Best of Vietnam & Laos
Laos, Vietnam
Laos, Vietnam
Discover Vietnam’s incredible diversity. Begin in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and visit its historical sites including Cu Chi tunnels. Visit its ancient cities of Hue, visit the visit the 19th-century Citadel, that encompasses the Imperial City, with palaces and shrines. Hoi An, was an ancient capital city of the Champa Kingdom. Explore its 20 temples that date back to 4th to 13th century AD. Although in ruins, its significance is compared to the iconic temples of Ayutthaya and even Angkor.
Enjoy a boat cruise on the picturesque Halong Bay, then fly to Luang Prabang, a charming UNESCO World Heritage-listed town along the Mekong River in northern Laos. The best way to experience this charming city and its surrounding is on a bicycle. Your private guide will lead you to the most interesting places, nearby villages where you can meet charming Lao people and experience their unique culture and simple way of life.
TRAVEL UNTAMED ON THIS 13-DAY TOUR OF VIETNAM & LAOS…
And, visit the historic and cultural city of Luang Prabang.
Best of Vietnam & Laos This tour combines Indochina’s most popular destinations: Vietnam and Luang Prabang, Laos.
(13 days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Saigon, Hue, Hoi An, Hanoi, Luang Prabang
Begin in dynamic Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), the country’s bustling commercial centre. With your own expert guide and driver, experience the city's most interesting neighbourhoods, historic attractions, museums, art galleries and shops, markets, and excellent restaurants. One day, take an excursion into the countryside to tour the Cu Chi Tunnels and observe a colourful religious ceremony at the Cao Dai Temple.
Transfer to Hue, the former Imperial Capital in central Vietnam. Tour the Imperial Citadel, a large complex that includes the Forbidden Purple City, where the emperor and his family once lived. See the beautiful gardens and traditional architecture at the royal tombs along the Perfume River. Also visit colourful Dong Ba Market and, if desired, sample Hue's famed vegetarian and royal cuisine.
Continue to Hoi An, a World Heritage town that retains a distinct Chinese atmosphere with colourful historic homes, charming cafes, and bustling silk and fish markets. With your private guide tour the surrounding villages and enjoy the stunning countryside scenes that will simply mesmerise you. In the evening enjoy a sunset cruise on the river.
Next spend three nights in Hanoi, Vietnam’s artistic and intellectual capital. With your guide, ride cyclos around the lake to see the city's historic French colonial architecture. Visit ancient temples, the Museum of Ethnology and the fascinating Old Quarter with its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens and more.
Next, fly to Luang Prabang, a charming UNESCO World Heritage-listed town along the Mekong River in northern Laos. The best way to experience this charming city and its surrounding is on a bicycle. Your private guide will lead you to the most interesting places, nearby villages where you can meet charming Lao people and experience their unique culture and simple way of life.
Day 1 – Arrive
Saigon, Vietnam VIP fast-track assistance through immigration.
Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights.
Day 2 – Tour
Saigon Full-day private city tour.
Day 3 – Tour
Saigon Full-day private city tour or full-day private excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temple.
Day 4 – Transfer & Tour
Hue Private transfer to airport for flight to Hue.
Private arrival transfer to hotel for 1 night. Half-day private tour.
Day 5 – Tour & Transfer
Hoi An Morning private tour of royal tombs and pagodas.
Private transfer to Hoi An resort for 2 nights.
Day 6 – Tour
Hoi An Morning private walking tour.
Day 7 – Transfer
Hanoi Private transfer to Danang airport for flight to Hanoi.
Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights.
Day 8 – Tour
Hanoi Full-day private city tour, including touring by cyclo.
Evening water puppet performance.
Day 9 – Tour
Hanoi Morning private market tour and cooking lesson.
Day 10 – Transfer
Luang Prabang, Laos Private transfer to airport for flight to Luang Prabang.
Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights.
Private dinner and traditional welcome ceremony.
Day 11 – Tour
Luang Prabang Option for sunrise alms-giving. Half-day private city tour.
Day 12 – Tour
Luang Prabang Morning private cruise to villages and Buddhist caves.
Day 13 – Depart
Luang Prabang Private airport transfer.
Hotels
Check In: 14:00h
Check Out: 12:00h
Make this your holiday
Getting There There are few direct flights from Europe to Vietnam’s three main international airports but these are steadily increasing over the years. The majority of visitors take indirect flights routed through Bangkok, Singapore or Hong Kong. It can be cheaper if you fly to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore or regular international carriers and from there take one of the low cost carriers to Vietnam.
There are only three international airports in Laos. Wattay International Airport in Vientiane; Luang Prabang International airport and Pakse International airport. Lao Airlines is the national carrier and monopolises the majority of flights in and out of the country, though many code-share with other air carriers.
When to go The climate in Laos and Vietnam remains tropical. The best time to visit the region is in the months between November and mid-March. During these months the days are pleasant and the nights are chilly. Thereafter the temperature begins to rise and March to May gets very hot. The monsoon arrives in the month of April-May and peak in August but continues until mid-October. Travel is difficult during these months. Avoid travelling during March-April and August.
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