Depending on your arrival time, we will arrange the Vietnam & Laos tour that are most suitable. Once you have checked in, a short introductory meeting will take place to welcome you, and inform of useful itinerary, advice, preparations. Overnight in Vientiane.

Today we have the opportunity to discover the capital city of Laos. We first visit Wat Sisaket Temple, the oldest one that survived from the Siamese war of 1828. It has more than 8000 Buddha statues inside. We then go to another Temple of Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo. This temple contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane. We then get to That Luang Stupa, Symbol  of Lao nation the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha. Overnight in Vientiane.

Enjoy your breakfast and watch sunrise over the Mekong River. The Vietnam & Laos tour takes you to the airport for a short flight to Luang Prabang, the UNESCO World Heritage which is set amongst forested mountains and dotted with golden temples that are home to saffron robed monks. Luang Prabang is an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved townscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct cultural traditions. After lunch we have a half day tour of the town. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today we enjoy a boat cruise on the Mekong River to the holy caves of Pak Ou. The Pak-Ou caves reside where the Ou River and the Mekong merge, under a limestone cliff. These caves were originally used for the worship of the river spirit until Buddhism spread into Laos from India. The trip begins zigzagging down the river, leaving winding trails in the milky brown water. Once inside, one realizes the spiritual nature of these caves. Thus over 60 decades, more than 4,000 Buddha images – mostly the standing Buddha of the Luang Prabang style - were placed within the caves by believers. In the afternoon we visit the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls. You will be well and truly relaxed after spending time in Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

The Vietnam & Laos tour brings you to Hanoi, capital city of Vietnam. Your flight lands in Noi Bai international airport, 30 kms from Hanoi city centre. Our car will pick you up and transfer to a three star hotel in the Old Quarter. In the afternoon we have a half day tour to explore Hanoi’s charm and elegance before enjoying the famous traditional water puppet show at Thang Long Puppet Theatre in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi

We drive to Ho Chi Minh complex, spend a couple of hours to visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh museum.  We walk to the One Pillar Pagoda, the iconic Buddhist temple of Vietnam. We continue to the Temple of Literature originally built as a temple of Confucius. This is the site of the Vietnam first university dating back to 1070. The Temple highlights the importance of education. In the afternoon, we visit the Museum of ethnology, the most interesting museum in Vietnam, showing the diverse cultures of 54 ethnic groups in the country. Overnight in Hanoi.

Part of the Vietnam & Laos tour takes you to stunning Halong Bay, known as a majestic and mysterious natural wonder. Imagine that around 3000 or more incredible islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin creating a breathtaking beauty. It is a pure art, a priceless collection of unfinished sculptures given by the nature. We take a four hour drive to Halong Bay before boarding on our cruise boat. We will cruise through remarkable limestone formations of Halong Bay. We have the opportunities to enjoy a swim, visits to stunningly beautiful grottos and do some kayaking. Overnight on the cruise boat will be a memorable experience for your group.

 In the morning, enjoy some guided Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck. We continue sightseeing and cruising around Halong Bay, before turning to the harbor and driving back to Hanoi. Take your own time to discover Hanoi by night in the Old Quarter. Take a quick bite and board the night Reunification Express train to Hue. Enjoy Vietnam by night along the railway including city and rural life. Remember to buy some extra fruits and drinks to the train. 

Hue, a World Heritage site, is well-known for its imperial city, relics, and emperor tombs. We start with the imperial city where the last 13 Vietnamese emperors lived and reined the country: Ngo Mon gate, the Forbidden Purple Palace, The Mieu Temple. We pass by rice field and beautiful green hills to reach the tomb of Khai Dinh emperor. A magnificent place that buried the king is seen as a symbol of glory luxury lifestyle. In the afternoon, Vietnam & Laos tour takes you to Duc Son orphanage centre which provides basic shelters and education to street children and orphans to gain a sense of contemporary Vietnam society. You are encouraged to interact with them and teach them some English words, and try to make positive changes to the life of children as well as the performance of the centre. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, we take a three hour drive to another World Heritage site, Hoi An ancient city. Along the way our car passes by stunning coastal scenery and Lang Co beach, a new tourist destination of the central region. We reach the ancient and historic town of Hoi An which was for three centuries one of the most important ports in Central Vietnam, visited by sailing ships from all over the world seeking trade in silk, ceramics, spice etc. In the afternoon we visit Japanese covered bridge, Tan Ky Old hose, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Cham Museum and Chinese Assembly Hall. Then get back for a great swim in Cua Dai beach. Overnight in Hoi An.

Free and easy day to explore Hoi An on your own. Rent a bicycle for a tour of the city and enjoy its unique architecture, lifestyle, markets, ancient houses which have been preserved for years. Extra activities for further consideration include Scuba diving/snorkeling in Cham Island; half day trip to the ancient ruins at My Son (kingdom of Champa), or just relax on one of the best beaches on earth, the Cua Dai Beach. In the afternoon we transfer to Da Nang for a short flight to Saigon.

We visit Cao Dai temple, a monastic religion that was formally established in Vietnam in 1926. The temple is the head quarter of Caodaism. It is a combination of different religions and beliefs such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Vietnamese spiritualism, Christianity, and Islam. We then head to Cu Chi tunnels. Situated 60 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi is now described as a heroic district for its important role in Vietnam War. Cu Chi is well-known for its tunnel system of over 220 km and is a popular tourism destination for both domestic and international travelers. The network of the tunnels consist of numerous trap doors, command centers, living areas, weapons factories, hospital area, and kitchens. Overnight in Saigon.

We start our city tour by visiting the War Remnants Museum to discover one chapter of the city, then head to Reunification Palace close by. Take a walk around Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral and the central Post Office. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing, enjoying some coffee and ice cream, or shopping along the streets of central business districts. Overnight in Saigon. 

Spend the morning at leisure before you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. End of Vietnam & Laos Tour.