Indochina: Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos

•   Overnight “junk” sailboat cruise aboard Bhaya III on the emerald waters of beautiful Ha Long Bay lined with naturally sculpted limestone islets – an extraordinary cultural experience

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi
Transfers are included from Hanoi International Airport to the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner.
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Day 2: Highlights of Hanoi, Old and New
Leave your preconceived images behind as you become acquainted with gracious Hanoi, ranking among the world’s most attractive and interesting cities. Walk and cyclo through Colonial Hanoi, seeing the Opera House and other local sights. Go inside infamous Hoa Lo Prison (Hilton Hanoi), where Senator John McCain and Douglas “Pete” Wilson were once imprisoned, and continue on to Da Ba Dinh Square to view Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace and the One-Pillar Pagoda. Attend a traditional water puppet performance this evening before dinner on your own.
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Day 3: An Overnght Cruise on Ha Long Bay
Head north to Ha Long Bay for an extraordinary glimpse of rural life by land and sea. See villagers working in rice paddies, water buffaloes grazing in the open and ancient temples standing as testaments to history. Limestone islets, some 3,000 of them, line Ha Long Bay on the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin and lead the way to our “junk” for an overnight cruise aboard Bhaya III, designed to replicate an ancient Chinese sailboat.
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Day 4: From the Bay to Nha Trang
Translated, Ha Long Bay means “where the dragon descends into the sea.” A morning cruise through this World Heritage Site entices with up-close views of grottoes and beaches. More picturesque sights await discovery after your flight from Hanoi to Nha Trang, a traditional Vietnamese village lush with palm trees and fruit orchards. Your beachfront resort is surrounded by private gardens and ocean views.
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Day 5: A River Cruise & a Market Visit
Experience an authentic taste of daily life today as you board a small motorized boat for a cruise through the rural landscapes of Nha Trang. Sample a freshly baked baguette from the local household bakery and savor freshly picked tropical fruit at a riverside café. Look for children playing with their water buffaloes, en route to an open-air market. Join us for regional specialties at dinner tonight.
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Day 6: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and see the Cu Chi Tunnels
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City this morning; upon arrival, head to the Cu Chi Tunnels in Ben Duoc for a close-up look at the Vietnam War that is at once fascinating, remarkable and difficult to fathom. Stretching out in a 120-mile underground network of meeting rooms, triage centers and kitchens, Cu Chi offers a unique look at the history and wartime ingenuity of Viet Cong guerillas and peasant soldiers. Enjoy dinner tonight at an elegant French restaurant in the garden courtyard of a restored villa.
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Day 7: Explore Ho Chi Minh City
You may remember this former French colonial city as Saigon; today, Ho Chi Minh City bustles with forward-looking energy in glittering skyscapes, street vendors and open-air cafés. See vestiges of its past on a sightseeing tour that includes Reunification Hall, formerly the presidential palace of South Vietnam, the Post Office and the Cathedral. Spend the rest of the day and evening as you please; attractions you may want to visit on your own include the War Remnants Museum and the Saigon History Museum.
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Day 8: Life Along the Mekong
Drive south to the Mekong River town of Cai Be this morning for a sampan cruise through small craft villages and floating markets. Stop at a workshop that makes peanut brittle, corn pop and rice paper to sample their homemade wares. Lunch at a local farmer’s home ensures an authentic taste of daily life before you continue by boat to Ving Long, and by land to Can Tho.
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Day 9: Floating Market of Cai Rang / Can Tho
Board a boat for a morning cruise past floating vendors and stilted houses of Cai Rang. Take a sightseeing tour in Can Tho and explore on your own. Dine at the hotel tonight.
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Day 10: A Speedboat Cruise to Phnom Penh
Travel across the border into Cambodia where a speedboat ferries you to the capital city of Phnom Penh for two nights.
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Day 11: The Many Faces of Phnom Penh
Explore Phnom Penh, including the Royal Palace complex. Visit the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, astonishing with architecture and Khmer sculptures. Join us on an optional excursion to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek; a lecture provides poignant insights. Dinner is at a premier city restaurant.
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Day 12: Fly to Siem Reap and Visit Angkor Wat
A short flight brings you to Siem Reap, where Angkor Wat reigns in unrivaled splendor. See the Temples of Angkor on a guided visit and enjoy dinner at a choice of hotel restaurants.
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Day 13: Ancient Temples of Angkor
View amazing sculpted monuments celebrating the ancient Khmer Empire on a guided tour that takes you to the root-shrouded Temple of Ta Prohm, imperial Angkor Thom, elaborate Elephant Terrace and the incomparable Bayon Temple.
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Day 14: Fly to Colorful Luang Prabang in Laos
Beguiling and beautiful, Luang Prabang captivates with gold-leafed monasteries, French architecture, fragrant flowers and flavorful spices. Visit the temple and funeral chapels of Vat Xiang Thong, after your flight arrives this afternoon.
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Day 15: Giving of Alms and Well Wishes
Rise early for the giving of alms, when hundreds of saffron-clad monks emerge from their morning prayers to receive donated food items. Visit the National Museum (once the Royal Palace) before a scenic drive to the multi-tiered cascades of Tad Kouang Si falls and stop in a Hmong village. A special farewell dinner includes a traditional Lao Baci well-wishing ceremony.
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Day 16: Journey Home
Tour ends: Hanoi. This afternoon, fly back to Hanoi International Airport for your flight home. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in.
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Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/23/2012 - 10/9/2012	$5,590
10/10/2012 - 10/26/2012	$5,990
10/21/2012 - 11/6/2012	$5,990
10/28/2012 - 11/13/2012	$5,990
11/14/2012 - 11/30/2012	$5,990
12/2/2012 - 12/18/2012	$5,990
12/19/2012 - 1/4/2013	$5,990
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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