Itinerary
- Day 1
Luang Prabang
You'll arrive in Luang Prabang and get transferred to your hotel. After settling in, the afternoon and evening are open for exploring on your own. Head to the Night Market where local artisans sell handmade textiles, or just wander around the old town to get a feel for the place.
Optional Activities
- Explore Night Market for handmade textiles
Landmarks/POIs Night Market - Day 2
Luang Prabang
If you're interested, there's an optional pre-dawn alms ceremony with monks (let your guide know ahead of time). After breakfast, check out the Morning Market and then head to Heritage House for a hands-on flower decoration experience. From there, you'll tour temples including Wat Mai and Wat Xiengthong. Later, hike to Khouang Si Waterfall passing through H'Mong villages and stop at an Asian bear rescue center along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Witness and participate in alms offering ceremony with monks
- Visit Morning Market
- Hands-on traditional religious floral decoration at Heritage House
- Offer flower set to monks at nearby temple
- Visit National Museum at former Royal Palace
- Visit Wat Mai temple
- Visit Wat Xiengthong temple
- Visit Ban Na Ouane Village
- Visit H'Mong Village
- Visit Asian bear rescue center
- Hike to Khouang Si Waterfall
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Khouang Si Waterfall turquoise waters
Landmarks/POIs Morning Market Heritage House National Museum Wat Mai Wat Xiengthong Ban Na Ouane Village H'Mong Village Asian bear rescue center Khouang Si Waterfall - Day 3
Luang Prabang
Spend the day at Elephant Village Camp where you'll feed elephants and learn about how they communicate with each other. Check out the hospital and museum, then take a traditional long boat to Tad Sae Waterfall. Lunch happens at a local restaurant. By evening, you'll experience the Baci ceremony and traditional Lao dance performance, followed by dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch at Shangri Lao restaurant with coffee/tea and drinking water (Vegetarian options available)), Dinner (Dinner following Baci & Lao Dance performance)
Included Activities
- Elephant Village Camp briefing
- Elephant Feeding
- Visit elephant hospital
- Visit elephant museum
- Visit elephant dung paper making area
- Learn to communicate with elephants (mahout experience)
- Boat trip to Tad Sae Waterfall on traditional Lao long boat
- Buffet lunch at Shangri Lao restaurant with coffee/tea and drinking water
- Baci & Lao Dance performance
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Tad Sae Waterfall
Landmarks/POIs Elephant Village Camp Tad Sae Waterfall - Day 4
Luang Prabang to Hanoi
Enjoy your final morning in Luang Prabang before your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. After you arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to settle in or rest from traveling.
- Day 5
Hanoi
After breakfast, head to Ba Vi countryside near Hanoi. You'll meet Mr. Duoc, a Vietnam War veteran and tea farmer, and hear his wartime stories. Visit his tea plantation and pick tea leaves yourself. Then continue to Moc Village where you'll cook traditional Vietnamese dishes with Mrs. Chin and have lunch in a tropical garden. Spend the afternoon exploring the village on foot and by bicycle, visit local families, and try a traditional herbal foot soak before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch of dishes you prepared)
Included Activities
- Visit tea plantation in Ri village
- Learn tea production at workshop
- Cook traditional Vietnamese dishes with Mrs. Chin
- Lunch in tropical garden
- Walk around Moc village
- Visit local families
- Learn how tofu, conical hats, and local products are made
- Cycling trip through paddy fields
- Traditional herbal feet soak
Landmarks/POIs Ba Vi Ri village Moc village Tan Thach village - Day 6
Hanoi to Halong Bay
After breakfast, you'll travel toward Halong Bay through the scenic Red River Delta route with its emerald rice paddies. Board your cruise and start exploring limestone rocks and karst grottoes. Have seafood lunch and spend time relaxing on the sundeck. Later, kayak or swim at a secret location to get up close with the grottoes. Return to the boat for early dinner and enjoy leisure time or optional activities on board.
- Meals
- Lunch (Seafood lunch on cruise), Dinner (Early dinner on cruise)
Included Activities
- Cruise through Halong Bay exploring limestone rocks and karst grottoes
- Seafood lunch on cruise
- Time at sundeck exploring the Bay
- Kayaking or swimming in secret location
Optional Activities
- Optional activities on the boat
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Red River Delta - Day 7
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Rise early to catch the sunrise and have breakfast. Take a Tai Chi class on the sun deck to start your morning right. Visit a limestone cave with stalagmites and stalactites. Check out and have brunch while sailing back to the harbor, then get transferred back to your accommodation in Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on cruise), Brunch (Brunch on cruise while sailing back to harbor)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing with breakfast on cruise
- Tai Chi class on sun deck
- Visit limestone cave with stalagmites and stalactites
- Brunch on cruise returning to harbor
Landmarks/POIs Limestone cave - Day 8
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy your final moments in Hanoi before your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once you arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is open and free.
- Day 9
Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho to Can Tho
Travel to My Tho and visit Vinh Trang Pagoda from the late 19th century. Board a sampan and cruise around four islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise. Stop at Unicorn Island to walk through village paths, try tropical fruits, and listen to local folk music. Cruise through Thoi Son canal and visit a family bee-keeping farm to taste honey tea and coconut candy. Have lunch, then either cycle around Tan Thach village or relax on hammocks. Afterward, head to Can Tho for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Sampan cruise around Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands
- Walk in village paths on Unicorn Island
- Enjoy tropical fruits and Vietnamese folk music performance
- Visit fruit plantation
- Row in small sampan through Thoi Son canal
- Visit family business and bee-keeping farm
- Honey tea and coconut candy workshop
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Cycling around Tan Thach village
Optional Activities
- Relaxing on hammocks for those not cycling
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Trang Pagoda My Tho Dragon Island Unicorn Island Phoenix Island Tortoise Island Thoi Son Canal Tan Thach Village - Day 10
Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City
Start with breakfast at your hotel, then take a leisurely boat ride on the Lower Mekong River (Bassac River) exploring its tributaries. Visit Cai Rang Floating Market, which is the most vibrant in the area. Tour a local noodle factory and see Munir Ansay Pagoda, a unique Khmer temple. Boat to Con Son tourist area to try seasonal fruits at a fruit plantation. Have lunch and then return to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat ride on Lower Mekong River (Bassac River)
- Visit Cai Rang Floating Market
- Walking tour of local noodle factory
- Visit Munir Ansay Pagoda
- Visit fruit plantation in Con Son tourist area
- Enjoy seasonal fruits
- Lunch
Landmarks/POIs Cai Rang Floating Market Munir Ansay Pagoda Con Son tourist area - Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, you'll drive about an hour and a half to Cu Chi Tunnel. Watch an introductory video about how the tunnels were built and what conditions were like during wartime. Explore the remaining tunnel systems including living areas, kitchens, bedrooms, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers. See hidden trap doors and dangerous traps up close. Taste special tea and cassava (guerrilla food from the war), then head back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cu Chi Tunnel introductory video
- Explore tunnel systems including living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms
- Explore martial facilities including storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers
- Discover hidden trap doors and traps
- Taste special tea and cassava
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnel - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City
Have a healthy breakfast on your final day, then complete your hotel check-out. You'll have time to browse local markets for souvenirs before your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit local markets to buy souvenirs
