Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City and Arrival
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport. Welcome by your local guide and driver. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B / L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Start your sightseeing tour at the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of the war in April 1975. Then visit some impressive French colonial structures, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Central Post Office. Explore Chinatown and Thien Hau and Quan Am pagodas. After seeing the Emperor Jade Pagoda and the War Remnants Museum, visit Ben Thanh market where anything and everything is for sale. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City - My Tho - Ben Tre - Can Tho (B / L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for My Tho. Take a scenic boat ride through Bao Dinh natural canal, which is bordered by traditional stilt houses and fruit plantations. Visit My Tho wholesale fruit market. Proceed to Tortoise island and enjoy lunch served in the heart of the orchard. Take a leisurely boat ride through Tan Thach natural canal in Ben Tre, cruising in the shadows of the water coconut trees. Visit a small family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle. Go trekking through the fruit plantations on Thoi Son island and enjoy a rowing boat ride along the creeks before returning to My Tho by motor boat. Proceed to Can Tho via Vinh Long and visit the snake market. Check into your hotel on arrival. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Can Tho.
Day 4: Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City (B / L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Take a boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong (Bassac) River. Visit the Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets, which are the best in the region. You have probably tried Vietnamese vermicelli soup, so now go and see how it is made. Then wander through the village and meet the friendly the local people. Learn how to cross a "Monkey bridge" which is built from a single bamboo. Stop for lunch. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your proposed hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi tunnels - Siem Reap (B / L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Cu Chi to visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels. Transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for boarding flight to Siem Reap. Pick up and transfer to your hotel. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 6: Angkor Wat (B / L)
Get up early to watch the picturesque sunrise at Angkor Wat before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Later the same morning, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants and Leper King. In the afternoon, tour the Small Circuit to see Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chausay Tevoda. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 7: Angkor Wat (B / L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Go on a sightseeing tour of the Grand Circuit to see Prasat Kravan, East Mebon, Pre Rup and Preah Kan. In the afternoon, visit a local ethnic village and take a scenic boat cruise on the Tonle Sap Lake to see the Floating Village. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 8: Siem Reap - Vientiane (B / L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Siem Reap airport for boarding flight QV 522 to Vientiane (9.15-11.45am). On arrival in Vientiane, meet your guide and transfer to your centrally located hotel. After a short rest, start your sightseeing tour of the Lao capital by visiting Wat Sisaket which boasts thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha. On the way to the sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. Watch the sunset and spend the evening by the Mekong Riverside. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Vientiane.
Day 9: Vientiane - Luang Prabang (B / L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Morning Market, where you will find a wide range of collectible antiques, lovely handmade textiles and other souvenir items for sale. Spend the rest of the day touring the Lao capital. Then board a short flight to Luang Prabang, which was registered in 1995 as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage City and is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town combined with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Asia. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. After a short rest, visit Wat Mai and Wat Sene, then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount to see the sacred, gilded stupa and view the glorious sunset over this ancient royal city and the mighty Mekong River. Stroll around the Street Night Bazaar, where beautiful handmade textiles woven by the local hill tribe people are available at reasonable prices. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 10: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave - Kuangsi Waterfall (B / L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Take a short guided tour to see the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping towards to the ground in the classical architectural style of Luang Prabang temples. Then take a boat trip up the Mekong River to enjoy beautiful views of the tranquil countryside and visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. En route, stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is distilled. Then drive to the magical Khuangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or explore the forest paths. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 11: Luang Prabang - Hanoi (B / L)
After breakfast, visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays an extensive collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right up to the last sovereign. Then visit the Central Market to purchase some last-minute souvenirs before transferring to Luang Prabang airport to board flight VN 866 to Hanoi (4.45-5.45pm). Pick up and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hanoi.
Day 12: Hanoi City Tour (B / L)
Breakfast at your hotel. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son temple, Tran Quoc pagoda and Quan Thanh temple. Take a cyclo ride around the old quarter streets from Hang Dau to Hang Gai. Dinner on guest's account. Transfer to the train station to board the night train to Sapa. Overnight in an air-conditioned soft sleeper cabin.
Day 13: Lao Cai - Sapa (B / L)
Arrive at Lao Cai station at 5am. Pick up and transfer to Sapa. Have breakfast and a shower in the hotel before starting your trip. Trek down to Lao Chai village to visit the Tay and Day tribes. Have a picnic lunch en route, then continue along the valley to Ta Van village, which is reputed to be the most beautiful village in the area. Return to Sapa. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Sapa.
Day 14: Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi (B / L)
Have breakfast at the hotel before heading up to Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Zdao tribe where you will have lunch. Then visit Cat Cat and Sin Chai villages of Black H'Mong tribe. Enjoy the beautiful cool waterfall in Cat Cat and the picturesque scenery along the way. Dinner on guest's account. Transfer to Lao Cai train station to board the overnight train back to Hanoi. Overnight in an air-conditioned soft sleeper cabin.
Day 15: Hanoi - Halong Bay (L / D)
Arrive back in Hanoi around 5.30am. Pick up at the train station and depart for Halong Bay. Drive (3.5 hrs) through the Red River Delta, a region of verdant farmland dotted with small villages. Arrive at 12 noon. Transfer to the Dragon's Pearl Junk, where you will enjoy a welcome drink and a fresh seafood lunch as you embark on a 4-hour cruise on the bay. Marvel at the incredible limestone Karst formations such as Lion, Tea Pot and Toad, then sail past Tam Cung cave and Dau Nguoi (Human Head) islet to visit the Sung Sot (Amazing) cave. There will be plenty of time for swimming and sun bathing. Cruise to a quiet firth and enjoy a great sunset dinner. Then relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin.
Day 16: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue
Early risers can enjoy a refreshing swim in the quiet firth of the overnight anchorage. A brunch buffet will be served between 7: 30 and 9: 30am. Continue cruising through the bay and see more of the fascinating natural formations like Trong (Drum) cave, Yen Ngua (Saddle) islet, Ham Rong (Dragon's mouth) islet, Am (Tea Pot) islet and Mat Qui (Monster's face) islet, which was used as a setting for the movie "Indochina". Disembark the junk and arrive at the harbor by 12 noon. Transfer to Noi Bai airport for boarding flight VN 247 to Hue. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hue.
Day 17: Hue (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Take a morning cruise on the Perfume River to visit the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, Thien Mu pagoda and the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon, visit Dong Ba market, the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, and the ruins of the Purple Forbidden City. Enjoy a night cruise on the Perfume River accompanied by Hue folk songs. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hue.
Day 18: Hue - Danang - Hoi An (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, head for Hoi An (about 4 hours). Drive along Lang Co beach and through Hai Van Pass to Danang city. Continue towards Hoi An, which was originally a Cham seaport influenced down the centuries by traders from various cultures. On the way, stop to admire the Marble Mountains. The charm of Hoi An makes it one of the most delightful places to visit in Vietnam. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hoi An.
Day 19: Hoi An (B/L)
Have breakfast at the hotel and visit the lively early morning market. Then depart for My Son to visit the Cham Holy Land, another World Heritage site. Afterwards, stroll around the town, visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An and the Chinese-style temples and pagodas. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hoi An.
Day 20: Hoi An (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full day of leisure for beach activities. Lunch and dinner on guest's account. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hoi An.
Day 21: Hoi An - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Danang airport for boarding flight VN 321 to Ho Chi Minh City. End of services.
