Vietnam Pilgrimage Package – Indochina Heritage – 17 Days 16 Nights

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, meet our representative and transfer to hotel for check-in.

A Short sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh City: The Hundred Years Red Cathedral (Notre Dame Cathedral), The Old Post Office and The People’s Committee Hall. Dinner will be served on Saigon River Cruise with show entertainment along the Saigon River at the end of the day.

After breakfast, transfer and visit Vung Tau and on the way – we will stop at the Our Mother Mary BAI DAU.

In Vung Tau we will visit Jesus Statue, one of the highest Jesus statues in the world, the White Palace, Vung Tau’s nicest colonial era mansion; it was built as a retreat for French Governor General Paul Doumer at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Pay a visit to Whale Temple. Lunch at local restaurant and check-in at Hotel, Free at own Leisure.

Overnight at Hotel in Vung Tau.

After Breakfast, transfer and visit the Maria Church, free at own leisure and check out for lunch then transfer and proceed to Mekong delta Can Tho city, Dinner and discover Can Tho by night.

Overnight in Can Tho

After breakfast transfer and visit the Bac Lieu for Tac Say Church and pray at the Father Diep’s Shrine, a center of Pilgrimage in the South Catholics. The Saint Father Diep, Vietnamese priest and martyr honored even by the non-Christians.

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has given the green light to the cause of canonization of Father Francis-Xavier Truong Buu Diep. He sacrificed his life to defend his parishioners. Catholic and believers of other religions pray on his tomb.

Back to Can Tho city for Dinner and Overnight.

After breakfast, we will go to Vinh Long to take a boat trip on Cai Be floating market, typical of the Mekong Delta.

The boat takes you to Binh Hoa Phuoc Island to visit orchards of tropical fruits and have lunch at the local restaurant on the island. Back to Saigon for final shopping at Ben Thanh market.

Discover Saigon at night.

Overnight in Saigon.

Early morning we will attend a Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral.

After breakfast, Free at your own leisure and transfer to Airport for departure with a sweet memories to Hanoi.

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International airport, meet our representative and transfer for dinner at local restaurant.

Overnight in Hanoi.

After Breakfast, Take Full day Cathedral Tour, visiting St. Joseph Cathedral, the place of the importance of the Catholic Mass and normally celebrate Holy Communion Joseph Patrons of the diocese of Hanoi on 19th March every year. We will attend the Mass here. (Public Mass), then proceed and Visit Cua Bac Church – where George W. Bush and his wife attended the Mass here (in front of the old North Gate of Citadel) we will attend the public mass here. We will also visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake, then take an hour Cyclo ride through the fascinating medieval streets of the Old Quarter. Enjoy Water Puppet Show of Vietnamese traditional art before having your dinner.

Overnight in Hanoi

After Breakfast, (hotel pick-up time at 8:00am), we will take the bus ride through the Red River Delta, along the road we will having a great opportunity to see what the daily life of Vietnamese Farmers; Rice fields and water buffalo flank both sides of the road. The most interesting glimpses into rural life come during February and June, when whole families are busy transplanting the young rice plants to the growing fields. Arrive at Halong City tourist wharf around 12:00NN. We will board a Traditional Wooden Junk and head into the bay. A fresh seafood Lunch awaits us (Vegetarian available if requested). The limestone bedrock and sheer cliffs of the countless islets have inspired local people to come up with equally fanciful names: Stone Dogs Island, Duck Island, Finger Island, Incense Burner Island, and Fighting Cocks Island, the symbol of Halong Bay. You will then head on to Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace Grotto), a magnificent and otherworldly cave. Explore their huge chambers adorned with stalactites and stalagmites of all kinds. We will also relish a 45-minutes Kayaking or Bamboo boat around the islands and water tunnels and bask in the charm of this natural paradise. Around 4:30 pm you will be brought back to the Halong tourist wharf, where your vehicle is waiting to take you for checking in at Hotel in Halong city.

Dinner and Overnight in Halong

After breakfast, Transfer to Nam Dinh, and visit Phu Nhai Church – The church, located in Xuan Phuong Commune, Xuan Truong District, was first built in 1866 as a small temple, but was later renovated and expanded.

It is considered the Biggest Church of Gothic Architecture in Vietnam, with 30m height, 28m width and 80m length.

There are 2 bell towers with 44m height, containing 4 bells. It has statues stuck on the surface of the walls or the doors and Kien Lao Shrine – located in Xuan Tien commune, Xuan Truong district with a length of 75m, 26m wide, 28m high and a 46m high bell tower. On the two sides of the church are lakes and rows of street lights, it’s not only the architecture of Catholicism, sights of tourists near and far, but also the object of the research civil engineer, architectural and cultural studies.

Proceed to Ninh Binh for your dinner and overnight stay in Ninh Binh.

After Breakfast, Morning drive to Phat Diem Stone Cathedral, this was built from 1875 to 1899 by Priest Tran Luc and Catholics in here made by all of stone and wood. Now, there is Priest’s Grave in front of the Church. The feature of this building is modeled on the architecture of the traditional temples in Vietnam inspire of Catholic Church.

Then transfer to Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital to see the temples of the Ancient Royal capital before a bike tour along quiet country roads past fields and small villages. The final visiting Tam Coc – See the breathtaking karst formations of Tam Coc on a scenic journey down the Ngo Dong River during boat tour (around 2 hours).

Back to Hanoi in the evening for Dinner & Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, Free at your own leisure and transfer to Hanoi Airport for departure with a sweet memories.

You’ll be inducted in pure style through the fascinating and charming city as soon as you arrive, and you’ll get the chance to visit all of the rich museums and get a chance to see the home of the founder of Vietnam, the legendary Ho Chi Minh. His house, perfectly preserved, is all on display, as well as the presidential palace. It’s a must visit for every tourist! Add in a tour of the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to capture your historic flare and you’ve got a head-first dive into the mystique that is Vietnamese culture!

You’ll find yourself arriving in the city of Vientiane in style, with a centrally located, comfortable hotel to rest your tired legs. You’ll be right in the heart of a diverse, highly cultural, amazing fusion of hundreds of cultures and ways of life that will capture the senses and ensnare the mind. Take an oriental walk through your third nation capital and experience all that is Lao in the area around you… Don’t worry, you’ll get the chance to see it all in style tomorrow!

Once you’ve had a full measure and full introduction into the Franco-Lao architecture and inspirations, and experienced the wonders of the previous housing of the famous Emerald Buddha Image & Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, you’ll board a short flight to one of the most powerful cultural heritage sight in the entire world…

Meet Luang Prabang, the best preserved traditional hub city in the whole of the continent! It’s charm will become obvious to all, and boasts a breathtaking sunset across the peak of Mount Phousi. And you’ll have a front row seat at the peak just in time for the evening dusk!

We then stroll around the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of textiles made by the local and the hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today is a very special day. For those early risers, you’ll have the chance to be a part of history, and indulge in the fantastic opportunity to join the local monks through an ancient ritual practiced nowhere else in the world; the collecting offerings of Alms from the faithful residents of the city. It’s totally unique to Laos, and they are the only Buddhist nation who still observes this practice. It’s a very powerful highlight to your stay in the city, and gives you the chance to not only see, but take part in this amazing tradition.

Following breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture.

Next, visit the oldest temples of amazing and majestic standing across the reaches of Luang Prabang, and bearing witness to the beautiful architecture of ways ancient and modern. It’s also another ride on the boat along the fabled Mekong River, and a sightseeing tour of epic proportions through rural Laos and Vietnam. You’ll even get to see the legendary Pak Ou caves, home to many thousands of golden uddhas; relics of visiting pilgrims leaving a symbol of their faith. It’s an amazing sight, all while drinking in the crisp afternoon air and fresh breeze! Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On our way back, we pass the local villages at Ban Xiengmene and Ban Chan continue to see the royal temple at Wat Longkhoun, which once belonged to a royal family patronage nearby Sackarine Caves. We cross to city and take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village well known for its hand weaving.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

You’ll land safely at the city of Siem Reap, and be met by your experienced tour guide. It’s time to be taken through a journey that’ll stay with you for life, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do on these few days!

Straight away, you’ll be inducted into this fascinating part of the globe with a walk through the Buddha shrine, situated in Preah Anchek Preah Angchorm. It’s a very symbol of the powerful Buddist religious history that’s been practiced in the region for hundreds of years. It’s accompanied by a trip through the old garden of King Norodom Sihanouk, which boasts a great history of the old Khmer architecture and a visit to the amazing Damnak Pagoda, one of the many standing ancient structures.

By afternoon, you’ll be seeing one of the biggest and most well known sights in the entire world, the Siem Reap crocodile farm. Not only famous for priceless artefacts and artistic masterpieces, Siem Reap has the largest crocodile farm in the world, and you’ll be at the forefront of it! And with that under your belt, you will have the chance to buy some souvenirs at the old market and enjoy a wondrous buffet dinner!

We drop you into the deep end of culture from Siem Reap City to the fortified city of Angkor Thom! Ten square kilometres of ancient fortifications await, including a perfectly preserved wide moat and walls. Each and every ornate statue of demons and gods alike tell the story of the founding beliefs of ancient civilisation, and it’s all the learnt as you tour the landmarks, all rounded off by a visit to the legendary Bayon Temple. Even alone, the giant stone carvings of each face will create that feeling of being watched we all know all so well about…

Next, visit Ta Prohm, one of the most popular attractions of the area. As beautiful as it is mysterious, it retains its aura around the revelation that it was once abandoned by its inhabitants, left at the mercy of mother nature and the surrounding jungle, completely against the typical structures in the area.

Don’t forget, it’s all across the city you’ll be seeing, from the national symbol of Angkor Wat; a must see for any visit to Cambodia, to the 1,700 celestial dancer carving of the Angkor temple walls, making up the longest continuous bas-relief in the whole world. It’s a testament to the deep, rich history of Hindu mythology, enough to inspire anyone! And it can only be added to by bearing witness to this mystical place as the sun is rising and setting…

Morning transfer to Banteay Srey temple (35 km) – the Citadel of women. This Hindu temple, dating back to the 10th century, has three central towers each decorated with superbly intricate reliefs of male and female divinities, carved from pink sandstone contrasting with the main walls made of laterite. While many of Angkor temples are impressive because of their sheer size, Banteay Srei stands out by the quality of craftsmanship. Next, visit Banteay Samre, a small temple in the jungle built Angkor Wat adapt.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon we transfer to visit Kbal Spean, one of the most complete complex at Angkor, restored with the method of the anastylosis. Built under the reign of Suryavarman II during the mid-12th century, its unique feature is the interior moat covered with a laterite paving. Not very touristic, you should appreciate its peaceful atmosphere.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Today you’ll be on your way to your final departure…

But it need not be farewell…

It’s a one of a kind trip that’ll keep you coming back time and time again, and keep you hungry to experience more and more of this amazing part of the world. So don’t leave your holiday to chance, indulge in our beautiful itineraries and experience something new!

After breakfast, Free at your own leisure and transfer to Hanoi Airport for departure with a sweet memories.