Wander across Laos & Vietnam for 7 amazing days

You get up as the sun rises to join the daily morning almsgiving, the most sacred tradition in Laos. In the early morning, more than 200 Buddhist monks depart from temples for the old quarter of Luang Prabang to receive alms from devotees. The monks meditate while moving lightly on their bare feet. The Buddhists prepared offerings such as sticky rice, fruit (mainly bananas), sweets, and some other food and put them in the monk’s bowl. Next, you will visit the temporary morning market, where the locals exchange their daily catch for rice, vegetables, fish, or chicken. It is the best chance to experience the flavor of local life.

After breakfast, your city tour begins with a visit to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, a superb piece of Laos’ architectural temple, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics, including a beautiful tree of life, glass montage on the rear temple wall. Next, you will visit the Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. Enjoy lunch at Tamarind, offering some of the best local food in Luang Prabang. Drive along the Mekong to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre to explore the rich diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities with many traditional costumes, tools, and artifacts on display.

In the late afternoon, you conquer the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of a gilded stupa and a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River.

The dinner will be at the local restaurant with traditional dance and folk songs, the best way to experience Lao culture. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Luang Prabang almsgiving ceremony Laos

After having breakfast, you drive 15 kilometers out of the town to see elephants in the Elephant Village Camp. Upon arrival, you receive a warm greeting from the local tour guide. He provides you with a short briefing about Lao elephants and their special herd. Then you meet up with your own elephants and do the following things to take care of them:

• Elephant Feeding:Get up close and personal with elephants
• Explore Elephant Village: Visit our elephant hospital, museum, gallery, and dung paper-making facility!
• One-on-One Experience: Enjoy the impressive experience of being a Mahout! 1 person per elephant
• Trail of Falls Trek: Enjoy a 2 km trek on foot through the diverse jungle landscape of our exclusive Trail of Falls.
• Lunch: Enjoy a freshly prepared picnic lunch in the forest. Vegetarian options are available.
• Continue the Trail of Falls: Enjoy another 1 km trek on foot along our exclusive Trail of Falls leading up to Tad Sae Waterfalls, where you can relax or swim in its natural pools (water levels vary with seasonal conditions).
• Ride a traditional longtail boat from the waterfall back to the Elephant Camp, giving you a chance to observe the traditional fishing, and the local river life.

In the mid-afternoon, you travel back to your hotel in downtown. The rest of the day is free for leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Luang Prabang elephant camp

Following the hotel breakfast, you will be taken to the Luang Prabang airport for a short flight to Hanoi, the next country on your tour.

Welcome to the eclectic city of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. You are met at the airport by your private transfer and taken to your accommodations, located within the center of the city. The variance of the city is felt in its streets. The sound of bustling motorbikes brings a sense of the modern world to the traditional neighborhoods, where the whir of bicycles and jovial conversation in small restaurants are also heard.

In the evening, you will delight in your first taste of Vietnam at a charming restaurant within a French Colonial building before doing the night tour of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. You will begin your 1.5-hour tour at Doan Mon (Main Gate), the entrance to Cam Thanh (forbidden area) – the king’s residence, and learn about the site’s history, architecture, and functions there. Next, you will enjoy an old dance right on the glass covering the archaeological excavation area and gain insight into this dig, which contains vestiges of the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties, via the tour guides’ introduction. You will also visit an exhibition hall of rare antiquities, some dating back over 1,000 years.

At Kinh Thien Palace, you can offer incense to King Ly Thai To, who moved the country’s capital from Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh province to Dai La which he renamed Thang Long in 1010, as well as other kings who contributed to the capital’s development.

The last destination of this trip is the archaeological site at No. 18 Hoang Dieu Street, where you will experience a laser light show of outstanding antiquities from the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. You can take part in a game in which you have to identify typical objects from feudal dynasties in the past.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Ha Noi Flower street vendors

Kickstart your new day with tasty foods for better stamina and more energy. A daily hot breakfast is prepared and served at the hotel’s restaurant.

At 8:30, meet up with your tour guide in the lobby for a full-day city tour of Hanoi. On this tour, you will explore many ancient architectures, delectable cuisine, and picturesque natural landscapes. The first attraction is Ba Dinh Square, where Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence, declaring the birth of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. To learn more about Vietnamese history, you will visit some of the architecture in this area, such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s stilt house, and the one-pillar pagoda.

Next, you take a short drive to the outskirts of Hanoi to visit the fascinating Museum of Ethnology. From the outside, you will be attracted by the presentation and layout, from the form to the displayed content, which is very scientific and logical. It involves grasping the cultural colors of each ethnic group.

Lunchtime is coming! You will enjoy Chả Cá Lã Vọng, the perfect combination of fresh noodles, grilled fish, sweet and sour sauce, and fresh vegetables, known as the Hanoian specialty since 1871. Following Lunch, you visit Hidden Gem Coffee Shop, 95% of the items in the shop are recycled furniture to protect the environment. A cup of traditional Vietnamese coffee, especially coffee with eggs, is highly recommended there.

Continue to visit the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam, famous for its beautiful architecture, and provide further information about the Vietnamese education system. Another exciting activity awaits you! Our guide and driver will take you to Long Bien Bridge to admire the panorama river view. While walking on the 120-year-old bridge, your tour guide will tell you some stories about history, Red River Delta culture, and local daily life; the walking tour also includes a discovery of Banana Island right at the foot of the bridge.

Embark on a fun cyclo to explore 36 streets in Hanoi Old Quarter. While swaying on a Cyclo, you can enjoy the cool air, admire the Old French-style villas, observe locals’ activities, and listen to the sounds of vehicles. All create a unique experience in the journey to Vietnam.

At 5 pm, you finish the cyclo tour, meet your guide at Dong Xuan Market and start the evening street food tour. The street food tour will be a taste adventure, as Hanoi cuisine is always the kind of dish that surprises every visitor to Vietnam because of its ingredients and prices. After the tour, you will learn that more than just a list of typical Vietnamese meals sold on the streets, they also convey the beauty of the Vietnamese culture, lifestyle, feelings, and thoughts. Any dietary requirements or allergies will be notified to the guide before the tour departs.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Ha Noi Bun Cha street food

The scenery of Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, in bizarre shapes, is truly an iconic image for Vietnam. An overnight boat trip is the best way to enjoy this Vietnamese must-see. 

Saying goodbye to Hanoi, you drive through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta to the legendary Halong Bay. It takes you 3 hours, including a 20-minute stop. Arrive at the jetty in Halong City toward noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome onboard, enjoy a tasty lunch while cruising to the mythical bay. Around mid-afternoon, you participate in some activities to discover every corner of the bay. Each cruise operates a different itinerary, and caving, kayaking, rowing boats, and swimming are the most popular ones. Towards the end of the day, the cruise sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is on board, and you will spend the night in Halong Bay.

Overnight cruise on the bay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Ha Long Bay kayaking

Get up early and don’t miss the chance to watch the sunrise at one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Participating in a tai chi class on the sundeck is a way to welcome a new day full of energy. At the end of the gentle training session, you move to the restaurant and enjoy a hot breakfast with a cup of fragrant coffee. Some gentle activities on the bay will be arranged and announced by the cruise’s staff. If you don’t want to participate, you can choose to relax on board: watching movies, reading books, or sightseeing are also attractive options.

After all, a buffet brunch is served while sailing slowly back toward the port. Disembark and transfer back to Noi Bai international airport. Be ready for a flight back home.

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch.

Ha Long Bay Tai Chi Class