Laos and Vietnam - UNESCO Sites 14 days/13 nights

Arrive in Luang Prabang, meet our guide and transfer to your hotel.

This evening enjoy free time, walking without a guide, inside the peninsular along the confluence of the Khan and Mekong River, surrounded by beautiful Lao and French architecture in this charming World Heritage town.

The old capital city of Luang Prabang is nestled in a stunning setting amid lush mountains, and this sacred city of Golden Temples and saffron robed monks provides endless opportunities for sightseeing and photographs.

A “Welcome Diner” will be provided, in a typical restaurant of Luang Prabang.

Overnight at hotel

If you wish, get an early start and participate in the traditional Lao rite of giving alms to the monks. Every morning, about 500 barefooted monks walk through the city silently collecting offerings. Return to your hotel for breakfast.

Start your day’s sightseeing around the UNESCO rated town by cycling to visit the most photographed temple, WAT XIENGTHONG, located at the end of peninsular close to the confluence of Mekong and Khan River, then continue to the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Visit Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. During Pimai, (the Lao New Year), the ‘Prabang’ normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum is brought and put on public display in this temple.

After lunch we will continue your tour of enchanting Luang Prabang. Visit Wat Visoun, the holiest temple of the city, rebuilt in 1887 after being destroyed by the invading Black Flags from Southern China, and then past Wat Aham, which was first built in the 1500s, and on to Wat That where the ashes of King Sisavang Vong are kept inside the large central stupa.

Our guide will take you to the living crafts centre of Ock Pop Tok in the heart of the city. Here you learn about how the centre provides a place for locals to create sustainable and beautiful Laos' handicrafts and traditional artwork, and after a stop and tasting of traditional Mak Tum Tea while enjoying the magnificent views over the Mekong River you will return to your hotel.

In the evening: make your own personal discoveries, walking along the main streets of the town, and to enjoy your shopping in the night market, where you can find lovely local souvenirs.

Overnight at hotel

This morning drive up the mountain to Ban Long Lao a H’mong and Kumu village approximately about 1,5 hours, spend some time exploring the village and chatting with the kids. You will then trek through rain forest about three hours to reach the stunning Kuang Si Waterfalls, which cascade over calcified rock cliffs toward a series of turquoise pools. The water has a blue-green tint because of its high mineral content. Enjoy a well-earned swim in one of the pools before breaking for lunch.

The journey continues with a trek down the hill to visit the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre. The centre is run by a dedicated team that look after the Asiatic Black Bears (Moon Bears) that were illegally captured from the wild as young cubs and destined for use in the traditional medicine trade. You’ll also visit a market in Tad Pan Village where you can shop for a few souvenirs or essentials before returning to Luang Prabang.

Overnight at hotel

This morning board a traditional long trail boat, for a relaxing cruise upstream on the mighty Mekong River. Enjoy stunning mountain scenery and witness the simple rural lifestyles.

Stop and visit Ban XANGKHONG, a weaving village, where you can jump into wooden looms with a local expert for practice and experience. You will reach the sacred Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. Enter the 2 caves and discover the hundreds of Buddha images, some over a century old, which have been left here during pilgrimages.

The boat then keeps cruising in the vicinity of the caves and will moor during lunch time at the foot of beautiful limestone cliffs. A selection of typical Lao dishes will be served on the confluence of Mekong and Ou River.

Cruise back to Luang Prabang and the rest of afternoon are at leisure.

Overnight at hotel

Free time until you transfer to the airport for a flight to Hanoi.

Meet our guide and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast, enjoy your half day city tour Hanoi. 

A cyclo trip around 36 streets of Ha Noi ancient town give you a chance to explore the different local way of life. Visit the Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple (Jade mountain Temple), and then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside), the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature,

After lunch, heading to Chuong village (30km from Hanoi) where your guide give you information about a traditional job of making “conical hats” (known locally as nons) from palm leaves. All people in the village make 'nons', the market sells most 'nons' and also sells the things to make them. Then, return to Hanoi.

Overnight at hotel 

After breakfast, drive to Khe Ro (3.5h). Take a break in Bac Giang.

Arrive at Khe Ro primeval forest and the nature conservation area in west Yen Tu. Walk along a stream for about 30 minutes, from entrance gate to Vung Tron Lake which was created by 2 streams Khe Ro and Khe O. On the way to Vung Tron, you will visit “Love Banyan Tree “– Cay Da Tinh where new couples go and pledge “love” to each other when getting together.  The water here is refreshingly cool and clear and you can freely swim and bathe here, or visit Bamboo and Rattan workshop

Have lunch and relax at your homestay. Then enjoy the journey to discover the beauty of Golden slit (Khe Vang), Din slit (Khe Din) by bicycle. On the way back, visiting famers of honeybee’s and medicinal herbs…

Enjoy dinner and then some Tay traditional dance in the stilt house

Overnight in a simple homestay.

Enjoy breakfast, then drive to Halong Bay - one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Arrive at Bhaya Cafe at Tuan Chau Island. Embark and enjoy “welcome drinks” and a quick briefing of the itinerary and safety information by our Cruise Manager. Enjoy a buffet  lunch as the boat cruises towards South East Halong Bay, passing by Chicken Rock, Finger Islet, and Frog Islet. Arrive to Dark and Bright Lagoon and visit the area by rowboat or kayak. Kayaks can be booked in advance at reception. Anticipate a great chance to see Cat Ba Langur, one of the rarest langurs left. Return to main boat for swimming around the area, relaxing on sundeck or indulging yourself with the on-board spa service. A cooking demonstration of traditional Vietnamese food will be held on the sundeck (or in the restaurant if weather does not allow). Set menu dinner will be served in the restaurant. Night time: Free time to be spent watching a movie in the restaurant, squid fishing at reception, or relaxing at the bar.

Today, an early start for a Tai Chi demonstration, held on the sundeck; tea and coffee is available. Light breakfast will be served in the restaurant.

Discover Surprise Cave, one of the biggest caves in Halong Bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Back to the main boat for check-outL, please put your baggage out in the corridor and settle your bill at reception. A buffet brunch will be served in the restaurant while the boat heads back to harbor. Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina and depart for Hanoi.

Return to Hanoi. Transfer to airport for flight to Hue, be welcomed by our guide and driver, then transfer to your hotel.

Overnight at hotel 

Breakfast, and then enjoy your city day tour. Drive through town to Hue's Imperial Citadel. Explore the sprawling complex, so richly steeped in history. Visit an ancient garden-house before taking a cruise on the Perfume River up to the beautiful Thien Mu Pagoda.

Afternoon, visit the Mausoleums of Tu Duc and Dong Ba market situated along the northern bank of Huong River.

Overnight at hotel 

After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Danang.  En route, take a photo stop at the the fishing village of Lang Co then at the top of Ocean Cloud Pass. On arrival in Danang visit Marble Mountains and My Khe Beach before proceeding to Hoi An old town.

Discover the historic town by bicycle, discovering it used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries and its sizeable community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. Take a walking tour in Hoi An to see the Chinese Assembly Hall & Temples, old houses & Japanese Covered Bridge. 

Overnight at hotel 

Experience an unconventional 'close-up' cycling adventure around Hoi An., discovering the true Vietnam, well off the beaten path of the regular 'tourist itineraries'.

Your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby, than you will cycle  around Hoi An towards the Tra Que vegetable village - About 150 farmers and 400 owners live there and cultivate about 20 types of vegetables and herbs such as mint, lettuce, basil, cilantro, broccoli and many more.

Walk in Tra Que vegetable village and meet local people working in the garden.The local farmer will teach you all about cultivation methods and how to protect developing vegetable from the insects; you may join the farmers in preparing gardening activities, such as raking the ground, sowing, watering greens, transplanting and tending greens.

Continue riding through paddy fields, Ba Le market, past the kindergarten ... until you reach Van Lang fisherman village  and Bay Mau coconut water forest - about 7 hectares, surrounded by mangrove forests, canals, with house roofs covered by coconut water leaf .

You will be warmly welcomed at Mr. Han – from a 3rd generation family, enjoy a taste of green tea and a stroll through the village. You will row a basket boat, with instructions from the skillful locals and discover their techniques of traditional fishery in the water coconut forest.

Back to Mr. Han’s family to enjoy a foot bath with medicinal herbs, a traditional therapeutic practice, before getting ready to prepare lunch with a local family. Lunch will feature many local delicacies, such as Tam Huu spring rolls, Banh Xeo, local pancakes, grilled fish in banana leaf and others.

After lunch, enjoy free time and take a short rest before returning to your hotel. Time for resting.

Overnight at hotel

A free day, without guide and driver, to enjoy the beaches at Cua Dai and An Bang, or to make personal discoveries.

Overnight at hotel

Transfer to Danang airport for flight to Hanoi. Connect to your international flight.

Note: Check-out time of hotel is at noon