Selected: fully customisable

World Heritage Indochina

If you’re only going to visit Indochina once, why not pack the highlights of all three countries into one trip?

Location
Multi-country
Suggested Length
17 days /
16
nights
Activity Level
Fully customisable
Every trip is unique
Two Vietnamese women in traditional dress in front of the red doors of the palace in Hue
Local Vietnamese woman looking over the lantern lit river in Hoi An
Locals on motorbikes whizzing past a store in Ho Chi Minh city during Tet celebrations
Cambodia Siem Reap Angkor monk

Ratings

Light

Light mobility requirements as sightseeing activities are done predominantly by vehicle, with light walking

Steady

Ideal for most fitness levels. Sightseeing involves walking and being on your feet for a couple of hours at a time, with down-time included too

Active

Requires a moderate level of fitness. Activities and sightseeing will generally involve walking and being on your foot for much of the day. Often includes light activities such as cycling, kayaking, or hands-on experiences

Adventure

Demands higher fitness. Most days will include a substantial amount of walking and/or activity throughout the day.  

Energetic

For people who love being active. We reserve this rating for active itineraries with substantial movement and adventure activities almost every day.  

Discover Vietnam’s cities on tours of Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi with top-notch guides, a local scholar and a conservation expert

Spend the night aboard a traditional junk in Lan Ha Bay, Halong’s peaceful neighbour

Cycle around Luang Prabang and make stops at the ethnology centre and a weaving workshop

Finish at the mighty temple complex of Angkor, and take a gondala cruise on the moat of Angkor Thom

Aerial shot of the fascinating karst rock formations in Lan Ha Bay, with cruise ships in view

Itinerary

All itineraries are fully customisable.

Our destination experts created this trip as an example of a cultural adventure: combining remarkable sights, guided experiences and a slice of everyday local life.

Choose us, and we’ll create you a custom holiday where every detail reflects your pace, passions and preferences. Take as much or as little from this trip idea as you want, talk to us when you’re ready.
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Map showing World Heritage Indochina itinerary route
Image
Map showing World Heritage Indochina itinerary route
Day 1-2

Ho Chi Minh City

Streets of Ho Chi Minh City
Highlights:

Get the lowdown on Vietnam’s history with a local scholar

See colonial architecture and important landmarks in the US-Vietnam War

Explore off-the-beaten-track sights - a private house and an opium factory

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon, a thriving, youthful metropolis on the edge of the Mekong Delta, and a great place to get to grips with Vietnam’s recent history. Dive straight into the US-Vietnam War at the former Presidential Palace and the War Remnants Museum. This lays the foundations for an afternoon with a well-respected local scholar who’ll show you hidden history spots off the tourist trail. Visit Pho Binh, a private house where the Viet Cong Commanders gathered to plan the infamous Tet Offensive in 1968. You’ll also see a restored opium factory which played an important role in Vietnam’s power struggles during the first half of the 20th century.

Transport

Day 1:
Car transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to airport (30 minutes)

Day 3-4

Hue

Temple in Hue
Highlights:

Learn about life under the Nguyen dynasty on a cyclo tour

Visit the private residence of Khai Dinh, Vietnam’s last emperor

Explore Hue’s garden houses, once home to members of the Royal Court

After the skyscrapers and car horns of Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, on the banks of the Perfume River, is a breath of fresh air. Women in conical hats tend market stalls laden with tropical fruit, students pour over textbooks in cafes and Buddhist monks and nuns gather to pray in the pagodas. Hop in a cyclo to explore the Imperial City, once the seat of the Nguyen dynasty. The last emperor, Khai Dinh, built a beautiful palace just outside the city which you’ll visit with a knowledgeable guide, who’ll also show you the tombs of eunuchs who lived in the Royal Court. In the afternoon, discover Hue’s garden houses, designed to create harmony between architecture and nature.

Transport

Day 3:
Flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue (1.5 hours)

Day 5-6

Hoi An

Hai Van Pass in Vietnam
Highlights:

Take the scenic high road to Hoi An, known as the Pass of Ocean Clouds

See historic architecture through the eyes of a conservation expert

Spend a day at leisure under the lanterns of the old town or on the beach

Welcome to Hoi An, a place of mouth-watering cuisine, backstreet tailors, gondalas and tea shops. But it’s the 15th century architecture that makes it so special. Find out how the Japanese merchant houses and Chinese temples have been preserved on a walking tour with a conservation expert. He’ll explain the difficulties Hoi An faces – annual flooding, urbanisation, overcrowding – and you’ll get a glimpse inside the preservation work of a 300-year-old mansion. You’ve also got a day entirely at leisure here. Spend the day on An Bang beach, have a suit made to measure or simply soak up the restaurant scene beneath hundreds of coloured lanterns.

Transport

Day 5:
Car transfer from Hue to Hoi An (2.5 hours)

Day 7

Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Highlights:

Whistle through 1,500 years of history on a Hanoi city tour

Learn about the life and legacy of Uncle Ho

Do breakfast the Hanoian way at your hotel – a bowl of steaming pho noodles

Next up is Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi. Life plays out on the streets here; you’ll see haircuts on street corners, pho noodle stalls at every turn and whole families balancing on the back of scooters. A half day tour with a Hanoi insider will help you get your bearings, historically as well as geographically, starting with the Temple of Literature built in 1076. You’ll also see Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969, and pass by his final resting place, an imposing mausoleum. As the sky gets dusky, catch a breeze by West Lake, home to sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda.

Transport

Day 7:
Car transfer from Hoi An to Danang Airport (45 minutes)
Flight from Danang to Hanoi (1.5 hours)
Car transfer from Hanoi Airport to Hanoi (45 minutes)

Day 8-9

Lan Ha Bay/Hanoi

Aerial view of Halong Bay at sunset
Highlights:

Cruise through the islets and outcrops of tranquil Lan Ha Bay

Spend the night on the water in a traditional junk boat

Choose from an array of watery activities from kayaking to tai chi on deck

Set sail for a day and night aboard a traditional junk boat. We'll whisk you away from the crowds of Halong to Lan Ha where you can really soak up the scenery without all that rowdy company. Across the emerald sea, hundreds of limestone outcrops rise vertically from the water like dragon’s teeth. Watch the scenery drift past your balcony, or try your hand at some of the activities on offer, like kayaking or squid fishing. Learn how to make spring rolls with the head chef, join in tai chi on the top deck or take a trip to one of the islets to swim off the snow-white beach. After 24 hours at sea, you’ll retrace your steps for another night back in Hanoi.

Transport

Day 8:
Car transfer from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay (2.5 hours)

Day 9:
Car transfer from Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi (2.5 hours)

Day 10-12

Luang Prabang

Monks outside temple in Luang Prabang
Highlights:

Explore Luang Prabang’s old town on a guided cycle tour

See traditional Lao weaving at Ock Pop Tok, a beautiful non-profit boutique

Wander the banks of the Mekong at leisure and see the sun set from Mount Phousi

It’s now time for Luang Prabang, the spiritual centre of Laos. Buddhism is the heartbeat of daily life here, as you’ll discover on a gentle cycle tour around the old town, filled with temples, monasteries and saffron-robed monks who collect alms every morning. You’ll visit the former Royal Palace, the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, as well as Ock Pop Tok, a non-profit centre for traditional Lao weaving. On your second day, you’re free to wander independently, exploring the gorgeous cafés and boutiques. We love climbing 100m high Mount Phousi for a bird’s eye view of the old town peninsula, and a great spot to see the sun sink over the Mekong.

Transport

Day 10:
Car transfer from Hanoi to Hanoi Airport (45 minutes)
Flight from Hanoi to Luang Prabang (1.25 hours)

Day 13-16

Siem Reap

Gondola at Angkor Thom
Highlights:

Discover Angkor’s greatest temples with a guide who’ll help you sidestep the crowds

Take a sunset gondala cruise on the moat of Angkor Thom

Explore Siem Reap independently, shop for souvenirs and soak up the nightlife

Finally, feast your eyes on Angkor, the most magnificent ancient city in Asia. Each monument has a different flavour, from vine-tangled Ta Prohm and the enigmatic stone faces of Bayon Temple, to Angkor Wat reflected in the lily pond beneath. We’ll pair you with an expert guide who’ll bring the archaeology to life, pointing out intricate details in the rock carvings and weaving stories of sun-worshipping kings. As your first day draws to a close, take a private gondala ride on the moat of Angkor Thom to see the sun set over the ruins, glass of wine in hand. You have a final day of leisure in Siem Reap, a chance to explore Cambodian markets, shop for crafts and try amok, the national curry.

Accommodation
Transport

Day 13:
Flight from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap (1.5 hours)

Day 16:
Car transfer from city to Siem Reap airport (20 minutes)

Pattern

Is this trip for you?

What's great

  • This trip packs in the most spectacular landscapes and monuments Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have to offer
  • We’ve included lots of time with tried-and-tested guides and knowledgeable experts who’ll give you a deep insight into each destination
  • The world and his wife descend on Halong Bay these days. Instead, we recommend Halong’s quieter neighbour Lan Ha Bay, where the scenery’s just as spectacular
  • Fancy extending your trip with some time on the beach? Let us know and we’ll add a Cambodian Island (November to March), or some more time in Hoi An (March to August)

Things to consider

  • Exploring Indochina’s greatest hits means you’re never far from the tourist trail, although our guides are skilled at helping you avoid the crowds
  • There's a lot of fascinating temples, each one different to the last, but all that history might not be everyone’s cup of tea
  • You’ll only have time to dip a toe in Laos and Cambodia, both countries which have lots to offer. It’s like visiting London and skipping the rest of the UK – completely understandable if time is of the essence

What's included?

What's included

  • Breakfast every day
  • Three lunches: one on the Lan Ha Bay cruise; one during the Luang Prabang cycling tour; one in a traditional villa in the Angkor Temple Complex
  • One dinner: on the Lan Ha Bay cruise
  • Three full-day experiences: city tour of Hue & visit to the Garden Houses; tour of Luang Prabang by bike; tour of the classic Angkor temples
  • Four half-day experiences: Ho Chi Minh City tour; Saigon’s hidden history; Hoi An tour with a conservation expert; city tour of Hanoi
  • One evening experience: gondola cruise on the moat of Angkor Thom
  • Overnight cruise on Lan Ha Bay with activities
  • All entrance fees to sites included in guided experiences
  • All internal transport & accommodation

Not included

  • Visas
  • International flights
  • Meals not mentioned
  • Entrance fees to any sites not included in guided experiences
  • Tips for guides & porters