Stacey Keare
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Hanoi - Arrival
Upon arrival at Hanoi International airport, you will meet your driver and local guide and travel by car to your hotel.
Spend time at leisure and get refreshed after the flight.
At 15:30, start a walking tour of Hanoi Old Quarter. Set off from Sword Lake, passing by Hang Hanh — the famous coffee street — and heading towards the Catholic Church. Wandering in these peaceful alleys, your eyes will catch the daily scenes of street vendors quietly napping in the shade or a motorbike taxi-driver sleeping precariously on his bike. Then, suddenly you will again find yourself in a noisy and busy street. Throughout the tour, your senses will be bombarded with a cascade of different sights, sounds, smells, and characters that harmonize to the music of life in Hanoi. At the end of the walk, you will have time to enjoy a cup of coffee from one of the many small shops in the area.
Day 2
Hanoi
Today, you will be picked up at your hotel in the morning and driven to the other side of the Red River, where you will start your cycling escape. Arrive to the Long Bien district, and ride along the less frequented back roads of a Hanoi suburb and then into the countryside.
Along the way, discover various peaceful villages, such as Bat Trang and Phung Cong. The ride will offer you the chance to learn more about the traditional way of life of the Vietnamese people, rural agriculture, and the diversity of northern Vietnam. The tour will visit a mix of historical and modern sites, such as the Chu Dong Tu temple and the newly established residential suburb of Hanoi called "Eco Park." Share memorable moments with locals while cycling. Enjoy lunch in a traditional house, with the opportunity to taste the local northern cuisine of Vietnam. After lunch, travel back in your vehicle to Hanoi where you will arrive at around 15:00/15:30.
In the evening, your guide will meet you again to explore more street food. Learn what makes Hanoi's Old Quarter such a captivating place. You will be able to taste a wide variety of Vietnamese specialties, such as banh cuon (steamed rolled rice pancake) and banh mi (the famous Vietnamese sandwich). Stop at a bia hoi (beer club) on Ta Hien Street, and taste the fresh Vietnamese beer that is incredibly popular with locals and travelers alike. Head to a pho shop, where you will be able to choose between regular pho or pho tron (pho noodles mixed with chicken without soup). Then, make your way along Hoan Kiem Lake for one of the tastiest ice creams in Hanoi. You will then say goodbye to your guide, and go on to explore Hanoi by night on your own.
Day 3
Hanoi - Ha Long - Bai Tu Long Bay
In the morning, travel to Halong Bay and arrive at around noon. Embark on a cruise heading for Bai Tu Long Bay. Bai Tu Long Bay showcases one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in luxuriant vegetation overlooking the waters. Enjoy lunch on board.
During the afternoon, explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave. After some time there, you will continue on to a white sandy beach at Hon Co Island, where you can relax, swim, or kayak. Then, head back to the boat in time to freshen up before having dinner on board.
Day 4
Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
Wake up early to enjoy the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay with a cup of tea or coffee. The cruise will tour around the bay, and you will take a rustic rowboat to reach Vung Vieng fishing village.
After returning to the boat, it will be time to enjoy a buffet brunch while cruising towards the harbor. Then, you will return to Hanoi where you will arrive at around 14:30.
Visit the Temple of Literature, situated in the place once known as the first university of Vietnam. Built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the university was first opened exclusively for princes and mandarins.
In the late afternoon, travel back to your hotel.
Day 5
Hanoi - Siem Reap
Enjoy the morning at leisure to explore Hanoi at your own pace. At midday, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the Hanoi International airport for your flight to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will meet your new guide and driver who will transfer you to the hotel.
Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.
Day 6
Siem Reap
Start your day by visiting Angkor Wat — the largest religious structure in the world and one of the top UNESCO World Heritage sites worldwide. After the visit, take a walking tour around the moat of this enormous temple.
Enter on a tiny trail and pass by a small local village. Continue crossing through the Angkor Thom South Gate, climb up its ancient wall, and walk along a shadowy path covered by ancient trees. You will reach a small temple, and then you will finally arrive right at the center of the Khmer capital, where the majestic Bayon Temple stands before you.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in a private Khmer house in Srah Srang.
During your day of rigorous temple explorations around the majestic Angkor Archaeological Park, you will pass by the Srah Srang baray, or reservoir (used as royal baths during the ancient Khmer Empire), where you can enjoy a private and relaxing picnic lunch in a charming, Khmer timber house, far away from the crowds. After arriving at the banks of Srah Srang baray, you will have a short, 10-minute walk through the local village to reach the house, which is located on the border of the reservoir. The house offers an authentic and comfortable atmosphere, with furniture and decorations made from local materials, along with a tropical garden and beautiful views of the reservoir.
After lunch, continue your visit of Angkor Thom, exploring the Royal Palace, the Elephant terrace, and the other incredible temples located in the area. Finally, end your visit at the Bayon Temple, and travel back to your hotel.
In the evening, enjoy a Cambodian circus show. Tonight you will discover Phare Ponleu Selpak — an NGO founded in 1994 in order to provide artistic training to poor, young Cambodians. The show gives real insight into Cambodian history and culture and is ideal for all age groups. The performance is executed with professionalism by talented young performers. It is energetic and thrilling, and the performance shows the vibrant side of Cambodia. The aim of each performance is to give travelers insight into the modern artistic stage, with each story revealing a piece of Khmer history. Some shows will transport you into the Khmer Rouge period, and some will focus on the modern issues of Khmer society. All are worth a visit!
Day 7
Siem Reap
This morning, depart to Kompong Kleang, where you will board a local boat led by a captain from the village. The craft will cross Tonlé Sap at a leisurely pace, giving you the opportunity to observe some of the small floating villages.
The boat is equipped with an engine, which allows you to move easily from the village and along the various canals leading to the Great Lake. Once you reach the end of the canal, you will realize the immensity of this lake, where the horizon stretches as far as the eye can see. During the dry season, you may take a walk to meet local residents before you set out for the cruise.
While visiting the Tonle Sap, spend time with local fisherman in Kompong Kleang. The great Tonle Sap lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the world’s most diverse and productive ecosystems. Large populations of Khmer and ethnic Vietnamese also live on the lake in floating villages, and their livelihoods depend almost entirely on fishing from these villages.
As you marvel at the scenery of the massive Tonle Sap lake by boat, you'll have the privilege of meeting with a local fisherman in order to understand more about their lifestyle and manual fishing techniques. Fishermen are the primary suppliers of fish to Cambodia’s many markets.
Spectators will also be able to actively take part and learn the techniques of casting a net themselves from the professionals. Learn the traditional technique of casting a net yourself!
Day 8
Siem Reap - Luang Prabang
Your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel for your transfer to Siem Reap International airport for flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang International airport, you will be met be another guide and driver for transfer to your hotel in Luang Prabang.
Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.
In the early evening, your guide will meet you for a leisurely walk to discover the night market of Luang Prabang.
Day 9
Luang Prabang
This morning, meet your guide for a short trip through local villages in the valley. After reaching the Hmong ethnic community of Ban Long Lao Kao, you will have the opportunity to visit and take in the sights of the village.
Then, start your walk to the famous Kuang Sy waterfalls, walking through vegetable gardens, rice fields, and forests, under the shade of hardwood trees, such as rosewood and ebony. Once you arrive at the Kuang Sy waterfalls, enjoy a delicious lunch at a local house. Take a rest, or go for a swim, before heading back to Luang Prabang.
On the way, stop at a buffalo dairy farm — a social enterprise which rents female buffaloes from local farmers to milk them while providing the locals with a regular source of income. Learn more about the project while you care for the buffaloes. Cuddle with them, and feed the buffaloes with grass and bananas, before giving them a scrub and a bath. During a hands-on milking demonstration, you will learn how to milk a buffalo and about the many benefits of buffalo milk.
End the visit with a tasting of delicious buffalo cheese, locally created by the farmers. The cheese tasting plate includes mozzarella, feta, ricotta, and creamy yogurt served with slices of fresh baguette.
After spending time with the buffaloes, travel back to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Day 10
Luang Prabang
In the morning, meet with UNESCO expert Francis Engelmann to discover Luang Prabang. He will introduce you to the various types of architectural heritage of Luang Prabang, both religious and civil.
Listen carefully, as his deep insights will enable you to enjoy your visit from a different angle. The walk is aimed towards the lesser known parts of the old town including charming lanes and the traditional atmosphere of the heritage town.
This afternoon, visit Luang Prabang with your guide. The city of Luang Prabang is one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia, with its perfect location at the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers and at the foot of an age-old mountain range. Your discovery of Luang Prabang will take you into its most emblematic and culturally-rich sites. In order to fully appreciate your visit of this picturesque city, a guide will share all his knowledge of the city’s history, architecture, and culture with you.
Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.
Day 11
Luang Prabang - Nong Khiaw
Visit local villages as you take a journey by road from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
Upon arrival in Nong Khiaw, hike up to a viewpoint. Situated on the banks of the peaceful Nam Ou River, Nong Khiaw is a charming town surrounded by some of the most fantastic limestone mountains in northern Laos. Today, you will discover Nong Khiaw's beautiful natural environment on a walk to the top of a mountain along a small path. At your own pace, climb along narrow paths covered by lush forest. Along the trail, you’ll find bamboo benches where you can rest and get your breath back before continuing your upward exploration.
Once you reach the top, triumphant after your journey up, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning panoramic view of Nong Khiaw and the Ou River winding through the surrounding mountains! After a stop to contemplate the beauty of the viewpoint, you will return to the town.
Day 12
Muang Ngoi
Following breakfast, take a boat trip from Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi. After disembarkation, the walk starts right from Muang Ngoi. 30 minutes into your journey, you'll have the chance to stop at Tam Khang Cave — the former sheltering cave for local villagers during the Indochina war (1960-1972). If you'd like, you may also take a short bath in the rock pool to cool off.
Continue on through lush vegetation, and cross some rice paddies to reach Ban Na village. Explore community life by walking around the small village and enjoying views of the rice fields and the surrounding hills from a small restaurant terrace. After a pleasant break, it will be time to head back to Muang Ngoi.
After lunch, travel by boat back to Nong Khiaw.
Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.
Day 13
Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang
This morning, travel back to Luang Prabang.
On the way, visit Pak Ou caves — the most famous Buddhist site in Luang Prabang. Climb the stairs to the entrance, and once you reach the caves, you will be amazed to find thousands of Buddha statues inside.
After the visit, travel to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 14
Departure
Depending on your departure flight, your guide and driver will meet you again to drive you to Luang Prabang International airport for your onward flight.
