17D Vietnam & Laos Tour Itinerary DAY 1 - Ho Chi Minh City - Arrival Pick-up and welcome at the airport with the transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. DAY 2 - Mekong Delta Cai Be Floating Market (BL) 2 hours by minivan The day will begin with a two-hour ride from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, we will take a boat cruise to visit Cai Be Floating Market. The floating market is one of the most interesting and exciting attractions to visit in the Mekong Delta. At the floating market you can watch locals aboard their small boats trading fresh goods and local commodities. Leave Cai Be for Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet where the maze of shady creeks will surely fascinate you. You will have a chance to linger amidst the local farmers, learn the secrets of their bonsai gardening and sample local products. We will then experience a traditional lunch meal at a local home prior to returning tohotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. DAY 3 - Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City tour (BL) Start the day with a visit to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of tunnels stretching over 200 km. Cu Chi became legendary during the 1960's in playing a vital role in the Vietnam War by allowing Viet Cong (communist guerillas) to control large rural areas, just 30 to 40 km away from Ho Chi Minh City. Have lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant, we will visit some famous landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City such as: War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, and Thien Hau Pagoda in China Town. Then, return hotel and relax. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. DAY 4 - Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang (B) - 01 hour flight After breakfast, transfer to airport to take a flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Da Nang. 5* option: GRAND MERCURE DANANG - Superior 4* option: VANDA DA NANG HOTEL Superior 3* option: FANSIPAN DANANG HOTEL - Superior
DAY 5 - Da Nang My Son Sanctuary (B) A visit to the My Son Sanctuary is an experience that should not be missed while visiting the beautiful city of Hoi An. With us as your tour guide, enjoy a half-day trip to visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. During a time spanning from the 4th to 8th centuries, when Tra Kieu (then known as Simhapura) served as the political capital of Champa, My Son was the site of the most important Cham intellectuals and a religious centre. It is also believed that this site could have been used as a place of burial for Cham monarchs. My Son is considered to be Cham s counterpart to the grand cities of South-East Asia s other Indian influenced civilizations: Angkor (Cambodia), Bagan (Myanmar), Ayuthaya (Thailand), and Borobudur (Java). Free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Da Nang. 5* option: GRAND MERCURE DANANG - Superior 4* option: VANDA DA NANG HOTEL Superior 3* option: FANSIPAN DANANG HOTEL - Superior DAY 6 - Da Nang - Hoi An - Visit Ann Tailor for a free tailor-made item of clothing (B) 10:00 Pick up at the hotel and transfer to Hoi An. Take a measure for a free tailor-made item of clothing before check in hotel. Free in the afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An. 5* option: SUNRISE HOI AN BEACH RESORT Deluxe Garden View DAY 7 - Hoi An - Foodie Tour (BL) 09:00 Foodie tour. Discover Hoi An s countryside and its local food by bicycle. We will start our tour by going through the countryside and stop to enjoy a bowl of Cao Lau. Cao Lau is a specialty and a traditional Hoi An dish composed of flat noodles, pork, bean sprouts, and greens served in a savory broth. The noodles are made with local sticky rice soaked in the water that must be taken from Ba Le Well. We will continue our visit to Tra Que, a famous vegetable village, and on to Cam Ha. You will have the opportunity to enjoy My Quang noodles, another very famous local specialty. Before the end of the tour, we will go to Cam Nam to enjoy the Ying and Yang food. This tour is definitely an interesting journey, allowing you to try local specialties and enjoy the charming countryside of Hoi An. 5* option: SUNRISE HOI AN BEACH RESORT Garden Deluxe DAY 8 - Hoi An City tour (B) Exploring Hoi An on foot is one of the best ways to take in the city s charm. While exploring the small yet beautiful town, tourists and frequent visitors alike find that it is a place of quiet and peace. The unique atmosphere here combines elements of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese culture. Some of the most remarkable views of the city are from the ancient houses. From here, visitors can catch a glimpse of a long gone past and more subdued and simple time. The tour includes visits to Hoi An Museum, many of the town s renowned Ancient Houses which boast remarkable architecture, Assembly Halls of Chinese influence, a handicraft workshop and of course the must-see Japanese Covered Bridge. An optional stop is at the private home of Diep Dong Nguyen (subject to availability) to view a stunning collection of pottery, seals and old Hoi An photographs. Free in the afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An. 5* option: SUNRISE HOI AN BEACH RESORT Garden Deluxe
DAY 9 - Hoi An Relax (B) Today is full day free at leisure on your own relaxation or shopping. Overnight in Hoi An. 5* option: SUNRISE HOI AN BEACH RESORT Deluxe Garden View DAY 10 - Hoi An Da Nang Ha Noi City Tour (B) 1 hour by flight Transfer (no guide) to Da Nang airport to catch the flight to Hanoi. Once arrived in Ha Noi, transferred and checked-in to your hotel, then, you will visit the Temple of Literature (The first Imperial School in Vietnam), Hoan Kiem Lake, the Jade Mountain Temple, But Tower (Pen-Shaped Tower), Dai Nghien (Ink Stand), The Red painted wooden and the Huc Bridge Have a cyclo (pedicab) ride around Ha Noi ancient town. Overnight in Ha Noi. 5* option: SHERATON HANOI HOTEL Deluxe 4* option: FLOWER GARDEN HOTEL Deluxe 3* option: FLOWER HOTEL - Superior DAY 11 - Ha Noi Ha Long Bay (BLD) - 4 hours by shuttle bus The shuttle bus will pick you up at your hotel and depart for Ha long Bay, we go through the scenic countryside. The wondrous Ha Long Bay is truly one of Vietnam s most impressive scenic sights. Heading out of the town we embark on a boat for an exploration of the legendary Ha Long Bay. This exciting five hour cruise will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. Overnight on the Junk Cruise. 5* option: BHAYA CLASSIC Deluxe 4* option: FLAMINGO CRUISE Deluxe 3* option: MAJESTIC CRUISE Deluxe DAY 12 - Ha Long Bay Ha Noi (BL) - 4 hours by shuttle bus After breakfast, swimming and sunbathing. After lunch, return to Ha Noi. Overnight in Ha Noi. 5* option: SHERATON HANOI HOTEL Deluxe 4* option: FLOWER GARDEN HOTEL Deluxe 3* option: FLOWER HOTEL Superior DAY 13 - Ha Noi Luang Prabang (B) 1 hour 10 minutes by flight Transfer (no guide) to Noi Bai airport to catch the flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. Set at the confluence of two rivers that almost surround the town, and beneath a temple-topped hill, Luang Prabang is a wonderful patchwork of traditional Lao wooden houses and hints of European architecture; reminders of when Laos was part of the French colony of Indochine. Rest of the day free at leisure on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
DAY 14 - Luang Prabang Pak Ou Cave - Kuangsi Waterfall (BL) After breakfast, embark on a two hour cruise in a long-tail boat on the Mekong River and visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. En route, typical Laotian villages are barely visible behind thick foliage. Wooden canoes bobbing by the shore attached to bamboo poles can be seen everywhere while floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Arrive at Pak Ou and explore the sanctuaries which consist of two large caves. Both repositories house thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimetres to two meters in height. Returning to Luang Prabang by car. After lunch, drive south to one of Luang Prabang s most picturesque sights, the Kuang Si waterfall. On arrival, take a leisurely hike through the national park towards the Kuang Si waterfall. For the more adventurous, continue to the top of the main waterfall where you may choose to swim in a large pool. Transfer back to your hotel by private vehicle. Free time to explore the colorful night Bazaar. Overnight in Luang Prabang. DAY 15 - Luang Prabang - City Tour (B) If you re able to wake up before dawn (05:30am) to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks an awe-inspiring sight dating back generations in Laos. Optional walking through the morning market where all local products are being sold, watch the town come to life in the morning then return to the hotel for breakfast. (If you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately shoulders, chest and legs should be covered). After breakfast, start your visit to the Royal Palace, which is now a National Museum and houses the precious exhibits that used to be possessions of the former Laos Royal family. (Open from 8:30am to 11.30am and from 1.30pm to 3.30pm daily except on Tuesdays) Continue with the exploration of the main Buddhist temples of Luang Prabang including; Wat Visoun, a 16th century temple which serves as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, built in the early 19th century temple and Wat Xiengthong, a 16th century temple which epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture. Take the opportunity to interact with the monks at the Wat Mai temple before ending the day with a climb of 328 steps to the top of Phousi Hill. Where you can watch the sun set over Luang Prabang town and the two rivers and forested hills which form its natural borders. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang. DAY 16 - Luang Prabang Relax (B) Relax and discover Luang Prabang by yourself. Overnight in Luang Prabang. DAY 17 - Luang Prabang Departure (B) After breakfast, free at leisure until transfer to airport to catch the departure flight.