Itinerary
- Day 1
Luang Prabang
You'll land at Luang Prabang airport and get transferred to your hotel. Early check-in should be available, so you can drop your bags and start exploring this ancient city right away. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to wander around at your own pace.
- Day 2
Luang Prabang
After breakfast, you'll head to the Royal Palace Museum to get some cultural context, then take a boat up the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves where thousands of gold Buddha statues fill the caverns. The journey includes stops at Ban Xanghai to see how locals make rice wine. Later you'll visit Wat Sene and Wat Xiengthong, two significant temples. If time works out, Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek have traditional paper-making you can check out. By evening, you'll catch the sunset from Wat Prabath and then browse the Night Market before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Royal Palace Museum
- Leisure cruise upstream on Mekong River
- Visit Pak Ou Caves
- Stop at Ban Xanghai village to observe local rice wine production
- Visit Wat Sene temple
- Visit Wat Xiengthong temple
- Visit Night Market
Optional Activities
- Visit Ban Xangkhong Thai Lue village for arts and crafts
- Visit Ban Xienglek village for traditional Saa paper-making
- Join petanque game with local team
- Visit Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday)
Landmarks/POIs Royal Palace Museum Mekong River Pak Ou Caves Ban Xanghai Wat Sene Wat Xiengthong Wat Prabath Night Market - Day 3
Luang Prabang to Vientiane
You'll need to wake early to participate in the morning alms-giving ceremony with over 200 Buddhist monks, then visit the temporary market near the old Royal Palace. After breakfast, it's a climb up 329 steps to Phousi Hill for views across the city. Later you'll head to Kuang Si waterfall with its three tiers and pools for swimming. There's time for an optional visit to Ban Thapene village, the Bear Rescue Center, or Ock Pop Tock craft center if you're interested. By evening you'll transfer to the train station for the overnight speed train to Vientiane, or take a late flight depending on what you've chosen.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Join morning alms-giving ceremony with Buddhist monks
- Visit temporary morning market near former Royal Palace
- Climb 329 steps to Phousi Hill for panoramic views
- Visit Kuang Si waterfall and swim in pools
- Visit Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center
Optional Activities
- Walk to Ban Thapene village and explore hidden waterfalls
- Visit Bear Rescue Center
- Take late flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane instead of train
Landmarks/POIs Phousi Hill Kuang Si Waterfall Ban Thapene Bear Rescue Center Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center - Day 4
Vientiane
Start with Wat Si Muang in the morning, then drive about 45 minutes to Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) which has over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues throughout the grounds. Back in town, you'll visit COPE to learn about landmine victims and the historical context of the region. That Luang comes next, the holiest site in Laos with its distinctive golden spire. You can climb Patuxay monument for city views, then continue to Wat Sisaket and Wat Phra Keo, which functions as a religious museum. Finish the day with a walk along the Mekong River as the sun sets.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Si Muang
- Visit Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan)
- Visit COPE center
- Visit That Luang temple
- Climb Patuxay monument
- Visit Wat Sisaket
- Visit Wat Phra Keo
- Sunset stroll along Mekong River
Optional Activities
- Enjoy cold drink or local food stalls along Mekong River
Landmarks/POIs Wat Si Muang Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) COPE Center That Luang Patuxay Wat Sisaket Wat Phra Keo Mekong River - Day 5
Vientiane to Hanoi
The morning is free to explore Vientiane at your own pace before your driver takes you to the airport. You'll fly to Hanoi, and once you land, another driver will transfer you to your hotel.
Optional Activities
- Stroll around town for own exploration
- Day 6
Hanoi
Your tour guide will meet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast. You'll visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, various pagodas, and museums that cover Vietnam's history and culture from ancient times through to the present day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit pagodas and museums
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Temple of Literature - Day 7
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Your driver and guide pick you up after breakfast to drive to Ninh Binh, which was Vietnam's first capital back in the 10th century. You'll see Hoa Lu, the ancient seat of the Dai Co Viet Kingdom, and explore King Dinh Temple and King Le Temple. Lunch happens at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you'll take a boat through Trang An grottoes, navigating 31 valleys and 50 cross-water caves surrounded by forested mountains and wildlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital site
- Visit King Dinh Temple
- Visit King Le Temple
- Boat trip through Trang An grottoes
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu King Dinh Temple King Le Temple Trang An Grottoes - Day 8
Hanoi to Halong Bay
After breakfast, you'll drive about 3 hours from Hanoi to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its thousands of islands, islets, and caves. Once you board your cruise, lunch is served while you sail. The afternoon includes activities like sightseeing, kayaking, swimming, and cave exploration depending on what your specific cruise offers. You'll sleep on the boat overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch served while sailing to Halong Bay)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing in Halong Bay
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Cave exploration
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 9
Halong Bay to Hue
You'll start the morning enjoying the bay's landscape with coffee or tea, then have breakfast. After that, you'll explore deeper into Halong Bay before sailing back toward port. Brunch gets served during the journey. When you reach Hanoi, your driver will take you to the airport for a flight to Hue, where another driver meets you for transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Brunch (Brunch served while sailing back to port)
Included Activities
- Explore deeper inside Halong Bay
- Cruise exploration and activities
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 10
Hue
This full day focuses on Hue's history as the old capital under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. You'll start at the Imperial Citadel to understand Vietnamese royal architecture, then visit the Kings' tombs and old pagodas to learn about Vietnam's feudal period.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Imperial Citadel
- Visit tombs of Nguyen Dynasty Kings
- Visit old pagodas
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Citadel - Day 11
Hue to Hoi An
After breakfast, your driver will pick you up for a private car transfer to Hoi An.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 12
Hoi An
Following breakfast, the day is yours to explore Hoi An on your own schedule and discover what interests you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 13
Hoi An
Your guide will pick you up after breakfast to visit a local family where you'll learn lantern-making, one of Hoi An's specialties. Then you'll head to Cam Thanh coconut village for a basket boat ride through the coconut forest while learning about Vietnamese fishermen's daily life. There are activities to participate in before you return to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Learn how to make Hoi An lanterns with a local family
- Basket boat ride in Cam Thanh coconut village
- Learn about Vietnamese fishermen's daily life and community
Landmarks/POIs Cam Thanh Coconut Village - Day 14
Hoi An
After breakfast, your guide picks you up to head to Tra Que vegetable village. You'll walk around the gardens and actually work alongside farmers preparing the land, fertilizing, raking, sowing, watering, and harvesting vegetables. After a rest, you'll cook lunch together with a local family, then head back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch prepared with a local family)
Included Activities
- Visit Tra Que vegetable village
- Participate in vegetable farming activities
- Prepare lunch with a local family
Landmarks/POIs Tra Que Vegetable Village - Day 15
Hoi An
The day is free after breakfast for you to explore Hoi An however you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 16
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, the morning is yours to use as you see fit. Later your driver will take you to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where you'll be transferred to your hotel upon landing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 17
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
After breakfast, your guide will drive you to the Mekong Delta. You'll board a boat to cruise along a branch of the Mekong, stopping at various local workplaces and a quiet village to experience real Delta life through dense coconut plantations. Lunch happens at a local restaurant in the rural area before you head back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant in rural area)
Included Activities
- Boat cruise along Mekong River branch
- Visit local workplaces
- Visit quiet village with coconut plantations
- Experience real Delta village life
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Mekong River - Day 18
Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
After breakfast, you'll have the morning to yourself before transferring to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Once you arrive, you'll take a boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, to see a fishermen's floating village complete with floating schools and a police station.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake
- Visit fishermen's floating village
Landmarks/POIs Tonle Sap Lake - Day 19
Angkor Complex
Your tour guide meets you at the hotel lobby. You'll visit Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its beauty and its long bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology. Then you'll explore Angkor Thom from the 12th century, checking out the South Gate, Bayon Temple with 54 towers and over 200 carved smiling faces, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. After lunch, Ta Prohm temple is next, where massive tree roots grow through the ancient towers and corridors.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Angkor Wat
- Visit South Gate at Angkor Thom
- Visit Bayon Temple
- Visit Royal Enclosure
- Visit Phimeanakas
- Visit Elephant Terrace
- Visit Terrace of the Leper King
- Visit Ta Prohm temple
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Wat Angkor Thom South Gate Bayon Temple Royal Enclosure Phimeanakas Elephant Terrace Terrace of the Leper King Ta Prohm - Day 20
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
After breakfast at your hotel, your driver and guide pick you up at 7:00 AM for a 5-hour drive covering 312 kilometers to Phnom Penh. You'll stop at Kompong Kdei Bridge, built roughly 1000 years ago by Jayavarman VII, and at Skun for local snacks. Once in Phnom Penh, you'll visit the Royal Palace complex built in 1866 with its colorful Khmer style, the Silver Pagoda decorated with gold and gemstones, and Tuol Sleng Prison (S-21), now the Genocide Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at Kompong Kdei Bridge
- Stop at Skun for local specialties
- Visit Royal Palace complex
- Visit Silver Pagoda
- Visit Tuol Sleng Prison (Genocide Museum)
Landmarks/POIs Kompong Kdei Bridge Royal Palace Complex Silver Pagoda Tuol Sleng Prison (Genocide Museum) - Day 21
Phnom Penh
After breakfast, the day is open for you to use as you wish before your driver transfers you to the airport. Your tour ends here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
