18 Days Highlights of Laos and Vietnam

Day 1

Arrive at Saigon/ Tan Son Nhat International Airport by flight ... (Please kindly advise us of the arrival flight). Pick up at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi for check in (Check–in time is 14:00 hrs; early check–in is at surcharge). Rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation at hotel in Saigon

Meals included:

None

Day 2

Morning:

The city tour begins at the War Remnants Museum, a really famous spot in Saigon. Here, you can learn about how the Vietnamese fought for their freedom and peace during the Vietnam War. The museum shows weapons, documents, and photos that prove what happened during the war and how brave the Vietnamese people were.

Next, we'll head to the Reunification Palace, which saw the end of the tough Vietnam War in 1975. Now, it's a museum and a place where important meetings happen. Nearby, you'll see the Notre Dame Cathedral (just from the outside) and the Central Post Office, both well-known places in the city.

Afternoon:

We'll head to Chinatown, the largest Chinese community in Vietnam. Our stops include the Thien Hau Temple, showcasing beautiful traditional Chinese architecture, and the iconic Binh Tay Market, known for its maze of food stalls and impressive Sino-French buildings. You'll get a glimpse into the daily lives of the fruit and vegetable sellers here, and we'll pause for a glass of traditional Café Saigon (Vietnamese iced coffee) while sampling some unique Vietnamese fruits.

Late afternoon, we'll visit the lively Ben Thanh Market in District 1. Enjoying shopping time there.

To wrap up the day, we'll visit the Bitexco Tower's observation skydeck, offering a fantastic view of Saigon city from one of its highest points.

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Day 3

Depart from Saigon and head straight to Ben Tre (90 km ~ 2 hours drive), crossing the impressive Rach Mieu cable-stayed bridge. On arrival board a small boat to visit typical workplaces including small brick factories, a coconut processing workshop and a local mat-weaving house.

Stop at a quiet village, take a short walk to witness local life and hop on a xe-lôi (a kind of motorized rickshaw) to reach acharming local restaurant. After lunch, rest on the hammock or short cycling ride to explore the surrounding fields before boarding a sampan for a tranquil trip along the picturesque canals. Come back to the port and visit Ben Tre local market before heading to Can Tho. 

Overnight in Can Tho

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Lunch at local house

Day 4

Check out early morning then cruising  along the Mekong River to Cai Rang floating market before heading up to a quitet canal for a short bike ride along countruside paths to enjoy the peaceful scenesof paddy filed, the monkey bridges or walkthrouogh the farms and houses of a nearby village to see fragrant tropical fruit orchards and pause for a cup of tea with locals. Lunch break then drive to a Khmer pagoda. Then return to Saigon. Catch your flight to Hue. On arrival, our driver will take you to the hotel in Hue.

Overnight in your hotel in Hue.

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Lunch at local house

Day 5

08:00AM: After breakfast, you will meet our tour guide and driver at the lobby. We will drive to visit Dong Ba market to get into the busy life of locals. Then take a boat trip to Thien Mu Pagoda - the oldest pagoda in Hue city, and enjoy the peace here.

Continue to see Hue Imperial Citadel - The home of Vietnam's last royal dynasty, the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945)

Then, we will visit Hue Royal Antiques Museum - A collection of ornaments from the Nguyen dynasty.

In the afternoon, we will visit an incense stick village to see how Hue people do incense stick and listen to the story of cultural feature indispensable in the thinking of Vietnamese

Then, transfer to Minh Mang tomb -  a reflection of the Chinese architectural concepts, recommended sightseeing by its monuments, statues, gardens and especially the bridge over a Lake of lotus flowers which gives access to the Imperial Minh Mang tomb.

And wrap your day with The Nguyen Emperor Khai Dinh's Royal Tomb - a unique tomb among the royal tombs in Hue, Vietnam. Where other royal tombs are expansive and invite respectful reflection, Khai Dinh built his final resting place to be monumental in style and bombastic in execution. Then return to the hotel.

Meals on your own.

Overnight in Hue.

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Day 6

Breakfast at your hotel.

9AM pick up at your hotel in Hue and drive to Danang. Arrive Danang at noon. After check-in your hotel in Danang and have lunch, head out for Marble Mountain (Ngu Hanh Son), climb Thuy Son (‘Water’ Mountain) by the stone stairs and enjoy the panoramic view of the nearby countryside, and visit Huyen Khong cave before entering Tam Thai and Linh Ung pagodas where you will be rewarded by great city views and amazed by the main cave which houses a beautiful Cham Buddha sitting under a natural shaft of light. Rest at the foot of the mountain, where you can visit Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, where the local skillful sculptors create many marble products which are exported to many countries worldwide. Then return to your hotel.

Meals on your own.

Overnight in Danang

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel  

Day 7

You will be picked up at the hotel and cross the river Thu Bon for about 15 minutes by a shuttle and reach the first spot Kim Bong carpenter’s village. In this village, you can drop in the shipbuilding workshop, wood carving, mosaic and other workshops.

Move to the next destination – Tra Nhieu Mat Village, have a brief introduction of the war history and their activities.

Continue sightseeing along the river, have a glimpse of coconut water, fishing net and wild birds. Then stroll on a quiet bamboo bridge in water coconut forest. Pay a visit to the craft mats making

Back to the dock and go on the boat. After that, take a bicycle trip to Tra Que Vegetable Village.

The local farmer delivers the cultivation methods and the way to protect developing vegetable from the insects. Take part in gardening acivites with the farmers such as: raking the ground, sowing, watering greens, transplanting and tending greens.

Take a rest and have a foot bath. By using a mix of local herbs remedy and Chinese traditional medicine, the foot bath can prevent aches, pains and rheumatism.

Prepare lunch with a local family. You will learn how to make “Tam Huu” spring roll, “Xeo” pancake. Your lunch will consist of many local delicacies including “Tam Huu” spring roll, “Banh Xeo” or local pancake of people in Centre of Viet Nam.

Then join cooking with a local family to learn how to make “Tam Huu” spring rolls, “Xeo” pancakes,… Enjoy the lunch with local food such as “Tam Huu” spring rolls, “Xeo” pancake or local pancake of people in Centre of Viet Nam

After that, you will be taken to the Hoi An ancient town for a walking tour. Hoi An was the center of national trade in the 16th century so you can admire the diversity of ancient streets and homes. Stroll around the unique and magnificent cobblestone alleys and have a glimpse of the Chinese houses that have existed for the hundreds of years. During the leisurely tour, you will have a wonderful opportunity to view historic homes constructed in French, European, Japanese, and Chinese architectural styles. When it comes to Hoi An, you should definitely visit the 100-year-old Japanese Bridge, the Phuc Kien Hall, and the local fish market, among other amazing locations. You may also drop in a store that specializes in custom clothing to purchase your preferred items.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel

Lunch included in the cooking class

Day 8

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Starting at 8:30 AM, our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel. Begin by visiting the Tran Quoc Pagoda, a serene site nestled along the shores of West Lake. From there, transfer to the Ho Chi Minh complex, where you'll explore the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the revered final resting place of Uncle Ho (President Ho Chi Minh), and his stilt house, where he lived between 1958 and 1969. Move on to the distinctive One Pillar Pagoda, an architectural gem in the middle of a square lake. The journey continues to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first college dedicated to Confucian principles.

In the afternoon, choose one of the city's museums for further exploration, including options like the History Museum, Ethnology Museum, or the historically significant Hoa Lo Prison, once famously known as the "Hanoi Hilton." Return to the downtown area for a break by Hoan Kiem Lake. Wrap up the day with a cyclo tour through the Old Quarter, renowned as the 36 streets. This lively district is home to countless small businesses and shops, providing ample opportunities for exploration and capturing memorable photographs.

Back to your hotel and have dinner on your own.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 9

Breakfast at your hotel.

Morning departure for Ha Long Bay, we will go through the scenic countryside. The wondrous Ha Long Bay is truly one of Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights.

11:30 – 12:00: The crew members of  Lotus D’Orient cruise will welcome you at our waiting lough No.28 A, Tuan Chau Marina, Quang Ninh.

12:00 – 12:30: Get on Tender Boat to Lotus D’orient  Cruise and enjoy Welcome drink, meet the captain, crew to get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Complete check-in procedure.

13:00 – 13:15: Enjoy Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch, while cruising in the magnificent Halong bay - Lan Ha Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay.

15:00 – 15:30: Visiting Tra Bau area where has known as an area famous for its unspoiled, poetic natural beauty and attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. This is the best time for kayaking to discover the truest beauty of the limestone islands.

Immerse yourself in the emerald, green water of the bay or enjoy the cool atmosphere on Lotus D’Orient sundeck.

17:30 –18:30: Joining us for Cooking demonstration to learn how to make one of the most famous Vietnamese cuisines, the spring rolls. Or reach the top deck of the cruise where the guests can admire the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin.

Enjoy Happy Hour time – BUY ONE GET ONE FREE at the bar. It is an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the greatest moment of sunset over Lan Ha Bay.

19:00: Dinner is served at the restaurant. After dinner, you can join the squid fishing program at the main deck or relax on the sundeck and sip the exotic cocktails and drinks at the sky bar (with surcharge)....

Overnight on cruise 

Note: the itinerary of Halong will be changed based on which cruise you choose and depending on the weather without prior notice.

Meals included:

Breakfast at the hotel  

Lunch and Dinner on Cruise

Day 10

6:00-6:30: Begin the day full of energy with the Tai Chi session and enjoy the sun just rising up beyond the horizon. 

6:15 -7:00: Have breakfast. Morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

7:00:  You will join the tour of Cat Ba World Biosphere Tender boat. It takes 30 minutes to transfer from Gia Luan to Trung Trang – one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba island, Vietnam by car transfer. The limestone cave has thousands of stalactites in various shapes, offering geological values with a typical cave ecosystem.

9:30: Back to Gia Luan Habor by bus transfer, then our tender boat drops you off to the main boat, you can have a quick showing packing your luggages and check carefully all the belongings before checking out your cabin.

10:00: Check-out from the private cabin and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay for room service. Complete check-out procedure. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant while the cruise is returning to the harbour.

11:00: You take the Tender boat back to Tuan Chau port. Return to Hanoi

Accommodation at a hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included:

Breakfast/Brunch on Cruise

Day 11

Sabaidee! Welcome to Luang Prabang, Laos. You are greeted by your guide and driver at the International airport for your transfer to the hotel.

Enjoy a welcome cocktail while taking a glimpse into the Laotian past through the silent movie Chang – A Drama of the Wilderness. Premiered in 1927, this masterpiece was one of the blockbusters of the year before mysteriously disappearing for 60 years. Re-edited mid-90s, the film is shown with new composition score based on Lao traditional music.

Followed with a dinner at a gorgeous ambience garden restaurant, before visiting the Night Market which is a great place for wandering, This night market offers a lovely variety of handmade textiles crafted by local and hill-tribe people, along with street food, knick-knacks and friendly banter.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Dinner at a restaurant

Day 12

Set off after breakfast for a visit of the Morning Market where, together with the guide and local host lady, we pick all ingredients needed for our upcoming cooking class. Today, we will not take part in a regular tourist-oriented cooking class. We will instead drive a little outside Luang Prabang center to a small village where you will join your hands to cook some major dishes. You will experience how typical Laos dishes such as Laap Laos, Orlam soup and papaya salad are cooked. The food is then brought to a local temple to offer for the monks’ lunch, and as part of this ritual, your name will be asked for a blessing chant. Later, join in an open talk about Buddhism in Laos with monks. We will also have the chance to have further exchange with the community before returning to Luang Prabang for a light lunch with the left food you will have cooked

Afternoon: explore the city highlights including The National Museum, housed in the former Royal Palace, showcases many treasures of Laos' royal past and features the Prabang, the sacred Buddha image for which Luang Prabang was named. Our next stop at the most reputed and beautiful temple of the city, Wat Xieng Thong – Luang Prabang's largest and most splendid temple, is best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story.

16:30: experience the wonders of the Mekong, aboard a Luang Prabang cruise for two hours. Enjoy charming views of the mystical city of gilded temples and ancient wonder nestled among the mountains of northern Laos and a lavish dinner from the comfort of your boat.. A pleasantly surprised way to finish your day

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Lunch & Dinner

Day 13

Optional: We have the possibility this morning to wake up very early to go witness the Tak Bat ceremony, when the monks process along the streets of the town to receive the daily alms from locals

After a short transfer to the outskirts of the town, in a tranquil setting made of ricefields and lush green trees, we discover the importance of bamboo in the Laotian culture. Spend the morning learning about several aspects of the local culture, from crafts to music and food. We will have a chance to learn from a skillful craftsman and to enjoy a hands-on cooking class. We will then dine on the food we have prepared.

This afternoon, we drive out through beautiful landscapes of rice fields, hills and villages. You will stop to visit an ethnic minority village to learn about their traditions and culture. Continue to Kuangsi Waterfall, where water tumbles over tiered limestone formations into crystal clear pools, ideal for escaping the heat. Between cooling off in the pools, you can also explore the lush forest setting around the falls. A short walk brings you down to the abrupt waterfall where you will have time to swim or simply relax by the water’s edge.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Lunch at a local restaurant

Day 14

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for noon flight to Pakse.

Welcome to Pakse, Laos. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred west into the Bolevan Plateau – well known for its cooler temperature as it is located high above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls.

Stop at Tad Fane – the 120-m-high waterfall which spilts into 2 powerful streams roaring over the edge of the cliff and plummeting into the pool below. Continue to the impressive Tad Yuang with its twin torrents falling about 40 meters and flowing into lush jungle

You will also make a short stop by an organic coffee farm to see how the local Lao people involved in the coffee industry live and work, and enjoy a cup of truly fresh coffee in the coolness of the Bolaven Plateau (your own account).

Overnight at Sabaidee Valley Resort

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 15

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading out for the day to the 4000 Islands. Here, the Mekong can reach up to 14km wide during the rainy season and it is dotted with thousands of islands of various sizes. Head out to the breathtaking Khone Phapheng Waterfall. It is Southeast Asia’s biggest waterfall and is known as the Niagara of the East.

Continue to Khone Island and its highlights. Visit the old French heritage sites on Khone and see colonial buildings and the remnants of a locomotive from the first Lao railway; visit Liphi Waterfalls – also called "Devil's Corridor", it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the Lao border with Cambodia. Get on the boat, see the famed Irrawaddy dolphins, an endangered species indigenous to the Mekong River, usually only found in Laos and Cambodia. The dolphins are often seen swimming off the southern tip of Don Khone, and seeing them unobtrusively by boat is a memorable experience.

Overnight on Don Khone

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 16

After breakfast, say good bye to 4,000 islands; you’ll be transferred directly to Champasak town to visit the religious complex of Wat Phou. Located at the foot of a hill, Wat Phou reflects the Hindu culture of the pre-Buddhist Khmer society that constructed it. The summit, Phu Kao, immediately commands attention because of its shape, identified in ancient times with the linga, the phallic symbol of Shiva, from which originated its ancient name, Lingaparvata, and its reputation as a sacred hill. The permanent spring at the foot of the cliffs is probably one of the main reasons the ancient rulers of the area established a sanctuary to Shiva at this spot.

Get to the pier, a boat will be ready to take you to Don Daeng Island, which was once also part of the Wat Phou sanctuary, evident by The Brick Stupa hidden in the middle of the island. Other temple ruins and rock sculptures were discovered within the river. Enjoy the exceptional natural beauty and unspoilt charm of the Island. Overnight at La Folie Lodge

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 17

Spend whole day at your own pace exploring this small island – one of the national protected and preserved islands of the Mekong, where no cars are allowed.

Enjoy Don Daeng’s authenticity: huge and unspoilt sandy beaches crowded with fishermen and lazy buffaloes, wild forests and enchanting birds, plains of rice fields, small local villages with typical wooden houses and numerous Buddhist temples.

Meet with the charming and ever smiling inhabitants and share their warm welcome. Hop on a bicycle for a casual ride on the Parkland’s pathways. Peddle slowly through the neighbouring village to see the lifestyle of the rice farmers and fishermen firsthand.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 18

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the Airport for flight to your next destination. Tour ends here.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

18 Days Hightlights of Laos and Vietnam

1 guest

2 guests

3-5 guests

6-7 guests

8-9 guests

10 guests

Single Supp

Package price for 4–star 

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