Brief Itinerary:
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival (B)
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Fly to Pakse – Khong Island (B)
Day 3: Khong Island – Khone Island & Surroundings (B)
Day 4: Khong Island – Pakse – Fly to Vientiane (B)
Day 5: Vientiane City Tour – Train to Vang Vieng (B)
Day 6: Vang Vieng – Tham Jang Cave – Blue Lagoon – Train to Luang Prabang (B)
Day 7: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou – Khoang Si – Sunset Cruise Dinner (B, D)
Day 8: Luang Prabang – City Tour – Fly to Hanoi – Walking Tour with Street Foods (B, D)
Day 9: Hanoi City Tour with Cyclo & Water Puppet Show (B, L)
Day 10: Hanoi – Halong Bay Day GROUP TOUR (B, L)
Day 11: Hanoi – Fly to Danang – Marble Mountain – Hoi An ½ Day Walking Tour (B, L)
Day 12: Hoi An – Free Time (B)
Day 13: Hoi An – Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels GROUP TOUR (B, L)
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival (B)
Upon arrival in Tan Son Nhat, meet your local guide then transfer to your city hotel for check-in and relaxation. The rest of the day is for you to spend at your own leisure. Explore the bustling nightlife of the city that never sleeps of Vietnam, you can enjoy the night market with food stalls opening till as late as 3 am. Discover why this was deemed the national busiest city!
Today is included the early check-in based on your arrival time.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Fly to Pakse – Khong Island (B)
After breakfast, we will be free until your driver arrives to take you to Noi Bai Airport for your flight to Pakse.
Upon arrival at airport, meet tour guide, transfer Khong Island which is quite relaxing in the day while pretty at night. Rest of the day is in your hands.
Overnight in Khong Island
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Khong Island – Khone Island & Surroundings (B)
Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a local boat tour to Don Khone, where we disembark and have the option of exploring the island by bicycle, which takes you to visit the remains of the French period and Liphi Waterfall or "the Corridor of the Devil". We also have chance to visit Don Det, a small Island nearby Don Khone.
We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia; this is a really impressive site near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. Then we drive back to Khong Island for your overnight stay.
Overnight in Khong Island
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Khong Island – Pakse – Fly to Vientiane (B)
After breakfast, we leave Khong Island and transfer to Champasak District, visit the ruins of Wat Phou Temple Complex, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Wat Phu is one of the Lao World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2001, this wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 9th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A festival of this site is held yearly during the full moon in February and attracts numerous pilgrims from all over southern Laos. Then transfer to airport for flight to Vientiane.
On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. REST after a long night flight and time for yourself.
Overnight in Vientiane
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Vientiane City Tour – Train to Vang Vieng (B)
After breakfast, we start to visit Wat Sisaket, the city's oldest temple. Dates back to 1818, Wat Sisaket is the most important heritage temple now standing in Laos. It houses thousands of Buddha images from many countries, long lost architectural styles, sculptures and paintings; Wat Prakeo, former royal temple of the Lao monarchy and originally built in 1565, is home to the Emerald Buddha image, Buddhist sculptures are displayed along the perimeter wall, including a 6th to 9th century Dvaravati-style stone Buddha and several standing and sitting Buddhas. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. Afternoon, we transfer to train station to catch speed train to Vang Vieng. Upon arrival, meet tour guide and transfer to hotel for checking in.
Overnight in Vang Vieng
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Vang Vieng – Tham Jang Cave – Blue Lagoon – Train to Luang Prabang (B)
This morning, we get up early and depart to Phanam Xay View Point to have leisure hike to the top of the hill and admire the beautiful landscape of the small town. Descending the hill, we transfer to visit Blue Lagoon site 1 and free to swim or join in zipline here (zipline fee on your own account). Then we transfer back to the town to visit Tham Jang Caves then take speed train to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, meet tour guide and transfer to hotel for overnight.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Luang Prabang – Khoang Si – Sunset Cruise Dinner (B, D)
After breakfast at hotel, transfer by private vehicle to Khouang Si waterfall. On the way, you can visit to the Lao ethnic minority group at Ban Na Ouane Village, H’Mong Village. Once at the waterfalls, take a leisurely hike through the national park towards the Khouang Si waterfalls and pass by the Asian bear rescue center. You will enjoy feeling the mist of the cool, turquoise waters of the different waterfalls. Swimming in the refreshing waters is possible. Return to Luang Prabang.
Late afternoon, we go to boat pier to embark on a traditional cruise for sunset dinner. The 2.5 hours slow boat trip gives us the opportunity to see the view of the city from Mekong River. We continue sailing to Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden with the most beautiful sunset area. Enjoy our time with a dinner before returning to our pier. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Luang Prabang – City Tour – Fly to Hanoi – Walking Tour with Street Foods (B, D)
Breakfast, we then visit the Morning Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Then we visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Continue to the National Museum at the former Royal Palace displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. There will be free time to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure.
On your arrival, our guide and car will wait you in the arrival lobby before we transfer to hotel for check-in. Around 6 pm, we will start walking around the Old Quarter along different streets, trying to taste many kinds of local food such as beef/chicken noodle soup, oil-fried pastry, tofu, rice pancake, pillow cake, sweet soup, stuffed pancakes with pork, draught beer… and one of our best surprised is a stop at Dong Xuan whole sales market where we know many kinds of ingredients being sold.
Last but not least is our happy ending at a hidden coffee in the Old Quarters enjoy its famous "egg coffee" in the pleasant surroundings overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. It would be a great chance to immerse in the local life at the local at weekend here. After the tour, we return back to the hotel in the old quarter of Hanoi.
These are the famous street foods that you can try in Hanoi:
o Bánh Cuốn - Steamed rice paper rolls
o Bún Ốc - Vietnamese freshwater Snails Noodle
o Bún Riêu Cua - The Hearty Crab Soup Noodle (Not suitable for people allergic to crustacean shells)
o Bún Cá - Noodle soup with fish
o Bánh Xèo & Nem Lụi - Crispy pancakes and lemongrass pork skewers
o Miến Xào Lươn - Glass noodles with eel
o Bánh Đa Trộn - Mixed flat rice noodles
o Bánh Tôm - Hanoi shrimp cakes
o Chả Rươi - Fried Worm (Based on season)
o Bánh Gối - Crispy 'empanadas'
o Mỳ Gà Tần - Chicken noodles in herbal broth
o Chè - Colourful Sweet Dessert Soup
o Lẩu - Vietnamese Hot-pot (Such as Thai Hot Pot, Hearty Crab Hot Pot, Beef Hotpot, Mixed Hot Pot, ...)
o Steaky Rices - Corn Sticky Rices, Green Sticky Rice Sticks, sticky rice with caramelized pork and eggs, etc)d
o Egg Coffee or Green Bean Egg Café
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Street Foods)
Day 9: Hanoi City Tour with Cyclo & Water Puppet Show (B, L)
Today, at 8:30 am, our guide pick you up at the hotel in Hanoi where we will venture out to explore Hanoi the first stop will be a coffee shop on Phung Hung Street. The train will run through this area while we enjoy our coffee here. After spending around 1 hour here, we continue to visit the Temple of Literature, which was originally built as a temple to Confucius. Let's continue the tour by visiting Quan Thanh Temple represents the Taoist religion dating from Ly Dynasty.
Then, we go to the Ho Chi Minh Complex as the first attraction. With a fixed route, you will see Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (visit outside) which houses his corpse everlasting so that Vietnamese people and friend countries can come to pay expectation to him as the greatest president ever in Vietnam; his stilt-house described as Ho Chi Minh's final resting accommodation since his death in 1969, and One Pillar pagoda with a long history back to 1049 during Ly dynasty in Vietnam- the period that Buddhist was most magnifically prosperous. The architecture followed special meanings as well. You absolutely find out how special this city means to Vietnamese people.
After the tour here, we will spend time in the infamous Hoa Lo Prison Museum. Hoa Lo is also known as the ‘’Hanoi Hilton’’ and was where former US presidential candidate John McCain was incarcerated for over 5 years.
Later this afternoon, we enjoy 1-hour cyclo tour of the French-inspired "Old Quarter". We will be free to shop in the old Quarter ranges from markets through to designer boutique stores to amazing contemporary art galleries. Then, we sit down to enjoy a performance of the city’s famous Water Puppets and return back to the hotel in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Phở Cuốn)
Day 10: Hanoi – Halong Bay Day GROUP TOUR (B, L)
HIGHLIGHTS
• Admire stunning scenery with thousands of limestone mountains at Halong Bay
• Explore the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine with buffet on board
• Explore Sung Sot Cave – one of the biggest caves in the bay
• Kayaking in Luon cave
• Enjoy the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay while climbing to the top of Titop island
• Great chance to join in interesting activities on board like Outdoor Jacuzzi, sunset party, relax and admire the sunset at Halong bay.
06:45 – 07:15: Our car will pick up guests from various hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.
09:45: Upon arrival at Tuan Chau Harbour, you will check-in, get on board, enjoy welcome drink then starts a trip to discover the Halong bay.
10:00: The cruise departs from Tuan Chau Harbor for a joyful journey to discover the beauty of the world heritage. Along the way, you will have chance to pass through the grandeur of the legendary bay with thousands of limestone islands such as: Fighting Cock, Incense Burner,…
11:00: Have a huge buffet lunch with variety of dishes including seafood and Vietnamese traditional food.
12:00: The cruise heads to Luon Cave. In this area, it’s time for you to heat up with kayaking, about 30 minutes.
13:15: Our tour guide will take you to Surprising Cave, the largest and the most beautiful cave in Halong bay. You will discover the cave in about 45 minutes before getting back to the cruise.
14:30: Stop at Titov Island. On this island, you can climb halfway up the mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of Halong bay. Looking down from high above gives you a wonderful sensation; at the same time offers you a spectacular view of every corner of the bay.
16:00: After that, you will get back to cruise and ready for our Sunset Party. Vietnamese tea, cakes, fresh fruits and snacks will be served when you’re relaxing on the sundeck or in the Jacuzzi. On the way back, cruise will pass by Hoa Cuong area, one of the most beautiful spots in the bay.
17:15 – 17:30: Arrive in Tuan Chau Harbour.
20:15 – 20:45: Drop off our guests in Hanoi Old Quarter, end of the trip.
Thank you for choosing Maia Day Cruise. See you in the next journey!
Note: Due to operation or weather conditions, itineraries and food may change without prior notice. Thank you for your kind understanding!
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11: Hanoi – Fly to Danang – Marble Mountain – Hoi An ½ Day Walking Tour (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel, our private car will pick you up and then we transfer you to the airport for the flight to Danang.
On arrival in Danang, we will have a brief visit to Marble Mountain – the five elements of the Universe (water, wood, air, fire, and earth). We will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon. Then, we will start our walking tour around the ancient town to visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky’s old house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An, the temples, and pagodas of Chinese appearance. Then we went back to our hotel to relax.
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Local Foods)
Day 12: Hoi An – Free Time (B)
Today is a free day.
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Hoi An – Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (B)
After breakfast, we will be free until your driver arrives to take you to Danang International Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels GROUP TOUR (B, L)
Group size: 4 – 12 people
At 7.30 am, we will pick you up at the hotel in HCMC. The first place of the morning trip is Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification palace, which was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. We continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of both the Indochina wars. Lunch will be served in the local restaurant
Depart for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours of bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, 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, you can spend your time exploring the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the specially constructed living areas with kitchens, and bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purposes during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.
We have a break time for relaxation or time for those who want to try a real shooting gun. At 7 pm, we return to Ho Chi Minh City.
Notes:
*The Notre Dame Cathedral has been restored, so the guests just visit outside.
*Drop-off time is subject to traffic, weather...so the finished time could be later than expected.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)
Time will be free until our car arrives at the hotel to take us to the airport in good time to board our departure flight. Trip ends!
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