Our Vietnam and Laos connection is designed to feature the very best of what these two countries have on offer. Step back in time in the tranquil setting of Luang Prabang. Visit an organic farm using traditional farming methods to grow crop and raise animals, admire sunset over the river, discover the ancient Plain of Jars, cool off in the turquoise water of Kuang Si Falls. In Vietnam, enjoy the splendid beauty of Halong Bayon an overnight cruise, following by the World Culture Heritage trail of Hue – Vietnam’s last imperial city and the quaint riverside town of Hoi An. Top off in the lush Mekong Delta with its vibrant floating market and maze of waterways. Just to name a few activities you will take part in this memorable trip.
BREAF ITINERARY
DAY 1: Vientiane – Arrival (Meals )
DAY 2: Vientiane – City Tour – Buddha Park (Meals:B)
DAY 3 : Vientiane – Vang Vieng (Meals: B)
DAY 4: Vang Vieng – Xieng Khuang (Meals:B )
DAY 5: Xieng Khouang – Plain Of Jars And Muang Khoun (Meals: B)
DAY 6: Xieng Khuang – Luang Prabang (Meals:B)
DAY 7: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves (Meals:B)
DAY 8: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfalls (Meals:B)
DAY 9: Luang Prabang – Departure – Hanoi Arrival (Meals: B)
DAY 10: Hanoi Full Day City Tour (Meals:B)
DAY 11: Hanoi - Halong Over Night On Boat (Meals:B,L,D)
DAY 12: Halong - Hanoi Departure - Take Flight To Hue (Meals:B)
DAY 13: Hue Full Day City Tour (Meals: B)
DAY 14: Hue - Hoi An Half Day City Tour (Meals:B)
DAY 15: Hoi An Full Day Biking & Tra Que Village (Meals:B)
DAY 16:Da Nang Take Flight To Ho Chi Minh - Half Day City Tour (Meals:B)
DAY 17: Full Day Mekong Delta (Vinh Long) (Meals:B)
DAY 18: Ho Chi Minh Departure
DAY 1: Vientiane – Arrival (Meals )
On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel. The rest of the day is your own time at leisure.
DAY 2: Vientiane – City Tour – Buddha Park (Meals:B)
In the morning, we will first visit Wat Si Muang, which is very famous for its supernatural power. After that drive to Buddha Park which takes around 45 minutes away. On the way, stop and take photos of the Friendship Bridge which was built by the Australian government in 1994 and links Laos and Thailand.
Arrive at Buddha Park and enjoy a stroll around the park. Also known as Xieng Khuan, this unusual park is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. The quiet and tranquil setting along the Mekong River is a contrast to the slightly eccentric sculptures which were built in 1958 by a Laos’s shaman. The concrete sculptures are bizarre but intriguing, sitting majestically in the peaceful park.
After visiting Buddha Park, start the drive back to Vientiane. En route, stop at Mai Savanh to explore the traditional textiles of the Lao people. (Note: Mai Savanh is closed on Saturday & Sunday)
Afternoon, visit to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthethirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun is shines upon its towering golden spire. Then, enjoy a panoramic view over the city as you climb the stairs to the top of Patuxai, Vientiane’s own “Arc de Triomphe”. Continue down Lane Xang Avenue the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828. It is one of the most beautiful temples in the capital, and its breezy teak covered hallways are filled with thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Continue on to the nearby Wat Phra Keo. Used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art.
DAY 3 : Vientiane – Vang Vieng (Meals: B)
After breakfast, take a northbound drive on route no. 13 to the small town of Vang Vieng. We will see some breathtaking scenery en route as we pass through spectacular countryside towards the mountainous region. Nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River, Vang Vieng is famous for its stunning scenery with its limestone outcrops remains unspoiled, despite recent developments with the advent of tourism. Cross the Nam Song River to Tham Jang caves. We then visit Organic Farm Vang Vieng (OFVV), promoting the use of natural materials & traditional methods for growing its crops & raising its animals, without using chemicals or artificial fertilizers, which are harmful to both our health & the environment. End of the day with a superb panorama of the sunset over the river.
DAY 4: Vang Vieng – Xieng Khuang (Meals:B )
Today, we leave Vang Vieng for our scenic drive to Xieng Khuang famed for the stunning scenery with limestone outcrops remains unspoiled, despite recent developments with the advent of tourism. En route, stop at the peak of Phouphiengpha to admire the panoramic view over the mountainous area. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Free for the rest of the day.
DAY 5: Xieng Khouang – Plain Of Jars And Muang Khoun (Meals: B)
In the morning, travel through Phonsavan to the Plain of Jars, a huge archaeological complex littered with mysterious 2000 years old stone jars sized from 70cm up to 3 or 4 meters. Their actual origin remains a mystery. It seems that they were carved into boulders. Several researches lead by the French archaeologist Madeleine Colani in the 30’s suggested that they could be old graves, but up to now, they remain an enigma.
You will visit the 3 sites and discover some local villages where you can observe local village life. Site 1, close to the town is settled at Thong Hai Hin and is the biggest site. Site 2 is at Hai Hin on Phou Salator, “Phou” in Lao means “Mountain”. End your tour at site 3 in Hai Hin Lat Khai. Site 3 is the most impressive with over 150 jars. Close to this site, you will visit Ban Xiengdi where there is a small monastery with Buddha images. On the way back, you will pass areas that were important battlefields during the American secret war. You can still see bomb craters from that time today.
Attention: The Plain of Jars has been heavily bombed during the war and you have to respect all the signs and stay along the defined trails due to bombs, UXO and landmines.
In the afternoon, enjoy a half day trip to Muang Khoun in the old provincial capital that was not been destroyed by the American bombings during the secret war. It is home to unique sitting giant Buddha and some old pagodas that lies in ruins. The foundation and columns of Wat Pia Wat are still standing and close to this site, there is also an old 30m stupa constructed in the Lan Xang/Lanna period.
DAY 6: Xieng Khuang – Luang Prabang (Meals:B)
Early morning, we visit the Central Market of Phonsavanh to watch the different hill tribe people barter and exchange merchandises. Afterwards, we head out towards Luang Prabang. En route we stop off to see the Buddha images at Thampra, a site more than 200 years old, and various Hmong and hill tribe minority villages along the way. After numerous photo stops, we continue driving, enjoying the splendid natural scenery of the mountains, the forest and landscape. The journey will take us over mountainous regions until we approach Luang Prabang.
DAY 7: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves (Meals:B)
Today, you will first visit Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then embark a leisure cruise upstream the Mekong River, enjoy breathtaking views of the tranquil countryside along the way before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. You also have chance to stop at the village of Ban Xanghai which makes the local rice wine.
On arrival back in the city, we will visit magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Follow by the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. Catch the sunset at Wat Siphouthabaht before end of the day by strolling around the famous night market where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Option: if time permits, you may wish to visit the Kopnoi Promotion Center, and enjoy the Tea tasting ceremony, where you can also have a small lecture about Lao culture.
DAY 8: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfalls (Meals:B)
An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. We then take a short visit to the morning local market near the Royal Palace. Here, you can find any stock from rice, to fresh vegetables, to steamed fish, frogs, and anything else that might be the day’s catch, just set up on the ground, this is what the locals do every day. This is really the chance for you to get a real flavor of the local culture.
After breakfast at the hotel, climb up through 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River. We then visit Wat Visoun which dates back to 1513 during the reign of King Wisunarat (Visoun), this is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and was once home to the Prabang Buddha.
Afterwards, transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.
Before returning to Luang Prabang, we stop to visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park (closed on Tuesday), one of the must-visit spots, where you can have an optional 15 minute tour to learn about butterflies and local flora.
Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, where you will have a short tour so you get information about Silk, about weaver, about the Women that work in the Centre.
DAY 9: Luang Prabang – Departure – Hanoi Arrival (Meals: B)
You are free at leisure before taking the departure flight to Hanoi.
Arrive at Hanoi airport, welcomed by our guide & driver then transfer to the city.
Hanoi or “River-bound City” as its name literally means is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty which is characterized by unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and romantic lakes has made it one of the most charming cities of Asia.
DAY 10: Hanoi Full Day City Tour (Meals:B)
Morning, start a full day city tour beginning with Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. At the complex, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the nation’s founder’s body is preserved (closed on Monday, Friday and through October - November) and the rural style house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars.
Afternoon, continue the tour to one of the following museums of choice namely the Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Museum of Revolution, the Museum of Military History or the Museum of Ethnology. Go to Hoan Kiem Lake, the center point of Hanoi whose name “The Return Sword Lake” originated from a legend of a sacred sword and home to a rare endangered giant turtle species and visit Ngoc Son Temple on the lake. Next, take a one-hour cycle tour of the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its ancient streets representing traditional trades from the past. Finish the tour at the Thang Long Opera Theatre with a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.
DAY 11: Hanoi - Halong Over Night On Boat (Meals:B,L,D)
Morning pickup at 8:00 AM from your hotel for transfer to Ha Long Bay, which is about 160 km or 3.5-hour drive away. On the way, you will see some rural areas of the Red River Delta with plenty of chances to take photos of Vietnamese farmers working in paddy fields. Stop half way to visit a handicraft workshop of fine clothes and embroidered paintings. Arrive in Ha Long City at 11:30 AM and check in aboard the booked junk right after the welcome drink is served. Start cruising while having lunch on board and enjoy the mighty bay view.
Ha Long Bay meaning Descending Dragon Bay in Vietnamese as legend has it that it was where a holly dragon landed down from sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s wonders and heritage sites whose formation dates back 500 million years, consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2. The bay cruise will continue with up close sighting of Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail Island, a visit to Sung Sot Cave and swimming stop at Titov Beach. Relax to enjoy the bay view at sunset, have dinner after, go fishing at 09:00 PM and spend a night on board.
DAY 12: Halong - Hanoi Departure - Take Flight To Hue (Meals:B)
Wake up at 06:30 AM and refresh your body and mind with a Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck. Tai Chi is an ancient internal martial art often practiced in soft and gracefully slow moves to enhance internal harmony and vitality. Have tea and coffee onboard before proceeding to Titov Islet or SoiSim Island to trek and swim. Check out at 09:30, have a buffet brunch while cruising back to shore. Disembark at 11:00 AM to transfer back to Hanoi.
Free at leisure until meet our guide then transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Arrival Hue airport, meet our guide & driver then transfer to the Hue city
DAY 13: Hue Full Day City Tour (Meals: B)
Morning, meet our guide at your hotel and take a full day tour of Hue City, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam for the 1802-1945 period and the last refuge of Vietnamese feudalism. The city’s beauty is characterized by a natural scenic landscape and an extensive variety of historical relics. Begin with Hue Citadel, a well-known UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site which is a 520 ha fortress-like grand complex built in the early 1800s and featuring three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts namely Kinh Thanh Hue (Civic City) as the outer, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) as the middle and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) as the inner. Continue to Khai Dinh Tomb, the burial site of Vietnam’s second-to-last king, and the most elaborate compared to other kings’ tombs. The tomb shows a vivid European influence in architecture despite its Asian style.
Afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Perfume River to enjoy the open view of the river and its surroundings. Stop along the way and land on shore to visit two prominent historical landmarks namely the Minh Mang Tomb, where the 2nd Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty was buried, and Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery overlooking the river from a vantage point with its origin dating back to 1601. Last, stop for shopping at Dong Ba market, which is the city’s traditional commercial center.
DAY 14: Hue - Hoi An Half Day City Tour (Meals:B)
In the morning, transfer to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass). Enjoy a stunning headland-and-bay panoramic view from the pass, which for miles hugs the mountainside along the shoreline and overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Start a full-day tour in Hoi An, once a bustling maritime commercial port of Asia between 15th and 19th centuries. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, it is now a peaceful town of exceptionally well-preserved architecture, lifestyles and traditions. The town exemplifies a fascinating fusion of cultures between Vietnam and the outside world including China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. Your sightseeing will include the iconic 400-year-old Covered Bridge with a small temple attached to one side as a prominent example of Japanese architecture, the Museum of Trade Ceramics which is an elegant Vietnamese style wooden house built in 1858 showcasing antique ceramic artifacts, the 200-year-old Tan Ky House typifying an ancient Chinese merchant residence, the Ong Temple built in 1653 by Chinese settlers to worship Guan Yu, an ancient Chinese general whose character stands for loyalty, bravery and justice and the local market vibrant with colors and activities.
DAY 15: Hoi An Full Day Biking & Tra Que Village (Meals:B)
Morning, meet our guide and cycle to Tra Que herb village which has been very famous for a long time. A day to this village, you are welcome by hospital farmers, learn how to hoe land, cultivate, thrust, seed, plant vegetables and pick up seaweeds to manure or gather planted vegetables together with farmers. After that, you will learn to make special dishes from Tra Que vegetables, then relax, talk & read on bamboo beds or hammocks in the quiet atmosphere. In the afternoon, go fishing so as to be attached to each other in unforgettable impression or bike to Cua Dai beach or relaxing.
DAY 16:Da Nang Take Flight To Ho Chi Minh - Half Day City Tour (Meals:B)
Free at leisure until transfer to Da Nang international airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, welcome by our guide and transfer to your hotel. Ho Chi Minh
City formerly named Saigon is the largest city and economic center of Vietnam always bustled with activities of modern life. It is where businesses converge and shoppers indulge themselves into unlimited choices. However the city also carries with it a rich historical legacy in contrast with its dazzling glamor.
Take a city tour to visit the War Remnants Museum which features a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons, photos, and documentation of Vietnam War with the both the French and Americans and the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Last, stop for shopping at the French-built Ben Thanh Market which dates back to 1870 and whose main entrance clock tower has become a city’s symbol.
DAY 17: Full Day Mekong Delta (Vinh Long) (Meals:B)
Morning, pickup at your hotel to transfer about 136 km to Vinh Long, a riverside town in the vast Mekong Delta, one of the world’s largest deltas. Take a boat cruise to lively Cai Be floating market where sellers and buyers bargain and exchange goods from their boats. Proceed through a fascinating maze of shady canals to Hoa Binh Phuoc Island. Beautiful landscape of zigzag canals, lush vegetation, peaceful villages and activities of rural life will make you a delightful sight. There on the island, visit some local farmers’ homes, interact with warm-hearted hosts and learn about their trades of bonsai gardening, tile and ceramic production and rice paper and coconut candy making. A typical Vietnamese lunch at a local home will be arranged.
DAY 18: Ho Chi Minh Departure
Meet our guide & driver at the hotel lobby then transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for departure flight.
