Vietnam & Laos Classic Tour – 15 Days

After breakfast, drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a historic wartime network and one of Southeast Asia’s most remarkable sites. Explore underground passages, watch documentaries, view war exhibits, and try shooting at the range (optional). After lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City for a half-day tour. Visit the Reunification Palace, a symbol of Vietnam’s unity, followed by the French colonial Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Saigon Post Office. Explore the Emperor Jade Pagoda and Cho Lon (Chinatown) for a glimpse of local life. Spend the evening at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Drive 136 km to Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta. Cruise to Cai Be Floating Market, vibrant with colorful produce and lively bargaining. Sail through shady canals to Hoa Binh Phuoc islet, visiting local homes to observe bonsai gardening, tile and ceramic production, rice-paper kilns, and coconut-candy making. Enjoy a local specialty lunch at a villager’s home. Continue to Can Tho, check into your hotel, and explore the night market after dinner at your leisure. Overnight in Can Tho.

Rise early for a motorboat cruise to Can Tho’s largest floating market, active from 4–5 a.m. to 9–10 a.m. Marvel at boats laden with pineapples, dragon fruit, watermelons, and crafts, and try Vietnamese breakfast like “bun” or “hu tieu” noodles while navigating the river. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for an afternoon flight to Danang. Upon arrival, transfer to Hoi An, check into a hotel, and relax for the evening. Overnight in Hoi An.

Travel 69 km southwest of Danang to My Son, a UNESCO-listed Cham temple complex. Explore ancient red-brick towers, marveling at the mysterious construction techniques of the Cham people, and enjoy a traditional music performance by Cham girls. Cruise the Thu Bon River to Hoi An Ancient Town. After lunch, tour Hoi An’s historic sites, including the Japanese Covered Bridge, Pottery Museum, 200-year-old Tam Ky House, Chua Ong Pagoda, and handicraft workshops. Stroll the quaint streets, soaking in the town’s warm, traditional ambiance. Overnight in Hoi An.

Enjoy a free morning to explore Hoi An’s markets or relax. In the afternoon, transfer to Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check into your hotel and savor a unique dinner in a royal residence, hosted by a descendant of the imperial family, offering insights into ancient imperial life. Overnight in Hue.

Tour Hue’s Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO site and former seat of the Nguyen Dynasty. Cruise the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, iconic for its seven-story Phuoc Duyen Tower and scenic riverside setting. Visit the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum in Long An Palace, displaying 19th-century Nguyen Dynasty artifacts. Explore Dong Ba Market for souvenirs and local life. After lunch, fly to Hanoi from Danang. Check into a hotel and relax. Overnight in Hanoi.

Drive to Halong City after an early breakfast to board a luxury cruise in Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sail among 2,000 limestone karsts, visiting a fascinating cave and a floating fishing village to interact with locals. Explore pristine beaches and rock formations. On board, enjoy spa services, a massage, or a Vietnamese cooking class. Savor dinner amid the bay’s serene beauty. Overnight on the cruise.

Greet the sunrise with a Tai Chi session on deck, followed by breakfast. Continue cruising Halong Bay, visiting key highlights among its islets. Disembark at Tuan Chau Island between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., then drive back to Hanoi. Spend the afternoon at leisure, exploring the city’s vibrant streets or relaxing. Overnight in Hanoi.

Enjoy a free morning in Hanoi. Fly to Vientiane, Laos’ capital, in the afternoon. Your local guide and driver transfer you to a centrally located hotel. Relax or stroll along the Mekong Riverbank to watch the sunset. Overnight in Vientiane.

Discover Vientiane, a tranquil capital along the Mekong River. Visit Wat Sisaket, the only temple to survive the 1828 Siamese invasion, and Wat Phra Keo, housing Lao and Khmer artifacts. Explore Wat Simuang, a revered temple with an Angkorian pillar believed to grant wishes if circled three times. See the That Dam (Black Stupa), once gold-covered but looted in 1828. After lunch, climb Patuxay Monument, Laos’ Arc de Triomphe, for panoramic city views. End at That Luang, Laos’ holiest site. Stroll the Mekong Riverfront, sampling local snacks or drinks. Overnight in Vientiane.

Fly to Luang Prabang after breakfast. Check into a hotel and spend the day at leisure, exploring the UNESCO-listed city’s golden temples or vibrant markets. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Drive to Kuang Si Waterfalls, Luang Prabang’s largest, for swimming and relaxation amid turquoise pools and lush rainforest. After lunch, tour Wat Xieng Thong, a masterpiece of Laotian architecture with low-sweeping roofs. Visit the Royal Palace Museum to explore Laos’ royal history, then see Wat Aham, known as the “Monastery of the Blossoming Heart,” a historic site for spiritual and Buddhist practices. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Cruise the Mekong River for 2 hours to the Pak Ou Caves, a sacred site filled with thousands of Buddha statues, believed to house river spirits. Along the way, visit a riverside fishing village to observe local life and enjoy the scenic river views. Return to Luang Prabang by boat and spend the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, enjoy free time to explore Luang Prabang’s markets or relax. Transfer to Luang Prabang International Airport for your departure flight, concluding a memorable 15-day journey.