Highlights of Laos and Vietnam 12 days

Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by our local guide, who will transfer you to your hotel in Vientiane, the charming and welcoming capital of Laos. After checking in, enjoy some free time at your leisure.

In the afternoon, our local guide will take you on an orientation walk around the hotel area, offering an introduction to this beautiful capital. Immerse yourself in the romantic riverside scenery, especially at sunset, when the sun sinks below the horizon over the Mekong River.

Meals: N/A

Accommodation: Hotel

Today, we will spend the full day exploring Vientiane, the attractive and fascinating capital of Laos. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, the city retains a refreshingly laid-back atmosphere.

We will visit several key attractions, beginning with the National Museum (Lao National History Museum), an excellent place to learn about the history, culture, and people of Laos. Next, we will explore Wat Sisaket, which is renowned for its cloister walls housing thousands of tiny Buddha images and rows of hundreds of seated Buddha statues. Beyond its remarkable collection, the pagoda is also admired for its beautiful architecture and layout, with a history dating back to the 19th century. We will then visit Haw Phra Kaeo, one of the most impressive temples in Laos, which once housed the Emerald Buddha and features courtyards filled with frangipani trees.

In the afternoon, we will explore the Morning Market, a spacious traditional marketplace worth visiting before continuing to Pha That Luang, the most important national monument in Laos. This magnificent stupa is a symbol of Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. Finally, we will visit Patuxai, often referred to as the Arc de Triomphe of Laos. This imposing monument features a beautifully decorated mosaic-tiled ceiling, and from the top, you can enjoy panoramic views across Vientiane.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy some free time at your leisure before being transferred to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom until 1545 and a city widely regarded by visitors as the heart of Lao culture.

Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed and escorted to your hotel. For the remainder of the day, visit the Royal Palace, originally known as Haw Kham. The museum is well worth spending a couple of hours exploring if you wish to learn more about Lao history and culture. Once the royal residence of the king, the palace was designed in the French style, with tasteful touches of traditional Lao culture.

Next, ascend the 328 steps to Mount Phousi, a popular spot for watching the sunrise and sunset over the Mekong River. From the summit, enjoy spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of the city, its many temples, the surrounding landscape, and distant mountains. Afterwards, wander through the hill tribe market, where you can discover traditional textiles and handicrafts made by local hill tribes.

Meals: B, D

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, board a cruise along the Mekong River to visit Pak Ou Caves, an important religious site in Luang Prabang, where thousands of Buddha images have been enshrined in limestone caves for centuries.

In the afternoon, enjoy a cultural tour of Luang Prabang’s gilded temples, including Wat Mai, Wat Sensoukarahm, and Wat Xieng Thong.

Later in the afternoon, take your flight to Hanoi.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel

Today, we will spend the full day discovering Hanoi, the ancient yet dynamic capital of Vietnam.

In the morning, our guide will accompany you to some of the city’s key attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex (the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his stilt house), the Presidential Palace, and the One Pillar Pagoda. We will then visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue exploring Hanoi’s rich culture with a visit to one of the following museums: the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, the Vietnam National Museum of History, Hoa Lo Prison Museum, or the Vietnamese Women’s Museum. Next, discover Hanoi’s diverse architecture and the famous 36 streets of the Old Quarter through a combination of walking and cycling. After a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, a symbol of Hanoi, enjoy a traditional water puppet show.

Finally, return to your hotel to relax.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast, depart Hanoi for a journey to Halong Bay via the Red River Delta. Along the way, enjoy picturesque views of the countryside.

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the cruise staff and board the boat. Enjoy lunch as the boat cruises among the unspoilt limestone islets of Halong Bay. Later, visit one of the bay’s most impressive caves, then relax on a beach by sunbathing or swimming. Alternatively, spend some time on the sundeck admiring the spectacular sunset over the bay.

After sunset, enjoy a romantic dinner on board before retiring to your cabin for a restful night’s sleep.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

Wake up on the bay to the sounds of the waves and birds welcoming the new day. Take the opportunity to admire the sunrise over the bay.

Your boat will cruise back to Halong Pier through spectacular karst landscapes and limestone rock formations. Enjoy a leisurely morning and visit a beautiful cave before savouring brunch on board.

Upon arrival at the pier, your driver will meet you for the transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for your flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival in Da Nang, our driver will transfer you to your hotel in Hoi An. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Meals: B, Br

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

After breakfast, embark on a fascinating walking tour through the narrow, winding streets of Hoi An to explore this historic port town in depth. The Old Town was best known as a bustling trading port from the 16th to the 18th century, attracting merchants from China, France, the Netherlands, Arabia, and Japan.

During the tour, you will visit the 200-year-old Tam Ky House, the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chua Ong Pagoda, and the Chinese Assembly Hall.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a short boat trip to a traditional handicraft village, where you can learn more about how local artisans make ceramics. Afterwards, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Cruise

In the morning, our driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Hue Imperial City, one of Vietnam’s most important historical and cultural landmarks, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Along the way, we will stop near Da Nang to explore the scenic Hai Van Pass, renowned for its spectacular coastal views. You may also visit the Marble Mountains and a local handicraft village, or the Cham Museum, where you can gain insight into the history of the Champa Kingdom, which once held power across parts of Indochina.

Upon arrival in Hue, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, take a boat trip along the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest and most beautiful religious sites in the country. Next, explore the Imperial Citadel, constructed between 1804 and 1833 under the Nguyen Dynasty. This historic complex is surrounded by fortifications and features defensive structures, a moat, and bridges connecting its entrances. Then, visit the Hue Royal Antiques Museum to admire a collection of royal artefacts from that era.

Round off the day with a visit to Dong Ba Market, where you can experience local daily life.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

After breakfast, our driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Hue Airport (Phu Bai Airport) for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival in the late morning, enjoy lunch at your own expense at a restaurant in the city centre.

In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day city tour of Ho Chi Minh City, visiting some of its most notable attractions, including the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Central Post Office. Afterwards, explore the city’s Chinese district, including Binh Tay Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Today, depart Ho Chi Minh City for Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, approximately 130 km away, with a driving time of around 2.5–3 hours.

Upon arrival, board a boat at Phong Nam Pier and cruise along the Chet Say River, a branch of the Mekong. Stop at various local workshops to gain insight into the local economy. Visit traditional brick kilns, a coconut-shell charcoal factory where coconut shells are heated in a kiln to produce charcoal, and a coconut-processing workshop. Here, you can sample fresh coconut and discover how every part of this versatile fruit is transformed into food and other products.

Continue cruising through narrow canals to discover local life. The boat will then stop at a peaceful village, where you can enjoy a short walk and experience authentic village life in the Mekong Delta. Visit a mat-weaving house, where straw mats are woven on traditional handlooms. You can even try weaving a mat yourself before boarding a xe loi (a type of motorized rickshaw) or cycling through the village. Along the way, admire local farms, rice fields, and vegetable gardens before stopping at a local home for a delicious, hearty lunch. Enjoy regional specialties such as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp, accompanied by cold drinks or beer.

After lunch, board a sampan for a relaxing journey along narrow canals. Then, take a boat back to the pier before transferring back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Enjoy a relaxing morning at your leisure. Your room will be available until 12:00 pm.

Our driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. This marks the end of our services. We hope to have the pleasure of serving you again in the future!

Meals: B

Accommodation: N/A