How to spend two weeks in Laos and Vietnam?
If you are familiar with well-known metropolises like Tokyo or Bangkok, why don’t you try to visit other places like Vietnam and Laos this fall? With a wide range of breathtaking views and exquisite dishes, you want to soak into the beauty of two countries. In particular, a Vietnam and Laos combined tour is not only easy to travel but also help you save your time (and money, of course) to enjoy immensely all outstanding destinations. In case you still worried about the itinerary, below are some exclusive tips for you to enjoy the 18-days expedition.
First of all, just spend a few minutes to look at the necessary things you need to know before joining a Laos- Vietnam tailor-made tour.
Visa and Passport
Depend on your nationality, you may need to obtain a tourist visa to travel in both countries. So, please make sure to check whether you benefit the visa exemption or not.
Further information about Visa and Passport:
When to travel?
Both Vietnam and Laos are tropical nations with many features like unexpected rain or seasons divided. In particular, the weather in Vietnam varies greatly from North to South, depending on elevation and type of landscape. Meanwhile, Laos has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons: dry from October to April and rainy from May to September. In addition, the daytime temperatures in Laos are agreeably warm while evenings are slightly chilly. Therefore, please consider this information when planning a Laos private tour.
You can view more about the her and other information here:
Suggested Itinerary
In the following step, when you want to have a Vietnam- Laos family holiday, you may need to refer: How to get there? How to travel around? Vietnam and Laos offer different means of transportation, so you can conveniently travel with detailed guidelines.
Now, are you ready for our suggested customized itinerary? This list below would assist you to explore all these well-known destinations from the bustling vibes of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) to the scared land – Luang Prabang
Many great places to visit in both Vietnam and Laos, but with just 2-week trip we suggest you only focus on the main destinations. Here is the list you should check out:
1. Ho Chi Minh City – The vibrant city
At the beginning of your journey, we suggest you pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Sai Gon). This bustling place is famous with modern office skyscrapers, oriental style pagodas and food stalls along the street.
Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, pick up and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Then, take a tour around Sai Gon for a visit to the 19th century ‘Notre-Dame’ Cathedral, the beautiful Central Post Office which are fine examples of classical French colonial architecture. Continue with a tour of the former Presidential Palace (Reunification Palace), now preserved as a museum and finish the day by visiting the War Remnants Museum and the bustling Ben Thanh Market. In addition, you can have a chance to stop by the incredible Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground labyrinth of passageways, used by the Viet Cong during Vietnam War. Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime.
2. Mekong Delta and the unique floating market
Mekong Delta is not only a major rice producing area but the fascinating riverine delta mesmerizing global tourists. After breakfast, you can take a boat trip to the Cai Be Floating Market, stop by riverside villages and meet the locals. Along the way, you are free to come by a candy factory and orchard garden, where you have an opportunity to listen to traditional music. Then, it’s time to enjoy a relaxing lunch at a regional restaurant, cross the river by motorized boat to visit some fluvial islands and explore the countryside by bicycle. The next morning, we can go downstream to Cai Rang Floating Market and admire the beautiful sceneries and blend into the daily activities of the locals who live along the Mekong Canals.
3. The Heritage City of Hoi An and Sacred Land My Son
Next up to the Mekong Delta, you can take a road journey via stunningly beautiful Hai Van Pass to reach Hoi An. The drive is about 3 hours and you will be awarded an amazing view on top of the pass. You can also visit Cham Museum in Danang to learn more about Champa’s history and culture in Central Vietnam before getting to Hoi An. The riverside town of Hoi An is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam and it was a major trading port between the 15th and 19th century.
The ancient town has enough charm to keep you staying as long as you can afford your time to visit and enjoy a fulfilled Vietnam vacation. During your time in Hoi An, you can visit My Son Sanctuary for a half-day tour, have a walking tour in the old town to visit some famous attractions. Besides, you can explore the lush surrounding countryside by joining a cycling or farming tour. A full day for you to discover the tranquillity of the ancient town would be a great idea.
Hue is the last imperial capital of Vietnam, well-known for magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in small villages and surrounding hills and one of the most popular cities for travelers. Start the day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, home to the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City – once the Emperor’s private residence. The Imperial Citadel gives you a better understanding of the beauty of Vietnamese Royal architecture and culture. Then we will take a beautiful dragon boat trip along Perfume River and visit Thien Mu Pagoda to bless your soul. In the afternoon, continue on your tour with the visit to King Ming Mang and King Khai Dinh Tombs which are represented to the royal architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty.
5. Hanoi – The charming capital of Vietnam
The next destination in your expedition is Hanoi. You are free to spend two days discovering Vietnam’s capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers surprising things for everyone. If you are historical buff, you may be fascinated when visiting Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his residence, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Tran Quoc Pagoda.
In the afternoon, you can visit the Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins. Followed by a visit to Ngoc Son Temple nearby Hoan Kiem Lake. Enjoy a one-hour rickshaw sight-seeing tour around Hanoi Old Quarter for great fun. Furthermore, you are offered an exhilarating food tour to try different dishes which are very special, popular and preferred such as Banh Ran – Sticky rice pancake; Bun Cha – Hanoi Style Vermicelli with Grilled Pork; Hanoi grilled pork in stick; Banh My Pate – Stuffed French Baguette; Bia Hoi – Draught beer; Trung Vit Lon – Fertilized duck eggs; Egg coffee… This unforgettable food tour will take about 4 hours and you will end the trip at your hotel.
6. Ha Long Bay – A natural wonderland
Ha Long Bay composes of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. You can opt for savoring a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as sailing out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some activities in the bay, or just spend some time relaxing on board (Possibility to swim in the bay if weather permits). Dinner is served on board.
7. Luang Prabang – The rich cultural heritage
Finally, a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong is recommended for you to help you come closer to the classical Laotian architecture. Embarking on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River is also a great opportunity for you to have a striking view of the tranquil countryside as well as explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, you can stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for its silk weavings and its Saa (jute) Papermaking and Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving.
