Itinerary
- Day 1
Vientiane
You'll arrive at Vientiane airport and get transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is completely yours to do whatever you feel like—relax at the hotel, wander around the neighborhood, or head out and get a feel for the city.
- Day 2
Vientiane
After breakfast, a guide will take you around Vientiane's main sites. You'll see Wat Si Saket and Haw Pha Kaeo temples, then check out the impressive Pha That Luang monument and Buddha Park with its collection of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures. The tour includes a stop at the COPE Centre to learn about their work with bomb and mine victims. By evening, you'll head to the Mekong River for sunset dinner beside the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Sunset dinner beside the Mekong River)
Included Activities
- City tour of Vientiane including Wat Si Saket
- Visit Haw Pha Kaeo former royal temple
- Pha That Luang monument
- Buddha Park with Hindu and Buddhist sculptures
- COPE Centre visit
- Sunset dinner beside the Mekong River
Landmarks/POIs Wat Si Saket Haw Pha Kaeo Pha That Luang Buddha Park COPE Centre Mekong River - Day 3
Vientiane to Vang Vieng
You'll leave early and travel north through countryside to Vang Vieng, a quiet village on the Nam Song River. From there, you cross the river and take a rough route through farming areas and small communities to reach the blue lagoon and Tham Pou Kham cave. Inside the cave you'll see stalactites and stalagmites, and then you can swim or relax in the Blue Lagoon's cool water. Later you'll visit Tham Jang caves and stop by Ban Na Khae village to learn how Hmong and Kamu people live and what their traditions involve.
Included Activities
- Journey to Vang Vieng through countryside
- Explore Tham Pou Kham cave with stalactites and stalagmites
- Blue Lagoon - swim or relax
- Visit Tham Jang caves
- Visit Ban Na Khae village with Hmong and Kamu communities
Landmarks/POIs Nam Song River Tham Pou Kham Cave Blue Lagoon Tham Jang Cave Ban Na Khae village - Day 4
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang
After breakfast you'll have some free time, then head to the train station for a one-hour express train to Luang Prabang. This UNESCO city has gleaming temple roofs, colonial buildings, and mountains in the background. You arrive in the early afternoon and the rest of the day is yours to walk around and get oriented.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Express train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang
Landmarks/POIs Luang Prabang - Day 5
Luang Prabang
Start before dawn to watch the daily monk alms ceremony in saffron robes. Then climb into a vintage tuk-tuk and explore the old quarter. Stop by the Morning Market to see what local products are sold, then visit Wat Xiengthong temple to admire the classical Laotian architecture. The former Royal Palace, now a museum, is next on the tour. In the afternoon, you'll travel to ethnic minority villages on the way to beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can jump into turquoise pools or walk through the forest.
Included Activities
- Watch morning ritual of monks collecting alms
- Vintage tuk-tuk tour of old quarter
- Morning Market visit
- Wat Xiengthong temple
- Former Royal Palace (national museum)
- Visit ethnic minority villages
- Khouangsi Waterfall with turquoise pools
Landmarks/POIs Wat Xiengthong Royal Palace Khouangsi Waterfall - Days 6 - 7
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and the day is completely free. Explore Vietnam's capital at your own pace. Walk off the main tourist paths and discover different neighborhoods, find local restaurants, or just wander around and soak in the city's energy.
Optional Activities
- Optional Back Streets of Hanoi add-on - explore districts of Cho Buoi, Hoang Hoa Tham and Vinh Phuc, ride pillion on taxi-motorbikes through narrow streets and along the shore of Ho Tay Lake
Landmarks/POIs Ho Tay Lake - Day 8
Hanoi to Halong Bay
After breakfast you'll take an exhilarating cyclo ride through Hanoi's French Quarter, passing the Opera House and Ly Thai To Park. Then transfer to Halong Bay and board a traditional junk boat to explore the jade waters filled with karst islands. Lunch happens onboard. You'll visit Trinh Nu Cave to see stalactites and stalagmites, and you'll have chances to kayak or swim. There's a Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the sundeck, followed by a seafood dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch aboard junk boat), Dinner (Sumptuous seafood dinner)
Included Activities
- Cyclo ride around Hanoi's French Quarter
- Transfer to Halong Bay
- Traditional junk boat cruise
- Lunch aboard
- Visit Trinh Nu Cave
- Kayaking opportunity
- Swimming opportunity
- Vietnamese cooking demonstration
- Seafood dinner aboard
Landmarks/POIs Opera House Ly Thai To Park Halong Bay Trinh Nu Cave - Day 9
Halong Bay to Hanoi to Hue
The morning offers optional choices: Tai Chi or a traditional massage on the sundeck. You'll explore Sung Sot cave, also called Surprise Grotto, a massive 10,000 square meter cavern with two main chambers. After returning to Hanoi in the mid-afternoon, take a slow walk around the 36 streets of the old quarter, named after the guilds that operated there historically. Later you'll board the overnight sleeper train (4 berth cabin, basic standard) on the Reunification Express to Hue, or you can fly instead if you prefer.
Included Activities
- Explore Sung Sot cave (Surprise Grotto)
- Walk around 36 streets of old quarter
- Overnight sleeper train Hanoi to Hue in 4 berth cabin
Optional Activities
- Tai Chi class on sundeck
- Traditional massage
- Flight from Hanoi to Hue (instead of train)
Landmarks/POIs Sung Sot Cave - Day 10
Hue
You'll arrive in Hue for a guided tour of this former 19th-century imperial capital. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda and its seven-tiered structure, the oldest monastery in the city. Explore the walled citadel's Imperial Purple Palace, built as a copy of Beijing's Forbidden City with impressive ramparts, moats, and palaces. Head into the countryside to see the Royal Tombs of Nguyen kings, including Emperor Tu Duc's elaborate mausoleum. At sunset you can optionally take a longboat cruise on the Perfume River or shop at Dong Ba Market.
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Hue
- Thien Mu Pagoda
- Imperial Purple Palace in walled citadel
- Royal Tombs of Nguyen kings
- Emperor Tu Duc mausoleum
Optional Activities
- Sunset cruise on Perfume River by longboat
- Shopping at Dong Ba Market
Landmarks/POIs Thien Mu Pagoda Imperial Purple Palace Royal Tombs Emperor Tu Duc Mausoleum Perfume River Dong Ba Market - Day 11
Hue to Hoi An
Drive along the scenic Hai Van Pass, called the Road of the Ocean Clouds, with beaches on one side and lush hills on the other. Stop for a walk and swim at China Beach, the place featured in Apocalypse Now. Continue along the coast to Hoi An, a charming old trading port with cobbled streets, traditional homes, and tiny shop houses that feel like stepping back in time. A short walking tour takes you through Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tam Ky house, and the famous 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.
Included Activities
- Drive along Hai Van Pass (Road of the Ocean Clouds)
- Walk at China Beach and swim
- Walking tour of Hoi An
- Visit Chua Ong Pagoda
- Visit Chinese Assembly Hall
- Visit Tam Ky house (200 years old)
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge (400 years old)
Optional Activities
- Optional Hoi An Street Eats add-on - explore the city's most popular local haunts by vintage Vespa and enjoy Vietnamese cuisine (book early as numbers are limited)
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass China Beach Chua Ong Pagoda Chinese Assembly Hall Tam Ky House Japanese Covered Bridge - Day 12
Hoi An
This morning involves a leisurely bike ride into the countryside toward Tra Que village (alternative transportation available if you don't want to cycle). Learn about age-old farming methods and traditional medicine through hands-on activities. Put on conical hats and help in the fields. You'll watch a cooking demonstration and participate in preparing lunch yourself.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch prepared during cooking demonstration)
Included Activities
- Bicycle ride to Tra Que village
- Learn about traditional farming practices
- Learn about traditional medicine
- Help tend the fields
- Cooking demonstration
- Prepare and enjoy lunch
Optional Activities
- Alternative transportation to Tra Que village at no extra cost
Landmarks/POIs Tra Que Village - Day 13
Hoi An
The day is yours in Hoi An. You could take a rowboat ride along the river, spend time at the beach, or just relax around town. If you want more activities, optional day trips and excursions are available, but you're under no pressure to book anything.
Optional Activities
- Relaxing rowboat journey along the river
- Day at the beach
- Excursion to UNESCO-listed My Son sanctuary
- Day trip to Ba Na Hills with cable car ride (second longest in the world), resort exploration and walk along Golden Bridge (book and pay locally)
Landmarks/POIs My Son Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge - Day 14
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
An early morning flight takes you to Ho Chi Minh City, then you drive to the Mekong Delta, known as Vietnam's rice bowl and famous for tropical fruits, flowers, and rice. Board a traditional sampan and cruise the canals from Cai Be to Can Tho. Along the way you'll visit local cottage industries and enjoy lunch in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island)
Included Activities
- Flight to Ho Chi Minh City
- Drive to Mekong Delta
- Traditional sampan cruise along canals from Cai Be to Can Tho
- Visit local cottage industries
- Lunch in traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Cai Be Can Tho Dong Hoa Hiep Island - Day 15
Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City
Start early at the colorful Cai Rang floating market, then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Once called the Pearl of the Orient, modern Ho Chi Minh City is a busy metropolis with tall skyscrapers, good restaurants, designer shops, and bars scattered among ancient pagodas, colonial buildings, and street markets. On a walking tour you'll see Notre Dame Cathedral from outside and the historic Old Post Office. The War Remnants Museum provides sobering historical context. The evening is yours to do as you wish.
Included Activities
- Visit Cai Rang floating market
- Walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City
- View Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior)
- View Old Post Office
- War Remnants Museum
Landmarks/POIs Cai Rang Floating Market Notre Dame Cathedral Old Post Office War Remnants Museum - Day 16
Ho Chi Minh City
Free time in Ho Chi Minh City before your airport transfer. Consider shopping at Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs or touring Independence Palace with its underground bunker and military command center. If you're extending your stay, a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels is an option.
Optional Activities
- Shopping at Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs
- Visit Independence Palace with secret bunker and military command centre
- Day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels - explore vast network of tunnels and hideouts used by Viet Cong guerrilla fighters, see booby traps and trap doors, test skill with AK 47 at firing range
Landmarks/POIs Ben Thanh Market Independence Palace Cu Chi Tunnels
