Classic Vietnam and Laos 12-day Private Tour

Overview

Experience the classic highlights of Laos and Vietnam with our 12-day Classic Vietnam and Laos tour. This private, meticulously crafted itinerary takes you on a magnificent journey from the serene capital of Vientiane and the cultural heart of Luang Prabang to the bustling cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. You will explore ancient temples, cruise the majestic Mekong River and Halong Bay, and discover the historical and natural wonders of Vietnam's North and South. If this tour captures your interest, please share your specific requirements, and we will customize the program to your satisfaction.

Highlight

Vientiane’s Cultural Treasures: Wat Sisaket, Wat Prakeo, That Luang Stupa, and Patuxay Monument.
Vang Vieng Exploration: Tham Jang and Tham Phoukham caves, with a refreshing swim in natural pools.
Luang Prabang Heritage: Royal Palace, Mount Phousi, Night Market, and Kuang Si Waterfalls with Buffalo Dairy Farm.
Mekong River & Pak Ou Caves: Cruise to Buddha-filled caves and visit traditional craft villages.
Hanoi City Highlights: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, museums, Old Quarter, and a Water Puppet show.
Halong Bay Overnight Cruise: Limestone karsts, kayaking, swimming, and Tai Chi at sunrise.
Saigon & Cu Chi Tunnels: War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office, and underground tunnel network.
Mekong Delta Discovery: Ben Tre waterways, coconut candy workshops, sampan rides, and Cai Rang floating market.

Detailed Itinerary

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DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN VIENTIANE

On arrival at in the capital, you will be met by our staff and transferred to your hotel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating place, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. After a short rest, we start visiting the major city sights; including Wat Sisaket, the country’s oldest temple, with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo. En route, we visit the famous That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos. You will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Tonight we will enjoy a welcome dinner at one of the fine restaurants.

Overnight in Vientiane
Inclusions: Private airport pick-up/ Tour guide/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 2: VIENTIANE – VANG VIENG

After breakfast, we catch the express train to Vang Vieng, a small and tranquil town nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. After check into your hotel, we explore the famous caves of Tham Jang, which was once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. Next, we take a drive through paddy fields to the Tham Phoukham caves, the country’s beautiful and famous limestone caverns surrounded by forest. Along the way, you will meet local villagers and learn about their daily lifestyle. There is a small natural pool in front of the caves where you can swim and refresh yourself from the heat.

Overnight in Vang Vieng
Inclusions: Private a.c transfer/ Tour guide/ Entrance fee/ Breakfast, Lunch/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 3: VANG VIENG - LUANG PRABANG

After breakfast, we take an express train to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best preserved city in South East Asia’. After a short rest, we visit The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture throughout the ages. Next, we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textile made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang
Inclusions: Private a.c transfer/ Tour guide/ Entrance fee/ Breakfast, Lunch/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG - PAK OU CAVES

Today, we board an upstream cruise on the Mekong River, which gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. We’ll make sure to stop at the Pak Ou Caves, sanctuaries consisting of two large caverns, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images. We will also stop at a few villages during the day, including Ban Muangkeo where the local rice wine is produced and Ban Xiengmene. We also have a chance to climb up to Wat Chomphet. Here you will have one of the best views of Luang Prabang from across the river. Once back in Luang Prabang city we take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xieng Lek - small villages well known for silk weavings and Saa (jute) Papermaking.

Overnight in Luang Prabang
Inclusions: Private a.c transfer/ Tour guide/ Entrance fee/ Breakfast, Lunch/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 5: LUANG PRABANG - KUANG SI WATERFALLS - HANOI

After breakfast, we continue our excursion to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall. En route, stop and short tour visit Buffalo Dairy Farm, The tour will be lasted about 40 minutes - Tour included a guide tour of the mini farm, Buffalo feeding & Washing, Milking Demonstration, & Feeding Chickens and rabbits. Afterwards, we visit some ethnic minority villages and see how these colorful people live. We then continue to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can swim in the turquoise pools or walk along forest paths. After the waterfalls, drive back to Luang Prabang and head for the airport to catch the flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. Get picked up on arrival and transferred to the downtown for hotel check-in.

Overnight in Hanoi
Inclusions: Private a.c transfer/ Tour guide/ Entrance fees/ Breakfast, Lunch/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 6: HANOI CITY TOUR

This day tour to learn about the capital city of Vietnam occupies your whole day with featured sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his house-on-stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university for the morning.
Your lunch today is served at a restaurant in town with local tastes. In the afternoon, the tour continues with a visit to one of the following museums (you can pick the one you like): the Ethnology Museum, Army Museum, National Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi Hilton prison or Vietnam Women Museum.
Followed by a short walk or a cyclo ride in the Old Quarter. End the day tour with a traditional Water Puppet show.

Overnight in Hanoi
Inclusions: Private a.c transfer/ Tour guide/ Entrance fees/ Breakfast, Lunch/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 7: HANOI - HALONG BAY

Halong Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands. Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, the bay is a "must-see" place for any visitor to Vietnam, especially an overnight trip on a traditional wooden junk.
In the morning: Breakfast at the hotel as usual. 09:00 - Take the morning drive to the Halong pier.
In the afternoon: 12:15 - Board your boat and start the cruising itinerary with lunch and dinner aboard. Some interesting activities are available to include kayaking, swimming, sunbathing on the sun deck. Overnight at an en-suite cabin on the boat.

Overnight in Halong Bay
Inclusions: Cruise's shuttle bus/ Cruise's in-house tour guide/ Cruise package/ Breakfast, lunch, dinner/ En-suite cabin on the boat.

DAY 8: HALONG BAY - HO CHI MINH CITY

This morning get up early this morning for some fresh air on the open deck and join the Tai-chi class for some gentle moves if you wish. Otherwise, you are able to remain in your cabin until breakfast time.
After breakfast, the crew will pull up the anchor, start the engine again for more cruising to other parts of the bay. After visiting a big limestone cave, the boat is gently heading back to the pier.
The early lunch (Brunch) will be served aboard.
Around noon, you are ferried in and take the afternoon drive back to the airport to catch a 2-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Get picked up on arrival and stay overnight at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
Inclusions: Cruise's shuttle bus & Private airport transfers/ Cruise's in-house tour guide/ Breakfast, brunch/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 9: TOUR OF SAIGON & CU CHI TUNNELS

After the first night relaxing, today you will be ready for your Vietnam Tour with a full day to visit the featured sites of Saigon and the famous underground tunnel network in Cu Chi.
In the morning, 8:00 a.m. Start with a 1.5hour drive to Cu Chi tunnels. Get an overview of Cu Chi by watching a documentary. Your guide walks you around to witness the traps, bunkers, trenches, and experience crawling a piece of the underground tunnels.
Drive back to the city for a set menu lunch at a restaurant
In the afternoon, Continue on visiting the War Remnants Museum; The former Presidential Palace; The Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Old Post Office. The evening is free.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Inclusions: Private a.c transfer/ Tour guide/ Entrance fees/ Breakfast, Lunch/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG DELTA

Today you'll travel south by private bus (approximately 2.5 hours) to explore the Mekong Delta. When you arrive, you’ll board a boat and explore the intricate waterways of the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as ‘the rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile delta is where rice, tropical fruit, and flowers are grown for the whole country.
Upon arrival in Ben Tre, embark on a motorized boat trip along the scenic Ben Tre River, viewing various local industries along the way. Have some stops to visit local workshops: making bricks by the kilns; Making coconut candy; Sleeping straw mats. Take a motor cart passing fruit and vegetable fields. Ride a short sampan boat on a small creek of water coconut trees. Lunch at a garden restaurant.
In the afternoon, drive to Can Tho City which is considered as the capital of the Delta. Check-in your hotel for staying overnight.

Overnight in Can Tho
Inclusions: Private a.c transfer/ Tour guide/ Entrance fees/ Boat ride/ Mortor cart ride/ Breakfast, Lunch/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 11: MEKONG DELTA - HO CHI MINH CITY

The watery world of the Mekong Delta is home to many bustling floating markets. This day, we take a boat trip and exploring the vibrant floating market of Cai Rang, where the trading way is unique; each boat usually sells one particular item, whether it be pumpkins, pineapples, sugar canes.
After an impressive boat trip, disembark at Ninh Kieu quay then visit an ancient house in Binh Thuy 10 km from Can Tho city.
Lunch at a local restaurant on the way back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
Inclusions: Private a.c transfer/ Tour guide/ Boat ride/ Entrance fees/ Breakfast, Lunch/ Hotel accommodation

DAY 12: DEPARTURE FROM HO CHI MINH CITY

It depends on your departure flight time, you might have an easy morning in Ho Chi Minh City and even a day tour out (optional) if your departure time is late in the day. The private airport transfer from your hotel will be ready at your convenient time so that you can make sure everything is well arranged for the flight home.
End of service and goodbye Vietnam.

Inclusions: Private airport transfers/ Breakfast

Watch detailed itinerary in video

Watch our quick video for a snapshot of your entire journey — all the must-see stops in one view.

FAQS

1. Is this tour customizable?

Absolutely! This itinerary is a suggested travel idea designed to inspire your journey. It serves as a starting point and can be fully customized to match your interests, schedule, and preferences. Whether you'd like to adjust the activities, include additional destinations, or tailor the pace of the trip, we're here to create a personalized experience just for you. Let us know what you're looking for, and we’ll craft an itinerary that perfectly fits your vision.

2. What makes a private tour special?

A private tour means your journey is exclusively yours. You'll have your own professional guide and private vehicle, giving you the freedom to travel at your own pace. You can linger longer at spots you love, make spontaneous stops for photos, and enjoy an experience built entirely around your interests, not a fixed group schedule.

3. Are solo travelers and small groups welcome?

Yes, absolutely! We specialize in creating personalized journeys for solo travelers, couples, families, and small groups of friends. As a solo traveler, your itinerary is tailored completely to you. A single supplement fee may apply for accommodation, but we will always work to find the best options for your needs.

4. What is included in the tour price?

Your personalized proposal will include a detailed list of inclusions. Typically, this covers:

Accommodation with daily breakfast
Private, air-conditioned transportation
A private, licensed tour guide
Entrance fees for all scheduled sights
Meals as specified in the itinerary

Exclusions are generally international flights, visa fees, travel insurance, and personal expenses.

5. What kind of accommodation can I expect?

We offer a wide range of accommodations to suit your style, from charming boutique hotels and eco-lodges to luxury resorts. To ensure maximum flexibility, we don't specify hotels in our sample itineraries. Your travel expert will suggest carefully selected options in your proposal, and we are happy to adjust them based on your preferences.

6. Do I need a visa for my destination?

Visa requirements vary greatly depending on your nationality and destination. While your travel expert will offer guidance during the planning stage, we strongly recommend checking the official embassy or consulate website for the most current information.

7. What is the booking process?

Our booking process is simple and collaborative:

Send a Request: Fill out the form on our website with your travel ideas.
Personalize Your Trip: A travel expert will contact you to craft a detailed proposal, which you can refine until it’s perfect.
Confirm & Book: Once you are 100% happy with the plan, you confirm your trip with a deposit.

8. What are the payment and cancellation policies?

To secure your booking, we require a deposit, which is typically 30% of the total tour cost. The final balance is due 60 days before your departure. Our cancellation policy is structured based on how far in advance the cancellation is made.

For full, detailed information, please see our Booking Terms & Conditions.

9. Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, travel insurance is essential for your trip. At Custom Asia Travel, we do not include insurance in our packages to allow you the freedom to choose an insurance provider that best suits your needs and guarantees your rights. Your trip is a significant experience, and having reliable insurance ensures you are well-supported in case of unexpected events.

Please note that basic insurance policies in the host country may not meet your expectations regarding support or administrative procedures. Therefore, we strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance from your preferred provider.

Important: All customers are required to have valid travel insurance, and we request that you share your insurance details with us before departure.

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Free service! No credit card requested at this stage The note if you are a solo traveler

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