Discover Vietnam’s incredible diversity, from cosmopolitan Saigon to picturesque Hoi An, from the extensive waters of the Mekong to serene Halong Bay.
Walk through the charming city of Hanoi, enjoy an exciting cyclo ride to Hue’s Imperial Citadel and learn to cook the delicious local cuisine. Experience the cultural differences and beauty of Laos with its many wonderful treasures. From the UNESCO World Heritage listed town of Luang Prabang where you visit the sacred Pak Ou Caves and visit local villages along the Mekong River, to the beautiful boulevards of Laos’ capital city Vientiane. This 15-day tour will give you the chance to discover the relentless beauty of Laos and Vietnam.
- Trip Descriptions
Start from: Luang Prabang- End in: Saigon
Travel route: Luang Prabang - Xieng Khouang (Plain of Jars) - Vientiane – Hanoi – Halong Bay – Hue - Hoian– Saigon – Mekong Delta
Duration: 15 days – 14 nights
Private Tour. Departure: daily upon your request.
COST: Price quoted in US dollars per person based on Twin, Double share room. Apply for Private Tour.Group size 2 persons 4 persons 6 persons Single Supp’ Book This Trip Land Tour/pp 1471 1282 1106 485 4 Flights/pp 390 390 390 Total/pp 1861 1672 1496 Includes:
4 Domestic and regional Flights
Accommodation in twin/dbl room with daily breakfast
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
English/ French speaking local guide
Entrance fees for mentioned in the itinerary
Private car with A/C
Boat trip & excusionsExcludes:
Travel Insurance, tiping and other personal expenses
- Itinerary
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Luang Prabang Arrival
Upon arival to LUang Prbang international airport, the staff of Laos Travel will welcome you and transfer you to hotel in town. The rest of the day we will visit the National Museum, once a king's palace. Displayed inside is a lovely collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries.
Meals: N/A
Accommodations: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 2- Luang Prabang
Situated where the Nam Khan River meets the Mekong lies the fabled city of Luang Prabang, the former capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage site. With its lantern lit streets lined with a mix of faded colonial mansions and sparking mosaic temples; this city is known to enchant its visitors. After breakfst in the hotel we take Mekong Riverboat trip with your guide to visit the famous & sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Nam Ou Rivers from on high, have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since 16th century, when King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot. On return, visit Por Sa Paper Handicraft & textile area at Ban Xang Khong.
Get back to town for lunch and in the afternoon we visit magnificent Wat Xiengthong—representative of classic Laotian architecture—, before seeing the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, relaxing in one of the city’s many quirky cafés or strolling along the beautiful riverbank.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 3 – Luang Prabang – Xieng Khouang (Plain of Jars) - Phonsavan
Today we drive from Luang Prabang to Xieng Khuang, passing through Laos’ pristine countryside. This is long drive with spectacular view of Laos rain forest and the moutaine ranges. Along the way we will stop for photo opportunities and visit various hill tribe villages. On arival ,check-in at your hotel and relax.
Accommodations: Hotel in Phonsavan
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 – The Plain of Jars
In the 18th and at the beginning of the 19th century, Xieng Khouang was the center of a kingdom of the Hmong (Meo). In 1832, it was conquered by the Vietnamese, annexing the entire region. The town of Xieng Khouang was badly destroyed by US airforce during the Vietnam War. Even though it has been rebuilt in 1975, the name Xieng Khouang is now primarily used in reference to the province of the same name.
The highlight of our visit here is the "Plain of Jars." Scattered over the plain are hundreds of enormous limestone jars, each about 1 to 2.5 metres high, with a diameter of about 1 meter. There is still no explanation as how the clay jars found their way onto the plain, nor what purpose they served. Archaeologists have come up with the wildest theories, among them a claim declaring them brewery cauldrons. More likely, the jars are enormous urns
Accommodations: Hotel in Phonsavan.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 5 – Phonsavan – Fly to Vientiane
Enjoy the breakfst in the hotel and be ready for the flight to Vientiane - Laos’ eccentric capital, visiting all the city’s key attractions. Start the tour with a stop at Vientiane’s oldest temple, Wat Si Saket, filled with over 2000 Buddha images. Next we visit Haw Pha Kaew—the royal temple that once housed the famous Emerald Buddha—, before continuing on to Lao’s most significant national monument: Pha That Luang. We conclude our tour at Patuxai, known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
Accommodations: Hotel in Vientiane
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 – Vientiane - Fly to Hanoi (Vietnam)
Today we fly from Vientiane to Hanoi. Then we check in the hotel, relax after a long journey.
Hanoi is a lovely city with lakes, fine boulevards and flourishing parks, as well as having a public centre that is an architectural museum piece. Hanoi is situated on the right bank of the Red River (Song Hong) which is spanned by two bridges, the old Long Bien Bridge and Chuong Duong bridge.
There is a modest tower (the Tortoise Tower) commemorating the event on an islet in the southern part of the lake. The lake contains large turtles; one captured in 1968 was reputed to have weighed 250 kg (552 pounds). The park that surrounds the lake is used by the residents of the city every morning for jogging and tai chi (Chinese shadow boxing) and is regarded by locals as one of the city's beauty spots.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 7 – Hanoi City Tour
In this city of peace, we have a city tour around the Old Quarter, we have a full day of sightseeing, starting with the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, known to American prisoners of war as the Hanoi Hilton. This museum was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the American / Vietnam War.
We also see the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, a site of pilgrimage (the building has been closed to visitors of late; probably an outside viewing only). The building was constructed from materials gathered from all over Vietnam. Modeled closely on Lenin's Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh lies at rest in this Vietnamese version.
We will also admire the elegance of the One Pillar Pagoda, originally built in 1049. The temple is lotus-shaped and is situated in the middle of a water-lily pond.
We continue to the new Ethnology Museum, one of Vietnam's finest. Dedicated to the ethnic minorities of Vietnam, this museum provides educational displays and descriptions and provides a real insight to peoples found primarily in the high country.
Next is the Temple of Literature, the site of the first national university dating back to 1076 and one of Hanoi's best-preserved ancient sites. From here we walk to the Fine Arts Museum, housed within a large colonial building, where we will see contemporary Vietnamese art and handicrafts.
Tonight we will enjoy a water puppet show. This is a fantastic art form unique to Vietnam and derives from the Red River Delta area.
Accommodations: Hotel in Hanoi
Meal: Breakfast
Day 8 – Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise
This morning we depart from Hanoi on a 3 to 4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site: Halong Bay. Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the East Sea (Bien Dong) (weather permitting). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.
Accommodations: Cruise on Halong Bay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 9 – Halong Bay Cruise – Fly to Hue
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as we navigate back to Halong City. Have lunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier. Our driver will meet you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival to Phu Bai Airport inHue, our driver and guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Accommodations: Hotel in Hue
Meals: Brunch
Day 10 – Hue -Visit the Citadel
Spend an entire day touring the Vietnam’s former ancient capital. Start the day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, home to the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City—once the Emperor's private residence. The Imperial City was created in the 19th century and modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Imperial Enclosure houses many palaces and temples within its walls. In the afternoon, continue on your tour stopping at the Imperial Museum, Tu Hieu Pagoda and vibrant Dong Ba riverside market.
Accommodations: Hotel in Hue
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - Hue – Drive to Danang—Hoian
Spend the morning on a private boat cruise down the romantic Perfume River to visit the Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) and the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. Enjoy lunch at a riverside restaurant before starting on your drive to Hoian. Pass over the 500m-high Hai Van pass and stop en route in Danang for a visit to the Cham Museum and handicraft villages at the foot of Marble Mountain. Arrive in the sleepy riverside town, Hoian, in the late afternoon, check in at the hotel and then enjoy the rest of the evening free at your leisure.
Accommodations: Hotel in Hoian
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 - Hoian – Danang— Fly to Saigon
Have breakfast at the hotel then drive to the airport to catch your flight to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Arrive in the late morning and enjoy an orientation tour through Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling streets en route to the hotel. Have lunch at a downtown restaurant of your choosing then set out on a guided city tour. In the afternoon we will visit such sites as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office and Ben Thanh Market. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Accommodations: Hotel in Saigon
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 – Saigon – Cai Be - Vinh Long - Can Tho
Today we leave Saigon and travel to the Mekong River Delta. Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before driving to the riverside town, Cai Be. Along the way, stop at a candy factory and orchard garden, where you have an opportunity to listen to traditional music. Enjoy a relaxing lunch at a riverside restaurant, then cross the river by motorized boat to visit some fluvial islands and explore the countryside by bicycle. Our driver and guide will meet you at Vinh Long pier and take you to Can Tho city for the night.
Accommodation: Hotel in hotel in Cantho
Meal: Breakfast.
Day 14 – Mekong Delta – Saigon
Wake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motor boat. Continue the boat ride to visit the Mekong Delta’s famous orchards and sample the fresh, exotic fruit. Then venture deeper into the country side, passing traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves as you observe the activities of the local people. Return to Can Tho for lunch then drive back to Saigon, arriving in the late afternoon
Accommodations: Hotel in Saigon
Meal: Breakfast.
Day 15 – Saigon Departure
Have breakfast at the hotel then enjoy a free morning. Our driver will transfer you to Tan Son Nhat International airport for your departure flight.
Accommodations: N/A
Meal: Breakfast
- Map
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