Discover Vietnam & Laos – 8 Days

General Information

Duration: 8 days/ 7 nights
Start/End: Hanoi/ Luang Prabang
Tour Route: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Luang Prabang
Tour Type: Explore and Experience
Tour Categories: Vietnam Laos tours
Tour Customizable: Definitely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
Guides: Local Guide (English Speaking Guide, Other Languages upon Request)
Transportation: Private first-class air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges

Tour Highlights:

Visit the capital of Hanoi and experience a fusion of French and Vietnamese
Cruise along Halong Bay to marvel at its many limestone islands
Wander around the Buddhist ancient city & temples in Luang Prabang
Get a closer look into the local lifestyles in some Laos ethnic villages
Prepare yourself to swim and have fun in the Kuang Si Waterfall and enjoy the natural pools

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour
Day 3: Hanoi – Cruise along Halong Bay
Day 4: Halong Bay – Return to Hanoi – Flight to Luang Prabang
Day 5: Luang Prabang – Buddhist Ancient City & Temples
Day 6: Full day Kuang Si Waterfall Relaxing & Laos Village
Day 7: Mekong River Cruise & Pak Ou Cave – Back to Luang Prabang
Day 8: Luang Prabang Depart

Day 01: Hanoi Arrival (D)

Welcome to Vietnam – The land of unique culture and incredible natural landscape!
Upon your arrival in Hanoi, your local tour guide and private driver will welcome you at the airport and then escort you to the hotel. Check-in hotel and relax.
Welcome dinner with traditional Vietnamese food will give you the first taste of Vietnamese cuisine and its culture.

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)

Hanoi has a rich imperial history dating back over a millennium, and an amazing diversity of local ethnic groups weaving the fabric of the city’s rich tapestry. Start your day on the outskirts of the city by visiting the Museum of Ethnology. The museum provides an insightful glimpse into the country’s lengthy history through various photos, objects, and artifacts depicting the lifestyles of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. Next, drive back into central Hanoi to the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius. From here, continue to Bun Cha Huong Lien to have lunch. It is a famous local spot where President Barack Obama dined with Anthony Bourdain.

In the afternoon, head to the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Ba Dinh Square. The area surrounding the complex is a traffic-free zone filled with botanical gardens, monuments, memorials, and pagodas. Get a closer look into the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to Ngoc Son Temple, situated on a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake and accessible by a classically painted wooden bridge.

End your day by walking through the iconic Hanoi Old Quarter. The best way to enjoy the bustling atmosphere and admire the charming colonial architecture is to wander at a leisurely pace, stop for a cup of Vietnamese egg coffee or a snack from tantalizing street vendors. Then you can choose to back to the hotel with your guide and driver, or enjoy your own dinner at your pace here and make your own way back afterward.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Cruise along Halong Bay (B, L, D)

After breakfast, take a 3-hour drive to Halong Bay, one of the Seven Wonders of Nature in the world. Your cruise across Halong Bay starts around noon cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay and sailing among famous islets. Then visit and discover the Thien Canh Son Cave which has the beauty of mystery with a complex stalagmite system inside. The cave’s wavy dome is covered with hundreds of thousands of twinkle stalactites, resulting in the wonderful light growing all over the cave. Reach out from the stalactite beauty, there is a breathtaking painting of the top view from the cave waiting for you to enjoy. After that, relax by swimming or kayaking along the bay. Your lunch and dinner will be served on board with many innovative and varied cuisine.
Overnight on board.

Day 4: Halong Bay – Return to Hanoi – Flight to Luang Prabang (B)

Wake up early and start your day with Tai Chi while complimentary tea & coffee are served. Continue your cruise to Vung Vieng Fishing Village to discover the daily life of the fisher communities by bamboo boat.

Then, take a short visit to the Pearl Farm to learn about the exhausting process and the years that you have to wait before a pearl can be harvested. You will see a worker opening the oyster and observe the way e removes the real gem. Visiting the farm, you also can buy pearls or other jewels as a souvenir for your beloveds.

Disembark in Halong City around noon and transfer back to Noi Bai International Airport for your flight to Luang Prabang.
Upon arrival, you will be greeted and escorted to the hotel by your local tour guide and driver.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 5: Luang Prabang – Buddhist Ancient City & Temples (B)

Following your breakfast, start your Luang Prabang city tour to visit the Royal Palace Museum (closed on Tuesday), home to a range of interesting artifacts. Soak up the oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong which represents classical Laotian architecture with its roofs sweeping low to the ground. Then discover the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.

Your afternoon journey starts with a visit to the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before heading out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. Later in the afternoon, travel back to the city for a short trip to Wat Mai and an adventure journey to Mount Phousi. Climb to the top of the mountain to explore the sacred, gilded stupa and a sunset view of the city and Mekong River. Last but not least, don’t miss to stroll around the famous Luang Prabang Night Market and enjoy the bustling atmosphere and witness the daily life of local people.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 6: Full day Kuang Si Waterfall Relaxing & Laos Village (B, L)

In the morning, you can choose to wake up early in the morning to observe the traditional alms-giving ceremony, a daily ritual in which the monks collect ‘alms’ or offerings from faithful local residents. Please tell the tour guide your decision a day in advance so that he/she can prepare some offerings for you, or you can buy the food on spot. There are 2 options: Watch the quiet procession on one side of the streets or participate in the ritual by adding your own offerings to the bowls of the monks. Please remember to dress appropriately (shoulders, chest, and legs should be covered) and behave politely during the ceremony.

After the morning procession, follow your guide to Luang Prabang’s biggest market, Phousi Market. Troll around the buzzing marketplace and see oddities like dried buffalo skin, unique tropical fruits, traditional handicrafts, etc. Next, swap city life for rural living as you head out into the countryside and enjoy the scenic drive to Kuang Si Waterfall. Along the way, stop at the Hmong village of Ban Quay and the Lao village of Ban Ou to learn about Laos’ ethnic hill tribes. Arrive at the Khmu village of Ban Thepene, which lies just below the falls, have a short break, and have lunch.

After lunch, follow your guide to the Kuang Si Waterfall with a short hike through the rainforest to the falls. Enjoy free time to swim and relax in the clear waters beneath the falls. Afterward, pay a visit to the Khuang Si Bear Sanctuary, home to a number of rescued Asiatic black bears before returning to Luang Prabang. Don’t forget to make a final stop at Wat Siphouthabath to view the sunset – the perfect end to the perfect day tour! Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 7: Mekong River Cruise & Pak Ou Cave – Back to Luang Prabang (B, L, D)

Today, you will embark on a boat and cruise to Huay Xai, the small town locates at the border of Laos and Thailand. You will enjoy a continental breakfast while cruising to the Pak Ou Village which is located at the mouth of the Nam Ou River. You will have a shore excursion to visit the Pak Ou Cave and feast your eyes on the Tam Thing Caves of Thousand Buddhas.

A buffet lunch will be served on board while the boat keeps cruising upstream the Mekong River to a hill tribe village where you can observe the traditional process of Laos whiskey production. After that, cruise back to Luang Prabang around sunset and relax. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 8: Luang Prabang Depart (B)

After breakfast, you will be free until the driver arrives to take you to the airport for your departure flight. Trip ends!