Summary
Enjoy this fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos Tour from Hanoi to Luang Prabang (18 days) and visit 3 countries during the same trip. In Vietnam, you will enjoy a guided tour of Hanoi and a trek through various villages of the Hmong ethnic minority, discover the natural landscape, rice terraces and the hospitable local people of the Muong Hoa Valley and arrive at Y Linh Ho village where the Black H'mong ethnic minority live. You will enjoy a cruise around the incredible Halong Bay, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and since 2011, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. In Cambodia, you will visit Kompong Kleang floating village, located almost 50 km from Siem Reap, in the most remote and less touristy area and the Beng Mealea Temple, hidden in the middle of the jungle. You will also discover several temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992 and includes a number of undisputable artistic masterpieces such as Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm, Bayon, Baphuon and Angkor Wat temples. The majestic Angkor Wat Temple is considered the largest religious monument in the world by land area, and one of the most important archaeological treasures in the world. It is also the largest and best-preserved Hindu temple of those that make up the Angkor settlement. In Laos, you will discover the former royal capital of the Kingdom of Laos - Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage city, and visit the temples of Wat Visoun, Wat May, Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Praphoutahbat. You will also enjoy a boat ride on the Mekong River, visit Ban Sanghai, Ban Sangkong and Ban Phanom villages and discover Kuang Si Waterfall.
Individual travel request form Enjoy a private tour
Alfonso
Local travel expert in Vietnam
More than 10 years living and working in tourism in Southeast Asia. Based in Hanoi, but living for work periods in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. In love with Asian culture and the wonders that I do not stop discovering in these amazing countries. They certainly do not stop surprising me with something daily.
Itinerary
On your arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, you will be transferred to your accommodation in the city. At the hotel, you will be given a brief introduction of your trip and any last-minute doubts will be clarified.
Accommodation in Hanoi.
You will start the day with a private guided tour of the city of Hanoi with an English speaking guide. You will visit Ba Dinh Square (where President Ho Chi Minh read the proclamation of the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and where Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located), Tran Quoc Pagoda (the oldest pagoda in the city built originally in the 6th century) and the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius, which was once the first university in the country. You will also visit Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as the Lake of the Restored Sword, and Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain) where you will enjoy a cyclo ride through the alleys of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
You will then be transferred to the station to take the night train to Lao Cai (4-berth shared cabin).
Overnight in train.
On arrival in Lao Cai, you will be transferred to the hotel in Sapa to take a shower, relax and have breakfast.
Next, you will enjoy a private tour with an English speaking guide to Suoi Ho, a quiet village near the city of Sapa where its inhabitants preserve the traditional way of life. You will start a two-hour trekking through various villages of the Hmong ethnic minority arriving at Ma Tra village.
In the evening, you will be transferred to the hotel in Sapa.
Accommodation in Sapa.
In the morning, you will visit the Muong Hoa Valley, popular for its enchanting natural scenery, unique rice terraces and hospitable local people. You will enjoy a gentle trek to the south of the valley and arrive at Y Linh Ho village where the Black H'mong ethnic minority live. Near the village of Lao Chai, located 6 km from the city of Sapa, is the village of Ta Van, where the Dzay ethnic minority live. The small, narrow road leading to Ta Van is beautiful with terraces on either side. The simple beauty of the stilt houses of the village will also amaze you.
You will have lunch at a local house where you can taste special dishes of the local people.
Next, you will be transferred to Lao Cai train station where you will take the night train to Hanoi.
Overnight in train.
In the morning, you will be transferred to Halong Bay where you will enjoy a cruise including reception with a welcome drink. Halong Bay is a 1,553 square kilometre extension of water that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994 and since November 11, 2011 is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. You will have lunch on board while enjoying the breathtaking scenery.
After lunch, you will have time to enjoy kayaking and relax.
Next, you will sail to Ho Dong Tien Cave (Fairy Lake Cave), one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay, where you will anchor for the night. You will enjoy dinner on board and have free time for a drink on the upper deck.
Overnight on board.
After breakfast on board, you will visit Sung Sot Cave, better known as the Cave of Surprises, discovered by the French in 1901 and originally called “Grotte des Surprises”. It is a limestone karst cave, the largest in Halong Bay, which can be reached after a hard climb to Bo Hon Island. At approximately 25 metres above sea level, the cave covers a total area of about 10,000 square metres and is made up of two chambers. The first, known as the waiting room, is about 30 metres high and offers a grand entrance to the second largest chamber where you will discover a spectacle with a diverse number of flowstones, stalagmites, stalactites and columns formed over millions of years. As you enter the second chamber, you will understand why the cave is called the Cave of Surprises.
Then, during the cruise, you will pass by iconic islets such as the fighting cocks or the stone dog islet.
In more the afternoon, you will enjoy a Vietnamese cooking class by the chef on board before arriving in port and brunch on board.
After lunch, you will be transferred to Hanoi airport to take your flight to Hue.
Upon arrival in Hue, you will be transferred to the hotel.
Accommodation in Hue.
On this day, you will visit the former imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty, the city of Hue that will take you back in time, and discover its history. You will visit the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty: Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, second emperor of the dynasty and Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, twelfth emperor of the dynasty.
Next, you will visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue, also known as Dai Noi, which is divided into three structures: the Imperial City (Hoang Thanh), the Capital Citadel (Kinh Thanh) and the Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh) reserved for the Emperor of Annam (currently Vietnam) who lived there, and the members of the imperial family.
Then, you will visit the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady (Chua Thien Mu) which is about 5 kilometres from the Imperial Citadel of Hue, on the northern bank of the Perfume River and is considered as the unofficial symbol of the city.
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Accommodation in Hue.
After breakfast, you will travel by road to Hoi An city. On the way, you will make a stop at the Hai Van Pass, known as the Ocean Cloud Pass, which is considered to have the most beautiful beaches in the world at its two ends. You will also see the Marble Mountains formed by five mountains that are named after the five elements: Thuy Son (water), Hoa Son (fire), Kim Son (metal), Moc Son (wood) and Tho Son (earth).
Arrival in Hoi An and lunch at a local restaurant.
You will have a free afternoon in Hoi An to visit the old town.
Accommodation in Hoi An.
On this day, you will have the morning free to enjoy Hoi An and you will be transferred to Da Nang airport to take the domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh.
Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh, you will be transferred to your hotel in the city.
Accommodation in Ho Chi Minh.
In the morning, you will travel by road to the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, you will cross the waters of the eighth longest river in the world and the largest river in Southeast Asia by boat to discover the daily life of local fishermen. The river delta covers an area of about 39,000 square kilometres and is formed when the Mekong River with its distributaries flows into the South China Sea, at the southern tip of the Indochinese Peninsula.
You will enjoy a 30-minute bike ride and have lunch at the old Ba Kiet house.
Next, you will visit Tan Phong Island where you will attend a traditional Vietnamese music show and visit its gardens. You will take a small boat across the Tien River to the town of Vinh Long.
Accommodation in Can Tho.
In the early morning, you will enjoy a boat ride across the Bassac River to visit the Cai Rang Floating Market which is located on the Cai Rang River, about 5 km from Can Tho city centre and is one of the largest floating markets in the Mekong Delta. The Cai Rang Floating Market is famous for its unique and interesting items and offers a rare spectacle of beautiful commerce and lifestyle that can only be discovered when one travels through the unique wetlands of southern Vietnam. Here, the simplicity and genuine beauty of the floating market remain intact, although the commercial activities are always full of customers from all over the region. In 2016, the Cai Rang Floating Market was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Next, you will visit the Binh Thuy Ancient House, which was first built in 1870 to worship Duong family and then restored in the early 20th century. The more imposing house has a sophisticated beauty of decorative patterns on pillars, doors and embossed details and blends Eastern and Western styles. The interior architecture belongs to the traditional eastern culture, while the exterior matches the western architecture. The house is surrounded by many trees and flowers that bloom all the time and make the space lively and fresh.
You will have lunch in the area before returning to Ho Chi Minh.
Accommodation in Ho Chi Minh.
You will have a free morning in Ho Chi Minh and you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel.
Accommodation in Siem Reap.
You will start the day with a visit to Kompong Kleang floating village, located almost 50 km from Siem Reap, in the most remote and least touristy area. It is the largest floating village in Siem Reap province and is home to more than 10,000 people. There you will learn about the daily life of the village fishermen who live in houses on stilts, elevated 10 to 12 metres above the lake.
Lunch at a basic local restaurant.
Next, you will visit the great temple of Beng Mealea, which is located 70 km from Siem Reap and is a temple from the Angkor Wat period. Tucked away in the middle of the jungle, the temple is a must-see for anyone coming to Cambodia. Surrounded by mysteries since its construction, abandoned and devoured by the jungle for hundreds of years, and devastated by the recent wars in Cambodia, the temple represents an icon of the power of the Khmer Empire.
Then, you will more visit Banteay Srei, a stunningly beautiful little 10th century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srei is mostly built of red sandstone, and although it is a much smaller temple than the others, it is definitely a must-see within Angkor. The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, especially when measured by Angkorian building standards, which has made the temple extremely popular among tourists and has led to it being praised as a “precious gem” or “jewel of Khmer art”. The modern name of the temple, Banteay Srei (citadel of women or citadel of beauty), is probably related to the complexity of the bas-reliefs found on the walls and the small dimensions of the buildings themselves.
Accommodation in Siem Reap.
On this day, you will discover several temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park covering an area of about 400 square kilometres, which represents the full range of Khmer art from the 9th to the 15th century, includes a number of undisputable artistic masterpieces, and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.
In the morning, you will travel to the outskirts of Siem Reap, 35 km from the city to begin your tour. You will discover the Ta Prohm Temple of the Angkor complex, built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university and originally called Rajavihara (“royal monastery”). Unlike most temples in Angkor, Ta Prohm is in more or less the same conditions in which it was founded: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing in the ruins and the surrounding jungle have made it one of the most more popular temples in Angkor among visitors. The temple is known to be part of the scenes from the movie Tomb Raider.
Next, you will visit the Bayon and Baphuon Temples, of the Angkor complex, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.
After lunch, you will visit the majestic Angkor Wat Temple, considered the largest religious monument in the world by land area, and one of the most important archaeological treasures in the world. It is also the largest and best-preserved Hindu temple of those that make up the Angkor settlement. The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and was dedicated to the god Vishnu. Angkor Wat has become a symbol of Cambodia and is featured on the country's flag.
Accommodation in Siem Reap.
In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport to take the flight to Luang Prabang.
On arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be transferred from the airport to the hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit the temples of Wat Visoun, Wat May, Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Praphoutahbat.
You will climb Mount Phousi for the best view of Luang Prabang.
Transfer to hotel and overnight in Luang Prabang.
After breakfast, you will take a boat to enjoy a ride on the Mekong River.
You will reach the village of Ban Sanghai, famous for the production of rice alcohol, and visit the Buddhist caves of Tam Ting.
Then, you will enjoy a walk through Ban Sangkong village.
You will return to Luang Prabang and have a free afternoon.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
In the morning, you will visit the Royal Palace, which is now the National Museum of Luang Prabang.
Then you will enjoy a visit to Kuang Si Waterfall, which is approximately 30 km far from Luang Prabang city.
Next you will return to Luang Prabang and visit Ban Phanom, a village in Luang Prabang province located 6 km east of Luang Prabang that stands out in particular for its cotton and silk fabrics.
Free afternoon.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
On your departure day, you will be transferred to the Luang Prabang airport to take your departure flight.
Prices
Travel dates
Upon request for individual travellers
Price per person in €
2 Pers.
4 Pers.
6 Pers.
Standard cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024)
2661€
2219€
2061€
Standard cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024)
2728€
2286€
2129€
Superior cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024)
2868€
2425€
2268€
Superior cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024)
3009€
2567€
2408€
Luxury cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024)
3121€
2672€
2522€
Luxury cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024)
3448€
3006€
2847€
| Travel dates | Accommodation | Price per person in € | ||
| 2 Pers. | 4 Pers. | 6 Pers. | ||
|
Upon request for individual travellers |
Standard cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024) | 2661€ | 2219€ | 2061€ |
| Standard cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024) | 2728€ | 2286€ | 2129€ | |
| Superior cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024) | 2868€ | 2425€ | 2268€ | |
| Superior cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024) | 3009€ | 2567€ | 2408€ | |
| Luxury cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024) | 3121€ | 2672€ | 2522€ | |
| Luxury cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024) | 3448€ | 3006€ | 2847€ | |
What's Included
- 14 nights accommodation in a double (DBL) or twin (TWN) room at Standard, Superior or Luxury category hotels, 2 nights in the night train, 1 night on board the cruise ship;
- Breakfast at the hotels / on board the cruise ship;
- Lunch on day 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 of the itinerary;
- Brunch on board on day 6 of the itinerary;
- Dinner on day 5 of the itinerary;
- Excursions with English speaking guides according to the itinerary;
- Entrance fees according to the itinerary;
- Vietnamese cooking class by the chef on board;
- Road and boat transportation according to the itinerary;
- Night train Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hanoi, 4-berth shared cabin;
- Domestic and international flights: Hanoi - Hue / Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh / Ho Chi Minh - Siem Reap / Siem Reap - Luang Prabang;
- Local SIM card with data package included.