Itinerary
- Day 1
Vientiane
You'll arrive in Vientiane and get settled at your hotel. After that, a guided tour takes you through Wat Sisaket and Hor Prakeo temples. Later, you'll head to Ban Nong Bua Thong, a traditional hand weaving village where locals still work on looms the old way.
Included Activities
- City tour including Wat Sisaket, Hor Prakeo and traditional hand weaving village Ban Nong Bua Thong
Landmarks/POIs Wat Sisaket Hor Prakeo Ban Nong Bua Thong - Day 2
Vientiane to Luang Prabang
This morning starts at the Lao National History Museum, then Buddha Park and the Central Market in Vientiane. By afternoon you fly to Luang Prabang and check out Wat Visoun, Wat Aham, Wat Sene and Wat Mai. Before dark, climb Mount Phousi to catch the sunset over the Mekong River. Later, the Night Market is open for browsing textiles and local souvenirs.
Included Activities
- Morning visit Lao National History Museum
- Visit Buddha Park
- Visit Central Market
- Sightseeing tour of Wat Visoun, Wat Aham, Wat Sene and Wat Mai
- Climb Mount Phousi for sunset view
- Visit Night Market
Landmarks/POIs Lao National History Museum Buddha Park Central Market Wat Visoun Wat Aham Wat Sene Wat Mai Mount Phousi Night Market Mekong River - Day 3
Luang Prabang
If you're interested, you can join monks during their early morning alms collection ritual. After breakfast, you'll see Wat Sene and Wat Xiengthong. Then it's a boat trip upstream on the Mekong to Pak Ou Caves where thousands of gold Buddha statues fill the caverns. You'll also visit a rice wine distillery at Ban Xanghai and later explore ethnic minority villages and Khouangsi Waterfall with its turquoise pools. Before heading back, stop at Ban Xangkhong for silk weaving and traditional paper making. End the day with sunset viewing at Wat Siphouthabath.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Wat Sene and Wat Xiengthong
- Mekong River cruise to Pak Ou Caves
- Visit Ban Xanghai rice wine distillery
- Visit local villages: Ban Ouay (Hmong), Ban Ou (Laoloum), Ban Thapene (Khmu)
- Visit Khouangsi Waterfall with pools and forest trails
- Visit Ban Xangkhong silk weaving and traditional Saa Paper making
- Sunset viewing at Wat Siphouthabath
Optional Activities
- Early morning participation in monks' alms collection ritual
Landmarks/POIs Wat Sene Wat Xiengthong Pak Ou Caves Ban Xanghai Ban Ouay Ban Ou Ban Thapene Khouangsi Waterfall Ban Xangkhong Wat Siphouthabath Mekong River - Day 4
Luang Prabang to Siem Reap
You fly to Siem Reap and visit the Angkor National Museum, which shows the Khmer Kingdom's history through artifacts and displays. After 5pm, head out to Bakheng Hill to watch the sunset from the top.
Included Activities
- Visit Angkor National Museum
- Sunset viewing from Bakheng Hill
Landmarks/POIs Angkor National Museum Bakheng Hill - Day 5
Siem Reap
Starting after breakfast, you drive to Angkor Thom through the Southern Gate. Inside, explore The Bayon temple with its central towers, the Elephant Terrace used for public ceremonies, and the Terrace of the Leper King. In the afternoon, you'll spend time at Angkor Wat, the main temple complex.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Angkor Thom fortified city including Southern Gate
- Visit The Bayon temple
- Visit Elephant Terrace
- Visit Terrace of the Leper King
- Visit Angkor Wat
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Thom The Bayon Elephant Terrace Terrace of the Leper King Angkor Wat - Day 6
Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City
You'll leave Cambodia and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. This afternoon, there's the former Presidential Palace to see, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and the French-style Post Office. Later, head to Cholon, Saigon's Chinatown, and check out Binh Tay, a huge wholesale market selling everything from textiles to produce.
Included Activities
- Visit former Presidential Palace
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit French-style central Post Office
- Visit Cholon (Chinatown)
- Visit Binh Tay wholesale market
Landmarks/POIs Presidential Palace War Remnants Museum Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office Cholon Binh Tay Market - Day 7
Mekong Delta
Today you explore the Mekong Delta, where rice paddies and fruit plantations cover the landscape. You'll take boat trips through smaller waterways to visit floating markets, local villages, home industries and plantations. It's a chance to see how people actually live and work in South Vietnam.
Included Activities
- Boat trips on Mekong Delta tributaries
- Visit local floating markets
- Visit villages
- Visit home industries
- Visit plantations
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta - Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City to Hue
You have free time in Ho Chi Minh City for shopping or just relaxing downtown. Then it's a short flight to Hue. This afternoon, you'll visit the Royal Tombs of Minh Mang and see Tu Hieu pagoda, which sits peacefully near the river.
Included Activities
- Visit Royal Tombs of Minh Mang
- Visit Tu Hieu pagoda
Optional Activities
- Free leisure time or downtown shopping
Landmarks/POIs Royal Tomb of Minh Mang Tu Hieu Pagoda - Day 9
Hue
A boat trip on the Perfume River takes you to Thien Mu Pagoda. Then by coach you'll visit the Imperial Citadel, exploring the old royal compound. After lunch at a local restaurant, you head to Tự Đức Tomb, one of Hue's most important historical sites.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit Imperial Citadel
- Visit Tự Đức Tomb
Landmarks/POIs Perfume River Thien Mu Pagoda Imperial Citadel Tự Đức Tomb - Day 10
Hue to Hoi An
Heading south from Hue toward Hoi An, you'll stop at the Marble Mountains to see Cham sculpture displays. You'll pass through Lang Co, a scenic fishing village, then go through the Hai Van tunnel. The drive takes you through some nice landscapes.
Included Activities
- Visit Marble Mountains and Cham sculpture display
- Pass through Lang Co fishing village
Landmarks/POIs Marble Mountains Lang Co Hai Van Tunnel - Day 11
Hoi An
Now you explore Hoi An, an old Cham seaport that shows influences from centuries of traders. Walk through streets with low tiled houses that look Chinese, find the Japanese covered bridge, and see brightly painted temples and pagodas. It's one of Vietnam's more interesting historic towns.
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Hoi An including Chinese-style houses, Japanese covered bridge, temples and pagodas
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Japanese Covered Bridge - Day 12
Hoi An to Hanoi
A morning flight gets you to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital with over a thousand years of history. You'll see peaceful lakes, French-style buildings, tree-lined boulevards and colorful temples. The afternoon tour includes the Literature Temple, Hoa Lo Prison, and the Ethnology Museum. Then it's a cyclo ride around Hoan Kiem Lake and through Hanoi's Old Quarter streets.
Included Activities
- Visit Literature Temple
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison
- Visit Ethnology Museum
- Cyclo drive around Hoan Kiem Lake and Old Quarter
Landmarks/POIs Literature Temple Hoa Lo Prison Ethnology Museum Hoan Kiem Lake Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 13
Hanoi to Halong Bay
You transfer to Halong Bay and board a junk boat for an overnight trip. After lunch, the cruise starts with scenery that changes constantly. You'll visit Sung Sot Cave, cruise around Tuan Chau Island, Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island and Sail Island. There's time to swim at Titov Beach. Dinner's on board while you watch the sunset.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Dinner on board while watching the sunset)
Included Activities
- Junk boat cruise in Halong Bay
- Visit Sung Sot Cave
- Visit Tuan Chau Island
- Visit Dinh Huong Island
- Visit Ga Choi Island
- Visit Dog Island
- Visit Sail Island
- Swim at Titov Beach
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Sung Sot Cave Tuan Chau Island Dinh Huong Island Ga Choi Island Dog Island Sail Island Titov Beach - Day 14
Halong Bay to Hanoi
After an early breakfast, the cruise continues to Man's Head Island, Tortoise Island, Bai Tu Long Bay, Toad Island and Bai Tho Mountain. You return to Halong city and have lunch on board before transferring back to Hanoi in the afternoon. Later, there's a Water Puppet show to finish off the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on board)
Included Activities
- Continue Halong Bay cruise to visit Man's Head Island
- Visit Tortoise Island
- Visit Bai Tu Long Bay
- Visit Toad Island
- Visit Bai Tho Mountain
- Water Puppet show in Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Man's Head Island Tortoise Island Bai Tu Long Bay Toad Island Bai Tho Mountain - Day 15
Hanoi Departure
It's time to head to the airport for your departing flight. Transfers are arranged to get you there.
