Laos and Vietnam Expedition 15 Days

Overview:

 

A comprehensive journey through the charming countries of Laos and Vietnam will leave you energized and inspired. Be moved by the smiling faces of the long-suffering people and enlightened by an encounter with Buddhist monks in Luang Prabang. Be thrilled by the strident and hustle street life in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, decompressed by a relaxing cruise on the traditional wooden junk in Ha Long Bay. And then, be delighted by the glory and peace in Hoi An and pleased by the interesting history and architecture in Hue. Finally, two-day excursion to the Mekong Delta area would bring you unforgettable experiences of a unique local daily life and their interesting floating markets.

 

All this is set to please the demands of many people and of course, it can be customized to meet your personal preferences.

 

 

Detailed itinerary:

 

Day 1: Vientiane arrival (G)

Upon arrival at Vientiane international airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. After a short rest, we set our orientation short Walking Tour to Lao Capital, strolling around the city distance, and observing the sunset by the Mekong Riverside and late evening, seeing the city lifestyle of local Lao people. You’ll spend your night in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane City Tour (B, L, G)

Your city tour will include visits to Wat Si Saket, Vientiane’s oldest temple and easily the most impressive, and Wat Pha Keo Museum. From there you’ll visit That Luang Stupa, stopping en-route to photograph the imposing Patuxay Monument, better known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. From there, we visit the local ‘Morning Market’ – it’s good for antiques (occasionally a genuine item turns up!), handmade textiles and other souvenirs.

After lunch, you’ll visit Wat Ong Tu, the Temple of the Heavy Buddha, an important centre of learning. The day culminates with a stroll along the Mekong riverside to enjoy the sunset. You’ll spend another night in Vientiane.

Day 3: Vientiane/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

In the morning, you’ll be driven to the airport for your morning flight to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage City. On arrival, you’ll be picked up to travel to your hotel. Your afternoon city tour will include Wat Xieng Thong, a beautiful temple justifiably described as a scene from an oriental fairytale, and the dazzling Wat Mai temple. After a climb up the steps to the top of Mount Phousi, you’ll be able to enjoy an excellent panorama of Luang Prabang and the sunset. In the evening, you’ll be free to stroll around to see the Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Your overnight accommodation will be in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Luang Prabang/Kuangsi Waterfall/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

This is the morning when you need your alarm clock! Early in the morning after a sustaining beverage and a small snack, you’ll witness one of Laos’ unique ceremonies – the daily ‘alms giving’ ritual of saffron-clad monks walking in a long line holding black bowls to receive offerings from local people. The traditional gift is a handful of ‘sticky rice’, but nowadays money is equally acceptable. You’ll then return to your hotel for a proper breakfast. Afterwards, you’ll be driven to the Kuangsi Waterfalls, a serene beauty spot where you can splash around in the pools or stroll the forest paths. From there, you’ll return to Luang Prabang and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village. It’s quite commercial, but if you look carefully you can pick up some authentic hand-woven material – they make good souvenirs. You should return to the city in time for your chosen dinner venue.

Day 5: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou Cave/Hanoi (B, L, G)

You’ll be met and driven to the boat pier for a cruise along the Mekong River to the Pak Ou holy grottoes and Tham Ting cave. After a picnic lunch beside the river, you’ll return to Luang Prabang city and to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted and driven to your hotel. You’ll spend your night in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi city tour (B, L, G)

You’ll have the whole day to explore Vietnam’s capital city. Your guide will take you to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century, and a popular attraction, Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the president palace, his house on stilt, the One Pillar pagoda and his museum. You’ll then drive to the excellent Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups.

After lunch, you’ll visit the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West) Lake. You’ll also call in at the bustling Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ngoc Son temple. The Old Quarter is a magnet for visitors, a maze of shopping streets and restaurants with a hotchpotch of architecture - traditional tube houses, religious buildings, artisans’ workshops and cottages, colonial houses and modern concrete edifices. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of water puppetry. You’ll spend your night in Hanoi.

Note: Ho Chi Minh mausoleum closes on Mondays and Fridays.

         Most museums close on Mondays.

Day 7: Hanoi/Ha Long Bay (B, L, D, G)

After an early breakfast, you’ll leave for Ha Long Bay. This takes roughly 3.5 hours. You may stop en-route to admire the local scenery. Arrive at the port around 11:30am and board the wooden boat. Begin sailing and pass through magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. After lunch, your boat cruise will take you first to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. If weather permits, you’ll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill (not a mountain!) for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape, or venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood, and you’ll sleep in a twin/double cabin with an en suite toilet and shower.

Day 8: Ha Long Bay/Hanoi/Hue (Brunch, G)

Getting up early in the morning to enjoy the sunrise and the fresh air, you’ll then cruise to see the floating village before having lunch. Your boat will dock around noon and you’ll leave for Noi Bai airport in Hanoi for your flight to Hue. When you arrive at Phu Bai airport, your guide and driver are waiting for you and drive you to your hotel. You’ll spend your night in Hue.

Day 9: Hue (B, L, D, G)

Your morning will be taken up by a cruise along the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, and then by road to the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and, in the afternoon, Emperor Khai Dinh. From there, you’ll return to Hue to visit one of city’s ‘garden houses’ and stroll around Dong Ba market and then return to your hotel to freshen-up. In the evening, you’ll sit down for dinner in the pleasant surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere of another of the garden houses. You’ll spend the night in Hue.

Day 10: Hue/Danang/Hoi An (B, L, G)

In the morning, your guide will arrive to take you to visit the Imperial citadel before heading to the south for Hoi An. On the way, you'll cross the high mountain pass of Hai Van. The views from top are excellent – you should be able to see Lang Co beach, village and the lagoon far below, and Danang spread out before you to the south.

Upon arriving in Danang, you’ll have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham Museum before leaving for Hoi An. You’ll spend your night in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An/My Son/Hoi An (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the World Heritage ‘My Son Sanctuary’. Your guide will show you the remains of the remarkable towers constructed by the Cham builders, many centuries ago - their origins and purpose have yet to be fully explained. In the afternoon, you’ll return to visit the ancient town of Hoi An. The remainder of the day will be your own. You’ll stay overnight in Hoi An.

Day 12: Hoi An/Danang/Ho Chi Minh City (B, G)

Your morning will be free until your car arrives to take you to the airport for your noon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll be welcomed at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City and transferred to your hotel in the centre for check-in.

In the afternoon, you’ll have a guided tour to visit Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll visit the Museum of War Remnants, the huge Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll finish your day with a visit to a lacquer workshop to see the complex processes and meticulous workmanship involved in this traditional Vietnamese craft product. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Can Tho (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll travel to Vinh Long where a Mekong River cruise will take you to visit the fruit orchards, a traditional family-run brick kiln, and some long established cottage industries. You’ll drive further into the Mekong Delta to Can Tho. Upon arrival you’ll call in at the Munir Ansay – an ancient Khmer style pagoda, renowned for its unique structural decorations. You’ll then drive to your hotel in Can Tho where you’ll spend the night.

Day 14: Can Tho/Cai Rang floating market/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

Wake up early in the morning, you’ll be driven to the boat pier for taking the boat ride on Mekong River which is the longest and most prosperous in Asia, visit the famous floating market Cai Rang, where you can see the daily life and local people selling their products on boats. Then a cruising to small cannels will bring you to one of the local family and their orchard, taste tropical fruits, green tea. After that, you’ll drive back to Ho Chi Minh City for another night stay.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City departure (B, DP)

Your day will be your own until your car and driver arrives to take you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight. Tour ends.

 

 

B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, G: Guide, DP: Driver pickup.

 

 

 

Price (person in US dollars):
 

Other tours:

• Cambodia and Laos Combined Tour 13 Days
• Cambodia and Vietnam Explorer 15 Days
• Indochina Explorer 19 Days
• Indochina Cultural Expedition 14 Days

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