North Vietnam and Laos 14-Day Tour
Duration
14 Days | 13 Nights
Destinations
Vietnam, Laos
Travel Type
Private | Customizable
Places You’ll Visit
Tour Overview
This itinerary covers two fascinating countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Laos. This 14-day adventure will lead you to discover Vietnam’s diversity by exploring the historic old city and cruising Halong Bay; At Dien Bien Phu, a famous historic battlefield, learn how the Vietnamese people fought off French colonial forces; Drive through the border gate of Tay Trang to Laos; Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang via the remote town of Muang Khuon to see the eye-opening Plain of Jars; The tour ends in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
Highlights of This Tour
- Have a simple exploration of some major attractions in charming Vietnam’s capital Hanoi.
- Hop aboard a traditional junk boat for leisure voyages on shimmering seas along Halong Bay.
- Experience the diverse culture and beautiful natureof Mai Chau.
- Travel back in time with the history of Dien Bien Phuthrough visits to war relics.
- Pay a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage City – Luang Prabang to enjoy the natural wonders and religious culture.
- Admiremagnificent Buddhist temples in Vientiane.
Itinerary
Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam! When you land at Hanoi airport, a local driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. After check-in, have a simple exploration of some major scenic spots in the city center, including the Opera House, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.
In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with authentic Vietnamese cuisine at one of the best restaurants in Hanoi.
Meal: Dinner
Accommodation: Hanoi
Hanoi is an ancient city rich in historical relics, and today you will be taken on an in-depth discovery of the city’s past glory.
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum will be your first stop, then head to Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. After that, your guide will lead you to the Presidential Palace, Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda & West Lake, to tell you the legendary stories behind these buildings. The last destination is the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum. (It’s up to you)
In the evening, you will enjoy a wonderful Water Puppet Show, which is the most distinctive traditional folk stage show in Vietnam.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Halong Bay, which is known as “Guilin on the Sea” for its resemblance to the Chinese landscape of Guilin.
Hop aboard a traditional junk boat for leisure voyages on shimmering seas with bewitching views and a hearty lunch. Drop anchor in a secluded bay, where you can enjoy some comfortable water sports like swimming & diving and mystical exploration of Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, which is one of the largest & most beautiful caves in Halong Bay.
The rest of the day is free for you to bathe in the sunshine on the deck or photograph the amazing limestone Karst formations at sea.
Note: This Halong Bay itinerary is just a sample, and the success of the activities depends on the weather. Besides, you can choose different classes of cruise ships with different comfort.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: On Cruise
Wake up early for a breath of fresh air on the deck, with close-up views of the oddly-shaped limestone islands rising out of the endless emerald sea. Take photos of the stunning sunrise over the sea and learn how to practice Tai Chi. After a cup of coffee or tea, explore the nearby islands in a rowboat. Then return to the junk boat for breakfast and enjoy the astonishing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay while enjoying a bumper brunch.
When the cruise ship docks, your driver is already waiting for you. Then he will escort you back to Hanoi. The rest of the day is yours at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast & Brunch
Accommodation: Hanoi
Follow Highway 6 to Mai Chau, a remote mountain town with plenty of natural wonders and culture. Stop along the way to visit the Muong Tribe (Vietnam’s third largest ethnic group), then snap a spectacular panorama of Mai Chau Valley at Thung Khe Pass. You have the opportunity to have lunch with a family of the local White Thai Tribe and talk to them about their unique culture.
In the afternoon, hike through beautiful terraced fields and lovely villages to soak in the natural beauty of the valley. Return to your host family and prepare an authentic Vietnamese dinner with your host. In the evening, watch traditional Vietnamese dance and music performances. Spend the night in a traditional house.
Note: If you don’t like the homestay experience, we will arrange for you to stay overnight in a hotel in Mai Chau.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mai Chau
Start your day with a simple breakfast. Then drive to tea plantations and the Moc Chau plateau. Then you leave Son La and drive along the newly upgraded Highway No. 6 to Dien Bien Phu.
Along the way, you’ll capture charming natural scenery and pass Pha Din Pass, one of the four peaks in the Northwest, with its highest point at 1,648 m above sea level. In the local language, Pha Din means “heaven and earth” and also refers to the height of this pass. Arrive in Dien Bien Phu late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Dien Bien Phu
Dien Bien Phu city is a famous historic battlefield where Vietnamese forces routed French forces in 1954, marking the end of French colonial occupation.
Get up early and take a guided tour of a local market for a taste of life. It is a 30-minute drive from the city to the base of The Command of Dien Bien Phu Battle (Muong Phang). In the afternoon, visit the Dien Bien Phu Museum (built to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the victory of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu) and A1 Hill, the most important site in the French colonial base of Dien Bien Phu. The rest of the day is free for you to wander around town or enjoy a swim at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Dien Bien Phu
After breakfast, drive through Muong Thanh Valley to Tay Trang, the border gate of Laos. Cross the border and continue through remote parts of Laos to the small town of Muang Khua, the midway point and necessary layover on the scenic journey between Dien Bien Phu and Laos.
After lunch at Muang Khua, keep driving to Nong Khiaw, which is a beautiful rustic little town on the bank of the Ou River, squeezed between some wondrous limestone mountains north of Vang Vieng.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Nong Khiaw
Bike through the country lanes to enjoy the fresh air and peaceful scenery. After lunch, leave the quiet Nong Khiaw and drive to Luang Prabang, which is the former capital of Laos and now is a UNESCO World Heritage City.
Nestled in the heart of the mountains of northern Laos, Luang Prabang is packed with incredible colonial villas, golden Buddhist temples, and top cafes and restaurants. On the way to the old town, make a stop at Pak Ou Cave, home to a collection of small wooden Buddha statues. Learn how locals make “Lau Lao” (Lao whisky) and “Lau Hai” (Lao wine) in Ban Xang Hai.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Luang Prabang
Get up at 5:30 in the morning to witness the Alms Giving Ritual – faithful locals wait quietly by the roadside to give prepared food to the monks. Then go back to your hotel for breakfast.
After a short rest, you will be led to the Royal Palace Museum, a residence for the Laos Royal Family built from 1904 to 1909 during the French colonial period. Then visit Wat Xieng Thong, which is the grandest Buddhist temple of Luang Prabang.
After lunch, drive to a Hmong Village in Ban Ouay for a short hike. Then head to the Kuang Si Butterfly Park where you can enjoy the cascading Kuang Si Waterfall. You’re allowed to splash around in the bluish-green pools or take a trekking trip along the mysterious forest paths. Drive back to Luang Prabang to walk up the Mountain Phousi to enjoy a sunset view.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Luang Prabang
Today, continue our 14-day North Vietnam & Laos adventure tour. Drive 7 hours from Luang Prabang to Phonsavan through pristine countryside.
En route, we have many opportunities to stop and enjoy the magnificent views of the forests and mountains. You will be arranged to visit some mountain tribal villages. Upon arrival, check in and get some rest and relaxation.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Phonsavan
Explore the bustling central market in the early morning. After a brief visit to the MAG Exhibition, we will head to today’s highlight destination – Plain of Jars. It gets its name from over 2,100 tubular megalithic stone jars used for funerals in the Iron Age. Let’s explore Site 1, which is dotted with hundreds of large stone jars. This is followed by a forested area at Site 2 and a short trek to Site 3.
Drive to the airport for a domestic flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, your private driver will drop you off at your downtown hotel. Be free to spend your time.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Vientiane
You are going on an all-day exploration of Vientiane today. Vientiane is an ancient city with a long history and a strong Buddhist atmosphere. Various temples and ancient pagodas can be seen everywhere. Your professional guide will take you to some of the major popular attractions such as Wat Sisaket – the only temple in Laos that survived the Siamese occupation holding 7,000 images made from wood, stone and bronze; Haw Phra Kaeo – Laos’ leading museum of religious art, and Pha That Luang – a sacred monument regarded as the national symbol of Laos.
Then we climb Patuxai, the Triumphal Arch of Laos with mythical creatures painted on its surface. Once at the top, you can get a wider view of the Vientiane. In the late afternoon, we head to Buddha Park, aka Xieng Khuan, a sculpture park located in a meadow beside the Mekong River.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Vientiane
Today is the last day of the 14-day North Vietnam & Laos adventure tour. After enjoying breakfast at your own pace, your driver will pick you up at the appointed time and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
What’s Included
Dates & Availability
Tuesday
15 Sep,2024
Wednesday
24 Sep,2024
Total price
$1,049
Tuesday
15 Sep,2024
Wednesday
24 Sep,2024
Total price
$1,049
