• Saigon (3 nights)
• Can Thou (1 night)
• Mekong Delta
• Hanoi (2 nights)
• Halong bay - overnight on luxury junk
• Yangon (2 night)
• Bangon (2 nights)
• Mt Popa
• Mandalay (2 nights)
• Amarapura
• Inle Lake (1 night)
• Yangon (1 night)
• Guaranteed departure

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Meeting & greeting at the airport upon your arrival and transfer to hotel for check-in and tour briefing. If time permits we will take an orientation tour around central Saigon

Day 2: Saigon (B)
After breakfast, we embark on a full day tour of the largest and most vibrant city of Vietnam. In the morning we'll see the famous sights in the city centre, taking in the Reunification Palace, the War Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Colonial Post Office, Opera House, City Hall and Ben Thanh Market, etc...

In the afternoon we'll visit Cho Lon - Saigon's China Town - to see the Museum of Traditional Medicine and the elaborately ornate Thien Hau pagoda. End the tour at a trendy café to watch life go by.

Day 3: Saigon- Caodai Temple - Cu Chi Tunnels - Saigon (B, L)
Our tour today includes a visit to the opulent Holy See Temple of Caodai Sect in Tay Ninh. Caodai is a fascinating Vietnamese religion combining aspects of Christian, Buddhism, Muslim, Taoism and Confucius into a single religion. There's a chance to observe the impressive noon service of adherents.

Early afternoon we travel to Cu Chi to explore the legendary network of underground combat tunnels where our guide will explain how the Vietcong survived and fought during the Vietnam War. Known as the "Iron Triangle" during the war of the 60's, the story of Cu Chi is one of struggle, determination against all odds, and eventual victory. Now the tunnels are a major site of interest for tourists and historians, and those interested in Vietnam's military history.

Day 4: Saigon - My Tho - Can Tho in Mekong Delta (B, L)
We leave the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind and journey to Mekong Delta, a world that lives and works on the waters.

Arriving in My Tho, a prosperous town just 80 km from Saigon, we take a boat to an insular village to visit family workshops producing handicrafts and candy from coconut. Tasting seasonal tropical fruits in an exuberant orchard, we ride a horse cart to a typical Delta house and enjoy folk music by amateurs.

Proceed by local sampan through the small canals and side arms of the river to further experience river life. For lunch we'll sample regional specialties such as Elephant Ear Fish, Rice Ball, etc… After a pleasant break we travel to Can Tho where we take a spin around Ninh Kieu Quay - bustling and exciting with river life on Hau River.

Day 5: Can Tho - Hanoi (B)
Early morning, we take a boat to the extraordinary market of Cai Rang. Famous as one of the largest markets on the complex of waterways that comprise the Mekong Delta, hundreds of boats packed with local produces gather and make for an exciting maze. Boats come to us from all sides, offering fruits, vegetables, plants, foods, etc… Sellers advertise their wares by hanging samples high atop bamboo poles so that their customers can find from afar. It is a great view of how commerce actually happens in the Mekong.

The boat tour is capped off with an orchard visit and we drive to the airport for a flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Meet up with our local guide on arrival and travel to the hotel in the city centre.

Day 6: Hanoi (B)
Today we'll be on a full day tour to discover the most outstanding attractions of Hanoi. First we pay a visit to the complex of memorials to Ho Chi Minh to know his amazing life. Continue to the Single Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of the two driving forces in Vietnam culture.

Afternoon we visit the Museum of Ethnology which exhibits a large collection of artifacts about the cultures of the 54 ethnic groups in the country.

Next we enjoy a rickshaw ride through the lively Old Quarter, a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers still trade the way they have done for centuries. The rickshaw tour ends up at an old house on Ma May Street, an example of dwellings in the 19 century.

Later we walk through the busy traffic to the water puppet theatre and enjoy a performance of the famed traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region.

Day 7: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B, L, D)
This morning we journey east to Halong Bay, Vietnam's greatest natural wonder. Board a beautiful traditional wooden junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets.

In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Stay overnight aboard.

NOTE: Kayaks are available if specified at time of booking.

Day 8: Halong - Hanoi - Yangon, (Myanmar) (B, L)
Wake up to fresh coffee then further cruising and more sightseeing. En route the junk weaves through impressive rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even further!

Disembark and return to Hanoi for a flight to Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar. On arrival we'll be greeted and escorted to the hotel for overnight.

Day 9: Yangon (B)
Our tour today starts from the very centre of Yangon, taking in the Sule pagoda, the Mahabandoola Park, the colonial courthouse and the city hall. We then explore the Chinese quarter and the Indian quarter with stops to visit the beautiful Chinese temple Kheng Hock Keong and enjoy Burmese high tea. Continue along the famous Strand Road and visit the bustling Yangon harbor.

In the afternoon, we'll visit Chauk Htat Gyi pagoda to see the huge reclining Buddha image, and then the Shwedagon Pagoda with its glistening stupas covered with 60 tons of pure gold. The pagoda is regarded as the holiest monument of Myanmar and a wonder of the world. There'll be time for us to saunter the Scott Market for better knowledge of local life and shopping opportunities.

Day 10: Yangon - Bagan (B)
Transfer to Yangon airport for a morning flight to the ancient city of Bagan in upper Myanmar.

Meet our guide upon arrival and we tour the most important pagodas and temples such as Shwezigon, Ku Byauk Gyi, Khay Min Ga, Ananda, the Mon-styled Manuha, Nanbaya and Gu Byaukgyi. We also visit the city's central market and a lacquer ware village in Myinkaba. Conclude the day at a vantage tower, watching the sun set onto the land of temples.

Day 11: Bagan - Salay - Mt.Popa - Bagan (B, L)
After breakfast we drive east toward Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 meters high. Challenge the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the volcanic plug to the animistic shrine called by the locals as "Nats" and get rewarded with panoramic views of the area.

Enjoy lunch at Mt. Popa Resort then head back to Bagan. En route, we'll call at a toddy palm plantation. The remainder of the day will be free.

Day 12: Bagan - Mandalay - Amarapura - Mandalay (B)
This morning we fly to Mandalay and continue overland to Amarapura.

Visit the 200-year-old U Bein Teak Bridge, Bagaya Monastery with a superb collection of Buddha statues, and Mahagandayon monastery that houses over one thousand monks. Later, drive a short distance to Mandalay and check into the hotel.

Afternoon we contemplate the spectacular Buddha image covered in thick layers of gold leaves at the Mahamuni pagoda, Shwe Inbin monastery, Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung as the Golden Palace Monastery, a superb example of a traditional wooden building. Tour Kuthodaw pagoda, known for the huge book of 729 marble slabs engraved with Buddhist scriptures. Conclude the day watching the magnificent sunset from the Mandalay hill.

Day 13: Mandalay - Mingun-Ava - Sagaing -Mandalay (B)
We transfer to the jetty to take a private boat across the Irrawaddy River towards the former capital of Mingun.

Mingun is famous for its huge unfinished pagoda housing Mingun Bell, the world's largest uncracked ringing bell, and the beautiful white pagoda Hsinbyume. From Mingun we continue by boat to Inwa (Ava) then enjoy a horse-drawn carriage to Namyint Watch Tower, the leaning tower of Ava, Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery of brick and stucco.

A a visit to the impressive wooden monastery of Bargaya Kyaung, we continue to Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees. Hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. At the end of the day we return to Mandalay for the night.

Day 14: Mandalay -Heho - Inle Lake (B)
We depart Mandalay and fly to Heho. On arrival, meet our local guide and continue by road to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar's best-known sights and our base for the next few days.

This region is home to Intha people, a tribe of Mon descent. After checking into the hotel we'll be taken on an enjoyable boat trip to see the famous leg rowers, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. We will also visit the Phaungdaw U Pagoda, one of the main shrines in Myanmar which date back to the 18th century; the Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery and the weaving village of Inpawkhon.

Day 15: Inle Lake - Heho - Yangon (B)
Choice 1: After breakfast we take a 30 minute boat ride to the village of Thalee Oo, a typical lakeside village with both water and land-based sections.

Navigating through the houses on stilts, we disembark at a jetty to begin our walk on a flat and shady bullock cart road through the heart of the village. Thalee Oo is an Intha village whose population lives mainly off the land growing peanuts, tomatoes, garlic, sugarcane, rice and vegetables. The walk is extremely pretty with traditional bamboo houses on either side and adjacent to a clean stream used for daily washing. It also has good views across cultivated fields to Inle Lane and the Shan Hills beyond. Stop and chat with some of the friendly Intha families while observing their daily life.

After 45 minutes we stop at a local wooden rice mill to see the process of separating grain, husk and bran. Climbing uphill for 30 minutes, we reach the small PaO village of Ywa Thit renowned for its bamboo basket weaving. The PaO ladies still wear traditional black tops and brightly colored checkered towels as turbans. After admiring the stunning view of Inle Lake and the Shan Hills from our vantage point, we descend for 30 minutes before continuing along a flat path through the village of Alae Myaung back to the lakeshore and our boat. Afternoon we transfer to Heho Airport and catch a flight back to Yangon.

Choice 2: After breakfast we will travel by boat to the western shore of the lake, where we will find the beginning of a long stair path leading to the well hidden Inn Thein Pagoda complex. Here we will see one of the most amazing historical sights on the shore of the lake consisting of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and vegetation.

Continue on foot to a village nearby where several crops are grown in traditional ways. Walk in an easy pace along one of the many creeks, passing through rice fields to the village of Sae Ma. Afternoon we transfer to Heho Airport and catch a flight back to Yangon.

NOTE: A market tour can be arranged instead of the two tour choices above if there is a market today.

Day 16: Departure (B)
Free till transfer to Yangon International Airport for departure.

Small Group Departure Dates & Price

Ref	Weekly Departures- 4+ Star hotels	Departure Dates	Twin share (£)
mcv	May -30th Sept 2015	Weekly	£2585
mcv	Oct -30th April 2016	Weekly	£2770

Prices are based upon a small group tour excluding international flights from UK. As an agent for airline consolidators, we can obtain your international flights at a competitive rate to suit your preferred departure date. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Hotel upgrade to 5-Star is available and private tailor-made tours can also be arranged.

Price Includes (The prices shown are 'per person')

• All flights within Vietnam and Myanmar.
• All airport/hotel transfers where specified (private transfer).
• Selections of superior/deluxe (4 star)
• Sightseeing tours including entrance fee by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.
• Air conditioned transportation and bottle water on coach.
• Guaranteed Departure

Price Does Not Include

• International Flights: We are happy to provide flights with full ATOL Protection.
• Visa letter of ariival fee (please contact us for details).
• Visa stamping fees at Airports
• Travel Insurance.
• Tip for driver and Guide.

Meals: As stated in itinerary, B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D= Dinner

FAQ and further Tour information
Please see our FAQ page for further essential tour information.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of the flight available, although occasionally the sequence in which cities are visited and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. Further places of interest may be visited during your stay, which will provide unique ethnic and cultural handcraft shopping opportunities. We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.