Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia heritage tour
Tailor made, fully flexible itinerary to suit your departure dates with in country assistance included.
Ask for an international flight quote too.
Description of Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia heritage tour
The region of former French Indochina has been shaped by many great powers and power struggles over the last millennium, from the great Khmer Empire through to the America-Vietnam war. This Heritage Tour of Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia will take you to the main destinations of each of these countries, with a focus on the abundance of interesting heritage sights which they are home to.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city, you’ll visit the War Remnants Museum and be taken on a walking tour past some District 1’s most impressive colonial buildings. You’ll also meet a respected local scholar who’ll take you to some less well-known historical sights which have interesting stories behind them, such as Archbishop’s Palace, Gia Long Palace and a home which was used to plan the Tet Offensive during the war with America.
In Hue, you’ll explore some of the city’s hidden gems, which relate to its days as the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Visit a couple of little-known but fascinating museums relating to this period, as well as emperor Khai Dinh’s palace and the city’s historic garden houses.
Travel over the dramatic Hai Van Pass to the ancient trading port of Hoi An where you’ll enjoy a special tour of its historic center from the point of view of a conservation expert. Learn about the architectural influences in the old town area and the restoration work going on there.
In Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, you’ll visit the Temple of Literature, which hosted the country’s first university, as well as sights relating to Ho Chi Minh, the ‘father’ of modern Vietnam, such as his mausoleum and former living quarters. You’ll also travel to West Lake and the sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda.
Your time in Vietnam will be capped with an overnight cruise on the spectacular Lan Ha Bay before flying across to Luang Prabang, in Laos. Explore the town’s temples and museums by bicycle and learn about the country’s religion and cultural history along the way.
The final portion of your journey will be in Siem Reap, Cambodia, home to the magnificent Temples of Angkor. Spend time with your guide exploring the most famous sights of the former Khmer Empire and enjoy a lunch at the former house of a French anthropologist. Your Indochina heritage tour will come to an end with a sunset cruise, including wine and canapes, on the moat of the ancient city of Angkor Thom.
Price information
Tailor made, fully flexible itinerary to suit your departure dates with in country assistance included.
Ask for an international flight quote too.
Departure information
Travel guides
Responsible Travel
Planet
We carefully choose suppliers in Southeast Asia who reflect our responsible and sustainable ethos. Our current supplier not only has a foundation that works with, supports and advises many different projects and NGO’s in Asia, they are also Travelife certified. Travelife is an internationally accredited certification scheme that helps organisations improve their social, economic and environmental impacts that they have as a business.In this itinerary you will also learn about conservation projects happening in the UNESCO town of Hoi An, where restoration of historical buildings is tied to environmental projects aimed at protecting the town and local environment from annual flooding. Where possible, we have also tried to minimize use of transport, with walking tours included in Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An, as well as cycling in Luang Prabang.
During your time in the Angkor Archaeological Park, we have included lunch in a local village located within the park boundaries. Most visitors to the temples will head back to their accommodation in town for lunch, adding to the traffic jams and pollution affecting the local area. By eating at a local village within the park you are reducing your negative impact and providing new opportunities for the local people to generate income by servicing visitors to the area.
People
Wherever possible, we encourage you to spend as much time as possible in local communities, interacting with local people to find out more about their way of life and traditional, cultural practices.In this heritage itinerary we take you to historical sights which are often overlooked by foreign visitors, but which are important cultural landmarks for the locals and will enrich your understanding of these countries and their peoples. You’ll get to meet those who play a key role in the preservation of local history and culture, which will provide more opportunities for cultural learning and contribute towards the preservation of the heritage of these countries.
You’ll also get to support community projects in Luang Prabang which aim to promote and preserve important cultural traditions, such as traditional weaving at Ock Pop Tock and the cultural events and workshops run by the Traditional Arts & Ethology Centre.
We always ensure we use local English speaking guides wherever possible. Our guides are fantastic ambassadors for their own regions, whether it’s explaining the history, culture or food etiquette, but best of all, they act as a bridge to the local people you meet along the way.
Popular similar vacations
Cambodia and Vietnam vacation
From US $2765 - US $3225 18 days excluding flights
A magnificent journey of discovery
Southeast Asia 31 day tour
From £2299 - £2549 4 weeks excluding flights
An action packed adventure awaits - 4 countries in 31 days
Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam family vacation
From US $4122 16 days including domestic flights only
Experience culture, nature in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
