Vietnam, Laos Luxury Tour Review: Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Hoi An, Saigon, 16-Night Travel

We had a very interesting 18-day trip to Laos and Vietnam in February. We worked closely with our Zicasso tour operator to plan a customized trip that included a number of stops and different experiences.

We started in Laos, with the monasteries, waterfall/hiking, cooking classes in Luang Prabang, and outdoor activities in beautiful Vang Vieng (hiking, caving, and kayaking).

We spent the next 13 days in Vietnam – chaotic Hanoi; beautiful Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, with the fantastic limestone karsts; historic Hue, the Imperial City; picturesque Hoi An, with the serene and spectacular resort; ending up in Saigon for a day.

We had three knowledgeable guides with different personalities and backgrounds – Laos, northern Vietnam, and central Vietnam. We had interesting and detailed discussions which enhanced our understanding of the history of the region, as well as the US impact on Laos and Vietnam. Although we liked our guides, we realized they were independent contractors and did not really have any input in our day-to-day itinerary (which did have changes from the original). Although most of the changes were fine, we would have liked better communication – letting us know about the changes and options. As a result, we spent more time managing each day's itinerary with our guides to ensure we liked the next day's itinerary.

In summary, we truly liked and enjoyed our well-planned trip.