VIETNAM & LaOS ADVENTURE

January 19 - February 3, 2026

Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay, Hoi An, Luang Prabang, NongKhiaw

Escorted Group Tour

Offered again for the first time since the Covid-19 Pandemic, Esprit’s trip to Vietnam and Laos is probes layers of history, culture, arts and cuisine. From the energetic street scene of Hanoi to quiet encounters in Lao villages accessible only by riverboat, our journey combines the cosmopolitan, the exotic, the natural, the artistic, the historic, the spiritual, the tasty, the spirited and the sobering, sometimes all at once.

Our entrée is dynamic Hanoi, nicknamed the “Paris of the East” for its colonial architecture, big-city bustle and one of Asia’s best food scenes. We’ll discover Vietnam’s cultural heritage in temples and museums, delve into history from colonialism through the Vietnam War, and take in a one-of-a-kind performance of water puppetry.

An overnight cruise on secluded Lan Ha Bay sails past languid limestone karsts that seem to have inspired centuries of ink paintings.

Traveling by plane to Vietnam’s central coast, our third stop is the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An, for centuries a prosperous trading port connecting East and West and filled with lovely period architecture representing a melting pot of cultures. A side trip to a farm allows us to experience traditional agricultural methods, alongside other visits encompassing art and history.

Bidding a fond farewell to Vietnam, we connect by plane to tranquil Laos. Our base, Luang Prabang, was the Lao spiritual and administrative capital for centuries, earning it a UNESCO World Heritage designation. Dozens of Buddhist temples populated by saffron-robed monks combine with bustling markets and quiet calm of the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. Visits also include a lesson in savory, multilayered Lao cuisine and explorations of traditional arts from intricate weaving to saa papermaking.

Journeying upriver to the Lao hill country, we’ll take in captivating riverscapes by boat and meet villagers of some of the 78 tribes in the remote corners of this mountainous nation.

Rounding out the experience, knowledgeable local guides provide valuable insider perspectives.

Day 1

Depart Home

Depart USA via individually arranged flights.

Day 2

Arrive Hanoi, Vietnam

Welcome to Vietnam! At Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, a greeter will assist with immigration, customs and private car transfer into town. Energetic Hanoi has been nicknamed “Paris of the East” for its colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes. Our hotel, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel, is one of the grande dames of Asia with a fascinating history including generations of celebrities and dignitaries, which you can learn about on the hotel’s Path of History Tour.

Accommodations: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel
Meals included: Dinner

Day 3

Hanoi

Our immersion into busy Hanoi begins at the Temple of Literature, where academic artifacts and holy sites fill gracious courtyards. Our next stop, Hoa Lo Prison, began as a French prison for political prisoners and later housed American POWs including John McCain. For today’s progressive lunch in the Old Quarter we will sample iconic dishes like cooked and fresh spring rolls, bun cha (soup with BBQ pork patties), banh mi and egg coffee. The remainder of the day is free for individual exploration or relaxing in the hotel’s pool or spa.

Accommodations: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 4

Hanoi

A visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is our window into modern Vietnamese history. We will witness the changing of the guard and take in lush gardens and the nearby One-Pillar Pagoda. The Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology houses an extensive collection of traditional costumes and artifacts from Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups. In the late afternoon, we will attend a performance of the unique northern Vietnamese art of water puppetry before dinner in one of the Old Quarter most energetic enclaves, Ta Hien “Beer Street,” where dozens of casual restaurants spill out on to the pavement and fill with locals out for a night of food and drink.

Accommodations: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5

Lan Ha Bay

A 2-hour drive takes us to the port for Lan Ha Bay, a secluded section of Halong Bay recently opened to visitors and known for its surreal seascapes including a karst maze. Facilities on the small ship for our overnight cruise include a outdoor jacuzzi and spa for massage if desired. You may wish to disembark to take in the bay’s natural beauty by kayak or from the sandy shores of the Three Peaches Islets, followed by a cooking demonstration. After dinner, you may wish to join the crew to experience squid fishing.

Accommodations: Orchid Cruise or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6

Hoi An

Early risers may join the crew for a tai chi session before cruising to a Cat Ba Island , in the middle of Cat Ba National Park, to take in the mysterious geological formations in a cave or the Kim Giao forest. Returning the port with brunch en route, we will drive back to Noi Bai Airport for the flight to Danang, on Vietnam’s central coast and gateway to the Unesco World Heritage town of Hoi An. From the 15th to 19th centuries, Hoi A was a prosperous trading port connecting East and West, history still visible in its colorful architecture and narrow lanes. An evening stroll and dinner provide an introduction to the city.

Accommodations: Hotel Royal Hoi An

Meals included: Breakfast, brunch, dinner

Day 7

Hoi An

Just outside of town, we take a leisurely buffalo cart ride past rice paddies and vegetable farms, to join a local family and learn about traditional farming methods and don work clothes and try our own hand, followed by lunch with the farming family. This afternoon we return to Hoi An for a walking tour of the historic city including merchant houses, bridges and community halls – and shops for custom-made clothing.

Accommodations: Hotel Royal Hoi An

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 8

Hoi An

This morning is reserved for meeting with an artisan of one of Hoi An’s signature crafts, with a free afternoon for individual exploration in the town’s narrow lanes and riverscapes. Before our farewell dinner in Vietnam, we’ll board small boats on the Hoai River and launch floating lanterns as a prayer for good fortune.

Accommodations: Hotel Royal Hoi An

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9

Luang Prabang

An early departure from our hotel takes us to Danang Airport for our flight to Luang Prabang, with a change of planes in Hanoi. We arrive in this world this World Heritage city, the cultural capital of Laos, in the afternoon. Our hotel is the former palace and last residence of the Lao royal family, near the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. Tonight’s dinner will be French cuisine, recalling the colonial era.

Accommodations: Victoria Xiengthong Palace

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10

Luang Prabang

Our exploration of Luang Prabang’s easily walkable town center begins at the colorful morning market, blocks of vendors sell teas, crispy Mekong riverweed, tiny red and green chilies, coconuts, green papaya and heady, fresh herbs. Then we visit two of the most notable among the city’s 36 Buddhist temples, both from the 16th century. Lunch is followed by free time for relaxing or browsing the city center. Today’s dinner is a cooking lesson of traditional Lao cuisine.

Accommodations: Victoria Xiengthong Palace

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11

Luang Prabang

Today we immerse ourselves in the culture of the 78 tribes that populate this small, mountainous country. Our introduction is the compact Ethnology Museum, followed by the “artisan social enterprise” Ock Pop Tok, which promotes traditional textiles made by artisans from all over Laos. Lunch will be served here. After lunch is a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, built in 1904 and combining traditional Lao motifs and French Beaux-Arts style.

Accommodations: Victoria Xiengthong Palace

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12

NongKhiaw

From Luang Prabang, it is a drive of about 150 km (93 miles) north to the countryside, along the beautiful Ou River, framed by dramatic mountains. Along the way we will visit villages of the Dai Dam and Dai Lue peoples, known for their silk production and indigo weaving and enjoy lunch with our tour leader’s family in their traditional home. In the late afternoon, we arrive in the village of NongKhiaw, known for river and mountain views, caves and tribal villages in the surrounding countryside. Dinner will be served at our riverside inn.

Accommodations: NongKhiaw Riverside Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13

NongKhiaw

Today we travel by boat along the Ou River to amid its scenic countryside landscape of high mountainsides. Visits to a couple villages will allow us to see local crafts and observe local daily life and religious traditions. We return to NongKhiaw in the mid-afternoon for free time for the rest of the day, with an optional visit to caves on the edge of town that served as a hideout for leftist forces during wartime. Tonight’s dinner is on your own at one of the casual restaurants in town or at the hotel.

Acccommodations: Nongkhiaw Riverside Resort

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14

Luang Prabang

Reboarding our riverboat, we set off downstream toward Luang Prabang, making a brief stop at the tribal village known for basketry, followed by a transfer by van to lunch served at an elephant camp. Our last stop, the Pak Ou Caves, situated in limestone cliffs at the confluence of the Ou and Mekong Rivers, are home to thousands of statues of Buddha which have been placed there over centuries. Continuing down the Mekong, we arrive in Luang Prabang and check back into our hotel for a late afternoon and evening at leisure.

Accommodations: Victoria Xiengthong Palace

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15

Luang Prabang

We begin our last full day in Laos at Unexploded Ordnance Museum, where simple galleries tell the harrowing stories of the casualties caused by the millions of Vietnam War-era cluster bombs dropped on Laos. A short ride out of town takes us to a village known for saa (jute) paper production. After lunch on your own and a free afternoon for last minute sightseeing and shopping, we reconvene for a farewell banquet dinner in a private home.

Accommodations: Victoria Xiengthong Palace

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 16

Depart for home

Free time on your own until airport transfers for individually arranged flights from Luang Prabang International Airport

Meals included: Breakfast

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