Amazingly bewitched beauty of Vietnam Laos travel | 17 days 16 nights

Arrive in Noi Bai Airport. Meet our guide at the airport and transfer to our hotel in downtown Hanoi.  Kick off Vietnam Laos itinerary. Welcome drink and tour briefing in the afternoon (If you come in the afternoon, the tour briefing will be done at dinner time).
 

In the evening, enjoy a special Water Puppet show and have welcome dinner with local delights.

 
Welcome dinner. Overnight Hanoi.

After breakfast in the hotel you will take an interesting guided city tour of Hanoi on the second day of Laos and Vietnam itinerary including Ho Chi Minh complex (the mausoleum, the house & garden and the museum) and One Pillar Pagoda, a unique ancient architecture.

After here we move to Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s first university, dates back to 1070. Its peaceful gardens and pavilions ofer a relaxing respite from Hanoi’s busy streets.

 
Lunch in local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxing cyclo tour in the ancient part of Hanoi. Walking down some small and lively street to see busy local market then join locals for green tea or coffee in local café.

“Cyclo" is three wheeled rickshaws, operated by pedal-power, with a seat attached to the front.

 
Free time for shopping. Overnight in Hanoi.

Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.30am.

On the way guests of Vietnam Laos travel will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft centre.

Upon arrival in Halong City we board a wooden boat for a fine seafood lunch and a short cruise to Thien Cung Cave.

 
After a short exploration of the cave we start our kayaking time paddling through an amazing area of limestone islets. We will pass a floating village to reach Luon Cave, which is a tunnel thrusting through a mountain.

 
Paddling through the tunnel to explore a beautiful secluded lagoon. We will meet the mortherboat, a junk in Chinese style, in front of the cave.

Aboard the junk for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we start paddling to Van Chai Floating village and then continue paddling to Dark Cave.

Tide permitting, we explore this amazing cave by kayak. The cave is a 200m long, dark tunnel thrusting through a limestone mountain. The tunnel is the only entry to a secluded and beautiful lagoon.

 
Lunch on support boat in front of the cave. After lunch, continue Vietnam and Laos itinerary by paddling to Ba Trai Dao Lagoon, along a stunning and fairly rough sea channel, to explore its beautiful beaches.

Continue paddling to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Halong bay but much more interesting with lots of secluded beaches.

 
Cruise back to Halong Bay for dinner and overnight on motherboat.

Breakfast on the junk and enjoy the sundeck of the junk while she navigates amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay to get back to Halong City.
 

Lunch on the junk before keep Laos Vietnam tour by reaching Halong Harbor for a drive back to Hanoi.

On the way back to Hanoi we will have a stop in Dong Trieu Town for refreshment and visiting to a ceramic factory.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Pick up at your hotel at 8 am and leave Hanoi for Mai Chau, the beautiful gate way to the mountainous area of northern Vietnam. On the way we will have a short stop for refreshment.

Upon arrival in Mai Chau we will pick up our local guide and continue driving to Xa Linh Village, where we will have our lunch in a H’mong house before setting off on a beautiful trekking in the afternoon.

 
After lunch we will begin our trek on the village’s road and then walk on dirt path used by the locals. After 40nims we will reach Tra Day Village, home to a small community of Black H’mong minority people.

From the Tra Day village we trek on rocky path to Hang Kia, a small and scenic village which is home to a group of Flower H’mong minority people.

 
Tonight we will stay overnight with a H’mong family (home-stay).

End of the sixth day of tour Vietnam Laos.

After breakfast in the house we will say goodbye to the family and begin an exciting trekking day of Vietnam Laos travel. Right after the village we will walk on jungle trail for one hour. The trail could be a bit wet due to the dense trees that keep sunlight away.

 
After that we descend the hill passing farm and terraces. The scenery is stunning with mountains, terraces and expansive valley. During the trek we will some breaks for snack, rest, and photographing.

After crossing a small river we reach a village of White Thai minority group, where we have lunch in a local house. After lunch, you may wish to have a short nap in the house. In the remainder of the day we will walk on village road to reach Buoc Village, a beautiful village of White Thai minority people. The road runs zigzag along the valley and through lots of scenic village.

Tonight we will have dinner and stay overnight with a Thai family (home-stay).

After breakfast we say goodbye to the hosts and take a short walk to the pick-up point where we start driving west to Laos.

Lunch on the way before arriving at the border.

Crossing the border we will meet our Laotian guide and will be transferred to Vieng Xai to visit some big caves, which were used as bomb shelter for Lao Army leaders during American War.

Continue Vietnam Laos tour to Xam Nua, where we spend the night in a small hotel.

This morning we head to Xieng Khoang, the capital of Phonsavan Province.

The drive is long (6 hrs) but interesting as we drive through a mountainous area with stunning mountains, dense forest, winding rivers and rice terraces.

Lunch will be in small local restaurant en route.

Upon arrival in Xieng Khoang, we check in hotel and relax until dinner. If there is time, guests of Vietnam Laos tour itinerary can take a stroll around the town.

Overnight in Xieng Khoang.

After breakfast in hotel we keep Vietnam Laos itinerary by taking a short drive to the Plain of Jars, where we will see some hundreds of stone jar of different sizes laying on the fields.

 
These stone jars date back from some thousand year ago and no one know what they were made for.

From here we drive further west to Luang Prabang. Lunch will be served in local restaurant en route.

We will arrive in Luong Prabang around 4.30 or 5 pm.

After hotel check-in we can walk to the evening market.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang is a charming ancient town, which was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thank to its outstanding historical and cultural value.

On the eleventh day of Vietnam Laos travel we take our time to explore some of most important monasteries in town and the royal palace as well as the museum.
 
A special afternoon tour brings us to some more remote places and markets.

We learn about the history of Luang Phabang as well as about the kings family and their former life…

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Leave the town after breakfast, guests of Laos and Vietnam itinerary will proceed to the Elephant Camp about 15 km out of town and in the middle of a green surrounding.

After crossing the small river we will be introduced to asian elephants and go out for a scenic ride. Enjoy the new perspective and the wonderful nature on this 1,5 hr ride.

 
Make our way through forests and along the Nam Khan river up to the waterfalls of Tad Sae (in dry season we ride a village trail). After a visit and lunch break we will be instructed for the soft 4-hr kayaking back into town.

 
Some easy rapids are along the way down to Luang Phabang and of course wonderful nature and great views.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Another day through mountains and valleys and down to the small town of Vang Vieng which welcomes us with amazing limestone mountains laying along Song River and great outdoor activities.

Lunch will be in local restaurant en route. Arrive in Vang Vieng in the afternoon.

After hotel check-in, Vietnam and Laos itinerary leads you to take a stroll around the town or take a swim in Song River.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today we keep Laos Vietnam tour by discovering the nature beauty of Vang Vieng. We will be transferred shortly to the Khmu village of Viengsamay about 10 km north of Vang Vieng.

 
From here we paddle down stream the Song River.

On the way we stop to explore some stunning caves, take a short trek and visit to the Organic Farm, where mulberry tea and a variety of fruit wines are produced.

Back to Vang Vieng Town around 4.30 pm.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Continue Vietnam Laos travel by a short transfer brings us into the capital of Laos, Vientiane. Still a small town it is the centre of politics and education.

 
Many temples and monasteries invite for sightseeing as well as the national monument.

In the afternoon we have free time to explore the town or just hang out on the bank of the magic Mekong which lies right in front of the city.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Vientiane.

The city tour of Vientiane shows us the most exciting and interesting sights of this small and charming capital.

Our sightseeing of tour Vietnam Laos start with a visit to Wat Sisaket, the Buddha museum where more than ten thousand Buddha statues in the niches can be seen.
 

Continue to Pathu Xay or Victory Gate ( Arc de Triumph ) was first built in1958.

Moving on to That Luang, the national symbol and recognized throughout the world. This biggest stupa is also a gathering  place for national Buddhism ceremony.

 
After lunch in local restaurant we drive to Centre Market and have free time to shop around or get back to hotel.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Vientiane.

Relax until we are transferred to airport for flight home.
End of Vietnam Laos tour itinerary 17 days 16 nights !