Delve deeply into the essence of Indochina as you travel through a lot of spectacular sceneries of northern Vietnam and awe-inspiring monuments combine with history in Lao.
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Airport pick-up service to your hotel in Hanoi downtown. Free at the rest of the day. Meals are on your own and overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour – Night Train to Lao Cai (B, L)
In the morning, start the tour by joining a full-day city tour to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, the Temple of Literature and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Lunch included. You will be then free until transfer time to Lao Cai by a night train. Dinner is on your own and overnight on train.
Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa – Trekking to The Village – Sapa (B, L)
Arrive in Lao Cai in the early morning, you will be then transferred to Sapa which offers you breathtaking landscapes and great cultural diversity of many minority ethnic groups such as H’mong, Zao, Tay or Giay. After breakfast, take a day trip to the villages start by road that descends in the wake of the street Cau May (6km). Head to Lao Chai, a Black H’mong village and from there continue to follow small track, crossing Muong Hoa River and rice terraces to reach Ta Van Giay village. After lunch, continue passing a bamboo forest to a village of Red Dao people, called Giang Ta Chai. Take a rest at a waterfall nearby. You will then need to climb uphill to the pick-up point and back to Sapa. Dinner is on your own. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 4: Sapa – Return to Hanoi (B)
After breakfast, you will visit Cat Cat village. Upon reaching a waterfall and a hydroelectric station, we will take a short rest before continuing our trek on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraced fields. You will visit Y Linh Ho village where has many Black H’mong people. Take a short rest before climb to pick-up point and return to the town. Free until transfer time to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi in late afternoon. Meals are on the own and overnight in Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi – Halong (B, L, D)
Today, you will transfer to Halong Bay to enjoy a cruise trip with a traditional boat at around noon. Relax and then visit TiTop Island which is surrounded by calm water and beautiful islets. Make your own choice for a deep swim or joining a short trek to the top of the island. Meals included and overnight onboard.
Day 6: Halong – Hanoi (B, L)
Wake up by the sounds of waves and birds in the morning on the bay. Don’t forget to capture stunning view of sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, take time to visit a beautiful grotto before the cruise heads back to the dock. Transfer back to Hanoi. Dinner is on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 7: Hanoi Fly to Luang Prabang (B)
Morning pick up and transfer to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival at Luang Prabang, pick up and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day for free. Meals are on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 8: Luang Prabang Buddhist Ancient City And Temples (B, L)
After breakfast, start your day with visit to the Royal Palace museum (closed on Tuesday). Have a look at the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong. Stop by the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. After lunch, in the afternoon, visit the Arts and Ethnology Center before heading to Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek weaving villages. Return to the city to see Wat Mai in the late afternoon. Finally climb to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa and enjoy sunset view over the city and the Mekong River. Dinner is on your own and overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 9: Boat Trip to Pak Ou Caves / Khouang Si Waterfall (B, L)
Today you will get on a cruise upstream Mekong River to reach Ban Xanghai village which is famous for producing rice wine and rice whiskey. Continue to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves two linked caves filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Lunch is served with a local dish called ‘Orlam’, a kind of soup with vegetables and spicy edible wood. On the way back, visit a traditional weaving village called Ban Phanom – a famous hand woven textile village. Finally, visit Khouang Si Waterfall where you can either cool off with refreshing waters or walk leisurely through forest trails. Dinner is on your own and overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 10: Luang Prabang Departure (B)
Free time until our driver transfers you to the airport for your flight back home. Trip ends.
Inclusions
Exclusions
