Vietnam and Laos Tour: Must-See and Do for A Lifetime Trip

A journey through Vietnam and Laos is truly the trip of a lifetime, with so many must-see and do. What you see depends a lot on how much time you have—but there’s something amazing waiting for you, no matter the length of your stay.

If you have just 7-9 days, don’t miss Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Luang Prabang. With 10-12 days, you can add Hoi An and Saigon. A 15-day adventure allows you to explore more gems like Hue, Can Tho, and Vientiane. And with a full 22 days, you can relax on the beaches of Nha Trang, enjoy the beauty of Vang Vieng and Pakse.

Got even more time? It’s easy to expand your journey to nearby Thailand, Cambodia, or Myanmar for an even richer Southeast Asia experience.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the must-sees and must-dos in Vietnam and Laos, and then you can experience the cultures and nature in this region!

Must-See and Do in Vietnam and Laos for a Short Tour: about 7-9 Days

A short trip of 7-9 days is enough to experience the highlights of Vietnam and Laos, and you just need to plan the trip properly. Spending four days in Hanoi and Halong Bay in Vietnam and 3-5 days in Luang Prabang in Laos is a good choice.

The whole trip starts in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. A Hanoi tour usually includes a traditional tricycle tour of the old quarter to experience the daily life of locals, taste street food, and the must-do is strolling along the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake. In addition to these activities, there are other attractions worth visiting in Hanoi.

Located on the banks of West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda has Buddhist symbolism and is a must-see in Vietnam; Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is one of the most famous buildings and can provide an in-depth understanding of Vietnam’s history; One Pillar Pagoda is a landmark building that cannot be missed and is famous for its extraordinary architectural style; Temple of Literature is one of the most prestigious historical attractions in Hanoi and the first university in Vietnam.

Halong Bay is very close to Hanoi and is also an important part. The best option is to take an overnight Halong Bay cruise to admire the rocks, islets, caves and grottoes, enjoy exciting activities such as sightseeing, kayaking or swimming, and enjoy a relaxing night on the boat.

Halong Bay is very beautiful and is a must-visit place in Vietnam.

The three days in Laos are mainly spent in Luang Prabang. Learn about the diverse ethnic culture of Laos at the Art and Ethnology Center, visit the Weaving Villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek, take weaving classes under the guidance of weavers is a must-do in Laos, and experience local life at the night market in Luang Prabang at night.

The city of Luang Prabang also has these attractions to visit: the Royal Palace Museum, which houses many interesting Lao traditional cultural relics; Wat Sene is the oldest temple in Luang Prabang; Wat Xiengthong represents the classical architectural style of Laos; Wat Visoun is the oldest Buddhist temple in Laos and is also the religious art museum in Luang Prabang.

Besides the city views, there are other highlights in Laos: Ban Xanghai Village is the origin of Lao rice wine and rice whiskey, which you can taste; Pak Ou Caves are enshrined with thousands of gold-painted Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes; the Bear Rescue Sanctuary has built three bear houses to accommodate 25 rescued bears; Kuang Si Waterfall, the most beautiful waterfall in Laos.

For four days in Laos, it is recommended to visit the Elephant Village Camp. Here you can experience being a mahout one-to-one, including feeding elephants, getting close to elephants, exploring the elephant village, taking your own elephant to bathe in the Nam Khan River and other surprising activities.

With five days, Living Land Rice Farm is a must-see in Laos, and you can experience the rice production process, plant rice seedlings in knee-deep mud, or learn to drive a buffalo to plow the field. You can also help pick herbs, pick vegetables, husk rice, or just enjoy the scenery on the shaded balcony.

7 Days Glimpse of Vietnam and Laos Tour
Tour Route: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Luang Prabang

9 Days Vietnam and Laos Culture and Nature Tour
Tour Route: Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise - Luang Prabang

Kuang Si Waterall is the most beautiful waterfall in Laos.

Must-See and Do in Vietnam and Laos for a Classic Tour: about 10-12 Days

A 10-12 day trip will give you a richer experience exploring Vietnam and Laos, as you can travel Vietnam from south to north to explore more must-see places such as Hoi An and Saigon. It is recommended to extend your stay in Vietnam to seven days, including four days in Hanoi and Halong Bay, one day in Hoi An, two days in Saigon; and then three to five days in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Hoi An Ancient Town is famous for its well-preserved architecture that combines many cultural elements. You may stop at the following must-see in Vietnam: the Japanese Covered Bridge, the ancient traditional building Tan Ky House, and Hoi An Market, a local market with handicrafts and street food stalls. At night, colorful lanterns will light the streets and you can take a leisurely walk.

There are these iconic attractions to explore in Saigon: Cu Chi Tunnels, explore these defense systems developed during the Vietnam War; Notre Dame Cathedral, known as one of the 19 most magnificent churches in the world and regarded as the architectural symbol of Ho Chi Minh City; Saigon Old Post Office is one of the must-see attractions as it is the largest post office and the oldest colonial building in Vietnam.

Don’t miss the must-do in Vietnam, the Mekong River cruise near Saigon, where you can paddle through the lush jungle, enjoy the scenic and culturally unique lands along the Mekong River and explore floating villages at your leisure.

10 Days Classic Vietnam and Laos Highlights Tour
Tour Route: Saigon - Hoi An - Hanoi - Halong Bay - Luang Prabang

10 Days Vietnam and Laos Highlights Tour Package

Saigon – Hoi An – Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise – Luang Prabang

Wander the quiet streets of Hoi An Ancient Town.

Must-See and Do in Vietnam and Laos for a Highlight Tour: about 15 Days

For a fifteen-day Vietnam and Laos trip, you can have more time to explore some highlights. Nine days in Vietnam, including four days in Hanoi and Halong Bay, one day in Hoi An, two days in Saigon, one day in Hue, and one day in Can Tho; and six days in Laos, including five days in Luang Prabang and one day in Vientiane.

These are some highlights among the must-do in Hue: the Imperial City of Hue is a magnificent fortress-style complex; Tu Duc Tomb, the tomb of the fourth king of the Nguyen Dynasty; Thien Mu Pagoda, the unofficial symbol of Hue City, dates back to 1601; Minh Mang Tomb is the tomb of the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Take a boat trip to Cai Be Floating Market in Can Tho and watch buyers and sellers exchange goods. You will have the opportunity to interact with local farmers and learn their secrets of bonsai cultivation. You can also join a local family making tiles and ceramics, visit a rice paper kiln and a coconut sugar kiln, and experience the daily life of the village.

In Vientiane, there are many wonderful attractions you can stop and visit: Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan, has more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues; Patuxay Monument is Vientiane’s memorial to those who fought against French colonial rule for freedom; Pha That Luang Stupa is a huge golden pagoda built in the 3rd century.

15 Days Essence of Vietnam and Laos Tour
Tour Route: Saigon - Vinh Long - Can Tho - Saigon - Danang - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi - Vientiane - Luang Prabang

The Golden Stupa is a symbol of Buddhism in Laos and Laos rule.

Must-See and Do in Vietnam and Laos for an In-Depth Tour: about 22 Days

Planning to visit Vietnam and Laos in 22 days offers plenty of time and the journey will be very relaxing. It is recommended to have a Vietnam tour for twelve days, including four days in Hanoi and Halong Bay, two days in Saigon, one day in Can Tho, one day in Hue, one day in Hoi An, three days in Nha Trang; and ten days for a Laos tour, including five days in Luang Prabang, one day in Vientiane, two days in Vang Vieng and two days in Pakse.

Besides spending time fully relaxing on the beaches, there are many must-see in Nha Trang that are worth stopping at. Po Nagar Cham Towers is a temple complex built before 781 AD; Long Son Pagoda is located at the foot of Trai Thuy Mountain in Nha Trang City and is famous for its huge white Buddha statue; Dam Market is the favorite market of locals, with all kinds of products.

There are 4 more islands worth seeing in Nha Trang Bay: Mun Island is about four to five meters from the coast, and you can also take a glass-bottomed boat to see the corals; the water party on Mot Island brings you a relaxing and pleasant leisure time; Tranh Beach can rest and relax on the beautiful sandy beach, and you can also participate in water sports; Mieu Island explores Tri Nguyen Aquarium, which displays many exotic corals and marine life.

In addition to the beach, Nha Trang also has many water activities to relax.

Vang Vieng is a popular town in Laos with limestone karsts and caves. It is perfect for kayaking adventures, where you can easily cross many small rapids and enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery on both sides of the river. You can slide through the amazing 1,640-foot-long Tham Nam Cave with the help of a rope.

There are also some fun activities such as zip lining and swimming at Blue Lagoon 1; flying in a hot air balloon at an altitude of about 800 meters to enjoy the magnificent view of Vang Vieng town, rivers and mountains.

Pakse is the second most popular city in Laos. Here you can see the largest and most spectacular Tad Fan Waterfall in Laos; you can also continue to visit the villages of Alak, Nge and Katu on the Borawan Plateau to enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty and observe the cultivation of crops such as coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, etc.

22 Days Vietnam and Laos Relax Tour
Tour Route: Saigon - Can Tho - Nha Trang - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi - Halong Bay - Vientiane - Vang Vieng - Luang Prabang

23 Days In-depth Exploration Vietnam and Laos Tour

Vientiane – Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang – Pakse – Saigon – Nha Trang – Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue – Hanoi – Sapa – Halong Bay - Hanoi

The Royal Palace Museum has the most impressive temple in town.

Extend Your Vietnam and Laos Tour to Neighboring Counties

After fully exploring Vietnam and Laos, if you have enough time, it is a good choice to extend your trip to neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Thailand or Myanmar. It is very convenient to take a direct flight to these countries to experience the beauty of Southeast Asia and experience the local culture.

Here we provide a reliable local travel service in Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Laos Myanmar Tour, focusing on private car tours that suit your budget and interests at the best local pricing.

The Vietnam market is the most vibrant and interesting among all the markets in Southeast Asia.

Conclusion

Vietnam and Laos offer incredible travel experiences for one week or even one month to explore. From Hanoi’s Old Quarter to Ha Long Bay’s limestone bay, and from Luang Prabang’s temples to Vientiane’s golden stupa, each leg of the tour offers unique highlights.

Whether you’re drawn to historical sites, natural wonders, cultural experiences, or spiritual journeys, both countries offer everything you’re looking for. Start planning your Vietnam and Laos tour today! If you have any other questions or information you want to know, just contact us.