Discover North Vietnam & Laos 13D12N

Duration: 13 Days

Highlights: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Mai Chau - Dien Bien Phu - Muang Khua, Luang Prabang - Xieng Khoang (Phonsavan)

Designs this fascinating tour highlights two of Indochinese most exceptional countries. Discover Vietnam’s incredible diversity: Walk through the ancient city of Hanoi, enjoy a boat cruise on the picturesque Halong Bay, experience a homestay with the Thai tribe people in Mai Chau, visit the old French battle field in Dien Bien Phu, and marvel at the peaceful countryside of the Red river and Northwest hill tribes.

Type of tour: Group tour (Private tour upon request)
Standard:3star
Duration: 13 days/ 12 nights
Departure: Daily, upon your request
Start City: Hanoi
Finish City: Vientiane
- Visit: Hanoi, Halong Bay - Mai Chau - Dien Bien Phu - Muang Khua, Luang Prabang - Xieng Khoang (Phonsavan)
- Extendable with optional tours from Hanoi and from Xieng Khoang.
Special Offer: Offer FREE Water Puppet show ( in Hanoi) ( from Dec 1st to Feb 29th 2020)

Brief itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Day 2: Hanoi - Halong Bay cruise (B/L/D)
Day 3: Halong Bay - Hanoi (Brunch)
Day 4: Hanoi - Mai Chau - trekking (B/L/D)
Day 5: Mai Chau - Dien Bien (B/L)
Day 6: Dien Bien Phu - a visit to the historical relics - Cross border to Muang Khua (B)
Day 7: Muang Khua - Luang Prabang (B)
Day 8: Luang Prabang city tour (B/L/D)
Day 9: Luang Prabang (B/L)
Day 10: Luang Prabang - Phonsavan (B/L)
Day 11: Xieng Khuang - Plain off Jars and Muang Khoun (B/L)
Day 12: Xieng Khuang - Vien Tiane (B)
Day 13: Vientiane departure (B)
Day 1 – Hanoi arrival

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Driver and guide of Vietnam Tour, will meet you outside the baggage claim at Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, enjoy an orientation walk, visiting some of Hanoi’s main attractions: the Opera House, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.
In the evening, savor a welcome dinner of authentic Vietnamese food at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants with your travel consultant of Vietnam Tour ( Hanoi Office).

Accommodations: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 2 – Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise (B/L/D)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then set out on a 3 to 4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site: Halong Bay. Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your private junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way, visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island covered with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the South China Sea. Pass the night on your private junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.

Accommodations: Cruise on Halong Bay
Day 3 – Halong Bay – Hanoi (brunch)

Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and watch the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore the nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for brunch, then take advantage of the sundeck to admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as we navigate back to Halong City. Our driver will meet you at the dock and take you back to Hanoi.

Accommodations: Hotel in Hanoi.
Day 4 – Hanoi – Mai Chau – Trekking (B/L/D)

Our driver and guide will meet you at your hotel and take you along highway 6 to Mai Chau: a small town nestled in the midst of a lush valley and surrounded by emerald-green rice fields. Enjoy picturesque views of the scenic landscape, sown with pagodas and rural villages. Stop along the way to visit the Muong tribe and then at Thung Khe Pass for a spectacular view of Mai Chau Valley. Have an authentic lunch with a local family of the White Thai Tribe and enjoy some free time to acquaint yourself with the villagers.
In the afternoon, trek through terraced rice paddies and small villages, discovering the natural beauty of the valley and encountering the culture of the ethnic minority Thai people on our visits to the Pom Coong and Na Phon villages. Return to the home stay and help cook the dinner. This is an opportunity to learn about the local cuisine and culture as you join the family to prepare a traditional dinner. In the evening, enjoy a live dance and music performance. Stay overnight in the Long house.

Accommodations: Homestay in Mai Chau
Day 5 – Mai Chau – Dien Bien Phu (B/L)

Start the day with a simple breakfast with your host family. Then take a short drive through the surrounding countryside, before setting off on a long and nice drive to the tea plantations and Moc Chau plateau. We then travel from Son La, all the way to Dien Bien Phu on the newly upgraded highway No.6. This gorgeous stretch of road is lined with stunning scenery. We will make frequent photo stops en route and visit the minority villages of the H’mong and Black Thai peoples. Then visiting a tea plantation on Moc Chau plateau—Vietnam’s premier tea-growing region. In the afternoon we continue along winding mountain roads through North Vietnam’s stunning countryside. Drive pass the impressive Pha Din pass - a highlight of the day. Pha Din sits 1,000 meter or 3,280 feet above the sea level. According to local legend, “Pha Din” means the connection between Heaven and Earth. We arrive Dien Bien Phu later in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel in Dien Bien Phu
Day 6 - Dien Bien Phu- a visit to the historical relics – Cross border to Muang Khua (B)

Arrive at Dien Bien Phu border in the morning, drive to Muang Khua 70 Km. Arrive in Muangkhua a small trading town then we continues by boat cruise to Muong Ngoi 4-5 hrs by boat. Muong Ngoi is one hour north of Nong Khiaw. The village is small with narrow footpaths lined with coconut palms and a common site is fisher folk mending their nets creating a SouthSea ambience. A true Lao style of life is abundant here and time seems to stand still. We stop for lunch served with local food along the river bank. Overnight in Muang Ngoi.

Accommodation: Hotel in Muang Khua
Day 7 – Muang Khua – Luang Prabang (B)

Breakfast at hotel , Board a traditional riverboat downstream the Nam Ou River towards Luang Prabang through stunning karstic landcapes. Picnic lunch on board. Arrive at Pak Ou , where the Nam Ou River meets the mighty Mekong river. Visit the sacred caves housing thousands of statues of Buddha. Continue towards Luang Prabang and arrive before sunset. Meet upon arrival at the pier and transfer to hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 8 - Luang Prabang City Tour (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel. start Visit Vat Vixoune influenced by Tai- Lu architecture and That Makmo, the watermelon shape stupa and Vat Aham just next, continue to Vat Sipphoutthabat with its fine carved doors and its view over the Nam Khan River. Walk through the small lanes up to Vat Xieng Thong, the most beautiful temples of Luang Prabang dating back from 16th century. The roofs of the main chapel sweep low to the ground and glass colored panels adorn the walls of the chapels. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon continues your visit with the National museum (former king’s palace) and Vat Mai with its five tiered roof and exquisite carved veranda. In the heart of the city, climb up Phousi Hill for a bird’s eye view of the city and its mountainous backdrop.
Dinner at local restaurant.
Accommodation at hotel.
Day 9 – Luang Prabang (B/L)

After breakfast, before we take a drive (30 km South) to visit Kuangsi Waterfall, which, though not very high, is spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings as the preserved National park. We stop en-route, stop to visit a fresh produced market namely Talad Phosy, and also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of a hill-tribe group “Hmong”, probably the best-known minority group in Laos. Just before arriving at Kuangsi waterfall, there is another village of Khmu minority group, namely Ban Tha Pane that we will visit. Our picnic lunch is served at the shady park nearby Kuangsi waterfall. There is plenty of time for relaxing and a swim in cool water before we return back to Luang Prabang town for overnight.
Day 10: Luang Prabang – Phonsavan (B/L)

06.00 Early this morning you may want to wake up early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. This is the highlight of tour prior goodbye to this charming city.

Today we drive from Luang Prabang to Xieng Khuang, passing through Laos’ pristine countryside. This is over 7 hours drive with spectacular views of Laos’ rain forests and mountain ranges. Along the way we will stop for photo opportunities and visit various hill tribe villages. On arrival, check-in at your hotel and relax. (You should prepare some Carsick Patch (Hydrogel) incase you sometime may get carsick.)

Accommodation: Hotel in Phonsavan
Day 11: Xieng Khuang - Plain of Jars and Muang Khoun (B/L)

Start the day with a trip to Phonsavan’s bustling central market. Visit the MAG (de-mining organization) exhibition before heading out to see the great stone wonders of Xieng Khuang, the Plain of Jars. First we will explore Site 1 where hundreds of large stone jars lie scattered about the enchanting plateau. Next, is the forested area of site 2 and a short scenic trek to Site 3, passing through the Thai Dam and Laos Leum village. Enjoy an afternoon tour of the old capital Muang Khoun and nearby villages of the H’mong and Thai Dam peoples.

Accommodations: Hotel in Phonsavan
Day 12: Xieng Khuang - Vientiane (B)

Today we take a short in-country flight from Phonsavan to Vientiane. Our driver and guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. After a short rest, set out on a sightseeing tour of Laos’ eccentric capital, visiting all the city’s key attractions. Start the tour with a stop at Vientiane’s oldest temple, Wat Si Saket, filled with over 2,000 ceramic, gold, and silver Buddha images. Next we visit Haw Pha Kaew—the royal temple that once housed the famous Emerald Buddha—, before continuing on to Laos’ most significant national monument: Pha That Luang. We conclude our tour at Patuxai, known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane
Day 13: Vientiane departure (B)

Have breakfast at the hotel and then enjoy a free morning at your leisure before driving to the airport to catch your departure flight home.