3-Week Far East Tour Packages
Insider tips: Recommended 3-week Far East tour itineraries
Compiled by
NinaFar East travel expert at TourRadar
21 Days in Indochina, incl. Luang Prabang and Halong Bay
A grand 21-day Far East adventure combines UNESCO sites from Luang Prabang's temples to Angkor Wat complex. Vietnam's highlights include Hanoi's Old Quarter, Ha Long Bay cruise, and Hoi An's ancient town. Package features internal flights, 3* hotels, local market visits, and authentic dining with 20 breakfasts and 6 lunches.
- Days 1-3
Luang Prabang
Start your journey in this UNESCO-listed Laotian city. Wake up early (around 5:30 AM) to watch the daily alms-giving ceremony. "Watching the monks collect alms at sunrise was humbling. Bring a shawl—it gets chilly in the morning." Take a Mekong River cruise to Pak Ou Caves and climb the 329 steps to Mount Phousi for sunset views. Visit Kuang Si Waterfall early to enjoy the best swimming and avoid crowds.
- Days 4-6
Siem Reap
Take your time exploring Angkor's temples. Get to Angkor Wat by 5 AM for sunrise, then visit Bayon and Ta Prohm during lunch hours when tour groups leave. Plan a morning trip to Tonle Sap Lake's floating villages when fishermen are active and the weather is cool.
- Days 7-9
Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta
Stay in District 1 for convenience. Start your Cu Chi Tunnels visit at 7:30 AM to avoid crowds and heat. Spend a day in My Tho in the Mekong Delta exploring coconut islands and floating markets. Morning tours offer the best market experience.
- Days 10-12
Hoi An
Visit the Ancient Town before tourist crowds arrive. Book an 8 AM cooking class that includes market visits when produce is fresh. Add a basket boat tour through Cam Thanh village's water coconut groves.
- Days 13-15
Da Nang
Take the first 7:30 AM cable car to Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge. Spend late afternoons at My Khe Beach when it's cooler. Visit on weekdays for smaller crowds.
- Days 16-18
Hanoi
Walk through the Old Quarter's streets and join an evening street food tour when the area is most lively. Explore the French Quarter early morning before traffic picks up. Stop by Train Street for egg coffee but check train schedules first.
- Days 19-21
Halong Bay
Book a 2-night cruise to see more of the bay. Morning activities like kayaking and cave visits happen before day tourists arrive. Look for boats going to Lan Ha Bay for a quieter experience.
21 Days in Southeast Asia, incl. Bangkok and Angkor Wat
Rich cultural heritage awaits on this 21-day Far East adventure from Thailand to Cambodia. Highlights include overnight Halong Bay cruise, traditional performances, and temple visits. Package includes 18 luxury hotel stays and domestic flights between major destinations with expert cultural guides.
- Days 1-2
Bangkok & Damnoen Saduak
Start in Thailand's capital before visiting the famous floating market. Take a long-tail speedboat through 19th-century canals to see vendors selling fresh produce and local crafts. Take an overnight train to Chiang Mai. Book a lower berth for better sleep and easier access.
- Days 3-4
Chiang Mai
Visit the city's key temples including Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang. Head to Doi Suthep Temple on top of the 5,300-foot peak in the early morning to avoid crowds and heat. You'll need to take your shoes off at many temples so wear ones that slip off easily.
- Days 5-8
Luang Prabang
Fly to this UNESCO World Heritage city in Laos. Get up at 5:30 AM to see the daily alms-giving ceremony. Visit the Royal Palace and Buddhist temples like Wat Xiengthong. Take a boat to Pak Ou Caves and swim at Kuang Si Waterfall. "The unexpected jewel of the trip was Luang Prabang, a town I'd never even heard of before this trip," shared one seasoned traveler.
- Days 9-11
Hanoi & Halong Bay
Explore Vietnam's capital before taking a Halong Bay cruise. Spend one night on a traditional junk boat among limestone karsts. Pack a small bag for the overnight cruise since large suitcases are hard to store in the cabins.
- Days 12-14
Hoi An & Da Nang
Explore Hoi An's ancient town and food scene by bike. Visit My Son Sanctuary early to avoid crowds and heat. If you want clothes made get measured on your first day to allow time for fittings. "The tailored garment in Hoi An was a terrific souvenir," one recent visitor said.
- Days 15-17
Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels in the afternoon when it's cooler. Take a day trip to the Mekong Delta to cruise narrow canals and visit local workshops. Wear clothes that can get dusty at Cu Chi and bring mosquito repellent.
- Days 18-21
Siem Reap & Angkor Wat
Finish your trip at the incredible Angkor temple complex. Start your temple visits at sunrise to beat the heat and crowds. Bring USD for Cambodia as it's widely accepted and often preferred. "Take breaks between temples to avoid temple fatigue. The complex is massive and deserves time to appreciate," suggested one traveler.
21 Day Southeast Asia Itinerary, incl. Bangkok and Siem Reap
The cultural riches of the Far East unfold from Bangkok's floating markets to Chiang Mai's Doi Suthep Temple and Luang Prabang's Buddhist sanctuaries. Ha Long Bay cruising, Hoi An's food culture at Tra Que Village, and Angkor's ancient temples await. Flights between major destinations and 4-5 star accommodations included.
- Days 1-4
Thailand: Start in Bangkok at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market by 7 AM before the crowds.
Take the 14-hour overnight train to Chiang Mai and book upper berths for better air flow. In Chiang Mai, visit Wat Phra Singh for morning chanting. Next, go to Doi Suthep Temple before it gets too hot. You can climb the 309 steps or take the cable car if needed.
- Days 5-8
Laos: Take a 1-hour flight to Luang Prabang.
Watch the alms-giving ceremony in modest clothing and keep your distance. One traveler shared: "The monks' procession is deeply moving, but some tourists get too close with cameras." Visit Pak Ou Caves by long-tail boat early before tour groups arrive. At Kuang Si Falls, bring water shoes and swim in the lower pools. Skip the upper pools during rainy season.
- Days 9-11
Northern Vietnam: Fly to Hanoi and take a 4-hour bus to Halong Bay.
Pick a cruise with fewer stops but more sailing time. The bay is quieter in late afternoon. Back in Hanoi, explore the Old Quarter when it's cooler and food stalls are opening.
- Days 12-14
Central Vietnam: Fly to Da Nang and head to Hoi An.
See the Ancient Town before tour buses arrive. If you want tailored clothes, order on day one to allow time for fittings. Take the bike tour to Tra Que village early and wear sunscreen. Visit My Son Sanctuary first thing to avoid peak heat.
- Days 15-17
Southern Vietnam: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City.
Get to Cu Chi Tunnels early to avoid crowds and heat. The tunnels can feel tight. For Mekong Delta tours, expect humidity. Take smaller waterways to avoid tourist boats.
- Days 18-21
Cambodia: Fly to Siem Reap.
For Angkor Wat sunrise, get there by 5 AM for good photos at the reflecting pools. See Ta Prohm and Bayon during lunch hours when crowds thin out. A traveler notes: "The temples are magnificent but exhausting—plan shorter days and take plenty of water. The heat is intense by 10 AM."
Far East 21 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Explore the Endless Beauty of Indochina - 21 Days
Southeast Asia 21-Day Highlights Tour
21 Days Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia
Best of Indochina in 21 Days
21 Days Fantastic Circle of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand & Laos Tour (private guide & driver）Customizable
Indochina Tour with Bangkok Extension 21 Days
21 days Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia
Essence of Indochina & Thailand: 21-Day Journey Across Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos & Thailand
Cultural Capitals of Southeast Asia Tour 21-Day
Beauty Of Vietnam, Cambodia And Thailand – 21 Days
What people love about 3-week Far East tours
- Explore the Endless Beauty of Indochina - 21 Days
This was mostly a private tour joining other groups on occasion, mostly toward the end of the tour. I loved that we met new people but were not stuck with a group for the entire tour. very well organised and I feel that we had a good mix of time to explore independently and join tours. every guide was great and helped us with everything we needed. I would recommend this tour to anyone with a minimum of moderate fitness level. I don't feel that we missed anything along our trip. I would not hesitate to book a Wonderlust travel experience again.
- Southeast Asia 21-Day Highlights Tour
21 Days Thailand Laos Vietnam Cambodia We had a great time on this tour! My husband and I had wanted to go to South East Asia for some time, and we were looking for a trip that would give us a realistic overview in the month we had available. We knew we wanted to get to Thailand (my favorite cuisine), Vietnam (lots of history and, again, the food), and Cambodia (Angor Wat), and thought, why not throw in Laos? This itinerary looked really ambitious but like it had a good balance of travel, activity, and leisure. Hoi An Adventures is a Vietnamese company, so we weren’t surprised that Vietnam got a disproportionate focus to the other countries. What we loved: Our gut instinct about the itinerary was spot on. Yes, we covered a lot of ground. I hadn’t quite realized just how many flights we’d take, but with one overnight train trip and five flights, we were able to see some amazing parts of each of the four countries. It’s hard picking highlights, as there were so many. Certainly, Halong Bay and Hoi An. The unexpected jewel of the trip was Luang Prabang, Laos, a town I’d never even heard of before this trip. Thanks for including it and for allowing us four nights there and free time just to wander its magical streets! There were, of course, lots of places we’d have liked to get that we didn’t have a chance to. But if/when we’re back, we’ll have a pretty good idea of where we want to go and how to get there. We also applaud the hotel choices. In each city except Chiang Mai, we were right in the heart of the town. The Chiang Mai hotel wasn’t bad, but quite possibly because we were further away from the activity, that was our least favorite stop. (It also made us more appreciative of all the others being actually in the towns.) The hotels themselves ranged from perfectly adequate (the Ho Chi Minh City hotel was one of only two “deluxe” hotels, and it was the least impressive) to rustically charming (the Luang Prabang guesthouse, Lao Wooden House, which we loved) to old world elegance (Siem Reap, City View). What we liked: the excursions were all pretty good. The guides English varied significantly. All were able to speak well enough to convey information, and some were able to understand it well enough to answer questions. All seemed passionate about their subject matter. Favorite guides included River in Hoi An and Top in Ho Chi Minh City, but we learned from all of them. We particularly appreciated the tour through a local market in Luang Prabang and the temples off the beaten track in Angor Wat. The tailored garment in Hoi An was a terrific souvenir. We liked the ratio of time committed to excursions and free time—though we had a travel companion who was unhappy the time wasn’t more scheduled, so opinions can vary on that. Being dropped off and picked up from all transportation hubs made traveling really easy. It’s the first time we’ve had that benefit, and it made us converts. What we liked less: Not Hoi An Tours’ fault, but my husband and I wound up traveling with one other person throughout our trip. That enforced intimacy can be a bit awkward. More people on the tour would have given each of the three of us more opportunities to find people who meshed with us and shared our interests. In some cities we paired up with other small groups, which was nice and gave us a bigger pool of new acquaintances to share the experience with. In the past we’ve been on trips with 10 or so other people, and sharing new experiences with them has been one of the benefits of travel. It’s luck of the draw, as the tour will go on with a minimum of two people. If you sign up, maybe you can get some friends or family to go with you! Communication hit some snags here and there. We made our initial reservation through Tour Radar, and all the communications that went on through that portal were fine. Unfortunately, someone in the Hoi An Tours office entered my email address incorrectly, and we had trouble getting some messages, not knowing we were missing them. They absolutely tried! They gave us a mobile phone, presumably so we could contact them easily. And any time we contacted them through the working email portal, they got back to us quickly. There were some variances between the itinerary we did finally receive and what actually occurred. For example, we were told we’d be on an upgraded boat on Halong Bay, but when we got there, we weren’t. So the stated features and activities didn’t jibe with what we actually received. Our itinerary also had some differing times and activities from the one our traveling companion had, which led to some confusion. Overall, this was a great trip and we would recommend it highly! We’ll relive the vibrant traffic of Bangkok, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City and treasure our memories of the Mekong River and Delta, the floating lanterns of Hoi An, the charming back streets of Luang Prabang, and the warmth and welcome of Siem Reap. Can’t wait to plan our next trip.
- Best of Indochina in 21 Days
Positive Points: 1. The sites/activities elected for the visits very good 2. Local guides were excellent 3. Timely and efficient hotel/airport transfers 4.All lodging was clean and comfortable 5. Ease of contacting operator to assist with questions/problems Negatives: 1. Notice given to us as to the program for the upcoming day and/or flights came to us last minute at several points in our tour leaving us unsure as to what to do and requiring our reaching out to operator for assistance. We should not have had to do so. 2. Two hotel locations were not suitable. (A) In Ho Chi Minh City we were dropped off from the airport along a main street and told that our hotel (Prague) was "down there" We walked along a crowded, noisy, roughly paved side street to find the hotel with no assistance. Area was noisy and staff would not honor our request for a room change to quieter location until operator intervened. (B) In Luang Prabang, the hotel was well removed from interesting part of town. It was not within walking distance of anything of interest. Given that operator left us with 2 free days at tour's end, we decided to leave the hotel and book a suitable place by ourselves nearer points of interest. Neither of the hotels had good reviews. We were extremely disappointed in the operator's selection of those places for out tour. 3. For unknown reasons to us, our tour itinerary was changed. We did not expect to have to unescorted days at the end of our tour in Laos. We left home assuming we would be flying to Siem Reap on day 15 (Dec 13). Instead we got notice that our flight would be on Dec 11 and that we would be on our own for the last two days of our tour (Dec 17 and 18). Still a mystery to us and we wonder what we missed as a result. Suggestions: 1. Do not use Vietjet. We booked our arrival to Vietnam with them and they bumped us with alternative flight for 2 days after our Indochina Tour was to begin. Later, our flight to Ho Chi Minh was delayed many hours with no communication for Vietjet as to when it would be leaving. Vietnam air, I think, would be a much better option. 2. We suggest 2 nights in Sapa. To spend 6 hours traveling each way for 1 overnight is too much. The walks we did there were very nice, but we had no time to enjoy the town or engage in some other activity in that area.