DAY 1 : Ho Chi Minh City and arrival  (D)

Arrive at Tan San Nhat airport where you will be welcomed by your local guide and driver who will transfer you to your hotel.

Scrolling around the City center in the afternoon (if time permits).  Enjoy a welcome dinner cruise on the Saigon River.

Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 2: Ho Chi Minh City tour (B/L/D)

Breakfast at your hotel,

Starting your sightseeing City tour with a visit to the Reunification Palace, the former residence of South Vietnam’s President until the end of the war in April 1975. Explore French colonial architecture including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Central Post Office. Visit Cho Lon (town) and see Thien Hau and Quan Am pagodas.

When finished at the Emperor Jade Pagoda and the War Remnants Museum our tour will conclude with a visit to Ben Thanh market where you can find practically everything for sale.

Enjoy dinner at a nearby restaurant. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be – Can Tho (B/L/D)

Breakfast at your hotel.

Depart for Cai Be by air-conditioned private car. Board a LE COCHINCHINE authentic Mekong sampan. Welcome aboard with a complimentary drink. Cruise down the river and explore the lively Cai Be floating market. Cruise through the intricate maze of waterways to visit handicraft villages, meet local people, be invited to their homes and sample various tropical fruit. Upon arrival at Vinh Long where we will set off on a walking or cycling sightseeing tour of Binh Hoa Phuoc islets. Next the Le Cochinchine sampan sets sail to Can Tho via Cho Lach and Tra On. Disembark at Cho Lach village and take a pleasant a stroll or cycle along paths in the countryside and discover tropical fruit orchards and enjoy the local people’s activities. Visit a cottage industry, a local farm and sample seasonal fruits. Take a leisurely cruise along the Mekong River to Mang Thit whilst enjoying aperitifs and a magnificent sunset over the river.

You have dinner and stay overnight on board.

DAY 4:  Tra On – Can Tho – Vinh Long (B/L)

Welcome a new day and have breakfast on board. Then, cruise along canals and visit Co Chien village to experience the lifestyle and hospitality of the local inhabitants. Take a leisurely cruise up the Bassac River (Hau Giang River) and enjoy the amazing scenery.

On arrival at Can Tho, explore Cai Rang market, one of the most lively floating markets in the Mekong Delta where hundreds of small boats laden with fruit jostle for space as owners attempt to sell their goods. Cruise along a palm-shaded canal to see traditional-style houses in which the local people live as well as lush orchards, busy ship-building yards and bustling markets where they make their livelihoods. It is now time to disembark from the boat. You will be met by a car and taken to lunch in a local restaurant. Return to HCMC with a stopover at the bonsai gardens in My Tho. Arrive back in HCMC late afternoon.

Dinner at your own expense. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi tunnels – Siem Reap (B/L)

Breakfast at your hotel. Depart for Cu Chi to visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels. Experience the maze of tunnels used by the Vietcong during the war. Shoot a gun if you wish.

Transfer to Tan San Nhat airport to board flight VN 3821 to Siem Reap (15.55-16.55 pm). You will be picked up and transferred to your hotel by your local guide.

Dinner at your expense. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 6: Angkor Wat (B/L)

Leave early to watch the stunning sunrise at Angkor Wat before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Later the same morning, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants and Leper King temples.

In the afternoon, tour the Small Circuit of Angkor to see Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chausay Tevoda temples.

Dinner at your expense. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 7: Angkor Wat (B/L)

Following breakfast, go on a sightseeing tour of the Grand Circuit of Angkor and visit Prasat Kravan, East Mebon, Pre Rup and Preah Kan temles.

After lunch, visit a local ethnic village and take a scenic boat cruise on Tonle Sap Lake to see Floating Villages.

Dinner at your expense. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 8: Siem Reap – Vientiane  (B/L)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Siem Reap airport for boarding flight 2904 to Vientiane (16.45-17.45pm). On arrival in Vientiane, meet your guide and transfer to your centrally located hotel.

After a short rest, start your sightseeing tour of the Laotian capital by visiting Wat Sisaket which displays thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha. On the way to the sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Watch the sunset and spend the evening by the Mekong Riverside.

Stay overnight in Vientiane.

DAY 9: Vientiane – Luang Prabang  (B/L)

After breakfast at your hotel, visit the Morning Market where you can find a wide variety of collectible antiques, lovely handmade textiles and other souvenir items for sale. Spend the rest of the day touring the Lao capital. Luang Prabang was registered in 1995 as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage City and is perhaps the best-preserved traditional City in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town combined with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Asia.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel. After a short rest, visit Wat Mai and Wat Sene, then climb up to the top of Phousi Mountain to view the sacred gilded stupa and view the glorious sunset over this ancient royal City and the mighty Mekong River.

Stroll around the Street Night Bazaar, where beautiful handmade textiles woven by the local hill tribe people are available at reasonable prices.

Stay overnight in Vientiane.

DAY 10: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave – Kuangsi Waterfall  (B/L)

Breakfast at your hotel.

Take a short guided tour to see the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping towards to the ground in the classical architectural style of Luang Prabang temples. Then take a cruise up the mighty Mekong River to enjoy beautiful views of the tranquil countryside and visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

En route, stop at the village of Ban Xing Hay, where local rice wine is distilled. Then drive to the magical Khuang Si Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or explore the forest paths.

Stay overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 11: Luang Prabang – Ha Noi  (B/L/D)

After breakfast, visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays an extensive collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Laotian culture dating from the days of the early kings right up to the last sovereign. Then visit the Central Market to purchase some last-minute souvenirs before transferring to Luang Prabang airport to board flight to Hanoi.

Arrive to Hanoi, pick up and transfer to your hotel. Stay overnight in Ha Noi City.

DAY 12: Ha Noi City Tour  (B/L/D)

Breakfast at your hotel. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which contains Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. Afterwards head to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch visit Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh temple. Tour around the old quarter on a cyclo covering Hang Dau and Hang Gai Streets. Dinner at your expense. Transfer to the train station to board a night train to Sapa.

Stay overnight in an air-conditioned soft sleeper cabin.

DAY 13: Lao Cai – Sapa (B/L)

Arrive at Lao Cai station at approximately 5am and transfer to Sapa. Have breakfast and refresh in the hotel before commencing your tour. Trek downhill to Lao Chai village to visit the Tay and Day tribes. Have a picnic lunch on the way, and then continue along the valley to Ta Van village, which is renowned as the most beautiful village in the area. Return to Sapa.

Dinner at your expense. Stay overnight in Sapa.

DAY 14: Sapa – Lao Cai – Ha Noi (B/L)

Have breakfast at your hotel before heading up to Giang Ta Chai village, home of the Red Dao tribe, where you will have lunch. Then visit Cat Cat and Sin Chai villages belonging to the Black H’Mong tribe. Enjoy a beautiful and cool waterfall in Cat Cat and picturesque scenery along the way.

Dinner at your expense. Transfer to Lao Cai train station to board the overnight train back to Hanoi.

Stay overnight in an air-conditioned soft sleeper cabin

DAY 15: Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay (B/L/D)

Arrive back in Hanoi around 5.30am. Pick up at the train station and depart for Ha Long Bay.

Travel for about 3.5 hours through the Red River Delta, a region of lush farmland dotted with small villages. Arrive around midday. Board the Dragon Pearl Junk, where you will enjoy a welcome drink and a fresh seafood lunch as you embark on a 4-hour cruise around the bay. Marvel at the incredible limestone formations such as Lion, Tea Pot and Toad Islands, then sail past Tam Cung cave and Dau Nguoi islet (Human Head) to visit Sung Sot (Amazing) cave. There will be plenty of time for swimming and sun bathing. Cruise to a quiet area of the bay to enjoy a great sunset dinner. Then relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin.

DAY 16: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi ( Brunch )

A fantastic brunch buffet will be served between 7:30 and 9:30am. Continue cruising around the bay and see more of the fascinating natural formations like Trong (Drum) cave, Yen Ngua (Saddle) islet, Ham Rong (Dragon’s mouth) islet, Am (Tea Pot) islet and Mat Qui (Monster’s face) islet, which was used as a setting for the movie “Indochina”. Arrive at the wharf around midday and disembark from the junk.

Transfer to Noi Bai airport for boarding flight VN 1545 to Hue (20.10-21.20pm). On arrival in Hue you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

Dinner at your expense. Stay overnight in Hue City.

DAY 17: Hue Citadel (B/L)

Breakfast at your hotel. Take a morning cruise on the Perfume River to visit the Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, Thien Mu pagoda and the Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, set in beautiful gardens and lakes. Lunch at the local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit Dong Ba market, the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, and the ruins of the Purple Forbidden City. Enjoy a night cruise on the Perfume River accompanied by Hue folk music.

Dinner at your expense. Stay overnight in Hue

DAY 18: Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An (B/L)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and head for Hoi An (about 4 hours). Drive along Lang Co beach and through Hai Van Pass to Danang City. Continue towards Hoi An, which was originally a Cham seaport influenced through the centuries by traders from various cultures. On the way, stop to admire Marble Mountain. The charm of Hoi An makes it one of the most charming places to visit in Vietnam.

Dinner at your expense. Stay overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 19: My Son –  Hoi An   (B/L)

Have breakfast at your hotel and visit lively early morning markets.

Then depart for My Son to visit the Cham Holy Land, another World Heritage site. Afterwards, roam around the town, visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, the Cantonese congregation, silk street of Hoi An and Danang-style temples and pagodas.

Dinner at your expense. Stay overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 20: Hoi An (B)

Breakfast at your hotel. Free time at your leisure for beach activities or shopping.

Lunch and dinner at your own expense. Stay overnight in Hoi An

DAY 21: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Danang airport for boarding flight VN 1307 to Ho Chi Minh City (8.00-9.10am) to join your connecting flight home.

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Tour price includes:

• Hotel accommodation based on 2 people sharing a  room (Twin or Double)
• A/c private car/van/minibus for pick up, transfer & sightseeing as per program
• Meals as indicated in the program (B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
• English speaking tour guide
• International flights: Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap; Siem Reap – Vientiane; Luang Prabang – Hanoi (Economy class)
• Domestic flight: Vientiane – Luang Prabang in Laos (Economy class)
• Domestic flights: Hanoi – Hue; Danang – Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam (Economy class)
• A/c private soft sleeper cabin: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi ( 2 – 4 pax per Cabin )
• Cabin sharing on Ha Long Bay (02 people/cabin)
• Kayaking
• Private boat trips in the Mekong Delta, Luang Prabang & Hue

Tour price excludes:

• Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian entry visas
• Travel insurance
• Drinks & other meals not mentioned in the program
• Personal expenses