Honeymoons & celebration journeys
Tours · Laos & Vietnam
Laos & Vietnam: slow romance in 11 days
Four nights in Luang Prabang, a night in Hanoi, a night on the water in Lan Ha Bay, then four nights on a beach that changes with the month: Phu Quoc from November to March, the central coast in April. The slowest of our routes, and the one with the fewest sights per day.
At a glance
- Duration
- 11 days, 10 nights
- Party
- 2, or up to 6 friends
- Starts
- Luang Prabang
- Ends
- Phu Quoc or Da Nang
- Pace
- The slowest we plan
- Price
- On request
Who this route is for
Couples who would rather have four nights in one small town than four towns in four nights. Luang Prabang sits on a peninsula where the Nam Khan meets the Mekong, a UNESCO town of monasteries, wooden houses and colonial brick buildings under Mount Phousi. It rewards staying put: the mornings are the point, and you only get a few of them in a short stay.
Then a change of scale — Hanoi for one night, a night on a boat among the limestone islands — and four nights on a beach. Which beach depends on the month. From November to March we end on Phu Quoc, in its dry season. In April Phu Quoc's rains are starting (average around 150 mm), and the central coast near Hoi An is settled, so we end there instead. Both choices come from the beach calendar.
Luang Prabang's own season fits the same window: the cool dry months from November to February are its most comfortable, with winter nights down to around 15°C. Bring a jumper for the mornings on the river.
Day by day
Day 1
Arrive in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang's airport is about 4 km from the centre; you are at your hotel soon after landing. We book a hotel in or near the old town, within walking distance of the river.
Evening: a walk along the Mekong side as the light goes, and dinner nearby.
Day 2
The town on foot
Sunset from Mount Phousi
At first light, the monks' morning alms round passes through the old town. Your guide shows you where to stand and how to watch without getting in the way — at a distance, quietly, without flash.
After breakfast, a slow walk through the temples and lanes, and the climb up Mount Phousi late in the day for the view over both rivers at sunset.
Day 3
A private boat on the Mekong
A day on the river with your own boat
A long-tail boat for the two of you, upriver to the Pak Ou caves with their Buddha images, with a stop at a riverside village on the way back.
The afternoon is free. Evening dinner in the old town.
Day 4
Kuang Si, and the celebration dinner
The celebration dinner
Morning to the Kuang Si waterfall and its turquoise pools, early to beat the day trips. Back by lunch.
In the evening, a private dinner — on the hotel terrace above the river, or in its garden, according to the hotel. Agreed in writing beforehand.
Day 5
Fly to Hanoi
A scheduled flight from Luang Prabang to Hanoi; the route has direct services on days that vary by season, and we confirm the schedule when we quote. Your driver meets you at Noi Bai. Evening in the old quarter, with a walk round Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 6
To the boat in Lan Ha Bay
About 2.5 to 3 hours by road to the port, then aboard a boat that sails into Lan Ha Bay, part of the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago UNESCO site of more than 1,100 islands. Kayaking in the afternoon if the water is not too cold — from December to March the bay is cool and misty, which is more atmosphere than swimming.
Day 7
Off the boat, fly to the beach
Back to the pier late morning, straight to Noi Bai airport and a flight south: to Phu Quoc from November to March, to Da Nang in April. It is a long travel day, and the evening is for nothing but dinner.
Day 8
Beach
Nothing planned.
Day 9
A private boat, or Hoi An
On Phu Quoc, a private boat to the southern islands. On the central coast, an evening in Hoi An with a private sampan on the river instead.
Day 10
Beach
Free. The spare day if weather moved the boat.
Day 11
Depart
Driver to Phu Quoc or Da Nang airport for your flight home.
Price
| Party | Boutique hotels and a beach resort room | Suites and a private pool villa |
|---|---|---|
| Private, 2 travellers | On request | On request |
| Private, 4 travellers | On request | On request |
| Private, 6 friends | On request | On request |
Two flights and one boat are the fixed costs that move most from month to month; the hotel in Luang Prabang and the beach resort are the choices you control. See the pricing page for how we break a quote down.
What the price includes
- 10 nights in the hotels and the boat you approve by name
- Private car and driver in Laos and Vietnam
- Private guide in Luang Prabang and Hanoi
- Private long-tail boat on the Mekong
- Overnight boat in Lan Ha Bay with meals on board
- Flights Luang Prabang – Hanoi and Hanoi – Phu Quoc or Da Nang, economy
- One celebration dinner, confirmed in writing
- Meals as listed day by day
What it does not include
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Laos and Vietnam visa fees
- Drinks and meals not listed
- Tips for guides, drivers and crew
- Spa and optional extras
Pictures from the route
Who this route is not for
- Couples travelling between May and October. Laos is in its rainy season, Halong Bay can lose sailings to storms, and Phu Quoc is wet.
- Travellers who want swimming weather on the bay. From December to March Lan Ha Bay is cool and often misty; the boat night is for the scenery.
- Anyone who wants a busy itinerary. Luang Prabang has four nights and not much in them, deliberately.
- Groups above six. Small long-tail boats and Luang Prabang's smaller hotels set the limit.
- Couples who mind a long travel day. Day 7 is boat, road and a flight.
Variations
Drop the boat and Hanoi for a longer beach: Luang Prabang four nights, then fly via Hanoi straight to the coast for six. Or keep it all and add two nights: one more in Hanoi, one more at the beach, for 13 days. The how to book page explains how we re-quote.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Is it respectful to watch the morning alms round?
Yes, from a distance and in silence. Your guide shows you where to stand. We do not arrange for visitors to give alms unless you specifically ask and the guide judges it appropriate.
How cold is Luang Prabang in December?
Nights are around 15°C and can drop to 10°C. Days are warm. A light jumper or jacket for the early mornings is enough.
Why does the beach change by month?
Because Phu Quoc begins its rainy season in April, when the central coast is settled. From November to March it is the reverse: the central coast is in its rainy months and Phu Quoc is dry. We end where the weather is on your side.
Can we do this route in reverse?
We do not recommend it. Ending in Luang Prabang means ending without a beach, and the flight connections from the beach back to Laos are less convenient.
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Tours · Pricing
Pricing
How a quote is built, what moves the total, and how to compare two quotes line by line.
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Tours · How to book
How to book
The booking sequence from the first form to the trip documents, and what we need at each step.
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Start planning
Tell us the occasion, the month and who is coming
A month, the number of travellers and the occasion are enough to start. You get a draft route and an itemised quote, not a brochure.