Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Saigon & Long Hai

About the destination: Luang Prabang, literally: "Royal Buddha Image" is the capital city of Luang Prabang Province in north central Laos. The city is located at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers north of Vientiane. The main part of the city consists of four main roads on a peninsula between the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers. The city is well known for its numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries. One of the major landmarks in the city is a large steep hill on which sits Wat Chom Si. Luang Prabang has both natural and historical sites. Among the natural tourism sites are the Kuang Si Falls, Tat Sae Waterfalls, and Pak Ou Caves. Phou Si, in the center of the town, has broad views of the town and river systems, and is a popular place to watch the sun setting over the Mekong River. The Haw Kham Royal Palace Museum and the Wat Xieng Thong temple are among the best known historical sites. Mountain biking is quite common, with people often biking around the town or to the waterfalls for the day.

About the destination: The capital city of Laos is located on the banks of the Mekong River. Vientiane,with a population of 600,000 people, is not a typical Southeast Asian capital. This relaxed capital has a small town atmosphere and still retains much of the old way of life. Vientiane is easy to navigate and explore, and most of the sights are located in the city center. The city is full of beautiful Buddhist temples, That Luang Stupa, Wat Sisaket and Haw Pha Kaew are the most famous temples, but during a stroll through the city, you will encounter several beautiful temples, buildings and markets. Don’t miss the sunset over the Mekong River. Along the river there are many small bars and restaurants, and this is a great place to watch the sunset and enjoy a cold drink. Relaxed and evocative, Vientiane is the most peacefully satisfying of Southeast Asian destinations.

About the destination: Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. It is a modern, lively and bustling city. It is economically active, filled with lively markets and it is unequivocally the nation’s commercial center. Though the country’s most modern city by far, it retains a unique Vietnamese flavor and you can still see evidences of an illustrious Colonial past of this former pearl of the orient. In the core area, which locals still affectionately refer to as Saigon, you’ll find some of the city’s main attractions such as the Opera house, railway station, Notre Dame cathedral, Reunification Palace, the Saigon river and the Markets. To take a break from the city, you can take a tour to the Mekong Delta or to Da Lat, if you have more time. Da Lat, located in the highlands approximately 300km from the city is worth the trip as there is plenty to see and do including waterfalls, gardens, the old French Quarter and the local restaurants which served magnificent local food. The commercial and financial hub of Vietnam is an exciting and interesting sprawling metropolis that does its best to preserve the way of life and culture of this magnificent county.

About the destination: Only 40 km from Vung Tau, Long Hai is easily accessible by taking the hydrofoil to Vung Tau and a relaxing taxi ride on. Located in and around a small mountain range that overlooks the ocean, Long Hai enjoys the slow lifestyle of a small Vietnamese fishing village, except on weekends when the urban population flocks to its sands. The eastern end, with its white sandy beaches, is picturesque, while the western end of Long Hai beach is where the fishing boats moor. You will find more activity, but also more pollution. For an even more beautiful coast, continue east. On weekdays, there are so few visitors that you can feel like you have your own private beach. This is the perfect place to take deep breaths of the city, an oasis of calm in a country of activity. The area around Long Hai benefits from a microclimate that brings less rain than other parts of the south. This may be the reason why the last emperor of Vietnam chose to build a holiday residence in Long