Discovering Vietnam & Laos with Mr. Luca Gradassi

Vietnam Laos Tour – Vietnam and Laos Discovery

Gradassi “Viaggio in Vietnam and Laos”. Everything went very well, communication with the Agency and the excellent professionalism of the guides that took place during the trip.

Special thanks to Lam, who, Loon, Tien and Giosi.

Have a nice day everyone

Luca”

Group: Mr. Luca Gradassi
Travel date: 25/1/2016 – 12/2/2016
Travel style: Vietnam Laos Tour
Here’s our client’s review on Tripadvisor!

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01.25/01: Welcome to Hanoi
Fly to Hanoi. Upon arrival to the airport, you well be met by our guide and transfer to you hotel.

Meals: No meal
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 02.26/01: Hanoi – Halong Bay

09:00: Pick up at your hotel in Ha Noi by private car.
11.45–12.15: Embark at Hon Gai International harbor. Then embark on the boat and have lunch.
3.45 explore Dau Go e Thien Cung Cave
14:45 admire Cho Da (Stone Dog), Lu Huong (Incense Buner) Islets, Ba Hang Fishing Village, Ga Choi (Fighting Cocks) Islet.
16:30 Arrive at the port. Depart and transfer to Hanoi by private car.
Return to Hanoi at 8pm.

Day 03.27/01: Hanoi – Flight to Luang Prabang
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival you are welcome by driver and transfer to hotel. Luang Prabang is declared by UNESCO the best preserved city in Southeast Asia.

The rest of the day is free. Free dinner and overnight in hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 04.28/01: Luang Prabang – Park Ou Cave
Morning have the opportunity to observe the local people who offer the Tak Bak’s ceramic monks. Return to the hotel for breakfast and continue with the visit of the oldest temple in the city, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its unique roof, which is an example of classic Laotian architecture.

Next to is a Mekong River excursion – Pak Ou Cave that begins with a boat ride on one of the longest rivers in the world. The Mekong, or “Mother of all Rivers,” supports 90 million people who produce 54,000 square miles of rice every year. Also home to more species of giant fish than any other river, this majestic river is said to produce balls of light along its surface, which the locals attribute to the Phaya Naga, or Mekong Dragons.

After two hour cruise upstream we arrive at Pak Ou where the famous Tam Ting Cave houses thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, all brought there by devoted villages. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xang Hai where they make potent rice wine and Ban Chan, the pottery village where you will see the old way of making and drying the pot in the traditional kilns.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, then we can climb to the top of Mount Phousi from which you enjoy a beautiful panoramic view over Luang Prabang or enjoy the sunset over the Mekong River.

Visit the night market, where you can browse a beautiful selection of handmade textiles or local artisans.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 05.29/01: Luang Prabang visit
Morning depart for the market of tribes. Ethnic minorities from various hills and valleys gather to sell and buy commodities. Stop here to visit the Phousi market. You will see a variety of local food and dried buffalo products, local tea and salted between chickens, fish, vegetables and fruits, all you need for daily life in Laos. Transfer to Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Center & Shop where you can see the silk weaving process along with some exquisite examples of traditional laos fabric. Then visit Ban Phanom– known as village for cotton and silk hand weaving. Visit the tomb of French explorer Henri Mouhot the one who discovered Angkor Wat.

In the afternoon, cross the Mekong River to the other side of Luang Prabang and visit the local villages of Ban Xieng Mene and Van Chan. Seeing the Royal Temple of Wat Long Khounm, you have tchance to go to Wat Chomphet to admire the beautiful panorama of Luang Prabang across the river.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 06:30/01: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall – Flight to Hanoi
Morning check out then take a excursion to Kuang Si waterfall about 28KM , on the way , ethnic minority villages can be visited such as : Ban Na Oun Hmong hill tribe, Ban Naxom, Ban Ou Lao Loum villages and Ban Thapene Kh’mu village , arrive at Kuang Si waterfall , enjoy swimming and relaxing in the transparent water. The cool & turquoise water might wash away all of your fatigues, return to LuangPrabang then transfer to local restaurant.

After the lunch, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, meet with your guide at airport for a private transfer to your hotel.

Note: Vietnam visa or visa-on-arrival authorization required in advance of arrival (application will be mailed with preparation packet). Unless airport transiting, entering Vietnam more than once requires a re-entry visa. Do not accompany any driver who does not have a placard with your name or Amo Travel identification. 

Day 07.31/01: Hanoi visit – Flight to Hue
At 09:00AM, our waiting guide and driver will welcome you at your hotel and transfer us to Temple of Literature. Following is a visit to The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Then followed by Van Mieu literally translated “Temple of Literature” which is wel-known in Vietnam for a combination of Confucian sanctuary and academy, the centre also housed the country’s first university, founded in 1076. We have time to wander through the stone tablets and soak up a thousand years of learning with our local guide. Lunch break in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we visit Ethnographic Museum. 

Next is Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake Walking tour. Followed by, we travel by rickshaw cyclo (traditional bike-propelled cart) and foot along tree-lined boulevards and through the 1000-year-old Old

Quarter, exploring the markets and taking in some of the city’s great colonial architecture.

We finish day by visiting Ngoc Son Temple.

In the evening, transfer to the station for train to Hue.

Overnight on train.

Notes:  
Ho Chi Minh Museum and Mausoleum closes on Mondays and Fridays and closes yearly Sep/Oct/Nov for maintenance (specific dates to be advised) & all afternoon. Other museums close on Mondays.

Day 08.01/02: Hue visit
Upon arrival, transfer the hotel to leave their luggage. The day is dedicated to visit Hue City.

The Hue Citadel is situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River. It covers an area 500 ha and has a system of three circles of ramparts: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). The Hue royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

In the morning, enjoy a scenic boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda or Heavenly Lady pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Situated 4 km upstream on the banks of the Perfume River, it is an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601.

Visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue with the Purple Forbidden City.

Lunch at a local restaurant then transfer to Tu Duc Royal Tomb, the Emperor of the Imperial City built his own tomb during his reign and today you will visit one of the most beautiful mausoleums and Dong Ba Market.

Free dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 09.02/02: Hue – Hoi An – Hoi An visit

Morning transfer to Hoi An.

Stop to visit the pass of Hai Van (Cloud Pass) where the sky, the mountain and the sea reach. Visit the Sculpture Village under Marble Mountain and the Champa Museum.

Arrival in Hoi An. Start discovering the city.

We take a walking tour through the narrow streets, visiting a number of attractions in town: the PhucKien Assembly Hall, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the hundred-year old merchant house … and colorful local markets. Hoi An is also famous for its large number of tailor shops, so if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it.

Day 10.03/02: Hoi An – Danang – Flight to Sai Gon

Morning transfer to Danang airport for the flight to Saigon.

Upon arrival you are welcome by driver and transfer to hotel.

Free time to take a rest or visit city.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 11.04/02: Saigon visit

The day is dedicated to Sai Gon City visit: Post Office, Catedrale Notre Dame, Chinese Quatiere with Thien Hau Pagoda, War Museum, Dong Xuan Market.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 12.05/02: Sai Gon – Ben Tre – Can Tho

After breakfast, transfer to Mekong Delta – considered the “rice paddle of Vietnam”. Come to My Tho town to visit  Temple of Caodaism, a religion founded in Vietnam in 1925 that combines Confucianism, Taosimo and Buddhism.

Cross the Rach Mieu Bridge, the longest in South Vietnam. Arrive in Ben Tre where you board for an excursion on the Ben Tre River – one of the main tributaries of the Mekong River.

During the journey you have the opportunity to admire the lively local activities, the fishing along the river, the functionality of the irrigation channels … Stop in a furnace of Mr. Tu Lo to observe traditional brickwork in molds and baking. Visit, along the canal, of one of the many coconuts processing workshops. Stop by a family for tea and fruit in place. With a taxi ride (Xe Loi) or a bike ride we go through local nature: groves, fields of green rice paddies and verdure cultures, a real approach to local farming life. Lunch  at the local restaurant.

With private car transfer from Vinh Long to Can Tho. Free dinner and  overnight stay at hotel.

Day 13.06/02: Can Tho – Cai Rang – Chau Doc

Take a 3-hour boat trip to discover the beautiful Cai Rang Floating Market and its surroundings. Visit a vermicelli making shop, a rice husking mill, fruit gardens. Enjoy tropical fruit (free). See the peaceful life the rural area. Have lunch before going to Chau Doc. In the rest of the day, if time is permitted we will take the orientation walk around hotel area and boat trip to visit Cat Fish floating village and Cham village as well as Chua Xu Pagoda and Temple of Thoai Ngoc Hau.

Finish the day with visiting of Tra Su Traun Forest.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 14.07/02: Chau Doc – Rach Gia – Phu Quoc

Breakfast at hotel.

6am Transfer to Rach Gia. Take the speed boat to Phu Quoc at 8am.

Arrival in Phu Quoc. Welcome to the hotel. Leisure in Phu Quoc.

Day 15.08/02 – Day 17.10/02: Phu Quoc Free Time

Free time for beach relaxing. Overnight in hotel.

Day 15.08/02 – Day 17.10/02: Phu Quoc Free Time

Free time for beach relaxing. Overnight in hotel.

Day 19.12/02: Sai Gon Departure

Morning free time for relaxing o visiting the city.

At scheduled time, you will be taken to the airport. Departure for Italia.