Heritages Trail Of Laos And Vietnam In 12 Days

Your Laos and Vietnam trip begins with your arrival in Luang Prabang. Your private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. He will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the town. The tranquillity and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. You can easily explore Luang Prabang at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today, we enjoy a short guided tour to the city’s oldest temples of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside along the way. Visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. On the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. On return, we take a short drive to another small village Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Have breakfast at the hotel and get ready for your next adventure. Start your tour with visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham, and Wat Mai. Then visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups such as Hmong village Ban Ouray, Laoloum village Ban Ou, and Khmu village Ban Thapene. After exploring the villages, we will take you to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall, where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

OPTIONAL EARLY MORNING TOUR

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual.

Relish the remaining moment in Luang Prabang before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh. When you arrive at Than Son Nhat Airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation. The rest of the time is free for leisure. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Have breakfast at the hotel and depart for Cu Chi tunnel. The trip will take approximately one and a half hours drive. Upon arrival, you will have a short introduction followed by an introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed, and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of wartime. 

Then, spend your time exploring the remaining area and tunnel systems, which included the living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers. All this was to help people living inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purposes during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla food during the war) will be served.

Then you will return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Depart from Ho Chi Minh and head to the Mekong Delta, the land of nine dragons. Upon arrival at Cai Be, you will board the boat and explore Cai Be floating market, where local farmers sell their goods right from the boat. Then visit Com candy craft village, where you can see the production process of candy nuggets and try freshly made candies. The next destination is the bee farm for a cup of honey tea. Then take a boat cruise to Tan Phong Island to visit local orchards and Uncle 5 On’s house to enjoy the garden folk music. Have a cup of tea with the fruits here while listening to music. 

From here, head to your resort to have lunch and some rest. Around 4 p.m., you can join the activities organized by the resort by picking vegetables and slapping the ditch to catch fish. After that, you will join our chef to cook your dinner. 

Overnight in Cai Be.

After breakfast, you take a cycling trip around Tan Phong Island to understand more about the daily life of the people on the island. On the way, enjoy the freshly picked fruits. Then return to the resort and learn how to make jackfruit leaf cake, which you will taste after. Around 11:30 am. check out your room and take the ferry to the pier, where our driver will meet you and transfer you back to Ho Chi Minh. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Relish the remaining moment in Ho Chi Minh before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Hanoi. When you arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation. The rest of the time is free for leisure. 

Overnight in Hanoi.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel then our experienced English-speaking guide escorts you on the trip to Ba Vi, a countryside located on the outskirt of Hanoi.

Arrive at Ri village, enjoy the welcome drink and snacks and meet your first host – Mr. Duoc, who is a Vietnam War veteran and tea-farm owner. Listen to the stories of Mr. Duoc’s life during the war while enjoying the drink and then visit his tea plantation. You will learn how to pick the best tea leaves to make the most wonderful beverage in Vietnam. Carry on with the tea production at his small workshop, where most of the work is manual.

Then, have a short drive to Moc village, where you will meet your next host Mrs. Chin, who will teach you how to cook local Vietnamese dishes. Later have the meals you made for lunch in a beautiful tropical garden. 

Have a short break after lunch, and join Mrs. Chin for a walk around the village. You will visit some local families to understand the rural lifestyle and learn how tofu, conical hats, and other local products are made. Then have a cycling trip through beautiful paddy fields. Wrap up your countryside tour with traditional feet soak in warm water with herbs, following the traditional recipes of the Muong ethnic minority. It will relax you (and your feet) after cycling around the village. Then your driver will take you back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

In the morning, check out of the hotel, and get picked up by the Cruise team. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. 

On arrival at Halong, you will board the cruise and enjoy the fantastic views of limestone rocks and the karst grottoes. Have an utterly delicious seafood lunch and enjoy the time at the sundeck exploring the Bay. 

The cruise will stop in a secret place where you will spend time kayaking or swimming, so you can explore the karst grottoes closer. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.

Overnight on cruise.

Rise early today to view the sunrise at the wonder of nature with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awake your mind and muscles.

Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. After your exploration return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor. Later you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hanoi. 

Overnight in Hanoi.

Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip to Laos and Vietnam. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later your private driver will transfer you to the airport to take your flight back home. Trip Ends.

Goodbye and safe travel!