- Vietnam Private Tours
- Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - Private Tour
Journey into three unique landscapes to explore a kaleidoscope of cultural treasures within Southeast Asia's peninsula. Voyage into Vietnam's principal cities to experience distinctive urban gems steeped in a rich historical tapestry. Travel west to the enchanting Laos for a cruise along the magnificent Mekong River and discover Cambodia's ancient realm of the gods, at the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat.
Dinner
Upon arrival in Saigon, you'll be transferred to your hotel. Take the morning to freshen up and relax after your journey.
In the afternoon, meet your tour guide for a visit to the War Remnants Museum, a powerful and moving museum offering deep insights into the Vietnam War and its impact. This visit sets the tone for understanding the country’s complex history.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning explore the extraordinary Cu Chi Tunnels, a hand-dug underground network used by Viet Cong soldiers during the 'American War'. Gain insight into the resilience and ingenuity of the Vietnamese fighters as you navigate sections of this historic labyrinth. The afternoon city tour of Saigon includes a visit to the charming neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace and the Saigon Post office.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, catch a flight north to the cosmopolitan coastal city of Danang. This afternoon, visit the dramatic Marble Mountains, five outcrops shrouded by jungle and decorated with towering Buddhist pagodas. Discover grottos that enshrine religious icons as you ascend the tallest mountain - Thuy Son - to marvel at spectacular views of the idyllic Non Nuoc Beach. Late afternoon, journey to the neighbouring Hoi An, one of Vietnam's most atmospheric and delightful towns.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today, embark on a walking tour through the UNESCO listed ancient town. Stroll down narrow streets of this essential Vietnamese highlight, radiating a charming character brimming with intriguing sights to discover. Stroll across the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge to admire its magnificent wooden pagoda roof, explore the Sa Huynh Museum to inspect terracotta pieces sculpted by Hoi An's first settlers and visit the Lantern Workshop to learn how the flickering beacons which illuminate the town are crafted.
Breakfast
Today is at leisure to explore the local area or relax at the hotel. You can also take advantage of the optional excursion today; Visit the Thanh Ha Pottery Village, a “living museum” where the villagers have been making pottery for over 400 years and the Kim Bong Carpentry Village famous for it’s longstanding history in expert carpentry, since the 15th century. You will be transferred to these two villages by local boat, spending time on the waterways and in the local villages.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Leave Hoi An this morning for a scenic coastline drive to the northern capital of Hue, a cultural and spiritual highlight of Vietnam. Tour the imposing UNESCO Imperial Citadel complex, an impressive 19th century royal residence whose grandeur and beauty mask the scars of war. Later that afternoon meander through the bustling Dong Ba Market, alive with the rich scent of freshly prepared seafood and a flurry of colourful handicrafts including traditional pointed conical hats. This evening sample Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning, embark on a traditional dragon longboat for a tranquil cruise along Hue's Perfume River. Stop at Ha Khe Hill, home to the striking tower of Thien Mu Pagoda and once a focal point for anti-government protests during the 1960s. Continue to the Tu Doc Tomb and the Khai Dinh Tomb. Later in the afternoon, fly north to Vietnam's elegant capital - Hanoi.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Awake in the enchanting metropolis of Hanoi, a city accentuated by traditional Vietnamese architecture coupled with a graceful transition into modernisation. Your full day tour starts with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology which displays diverse artistic pieces from the country's northern hill tribes. Visit the Ho Chi Minh complex which people make a pilgrimage there to show their respect for the Ho Chi Minh who led Vietnam to independence plus take a look at the Temple of Literature which honors Vietnams finest scholars. Visit the intricate Ngoc Son Temple that resides on Hoan Kiem Lake, alleged home of an infamous 200kg turtle named Cu Rua. Later in the day experience a charming water puppet show; originally developed by rice farmers, wooden puppets are manipulated to the tune of traditional Vietnamese instruments.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, travel through the Red River Delta's expansive rural landscape to the awe-inspiring UNESCO Site of Halong Bay, undoubtedly one of your tour highlights. Over two thousand limestone karsts protrude through the azure waters of the Gulf of Tonkin; Glide across the emerald waters of Halong Bay and experience a vision of extraordinary beauty, snaking past a landscape of scattered islands, limestone karsts and enchanting grottoes. Anchoring at the mouth of a secluded cove, disembark for the unique opportunity to swim in the azure waters, before spending a relaxing night in the midst of Halong Bay. Depending on the weather and which beaches can be accessed, there is an opportunity to climb up the side of Titov Mountain and witness an impressive view over Halong Bay. *There are roughly 450 steps to reach the top. This is optional and not a guaranteed activity, but if you wish to do it, please pack suitable shoes just in case.
Brunch & Dinner
Enjoy the rising sun's incandescent shimmer over Halong Bay as you unwind during your morning Tai Chi session. Following a light breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave - one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. The cave has some unique rock formations which couldn't be found anywhere else. After, return to your ship, and enjoy an early lunch buffet whilst sailing back to the harbour. Disembark the boat for a scenic drive past far-reaching rice paddies to Hanoi where you will spend the evening at leisure.
Breakfast & Dinner
Relax this morning before leaving late afternoon for your short flight west of Vietnam to the UNESCO city of Luang Prabang, the jewel of Indochina. Mirroring the character of Laos, French colonial architecture juxtaposes ornate Buddhist temples overlooked by rolling hills layered with pristine forests, home to the remarkable Indochinese Tiger. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The full day tour begins with a cruise along one of the world's great rivers: the Mekong carves its way through six countries, passing imposing temples, luscious jungles and forming spectacular waterfalls, particularly in Laos. Further upstream, disembark to explore the Pak Ou Caves and their haunting collection of rejected Buddha statues. Continue to Ban Xang Hai - the 'whiskey village' - to sample the robust flavours of Laos famous rice whiskey. Return to dry land and ascend Phou Si Hill to marvel at the sun setting behind Luang Prabang city, transforming the Mekong's hue to a brilliant orange.
Breakfast & Dinner
Following breakfast, fly to one of South East Asia's most beloved towns, Siem Reap. The town has a contemporary outlook with a rich supply of boutique guesthouses, luxurious spas and an array of eateries, whilst retaining a small-town charm through its shaded boulevards, vivid markets and remarkable temples. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant with an evening at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Leave the town of Siem Reap and visit the remarkable 1st century Banteay Srei temple which, boasts some of the world's finest sandstone carvings depicting Hindu tales. This afternoon experience the tranquil floating village of Tonle Sap lake, a fascinating network of stilted houses overlooking fragile fishing boats, followed by the nearby old market for your final taste of this enchanting land.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today, tour the ruins of the Angkor region, South-East Asia's most important archaeological location and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover an assortment of ancient treasures including the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, a temple complex constructed to represent the earthly abode of Hindu Gods, which is reflected in both its enormity and grandeur.
Breakfast
Depart Siem Reap for your return flight back to the UK or continue on to your chosen extension.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
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The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the regional flights within and between South-East Asian countries are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Vietnam visa requirements
A visa is not required for stays up to 45 days for British Passport holders travelling to Vietnam. All customers are required to fill out a digital arrival card when arriving at Saigon airport. The card must be filled out before arrival on the Vietnamese Government’s website https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn/. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. Passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of entry and a minimum of 2 blank pages. However, we strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
Cambodia visa requirements
You must have a visa to enter Cambodia as a visitor. Tourist visas are valid for 30 days from the date of entry into Cambodia. Make sure your passport is stamped on arrival and keep the departure form. If you lose your departure form, you’ll need to contact immigration officials before you leave the country to make alternative arrangements. You must apply for your visa at least 4 days in advance using the link https://www.evisa.gov.kh/ . The cost of this is approximately USD $37 per person. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. Passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of entry. However, we strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
All travellers are required to complete and submit an e‑Arrival application within 7 days prior to their arrival using the official website, https://arrival.gov.kh. Once the online form is successfully submitted, travellers will receive a unique QR code that must be presented to immigration officers upon arrival.
Laos visa requirements
A visa is required for entry into Laos and this can be purchased on arrival at the airport in Luang Prabang. The cost of this is approximately USD $40 per person and you will need to bring the money in cash in order to apply for your visa on arrival into Laos. Alternatively you can apply for your visa online at https://laoevisa.gov.la/index . If you are applying online you need to apply at least 3 days in advance.
Additionally, you will need to complete the Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) online. The form can be accessed via the following link: https://www.immigration.gov.la/en/registration/arrival/arrival-info. You should submit your LDIF 3 days before arriving in Laos.
Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. Passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of entry and a minimum of 2 blank pages. However, we strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace of Vietnam Laos and Cambodia is rated as Challenging. This is largely due to the amount of travelling on this tour. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, getting on and off coaches, boats and climbing steps which may be irregular. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong, known as VND. You can exchange your currency in Vietnam, however, US Dollars are widely accepted in Vietnam should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in local currency. Money can be exchanged at the airport or branches of government banks. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels and some shops and restaurants.
The currency in Cambodia is the Cambodian Riel (KHM). However, US Dollars are widely accepted in Cambodia should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in local currency.
The currency in Laos is the Lao kip (LAK). No coins are currently in use in Laos as they use notes only. US Dollars are widely accepted in Laos should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in local currency.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any dinners where these are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, extra drinks, and snacks. Approximately £200-£300 per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour.
Tipping is not compulsory and is at your discretion. However, should you wish to tip, we recommend you tip your guide approx. $4 per person per day and your driver approx. $2 per person per day. Please note tips on the Cruise ships are not included either and would recommend $2 per person per day. Tipping for the porters at your hotels and the crew during the Halong Bay Cruise will be at your discretion. Tips are accepted in the local currency, US dollars and British pounds.
This is a fully escorted tour meaning that you will be met by a local guide in each of the cities that you visit, ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included
Boats
During this tour you will be spending the night on a Halong Cruise Ship. Comfortable cabins come with en suite facilities and air conditioning. Enjoy traditional Vietnamese food, cooked authentically each night.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Vietnam. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs. Due to your flights landing early in the morning on arrival day we have arranged an early check in for you so you can freshen up before your tour commences.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being, two bottles of drinking water will be provided on touring days.
If you are travelling within the below Vietnamese and Cambodian Public Holidays, please note that celebrations can last several days and during these times some businesses will be closed. Coach, air, and train travel may also be affected. Tourist attractions will generally remain open but may be crowded. In Vietnam, key holidays include Tet Holiday (between January and February), International Labour Day (1st May), Reunification Day (30th April), and National Independence Day (2nd September). In Cambodia, major public holidays include Khmer New Year (typically in April), Pchum Ben (usually in September or October), and the Water Festival (held in November). During these times, the atmosphere can be lively with various cultural celebrations taking place across both countries.
During visits to Churches/Temples please note both men and women need to wear long trousers or skirts to cover knees, and tops with sleeves to cover shoulders.
On your arrival in Saigon you will be met by a representative from our local agent, LV Travel, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/LV Travel representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
Please find below the emergency contact details for LV Travel head office, Hanoi.
Contact Telephone number: Anna Hanh Office: 0084 865 016 939, Mr Len Office: 0084 989 200 116, Emergency cases: 0084 888713289
24 hour e-mail: operation@lvtravel.vn or len@lvtravel.vn
