17 Days Best of Vietnam and Laos Tour

Welcome to Hanoi!

Upon arrival, our tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport. You will be escorted to the hotel and check in. The rest of the day is at your leisure for recovery.

Note: If your arrival time is early, and you prefer to explore the city instead of taking a nap, please kindly tell our travel consultant, and we’ll recommend one of our suggested activities like enjoying the Hanoi food tour by motorbike at night, or having a half-day cooking class, or walking around the Hanoi food street.

Accommodation: Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: NA

Enjoy your breakfast. In the morning at 8:00 am-8:30 am, you will be met by our tour guide at your hotel, start to explore the city of Hanoi. The morning’s activities include:

1. Tran Quoc Pagoda: located on the shores of West Lake, this pagoda is full of amazing Buddhist symbolism, a must-see for any of Hanoi city tour.
2. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: one of the most famous works in Vietnam. With great cultural and historical value, it will expand your understanding of the country.
3. One Pillar Pagoda: Hanoi’s iconic landmark not to be missed, famous for its extraordinary architecture. This Pagoda is not only a famous tourist attraction but also a religious stop for local pilgrims.
4. Temple of Literature: one of the top historical attractions in Hanoi, which is the first university in Vietnam. The temple represents Vietnamese ancient architecture and traditional fondness for learning.

End of the sightseeing, you will have lunch at an authentic Vietnamese restaurant, and then take a rest.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy the following activities:

1. Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple: famous for its peaceful beauty, cultural as well as historical values.
2. Taking a traditional cyclo tour through the Old Quarter: the fascinating experience of rickshaws driving around the Old Quarter and experience the daily life of the local.
3. Savor the best street food in the world: never miss out the Vietnam food

After the tour, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Hanoi. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Accommodation: Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, after breakfast, our driver will pick you up at about 8:00 am, and then head to the cruise port of Halong Bay. It takes about 3 hours to arrive. Upon arrival, the cruise staff will help you with the check-in at around 12:00 am.

Welcome onboard in Halong Bay! You will be greeted with a welcome drink and the introduction and guidelines. Then, you will enjoy the lunch onboard in the elegant dining room.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy some exciting activities such as sightseeing, kayaking, or swimming according to each cruise’s itinerary.

While onboard, you can take advantage of the leisure time of the Spa, Beauty, and Massage services surrounded by the stunning scenery around you. Besides, you can also join in the chef’s cooking class and learn the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking.

In the evening, an elegant dinner is ready with a fusion of Eastern and Western cuisine, accompanied by a wide selection of wines and beverages from around the world.

After dinner, enjoy a leisurely evening onboard, such as joining in board games, squid fishing, a night movie, or bars & karaoke.

 Accommodation: Overnight at Halong Bay

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Your second day of Halong Bay Cruise will start with a Tai Chi class for 20 minutes to breathe the fresh air and brighten the day.

After breakfast, continue with the exploration of the tourist sites on Halong Bay. At around 10:00 am, it’s time to pack your luggage for checkout.

At about 11:30 am, your cruise boat will sail back to the port and you will enjoy an early lunch on the way. Then, our driver will pick you up at the port, heading to the airport of Hanoi for your flight to Hue for about 80 minutes.

Welcome to Hue! Your tour guide will take you to the hotel for Check-in. You can have the rest of the day to yourself.

Accommodation: Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you’ll start your trip in Hue. During this day tour, you’ll visit:

1. Hue Capital Citadel: a well-known UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site which is a 520-ha fortress-like grand complex
2. Tu Duc Tomb: resting place of the fourth King of the Nguyen dynasty.
3. Dong Ba market: biggest commercial center of Hue province and the adjacent regions.

After lunch, you’ll continue your Hue tour at around 1:30 p.m.

1. Thien Mu Pagoda: unofficial symbol of Hue City with its origins dating back to 1601.
2. Minh Mang Tomb: the 2nd Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty was buried.
3. Perfume River: take a dragon boat cruise to enjoy the open view of the river and the peaceful landscape along the river banks.

Admiring the beautiful scenery and the sunset of Hue, you can enjoy Vietnamese traditional folk songs on the boat cruise.

At 7:00 pm, head to Be Xuan Garden House Theatre for a traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Ben Xuan is like a special place where East meets West, offering a unique experience that celebrates Hue's heritage through music, beautiful buildings, culture, art, and food.

Explore the stunning royal architecture, like the Garden House Theatre and Painting Exhibition, and enjoy a delicious meal. Then go back to the hotel for the rest.

Accommodation: Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, after breakfast, you will enjoy your free time until your tour guide picks you up to Hoi An. The drive takes around 3 hours. On the way there, you'll get through Hai Van Pass & Tunnel.

Welcome to Hoi An, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and famous for the old town. Your tour guide will take you to the hotel in Hoi An for Check-in.

In the afternoon, your tour guide will meet you at the hotel around 13:00 and bring you to the edge of the old town for a half day of exploration. During the tour, you will visit:

1. 200-year-old Tan Ky House: a beautiful home that has been lovingly preserved over seven generations.
2. Museum of Trade Ceramics: with fascinating pottery artifacts from all over Asia and the Middle East
3. Chua Ong Pagoda: the neighborhood around it has distinctly Chinese-inspired buildings and is lovely to explore at a relaxed pace.
4. Hoi An Market: reputed to be one of Vietnam’s best.

After the sightseeing tour, we'll take you back to the hotel, and then you can have the rest of the day to yourself for city exploration.

Accommodation: Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, after breakfast, you will start your half-day excursion to Cam Thanh village. Your tour guide will pick you up around 8:00 am - 8:30 am. During this half-hour, you will experience:

1. Fishing, catching the crabs & coconut mussels: enjoying experiences from learning traditional fishing techniques and exploring tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war.
2. Vietnamese bamboo basket boat ride: made of bamboo with the shape of baskets to make you have the very Vietnamese experience.

After the tour, you’ll be taken to the airport in Da Nang and take a flight to Saigon for about 70 minutes.

Welcome to Saigon! Upon arrival, our tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport. You will be escorted to the hotel and have a good rest.

Accommodation: Overnight in Saigon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, at about 8:30 am, we will drive about 1.5 hours to Cu Chi Tunnels, where you discover these amazing systems developed by the guerrillas fighting in the Vietnam War. You will see various weapons used in the war on display. It will take the whole morning to explore and enjoy.

After lunch at a local restaurant, back to Saigon city to explore the iconic highlights, including:

1. Notre Dame Cathedral: honored as one of the world's 19 most majestic cathedrals, the only representative from Southeast Asia, seen as the architectural symbol of Ho Chi Minh City
2. Old Saigon Post Office: Vietnam’s largest post office and oldest colonial structure, is one of the must-sees, attracting visitors with its aesthetic and historical values
3. Cholon: the largest Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh with many traditional shops, markets, and local food stalls.
4. Emperor Jade Pagoda: a sacred place of Saigon, built by a Chinese merchant named Liu Daoyuan, where people pray and seek blessings.

End of the sightseeing tour, you will be escorted to the hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the day.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Saigon

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and prepare to enjoy a full-day Mekong Delta discovery. Your tour guide will meet you around 8:00 am -8:30 am.

You will arrive at Cai Be Jetty at 10:00 am. Your crew welcomes you with cold towels and a refreshing drink while your Cai Be Princess sampan sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways. On the river, boat traffic is endless and the activity never ceases.

You will experience the following today:

1. Floating Market: observe from the comfort of your sampan life as it plays out on the riverbanks.
2. Visit Ancient House: built in the 19th century.
3. Local Cottage Industries: coconut candy and puffed rice products that provide a living for the river people.
4. Le Longanier Restaurant: a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit trees, giving you a sense of life during Indochinese times.

After lunch, at around 2:30 pm, you’ll take a short walk along a small canal towards the Ba Bon Bridge, where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you to Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City.

Accommodation: Overnight in Saigon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy your breakfast until your tour guide escorts you to take the flight from Saigon to Pakse, which takes 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Welcome to Pakse, the second most popular city in Laos. Upon arrival at Pakse, you’ll be driven to Tad Fan Waterfall, the largest and most amazing waterfall in Laos.

In the afternoon, you’ll keep going on the tour to visit the Alak, Nge, and Katu villages on the Bolavan Plateau. It’s a great experience to enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty and observe the cultivation of coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, etc.

After trekking, your tour guide and driver will escort you to the hotel in Pakse for the rest.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Pakse

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you’ll tour guide will drive you to Si Phan Don, the incredible “4,000 Islands” in Pakse”. It takes about 2 hours for a direct driving.

Along the trip, you'll visit the Vat Phou Ruins, an ancient temple complex from the 10th century. There's a museum to explore, a big temple to see, and time for a walk around.

After having lunch with Laotian, Vietnamese, and Thai dishes, you’ll take a rest. Then you’ll tour to village of Tomo. It's a small village near the secretive forest temple of Oum Muong, built in the 9th century and dedicated to Rudani, just a short walk away.

Late afternoon you’ll disembark from the boat to walk through Ban Deua Tia, a small Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries.

After tour, you’ll be escorted to Don Khong, the largest and Northern-most of Si Phan Don. Arrive in hotel, the eveing is yours to relax and enjoy.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Si Phan Don

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:00 am – 8:30 am. Then you’ll go to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where you board a small boat to meander among the 4,000 Islands to Khong Island. Today, you’ll visit:

1. Old French Railway Bridge: the 100-year-old bridge that links Khone and Det Islands.
2. Xieng Di Village: a small fishing village where you have lunch on the banks of the Mekong.
3. Pha Pheng Waterfall: "The Niagara of the East", close to the Cambodian border, has historical significance.

Then tour to Liphi Waterfall. Also known as “Somphamit Waterfall”, it is one of the must-visit destinations for today’s journey. You can watch the waterfall as the Mekong River flows over rocks, creating a beautiful sight of water, mist, and greenery. Enjoy the peaceful and scenic escape.

After the full-day natural immersion, your tour guide and driver will escort you to the hotel in Si Phan Don for the rest.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Si Phan Don

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you’ll go back to Pakse. Your guide and driver will escort you to the airport. You’ll take the flight from Pakse to Vientiane, about 75 minutes.

Welcome to Vientiane, the largest city and the capital of Laos. You’ll be escorted to the hotel in Vientiane for check-in. The rest of time is for you to explore this calm city. 

 Accommodation: Overnight in Vientiane

 Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:00 am – 8:30 am. The day will go through the highlights of Vientiane. You'll stop and visit:

1. Buddha Park: also known as Xieng Khuan, is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues.
2. Patuxay Monument: a monument about the war in Vientiane that honors the people who fought for freedom from France.
3. Pha That Luang Stupa: a huge Buddhist stupa covered in gold and constructed in the 3rd century.

Enjoying a local Laotian lunch, you’ll continue your Vientiane day tour in the afternoon:

1. Wat Si Saket: the oldest surviving temple with thousands of Buddhist images.
2. National Museum: get to know some history of Laos.

After the tour, your tour guide will escort you to the hotel for a good rest.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Vientiane

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport and take a flight to Luang Prabang for about 40 minutes.

Welcome to Luang Prabang! Upon your arrival, your private local tour guide will welcome you at the airport and then escort you to your hotel in Vientiane city.

The rest of the day will be at your leisure to relax and exploring the cit. You can enjoy some drinks in one of the cafés or stroll along the beautiful riverside.

Feel free to ask our tour guide for suggestions if you'd like to explore the city instead of taking a rest.

Accommodation: Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:00 am – 8:30 am. The day begins with a boat ride up the Mekong River, which gives you a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside. Along the way, you'll stop and visit:

1. Ban Xanghai village: the place where Laos rice wine and rice whiskey are produced. You'll have the opportunity to try some and learn about the process used to make it.
2. Pak Ou Caves: two linked caves filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

Lunch will be served near the caves. You'll try a local Laotian dish called "Orlam" which is a soup with vegetables and features a spicy wood that is partially edible. After a short rest, you’ll continue on your half-day tour to the beautiful Khouang Si Waterfall.

1. Bear Rescue Sanctuary: three bear houses were built with a capacity for 25 rescued bears.
2. Kuang Si Waterfall: the most beautiful in Laos. You can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

After the tour, your tour guide will escort you to enjoy a Laotian style spa and get relaxed. Then, you will get back to the hotel for a good rest. 

Accommodation: Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, after breakfast, your tour guide will escort you to the airport.

Tour service ends here.

Hope you enjoyed a great trip with us and we look forward to seeing you next time.

Note: If you’re planning to continue exploring the Indochina region, like Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia, please never hesitate to tell us, we’re tour experts for all of these destinations.

 Accommodation: NA

 Meals: Breakfast