The Very Best of Vietnam and Laos – 10 Days 9 Nights

From the very first day, you’ll be landing in the beautiful Ho Chi Minh City. This is where you’ll be joined straight from the gate by our expertly trained tour guides and chauffer who will be taking you around the city. Meet your new home away from home for these ten days, in the beautiful nations of Vietnam & Laos…

It’s now your chance to see a beautiful blend of Franco-Vietnamese culture with influences stretching back many, many years! You’ll get to see first-hand the mix of fancy French architecture in the heart of the largest city in Vietnam. As a brimming Metropolis with over 300 years of amazing, timeless cultural traditions and a great blend of fascinating cultures, there’s no shortage of sights to see and senses to mingle with. Those with an eye for history will not find themselves wanting for anything, with huge collections of weapons and photographs that’ll blow the minds of anyone with a flare for the Indochina wars and the infamous war between the USA and Vietnam in the 60s. It’s your chance to look around the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn about the tactics employed by the Vietnamese during the conflict. It’s a unique opportunity to see all the genuine articles up close, hands on. An unforgettable experience all around!

You’ll find the perfect moment of your journey across these marvelous nations, and give you something concrete to treasure, whether you want something traditional, contemporary or modern. It’s a pure jewel of culture, and it’s yours to seize with open hands! It’s all available from the pleasant street markets, cultural sidewalk cafes and the beautiful bars for engaging in some of Vietnam’s atmospheric nightlife. It’s a wealth of timeless traditions, classics and a mix of many cultures. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral which is of neo- Romanesque architecture with two high square tower and iron spires. Next, stop at the City Hall, known as “Hotel de Ville”.

Visit the Central Post Office and see the amazing fusion of French and Vietnamese architecture, and see the turbulent history within the War Remnants Museum, and get the chance to be up close and personal with photographs and weapons that hail from the period.

Find yourself back on the waters in the Mekong Delta! Continuing with the theme of only the best of Vietnam, it’s a must visit for any tourist! It’s both as rich in history as it is key to Vietnam’s survival, surrounded by beautiful orchards that sparkle both in the sun and in your heart! Lush rice fields greet the eyes of any visitor just over the horizons of fresh, crystal clear waters from the comfort of your cruising boat! And it’s not just a slideshow, you’ll be getting the best hands on approach of Vietnamese handicraft, learning the traditional and highly contemporary recipes to conduct your own Vietnamese cuisine when you find yourself at home after your unforgettable trip!

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Hanoi.

On arrival, pick up & transfer to hotel for check in.

Stay overnight in Hanoi.

You’ll need all that energy, as your second day is going to be as exciting as it is busy! A full tour of Hanoi awaits, including an enlightening trip to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature.

And with lunch quickly following, you’ll be given an insight into Vietnam’s fascinating, turbulent and enigmatic history with a trip to the Museum of Ethnology. Awaken your spirit right in the very heart of the great city; the Hoan Kiem Lake. In the beautiful sunshine, if you haven’t already built up that sun-kissed tan that holidays are famous for, this is the perfect chance! Soak it in and calm yourself on the tranquil shores of the lake…

Take a cyclo ride through the bustling Old Quarter. Lastly, enjoy a fantastic water puppet show which is unique in Vietnam.

You’ll be travelling and touring in style to tease the palette, as your first port of business shows off only the very best of Vietnam’s national beauty spots; Halong Bay. Over 3000 limestone peaks are featured in this majestic area, giving you an overwhelmingly amazing view atop the waves. Your boat will be only the finest in Vietnamese handiwork; stunning hand crafted interiors and a luxury dining space to enjoy the delicious and absolutely scrumptious Vietnamese cuisine. And that’s exactly what you’ll be getting aboard your ship as you’ll travel the bay by day, drinking in the sun, breeze and sights! And if you think the water is just for your eyes only, you thought wrong.

You’ll be able to bathe in the calm waters, swim among the marine life and experience the beautiful emerald enigma around your body as you take a swim in the beautiful afternoon sun and sunrise, all the while visiting the most beautiful spots in the bay, and arguably the entire world.

And it doesn’t just end after one sleep. Since you’re out on the waters for the night in the comfort of your air conditioned cabin, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy your dip and travels before heading back to the urban environment! You’ll even be taken through the expansive and equally amazing Sung Sot caves, and be back in time for a rich brunch and a drive back to the city of Hanoi. You can relax in comfort the whole way, just like a getaway should be!

Just when you think you’ve already seen all that Vietnam has to offer, you’ll be getting the full experience of the beauty of Laos too, arriving in the capital city of Vientiane…

When you arrive in this easy-going, friendly city, you’ll be shown to your very centrally located hotel. You’ll immediately notice the huge mix of cultures, Lao, Thai, Chinese, French, Vietnamese, American and others. It’s in the beautiful architecture, it’s in the way the city operates and it’s provides an aura of pure fascination for visitors.

This day will be spent at your leisure, and you will be able to watch the sunset in an awe-inspiring panorama over the Mekong River from the banks of the water and you’ll have the chance to indulge in the city lifestyle of the local Lao people.

It’s a dive through to the very roots of South East Asian history, to the very crown of Laos culture and religion, at the royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which has previously played host to the magnificent Emerald Buddha Image. Here you will find some of the best photo opportunities available anywhere in the world, not just in Asia!

It’s easy to forget the ways of old in a constantly changing world. We’ve all done it at some point, but now is a fantastic chance to literally go back many years and experience just what life was like here in Laos. In that very same afternoon, you’ll find yourself within arm’s length of one of the world’s best preserved heritage sights; the city of Luang Prabang. It’s completely preserved, protected under international law, and well and truly shows off the cream of the crop when it comes to tradition…

You can almost smell the tranquillity and peace in the air with its unrivalled scenic beauty. And when the sun sets, it makes for the most heart warming and magical dusks any man or woman could ever experience; a myriad of light and sparkle that’ll make time stand still for anyone witness to it. It’s got a magical panorama that’s impossible to resist. But it’s still unrivalled by the view that can be captured from the top of the nearby Mount Phousi. It’s exceptional, and it’s soul-enriching to see the sun sink gracefully below the horizon over the Mekong River and the once royal city. It’s the best the continent could ever offer a traveller, and it’s accented by the chance to meet and converse with the wonderfully pleasant and traditional hilltribe surrounding the great city. By night, many of their wares are for sale and available for purchase. So make sure you don’t miss out!

After a great breakfast in the city of Luang Prabang, you’ll be able to witness and observe a short tour of the city’s oldest temple to take in the amazing stupa of Wat Visoun and you’ll get the chance to visit and experience the mystique of the Wat Aham, Wat Mai, and Wat Sene shrines, and comprehend the impressive architectural feats contained within. It’s a class look on Lao construction dating right the way back to the ancients. And with a cruise up the smooth, glittering Mekong River to follow, you’ll get a great view of the picturesque countryside and the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, most known for the thousands upon thousands of Buddha statues which line the interior, all left by pilgrims over many years. It’s one of the most devoted sites the country has to offer, and it’s all yours. And with a wealth of traditional Lao handicraft waiting for you to learn at the end of the trail before a trip back to Luang Prabang, you’ll be able to take home not only souvenirs, but skills to apply to your own day to day life after!

And it’s not just for sights and for the eyes either… With a relaxing stay in the city of Luang Prabang itself, you’ll awake to the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s the chance to personally get involved and indulge in the morning rituals of the monks collecting Alms offered by the faithful, believing residents. It’s a tradition unique to the region, and it’s a real opportunity to get involved in the only surviving instance of it. The only Buddhist Nation in the world who still exercises this ritual is Laos. What other experience can offer you this one of a kind event?

Though unfortunately, all good things must come to any end here, and we will be saying goodbye to the warm, welcoming locals to return to the cities, visiting the National museum for one last dip into the history of Laos.

Unfortunately, though, we will eventually have to say goodbye to this life changing experience. It is a beautiful induction into the life and culture of not just one, but two very beautiful countries, and the chance to get involved and not only witness, but live and experience the traditions of old. So just like we said, you’re not just a tourist. You’re a time traveller, you’re a local, and you’re a historian when you elect to take this package.

So come and experience the very best that South East Asia has to offer. No matter where in the world your favourite vacation spot currently is, it’s definitely going to be here when you’ve been through the motions and found your muse here in Vietnam! So when we finally are forced to say goodbye, just before you depart back to the your normal day to day life, we know you’ll already be booking for your next visit! Once you’ve had a slice of the culture and the life, there’s little more left than to want another piece!

So don’t leave your holiday to chance this year. Experience something new, and take a trip to Asia today!