DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN VIENTIANE

Meals: Not available

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane

Welcome to Vientiane, Laos!
Upon arrival, you will be greeted and welcomed by the local tour guide of Custom Asia Travel and transfer to the hotel downtown. Free at leisure or take a walk to get acquainted with the city for the remainder of the day. If your arrival flight is early, some sightseeing activities would be arranged to keep you busy.

DAY 2: VIENTIANE CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane

Breakfast at the hotel before getting picked up to start the day of Vientiane. Firstly, the guide will accompany you to visit Vat Sisaket, the oldest original temple in Vientiane. Nearby is Ho Phra Keo, once the royal temple of Lao monarchy. Built-in 1565, Ho Phra Keo has been used as a museum since 1970. Your next stop is at one of the most photographed places in Vientiane–Patousay, the victory gate also known as Anousavari. Constructed in 1958, its architecture is inspired by the Arch of Triumph in Paris. Another famous Vientiane landmark is the That Luang Stupa. King Setthathirath built this great sacred stupa in 1566. The original stupa was said to contain relics of Lord Buddha.
Continue to the Morning Market (Talaat Sao), known for its superior silk weaving, metalwork, and woodcarving. After lunch, visit the surroundings of Vientiane including the Buddha Park, located 15-miles (24-km) away, and take a look at the impressive Friendship Bridge. Return to Vientiane and visit the weaving village of BanNong Bouathong. Stroll along the banks of the Mekong River at sunset. If time permits visit COPE Visitor's Center before returning to your hotel.

DAY 3: VIENTIANE - LUANG PRABANG

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

​

As usual, have breakfast at the hotel, then you will get transferred to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival at the airport, you are welcomed and get to the hotel in town for check-in. Afterward, you will be accompanied by your tour guide to visit The Royal Palace (official name "Haw Kham") which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family Before sunset, ascend the 328 steps to the top of Phou Si Mountain that offers a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding rivers and cityscape before wandering through the bustling hilltribe market where traditional textiles and handicrafts made by the hill tribes are for sale. Do some shopping if you want or just for a look and taking photographs. Back to the hotel to end the day.

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG - HANOI

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast, you will take the cruise along a Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves, where you will discover gold-lacquered Buddha statues of all shapes and sizes nestled deep in the limestone caverns. Embark on a cultural tour of Luang Prabang in the afternoon, you will explore the gilded temples such as Wat Mai, Wat Sensoukarahm and Wat Xieng Thong dotted across the city. Later in the afternoon, take the flight to Hanoi.

DAY 5: HANOI CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

​

This day tour to learn about the capital city of Vietnam occupies your whole day with featured sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his house-on-stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature -Vietnam’s first university for the morning. Your lunch today is served at a restaurant in town with local tastes. In the afternoon, the tour continues with a visit to one of the following museums (you can pick the one you like): the Ethnology Museum, Army Museum, National Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi Hilton prison or Vietnam Women Museum). Followed by a short walk or a cyclo ride in the Old Quarter. End the day tour with a traditional Water Puppet show. Spend your second night in Hanoi.

DAY 6: HANOI -CAT BA -LAN HA BAY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

​

In order to catch up with the 9-hour hydrofoil to Cat Ba Island from Ben Binh port, Hai Phong City, you will start driving this morning at 7:00 AM from Hanoi. The hydrofoil ride takes you about 45 minutes. Arrive at Cat Ba port where you will get a short transfer to Beo wharf. From here, you will embark on a private traditional boat for cruising to visit Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay. During the cruise, you will have time to do some kayaking to explore some hidden tunnel-like caves through some limestone sheer islands. Once the anchor is dropped for the night place, you are free to jump off the boat for swimming (if the weather permits). Relaxing and having dinner on the boat.

DAY 7: HALONG BAY -CAT BA ISLAND -HANOI -HOI AN

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

​

If you are an early bird today, you may have a chance to enjoy the sunrise from the open deck on the top before having breakfast. This morning, the boat will continue on taking you to visit another part of the bay with a visit to a fishing farm to learn about the method of the local fishermen, doing fish farming on the bay. early lunch is served while the boat is winding gently back to Cai Beo wharf for ending your cruise by noon. Get the transfer back to Cat Ba little town for a short break at a cafe' while waiting for the afternoon hydrofoil back to the mainland. On landing at Binh port, you will take your private transport back to Hanoi and onward to the airport for your early evening flight to Danang city in the Center of Vietnam. Get picked up and transfer to Hoi An ancient city for hotel check-in.

DAY 8: HOI AN WALKING TOUR

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

​

Nestled a couple of kilometers inland on Thu Bon river, Hoi An is typified by the 16th century Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese architecture. The morning walking tour offers you a chance to see how beautiful the Old Quarter of Hoi An is. The sites include the Japanese Covered Bridge; Phuoc Kien Assembly; Tan Ky ancient house; Hoi An Culture and History Museum and Quan Cong Temple. The afternoon is free on your own to chill out at a riverside café or enjoy shopping with tailor-made clothing, shoes, and lanterns.

DAY 9: HOIAN -HO CHI MINH

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

​

This morning you will join a cooking class to learn how to make some traditional Vietnamese dishes with a tour to a local market and the vegetable gardens. Enjoy your work at lunchtime transferring to the airport for your afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). After the airport pick-up, check-in your hotel in downtown of the city. Relax and stay overnight in Saigon.

DAY 10: TOUR OF SAIGON & CU CHI TUNNELS

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

​

After your breakfast in the hotel, start the day by visiting the War Remnants Museum and the former Presidential Palace. Thence stroll to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office. After lunch, the car will take you out of the bustling city for Cu Chi District, locates approximately 70 km northwest of Saigon. This is a beautiful green land with fruit gardens, rice paddies, and plantations. Cu Chi Tunnels are like a spider web in the soil of Cu Chi District. It consists of more than 200km of narrow underground tunnels that connecting half or total covered hideouts, shelters, fighting bunkers, hospital, school, living rooms and so on... All were built and used by Viet Cong for resistance against their enemy during the French and American wars. Thence we will drive back to the city in the late afternoon.

DAY 11: MEKONG DELTA EXCURSION

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

​

You will have a full day to visit the lush Mekong Delta today. After 2.5-hour transfer by car, you will arrive at Phong Nam, Ben Tre. Get on your private motorized boat and will cruise along the Chet Say River (a branch of the Mekong). Have stops at various local workplaces such as coconut candy, brick-making workshop, straw mat... You also have time to ride a motor cart that takes you through green lush fruit gardens. Lunch today is served at a peaceful garden restaurant.
Ride a sampan boat along a narrow canal edged by rows of water coconut trees before getting back on your motorized boat for the dock.
In the afternoon, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City for the last night of your trip.

DAY 12: DEPARTURE FROM HO CHI MINH CITY

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Not available

Today is your last day of the trip in Ho Chi Minh City. You are free at leisure or go to do some last shopping before getting picked up and take the private transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of service.