15/12/2019
The Best Northern Vietnam & Laos Extension – 10 Days
This 10 days trip allows us to explore the most stunning scenery of the northern part of Vietnam ( Sapa - Tam Duong, Lai Chau, Phong Tho and Dien Bien) and combinate with the charming UNESCO World Heritage city. Enjoy the beautiful French colonial architecture and get inspired by its ancient temples. Get on a boat to cruise the mighty Mekong River and admire the famous Pak Ou Budha Caves. Visit the amazing Kuang Si waterfall, with its refreshing turqoise pools, and go to an elephant camp.
Tour Route: Hanoi - Sapa - Tam Duong - Phong Tho - Muong Lay - Dien Bien - Oudomxai - Luang Prbang - Pak Ou Cave - Khuangsi Water fall - Luang Prabang departure
Duration: 10 Days / 09 Nights
Starts: Hanoi (pick up from the hotel in evening)
Ends: Luang Prabang
Tour Level: Easy adventure
Group Size: Private only - 2 persons minimum and above
Tour Customizable: Absolutely!
BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 01: Hanoi – night train to Sapa
Day 02: Lao cai – Sapa – Cat cat village (B)
Day 03: Lao Chai Ta Van – Sapa (B, L)
Day 04: Sapa – Tam Duong - Phong Tho – Muong Lay (B, L)
Day 05: Muong Lay – Dien Bien (B, L)
Day 06: Dien Bien - Tay Trang boder gate – Laos (Oudomxai) (B)
Day 07: Oudomxai – Luang Prabang (B)
Day 08: Luang Prabang city – Pak Ou Cave (B)
Day 09: Luang Prabang - Khuangsi Waterfall (B)
Day 10: Luang Prabang – Departure (B)
Day 01: Hanoi – Night train to Sapa
Evening, pick up at your hotel in the city central then transfer to the station for a night train to Sapa. Overnight on train.
Day 02: Lao Cai – Sapa – Cat Cat village (B)
The train arrives at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 06:00. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer us to Sapa. Driving to Sapa is only 38 km but it takes around one hour to make our way up the mountains. Once at Sapa, we will check into the hotel (if the room is available – check in time after 12:00). After freshening up and having breakfast we are ready to explore Sapa town. We embark on a lovely walking tour to the hill tribe village of Cat Cat, home of the H'Mong hill tribe minority people. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with families that live in the area. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 03: Lao Chai Ta Van – Sapa (B, L)
Breakfast in the hotel we then, embark on a lovely trek that will take usalong buffalo paths and trails and through several hills tribe villages Lao Chai & Ta Van, home to Black H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Once on the valley floor you can really appreciate the wonderful scenery that surrounds you. The walls of the valley are covered with multi-layered rice terraced fields and scattered villages. Overnight in Sapa
Day 04: Sapa – Tam Duong - Phong Tho – Muong Lay (B, L)
Having breakfast at hotel, we start our long journey on car to Lai Chau. Passing through Tam Ton pass in O Quy Ho – Sapa, Tam Duong, Phong Tho. This a great chance for you to take a nice picture and enjoy the beautiful landscape of the northern Vietnam. We reach to Muong Lay in the later afternoon, relax, overnight in Muong Lay.
Day 05: Muong Lay – Dien Bien (B, L)
After breakfast we will transfer to Dien Bien, visit around Dien Bien Phu visiting the former battlefields. It was here that the French planned to lure the Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, into the valley by sending 16,000 French troops as bait. The French however did not count on the brilliant leadership of General Vo Nguyen Giap who somehow managed to place the Vietnamese artillery on the surrounding ridges. From March until May 1954 the Viet Minh pounded the French positions until the French capitulated with the loss of 3,000 men. It's estimated that the Viet Minh lost more than twice that number. We will have the chance to meet several of the different ethnic minority tribes here, when we visit the villages of both the Thai and H'mong people. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.
Day 06: Dien Bien - Tay Trang border gate – Laos (Oudomxai) (B)
Morning we transfer to Border gate of Vietnam and Laos then our guide and driver here will pick you up to Oudomxai. Arrive Oudomxai in the later afternoon, relax and overnight here.
Day 07: Oudomxai – Luang Prabang (B)
Passing through the countrysides and reach to Luang Prabang city at lunch time,
Afternoon we will visit The oldest living temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Visoun dates back to 1513 and contains a collection of antique wooden Buddhas. Visit the nearby Wat Aham before continuing to Wat Xieng Thong, the crowning jewel of all the monasteries and temples in the city. Its many ornate buildings feature exquisite mosaic and gold-stenciled murals. From there, stroll down the main street of Luang Prabang, stopping at some of the many temples that line its sides, including Wat Sene. transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Luang prabang.
Day 08: Luang Prabang city – Pak Ou Cave (B)
Morning we will visit the National Museum (Royal Palace), a modest but graceful building that combines traditional Lao and French beaux-arts motifs. This turn-of-the century royal residence has been preserved, as it was when the royal family last lived here and provides unique insights into the history of Laos. (Closed on Tuesdays). Afterwards, visit Wat Mai. Visit Mount Phousi for sunset. Climb the hillside stairs to the small temples atop Phou Si, the 100m-high-hill that sits in the middle of the town, offering beautiful views over the temples and river before we board a boat for a two-hour journey upstream to Pak Ou (meaning ‘mouth of the Ou River’), where the famous Tam Ting Cave houses thousands of Buddha images of various shapes and sizes, all brought there by devoted villagers. Back to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 09: Luang Prabang - Khuangsi Waterfall (B)
Morning you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, all Khmu villages. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. After returning to Luang Prabang by late afternoon, we continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermaking. We return to the city by late evening to admire the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath.
Afternoon, free for relaxing in the city. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 10: Luang Prabang – Departure (B)
Free until transfer to the airport for the flight back home.
