DAY 1: SAIGON ARRIVAL

Today you’ll land in Ho Chi Minh City. Warmly welcome by a tour guide at the airport then transfer to a hotel in Ho Chi Minh, the largest Vietnamese city. There are street markets, sidewalk cafes, and sleek new bars. This teeming metropolis offers 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. Check into your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.   DAY 2: CU CHI TUNNELS – HCM CITY TOUR  (B, L) Have breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Cu Chi Tunnels, well-known under American War Time – an underground network of 200km long. During the world of independence, Vietnamese guerillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels virtually underneath U.S. bases, using them to hide during bombing raids and to stage surprise attacks. Have lunch at Ben Nay restaurant. After lunch, drive to visit the Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace), Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Pagoda, the Opera House, and War Museum. Free for leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.  

DAY 3: SAI GON – MY THO – SAIGON (B/L)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to My Tho. Arrive in My tho take a boat for cruising along the Mekong River and visit 04 Islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, and Phoenix. Visit Thoi Son Islet: fruit orchard, enjoy “Cai Luong” (traditional folk music), Coconut candy workshop, and Honey-bee farm. Transfer out by small boat through small canals and discover every nook and cranny. Have lunch and take a rest at a riverside restaurant. Then enjoy the peaceful atmosphere when rowing a boat through the natural waterway and seeing the water coconut forest back to the pier. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.  

DAY 4: HCM - FLIGHT TO HANOI (B, L)

Today, leave Ho Chi Minh City for Hanoi in the morning. Transfer to the airport to take a flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi, visit Ho Chi Minh Complex which includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (outside), and One Pillar Pagoda, which was built by Ly Thai Tong. Have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we will visit the Temple of Literature which was originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society placed then and now on education. Then we back to the center of Hanoi to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake. 45 minutes Cyclo takes you around the Old Quarter. Enjoy a water puppet show before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.  

DAY 5: HANOI - HALONG BAY (B, L, D)

Transfer to Halong by 2 hrs driving. Board an overnight cruise for 2D1N Halong exploration. Overnight on board.  

DAY 6: HALONG BAY – HANOI (B, L)

You wake in the fresh air on the bay with a swim (if weather permits) or you can relax on the sundeck. After coffee, tea, and breakfast pastries, you’ll dock to visit one of the most famous caves in the Bay. At around 09:30 AM, the boat starts cruising towards the harbor while a lunch/brunch is served. Say goodbye to your crew and return to Hanoi. Upon arriving in Hanoi early this afternoon, the rest of the day is at your leisure or further exploration. Overnight in Hanoi.  

DAY 7: HANOI – FLIGHT TO LUANG PRABANG (B)

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.  

DAY 8: LUANG PRABANG CITY TOUR (B)

For early risers, there is a special dawn visit to watch the monks collect alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. Return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to the historical old town where the tour begins at the fresh market. Accompanied by the guide, walk through rows of stalls selling everything from fresh produce to local specialties. Next, visit the former Royal Palace. Today housing the National Museum, this site is filled with art, artifacts, and jewels offering some insight into the history and rich culture of the country. After this, continue the tour of Luang Prabang by visiting some of the city’s most important temples. Start at Wat Visoun, home to the famous ‘watermelon’ stupa, before visiting Wat Aham, housing an altar dedicated to the 2 guardian spirits This afternoon head to Ock Pop Tok to discover more about textiles in Laos- including their history, production, and cultural significance. At sunset, climb the nearby temple-topped hill of Mount Phousi where you will catch a spectacular view out over the town and the river. From there, explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.  

DAY 9: LUANG PRABANG  - PAKOU CAVES  -   KUANG SI WATERFALL (B)

We enjoy a short-guided tour of the city’s oldest temple Wat Mai and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to 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 small village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is distilled. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon by car and then continue our excursion toward Kuangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village, and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Kuangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for silk handweaving and traditional Saa Paper making. We return to the city by late evening. The rest of your day is free at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.  

DAY 10: LUANG  PRABANG   -  VIENTIANE (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will have free time till our guide and car come to pick you up at your hotel and private transfer to the Luang Prabang High-Speed Railway station or the International Luang Prabang Airport for a domestic flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival in Vientiane, our guide and driver will be waiting to provide transport to the hotel for check then we will see 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 precious national heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stopped en route to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. We watch the sunset by Mekong Riverside and spend the evening here absorbing the city’s nightlife. Overnight in Vientiane.  

DAY 11: VIENTIANE  -  DEPATURE (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will have free time at leisure till our guide and car come to pick you up at your hotel then provide a private transfer to the International Wattay Airport for your departure flight. Goodbye & see you the next time!