Day 1 : Saigon Arrival
Saigon Walking Tour
Welcome to Vietnam’s financial hub: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Arrive in the late morning and enjoy an orientation tour through Saigon’s bustling streets en route to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to recover from jet lag and explore the city on your own.
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 2 : Saigon City Tour
Old Saigon Post Office - Saigon
Enjoy a full day to tour Saigon’s diverse attractions. Start with a visit to Saigon’s China Town, then learn about traditional Vietnamese medicine at the FITO Museum and browse through the amazing array of goods at Ben Thanh Market. Stop for lunch then continue on the city tour with a visit to the War Remnants Museum and former Presidential Palace. You conclude the day exploring the city’s French colonial architecture, stopping at the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 3 : Saigon – Mekong Delta – Saigon
Today you travel to the Mekong River Delta on a day trip to explore the rich culture and lush fluvial landscape. Your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to Cai Be. Start your tour with a visit to Cai Be’s colorful floating market, cruising among the local barges stuffed-full of fruits and vegetables. Visit some local workshops then enjoy a delicious lunch served at an ancient house (over 170 years old!) in the cool shade of An Binh Island’s orchards. In the afternoon, take a traditional rowboat and venture deeper into the countryside, floating through narrow canals to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Stop at a nursery garden to discover how farmers along the delta produce their world famous fruits and vegetables. The cruise ends around 3:30 PM in Vinh Long. Your driver will meet you at the dock and take you back to Saigon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 4 : Saigon – Danang – Hoian
Chua Ong Pagoda - Hoian
After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your internal flight to Danang. Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport and take you on the short drive to the sleepy riverside town, Hoian. Take a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tam Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge. End the day with a relaxing sunset boat trip.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
Day 5 : Hoian – Danang – Hue
Tu Duc tombs - Hue
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then 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 walking tour through the ancient city. Visit the Royal Citadel, the Imperial Museum, as well as the Mausoleum of King tu Duc (a replica of the king’s palace built for the next reincarnation of the king).
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
Day 6 : Hue – Danang – Fly to Hanoi
Danang City
Spend the morning on a private boat cruise down the romantic Perfume River to visit the Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda), Dong Ba Market and the ornate Minh Mang’s tomb. Drive to Danang Airport in the afternoon to catch your short flight to Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi. Upon arrival, get transferred to your hotel in the city centre. Free at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 7 : Hanoi City Tour
Ethnology Museum - Hanoi
Today you have a full day to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas; Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house), the Presidential Palace, the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake including the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city’s museums (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum). Later in the afternoon, enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance – a unique Vietnamese art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 8 : Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise
Thien Cung Cave - Halong
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before setting out on a 3 to 4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay.
* The following Halong Bay itinerary is a sample for our standard service on a 3 star junk/ cruise. Different programs are available through our luxury cruise itineraries on the Violet, Jasmine, Ginger, Paradise or Au Co. Please contact us for more details. *
Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin (weather permitting). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: on cruise
Day 9 : Halong Bay – Hanoi – Fly to Vientiane
Tachi on Sundeck
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 to Noi Bai Airport to catch your flight to Vientiane
On arrival in Vientiane, you will be welcomed by local tour guide of Laos Travel.
Meals: Brunch
Accommodations: Hotel in Vientiane
Day 10 : Vientiane City Tour
Patuxai in Vientiane - Laos
Today we have 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 interiorl 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.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Vientiane
Day 11 : Vientiane - Fly to Luang Prabang
Lao Elephant Camp - Luang Prabang
Have breakfast in the hotel and the staff of Laos Travel will transfer you to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival at the airport, you are welcomed and transfered 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.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 12 : Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave Flight to Siem Reap – Tonle Sap
Tonle Sap Lake
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, take the flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, our guide and driver will come to pick you up to the hotel for check in.
You will head out of town and embark on a short cruise along Tonle Sap Lake to visit the local floating villages. Drive back to the Angkor Archeological Park in the evening to watch the sunset from the foot of Phnom Krohm Mountain.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 13 : Angkor Tour: Tuk tuk to Ta Prohm, Angkor thom, angkor Wat
Siem Reap Tour
Enjoy an entire day dedicated to discovering the mysterious Angkor temples. Wake before dawn and take a “tuk-tuk” ride to visit the jungle-entwined temple, Ta Prohm, at sunrise. Dawn is one of the most beautiful and haunting times to visit the temples, whose ancient sandstone blocks are gilded gold by the early morning rays. Return to the hotel for breakfast then set back out on a full day temple tour. Starting with the magnificent Angkor Wat – the largest Khmer temple and finest example of Angkorian art and architecture, we proceed to Angkor Thom’s imposing South Gate, topped with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon temple, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 14 : Cart Riding – Preah Khan - Banteay Srei – Pre Rup
Bayon Temple - Siem Reap
Savor your breakfast at hotel before starting an interesting day. Our driver & guide will pick you up at hotel then transfer you to Happy Ranch. The 7 hand-made horse-carts are each able to carry up to 4 people. It will take you on a journey to places that are otherwise unreachable, through local countryside villages, scenic rice fields. Our guides will show you the rural areas of Siem Reap Angkor. An authentic taste of the real Khmer lifestyle viewed from horseback. After 1 hour cart riding, you are taken back to town for lunch. In the afternoon, we set off to Preah Khan (Sacred Sword): one of Angkor’s largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII. Followed by Banteay Srei, home to Angkor’s finest stone carvings. On the way back to town, we will drop in Pre Rup temple, considered as a mini Angkor Wat and an ideal place to watch sunset.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 15 : Departure
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Our driver will transfer you to the Siem Reap International airport to catch your departure flight home.
Accommodation: N/A
Meals: Breakfast.