Exotic Laos and Vietnam 21 Days

Day 1: Luang Prabang arrival (D, G)

Arriving in Luang Prabang International Airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. After a short rest, you’ll be free to stroll around the city’s Night Market offering handmade textiles woven by local people and ethnic minority communities. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang city (B, L, G)

Today, you will visit the the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visoun, Wat Mai temple and the ‘Day Market’.

After lunch, you will climb up to the top of Mount Phousi provides a panorama of the ancient royal city and the Mekong River. You’ll spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: Luang Prabang/Xieng Khoang (B, G)

After breakfast, you will visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts and the Central Market. After that, you will take a short flight to Xieng Khoang where you will be greeted on arrival. The rest of the day will be free. You will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 4: Xieng Khoang/Vientiane (B, G)

Today, you will visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site encompassing hundreds of large stone jars scattered throughout the plateau. You will then visit the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and its' nearby villages which are home to the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people who possess an interesting local culture and a vibrant history.

In the afternoon, you will take a short flight to Vientiane. The rest of the day will be free to visit the Morning Market in Vientiane. You will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 5: Vientiane City Tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will stop enroute to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred out to see the Buddha Park, a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to the Friendship Bridge. Your overnight accommodation will be in Vientiane.

Day 6: Vientiane/Hanoi (B, GP)

Free time until transferred to the airport for noon flight to Hanoi. Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You will spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 7: Explore the capital Hanoi (B, L, G)

Today, you will visit some of the best sites in the capital Hanoi. You will visit the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century, and a popular attraction, as is Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. Followed by a visit to the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West) Lake.

After lunch, you’ll drive to the excellent Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups. The bustling Old Quarter is a magnet for visitors, it’s noisy and hectic, but definitely a ‘must-see’ attraction. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

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

After an early breakfast, you’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas where you’ll board a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels. The cruising route will take you to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Meals will be provided on board with fresh seafood mainly. You will spend the night in a twin or double cabin with an en suite toilet and shower.

Day 9: Ha Long/Hanoi/Lao Cai (Brunch, G)

You’ll spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking around noon and leaving for Hanoi. In the evening, your car will arrive to take you to Hanoi railway station in time to board the overnight sleeper to Lao Cai.

Day 10: Lao Cai/Ethnic Market/Sapa (B, L, G)

Arriving in Sapa in the early morning, you’ll be met and taken to visit an ethnic marketfrequented by ethnic minority peoples. After a picnic lunch, you’ll continue your journey into the mountains to Sapa. The rest of the day will be free to explore the town. You’ll spend the night in a Sapa hotel with good mountain views.

Day 11: Sapa (B, L, D, G)

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you’ll hike to visit the Red Dao ethnic minority people of Giang Ta Chai village, where you’ll have lunch. Later in the afternoon, you’ll be picked up by jeep to travel to Ban Ho village where you’ll have dinner and spend the night in a Tay ethnic minority group stilt-house.

Day 12: Sapa/Lao Cai/Hanoi (B, L, G)

After walking around Ban Ho village and a refreshing splash-around in a clear mountain spring, your guide will serve a stream-side picnic lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll be picked up to return to Sapa and, later in the evening, to Lao Cai station by jeep to catch the overnight train to Hanoi.

Day 13: Hanoi/Hue (B, G)

Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for breakfast and refresh. Free time until transferred to the airport for your noon flight to Hue. When you arrive, you’ll be met by our guide and driven to visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue and the local Dong Ba market. You’ll spend the night in Hue.

Day 14: Hue (B, L, D, G)

Your morning will begin with a cruise along the Perfume River to visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda. From there, you’ll drive to the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and, in the afternoon, Emperor Khai Dinh. After that, you’ll return to Hue to visit one of city’s ‘garden houses’ and then return to your hotel to freshen-up.

In the evening, you’ll sit down for dinner in the pleasant surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere of another of the garden houses. The owner will prepare and serve a traditional meal based on the distinctive characteristics of classic Hue cuisine. You’ll spend the night in Hue.

Day 15: Hue/Danang/Hoi An (B, L, G)

In the morning, your car will arrive to drive you to Danang. On the way, you'll cross the high mountain pass of Hai Van. The views from the top are excellent – you should be able be able to see Lang Co beach and village, and the lagoon far below, with Danang spread out before you to the south.

Upon arriving in Danang, you’ll have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham Museum before leaving for Hoi An. After lunch, you’ll have a guided visit to the Ancient Town of Hoi An. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Day 16: Hoi An/My Son/Hoi An (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the World Heritage ‘My Son Sanctuary’. Your guide will show you the remains of the remarkable towers constructed by the Cham builders, many centuries ago - their origins and purpose have yet to be fully explained. In the afternoon, you’ll return to your hotel. When you return, the rest of the day will be free. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Day 17: Hoi An/Danang/Ho Chi Minh City (B, GP)

You’ll have a free morning until you’re picked up for an afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After transferring to your Ho Chi Minh City central hotel and checking-in, you’ll be free to wander around the city centre. You will spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 18: Ho Chi Minh City Orientation (B, L, G)

Today, you will visit the History Museum where there is a special exhibition of the 5th century ‘Oc Eo’ civilisation. Your guide will take you to Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City, is packed with every conceivable commodity, then to Chinese town – one of the busiest area in the city. You’ll also call in at the Jade Emperor Temple. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 19: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Can Tho (B, L, G)

After escaping from Ho Chi Minh City’s urban sprawl, you’ll travel to Vinh Long where a Mekong River cruise will take you to visit the fruit orchards, a traditional family-run brick kiln, and some long established cottage industries. You’ll drive further into the Mekong Delta to Can Tho, Upon arrival you’ll call in at the Munir Ansay – an ancient Khmer style pagoda, renowned for its unique structural decorations. You’ll then drive to your hotel in Can Tho where you’ll spend the night.

Day 20: Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

After breakfast and a boat cruise you’ll arrive at Cai Rang floating market on the Mekong Delta. Both the journey and the market provide insights into the rural Mekong Delta lifestyle. On your return to Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll call in at the beautiful and ancient Vinh Trang pagoda, 3 km from My Tho centre. You’ll arrive in Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon with time to freshen up in the hotel.

Day 21: Ho Chi Minh City departure (B, DP)

Free time until transferred to the airport for your departure flight. Tour ends.