Embark on this 14-day journey to discover the essential highlights of Vietnam and Laos! Traveling from northern to southern Vietnam, through the central region, and concluding in Vientiane, Laos, this carefully crafted itinerary combines the must-see attractions of each country. Explore Hanoi's iconic landmarks and the famous Train Street, relax on a boutique cruise through the stunning Halong Bay, wander through the historic town of Hoi An, and uncover the fascinating history of the Cu Chi Tunnels. Then, continue your adventure in Laos, exploring its capital, Vientiane, and the scenic landscapes of Vang Vieng. Get ready for a trip filled with culture, history, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable memories!
Welcome at Noi Bai Airport by professional driver at the pickup lobby then transfer 45 minutes to Hanoi center (The Old Quarter). Your drive crossing Red River and have an over view of city with typical houses architecture and world's most special traffic. Arrive at the city center, driver drops you off at your hotel.
Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00
9:00 AM: Get pick up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "stone steles” which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.
Continue to Hoa Lo prison museum. Spend an hour to learn about the Vietnamese War. Hoa Lo was one of the largest prisons in Indochina, built by the French colonists in 1896 for Vietnamese political prisoners. Later, it was better known as the Hanoi Hilton since it imprisoned American pilots.
In the afternoon, you visit the French Quarter – it is a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices and a big square. Visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum before having a leisurely walk in the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live and work. Towards the unique One – pillar pagoda which is one of the city’s symbols. It takes us from 1 to 2 hours to explore this complex, depending on the number of traveler.
Exploring the Hanoi Old Quarter which was built in the 15th century as a trading center in the capital city with 36 streets of different products. Despite the changes, the Old Quarter is always considered a live city museum. The unique tube houses, small alleys, temples, open door markets and street vendor foods come together in a beautiful harmony. Discovering the town by walking is the best way to stimulate all your senses.
Finally, enjoying the water puppet shows that is the unique performances, first appeared in the 11th century. In these shows, the daily life, culture and belief of Vietnamese people are described by puppets on water. The show usually integrates a traditional music performance as well.
Come back to hotel. End of the day
take a 15km bike ride (optional) or walk through the villages. A journey along the dyke will offer you gorgeous landscapes of rice fields, a river and limestone mountains. There are several stops for you to take beautiful photos or encounter the locals then walk to discover Thung La temple, dating back to the 11th century.
End of the day, transfer from Ninh Binh to Hanoi. Enjoy the journey passing Red River delta with a lot of chance taking pictures of rice fields, peaceful countryside.
Pick up at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter). Enjoy 3-hour drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay. Your journey will pass the series of villages and rice fields in Red River Delta. Have a stop for drink and restroom. Continue your driving, arrive at the harbor around noon, get warmly welcomed at reception.
12:30: Checks in boat with cruise briefing and safety instructions. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay - one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
Enjoy buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes served while cruising through the bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Islands In the afternoon, visit Tung Sau area, covered by the leaping rocks, cultured pearl fishery. You can wit yourself the process of the jewel, from culturing to harvesting and sculpting. Moreover, you have a chance to do kayaking based on your preference. Enjoy busy space with pearl maker, you can experience the completion of pearl. Visiting the beautiful Titov beach for swimming (if the weather permits), Titov Beach is especially famous for its fresh atmosphere, clean water, and smooth white sand that create a great ambiance for tourists to relax or passengers can take steps to reach on the top of Titov island to have a whole panorama view of Halong Bay. Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor for overnight.
Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly (please see massage menu)
18:30: Attend the Cooking class on sundeck – How to make Vietnamese spring rolls - traditional Vietnamese food. Then enjoy Happy Hour (Buy one drink-get one free). It is time for chit chat and relaxing. Watch the magnificent sunset over Halong Bay.
Dinner – Deluxe Vietnamese BBQ Set Menu Dinner
Evening activities include: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar, watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films, relaxing and spending a romantic night on Pelican Halong Cruise’s music, playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. You may also try your luck at squid fishing & fishing from the boat.
06:00 – 08:30: Taking part in Tai Chi class on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes). Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.
08:30: Transfer to day boat for visiting Cua Van village, a small community with around 700 residents living in the root of Ngoc Mountain. Visit Cua Van village by a rustic – row boat, meet the local people who will help you row the boat for sightseeing. Enjoy quiet space and fresh air, you will feel truly relaxing.
Visiting Me Cung Cave which is also known as Maze Cave. Lying in the absolute protection of the World Natural Heritage – Halong Bay, Me Cung has the complex structure, including many compartments and a corridor of around 100m. According to archaeologists, Me Cung Cave belongs to preliminary Halong culture, about 7,000 – 10,000 years ago. The cave entrance looks like a house roof carving deep into the slopes of the island. Walking into the inside, visitors may get the feelings as if they are entering in a great palace of a Persian King. In combination with the light shining from the outer, sparkling stalactites in diverse shapes and sizes drooping like multi-colored curtains make Me Cung Cave shimmering and fanciful like in paradise. In addition, the blue waters of Me Cung Lake inside the cave create picturesque beauty of nature.
Set menu lunch served on day boat. In the afternoon, back to overnight Cruise. Free time on boat for relaxing.
Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly (please see massage Menu)
Attend the Cooking class on sundeck. Enjoy Happy Hour (Buy one drink-get one free). Watch the magnificent sunset over Halong Bay.
19:30: Deluxe Vietnamese Dinner will be served. Evening activities include: Leisure time for chatting around the bar, watching many sorts of Vietnam cultural films. Relaxing and spending a romantic night on cruise’s music. Reading magazines in room and dining room. You may also try your luck with squid fishing on the boat.
23:00: End of Day Two program
06:30: The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai chi also called Tai chi chuan, combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements.
Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.
Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes to visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the biggest caves in Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the cruise by tender. Check out and settle your bill at reception.
Have a buffet brunch and enjoy the bay scenery while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf.
11h30-12h00: Disembark
Welcome by driver at the harbor then enjoy travel back to Hanoi. Have a rest at the middle of the way. Drop off at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter).
Private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby (Hanoi Old Quarter) for about 45 minutes to Noi Bai airport (international or domestic hall according to your request). Thanks for the visit to our city.
Note: International flights require you to be at the airport 3 hours and domestic is 2 hours before departure time.
Hoi An used to be one of the most typical South-East Asian trading ports dating from the 15th to the 19th century and the Old Town is still well-preserved. The exchanged cultures is displayed on many historic buildings, religion, daily business and enriched by the authentic lifestyle of local inhabitants.
Firstly, visit the Hoi An city’s symbol - the Chua Cau or the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 17th century to allow the Japanese quarter to be accessible from the Chinese neighborhoods. The bridge’s original style has been carefully preserved for the last 400 years.
Continue visit a special ancient house. Located in the center of Hoian, 18th century built, Phung Hung house is the evidence of culture exchanged in the splendid time of the town and has been used as home for more than eight generations. Meet local guide, also family member, follow she to discover the values of the house.
After visit, enjoy a walk to Hoian museum of history and culture. The display of the Sa Huynh Culture (before the 2nd centuries AD), Champa culture (the 2nd-15th centuries AD) and Dai Viet, Dai Nam Culture (the 16th-19th centuries) artifacts, with some huge bells, historic photos, old scales and weights alongside plenty of ceramics. It is enriched by the interesting things about the oldest street, the folk meaning and conception of the “eyes” on the doors of ancient houses and of the spiral carved patterns “De leaf” “Yin and Yang”, and many others.
Finally, you have an excursion to Hoian center market where is the best place to see the local daily life. Situated on the riverside, the large market is packed with stalls where you easily find a huge variety of food at extremely cheap prices. There is also a great fresh vegetable, meat and fish market which is worth visiting.
The driver will welcome you at the pickup lobby of Tan Son Nhat Airport and then travel about 30 minutes from the airport to your hotel (in the Ho Chi Minh City center)
Have an overview of city and come to the hotel, check in and rest.
Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00
8:00 AM: Leave from your hotel to visit the most striking place in the history of the Vietnam War, the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Cu Chi is a real underground city made up of a large network of tunnels covering an area of over 250km long where the Viet Cong conducted the war of resistance against American troops. All of the tunnels were dug over a period of twenty years using only pickaxes and shovels. The tour includes special entering some part of tunnels. You will also have a chance to visit Ben Duoc memorial temple nearby but far less touristic built in 1993 in memory of the Vietnamese killed at Cu Chi.
Private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby for about 30 minutes to Tan Son Nhat airport (international or domestic hall according to your request). Thanks for the visit to our city.
Note: International flights require you to be at the airport 3 hours and domestic is 2 hours before departure time.
In the rush hour (07:00 – 08:30 AM and 16:30 – 18:30 PM), it takes around 1 hour from city center to Tan Son Nhat airport.