13 Days / 12 Nights Premium Tour of Vietnam + Laos

Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, our local guide will warmly welcome you and assist with your transfer to your hotel. During the drive, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City, known for its vibrant atmosphere and energy. After check-in, the evening is free for you to simply unwind and relax after your flight.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Spend the day exploring Ho Chi Minh City’s iconic landmarks, starting with its French-influenced architectural sites. Learn about Vietnam’s history at the War Remnants Museum and immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Ben Thanh Market, the city’s largest and oldest marketplace. Enjoy a delicious meal of traditional Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant. This tour includes all entrance fees, an English-speaking guide, bottled water, and a towel. Guests will be transported in an air-conditioned van to and from their hotel in District 1, with live commentary provided during the journey.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Embark on a cultural journey to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll experience the vibrant local life of the region. Taste tropical fruits, enjoy a Vietnamese lunch (with vegan options available), and explore the area with an English-speaking guide. The tour includes transportation in an air-conditioned van or bus, pickup and drop-off at centrally located hotels, and travel insurance, ensuring a comfortable and immersive experience.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang (approx. 1.5-hour flight). Upon arrival, your guide will drive you to the charming ancient town of Hoi An (a 45-minute drive). Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An is famed for its well-preserved ancient architecture and lantern-lit streets.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax or stroll through the picturesque town. Don't miss the opportunity to explore the lantern-lit riverside at night, which transforms Hoi An into a magical scene.

Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning. At 3:00 pm, depart for the lush Coconut Forest in Cam Thanh, located about 5 km from Hoi An’s Old Town. Along the way, stop by Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, where artisans create intricate sculptures from local marble. At the Coconut Forest, hop into a traditional basket boat to explore the scenic waterways, lined with dense coconut trees. Engage in fun activities with local fishermen, try net fishing, and enjoy an exciting basket boat race.

Continue to Hoi An’s historic center, where you’ll embark on a walking tour of this former trading port. Step back in time as you explore 16th-century structures, ancient assembly halls, and charming temples. As evening falls, immerse yourself in the mesmerizing glow of Hoi An’s famous lanterns. 

Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, set off on a drive to Ba Na Hills (approximately 1.5 hours from Hoi An). Ascend the hills to the iconic Golden Bridge, a marvel of engineering held aloft by two colossal stone hands, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Take plenty of photos before exploring Ba Na Hills Resort, including its French Village and Fantasy Park. After lunch, return to Hoi An for a relaxing afternoon, where you may choose to take a Vietnamese cooking class.

Overnight in Hoi AN

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital city (approx. 1.5-hour flight). Upon arrival, check into your hotel and spend the afternoon exploring the Old Quarter, with its lively streets named after the traditional trades once practiced there. Enjoy the local charm and culture of this bustling yet historic part of the city.

Overnight in Hanoi.

About 12:00: Arrive Tuan Chau Island with waiting room, welcome aboard, safety briefing by tour guide and starting 5-hour cruising on legendary Halong Bay. You visit Surprising Cave with stalagmites and stalactites in different shapes, enjoy kayaking or a bamboo boat in Luon Cave (optional). Then you visit Titov Island to swim or climb up to Titov Peak for a panoramic view of the bay.

Note: These activities may be switched in order depending the time, weather or travel seasons. Tour guide will inform you onboard.

Return to the cruises for a Sunset Party and socialise with other travellers, cruising back to Tuan Chau harbour. You will enjoy free time for sunbathing on the upper deck to enjoy the rest of the trip. Disembark, get on a bus and return to Hanoi via the new highway. 

Inclusions:

• Welcome aboard, lunch with Vietnamese food
• English-speaking tour guide
• Entrance fees and sightseeing fees to visit Sung Sot cave, beach

Overnight in Hanoi.

After Breakfast, embark on a full-day exploration of Hanoi’s rich history and culture. Begin with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, gaining insight into the revered leader’s life, followed by the unique One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, before enjoying a delicious Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, discover the diverse ethnic communities of Vietnam at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, then take a leisurely stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and visit the iconic Ngoc Son Temple. Conclude your day with a mesmerizing water puppet show, an ancient Vietnamese art form, before returning to your hotel for a restful evening.

Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, enjoy some final free time for shopping or sightseeing. You will be transferred to Noi Bai International Airport for your flight back home or to your next destination.

Upon arrival at Vientiane Airport, you will be met by Laos Travel's guide & driver and transferred to your hotel. After settling in, enjoy the remainder of the day free at leisure to explore the city or visit the bustling Mekong riverside area yourselves.

Vientiane has many great restaurants with Lao, Thai, French, Italian, Mexican and Chinese cuisines available, ask the guide for personal recommendations to enjoy your dinner.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Today you will discover the essential landmarks and iconic sights that the small and charismatic city of Vientiane has to offer. Vientiane remains a tranquil laid-back character, a world away from the frantic capitals in Asia, and most attractions can be reached on foot. 

Start at Wat Sisaket, believed to be Vientiane's oldest surviving temple, left intact after the Siamese invasion of 1828. The interior walls of the cloister are covered in niches containing over 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images. Next is a visit to Wat Phra Keo, built originally to house the famed Emerald Buddha and now a religious museum that displays a collection of art representing Lao and Khmer artefacts. Continue to Wat Si Muang - the most popular one in town.

The city tour of Vientiane also takes you to Patuxai Victory Monument, Laos' version of the Arc de Triomphe, and Pha That Luang, constructed by King Setthathirat in the 16th century.

Transfer out of the city to visit the orchid farm before setting out on the spectacular drive north to Vang Vieng. Nestled along Nam Song River in Central Laos, Vang Vieng is popular for its idyllic scenery: limestone karsts jutting out of emerald rice paddies. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Today's tour combines all the activities that Vang Vieng is famous for: kayaking on the Nam Song River surrounded by rugged karsts and beautiful rural scenery and exploring limestone caves.

After breakfast at the hotel, your tour guide will take to to the north of Vang Vieng, where you'll firstly visit Tham Xang (Elephant Cave). This cave owes its name to a remarkable limestone formation, and lies on the banks of the Nam Song River.

The nearby Tham Hoi Cave (Snail Cave) winds its way deep into the mountain. You'll float through the cave on inflatable tubes, exploring its long corridors and wonderful limestone formations. A pool of cool spring water lies at the mouth of Tham Nam (Water Cave), giving you a great opportunity for a swim.

Following a picnic lunch, trek to a Hmong village, passing through rice paddies and vegetable gardens. Return to Vang Vieng by kayaking down the Nam Song, taking you through idyllic scenes of rural life, with limestone mountains in the background.

Rest of the day, you are recommended a short stroll down to the riverbank in time for sunset, where there are a number of areas to sit and take in dramatic scenery. Be sure to bring a camera to catch some amazing snaps.

Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, the journey back to Vientiane. En-route, make a stop for lunch at Nam Ngum Reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in SouthEast Asia, and take a boat trip to visit local fishing communities. Continue on to Dongmarkhai Market, where among the market stalls, insects sell as local snacks. Transfer to Vientiane's Wattay International Airport for your onward flight.

Safe travels!