Vietnam – Laos Nature & Culture Tour

Upon your arrival at the Ho Chi Minh’s Tan Son Nhat international airport, you will be met by your private guide and driver then transferred to hotel in downtown.
Ho Chi Minh, formally called Saigon is an electrifying cosmopolitan city. It is an exciting and exotic city where the pace of the life never dims and which is now looking forward with great optimism after its tumultuous 20th century. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Enjoy a half day tour to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning. The Cu Chi tunnel was built during the war time by the Vietnamese for fighting with enemies, but nowadays it has become an interesting and fun place for tourists. Your kids will have fun in discover the complicated tunnel system in the forest.
Afternoon, we visit Reunification Palace formerly known as Independence Palace, built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, is a landmark in Hochiminh City. Continue to visit City Hall, Ho Chi Minh Monument and Central Post Office which was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the early 20th century. Right nearby, you can see Notre Dame Cathedral, a magnificent building located in the heart of the city and was established by French colonists. This cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1880. It has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters (190 feet). After visit, get back to the hotel for overnight.

Today you will transfer to visit Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, embark  on the cruise to begin with the visit to Cai Be colorful floating market, cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Stop at local home factories to observe the traditional procedure of making rice ice paste, coconut candies and other specialties. After lunch, proceed to Dong Hoa Hiep Island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be to discover beautiful landscape along the river. Visit to Ancient Mandarin House dating from 1890 with personal welcome by the House Owner. Continue to Vinh Long, passing beautiful landscapes along Dong Phu canal, Binh Hoa Phuoc and An Binh, the islands that are famous for fruit orchards. Make a stop at An Binh ancient church or Tam Ho’s nursery garden on the way back. Crossing Co Chien River, the excursion ends at Vinh Long Pier, where your own private transportation vehicle will await for you and transfer to Can Tho to check in your hotel for overnight.

In the morning, set out on a boat trip to the lively, colourful floating markets of Cai Rang. Board a traditional motor boat to visit the floating market. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Nha Trang, the remainder of day is free at your leisure. Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel.

Spend your free time in this scenic resort town any way you want – go for a spa treatment, cycle around the city or just kick back and relax on a white sand beach.

Spend your free time in this seaside resort town any way you want – go for a spa treatment, cycle around the city or just kick back on a white sand beach.

Following breakfast at the hotel, check-out and drive over the 500m-high Hai Van pass to Hue. Enjoy a stop at the scenic Lang Co Beach for a drink before continuing on to Hue – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Vietnam’s former capital. Spend the afternoon on a leisurely visiting the Citadel and Forbidden Purple City and take a stroll around Dong Ba market.

Following breakfast, we have a half day city tour beginning with a morning cruise on the Perfume River. Our first stop is at the Thien Mu (Heavenly Lady) Pagoda with its characteristic seven tiered tower, not to mention the Austin car which carried Monk Thich Quang Duc to Saigon where he famously set light to himself in 1963 as a dramatic protest against the unfair treatment of Buddhists by the Diem regime. We then drive a short distance to Emperor Tu Duc Mausoleum. This large mausoleum took only 3 years to construct and reflects a mix of Asian and European styles. After visit, take a rest then transfer to the airport in a private car for the short flight to the nation’s capital Hanoi. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel for check in and overnight in Hanoi.

Following breakfast, go on a full day city tour. We commence at the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the former president’s mausoleum and his simple stilt house residence as well as the One Pillar Pagoda. We continue on to the Temple of Literature, site of Vietnam’s first university and now a temple dedicated to Confucius, followed by the fascinating Museum of Ethnology.
In the afternoon we weave through Hanoi’s Old Quarter on cyclos and in the evening watch a traditional water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Enjoy a relaxing day trip to majestic Halong Bay. Our journey through the rice paddies of the Red River Delta takes around 3 ½ hours. Upon arrival at the quay side we board our vessel, a luxury traditional junk and begin our cruise through Halong Bay with a delicious seafood lunch. The boat ventures deeper in to the vast bay with breath-taking limestone outcrops and emerald-green waters. We stop at one the bay’s most well known caves. Later there is a steep climb up Titop Mountain where we are rewarded with some stunning panoramic views of Halong Bay. We have dinner and spend the night on board.

Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore the nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for brunch then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as you navigate back to Halong City, where your driver will meet you at the dock and take you back Hanoi. Further exploration Hanoi in nightlife.

Today, free at your leisure until transfer to Noi Bai Airport to catch your flight to Vientiane. On arrival in Vientiane, you will be welcomed by local tour guide and then transfer to the hotel for check in. Take a rest and enjoy a full day to explore Vientiane- the charming and fascinating capital of Laos, one of the classic Indo Chinese cities which conjure up exotic images, with its intriguing mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, American and Soviet influences. Our visit will take you to the key sites: National Museum, Wat Sisaket the city ‘s oldest surviving temple with thousands of silver and porcelain images in the gloriously authentic temple compound that offers you a glimpse into the Vientiane of the past, the next stop is Haw Phra Kaeo. This large temple is beautiful both interior and exterior, it was built to house the famed Emerald Buddha in courtyards filled with frangipani trees.
In the afternoon a stop at the older part of Morning market is recommended before the visit Pha That Luang. The giant golden stupa is a sight to see as the bright gold holds a sharp contrast to the pure blue sky. Next you will go to climb the Arc De Triomphe of Laos, Patuxai. The massive arch has a beautiful mosaic tiled ceiling and once at the top you can see for miles around Vientiane. Overnight in Vientiane.

Following breakfast in the hotel, you will be transferrd to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival at the airport, you are welcomed and transferred to hotel in town for check in. The rest of the day we will visit The Royal Palace (official name “Haw Kham”) which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family
Before sunset, ascend the 328 steps to the top of Phou Si Mountain that offers a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding rivers and cityscape before wandering through the bustling Hilltribe Market for traditional textiles and handicrafts made by the hill tribes. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, you will take the cruise along a Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves, where you will discover gold-lacquered Buddha statues of all shapes and sizes nestled deep in the limestone caverns. Embark on a cultural tour of Luang Prabang in the afternoon, you will explore the gilded temples such as Wat Mai, Wat Sensoukarahm and Wat Xieng Thong dotted across the city. After visit, get back Luang Prabang and enjoy the Night market.

Today is free at your leisure for last minute shopping or sightseeing before driving to the airport to catch your departure flight.