The Best of Vietnam – Cambodia – Laos

Morning, start a full-day city tour beginning with the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which contains a rich collection of audio-visual documentation and more than 15,000 artifacts, including life-size traditional houses depicting all aspects of life, culture, customs and beliefs of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam, built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars.

Afternoon, visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. Explore Ba Dinh Square, an important point of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the rural-style Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. Move on to one of the following museums of choice, namely Hoa Lo Museum, which is the leftover of the French Central Prison built in 1896 to detain Vietnamese political prisoners. Afterwards, visit Hoan Kiem Lake or “Returned Sword Lake” which originated from a legend of a sacred sword. On an islet in the lake, there locates Ngoc Son Temple which is accessible by a classically red-painted wooden bridge. Touring through the Old Quarter, famous for its ancient streets representing traditional trades from the past by cyclo and enjoy a local coffee.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Hanoi

A guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Ninh Binh.

Take a trip to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century the place worships two famous Kings who have made great contributions to the country.

Then visit Mua Cave (Mua means Dance) with 500 steps up to the Top of Mua Mountain. On Top, you can overview of all the nice scenes of Hoa Lu.

In the afternoon, take a boat trip to discover Trang An Grottoes, which have forested limestone mountains contrasting in emerald water, caves, lowland and rivers. We will visit a cave network with beautiful stalactites of all shapes and colors,

Return to hotel in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Hanoi

Following breakfast, leave Hanoi for a 2.5-hour drive to Ha Long Bay, including a 20-minute stop on the way. Arrive at the jetty in Ha Long City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. Be welcomed onboard, and lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. 

In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day, the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight on Ha Long Bay Cruise

Enjoy the fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Ha Long in the morning and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruise slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to the airport directly for the next flight to Hue.

Our guide & driver pick up and transfer from Hue Airport to the hotel by air-conditioned vehicle

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Or 1 brunch)
Stay overnight in Hue

Morning, our guide will pick you up at your hotel for a full-day tour of Hue City, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam for the 1802-1945 period and the last refuge of Vietnamese feudalism. Begin with Hue Citadel, a well-known UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site which is a 520-ha fortress-like grand complex built in the early 1800s and featuring three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts namely Kinh Thanh Hue (Civic City) as the outer, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) as the middle and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) as the inner. Next, move on to Khai Dinh Tomb, the burial site of Vietnam’s second-to-last king, and the most elaborate compared to other kings’ tombs. The tomb shows a vivid European influence in architecture despite its Asian style.

Afternoon, take a dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River to enjoy the open view of the river and the beautiful landscape along the banks. On the way, drop a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery overlooking the river from a vantage point with its origin dating back to 1601. Then transfer by car to Minh Mang Tomb, where the 2nd Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty was buried. Last, stop for shopping at Dong Ba market, which is the city's traditional commercial center.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Hue

Enjoy a leisurely cycling tour through Thuy Bieu village's charming countryside, experiencing local rural life. After exploring the village's highlights. 

Transfer to Hoi An via the scenic coastal route with beautiful views along the way.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Hoi An

Meet our tour guide at the hotel and get ready for a full-day journey filled with beautiful sights and memorable experiences.

The first stop is Cam Thanh Coconut Jungle, and spend your time enjoying the peaceful, green space of Coconut Forest and hands-on experiences of round net and cast net fishing, especially basket boat rowing.

Then Hoi An Ancient Town welcomes you to visit Phuc Kien Pagoda, Phung Hung Ancient House, the Japanese Bridge, the Museum, etc. Shopping at Hoi An Central Market. Walk around the historic old town and be amazed by the influences from China, Japan, and Vietnam. Have dinner at the local restaurant.

Enjoy your time with the boat ride on the Hoai River and release the flower lanterns to pray for good luck for you and your family. You will immerse yourself in the fanciful space of the lantern street. Free your time with the night market and enjoy the shimmering space of Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Da Nang

Morning, depart for Ba Na Hills or Chua Mount (Mount of Goddess), passing along the seashore on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, one of the most beautiful roads in Da Nang City, and Red Beach. Ba Na Hills used to be a small French resort nestled in the mountains and has recently transformed into the most well-known amusement park in Vietnam thanks to its prime location, formation, and climate.

Arrive at the Cable Car Station at the foot of Ba Na Mountain. Enjoy the first leg of the cable car, which has achieved two Guinness World Records as the longest non-stop cable car (5,042m) and the highest non-stop cable car (1,292m). The cable cars were built to reach the mountaintop of Ba Na Hills, but they’re also the perfect way to get spectacular views of Da Nang and the surrounding forests.

Upon reaching Ba Na Hills, start the trip with a visit to the Golden Bridge, which is designed to connect the cable car station with the main gardens of this mountaintop. It also provides a scenic overlook and tourist attraction. The gold-colored walkway is lined with purple Lobelia Chrysanthemums and is 150 meters long with two giant hands, constructed of fibreglass and wire mesh. These two hands appear like stone hands that support the structure.

After the Golden Bridge, we’ll continue to visit Le Jardin d’Amour, old wineries, the remains of French villas, and Linh Ung Pagoda with a 27m high Buddha statue. We then leave Le Jardin for the second cable car station to visit the top of the mountain, where the remains of the old French villas are found. Start conquering the peak of Chua Mount at the height of 1,487m, enjoying views of the entire Da Nang city beneath a cluster of white clouds.

After the peak of Chua Mount, visit the Dreaming Stream Trail, Rainbow Waterfall, Suspension Bridge, Golden Valley, and the ruined Opera House. Play with wild monkeys and take photos. Enjoy free time until it's time to return to the Cable Car Station to descend to the foot of the mountain.

Transfer back to Danang.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Da Nang

Transfer to the airport and take the flight to Ho Chi Minh. 

Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, welcome by our tour guide and head to the hotel for check-in.

Then take a city tour to visit Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica a neo-Roman cathedral built by the colonial French with materials entirely imported from Marseilles. Discover the magnificent neo-Romanesque architecture as you take in the tranquil atmosphere inside. Then continue with the Central Post Office to know more about this significant landmark - one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City and the busiest post office in Vietnam with a neoclassical-style interior. You can also see painted maps of the former Saigon here. This Central Post Office was designed and constructed in the early 20th Century by the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel. Last but not least, we will visit the Cho Lon area or the city’s Chinatown and Jade Emperor Temple (Phuoc Hai), a rare Taoist structure in Vietnam built by the Cantonese community in the area in 1909.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning, pick up at your hotel to transfer about 136 km to Vinh Long, a riverside town in the vast Mekong Delta, the world’s largest delta. Take a boat cruise to the lively Cai Be floating market where sellers and buyers bargain and exchange goods from their boats. Proceed through a fascinating maze of shady canals to Hoa Binh Phuoc Island. Beautiful landscape of zigzag canals, lush vegetation, peaceful villages and activities of rural life will make you a delightful sight. There on the island, visit some local farmers’ homes, interact with warm-hearted hosts and learn about their trades of bonsai gardening, tile and ceramic production and rice paper and coconut candy making.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning, take a half-day tour to Cu Chi Tunnels, 75 km Northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, which were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the two wars against the French and later on Americans. The tunnels, entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel passageways at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totalling over 120 kilometers in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination containing meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches and emergency exits all aimed for guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges. Back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Phu Quoc.

Upon arrival in Phu Quoc, our tour guide will assist you in moving to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Phu Quoc

08:30: Pick up from your hotel at the lobby in the center of Duong Dong town.

Arrive at the harbor - board on speed boat

Visit 4 islands in the south

• Gam Ghi Island: Snorkeling at the coral reef - Enjoy the beach
• Buom Island (or Mong Tay Island): Snorkeling at the coral reef
• May Rut Island: white sand lagoon – unique chillout
• Having Lunch on the Island
• Sea walker (pay by yourself): a new type of service, walking under the ocean, there are the fish flocks swimming & colorful coral reefs of Phu Quoc
• Speed boat arrives at Thom Island: Enjoy the water park – more than 20 modern games from the world’s leading manufacturers.

Back on the cable car (around 25 mins): Enjoy sunset & rides with a panoramic overall view of the islands

17:00 Return to your hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay overnight in Phu Quoc

Enjoy unscheduled time to relax or independently explore.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Phu Quoc

Enjoy unscheduled time to relax or independently explore.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Phu Quoc

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap. 

Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, our guide and driver will transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Afternoon, visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia and flows into the Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, a floating police station, etc. It is the same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" moves from place to place following water levels and currents.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel, and visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, and the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Continue to visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor, Angkor Wat, the temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th-century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture

Afternoon, visit Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. After the visit, Ta Prohm if time and energy permitted visit Old Market for some souvenirs for friends and families.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel, free until time to transfer to Siem Reap Airport to take to take a flight to Luang Prabang. 

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel.

After a soft rest, your city tour begins with a visit to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture.

From there, we walk to the Royal Palace Museum, which offers a captivating glimpse into Laos' regal history, featuring stunning artifacts, beautiful architecture, and exhibits that highlight the country's rich cultural heritage.

A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River.

The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hill-tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. 

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Luang Prabang 

After breakfast, transfer to Heuan Chan Heritage House.

Upon arrival at Heuan Chan Heritage House, embark on a captivating journey through history by visiting the historical house and museum.

Here, you'll delve into the rich heritage of Luang Prabang, exploring its unique architecture and significant artifacts that narrate the story of this UNESCO World Heritage city.

Following this enlightening tour, immerse yourself in a traditional cooking class where you'll learn to prepare authentic dishes using the cherished recipes of Phia Sing, the former Royal chef of Luang Prabang.

Emphasizing freshness and sustainability, the ingredients used are organic and locally sourced, varying with the seasons to ensure the best flavors.

After the hands-on culinary experience, sit down to enjoy a delicious lunch featuring the exquisite dishes you've crafted, providing a genuine taste of Luang Prabang's culinary tradition.

In the afternoon, we embark on a leisure 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.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay overnight in Luang Prabang

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning almsgiving, which dates back to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temples to gather their daily meals from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets.

We then visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace which offers a glimpse into daily life, with vendors selling fresh produce, handmade crafts, and textiles. These experiences provide a unique and authentic cultural immersion.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si, which is the biggest waterfall in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals

There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene and explore the hidden waterfalls, which are rarely visited by other tourists

If you wish, take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers.

Returning to town, we make a brief stop at the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, nestled peacefully by the Mekong River. Here, artisans craft high-quality fabrics using traditional techniques. You're encouraged to enhance your experience with a complimentary audio guide detailing the center's significance in Lao culture and history.

Transfer to the airport to take the departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast