Discover Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, your private tour guide will meet you and escort you by private car to your selected hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1 hour). Along the way, your guide will be happy to answer any questions about your itinerary and assist you with hotel check-in.

Dinner is at your own expense, but your guide will be happy to recommend local restaurants to suit your tastes. We recommend trying some of Saigon’s local specialties for an authentic introduction to the city.

Note: If you are applying for a Vietnamese Visa on Arrival, please bring two passport-sized photos (4 × 6 cm) and US$25 for the visa stamping fee.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning
After breakfast, your private tour guide will pick you up for a full-day exploration of Ho Chi Minh City. Recommended visits include the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior visit), and Dong Khoi Boulevard, known for its elegant French colonial architecture and shopping.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, sampling some of the city’s delicious specialties.

Afternoon
Continue your exploration with a traditional cyclo ride through the lively streets of Ho Chi Minh City to Cho Lon, the city’s bustling Chinatown. Visit Thien Hau Pagoda, one of the most important Chinese temples in the area, before returning to your hotel.

The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning
After breakfast, your private tour guide will pick you up for a drive to Tay Ninh to visit the colorful Cao Dai Temple and observe a religious ceremony. Learn about Cao Dai, a unique Vietnamese religion that combines elements of several faiths.

Enjoy lunch at a simple local restaurant, featuring authentic southern Vietnamese cuisine.

Afternoon
Continue to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels (approximately 1.5 hours away), an extensive underground network used by Viet Cong fighters during the American War. Begin with a short documentary before exploring the site on foot along forest paths. You’ll also have the opportunity to crawl through sections of the tunnels and gain insight into life underground during the war.

After the visit, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 2 hours). The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning
After breakfast, drive through the lush countryside to Vinh Long, in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Board a private boat to cruise along the Co Chien River, passing beneath the impressive My Thuan Bridge. Stop to visit Dinh Tan Hoa, a historic provincial house dating back around 150 years.

Continue along the Tien River and visit a traditional brick and tile factory, where you can learn about one of the delta’s long-standing local industries.

Afternoon
After lunch, continue by boat toward Sa Dec, passing villages where locals weave water hyacinth into baskets, furniture, and other handicrafts.

Explore Sa Dec, a charming riverside town known for its network of canals, lively riverfront, and traditional houses. Visit the local market, stroll through its old streets, and see historic Chinese temples and the former school attended by French writer Marguerite Duras, whose novel The Lover was later adapted into a famous film.

Continue by road to Can Tho and check in to your hotel.

Overnight in Can Tho

Morning
After breakfast, take a boat trip to the Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the Mekong Delta’s most vibrant markets. Continue into the countryside to visit a rice paper workshop and rice noodle factory, and try crossing a traditional Monkey Bridge made from bamboo.

After the visit, drive back to Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City for your afternoon flight to Da Nang.

Afternoon
Upon arrival in Da Nang, your local guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to Hoi An. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An

Morning
After breakfast, explore Hoi An Ancient Town by bicycle, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, historic Merchant Houses, Chinese Assembly Halls, and other charming corners of the old town.

Once a flourishing trading port under the Nguyen Lords, Hoi An still retains its timeless character, with tile-roofed wooden houses, narrow winding streets, colorful lanterns, tailor shops, and lively local markets.

Afternoon
After lunch, head to the river to meet a local fisherman and experience a traditional basket boat, a unique form of fishing boat widely used in central and southern Vietnam. Learn how to paddle the round boat and experience a glimpse of local fishing life before returning to shore.

Overnight in Hoi An

Morning
After breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you to My Son Sanctuary (approximately 1 hour), one of Vietnam’s most important Cham archaeological sites. Once the religious and political center of the ancient Champa Kingdom, the sanctuary features a remarkable collection of Hindu temples and towers built between the 4th and 14th centuries.

Explore the atmospheric temple complex and learn about the fascinating history of the Cham civilization before returning to Hoi An around midday.

The rest of the day is yours to explore Hoi An at leisure, visit the local markets, or enjoy some shopping.

Overnight in Hoi An

Morning
Depart Hoi An and drive to Hue (approximately 120 km), crossing the spectacular Hai Van Pass, one of Vietnam’s most scenic coastal routes. Stop for a short break at Lang Co Beach, one of the country’s most beautiful beaches.

Continue to Hue and check in to your hotel.

Afternoon
After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Imperial Citadel, the former imperial seat of the Nguyen Dynasty. Later, board a boat for a relaxing cruise along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, enjoying the scenery and, if timing permits, sunset on the river.

Overnight in Hue

Morning
After breakfast and check-out, continue exploring Hue with visits to Emperor Tu Duc’s Tomb, a peaceful complex of terraces, gardens, and pavilions, and the elaborate Emperor Khai Dinh’s Tomb.

Stop at Vong Canh Viewpoint for panoramic views of the Perfume River, followed by a visit to a local workshop to see traditional joss sticks and conical hats being made.

Enjoy a delicious vegetarian buffet lunch at a local Buddhist monastery.

Afternoon
After lunch, transfer to Hue Airport for your short flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, your private guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the city center for check-in.

The evening is yours at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi

Morning
Start early at 6:00 am with a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake, where you can see locals enjoying their morning exercise and perhaps join a Tai Chi or aerobics session.

Continue to a local restaurant for an authentic Pho breakfast, while your guide introduces you to Vietnamese dining traditions and the key ingredients used to make this iconic dish.

Then visit one of Hanoi’s historic coffee shops to experience the city’s unique coffee culture before exploring Hom Market, including its lively food alley and colorful stalls of fresh produce and Vietnamese herbs.

At Ba Dinh Square, see the site where Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence in 1945. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, then walk through the gardens of the Presidential Palace and visit Ho Chi Minh’s House, a traditional-style stilt house where he lived during his later years.

Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university and an important center of Confucian learning.

Enjoy lunch at a local Hanoi restaurant.

Afternoon
Visit Hoa Lo Prison, a former French colonial prison later known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” before exploring the narrow streets and hidden corners of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Along the way, sample local specialties such as O Mai, Nom, and Banh Cuon, and visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the historic Old Well on Nha Tho Street, and Bach Ma Temple.

Return to your hotel to freshen up before transferring to Hanoi Railway Station for the overnight train to Lao Cai, the gateway to Sapa.

Overnight on air-conditioned train

Morning
Arrive in Lao Cai and take a private transfer up to Sapa, a former French hill station nestled at around 1,500 meters above sea level. After freshening up and breakfast, enjoy a leisurely walk through Sapa Town and Market.

Continue to the beautiful Muong Hoa Valley, visiting the ethnic minority villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van and taking in the spectacular mountain scenery and rice terraces.

Afternoon
Enjoy a light picnic lunch in Lao Chai Village, then continue walking along scenic trails and rice terraces to Ta Van Village. Meet local ethnic minority people, learn about their daily lives, and enjoy the peaceful countryside.

Return to Sapa in the afternoon. The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure.

Overnight in Sapa

Morning
After breakfast and check-out, depart Sapa with your luggage and drive for approximately 2 hours to Can Cau Market, passing through the scenic mountainous border region between Vietnam and China.

Located about 20 km from Bac Ha, Can Cau Market is a colorful Saturday market where Flower Hmong, Nung, and Phu La communities gather in their traditional costumes to trade local products and handicrafts. After exploring the market, continue to Bac Ha for lunch.

Afternoon
After lunch, drive back to Lao Cai Railway Station. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant near the station before boarding the overnight train back to Hanoi.

Note: If your travel date does not fall on a Saturday, Can Cau Market can be replaced with one of the following market options:

Option 1: Bac Ha – Sunday Market

Morning
Depart Sapa and drive approximately 3 hours to Bac Ha Market, one of northern Vietnam’s largest and most colorful ethnic markets. Meet members of the Flower Hmong, Phu La, and Dao communities as they gather to trade local produce, handicrafts, and other goods.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon
After lunch, drive to Trung Do Village, home to the Tay people. Visit a traditional Tay house before taking a boat through the scenic countryside to Bao Nhai Village.

Option 2: Coc Ly – Tuesday Market

Morning
Drive approximately 3 hours from Sapa to Coc Ly Market, set among the mountains along the Chay River. Every Tuesday, members of the Flower Hmong, Phu La, and Dao communities gather here to trade local products and handicrafts.

After exploring the market, take a boat to Na Nen, a Flower Hmong village, then walk to Trung Do Village, home to the Tay people. Enjoy a picnic lunch in a local house.

Afternoon
Continue by boat down the Chay River, enjoying the beautiful scenery and peaceful countryside along the riverbanks.

Overnight on air-conditioned train – 4-berth soft sleeper cabin

Morning
Upon your early morning arrival in Hanoi, your private local guide will meet you and take you to a mini-hotel to rest and freshen up. After breakfast at a local restaurant, return to your hotel to leave your main luggage and prepare a small overnight bag.

Depart Hanoi and drive approximately 3 hours through the countryside to Halong Bay, one of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, renowned for its spectacular limestone karsts rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Afternoon
Board your Halong Bay cruise and enjoy a delicious seafood lunch. Afterwards, take a short hike to a nearby viewpoint for panoramic views of the bay, followed by time for a swim and relaxation on board.

Enjoy a sumptuous dinner as the sun sets over the bay.

Note: The cruise program may vary slightly depending on the selected cruise and weather conditions.

Overnight on board

Morning
Wake to the peaceful scenery of Halong Bay and join an optional Tai Chi session on the sundeck before breakfast. You can also enjoy some kayaking among the limestone karsts before visiting a beautiful limestone grotto to admire its unique rock formations. Then cruise back to the dock, with brunch served along the way.

Afternoon
Upon disembarkation, your private driver will transfer you directly to the airport (approximately 4 hours) for your flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival, your private guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Morning
An optional early start offers the wonderful opportunity to witness the daily Alms Giving Ceremony, as saffron-robed monks collect offerings of sticky rice from local residents. Continue to Phosi Market, where you can browse a fascinating variety of local produce and goods, from dried buffalo skin and local tea to vegetables, chickens and traditional hill-tribe textiles.

Return to the hotel for breakfast, then continue exploring the ancient town of Luang Prabang. Visit the Royal Palace Museum, home to a collection of artifacts from Laos’ royal past, followed by the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, one of the finest examples of classical Lao architecture. Continue to Wat Visoun, Wat Aham and Wat Mai to admire their distinctive architecture and religious heritage.

Afternoon
Venture into the countryside to visit villages of Lao ethnic minority groups, including Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou, a Laoloum village, and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. Continue to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the turquoise pools or take a walk along the forest trails before returning to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Morning
After breakfast, meet your private guide and get fitted with a quality mountain bike. Ride from the center of Luang Prabang along the Mekong River, following a mix of dirt and paved roads through peaceful local villages. Stop at Ban Xieng Lek, known for its traditional mulberry paper making and weaving, and Ban Xiang Hai, often called the Whiskey Village for its locally produced Lao Lao rice whiskey.

Continue towards Pak Ou, where the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers meet beneath dramatic limestone cliffs. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with beautiful views of the rivers and caves. After lunch, take a private boat across the Mekong River to the sacred Pak Ou Caves, home to thousands of Buddha images and relics in both the lower and upper caves.

Afternoon
Board your longtail boat for a relaxing and scenic 25-kilometre cruise down the Mekong River, taking approximately 1.5 hours. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, cycle back to the your hotel, bringing this memorable day of cycling, culture and river scenery to a close.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Morning
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Luang Prabang Railway Station for the high-speed train to the mountainous town of Vang Vieng.

Afternoon
Arrive in Vang Vieng, a charming town nestled along a bend of the Nam Song River, surrounded by dramatic limestone karsts and peaceful countryside. After checking into your hotel, enjoy a relaxing boat trip along the Nam Song River, taking in the breathtaking mountain scenery and tranquil rural landscapes.

Overnight in Vang Vieng

Morning
After breakfast, set off by local tractor through the surrounding paddy fields towards Tham Phoukham Cave, one of Vang Vieng’s most impressive limestone caves, surrounded by lush natural forest. Along the way, meet local villagers and gain an insight into their traditional lifestyle. At the cave, you can take a refreshing swim in the natural pool or explore the surrounding area.

Return to Vang Vieng by local transport or tractor, visiting Hmong, Souay and Taidam villages along the way. Meet the warm and welcoming local people and learn more about their traditional customs and distinctive clothing.

Afternoon
Enjoy an exciting 3-hour kayaking trip along the Nam Song River, with stops to explore local temples and caves along the way. Return to your hotel after a memorable day exploring the countryside around Vang Vieng.

Overnight in Vang Vieng

Morning
Depart Vang Vieng in the early morning and drive towards Vientiane, stopping en route at Vang Xang, an archaeological site dating back to the 11th century. After approximately two hours, arrive in Vientiane, the charming capital of Laos, where Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and French influences come together in a fascinating mix of cultures and architecture.

Afternoon
Explore the city’s highlights, beginning with Wat Sisaket, the oldest surviving temple in Vientiane, known for its beautiful frescoes and thousands of Buddha images. Continue to Haw Phra Kaew, the former royal temple that once housed the famous Emerald Buddha, followed by the imposing Patuxay Monument, often referred to as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe. Finish at That Luang Stupa, the most important national religious monument in Laos, before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon.

The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure.

Overnight in Vientiane

Morning
The morning is yours to relax and explore at leisure. Check out of your hotel at midday and enjoy some free time before your evening departure.

Evening
Transfer to Vientiane Airport for your short flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by your local guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Later, head out to explore Pub Street, the lively heart of Siem Reap, where you can enjoy a cool drink at one of its many bars or browse the shops at the Angkor Night Market.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Morning
After breakfast, set off by bicycle (approximately 45 minutes of cycling) or by vehicle along quieter roads to explore the Angkor Archaeological Park. Ride through the jungle, passing local villages and small shops before reaching the West Gate of Angkor Thom, a quieter entrance away from the main tourist crowds.

Explore the ancient capital of Angkor Thom, including the South Gate, Bayon Temple with its remarkable towers and serene stone faces, Baphuon Temple, the Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas, followed by the Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King.

Continue to the atmospheric Ta Prohm, where enormous fig trees and jungle roots embrace the ancient temple ruins. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon
Continue to the magnificent Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its extraordinary architecture and intricate carvings. Admire its extensive bas-reliefs, which depict scenes from Hindu mythology and ancient Khmer life.

End the day at Bakheng Temple, where you can enjoy the beautiful sunset from the hilltop overlooking the surrounding landscape.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Morning
Start early at around 5:30 am for a memorable sunrise over Angkor Wat, listening to the birdsong across the ancient Angkor landscape. Afterwards, walk to a nearby pagoda to offer food to the monks and, if you wish, spend some time meeting the monks and nuns to exchange stories and learn more about their way of life.

Return to the hotel for breakfast before heading to Tonle Sap Lake. Enjoy a boat trip to the floating villages, where you can observe the unique way of life shaped by the lake’s seasonal rise and fall.

Afternoon
Return to the hotel around midday. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax and explore at leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Morning
After breakfast, drive to Phnom Penh, with a journey of approximately 5–6 hours. En route, stop near Kampong Thom to explore Sambor Prei Kuk, one of Cambodia’s most important pre-Angkorian archaeological sites. Once the capital of Chenla in the 6th century, known as Isanapura, the site is now home to more than 100 temple ruins scattered peacefully through the forest. Explore the central temple complex and discover the distinctive early architectural styles that later influenced the great temples of Angkor.

Continue to Kampong Kdei to see the impressive ancient Naga Bridge, an important example of Khmer-era architecture.

Afternoon
Continue to Phnom Penh, arriving in the late afternoon. Check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Morning
After breakfast, explore the highlights of Phnom Penh with your local guide. Visit the National Museum, Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Independence Monument, Russian Market and Wat Phnom, before enjoying lunch at a local Cambodian restaurant.

Afternoon
Continue with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields, two important sites for understanding Cambodia’s tragic history under the Khmer Rouge. Through the preserved buildings, exhibits and memorials, gain a deeper insight into this difficult period and its lasting impact on Cambodian society.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning at your own pace. Check out by midday, then your private driver will pick you up and transfer you to Phnom Penh International Airport for your departure flight home.

End of your journey