Indochina Discovery (Partially Guided) - 22 days Tour by On The Go Tours | Bookmundi

22 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

12 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 80 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Vientiane, Laos

Ends

Bangkok, Thailand

Indochina Discovery (Partially Guided) - 22 days

Get Trip Brochure & Exclusive Discount

Download a detailed PDF brochure and unlock an exclusive discount for this tour

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Our travel experts are ready to help.

Jane Andersen

Sine

Rasmus Juul Olsen

Why Book with Bookmundi

Earn USD 171+ in travel credits.

Best price guaranteed.

No credit card or booking fees.

100% financial protection.Bookmundi is a member of the Danish Travel Fund which guarantees for any payment made via us. Our guarantee covers all travelers, irrespective of nationality.

Carbon neutral tours.Algorithms and machine learning enables Bookmundi to calculate the carbon footprint for each tour. We then subsequently offset carbon emissions for all tour bookings on Bookmundi via investments in carbon reduction projects to help combat climate change.

25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

Highlights

Angkor Temple Complex – Marvel at legendary Angkor Wat and see the many stone faces of the Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom

Halong Bay – Weave around the limestone islets of this UNESCO Listed bay and spend the night on a deluxe junk boat

Hanoi – Ride on a cyclo rickshaw through the capital of Vietnam to highlights including the Opera House and Ly Thai To Park

Bangkok – Admire the stunning Grand Palace, ride on a tuk-tuk and cruise along the city’s maze of canals aboard a longtail boat

Phnom Penh – Visit highlights of the city including the Silver Pagoda and learn about the horrors of the Pol Pot regime at Tuol Sleng

Cu Chi Tunnels – Discover the incredible network of tunnels which were used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War

Vientiane – See the highlights of Laos’ capital including Wat Si Saket and the iconic Patuxay Monument

Ho Chi Minh City – Explore highlights of the ‘Pearl of the Orient' on a walking tour and visit the sobering War Remnants Museum

Khouangsi Waterfall – Swim in the crystal pools beneath the waterfall and meet ethnic minority villagers en route

Hoi An – Travel on the famous Hai Van Pass and explore the quaint city including the Chua Ong Pagoda and Japanese Bridge

Hue – Discover the famous seven storey Thien Mu Pagoda and visit the Imperial Purple Palace in the ancient walled Citadel

Tra Que Village – Cycle through lush countryside, learn how to farm the land and enjoy a fun hands-on cooking lesson

Mekong Delta – Cruise along the maze of waterways on a traditional sampan and enjoy lunch in a local home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island

Luang Prabang – Enjoy a tuk-tuk tour of the Old Quarter including the Morning Market and Wat Xiengthong

Living The Land Farm Experience – Experience the life of a rice farmer and plough the rice paddy with a water buffalo

Tonle Sap Lake – Sail to the colourful floating villages of Kompong Phluk which lie on Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake

Cu Chi Tunnels – Discover the incredible network of tunnels which were used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War

Vientiane – See the highlights of Laos’ capital including Wat Si Saket and the iconic Patuxay Monument

Ho Chi Minh City – Explore highlights of the ‘Pearl of the Orient' on a walking tour and visit the sobering War Remnants Museum

Khouangsi Waterfall – Swim in the crystal pools beneath the waterfall and meet ethnic minority villagers en route

Hoi An – Travel on the famous Hai Van Pass and explore the quaint city including the Chua Ong Pagoda and Japanese Bridge

Hue – Discover the famous seven storey Thien Mu Pagoda and visit the Imperial Purple Palace in the ancient walled Citadel

Tra Que Village – Cycle through lush countryside, learn how to farm the land and enjoy a fun hands-on cooking lesson

Mekong Delta – Cruise along the maze of waterways on a traditional sampan and enjoy lunch in a local home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island

Luang Prabang – Enjoy a tuk-tuk tour of the Old Quarter including the Morning Market and Wat Xiengthong

Living The Land Farm Experience – Experience the life of a rice farmer and plough the rice paddy with a water buffalo

Tonle Sap Lake – Sail to the colourful floating villages of Kompong Phluk which lie on Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake

Itinerary

Travel from Vientiane to Bangkok, taking in the highlights of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia en route. Explore enchanting Luang Prabang and cruise Halong Bay and the Mekong Delta. Discover the Cu Chi Tunnels, marvel at Angkor Wat and more on this 22 day Indochina adventure.

day 1 - Vientiane

Welcome to Laos! Transfer to hotel and check in. Spend the rest of the day enjoying free time in Vientiane. There will be a welcome meeting at the hotel at 17:00.

Please note: This tour runs for 23 days if travelling in 2025. From 2026 onwards, the itinerary will be 22 days. This itinerary is the 2026 version. Please contact us for more details.

OverNight:Vientiane

day 2 - Vientiane city tour

Today we enjoy a guided tour of this Vientiane, taking in highlights such as That Luang Stupa, Wat Prakeo and Wat Si Saket, believed to be Vientiane’s oldest surviving temple. We also explore Buddha Park and marvel at the array of over 200 Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and visit a local charity known as the Cope Centre, which works with the victims of unexploded bombs and mines. Our day ends with dinner beside the Mekong River, where we enjoy a spectacular sunset.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Vientiane

day 3 - Vang Vieng

Vientiane – Vang Vieng. We leave the capital early and drive north through lush countryside to picturesque Vang Vieng, situated on a curve of the Nam Song River. In the afternoon, we cross the Nam Song River and venture to the other side, traversing a picturesque, unpaved route that winds through the Vang Vieng countryside, passing small villages and rice fields. This journey leads us to the spectacular blue lagoon and Tham Pou Kham cave. The striking landscape, with its towering karst rock formations between Vang Vieng and the blue lagoon, is a sight to behold and makes the trip truly worthwhile.

A hiking trail along the forested hills leads to the cave's entrance, halfway up a limestone cliff. The 200-meter climb is quite steep at places; the trail is equipped with handrails at the steepest sections. Inside the cave, there's maze of chambers, galleries, and crevices adorned with stalagmites and stalactites, and the air inside is cool and damp. Step down into the Blue Lagoon, where you can relax and swim in the refreshing water. Returning to Vang Vieng late afternoon there's time to freshen up before dinner at a local restaurant.

Optional Activities: Tour of the caves, Tubing or Bike Riding (book and pay locally)

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Vang Vieng

day 4 - Tham Jang Cave, Ban Huai Ngai village

Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang. This morning we explore the famous caves of Tham Jang, which were used as a bunker to defend against the Yunnanese Chinese. We also cross the river to visit the Ban Huai Ngai village, where we can learn about the different lifestyles of the locals. Leaving Vang Vieng behind we take a scenic journey north, along rough roads to the UNESCO-listed city of Luang Prabang, passing Kasi and Phoukhoune en route. This town with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop has been claimed by UNESCO to be "the best-preserved traditional city in South East Asia". There is not much traffic in Luang Prabang and monks in orange robes stroll in all directions, carrying umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Luang Prabang

day 5 - Luang Prabang sightseeing

Early risers this morning can see the daily procession of saffron-clad monks as they walk through the city’s streets collecting alms from the residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.

Today we enjoy a unique sightseeing tour around the old quarter of Luang Prabang aboard vintage tuk tuks. Our tour takes in the bustling Morning Market, where we learn about local products, and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong temple, which features classical Loatian architecture. Our morning ends with a visit to the former Royal Palace, which is now a national museum and contains a sacred statue of Buddha known as Pha Bang.

This afternoon we get the chance to meet the locals of several ethnic minority villages including Laoloum Village, the H’mong village of Ban Ou and the Khmu Village of Ban Thapene, gaining a fascinating insight into the local culture. We then make our way to the breathtaking Khouangsi waterfall, where you can walk the forest trails or take a dip in the beautiful turquoise pools.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Luang Prabang

day 6 - Living Land Farm Experience

Luang Prabang - Hanoi (Vietnam). This morning we venture into the countryside and enjoy a fun and hands-on half-day farming experience at the Living Land Farm. Experience what life is like as a local farmer and learn how rice is planted and cultivated in a rice paddy. We also try ploughing the field with a water buffalo and other farming activities. Enjoy a tasty Laotian lunch and transfer to Luang Prabang airport for the flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Vietnam you will be met and transferred to our hotel in the capital.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Hanoi

day 7 - Free day in Hanoi

Enjoy a free day at leisure in Vietnam's capital. The wide tree lined avenues, beautiful lakes, ancient pagodas and bustling old town are all easily navigated on foot. Highlights of the city include Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (closed Oct-Nov), the beautiful Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's iconic House on Stilts and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first 11th century university. This afternoon there is a Vietnam welcome meeting at 17:00 where you will have the opportunity to meet any tour group members who arrived today.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Hanoi

day 8 - Halong Bay Cruise

Hanoi – Halong Bay. Transfer to heavenly Halong Bay this morning and board a traditional junk boat for an overnight cruise around the pristine jade waters, studded with karst islands.

The cruise starts with a tasty lunch onboard, as you soak up the incredible views. This afternoon we visit Trinh Nu Cave, one of the finest caves in Halong Bay, covering an area of 2,000m² with a stunning array of stalactites and stalagmites. There's also the opportunity to go kayaking and enjoy a refreshing swim. Later this evening back on board, watch a Vietnamese cooking demonstration held on the sundeck before settling down for a sumptuous seafood dinner.

Please note: the itinerary in Halong Bay can vary dependent upon the cruise we use and weather conditions. The transfer to/from Halong Bay is with a driver, not a guide.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Halong Bay, Deluxe Junk Boat

day 9 - Hanoi Old Quarter

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue. Early birds can start the day with a relaxing Tai Chi class on the sundeck or a traditional massage. Before heading back to port this morning, we explore the beautiful Sung Sot cave (Surprise Grotto), which is 10,000m² and consists of two major chambers which are spectacular and spacious enough to hold thousands of people.

From Halong Bay, transfer back to Hanoi, arriving mid-afternoon. In Hanoi meet our local guide for an exhilarating cyclo (rickshaw) ride around the maze of streets in Hanoi's French Quarter, taking in highlights such as the Opera house and Ly Thai To Park. After the cyclo ride we take a leisurely walk around the ‘36 streets of the old quarter’, named after the numerous guilds that once set up shop on a particular street, from silk tailors to traditional medicine shops.

Later this evening there's a chance to freshen up before boarding the train (4 berth sleeper cabin, basic standard) on the ‘Reunification Express’ railway line to Hue. An option to fly from Hanoi to Hue is also available.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Sleeper train

day 10 - Imperial Hue

Arriving into Hue you will be met off the train and transferred to our hotel. We take in the highlights of Hue on a guided sightseeing tour of the 19th-century Nguyen empire capital with a local guide. Visiting Thien Mu Pagoda, home to the oldest monastery in the city, and the citadel. Within the citadel is the Imperial Purple Palace, an exact copy of the Forbidden City in Beijing, with its impressive ramparts, formal moats and imperial palaces, some of which lay in ruin.

In the countryside lies the Royal Tombs of the Nguyen kings, here we’ll view the elaborate mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc. As the sun sets there's an optional cruise in a long boat along the gentle Perfume River, beautifully illuminated at night.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Hue

day 11 - Road of the Ocean Clouds

Hue - Road of the Ocean Clouds - Hoi An. This morning we transfer to Hoi An, taking the scenic Hai Van Pass (Road of the Ocean Clouds), which offers magnificent views of beaches to one side and lush hills to the other. En route a stop is made at China beach, which featured in Francis Ford Coppola's 'Apocalypse Now'. There's time for you to to take a stroll along this beautiful beach and perhaps enjoy a refreshing swim in the sea before continuing the journey south to Hoi An, where the rest of the day is free to spend at leisure.

The charming, old-world trading port of Hoi An with it cobbled streets, traditional homes and tiny shop houses is a perfect place to lose yourself in a by gone era. Boutique restaurants, hip cafes along the waterfront, delightful craft shops and artisans including some of Asia’s best bespoke tailors (whose services come at a nominal price), all can be found here.

During your stay in Hoi An, we offer an unique optional Hoi An Street Eats add-on, which explores the city’s most popular local haunts. Cruise the city the way the locals do, by vintage Vespa and enjoy lots of tasty Vietnamese Cuisine. Book early with your reservation consultant, as numbers are limited.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Hoi An

day 12 - Tra Que village

This morning we meet a local guide and set off on a leisurely bike ride through the countryside to Tra Que village (we can arrange alternative transportation at no extra cost for those who don't wish to cycle). Here we discover age old farming practices and learn about traditional medicine. It’s a fun, hands on experience today as we don conical hats and assist with tending the fields and gardens before watching an entertaining cooking demonstration and helping to cook a tasty lunch. After lunch we bid farewell to our hosts at Tra Que and cycle back to Hoi An.

Later this afternoon we take in the highlights of Hoi an on a short walking tour, visiting the Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house, former merchants’ homes and the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Hoi An

day 13 - Hoi An - your way

A free day for you relax or further sightsee. You may wish to take a relaxing rowboat journey along the river or spend the day lazing by the beach or hotel pool. Alternatively you can opt to take an excursion to the UNESCO-listed My Son sanctuary or enjoy a day trip to the Ba Na Hills mountain resort, where you will ride the second longest cable car in the world and walk along the striking Golden Bridge (book and pay locally).

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Hoi An

day 14 - Cruising the Mekong

Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to Danang Airport for an early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where we meet a local guide and travel on to the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits, flowers and rice, as well as it fantastic views while boating along the canals. Taking a sampan from Cai Be we cruise through the maze of waterways watching the hubbub of daily life on the river. Passing colourful trading boats, house boats and children swimming we stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies and paper along the way. At Tan Phong Islet, we board a small row boat to better explore the canal’s hidden mangroves. Lunch is served today in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island and we spend the night in Can Tho.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Can Tho

day 15 - Mekong & Ho Chi Minh City

Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City. Early today we visit the ever-lively Cai Rang floating market. Watch as melons, pineapples, fresh greens, sacks of rice and children's toys get tossed from one sampan to another at great heights and speed before driving back to Saigon.

Once called the Pearl of the Orient, modern Ho Chi Minh City is a thriving metropolis on the move. Sleek sky scrapers, gourmet restaurants, designer malls and swanky bars and spas are scattered between ancient pagodas, colonial era landmarks and lively street markets. On a walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City we see the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office before visiting the sobering War Remnants Museum.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Ho Chi Minh City

day 16 - Cu Chi Tunnels & Phnom Penh

Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Today we visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, offering an insight into the underground life of Vietnamese soldiers during the war. Walking around the bush trails we see trapdoors, booby traps, living areas, weapon factories and kitchens. You can also safely crawl sections of the tunnels, that have been widened for the tourists and fire weapons of the era (including the M16‘s and AK47) on the firing range.

From Cu Chi transfer to the Cambodian border (crossing at Moc Bai/Bavet). On the Cambodian side we are met and transferred to our hotel in the capital of Phnom Penh. Once deemed the ‘Pearl of Asia’, Phnom Penh offers a bustling mix of Asia’s past and present, a city quickly taking its place amongst the trendy capitals of the region. Tonight enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Phnom Penh

day 17 - Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng

Today we spend a full day sightseeing in Phnom Penh with a local guide. Our tour visits the National Museum of Arts, Cambodia’s largest archaeological and cultural history museum, which contains the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture. We continue on to visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, which contains diamond-encrusted statues of Buddha and a floor paved with five tons of gleaming silver.

Later we visit Tuol Seng (Security Prison – S21) and come face to face with the horrors of the Pol Pot Regime as the school here was transformed into a gruesome torture chamber under the Khmer Rouge. Our day ends with a visit to the Killing Fields, where over 10,000 people were executed.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Phnom Penh

day 18 - Siem Reap & Angkor Thom

Phnom Penh – Siem Reap. This morning, check out and transfer to the airport for your included flight to Siem Reap.

After freshening up, our touring will start with a visit to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. This monumental fortified city is encircled by a 100m wide moat and is famed for the huge statue heads that glare down from every angle. In Angkor Thom we will see the fabulous Bayon Temple, Baphuon, the royal enclosure, and the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King. Last but not least is atmospheric Tra Prohm Temple where vast muscular tree roots envelop the crumbling towers and walls whilst the trees’ foliage dapples the temple in shade.

This evening we attend the wonderful Phare Cambodian Circus. The Phare NGO circus project trains street kids to become talented circus artists and the popular show blends circus skills with interpretations of modern life and issues in Cambodian society.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Siem Reap

day 19 - Angkor Wat & Kampong Phluk

Early this morning, there's an optional sunrise visit to Angkor Wat to marvel at this magnificent temple bathed in the golden light, before our tour of Angkor Wat after breakfast. This awe-inspiring monument to man’s devotion to his gods is believed to be the largest religious building in the world, adorned with thousands of intricate wall carvings and extensive bas-reliefs. There are countless opportunities to capture stunning photographs at this iconic site.

From Angkor Wat we travel to the village of Preak Dak, where each member of the group has the opportunity to plant mango or jackfruit saplings as part of our tree-planting initiative, operated in partnership with this local community. Then we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the beautiful Angkor temple of Banteay Srei. Cut from pink-hued sandstone, this Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva features lavishly decorated libraries and magnificent reliefs of divine figures.

Later this afternoon we drive to Kampong Phluk, a cluster of three stilted villages within the floodplain of Tonle Sap Lake. Here, you’ll see homes perched high above the water and, depending on the season, the hauntingly beautiful petrified trees of the flooded forest.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Siem Reap

day 20 - Flight to Bangkok

Siem Reap - Bangkok (Thailand). Today we bid farewell to Cambodia. Transfer the Siem Reap airport for a flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival transfer to our hotel in the centre of Thailand's bustling capital.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Bangkok

days 21-22 - Bangkok city tour

Today we discover the highlights of Thailand’s capital with a guided tour. First stop is the Bangkok Flower Market, where most of the city’s restaurants and florists come daily to stock up on the latest blooms. From here we head to the beautiful Grand Palace, the religious and royal heart of the country. Then we take a short but exhilarating tuk tuk ride to Wat Pho, home to the famous reclining Buddha.

After lunch at a local restaurant we board a longtail boat this afternoon to explore some of the many canals or klongs that crisscross the city. We end our tour of the city at the famous Khao San Road where there are street stalls, small restaurants and bars aplenty. It's a great place to eat, relax and party the night away. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to explore at leisure.

Our epic Indochina adventure comes to an end on day 22. Hotel check out and included transfer to the airport. Alternatively, if you'd like to extend your stay and see more of Thailand, we can assist you.

Meals:2 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Bangkok (1)