Explorient Travel

HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM AND LAOS

Tours - Indochina Tours

Description: Spanning Laos and Vietnam in a short period of 14 days, this tour does a great task of covering all the major highlights of Laos and Vietnam. Visit Mekong River in Laos. Halong Bay along with all the attraction from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, the water puppet show and Vietnamese traditional art are extremely impressive; the true cultural masterpieces you can't miss.

Flexibility: This sample itinerary can be amended accordingly to meet your expectation.

BRIEF ITINERARY:

ITINERARY

Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival

Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to hotel for check in. Evening you enjoy a walking around the H'mong night market. Then you enjoy a welcome dinner at a nice restaurant in town.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Ovenight in Luang Prabang

Day 2: Luang Prabang (B)

After breakfast at hotel. Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to depart for city tour. Visit Wat Xieng Thong, the most beautiful temple, then take the traditional boat trip upstream on the Mekong River to visit the famous caves of Pak-Ou, located at the side of the steep cliff on the bank of the Mekong River housing hundreds of Buddha statues. Lunch at Pha Ang Restaurant. Visit en route local rice-wine distillery and Ban Phanom weaving village.

Meals: breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Ovenight in Luang Prabang

Day 3: Luang Prabang - Vientiane(B)

Breakfast at hotel Visit morning market, National museum (the former king’s palace), and climb up the Phousi hill for overlooking the city. Lunch at Elephant restaurant. After Lunch continue on visiting Vat Visoune, Wat Aham. Transfer to the airport for flight to Vientiane. Depart Luang Prabang by QV 104. Arrival in Vientiane and transfer to the hotel.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Ovenight in Vien Tiane

Day 4: Vientiane - Ha Noi(B)

After breakfast, you visit the morning market, then excursion to Buddha Park and visit the Friendship Bridge. Lunch (to own account). On the way back to Vientiane, stop over to visit the weaving village of Ban Nong Boa Thong. Transfer to the airport for check in and depart by VN840 to Hanoi. Arrive at Hanoi and transfer to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Ha Noi

Day 5: Hanoi City tour (B/L)

Today, we will visit Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh Complex that includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, House-on-Stilts, One Pillar pagoda. After that we will visit the Temple of Literature - a temple to Confucius, this is also known as Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070.

After having lunch at a nice restaurant, we continue our trip to visit Museum of Ethnology that is widely acknowledged as the best museum in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples.As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the ground. Then, we go back to the center of Hanoi to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake. Enjoy one hour Cyclo Tour through the Old Quarter of Ha Noi that also known as the 36 streets and guilds, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the street’s names was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities.

At the end of the day, you can enjoy the famous traditional water puppetry show in Thang Long Theatre where you will have a chance to experience an overview of daily life in Vietnam's rural areas in dramatic form. Back to the hotel and overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Overnight in Ha Noi

Day 6: Ha Noi - Ha Long (Overnight on Junk) (B/L/D)

After breakfast, You will be picked up by our driver for a share bus to depart for Halong Bay. Going through the scenic countryside, we get to Ha Long Bay. The world heritage site Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Upon arrival at Ha Long, you will be welcomed by our local guide on board. Heading out of the town we embark on a Chinese junk style for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. This exciting hours cruise will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands and islets rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. Sea food lunch will be served while cruising through the bay.

The limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches. You then explore the Surprising Sung Sot cave which still reserves much of the amazing original stalactites and stalagmites.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation: on deluxe junk cruise

Day 7: Ha Long - Hanoi (B/L)

Wake up in the morning to the calming sound of the waves crashing on the nearby islands. You enjoy a morning coffee and watch the world going by in the bay. Sitting on the upper deck and enjoy the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the bay. The quiet is almost eerie; we can hear birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze. Our Junk starts cruising back while the brunch buffet will be served. Check out and arrive at harbor by 12:00 noon, we will drive back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi around 16:30. Tonight, we take the flight to Hue.

Meals: Brunch
Accommodation: Overnight in Hue

Day 8: Hue City tour (B)

This morning, we will pick you up at the hotel. We start our tour to explore the Citadel, the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City.

After lunch we continue to visit a tomb monument of King Tu Duc which is located in a very special area. More than just a tomb visiting, it’s the great chance to learn more about Nguyen King and the landscape is spectacular. Come back to hotel in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hue

Day 9: Hue - Hoi An (B)

Check out in the morning, we departure for Hoi An. Stop en route at Lang Co beach to have short break before crossing Hai Van Pass. At the height of 450 metre above sea level Hai Van pass is the highest pass in the central coast of Viet Nam. Here you can enjoy the magnificent view of the central coast. The soft adventure drive over the 23 km long pass will add more highlights for this trip.
Next, you drive pass by Da Nang city - the 4th large city of Viet Nam. Here we pay a visit to the fascinating Cham Museum – musuem of ancient Champa kingdom’s sculptures and artifacts.

You then stop en route to visit famous China Beach, better known as R&R of the US army officials and soldiers during the Vietnam War. Then you visit the Marble stone carving workshop at Ngu Hanh Son handicraft village en route to charming Hoi An.

Arrive at Hoi An in late afternoon, check in to the hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.
Known as Faifo to early Western traders, Hoi An was one of South East Asia's major international ports and today it still retains that special old-world feel. Enjoy a walking tour through the Old Quarter. Hoi An is also famous for its large number of tailor shops, so if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Overnight at Hotel in Hoi An

Day 10: Hoi An City tour (B)

Today we spend a half day for exploring Hoi An town. From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab merchants. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. We enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200- year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the Japanese covered Bridge.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Deluxe hotel in Hoi An

Day 11: Hoi An - Danang - Saigon (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Saigon. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Saigon half day city tour includes the Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, and the Museum of History to see some interesting displays and photographs following the path of the revolution. Then visit the Reunification Palace for a glimpse into the lifestyle of the democratic regime of former South Vietnam.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Saigon.

Day 12: Saigon - Cu Chi - Tay Ninh - Saigon (B/L)

A full day tour to Cu Chi, located about 70 km from Saigon, where you will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, the former stronghold of the Viet Cong with a network of tunnels three levels deep stretching over 200 km. Then we visit the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh and learn about its unique world religion.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Saigon.

Day 13: Saigon - Vinh Long - Saigon (B/L)

Start early in the morning, escaping from the busy city, we have one day cruise excursion with a drive to Cai Be around 10.00 am. The tour will start with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market. This is lively market with vendors selling ranges of goods on boats. We will proceed by boat to visit some local home factories such as rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and longans drying and processing. Cruise the local sampan through the maze of canals to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the countryside. Then we land and ride the bikes or walk on the village paths. Visit nursery garden of Mr Tam Ho and enjoy local traditional music. Continue to visit bamboo-basket making and the brick & pottery kilns village. We drive back to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sai Gon

Day 14: Sai Gon Departure (B)

Breakfast is available in hotel. You enjoy your free time at leisure until time to meet for transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Price & Inclusion

This rate is quoted in USD per person, based on Double/Twin occupancy at 3-star hotel standard.

Valid until 31.December - 2013

Price Inclusion:

• All land transportation by private air conditioned vehicles
• Tour arrival and departure airport transfers
• Hotel accommodation on a double or twin-share basic
• Double or twin-share bedroom on Halong bay
• Soft sleeper in cabin 4 berths with A/C
• Meals as mention in the program
• All domestic flights as the itinerary (economy class)
• Local English speaking guides
• All entrance and sightseeing fees
• Mineral water
• Visa approval fee
  
• Travel insurance

Price Exclusions:

• International airfare and airport tax in & out Vietnam
• Drinks and other meals do not indicate in the program
• Early check-in and late check-out at all hotels
• Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, shopping...)
• Tipping/ Gratuities
• Additional expenses in case of force majeure

Notes:

• All flights and hotels are subject to availability
• Surcharge might be applied during November, December 2011 and February 2012 which will be advised at the time of booking.
• All the points of interest are open for visit based on current updating. In case of closing for construction or any reason, we will replace with similar point of interest.
• This Private Journey will depart on your desired date. It can also be taken in reserve starting in Saigon and finishing in Luang Prabang