Vietnam & Laos Tour 12 days 11 nights
Code: IT2
Departure: Daily
Tour Type: Private
Destinations: Vietnam, Laos
Itinerary in brief:
Day 1: Sai Gon arrival
Day 2: Sai Gon city tour (B,L)
Day 3: Sai Gon – Vinh Long – Flight to Danang (B,L)
Day 4: Hoi An – My Son (B,L)
Day 5: Hoi An – Danang – Hue (B,L)
Day 6: Hue – Flight to Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)
Day 7: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B,L)
Day 8: Hanoi city tour (B,L)
Day 9: Hanoi – Flight to Vientiane – Vientiane city tour (B,L)
Day 10: Vientiane – Flight to Luang Prabang (B,L)
Day 11: Luang Prabang – Khouangsi waterfalls (B,L)
Day 12: Luang prabang – departure (B)
Itinerary in detail:
Day 1: Sai Gon arrival
Upon your arrival at international airport, you will be picked up by your English speaking and then transferred to city centre with a brief introduction before arrival to hotel for check in.
Day 2: Sai Gon city tour (B,L)
Morning, after breakfast, start to explore the city tour including the visit to the Reunification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today this building is a museum and venue for official receptions. Nearby is the Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Neo-Romanesque in form, Notre Dame is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern Vietnam. Lunch is at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the History Museum for a thorough understanding of the Vietnamese history and then visit the War Remnant museum to have an overall picture of the most recent wars in country. End the day with shopping opportunities at Ben Thanh market and boutique shops along Dong Khoi street.
Day 3: Sai Gon – Vinh Long – Flight to Danang (B,L)
This morning, pick up at your hotel then depart for Cai Be floating market which is situated in the Mekong delta. Upon arrival, embark a private boat to cruise around Cai Be Floating Market to see local people being selling, buying, exchanging goods from their boats. Visit local garden and house to see orchard, rice crisped producing process, etc..
After lunch at local restaurant or local family, continue cruising along river to see peaceful tranquil life of villagers, admire marvelous natural setting of Mekong Delta region. The boat will arrival at Vinh Long Market, walking around to explore Vinh Long Market.
Then, transfer directly to airport for late afternoon flight to Danang. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel for hotel in Hoi An for check in. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 4: Hoi An – My Son (B,L)
After breakfast, pick up at your hotel then depart to My Son, a World Heritage site, 40 km southwest of Hoi An. Located in a lush valley, My Son was a capital and religious center of Cham people, with red brick towers and sanctuaries, considered to be in the same league as some of Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor-Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. These towers and sanctuaries were built from the 7 to 13 centuries. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, walking tour of the ancient town centre. Follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the local fish market… Around the town we can see a numerous art galleries and tailor shops, get some made-to-order clothes if you like.
Day 5: Hoi An – Danang – Hue (B,L)
Morning transfer to Hue. On arriva, start to explore Hue city by enjoying the boat cruise on Perfum River, viewing the city and the tranquil villages on the riverbank. Then walk up to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, a nicely located pagoda, overlooks the Perfume River and the beautiful scenery beyond, where you get to learn more about the Buddhism in Vietnam. Next, take a short ride to visit the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen emperors once ruled Vietnam. Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, drive to visit the Tomb of King Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Then, walk with your guide around Dong Ba Market to experience local commercial life activities and shopping opportunities. Transfer back to your hotel.
Day 6: Hue – Flight to Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)
Morning flight to Hue. On arrival, pick up and transfer to Halong for Halong Boat cruise. arrival at Bai Chay Whalf, we will be met by captain and board your traditional wooden junk. and start cruising out to the mystic bay while a seafood lunch is served on board.
In the afternoon, we cruise to the inside of magical landscape and admire the Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Binh Phong mountain. And stop to visit the Surprise cave (Sung Sot cave), visit Luon cave for swimming or mountain climbing to Titop peak for panoramic view of the bay. Have dinner on board. Late tonight, join with the junk crew for squid fishing on board if interested. Overnight on junk.
Day 7: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B,L)
Rise to the sound of the ocean coming to life for another lovely day. Before breakfast, you may have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, we cruise to the Bai Tho Mountain in the other beautiful Bai Tu Long Bay and we cruise back to the Halong dock. Lunch/ Brunch buffet breakfast is served on boat before checkout. Boat arrive at harbor then transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight at hotel.
Day 8: Hanoi city tour (B,L)
After breakfast, we will start to explore Hanoi city with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the preserved body of “Uncle Ho” can be viewed. Continue visiting the lotus-shaped One-Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot), whose origins date back to the foundation of cityand the Temple of Literature – the center of the Confucian education and the first university of Vietnam. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, continue with Quan Thanh and Tran Quoc pagoda, then route the wonderful Ethnology Museum to understand about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. End the day with one hour ride through the Old Quarter with 36 streets and 36 wares and be dropped off to enjoy the Water Puppet Show, the unique art of Northern Vietnam.
Day 9: Hanoi – Flight to Vientiane – Vientiane city tour (B,L)
Morning flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, meet up with the guide and transfer to hotel. Then start to explore Vientiane capital by visiting the major sights of the capital; including the oldest temple Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Enroute to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Lunch at local restaurant.
We continue visiting the rest of Vientiane by foot, including Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng and Wat Haisok. We pass by the major shopping area continuing to the Vientiane Central Market of Talad Sao and Talad Kouadin where various goods are displayed for sale; including fresh food, household goods, souvenirs, textiles, gold, silver and antiques. We return to the Mekong Riverside in the late afternoon for observing the sunset. Overnight in Vientiane
Day 10: Vientiane – Flight to Luang Prabang (B,L)
Morning flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival, pick up and drive to hotel.
Next, visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Today, we also visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. Lunch at local restaurant.
We visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before we head out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. We then return to the city for a visit to Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Note: the Royal Palace Museum is closed on Tuesdays. Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day 11: Luang Prabang – Khouangsi waterfalls (B,L)
Today we cross the Mekong River by boat, to the picturesque village of Ban Chan, a pottery village. We then visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, Khmu villages. This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day 12: Luang prabang – departure (B)
Free time until transfer to airport for your departure flight. End of services.
Inclusive
• Private English speaking guide
• All accommodation on twin/ double share basis with daily breakfast
• Meals as indicated at local restaurant with local foods (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• All tours & transfers in private car/van/bus
• Boat cruise as indicated
• Domestic airfare & airport taxes: Sai Gon – Danang, Hue – Hanoi, Hanoi – Vientiane, Vientiane – Luang Prabang.
• Entrance fees and permits during guided time
• Service charge & government taxes
Exclusive
• Vietnam & Laos visa
• International airfares
• Early check in/ Late check out
• Meals not indicated
• Drinks & beverage…
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
• Personal expenses
• Tips and gratuities.
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