Northern Vietnam and Laos tour 10 days

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide

Day 1: Vientiane arrival (G)

Upon arrival Vientiane, capital of Lao, you’ll be picked up and transferred to your hotel in the centre. You’ll then start your visit to the major sights of the capital; including Wat Sisaket- the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues. This ancient place of worship is definitely worth a visit as it is not only an interesting site to look around, but also a valuable piece of Lao’s cultural heritage. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you’ll stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Your next visit will be the National Museum (Revolutionary Museum) where varied antique items and legend of Laos’s history fighters and leaders displace from the ancient times to new revolution period. Your overnight stay will be in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane/Luang Prabang (B, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll have a visit to the Central Market call ‘Morning Market’ where you can find the antique items for collection, well handmade textile and gift away items. Later on, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your short flight to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best – preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. UNESCO registered 1995 as World Cultural Heritage City. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Asia. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to hotel.

After that, you’ll be transferred to visit Wat Mai, Wat Sene in the town. You’ll then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as viewing a beautiful panoramic sunset over this once royal ancient city and the Mekong River. You are then strolling around to see the Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Your overnight stay will be in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou Cave (B, G)

Breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be taken to a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. And then you will have a visit to the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, one of the most important temples in the country of Laos locating in a beautiful garden on the bank of the Mekong River where the Nam Khan, a smaller river runs into. You’ll then have a boat cruise upstream on the Mekong River to visit Pak Ou Caves. It’s very interesting for you to enjoy a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, you’ll stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. And take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving with natural dyes. You’ll return to the city by late evening for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Your overnight stay will be in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Luang Prabang/Hanoi (B, D, G) 

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll then be free until you’ll be picked up to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, our guide will greet and accompany you to your hotel. Free time until you’ll be picked up to watch water puppet performance, a traditional art form closely connected with the long-standing spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. You?ll then be driven to a good local restaurant and enjoy a welcome dinner with us. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi city tour (B, L, G)

The morning tour will begin with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the resting place of Uncle Ho. You will also see his house-on-stilts and learn about the simple life of the Vietnamese?s beloved leader. Your next visit will be Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas, which still maintains its unique architecture harmonious with nature and boasts many precious Buddhist statues. You will then driven to Temple of Literature, the oldest school in Vietnam, giving it the distinction of being the most significant temple in both Hanoi and Vietnam.

In the afternoon, you will call at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, an excellent instruction to the cultural heritages of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups. Later on, you will visit the beautiful Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake – a striking blue gem in the city centre. The tour ends with 1 hour walking tour around the Old Quarters to enjoy its warmth and cosiness, looking up to contemplate centuries-old and weather-beaten houses, both familiar and exotic, etc. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

Picked up at around 8.30 a.m, you’ll then depart for Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a 3 hour drive with a brief stopover at Hong Ngoc Embroidery workshop for refreshment and see different kinds of handicrafts skillfully made by disable people.

Arriving Ha Long Bay, you will go aboard and check in. Lunch will be served afterwards with a selection of seafood specialities. The boat will take you first to the famous World Heritage area where you can visit Amazing Cave and take a swim on a tranquil beach in Ha Long Bay. Then you are free, possibly for retiring to your cabin or having romantic walks on the boat side to enjoy the marvellous sunset. You’ll spend a night on boat.

Day 7: Ha Long/Hanoi/Lao Cai (B, L, G)

It would be nice if you wake up to see sunrise and daylight filtering through the early morning mist and the towering rock formations. After western breakfast, you will venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan. You’ll then continue a leisurely cruise along Ha Long Bay and have lunch before returning to the habour. Our car will pick you up and drive you back to a local standard hotel in Hanoi for your refreshment. You’ll check out around 18.00 for your dinner  by yourself and then be taken to the Railway Station for your overnight train to Lao Cai.

You’ll spend the night on the train.

Day 8: Lao Cai/Sapa (B, L, G)

On arrival at Lao Cai Station, your tour guide will meet and take you to local restaurant to have breakfast. You’ll then be driven to start the tour with a visit to market frequented by ethnic minority peoples. The market with all it’s colorful ethnic people who gathers to buy and sell.  Come here, you would witness the culture and the customs of the minority’s people. You’ll have time for shopping in the market. Your picnic lunch will be served at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Sapa, seeing a home to a great diversity of ethnic minority people. Its breathtaking mountain scenery is some of the best in Asia with high green mountains cuddled in clouds, scattered rice terraces and rich agricultural areas where the native inhabitants live and harvest their crops…. The villages are traditional and are typically tucked away at the bottom of the hill slopes. Most of the villagers wear traditional colorful costumes. Rest of the day, your time will be your own to explore Sapa town .You’ll spend the night in Sapa.

Day 9: Sapa/Lao Cai (B, L, G)

Breakfast at your hotel, you’ll start the tour by hiking down a scenic valley calling in at the H?mong ethnic minority villages on the way. You’ll then be driven by Jeep to visit Lao Chai village – the village of Black H’mong people. In this village, you will have a welcome feeling at any house of the hospitable people. You could have time to talk with them and know more about their lives. You’ll then have picnic lunch.

In the afternoon, you’ll drive to visit Ta Van village – the village of Day people and then visit Giang Ta Chai village – a village of Red Dzao people. Later on, you’ll return to Sapa to refresh at a local standard hotel before being driven to Lao Cai station for your overnight sleeper train at 21.15 back to Hanoi. Your accommodation will be on the train.

Day 10: Hanoi departure (B, G)

Arriving in Hanoi early in the morning, you’ll be picked up to the local hotel for refreshment. You’ll then be free to shop at some of the local market before being driven to the airport for your international departure flight.

Prices include:

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.
• Domestic flight ticket in Laos: Vientiane – Luang Prabang including airport tax
• Return train ticket: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi, air-condition soft four berth cabin.
• Boats cruise as programme.
• Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced, safe driver.
• English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary
• Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
• Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the best local restaurants and full board on the boat in Ha Long Bay.
• Government taxes

Price do not include:

• International flight tickets and airport tax.
• Visas.
• Dinners except as specified above.
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
• Insurance.

Hotel list for Five Stars standard:

• Vientiane: Green Park Boutique Hotel (***** with a walking distance to major tourist sites and amenities, Deluxe room) or similar
• Luang Prabang: Luang Prabang View Hotel (***** located within a 20-minute drive from the airport, Standard room) or similar
• Hanoi: Sheraton Hotel (***** close to the bustle and excitement of the city, less than 10 minutes from downtown Hanoi, Deluxe room) or similar
• Ha Long: Golden Cruises (***** one of luxury cruises in in Ha Long Bay, Luxury cabin) or similar
• Sapa: Victoria Sapa Hotel (**** the best hotel in Sapa, indoor swimming pool/fitness centre in separate building, Superior room)

Hotel list for Four Stars standard:

• Vientiane: Vientiane Plaza Hotel (**** located at a strategic place in the center of Vientiane capital, Superior room) or similar
• Luang Prabang: Grand Luang Prabang Hotel (**** situated on grounds of the Xiengkeo Palace, Deluxe room) or similar
• Hanoi: Sunway Hotel (**** comfortable hotel about a fifteen-minute walk from the city centre, Superior room) or similar
• Ha Long: Ha Long Sails (**** very good quality wooden boats) or similar
• Sapa: Chau Long Hotel (**** overlooking the beautiful valley) or similar

Hotel list for Three Stars standard

• Vientiane: Sengtawan Riverside Hotel (*** located in a unique location, Standard room) or similar
• Luang Prabang: Sala Prabang Hotel (*** good location, Classic room) or similar
• Hanoi: La Belle Vie Hotel (*** located in the city centre, ROH room) or similar
• Ha Long: Ha Long Sails (**** very good quality wooden boats) or similar
• Sapa: Royal View hotel (*** in the centre of town, Superior room) or similar