Tour Code:
AWI |
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Departure
Thursday
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Land &
Air |
Single
Supp. |
| SFO/LAX |
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2008:
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Apr 17
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$3,593 |
$2,250 |
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May 15
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$3,593 |
$2,250 |
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Jun 26
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$3,918 |
$2,250 |
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Jul 17
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$3,918 |
$2,250 |
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Aug 14
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$3,918 |
$2,250 |
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Sep 18
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$3,593 |
$2,250 |
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Oct 16
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$3,593 |
$2,250 |
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Nov 13
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$3,593 |
$2,250 |
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Dec 11
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$3,918 |
$2,250 |
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2009: |
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Jan 1
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$3,593 |
$2,250 |
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Feb 12
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$3,593 |
$2,250 |
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Mar 12
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$3,593 |
$2,250 |
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Prices do not include fuel surcharge $280.
Tour cost is per person double occupancy. |
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Indochina
In-depth 21 Days
Ho Chi Minh City • Danang • Hoi An • Hue • Hanoi • Halong Bay • Vientiane • Luang Prabang •
Siem Reap • Angkor Wat • Bangkok
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| Day
1 |
Depart from your hometown
Today you will fly across the Pacific with Cathay Pacific Airways to Hong Kong.
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| Day
2-3 |
Arrive Hong Kong - Ho Chi Minh City (D)
On arrival in Hong Kong, change planes and continue to Ho Chi Minh City where you are met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to freshen-up and relax.
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| Day
4 |
Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong River Delta (B, L)
This morning will begin a full day touring the Mekong delta. Travel the bustling highway into the surrounding countryside where you will pass lush rice paddies carefully tended, before boarding your motorised sampan for a unique experience on the mighty Mekong delta waterways.
You will see how, to the people of delta, the water is a lifeline - the focus of all daily activities - as you journey through a maze of tributaries and fruit plantations. Enjoy a sample of delicious fruit in the shade of a farmer's garden.
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| Day
5 |
Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, D)
Today, journey once again out of the city to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of underground passages from where the North Vietnamese waged guerilla warfare initially against the French and later, the Americans. Return to the city for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a tour of Ho Chi Minh City which will include the former Presidential Palace, the History Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Dong Khoi Street, the former centre of high fashion. In the evening, you will cruise from Bach Dang quay, on the Saigon River, to Binh Quoi village. While you dine, you will be treated to a Vietnamese Cultural Show.
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| Day
6 |
Ho Chi Minh City - Danang - Hoi An (B, L)
Fly today to Danang, one of the oldest cities in Vietnam , full of rich cultural history including the Cham Museum, which you will visit. Continue to Hoi An, an extraordinary jewel of a town which has managed to remain untouched. With its traffic-free streets, this ancient seaport is frozen in time. Visit the Japanese covered bridge and a Chinese communal house.
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| Day
7 |
Hoi An (B, L)
This morning, enjoy a boat cruise to the Cam Ha pottery village. Experience the local villagers performing their crafts. Enjoy lunch, then return by boat to Hoi An. The remainder of the afternoon is free at leisure. Gather at around 5pm to take a walking tour that will take you into the very heart of rural Danang for a special insight into the every day life of a local village community. The small settlement of Hoa
Chau, nestled among seemingly endless rice fields, allows the visitor to experience first hand the very backbone of Vietnam's rural culture. Enjoy a walk through the village,
shaded from the sun by a canopy of bamboo thickets, passing by local homes, vegetable and fruit gardens, a village temple and a husking mill. Return to your hotel for the evening.
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| Day
8 |
Hoi An - Hue (B, L)
Travel overland through Cloudy Pass to Hue, once the religious, economic, and cultural centre of Vietnam. One of the most notable features of Hue is the meandering Perfume (Huong) River that divides the city. Visit both the Thien Mu Pagoda and Minh Mang tomb situated on the river banks. Beyond you may see robed monks chanting their mantra, or novices carefully tending the bonsai garden. Continue on to the most majestic of all of Hue's tombs - the tomb of Minh Mang. Built between 1841 and 1843, this tomb is well known for its harmonious blend of architecture and natural landscape.
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| Day
9 |
Hue - Hanoi (B, L)
This morning visit the Imperial Citadel modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled in the early 19th century. Later fly to Hanoi. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure.
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10 |
Hanoi (B, L)
This morning, embark upon a city tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the City Museum, the restored Opera House, Lake of the Restored Sword and the Temple of Literature built in 1070.You will visit 36 Ancient streets of Hanoi's old quarter by an exciting pedi cab tour.
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11 |
Hanoi - Halong Bay (B, L, D)
Travel by bus to Halong Bay, often called the eighth wonder of the world with its 3000 spectacular limestone cliffs and coves. Without a doubt, this is the most outstanding naturally beautiful part of the country. Visit caves and grottoes. Over night at the Deluxe Junk Wooden Boat.
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12 |
Halong Bay - Hanoi (B, L, D)
Watch a spectacular sunrise, while having breakfast on the Junk. Continue cruising, then explore more caves and lagoons. Depart for Hanoi and stop for lunch on the way. After arriving at the hotel, depart in the early evening by Cyclo (pedi-cab) to the theatre for a performance of the unique art form of water puppetry.
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13 |
Hanoi - Vientiane (B, L)
Arrive in the capital of Laos, Vientiane by flight from Hanoi. In the afternoon, enjoy a tour of the city including a visit to Wat Sisaket, Vientiane's oldest temple, Wat Pra Keo, a highly decorated pagoda and Pha That Luang - the national symbol of Laos.
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14 |
Vientiane - Luang Prabang (B, L, D)
Today you will fly to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO protected city. After lunch at the hotel, depart for a city tour, which includes visits to Vat Visoun, That Makmo, Vat Aham, Phousi Hill and Vat Mai. Marvel at the beautiful sunset at Vat Siphouthabath.
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15 |
Luang Prabang (B, L)
This morning visit Vat Xieng Thong,then board a local boat for a trip up the Mekong River to visit Pak Ou cave -the cave is filled with hundreds of big and small Buddha Images donated by local people. Make a stop at Ban Xanghai. Return to Luang Prabang by boat, then continue sightseeing at Ban Phanom. Return to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.
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16 |
Luang Prabang - Siem Reap (B, L)
Depart this morning for your flight to Siem Reap. After you arrive in Cambodia, transfer to your hotel. This afternoon, you will visit Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all the other Khmer temples in that it faces west, and is inspired by 12th Century Hinduism. Its symmetrical towers are stylized on the modern Cambodian flag.
Conceived by Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat took an estimated 30 years to build. It is generally believed to have been a funeral temple for the king. It has been occupied continuously by Buddhist monks and is well preserved. Intricate bas-reliefs surround Angkor Wat on four sides. Each tells a story. The most celebrated of these is the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, which is located on the east wing. In it, the Naga serpent is twisted by demons and gods to spurt out the elixir of life. Watch an amazing sunset from Angkor Wat.
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17 |
Angkor Wat - Angkor Thom (B, L, D)
This morning, you will visit the monumental magnificence of Angkor Thom - last capital of the Khmers, with its Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the stunning Bayon temple. This 12th century masterpiece lies at the very centre of Angkor Thom and is an archaeological wonder of symmetry and grandeur. The exterior gallery walls have extensive bas-reliefs but the highlight is the "faces", more than 200 of them, silent but with the famous half-smile playing on their lips. PJ de Beerski wrote of them; "Godliness in the majesty and the size, mystery in the expression." Once again, marvel at the sunset from Angkor Wat.
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18 |
Siem Reap (B, L)
This morning, the group departs for Banteay Srei; the citadel of women - a tiny, enchanting temple, which is one of the jewels in this remarkable city. Built of red sandstone in the tenth century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the carved male and female figures in the niches are exquisitely executed in both style and proportion. This is the most Indian of all the temples in Angkor and in the words of H.W. Ponder, "Is a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest." This afternoon and after lunch, continue to Ton Le Sap Lake, the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia, the lifeblood of the Cambodian fishing industry.
The Mekong River, from as a far away as Phnom Penh, reverses the direction of the Ton Le Sap river to bring an overflow of water and silt to support both rice growing and the breeding fish of many sizes and varieties. Hop on board a small shaded vessel and travel between the floating homes and small fish farms, which you will experience close up. On the way back to Siem Reap town between the palms and other large vegetation, you may take an optional visit to a development project teaching young adults, stone carving, wood carving, lacquer application. Les Artisans d' Angkor is a heart warming reminder that progress in Cambodia can go hand in hand with traditional crafts.
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19 |
Siem Reap - Bangkok (B, L)
After breakfast depart for the airport for the onward flight to Bangkok. Bangkok is one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities. Created as the Thai capital in 1782 by the first monarch of the present Chakri dynasty. Bangkok is a national treasure house and Thailand's spiritual, cultural political, commercial, educational and diplomatic center. Welcome to Bangkok "The land of a thousand smiles". After lunch, we will begin our sightseeing at the Grand Palace Complex with the Emerald Buddha - Thailand's most sacred icon.
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20 |
Bangkok (B)
This morning the group will depart for Vimanmek Palace. It is the world's largest building made entirely of golden teak. Removed from Ko Sichang in Chonburi province, it was rebuilt as the Dusit Palace in 1900 on the command of King Rama V. The most outstanding building is Abhisek Dusit Hall, which exhibits H.M. Queen Sirikit's collection of handicraft masterpieces created by rural people. The other building displays various items and art objects.
The remainder of the day is at leisure.
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| Day
21 |
Bangkok - USA (B)
Fly to the West Coast via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific arriving the same day in time to connect to your home city.
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