28 Days Exploration in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia

ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi | Arrive in Hanoi

International Flight: Excluded
Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival in Hanoi, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to your hotel in the Old French Quarter for check-in.

After check-in, enjoy a stroll on your own around Hoan Kiem Lake outside your hotel. Feel free to also pick up a souvenir at the night markets or at one of the many trinket shops in the alleys and small roads of this historic part of town.

Hoan Kiem Lake – 28 Days Exploration Vietnam Laos Cambodia

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 2: Hanoi | Morning Leisure | Private Street Food Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning is at your leisure. Start the afternoon with the latest craze in Hanoi: Egg Coffee at the original cafe where it began – Cafe Giang(for the less adventurous, other drink options are available). Soak up the local life of Hanoi from your seat while enjoying a pleasant chat. After your cups are dry, begin your walking tour of the Hanoi Old Quarter. Our guide will entertain you with a commentary about the history of the “36 Old Streets and Guilds”.

Throughout the afternoon, you’ll stop to try some excellent Vietnamese street food which may include Pho Cuon(grilled beef and fresh herbs wrapped in rice noodles), Ngo Chien(crispy sweet corn), Bun Cha(BBQ pork in fish sauce with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and spring rolls), Nem Cuon(fresh spring rolls) or some other popular Vietnamese dishes. During the afternoon, you will also visit a local market to see how vendors display their produce, meat, and foodstuffs. Finish the walking tour at Hoan Kiem Lake, a calm lagoon with an old stone tower on an island in the center.

Return to the hotel for leisure time.

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 3: Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay | Emerald Isles of Lan Ha Bay by Orchid Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, take a shuttle transfer to Haiphong where you’ll enjoy some time at Orchid’s Private Lounge for refreshments until boarding. Then board Orchid Cruise.

Receive a safety briefing and check in your cabins. The boat sets adrift for Da Chong islet, home to an old French lighthouse. Enjoy a sumptuous feast in the panoramic dining hall while enroute to the isles of Con Vit and Gia Luan. The bay opens up to you with stunning green karsts towering above the water. This area receives very few cruise ships as it has just been newly opened up. Continue to Ba Trai Dao beach of Lan Ha Bay. A paradise with perfect beaches and natural beauty. Stop at one of the beaches for swimming or kayaking during the afternoon.

As dusk approaches, welcome the sunset with a local specialty – “Ba Kich”(a liquor made from Noni fruit). Back on board, you’ll join a cooking demonstration to learn a few Vietnamese culinary secrets. Enjoy your creation! Then time for supper in the dining hall. Delicious Vietnamese cuisine and seafood in a romantic setting. After dinner, you may enjoy watching the stars from the sundeck, watching a movie in the restaurant, or give night squid fishing a try with the staff(subject to seasonal availability).

Lan Ha Bay Cruise – 28 Days Exploration Vietnam Laos Cambodia

Accommodation: Orchid Cruise

Day 4: Hanoi | Sunrise Lan Ha Bay | Hanoi Highlights

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rise early for one of the top best sunrises in the world. Then head to the sundeck for an invigorating Tai Chi session amongst a picture-perfect backdrop of karsts, sea, and nature. Enjoy breakfast in the dining hall before taking the journey to explore the area around Sang Tai sea cave via canoes.

Return to Hanoi.

In the late afternoon, go with our guide to visit unique sites in the Millennium Old Capital if Vietnam. Start with the One Pillar Pagoda – a pagoda situated on a pillar made of a single stone, in the middle of a lotus pond. This pagoda was built by a 9th-century emperor who saw it in a dream and regarded this as divine inspiration to recreate the structure in the vision. You’ll pass by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum before visiting the highlight of this tour – The Temple of Literature. This ancient university was erected almost a millennium ago and has hosted many of the most prominent scholars through Vietnamese history. The site features many gardens, pools, buildings, and ancient trees where the best and brightest of Vietnam studied under the guidance of Confucius’s teachings.

Historical Hoan Kiem Lake

Next, you’ll take a stroll around the Hoan Kiem Lake where you can see the Tortoise Tower sitting on the water. Then you’ll enjoy a half-hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The cyclo is a historic mode of transportation in the cities of Vietnam where a cyclist escorts you while you sit in a seat affixed to the front with a canopy over top. In the late afternoon, transfer to Tran Quoc Pagoda set on West Lake. This 1,400-year-old temple features ten tiers surrounded by gardens and which also hosts a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original Buddhist tree under which Buddha sat.

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 5: Ninh Binh – Hanoi | Wonders of Ninh Binh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you’ll transfer to Hoa Lu(2-hour transfer), the ancient capital. In 968, Dinh Bo Linh declared himself as the King. Since then Hoa Lu existed as the capital for only 41 years. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from there to Thang Long – present-day Hanoi. Then it became the old citadel. In Hoa Lu there are now two temples dedicated to two Vietnamese kings, which have been built on the grounds of the old royal palace. The visit offers a chance to learn more about the feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.

Boat Trip through Trang An Grottoes

In the afternoon, you’ll take an amazing boat trip through Trang An Grottoes. A gathering of 31 valleys and 50 cross-water caves are home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna many of which are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. Rowing through the Trang An Grottoes is a peaceful trip of serenity. The highland air is a respite from modern living and the sounds are only that of birds and the oars stirring the clear water. Towering overhead is magnificent forested mountains upon which you might catch a glimpse of grazing white-bearded goats. In the valleys, you’ll see cultivated rice fields.

You’ll then go on to visit Bai Dinh Temple, the largest temple in Vietnam. This Buddhist temple was built into the mountain with 3 terraces and faces the river. Explore the many halls, rooms, carvings, and statues during the late afternoon. Our guide will then take you to the best place for watching the sunset over this untouched part of Vietnam. Shortly afterward, you’ll witness the 13-tier pagoda – Chau Bai Dinh – be lit up for the evening: a true spectacle to behold!

Return to Hanoi and overnight.

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 6: Hanoi – Luang Prabang | Flight to Luang Prabang

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast

After the exploration, take an early evening flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

A location so often ignored by travelers, but truly a must-see spot. Luang Prabang has been listed since 1995 as a UNESCO World Heritage for its unique architecture, cultural and religious significance. The historic town is at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers.

Accommodation: Le Bel Air Resort

Day 7: Luang Prabang | Alms Giving Ceremony | Luang Prabang Heritage

Meals: Breakfast

In the early morning, you can join in the alms giving ceremony where a procession of monks pass the hotel as participants solemnly give sticky rice and other objects into their bowls. Then, continue the day tour with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We’ll also visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.

Late afternoon, transfer to the forest temple of Wat Phon Phao for watching a stunning sunset over the Laos countryside. Return to the hotel for leisure time or explore the night markets on your own.

Alms Giving Ceremony – 28 Days Exploration Vietnam Laos Cambodia

Accommodation: Le Bel Air Resort

Day 8: Luang Prabang | Gentle Giants of Asia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, transfer to MandaLao – an elephant sanctuary with a focus on rehabilitation and care of rescued elephants. Here you’ll meet the sanctuary caretaker and receive a short briefing about the elephants. Throughout the morning, you’ll take place in the following activities:

• Locate the elephants with the caretaker;
• Feed the elephants under the guidance of the caretaker and learn about their behavior;
• Bathe your elephant – Go down to the nearby river to bath your elephant; perhaps the elephant will bathe you as well!
• Enjoy lunch at the outdoor garden restaurant

Then return to your hotel for leisure time in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Le Bel Air Resort

Day 9: Luang Prabang | Jungle Hike to Hill Tribes and Kuang Si Waterfall

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we cross the Mekong River by boat, to the picturesque village of Ban Chan, a pottery village. We then visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village.

This then takes us to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon.

Accommodation: Le Bel Air Resort

Day 10: Luang Prabang | Pak Ou Caves | Tree House Sunset Cocktail and Dinner over Mekong River

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make Laos rice wine and rice whiskey. You’ll be able to try some and see the process they use to make it. Then we’ll reach the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

Lunch will be served nearby the caves. During lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to try a local dish called “Orlam” which is a soup with vegetables and features a spicy wood that is partially edible. On return, we disembark the boat to visit a traditional weaving village of Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving.

As dusk is settling, transfer to a nearby secluded restaurant along the Mekong River. Enjoy sunset cocktails and dinner at the treehouse villa. Delicious Laos dishes will be brought to you as the sun is setting along the horizon. Return to the hotel for the evening at leisure. Subject to availability at the time of booking.

Pak Ou Cave – 28 Days Exploration Vietnam Laos Cambodia

Accommodation: Le Bel Air Resort

Day 11: Luang Prabang – Pakse | Flight to Pakse

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
You’ll transfer by flight to Pakse. Upon arrival, our guide and transfer will greet you at the airport arrival hall and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Accommodation: The River Resort

Day 12: Pakse | Bolaven Plateau

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, we’ll go to visit a small village which is famous for knife making. See how knives are produced using traditional techniques before continuing onwards for another 14km to visit some tea plantations, here we see how tea is grown and produced, after which we carry on once again until arriving at the stunning Tad Fan waterfall. Here we take some time to look around and explore the local area which is home to coffee plantations.

Accommodation: The River Resort

Day 13: Pakse | Wat | Kayaking with Mekong Dolphins | Wood Carving Village

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Go with our guide to visit nearby Wat Phou. This temple is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos. The temple was constructed in three levels: the bottom level is focused on the baray (water reservoir) and promenade, the second level features quadrangular pavilions and galleries of carvings, and the top level is the sanctuary itself. Wat Phou was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat. The temple served as the most important economic and political center of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples.

Wat Phou Temple – 28 Days Exploration Vietnam Laos Cambodia

Local and Waterfalls

Continue to Nakasang village. From here we board a local boat that takes us down the mighty Mekong and through some beautiful scenery until arriving at Don Khon Island. From Don Khon Island we walk along the island to see the old French train and the amazing Liphi waterfalls. At the waterfall, we take a short walk to above the falls where we enjoy lunch together amongst some beautiful surroundings!

After our lunch and taking some time to relax, we begin kayaking down the Mekong to an area near the Cambodian border where we will have the chance to see Mekong Dolphins. After spending some time to try and spot the dolphins, we will return back to the resort. Stop en route at the wood carving village of Ban Nong Bune. The wood carving technique and unique finish used here has made the art from this village coveted throughout Southeast Asia.

Accommodation: The River Resort

Day 14: Pakse – Siem Reap | Flight to Siem Reap

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
You’ll transfer by flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, our guide and transfer will greet you at the airport arrival hall and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Siem Reap is a quaint town in Cambodia and the gateway to the vast remains of the Angkor empire. Discover the Royal Gardens on your own with ancient trees home to a colony of giant fruit bats. Take a stroll along the scenic riverside and visit the night markets to find unique souvenirs. You may also want to spend the evening with a visit to Pub Street with several restaurants and bars that stay open late into the night. Many restaurants have live entertainment in the evening.
Accommodation: Heritage Suites Hotel

Day 15: Siem Reap | Vintage Mercedes to the South Gate | Ancient Angkor Thom by Bicycle | Water Blessing Ceremony

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, you’ll hop in a Vintage Mercedes-Benz. Circle around Bayon temple with it’s giant stone smiling faces and stop for photos with the classic automobile if you like. Return back to the South Gate of the ancient capital where you’ll continue with our guide. (Note: Vintage car will return and a standard vehicle with air conditioning will provide transportation for the rest of the tour. No camera is provided for photos. Please bring your own.)

Enjoy a relaxing cycling tour in the morning in ancient Angkor Thom – a stone city built around the time of Angkor Wat.

Biking in Ancient Capital of Angkor Thom

The biking tour will start at the South Gate – a photogenic bridge at the gateway of the stone city of Angkor Thom which has made its way into many Hollywood movies. Angkor Thom was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire. Enter the stone city and explore shaded trails and ancient monuments. Visit Bayon Temple where you will be surrounded by 216 gigantic stone faces which fame as “Khmer Smile”, you will also visit the Terrace of Elephants, the Royal Palace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Stop your cycling trip with a visit to the local monastery to chat with monks and see their daily life. Then take part in a Water Blessing Ceremony. We will provide a change of clothes for you – a traditional Sarong which you will wear during the ceremony.

In the afternoon, go to visit Ta Prohm Temple – a jungle monastery with trees overcoming stone. This temple has been featured in many Hollywood films, including Tomb Raider and Transformers 3. On the way back, stop to see the Killing Fields of Wat Thmei. Our guide will relay to you about the history of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot and the war. Cambodia is still healing from these atrocities.

Accommodation: Heritage Suites Hotel

Day 16: Siem Reap | Leisure Day

Meals: Breakfast

Today is at your leisure to relax or explore around Siem Reap town. You might enjoy visiting the Royal Gardens(home to large fruit bats in the towering trees), take a stroll along the scenic riverside, and visit some of the night markets in the evening.

Accommodation: Heritage Suites Hotel

Day 17: Siem Reap | Angkor Wat Sunrise

Meals: Breakfast
Before the light of the day, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the front of Angkor Wat Temple. From here, you’ll watch one of the most revered sunrises in the world. Our guide will arrange a light picnic breakfast for you to enjoy in front of the world’s #1 Heritage Site. Then in the early hours, you’ll explore the vast temple with your guide bringing to life the stories of Angkor. In the morning, the rays of the light play through the chambers as the morning haze settles and giving the temple a mystical ambiance while there are few tourists who visit during this time of day. After your explorations, you’ll return to the hotel for some rest and leisure time.

Angkor Wat Temple – 28 Days Exploration Vietnam Laos Cambodia

Accommodation: Heritage Suites Hotel

Day 18: Siem Reap – Hoi An | Flight to Hoi An

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
Today, take a flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

At the end of a long line of sandy beaches, palms and the blue sea turns the Thu Bon River. Take a step back in time 300 years to cobblestone alleys and aged wooden and stone homes. Time stands still in this quiet part of the world where ornate doorways and bridges could keep the curious passerby entranced in amusement. The setting – a Far Eastern port that was forgotten in time. Japanese, French, Chinese, and Vietnamese designs and styles melt together along every street.
Accommodation: Hoi An Central Boutique Hotel & Spa

Day 19: Hoi An | Hoi An Ancient Town at Dusk

Meals: Breakfast

In the afternoon, transfer with our guide to Hoi An Ancient Town. This town features the 16th-century Hoi An port town in it’s preserved state. You’ll start the day visiting the Museum of Trade Ceramics. This museum houses art and pottery dating from the 1,500s to the 1,700s.

Then you’ll briefly visit the Chua Ong Pagoda, a temple from the 17th century which features China’s influence in the region. You’ll continue through the Ancient Town as the streets take on a magic of their own with old lanterns, French-style houses, intricately carved wooden doors, and more. You’ll take a stroll through the Old Tam Ky House to see it’s imperial styles meshed with French overtures. Continue on to stroll along the river and see traditional boats and locals on bicycles passing by. You’ll then approach the Japanese Covered Bridge. This bridge has connected the Chinese and Japanese sides of town over the waterway for centuries. The old wooden structure has shown amazing resilience for more than 400 years.

At dusk, enjoy walking along the riverside as old colorful lanterns light up the town. After you’ve finished the tour, return to the hotel.

Accommodation: Hoi An Central Boutique Hotel & Spa

Day 20: Hoi An – Hue | Mountain Coastal Road Trip to Hue | Hue Imperial Citadel and Purple Forbidden City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Our guide will assist with checking you out of your hotel and then transfer by vehicle for a scenic ride (3hours transfer) along the mountain coasts of Vietnam. Start by riding alongside the beaches of Danang where you’ll see hundreds of traditional fishing boats scattered out along the water with beautiful mountains lining the horizon. Then you’ll approach a steep and narrow ascent where you’ll find the scenery surreal. Along the way, there is a stretch of road which overlooks a beautiful bay with a small fishing village, perfect for a Facebook portrait. You’ll continue your climb to a summit where the clouds will meet you. In Chinese, the summit is referred to as “Where the Clouds Meet the Ocean”.

You’ll continue onward through mountains, valleys, countryside, and shorelines where you’ll find numerous breath-taking scenes. Feel free to request your driver to stop for photos along the way. As you enter Hue, you’ll see many imperial signs and impressive houses and buildings which are only a deluge of what’s to come.

Your ventures will take you to lunch at a royal residence. These imperial styled houses near the Royal Citadel feature beautiful gardens, intricate furnishings, and detailed ornaments at every turn. Each dish highlights different aspects of Hue traditional food enjoyed by the royalty. The brilliant food presentation will be sure to leave a fond memory with you of this family-owned garden and restaurant.

Hue Royal Citadel – 28 Days Exploration Vietnam Laos Cambodia

Hue Imperial Citadel

In the afternoon, you’ll press onward to see the famed Imperial Hue Citadel – the old capital of Vietnam. This Citadel has a moat and wall perimeter 6 miles long. You’ll be able to view it’s vast gardens and structure relics. Then you’ll breach the outer perimeter of the Hue Imperial City. Inside, you’ll see many of the national treasures and structures which have survived the Vietnam War. Venture further inside and you’ll enter the Purple Forbidden City. This city was off-limits to the commoners and only could be entered by the highest officials in the Vietnamese government and royalty. Your driver will meet you on the other side of the city where you’ll then continue to a stop at the Dong Ba Market where you can see local fruits and produce for sale.

Accommodation: Eldora Hotel

Day 21: Hue | Hue Imperial Tombs by Bicycle

Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, take to bicycles through the romantic city of Hue and surrounds. Your journey will bring you to Khai Dinh’s Tomb. On the way, stop to take some photos of the countryside scenery.

When reaching Khai Dinh Tomb, start exploring the structure. It is notable for its elaborate decorative work and unique architecture, being a mix of a number of architectural styles. The tomb is of a rectangular structure leaning against Chau Chu Mountain in the outskirts of Hue. The side walls are formed by large dragon sculptures. The tomb is home to an imperial audience court, featuring a reinforced concrete steel monument, as well as twelve stone statues representing bodyguards. Close to the top floor is the Khai Thanh Palace, featuring intricately designed glass and porcelain decorations on the walls. The ceiling of the palace is decorated with nine intricate dragons. The rear room of the palace is home to a temple containing Khai Dinh’s grave, an altar to him as well as a statue of his likeness.

After visiting Khai Dinh tomb, continue by bicycle to Tu Duc Tomb. While Khai Dinh’s Tomb is noteworthy for its ornate extravagance, Emperor Tu Duc’s tomb showcases a traditional elegance, and many view it to be the most beautiful of Hue’s royal tombs. Designed by Tu Duc himself, it is said he preferred spending time in these serene grounds than at the palace.

Lunch at a Former Royal Residence

Enjoy a Hue styled Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant before riding to the last famous imperial tomb today – Minh Mang Tomb. Minh Mang tomb is a standard architectural complex consisting of 40 structures (palaces, temples, and pavilions) designed on a symmetrical axis running from Dai Hong Gate to the foot of La Thanh (The Surrounding Wall) behind the Emperor’s tomb. Local rumor has it that the emperor buried a splendid treasure of gold and priceless valuables somewhere on the large compound. But the secret of its whereabouts followed him to his grave.

After the exploration, return to the hotel for leisure.

Accommodation: Eldora Hotel

Day 22: Hue – Phu Quoc | Flight to Phu Quoc

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast

Then, take a flight to Phu Quoc with a short layover in Saigon(1h5m). Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Phu Quoc Beaches – 28 Days Exploration Vietnam Laos Cambodia

Accommodation: Lahana Resort

Day 23: Phu Quoc | Relax on the Beach

Meals: Breakfast

You’ll be able to relax on the beaches, enjoy the hotel facilities, or explore on your own.

Accommodation: Lahana Resort

Day 24: Phu Quoc | Relax on the Beach

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lahana Resort

Day 25: Phu Quoc | Relax on the Beach

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lahana Resort

Day 26: Phu Quoc | Relax on the Beach

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lahana Resort

Day 27: Phu Quoc | Relax on the Beach

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lahana Resort

Day 28: Phu Quoc | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast
Today, our guide will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back home and to bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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