with your exploration about the troubled past of the country at the War Remnants Museum.
- Optional - Hue: Meet the headmaster of the Vietnamese Royal Martial Arts Academy and hear about the rigours of training for each martial art. Afterwards, watch at a live performance by the martial artists, admirably demonstrating their skill and discipline.
- Optional - Hue: Take a boat ride to the private museum of Tran Dihn Son, whose great-grandfather was a high ranking mandarin during the Nguyen Dynasty and see the vast collection of rare antiquities collected by him and his ancestors.
- Mekong River Delta: Meet Mr. Sau Tuong, a former soldier, at his home and see how he and his wife make a living making rice paper. This quiet existence is in stark contrast to the four years he spent fighting the Khmer Rouge, who terrorised Cambodia in the 1970s.
- Hue: Enjoy a VIP visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Imperial Citadel before it opens to other travelers. Hear more about Emperor Gia Long, the first ruler of the Nguyen Dynasty, who made this the center of a unified Vietnam.
Short Description
Be inspired across Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos during this 16-day guided tour. Take in the spectacular sight of Siem Reap’s ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus,' a theater, music, dance, and acrobatics performance by the region’s youth. Explore Angkor Archaeological Park and watch the sun set over the ancient Angkor Wat. See the glittering skyscrapers of Ho Chi Minh from a speedboat. Travel to Ha Long Bay, through glistening emerald water as you step aboard a deluxe junk for a memorable overnight cruise. In Hue, enjoy a VIP visit to the Imperial Citadel; open just for you, you’ll have the royal court and its gardens all to yourself. Learn about Hanoi’s signature street food dishes during a guided tour, then indulge in a feast of crab spring rolls, beef noodle soup, and com cake. Ascend to the top of Mount Phousi in Luang Prabang for a panoramic view of the city below.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap
Your Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos luxury tour begins by private transfer to your luxury resort hotel before dining this evening in a traditional Khmer wooden house.
Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort, Siem Reap.
Dinner
Day 2: Angkor Wat in Style
Discover Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm with an archaeologist. Explore Angkor Wat at sunset before ending the day at Phare Circus and dinner at Malis.
Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort, Siem Reap.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Dynamic Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta
Fly to Ho Chi Min City to start the next part of your journey. Once you have checked in to your central hotel you will meet up with your fellow travelers. This evening enjoy dinner in one of the busy rooftop restaurants of Saigon and watch the lights of the city from a perfect vantage point.
InterContinental Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Marvels of Saigon
Travel to the Cu Chi tunnels to meet a Viet Cong veteran. Learn the art of brewing Vietnamese coffee or visit the War Remnants Museum.
InterContinental Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5: Cruise the Mekong Delta
Take to the waters to explore the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a ride on a tri-motorcycle and learn about coconut production before visiting the home of a former soldier.
InterContinental Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6: Royal Refinement in Hue Relaxed Start
Cycle through green rice fields to the traditional garden houses of Phu Mong village. Dine at Ben Xuan Garden House Theater, serenaded by local musicians.
Pilgrimage Village, Hue.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Highlights of Hue
Enjoy a VIP visit to the Imperial Citadel and royal tomb of Minh Mang. Visit with the headmaster of the Vietnamese Royal Martial Arts Academy or a collector in his private museum.
Pilgrimage Village, Hue.
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Romantic Hoi An
Explore Hoi An through the eyes of a local. Enter former merchants’ homes, stroll lanes of traditional houses and cross the Japanese Covered Bridge. Dinner is your choice of traditional cuisine, modern Vietnamese or East-meets-West fusion.
Anantara Hoi An Resort, Hoi An.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: The Locals in Hoi An Relaxed Start
Glide to the Thanh Dong village in a traditional bamboo-basket boat learning from the villagers and a professional chef how to make Vietnamese food.
Anantara Hoi An Resort, Hoi An.
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10: Hanoi Street Food Tasting Tour
Check in to your boutique hotel before joining a local gourmand for exploration of Hanoi's colorful street food culture.
Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Cruise Along Ha Long Bay
Discover Ha Long Bay’s emerald waters on your private, luxury junk boat and visit the Tien Ong Cave and Cua Van. Learn from the masters with a traditional Vietnamese cooking demonstration or relax on deck as the sun sets.
Paradise Cruise, Ha Long Bay.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Ha Long to Hanoi Relaxed Start
Greet the day with Tai Chi before lingering over brunch as you cruise past the limestone formations en route to Hanoi.
InterContinental Westlake, Hanoi.
Breakfast
Day 13: The Temple of Literature Relaxed Start
Tour the Temple of Literature and view the Well of Clarity with a local scholar. Toast your travels over dinner.
InterContinental Westlake, Hanoi.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14: Welcome to Laos
Jet off to Luang Prabang, once the royal seat of the Lane Xang Kingdom and still the center of Lao culture. This town is also UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check into your luxury hotel admiring its blend of elegant colonial style and tropical gardens surrounded by mountain ranges.
The Luang Say Residence, Luang Prabang.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15: Luang Prabang and Sunset Cruise
Uncover the real Luang Prabang; experience a living Buddhist tradition as you observe the offering of alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks. Bask in spectacular views of the Mekong and Khan rivers from Mount Phousi, and learn about the local rural lifestyle at Wat Xiengthong. Your adventure culminates with a private sunset cruise on the mighty Mekong.
The Luang Say Residence, Luang Prabang.
Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
Day 16: Depart Luang Prabang
Your Ho Chi Minh to Luang Prabang luxury tour concludes after breakfast with private transfer to the airport.
Breakfast
Availability
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345 Luxury Gold Travel Reviews & Ratings
Inspiring Indochina (Small Groups)
Company Reviews
Inspiring Australia
Anonymous
A perfect experience
Excellent service & helpfulness in everyday. I loved the entire experience
Train travel in Japan is a unique aspect of tour
Anonymous
The tours were interesting, accomodation , food and drink were of a high standard.
However, we were disappointed to discover on day 2 of our tour that the tour to Abu Simbel was not included and an option that required additional payment whilst on the trip.
This caused us a great deal of stress as we tried to transfer funds to our travel visa card to pay for the tour.
We weren’t able to do this because the wi fi on the boat was so poor which resulted in my husband resorting to switching his phone onto roaming which was still unsuccessful.
The end result being we missed the tour and have an additional $110 to pay on our phone bill.
This scenario could have been avoided if we’d known that we needed extra funds in our travel card for the tour and if the wi fi on the boat was better. (We were advised by our travel agent that we didn’t need to purchase another sim as we’d have access to wi fi !)
The other main issue confronting us was that we were explicitly told by our Australian travel agent that tips were included in the tour price.
However, on arrival we were advised by the luxury gold concierge who picked us up at the airport that it is customary to tip guides, drivers etc.
We hadn’t allowed funds for this which also affected our cash flow and caused us a bit of stress at times.
There seems to be mixed messaging about tipping in Egypt.
It’s a pity these things marred an otherwise amazing trip.
Details
Group Size
Small Group - 24 max
Maximum Number of People in Group: 24
Accommodations
- Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort, Siem Reap.
- InterContinental Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Pilgrimage Village, Hue.
- Anantara Hoi An Resort, Hoi An.
- Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi.
- Paradise Cruise, Ha Long Bay.
- InterContinental Westlake, Hanoi.
- The Luang Say Residence, Luang Prabang.
Trip ID#:
luxury-A604ZN18
Meals Included
- 9 Dinner (D)
- 15 Breakfast (B)
- 5 Lunch (L)
- 1 Lunch with Wine (L)
- Krong Siem Reap: Join your Travel Concierge and fellow travelers for your Welcome Dinner at Mahob, set in a traditional Khmer wooden house. Enjoy tasty delicacies created from local ingredients as you immerse yourself in Khmer culture and get to know Siem Reap.
- Ho Chi Minh City: Admire the marvelous views from a lively rooftop restaurant in Saigon. Dine on local delicacies in a sophisticated setting, with the lights twinkling across the city.
- Mekong River Delta: Pause for lunch at the enchanting Mango Home, a thatched restaurant located on the Mekong. Savor delicacies enjoyed in the delta, including noodle soup, grilled fish, and giant prawns fresh from the river, as you enjoy views of the lush countryside.
- Hue: Arrive at the home of celebrated painter and singer, Camille Huyen, for a memorable meal and private concert. Stroll around the traditional home she shares with her husband and hear about their fascinating lives and the dream that brought them home.
- Hoi An: Dine out with Your Choice this evening. Choose from one of three hand-selected restaurants, known to our local foodies, each specialising in different cuisine from traditional to modern Vietnamese, or a fusion of east and west to tantalise your taste buds.
- Hoi An: Visit the beautiful Cam Thanh Village with its dense coconut jungles that were once a shelter for local people and soldiers during the Vietnam War, but today the village is an important supplier of seafood, vegetables and rice to the region. Step into a traditional bamboo-basket boat and glide across the water to the Thanh Dong village where you learn from the villagers how they cultivate and harvest vegetables according to local customs. Continue your voyage through a peaceful water coconut forest to a riverside restaurant overlooking the rice fields. Enjoy and participate in a hands-on cooking class alongside a local chef. Savor your creations for your Highlight Lunch.
- Hanoi: Join a local foodie in the Old Quarter to explore the street food culture of Hanoi. Dine as the locals do, on delights such as steaming pho (a beef noodle soup), rice paper rolls and crab spring rolls.
- Luang Prabang: Join your fellow travelers for a family style lunch that gives back to the community. Kai Phaen restaurant reinvests all profits back into their trainees and supporting social programs, so you are helping give them a brighter, more secure future.
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