Compare Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos by Adventures by Disney vs Indochina Essence by Exotic Voyages

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Saigon)

Accommodation: Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers

Chào mùng ban! Upon exiting customs, you are met by an Adventures by Disney representative who escorts you to your transfer vehicle. Relax as the driver assists with your luggage and takes you to the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, a chic hotel located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's business and entertainment district.

Please note that due to varying arrival times of Adventure By Disney Guests, activities listed in Day 1 are for those Guests that will be arriving early in the day.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Take the afternoon and evening to relax and settle into your hotel, which is within walking distance of such sites as the People's Committee Building, the Opera House, Ben Thanh Market and Reunification Palace. Still known to locals as Saigon, the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City is a hive of commerce and culture, where skyscrapers tower over pagodas. The delicious scent of Vietnam's famous cuisine wafts from tiny food stalls that line the streets swarming with scooters, cars and cabs. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of this amazing city that embraces multiple cultural influences. Be sure to ask your Adventure Guides for dinner recommendations—the city is famous for its food!

Day 2:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers          

Breakfast and Orientation

Meet your fellow Adventurers for a breakfast reception. Next, your Adventure Guides provide a full orientation to your trip, which starts with a cruise on the most famous river in Vietnam.

Mekong River Delta Cruise

A luxury motor coach brings you to the mighty Mekong River, where you board a roofed touring boat that glides over the waters past floating markets and small villages that exist solely on the river. Taste fresh tropical fruits as a local guide regales you with stories of the waterways. Visit a cottage factory where popped rice bars, coconut candies, and rice papers are made by hand. Discover a fishing village where life thrives on the catch of the day. It's another world on the waters of Vietnam!

Lunch at Mekong Lodge

Midway through your excursion, stop for lunch at this charming island restaurant hidden among the mango and durian trees. Relax with a view of the river and passing boats as you refresh yourself with a multi-course meal.

Welcome Dinner at Cirrus

Enjoy a fine meal prepared by award-winning chefs who will provide a delicate fusion of global cuisines. You'll dine in a modern, sophisticated environment located on the 51st floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower which offers unparalleled views of the sprawling city stretched out below.

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodations: Sunrise Hoi An Beach Resort

War Remnants Museum Tour

After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, visit the War Remnants Museum and discover artifacts from the American phase of the Vietnam War, including period military equipment, "tiger cages" and photographs. As the museum can be graphic in its depiction of war violence, Adventurers may instead opt to visit only the museum courtyard and check out the vintage military equipment.

Cú Chi Tunnels

Take a motor coach to these extraordinary tunnels used by the Viet Cong as their base of operations during the war. Learn how they lived in and fought the war from these incredibly narrow tunnels burrowing into the earth. Junior Adventurers will especially like exploring the now safe network of intriguing crawl spaces.

Lunch En Route to the Saigon Airport

Enjoy a boxed lunch as you take in the passing scenery of the beautiful country that surrounds you on your way to the Saigon Airport.

Fly to Da Nang

Board a plane to Da Nang, along Vietnam's Central Coast. Once you arrive, your Adventure Guides escort you to the Sunrise Hoi An Beach Resort, a lavish hotel set on the idyllic coastline of Cua Dai Beach.

Junior Adventurers Dinner

While adults dine at their leisure at the hotel's main dining room, Junior Adventurers enjoy a special private dinner.

Disney Movie Night

After dinner, Junior Adventurers head to the Kids Club for a private viewing of a Disney movie complete with soft drinks and popcorn.

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Sunrise Hoi An Beach Resort  

Private Hands-On Cooking Class

After breakfast at your local resort, visit Hoi An's vibrant central market with a chef to learn more about the kinds of regional fresh ingredients you will use for your private cooking class! Learn how to make some of Vietnam's traditional dishes in a hands-on setting at Brother's Café.

Lunch at Brother's Café

Rest outside under the white umbrellas and leafy green trees as you gaze out over the peaceful river during this lunch.

Ancient Hoi An

Join your Adventure Guides for a walk through this historic gem and UNESCO World Heritage Site—the ancient village of Hoi An. Time seems to stand still in this living museum as you pass ornate temples, well-preserved aged buildings and lively markets. University girls in flowing white uniforms and conical hats pedal past as motorcyclists zip along the narrow streets. Admire the brilliant hues of the lantern shops and marvel at the remarkable, multi-cultural architecture. After you learn about the town and its past, your Adventure Guides take you to beautiful Chua Cau—also known as the Japanese covered bridge—for photos. It's the perfect ending to an enchanting town tour.

Chinese Lantern Making

Learn to make an eye-catching Chinese lantern in a special workshop. Then, take home your creation as a keepsake of your adventure!

Dinner and Evening On Your Own

Indulge in local cuisine at one of the restaurants in town. After dinner, stroll the streets of the charming village, try some freshly brewed bia hoi (beer) at one of the local pubs and perhaps catch some of the street entertainment. At your own expense, you may opt as many visitors do to have clothes custom-made by Hoi An's world-renown tailors! You can have measurements taken while in town and your garments will be delivered the next day.

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Sunrise Hoi An Beach Resort  

A Day on Your Own

Spend the day on your own either at the resort, in Hoi An, or both! The resort offers many exciting activities for an additional fee, such as kayaking, massages, beach volleyball, bicycling and even parasailing for the more adventurous. Excursions into the Vietnamese countryside, fishing tours and boat trips are also available. Hang out at the beach and see the locals at play. You can even return to Hoi An and rent a bicycle for a special self-guided tour about town and beyond!

Optional Visit to Marble Mountain

Find your inner peace and meditate amongst the grottos and pagodas which abound in this beautiful location. You'll also visit the main cave which is home to a cham Buddha that sits under a natural shaft of light.

BBQ Dinner at the Beach

Return to the resort in the evening for a fantastic beachside barbeque! Share this feast with your fellow Adventurers as you bask in the twilight, ocean waters lapping at the shoreline facing the South China Sea.

Day 6: Fly to Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole

Fuel up on one last buffet breakfast at the resort before your morning flight to the grand dame of Asia and capital of Vietnam—Hanoi! At one time a French colonial city, Hanoi fuses East and West to create a dynamic metropolis that draws visitors from all over the world. With its friendly people, engaging architecture and rich history, Hanoi is utterly unforgettable!

Lunch at KOTO

Choose your meal from an à la carte menu at this non-profit restaurant that's been changing lives in Hanoi for about 15 years. Through its training programs, KOTO — Know One, Teach One — transforms street kids into restaurant professionals, giving them the job skills they need to be successful, productive individuals. Enjoy a hearty lunch at this restaurant that's taking a bite out of poverty.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

This museum celebrates the 54 ethnic groups that comprise Vietnam's culture, as well as the nation's scientific and technical progress. A local guide takes you through the highlights of this collection of priceless antiquities, artifacts, costumes, photographs and digital media. Outdoors, take a few moments to explore the growing exhibition of architectural styles.

Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre

Scenes unfold from daily life of old as these adorable puppets dance on the water's surface to live music and singing. Swirling dragons, daring horse riders and demure maidens are only a few of the winsome characters in this special kind of drama that's won the hearts of people the world over.

Check-in at the Sofitel Legend Metropole

Following the playful puppetry performance, you will be whisked to your next hotel, the historical landmark, Sofitel Legend Metropole. Located near the Hoan Kiem Lake at the heart of the city, this hotel embodies historic French elegance coupled with modern amenities. Sit back as your Adventure Guides take care of your bags and check-in.

Dinner at the Hotel

Choose to dine at any of the restaurants offered by the Sofitel Legend Metropole. Whether you prefer French, Vietnamese or Italian cuisine, you'll find an exquisite meal at one of these distinctive establishments. Select your dish from an a la carte menu and remember that dinner is on us!

Day 7

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole       

Sunrise Tai Chi Class

Meet with a Tai Chi master in a local park to learn the gentle art of Tai Chi. In a private group lesson before breakfast, experience how this graceful, low impact "meditation in motion" helps reduce stress and improve general health. Adventurers may instead opt to sleep in at the hotel. Whether you attend or not, all Adventurers receive an embroidered tai chi uniform to take home!

Tour of Hanoi

Hop on board an electric cart for a "green" tour of ancient Hanoi, which includes the bustling Old Quarter. The tour continues by coach with visits to Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, the One-Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, with VIP access to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Optional Visit to Hoa Lo Prison

A memorial museum near the French Quarter in Hanoi, widely known as the "Hanoi Hilton". This one-time prison was first built in the late 1890s by the French colonial government.

The Rest of the Day On Your Own

Spend the day as you wish in this city that some call the Paris of Asia. Discover the pleasing blend of French and Vietnamese architecture as you journey through the city. At the heart of Hanoi lies peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake, where locals and visitors alike gather to reflect at the shore of its rippling waters. Keep an eye out for the giant turtle that lives in the waters. See new sights or revisit ones from your morning tour—this magical metropolis is yours to explore. For lunch and dinner, don't hesitate to ask your Adventure Guides to recommend a place for the perfect family meal.

Day 8: Fly to Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao         

Late this morning, board a plane to mystical, serene Luang Prabang in Laos where you will be immersed in an ancient culture situated at the confluence of two rivers and nestled beneath a temple-topped hill.

Lunch at Coconut Garden

Celebrate your arrival in Laos with a delicious lunch that combines the best in French, Laotian and Western cuisine. Make your selection from the à la carte menu and taste for yourself how the chefs at the Coconut Garden have created new flavors with the region's freshest ingredients.

Guided Tour of Luang Prabang

Enter this UNESCO World Heritage site where the ordinary is extraordinary in this town of ornate Buddhist temples, brightly robed monks and winding pathways. A local guide takes you on an engaging tour of the Royal Palace Museum, as well as such stunning temples as Wat Xiang Thong, Wat Mai and Wat Wisunalat. You might glimpse a monk strolling by in a marigold robe or catch the inviting scent of strong Laotian coffee from a nearby café.

Private BBQ Dinner at the Hotel

Return to the hotel and relax with your fellow Adventurers as you end the day with a hearty barbeque buffet at the scenic poolside.

Day 9

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao         

Sunrise Alms Offerings and Hike

Rise and greet the monks before breakfast as they gather alms. Sit on a cushion amongst the locals and participate in this ancient practice as you give an offering of sticky rice procured by your Adventure Guides. Next, you can opt to hike up the steps of Mount Phousi— the "Holy Mountain." A striking temple beckons you to ascend the beautiful old stairway up the hill. Along the way, pass serene golden Buddha statues, flowers and sticky rice offerings. Once you reach the peak, soak up spectacular, panoramic views of Luang Prabang and the picturesque Nam Khan River. A hearty breakfast awaits you at the hotel when you return.

"Living Land" Rice Farm

Visit an organic community farm and discover what it's like to live off the land! Try your hand at any or all of the 13 stages of rice production—from planting to harvesting. Learn ancient methods of growing and reaping rice in an idyllic setting. You can even meet Susan the buffalo who wears the plow yoke. Come together at the end of the experience and taste yummy treats made with rice harvested from the farm.

Lunch at the Kuang Si Butterfly Park

Gather with your fellow Adventurers after the "Living Land" experience for a refreshing lunch in this delightful butterfly park setting.

Kuang Si Falls

This forest paradise is home to waterfalls that tumble down the hillside, with sparkling cascades spilling into turquoise pools. Go ahead—take a dip in the inviting waters! Or just sit at the water's edge and listen to the gentle roar of the falls as butterflies alight nearby. The beauty of this refreshing retreat transports both your spirit and senses.

Night Market

Take a stroll down the road to the Royal Palace Museum through this amazing collection of affordable handicrafts including ceramics, antiques, quilts, spices, clothes and much more. It's a sight not to be missed! Find the perfect souvenir for yourself and gifts for loved ones at this enormous flea market. Adventurers may also opt to skip the market and remain at the hotel to rest up before dinner.

Junior Adventurer Dinner & Disney Movie Night

Kids get their own private dinner in the Library Room at Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao while adults dine at their leisure at the hotel's restaurant. Afterward, parents can join their little ones for the exclusive viewing of a Disney movie, complete with popcorn and drinks.

Day 10: Fly to Siem Reap Cambodia

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra      

After breakfast, say goodbye to Laos and board a plane to timeless Cambodia and its fascinating temples. A delicious box lunch will be served onboard during your flight.

Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra

Welcome to your resort, the five-star Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra whose architecture elegantly marries the best of French and Khmer style. Relax as your Adventure Guides handle your luggage and check you in.

Dinner On Your Own

Siem Reap offers a wide variety tempting restaurants for adventurous eaters. Near the marketplace you'll find a number of places to dine featuring the unique cuisine of the region. Or simply consult your Adventure Guides, who are more than happy to suggest a great place to have a family meal. Alternately, you may choose to dine at one of the fine restaurants at the resort.

Day 11

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra      

Angkor Archaeological Park & Tuk-Tuk Treasure Hunt

Have a hearty buffet breakfast at your resort before you travel to the massive complex of temples known as Angkor Archaeological Park. During a half-day excursion, your local expert unveils surprising stories about these temples that rise above the treetops. Begin by exploring famed Angkor Wat—"wat" means temple—when you cross the bridge into an extraordinary world of carved murals and ornate architecture.

Next, adults and Junior Adventurers alike can take part in a "treasure hunt" by tuk-tuk as you visit many other temples spread through the Cambodian jungle. Emerald grasses sprawl between sites as you continue on to Bayon, where enormous stone faces smile enigmatically from each compass point on the temple. Finish with a visit to Ta Prohm, where thick tree roots seem to melt over the ruined roofs. The exotic scenery dazzles you at each stop. You'll never forget this incredibly magical place!

Lunch at the Foreign Correspondents Club

Rest and replenish yourself in this casually elegant restaurant as you dine with your fellow Adventurers. Choose your meal from an à la carte menu of international cuisine.

Afternoon On Your Own

Return to the temples with the Angkor Archaeological Park pass provided by Adventures by Disney, or relax at the hotel and take advantage of its many amenities for the afternoon. Your Adventure Guides can recommend other enticing activities to round out the day.

Elephant Excursion

Embark from the South Gate of Angkor Wat and travel via elephant throughout key temples on this remarkable excursion that neither you—nor the elephants—will ever forget.

Farewell Dinner

Celebrate the trip of a lifetime at a private poolside gathering. Delight in a multi-course meal with your newfound friends during this last dinner together in Cambodia. Dancers entertain you with their refined, heavenly movements influenced by the asparas — half-women, half-goddesses — depicted on the walls of Angkor Wat temple. At the end of the evening, enjoy a surprise from your Adventure Guides!

Day 12

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra      

Day On Your Own

Before your flight departs, spend the day as you please! Your Angkor Archaeological Park pass admits you back to the temples for further independent exploration, if you desire. Arrive as the sun rises at Angkor Wat for a most extraordinary sight! Or stroll through the streets of Siem Reap. It's your day to do as you wish until you say chumriep leah to this enchanting country.

Please note that as a courtesy for Adventure By Disney Guests, hotel room "day use" extends until 6:00 p.m.

DAY 1 SAIGON

Hotel: Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel
Upon arrival, your private guide will meet you and take you to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel after your flight or taking a stroll along the busy streets of the city.

DAY 2 SAIGON

Today's highlights
Cu Chi Tunnel and Saigon Landmarks

Hotel: Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Visit the tunnel network of Cu Chi which was sheltered to over 16,000 Vietcong guerrillas during the Vietnam War. In the afternoon, set out on a tour of the former capital of French Indochina with historic landmarks like the Old Saigon post office and Notre Dame Cathedral (under construction until 2027). Visit Reunification Palace, once the headquarters of the Saigon Government in the 60s, and the War Remnants Museum to learn some more about the Vietnam War's history.

DAY 3 MEKONG DELTA & RIVER

Today's highlights
Follow the waterway to discover Ben Tre's local businesses

Hotel: Coco Riverside Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, depart from Saigon to Ben Tre, the “Green Venice” of Vietnam. Follow the waterway to discover different local family-owned businesses including a brick factory. Stop at a small village, where you get to know the locals specializing in carpet weaving. Visit traditional farms, rice fields and vegetable plants, before stopping at a small local restaurant to taste a delicious lunch made of regional specialties. Check-in at the hotel. Later, hop on the bike and get around the village. Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 4 HOI AN

Hotel: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, get on a boat and see the commercial life on the water with loaded boats transporting goods. Visit the beautiful Cao Dai temple as well as the busy local market. Head back to Saigon and stop by the Ancient House Cai Be, and listen to the host about the history of this land. Have lunch in the lush garden. Then, transfer directly back to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for a short flight to Danang. Meet your driver, head to Hoi An, and check in at the hotel.

DAY 5 HOI AN

Today's highlights
Get refreshed by a visit to Tra Que herb village

Hotel: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Explore the beautiful countryside of Hoi An today. Breathe in the fresh aroma of many kinds of herbs when you come close to Tra Que herb village. Here, ride a bike through the village and help the local farmers with their garden. After lunch at a local house, drive back to the Old Town. Take a leisure stroll to see Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples, and an ancient bridge.

DAY 6 HOI AN

Hotel: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai
Meals: Breakfast
Explore Hoi An at your own leisure, seeing what interests you. Along with the historic buildings, this UNESCO World Heritage town captivates millions of visitors with its charming vibe and mouthwatering food. Banh mi, Com ga, Cao lau,... you make your own list.

DAY 7 HANOI

Hotel: Capella Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Fly to Hanoi and transfer to your next hotel. After spending time for yourself, meet your guide to get acquainted with Hanoi. Visit the Temple of Literature and the Museum of Ethnology - two of the best attractions in the city. Later, a cyclo will take you around the Old Quarter to listen to the music of Hanoi that comes from its architecture, small pagodas nestled in crowded streets, and lively sounds from sidewalk restaurants and cafes.

DAY 8 HANOI

Today's highlights
A hanoi's morning tour on a scooter

Hotel: Capella Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast
Depart at around 5.30 and discover the charming city from dawn on a scooter tour. Explore the wholesale flower market, the 100-year-old Long Bien Bridge, and other typical morning sites, and witness the local life at the early stage. Enjoy a steaming bowl of Pho for breakfast and then an Egg Coffee or Cafe Sua Da, just as the way the locals start their day. In the afternoon, return to your hotel to rest at your leisure.

DAY 9 HA LONG BAY

Hotel: Ginger Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive from Hanoi to the emerald waters and thousands of limestone islands of Halong Bay. You will board the luxury cruise for your overnight cruise through the bay. Enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Site from your cabin then followed by a fresh seafood meal as you watch the amazing sunset over the dramatic seascapes.

DAY 10 LUANG PRABANG

Hotel: Sofitel Luang Prabang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cruise among the islands to discover more about the bay. Return to the dry land after a hearty lunch and drive to the airport. Fly to Luang Prabang and transfer to Sofitel Luang Prabng. This poetic city is your next destination.

DAY 11 LUANG PRABANG

Today's highlights
Picnic lunch at Kuang Sy Waterfall

Hotel: Sofitel Luang Prabang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, drive to discover some treasures of Luang Prabang. You will visit the Royal Palace and gorgeous Kuang Sy Waterfall where you have a picnic lunch. Return to Luang Prabang and start exploring the old city on the left bank of the Mekong River by visiting some of the most beautiful temples like Vat Xieng Thong, Vat Visoun, Vat Phou, Vat Aham, and a Hmong Night Market.

DAY 12 LUANG PRABANG

Today's highlights
Discover Pak Ou cave by boat

Hotel: Sofitel Luang Prabang
Meals: Breakfast
Wake up early for the Buddhist ritual of 'Tak Bat' at Vat Nong temple. Next stop is a local market where your senses are awakened. Sample some tasty snacks before breakfast at a local restaurant. Relax by the Mekong with a cup of coffee. Embark a traditional boat to cruise along the Mekong River to visit the sacred cave of Pak Ou which is home to hundreds of Buddha statuettes. After lunch, visit Ban Xang Hai to discover how Lao people make their traditional rice wine.

DAY 13 SIEM REAP

Today's highlights
Cycle to learn about the most ancient temple sites in the region

Hotel: Shinta Mani Angkor and Bensley Collection Pool Villas
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cambodia. Arrive at the airport and meet your local guide who will drive you to your hotel. After a short rest, explore by bicycle one of the most ancient temple sites in the region: the Roluos Group. You will visit a 9th-century Bakong temple, impressive Preah Ko, and Lolei which today houses a small monastery. Continue your ride to a local house where you will try Khmer pastries and talk with the locals.

DAY 14 SIEM REAP

Today's highlights
Private lunch at a secret temple

Hotel: Shinta Mani Angkor and Bensley Collection Pool Villas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Angkor Wat is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. It's famed for extraordinary ruins and bas-reliefs that feature the great architectures of the Khmer Empire. Meet your guide this morning to explore the marvelous temple of Angkor Wat by tuk-tuk. Your visit includes the famous Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Bayon temple, and the raised terrace of Leper King. A private lunch at a secret temple will make your day unforgettable.

DAY 15 SIEM REAP

Hotel: Shinta Mani Angkor and Bensley Collection Pool Villas
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a leisurely morning in the magic city before transferring to the airport for your flight home.