Laos Vietnam Thailand Tour 23 Days: A Remarkable Journey

Arrival at Luang Prabang international airport and meet your guide, then transfer to your hotel. Check-in time is between 13h30-14h00. Time for resting at hotel

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals               : Breakfast

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession. Stop and visit fresh local markets and back to hotel for breakfast.

This morning, depart to visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao The Continue to visit Wat Aham. Then, visit to the most photographed temple, Wat Xiengthong. Located at the end of peninsular closed to the confluence of Mekong and Khan River.

This afternoon, continue to former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Visit Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. During Pimai, the Lao New Year, the Prabang normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum is brought and put on public display in this temple.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

Accommodation : At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals               : Breakfast

This morning, you will be driven to the Elephant Village, a center with a focus on the protection and rehabilitation of elephants in Laos. Upon arrival you will be provided the information about the work in caring for the elephants. Next, enjoy your time with elephants in camp.

This afternoon, travelling outskirt of Luang prabang, driving through green rice paddies and farms. Stop for visit few villages of H’mong and Lao loum people, your guide can introduce you to local people and its great opportunity for you to involving with their daily activities such as wooden cotton spinning, weaving, rice harvesting and green vegetable farms. On your arrival at the Kuang Sy fall, enjoy your short walking on trails of falls to visit the bear rescued centre and enjoy front main waterfalls with spectacular views and surrounding of orchids inside the park and falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. Driver back to Luang Prabang.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals               : Breakfast

After breakfast, drive to Vang Vieng, drive passes through splendid scenery and past many panoramic lookout points on the winding mountaintop road.  There are several stops en route to take photos in the scenery. 

Arrive in Vang Vieng and descending the Nam Song by long tail boat leads us through idyllic scenes of rural life: a unique sight with the limestone mountain in the background.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

Accommodation : At the hotel in Vang Vieng

Meals               : Breakfast

After breakfast, heading to Tham Jang cave 172 steps where you can see the spectacular views of the city and the landscape. Then drive to Vientiane.

Arrival in Vientiane and visit Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Next, visit the huge golden That Luang monument, where all Lao citizen respect as holy pagoda.

End your day by Victory Monument Patuxay, which looks like the Arc de Triumph. This was built at the end of the Indochina wars with money rumored to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway. Thus the departing Americans dubbed this monument the vertical runway! Have a look at the lovely arches inside the monument.

Meals on your own.  Overnight in hotel

Accommodation : At the hotel in Vientiane

Meals               : Breakfast

Free time until your transfer by our driver to the airport for your international flight to Saigon

Upon arrival pick up and then transfer you to your hotel in Saigon for your overnight. Afternoon, we take a half day of city tour to visit all famous sites of this bustling city. The first destination is the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, followed by some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral. Apart from the religious meaning, the even more special captivating point of this Cathedral is its special neo-Romanesque style of architecture. Next, it is on to the Old Saigon Post Office. After visiting the Jade Emperor Pagoda, we continue our trip to the bustling Ben Thanh Market, which is firstly well-known as the place for real Vietnamese food. There are a number of vendors and food stalls in the market food section that offer guests many freshly delicious dishes. You also can find any goods for daily use as well as variety of eye-catching local handicrafts, souvenirs here. Overnight at the hotel in HCM city.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Saigon

Meals               : Breakfast

Pick up at your hotel in Saigon and depart for Ben Tre. On arrival in Hàm Luông pier. Cruise on BenTre river exploring the lively activities along river as fishing, water transferring...see  brick making in  handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to village. Take a walk to family workshop making sleep mats and enjoying some fruits and tea.

 Riding a motor cart (xe lôi) or bike on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on realy life and find out about tropical culture from Peasants. Lunch at Hai Hồ house.

Afternoon - riding a sampan along canal, before boat back to Ham Luông pier.

Continue transfer back to Saigon for your overnight

Accommodation : At the hotel in Saigon

Meals               : Breakfast, Lunch

Morning after having breakfast, depart for the famous Cu Chi Tunnels which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival pick up and then transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Hanoi

Meals               : Breakfast

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the best of Mai Chau on 2 wheels
• Experience daily life and culture of the Thai minority people
• Directly taste local food, try weaving, embroidering, pounding rice, watch Kenglong performance and how to make wine.
• Medium level for biking

Meet tour guide and driver then depart to Mai Chau. Upon arrival check in at your resort.

2:30 PM: departing from Mai Chau Ecolodge

2:45 PM: stopping over at Nhót Village, dropping in on a Thai family – Mr. Điệp’s house, be welcomed by the friendly local people, talk with them and discover their traditional culture and stilt house. Enjoying local fruit and tea, try weaving, embroidering, pounding rice, and how to make “Happy Water

3:45 PM: saying goodbye to the friendly host and continue our cycling trip to exploring Mai Chau beautiful ethnic villages including Chiềng Sại , Cha long, Văn, Pom Cọong , Lác Village... During this unique experience, you get a closer look at daily life through Thai ethnic’s culture.

5:00 PM: returning back to Mai Chau Ecolodge.

Accommodation: Mai Chau Ecolodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

AM: You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.

PM: You have the chance to get close to village life and interact with locals living in the hills above the Retreat. Glimpse at daily life, walk around working farmland and rice fields, and get to know more about the local cultrue. Walking back the retreat for nice dinner.

Accommodation: Pu Luong Retreat

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This is a common and easy walk around the most beautiful valley of rice terraces in front of the Retreat. We start to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Then we will walk through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque Uoi village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Your camera will not be able to sit still when you see the panorama view of the village from above. Continue walk down hill to a local home, where you can take rest then take a cycle to go cycling around Lan village. If time permits, we will visit a local family where we can learn about their traditional brocade weaving (not guaranteed).

Cycling through the rice paddies and another village to explore more the landscape surround. Ride back
to the local home, where the car pick-up point. You will be transferred back to Puluong retreat for lunch.

In the afternoon, transfer to Ninh Binh for your overnight

Accommodation: At the hotel in Ninh Binh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning drive south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10th century. The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”. Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued in the site that used to be the kings’ palace in 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples. Overnight at the hotel in Ninh Binh

Accommodation: At the hotel in Ninh Binh

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel and then start a 3 hours driving to Ha Long City. Comfort stop en route for photos and coffee before arriving to Ha Long City. We then transfer to a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay to enjoy a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone this World Heritage Site. While being on board, we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by swimming and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. Try the feeling of witnessing the sunset on boat is really great. Dinner on board. The captain then will anchor for the night nearby a remote island.  In the evening, there is the option for night fishing or just sit out on the deck and relax under the stars. Overnight on Junk.

Accommodation : On Ha Long Bay cruise

Meals               : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Waking up surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. The cruise continues to move around the bay for us to discover more secluded areas, we then take kayaking and swimming in the stunning bay. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a backup vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 2.5 hours journey to back to Hanoi. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

Accommodation : At the hotel in Hanoi

Meals               : Breakfast, Lunch

Free time until your transfer by our driver to the airport for your international flight to Bangkok. We will pick you up with a comfortable vehicle to the center of Bangkok to check-in your hotel, then take your time to have a rest

Accommodation : At the hotel in Bangkok

Meals               : Breakfast

Today, we will take the whole day to explore Bangkok – the city of golden temples.

The first destination is the Grand Palace. 

This huge architecture complex is over 2 sq. kilometers, including 3 main sites: Royal Palace, Royal Office and pagodas (Wat) built in 1770s. Nowadays, the Grand Palace is no longer home of Thailand Royal, most of national significant events takes place there. 

Wat Phra Kaew is the most out-standing architecture in complex, built in 1785 when King Rama I moved the capital to Bangkok. The pagoda is famous not only for its beauty of unique Thailand Buddhism architecture but also for the sacred jade Buddha statue.

Nearby Grand Palace is Wat Pho – the oldest and biggest pagoda in Bangkok with more than 1000 Buddha statues and the huge one sit-back Buddha in gold. This pagoda is also famous for being a birthplace of traditional Thai massage, since there is a traditional medicine school established in 1982, educating the arts of Thai massage.

We will board on a boat to pay a visit along the Chao Phraya River, watching the life of local people close by.

On route, we stop at Wat Arun, known as the most beautiful pagoda in Bangkok not only for its location on the Chao Phraya’s riverbank but also for the different architecture from other pagodas. The pagoda was decorated with glass pieces and Chinese ceramic, in a complicated style.

 Wat Traimit. This pagoda is famous for its unique and historic beauty, and also for the huge golden Buddha statue. Thai people believe that the statue represents for prosperity and purity, as well as strength and power.

Return to the hotel and you are free to explore Bangkok by night.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Bangkok

Meals               : Breakfast

In the morning, we will depart to Ayutthaya; it takes about more than hour to reach the former Thai capital. Witness the glory of the ancient capital through its temple and palace ruins. First you will visit Wat Phu Khao Thong, or the “Monastery of the Golden Mount”, which is located just outside Ayutthaya. Then you will proceed to the ancient palace and Wat Phra Si Sanphet. You will also visit Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit, one of the largest bronze Buddha’s in Thailand. Have lunch by your own account. Afterwards you will visit Wat Lokaya Sutha. This temple enshrines a large reclining Buddha image. Our last visit will be the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, built during the Ayutthaya era. The palace showcases an eclectic collection of buildings that blend European, Khmer, Thai and Chinese architectural styles. It’s the favorite summer palace of the King.

At the end of the afternoon, return to the hotel and free time for relaxation.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Bangkok

Meals               : Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, take just a short drive from the bustling streets of Bangkok, the high-rise urban landscape dissolves into a lush green rural idyll. This full-day trip to Samut Songkhram Province, only an hour outside the capital, allows guests to experience the traditional charms of the Thai countryside.

The day starts with a trip to Mae Klong Railway market; a country market has sprouted up along the tracks. When a train pulls in or out of the station, the vendors quickly clear their stalls, only to set them up again moments later when the train has passed! From here, the journey continues to very famous touristic Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Although quite touristy today, the market remains the best example to showcase how a floating market originally was like decades ago. A relaxing paddle boat ride through the labyrinth of canals offers the chance to see the old part of the floating market and local lifestyle along the canal side. Off the boat, it is time to enjoy strolling around the colorful floating marketplace bustling with boats and vendors selling tropical fruits and other delights.

Afternoon transfer back to Bangkok and then visit the Jim Thompson house, in the heart of Bangkok’s city center: start by learning the story of the American businessman and traveler, who made it his life’s work to bring Thai silks to the world’s fashion houses, and then explore his remarkable home. This is one of the best places in Bangkok to see traditional Thai teak homes, as Thompson assembled his using historic houses shipped to Bangkok from around the country. Find out what is known — and what remains a mystery — about Thompson’s 1967 disappearance in the Malaysian jungle, then explore the collection of art that he assembled during 25 years in Thailand.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Bangkok

Meals               : Breakfast

You have free time until we pick up and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Phuket.

Upon arrirval pick up and then transfer you to your hotel in Phuket for your overnight.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Phuket

Meals               : Breakfast

Relax, unwind and enjoy the beautiful beaches and unrivalled charms of south Thailand

Accommodation : At the hotel in Phuket 

Meals               : Breakfast

Relax, unwind and enjoy the beautiful beaches and unrivalled charms of south Thailand

Accommodation : At the hotel in Phuket 

Meals               : Breakfast

Relax, unwind and enjoy the beautiful beaches and unrivalled charms of south Thailand

Accommodation : At the hotel in Phuket 

Meals               : Breakfast

Time is free until you are transferred to the airport for your flight to next destination

Accommodation : NA

Meals               : Breakfast