North of Vietnam and Laos tour 15 days

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide

Day 1: Vientiane arrival (G)

Upon arrival Vientiane, capital of Lao, you’ll be picked up and transferred to your hotel in the centre. You’ll then start your visit to the major sights of the capital; including Wat Sisaket- the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues. This ancient place of worship is definitely worth a visit as it is not only an interesting site to look around, but also a valuable piece of Lao’s cultural heritage. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you’ll stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Your next visit will be the National Museum (Revolutionary Museum) where varied antique items and legend of Laos’s history fighters and leaders displace from the ancient times to new revolution period. Your overnight stay will be in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane/Luang Prabang (B, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll have a visit to the Central Market call ‘Morning Market’ where you can find the antique items for collection, well handmade textile and gift away items. Later on, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your short flight to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best – preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. UNESCO registered 1995 as World Cultural Heritage City. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Asia. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to hotel.

After that, you’ll be transferred to visit Wat Mai, Wat Sene in the town. You’ll then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as viewing a beautiful panoramic sunset over this once royal ancient city and the Mekong River. You are then strolling around to see the Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Your overnight stay will be in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou Cave (B, G)

Breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be taken to a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. And then you will have a visit to the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, one of the most important temples in the country of Laos locating in a beautiful garden on the bank of the Mekong River where the Nam Khan, a smaller river runs into. You’ll then have a boat cruise upstream on the Mekong River to visit Pak Ou Caves. It’s very interesting for you to enjoy a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, you’ll stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. And take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving with natural dyes. You’ll return to the city by late evening for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Your overnight stay will be in Luang Prabang.

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

Waking up early in the morning, you’ll have chance to participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. After breakfast, you then visit The National Museum at the former Royal Palace which now exhibits portraits of Lao monarchy, old furniture and mural paintings. You’ll then visit the morning Phousi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and salt, pepper among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local village of Lao ethnic Ban Thapene, a Khmu Village. Then drive to the beautiful Kuangsi Waterfall – one of the most famous waterfalls in Luang Prabang. It flows over a high limestone cliff through bamboo forests and tall jungle. Mists from the waterfall danced though the air as iridescent ruby damselflies fluttered their black wings. You can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths. You’ll spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 5: Luang Prabang/Hanoi (B, D, G) 

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll then be free until you’ll be picked up to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, our guide will greet and accompany you to your hotel. Free time until you’ll be picked up to watch water puppet performance, a traditional art form closely connected with the long-standing spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. You?ll then be driven to a good local restaurant and enjoy a welcome dinner with us. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

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

The morning tour will begin with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the resting place of Uncle Ho. You will also see his house-on-stilts and learn about the simple life of the Vietnamese?s beloved leader. Your next visit will be Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas, which still maintains its unique architecture harmonious with nature and boasts many precious Buddhist statues. You will then driven to Temple of Literature, the oldest school inVietnam, giving it the distinction of being the most significant temple in both Hanoi and Vietnam.

In the afternoon, you will call at the Vietnam museum of Ethnology, an excellent instruction to the cultural heritages of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups. Later on, you will visit the beautiful Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake – a striking blue gem in the city centre. The tour ends with 1 hour walking tour around the Old Quarters to enjoy its warmth and cosiness, looking up to contemplate centuries-old and weather-beaten houses, both familiar and exotic, etc. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

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

Picked up at around 8.30 a.m, you’ll then depart for Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a 3 hour drive with a brief stopover at Hong Ngoc Embroidery workshop for refreshment and see different kinds of handicrafts skillfully made by disable people.

Arriving Ha Long Bay, you will go aboard and check in. Lunch will be served afterwards with a selection of seafood specialities. The boat will take you first to the famous World Heritage area where you can visit Amazing Cave and take a swim on a tranquil beach in Ha Long Bay. Then you are free, possibly for retiring to your cabin or having romantic walks on the boat side to enjoy the marvellous sunset. You’ll spend a night on boat.

Day 8: Ha Long/Hanoi/Hue (B, L, G)

It would be nice if you wake up to see sunrise and daylight filtering through the early morning mist and the towering rock formations. After western breakfast, you will venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan. You’ll then continue a leisurely cruise along Ha Long Bay and have lunch before returning to the habour. Our car will pick you up and drive you to the airport for your flight Hue. On arrival, you’ll be picked up and transferred to your hotel. You’ll spend the night in Hue.

Day 9: Hue (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will take a cruise along Perfume River to visit Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda. Our car will then take you to visit the imposing Minh Mang tomb, a striking example of classic Sino-Vietnamese architecture.

After lunch, a continuation to visit poetic Tu Duc Tomb. This tomb is idyllically set in a romantic scenery of mounts, lake and pine forest and considered as one of the most beautiful works of the Nguyen dynasty. Last but not least, you will visit elaborate Khai Dinh Tomb, which  is the result of the interminglement of many architectural trends: European and Asian, as well as ancient and modern. The last famous site in your programme will be Tu Hieu pagoda, which is one of the most famous pagodas in Hue. Your overnight stay will be in Hue.

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

Morning transfer from Hue to Hoi An. Pass by Lang Co Beach and Hai Van pass. You will stop at Danang to visit Cham Museum, which holds the finest collection of Champa sculptures in different art styles from the 7th to the 15th centuries. Driver and guide also take you to visit Marble Mountains and Stone Carving village where famous stone products are skillfully made by local people. Afterwards, you?ll head to Hoi An? an enchanting World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

After checking in your hotel, you will take a tour of the ancient town where the mix of Japanese and Chinese architecture reflects Hoi An?s significance in the past as an important trading port.. Your overnight stay will be in Hoi An.

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

After breakfast, you will be driven to My Son Sanctuary, once the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence. Set in a lush green valley, a series of impressive tower-temples dating from between the 7th and 13th centuries provide a breathtaking site. Our guide will show you the remains of remarkable brick towers, and explain their origins and purpose.You’ll then return to Hoi An with free afternoon to relax. Your overnight stay will be in Hoi An.

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

Your time will be your own until our car comes and transfer to Danang airport where you will take the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. You will be picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel downtown. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City tour (B, L, G)

A full day tour of the city begins with a visit to the History Museum, which has an excellent collection on the evolution and development of Vietnam’s history and culture, from the Bronze Age Dong Son civilization (13th century BC) till the last feudal dynasty ending in the mid-20th century. The following visit to the Museum of War Remnants will provide you a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the American War.

After lunch, you’ll visit the splendid old colonial buildings such as Centre Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. Furthermore, the next visit to Jade Emperor Pagoda, one of the best Taoist tempels in vietnam, will surely captivate you with its oriental architecture and artistic values. tour ends after 2-hour shopping at the lively Ben Thanh market, which is so closely tied to the city’s life that the clock tower at its main gate has long been considered a symbol of the city. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Vinh Long, a peaceful province on Co Chien river, which branches out from the Mekong. Upon arrival, you’ll take a boat trip to enjoy “a beautiful river painting” of Cai Be floating market which was formed in the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century and bearing all the characteristics of the locals’ life in the western region. Proceed to visit some fruit orchards and local cottage industries. Lunch will await you at a local house. You will also have a chance to listen to the traditional folk music “Don Ca Tai Tu” which is is operated by the local people. You’ll then stroll on the village paths to visit the local markets and enjoy some kind of famous tropical fruit such as banana, pomelo, dragon fruit and so on. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for your overnight stay.

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

You’ll be free until you’ll be picked up to the airport for your international departure flight.