Vietnam, Thailand and Laos tour 16 days

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

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City arrival (G)

On arrival, you’ll be picked up to the hotel. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh city tour 1 day (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll start your city tour including the History Museum (special exhibition of the 5thC “Oc Eo” civilisation), the Museum of War Remnants (very partial, but riveting, recollections of the “American War”: not for the squeamish), the huge Ben Thanh market (one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City), the Jade Emperor Temple (superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries) and a lacquer workshop. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi (B, L, G)

Drive to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Holy See (in time to watch the mid-day ceremony), Cu Chi (intricate network of underground passages and bunkers that became legendary during the 1960′s for their role in the war of liberation). Farewell dinner and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Cao Dai is a “new” religion unique to Viet Nam with around a million followers. Both its creed and its architecture are remarkable and exotic.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh/My Tho/Ho Chi Minh (B, L, G)

At 8:00 you’ll be picked up at our hotel to travel to My Tho. On arrival, boat cruise on Mekong river to the Thoi Son island: rowing through small canals and walking along small village road to visit fruit gardens, elementary school, spirits distilling house, and see the daily life of villagers. On your visit you’ll have chance to enjoy some of tropical fruits and traditional music show. After lunch at a local restaurant on island, you’ll continue to cruise to visit a coconut candy workshop. In the afternoon, you’ll driven further into Mekong Delta to Can Tho province. You’ll spend the night in Can Tho.

Day 5: Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

Boat cruise to Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets on the Mekong Delta (views of rural lifestyle). Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon return to Ho Chi inh city for overnight

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City/Phu Quoc (B, G)

You will take the domestic flight to Phu Quoc – one of the best beaches in Vietnam. On arrival, you will have free time relaxing on the beach. You’ll spend the night in Phu Quoc.

Day 7: Phu Quoc free day (B)

Your time will be your own relaxing on the beach. You’ll spend the night in Phu Quoc.

Day 8: Phu Quoc/Ho Chi Minh City/Bangkok (G)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City where you will connect with international flight to Bangkok. On arrival at Suvanphumi Airport, you’ll be driven to your hotel. Rest of the day, you’ll be free to stroll around the city as you wish. You’ll spend the night in Bangkok.

Day 9: Bangkok City Tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll begin your tour of Bangkok with a long tail boat ride along the Chao Phraya River to see many lively inner canals which provide some fantastic views of the local life. Along the way you will stop over at Wat Arun, the temple of dawn, before continuing to the Grand Palace which dedicated to the Thai Royal Family’s ceremonies. Nearby is the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew, which is famous for the Emerald Buddha Image. After seeing this complex, you will drive through the many vibrant streets of China Town to some of the most significant temples in Bangkok. The landmark of Wat Traimit is well known as the Golden Buddha Temple while Wat Po houses a gigantic Reclining Buddha. You will spend the night in Bangkok.

Day 10: Bangkok/Koh Samet (B, G) 

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Ban Pe pier for ferry across to Koh Samet. On arrival at Koh Samet check into beach resort and free at own leisure.

Day 11: Koh Samet free day (B)

Breakfast at hotel and free at own leisure on beach with accommodation.

Day 12: Koh Samet/Bangkok/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel. Free until checkout time at 12:00 hrs. Transfer to Bangkok airport for flight to Luang Prabang. Here you will be met and transferred to your hotel, where you have the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 13: Luang Prabang full day city tour (B, L, G)

Your full day city tour begins after breakfast, with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Today, we also visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.

Following lunch, we visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before we head out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. We then return to the city for a visit to Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. . Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Note: The Royal Palace Museum is closed on Tuesdays

Day 14: Luang Prabang/Kuang Si Waterfall/Pak Ou Caves (B, L, G)

First we visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang. This afternoon, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we disembark the boat to visit traditional villages, and continue taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 15: Luang Prabang/Lao Spirit Adventure (Elephant + rafting) (B, L, G)

Elephant and soft hiking tour to Khamu village

(Walking time total 3 hrs. (easy), in dry season Tad Sae waterfall is dry)

After arriving at the Lao Spirit Resort you will experience the protected Elephants at the “Elephant Park Project” along the Nam Khan riverbanks. You can enjoy the 1 hr. Elephant ride on the back of a protected Asian Elephant.
A short and easy hiking tour will lead you out into the Fair Trek project area where villages profit directly from your visit. A small Khamu community lives below a high rising mountain range. Depending on the time available your Lao style Lunch will be served at Ban Houay Fai and return Lao Spirit Resort. Your car will bring you back to Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 16: Luang Prabang departure (B, G)

After breakfast, the tour ends after your transfer to the airport for your international departure flight