11 DAY LAOS AND VIETNAM NORTHERN TOUR

* Brief Itinerary:

DAY 1: ARRIVAL – LUANG PRABANG

DAY 2: LUANG PRABANG – CITY TOUR, AND PAK OU CAVES (B)

DAY 3: LUANG PRABANG – CITY TOUR AND KUANGSI FALLS (B)

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG – FLY TO HANOI (B)

DAY 5: HANOI – WALKING TOUR (B)

DAY 6: HANOI – HALONG BAY TOUR (B/L/D)

DAY 7: HALONG BAY DISCOVERY – HANOI – NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI – SAPA (B/L)

DAY 8: LAO CAI – TREK TO LAO CHAI & TA VAN VILLAGES (B/ L)

DAY 9: SAPA – TREK TO CAT CAT VILLAGE – LIMOUSINE BUS TO HANOI (B/L)

DAY 10: HANOI – HOA LU – TAM COC GROUP TOUR (B/L)

DAY 11: HANOI – DEPARTURE (B)

DAY 1: Laos and Vietnam northern tour : ARRIVAL – LUANG PRABANG

Your expert guide will meet you at Luang Prabang International Airport while your private transportation brings you directly to your chosen hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

* Meal code: (B)

* Services: English Speaking Guide, Car Transfer, Hotel of 3*

DAY 2: LUANG PRABANG – CITY TOUR, AND PAK OU CAVES (B)

Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temples of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breath-taking view of the tranquil countryside as well as exploring the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. On return, we take a short drive to another small village Ban Phanom, which is famous 
for its hand weaving.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

* Meal code: (B)

* Services: Car Transfer, English Speaking Guide, Entrance fees, Cruise, Hotel of 3*

DAY 3: LUANG PRABANG – CITY TOUR AND KHOUANGSI FALLS (B)

After breakfast, we visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace.  It displays a collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. There will also be time for us to look around the Central Market.

We then continue towards Khouangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit the local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Ban Ou, Laoloum and Ban Thapene, and then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall. Here you can take a dip in the inviting pools or walk along the forest trails surrounding the waterfall. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for silk hand weaving and for traditional Saa Paper making.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

* Meal code: (B)

* Services: Car Transfer, English Speaking Guide, Entrance fees, Hotel of 3*

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG – FLY TO HANOI (B)

This morning, you will be free till the time for pickup to the airport for your flight to Hanoi.

When you arrive at Noi Bai airport – Hanoi, right after getting out of the restricted area you will see our staff waiting for you at the lobby with a board of your name. Then our driver will take care and transfer you safely to Hanoi center for checking in the hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

* Meal code: (B)

* Services: Car transfer, English Speaking Guide, Hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 5: HANOI – WALKING TOUR (B)

After breakfast, From your hotel, we take you to visit Ho Chi Minh complex, walking around Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum – the final resting place of Vietnamese great father or Uncle Ho, President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house – where Ho lived on and off from 1958 to 1969…

The next place is One Pillar Pagoda a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square pond. Leave One Pillar Pagoda for the Temple of Literature the first college of Viet Nam dedicated to Confucian. Back to Hoan Kiem Lake and have a stopover with Ngoc Son Temple

Afternoon: Free time by your own for leisure & shopping.

* Meal code: (B)

* Services: English Speaking Guide, Entrance fees, Hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 6: HANOI – HALONG BAY TOUR (B/L/D)

07:45:    Our shuttle bus with tour guide will pick you up at your hotels

(Note: This pick-up is just applied for those who use our shuttle bus service)

10:30:   Stopover in Hai Duong City where you can experience our hand-made Vietnamese handicraft products.

12:30:    Arrive in Tuan Chau Marina Pier (Tuan Chau Island). Followed by activities such as:  boarding Flamingo Cruise for departure, Welcome drink will be served and cruise briefing, safety instructions, check-in cabins by Cruise Manager

13:30:   Great lunch is served while cruising passing by islets.

15:00:   Kayaking around Pearl Farm Village, visit Titop Island. Free choice of activities such as sunbathing, swimming and conquering the peak of the biggest island in Halong and taking panoramic photos of Halong bay in the afternoon.

17:30:   Happy Hour. Buy 2 beverage get 1 for free

18.00:   Cooking Class. Our Chef will demonstrate the preparation of a particular Vietnamese cuisine in the dining room. Our guide will let you know what item will be prepared and will explain the process during the demonstration. Duration about 20 – 30 minutes

18:30:  Enjoy Sunset Party with fruits and tea

19:30 :  Under the magnificent night sky, our luxury set menu dinner is served with variety of Vietnamese and Asian foods

21:00:   Joining the squid fishing on boat with our crews and can enjoy the squid cooked with assistance from our chef or laze yourself with our happy-hour drinks at the bar

* Meal code: (B,L,D)

* Services: Bus transfer, English Speaking Guide, Entrance fees, Boat trip

DAY 7: HALONG BAY DISCOVERY – HANOI – NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI – SAPA (B/L)

06:15:     Tai Chi class on the Sun-Deck

07:15:    Have light breakfast with Coffee, tea, and bakeries on board

07:45:   Arrive at the Surprising cave , the biggest cave in Ha Long Bay with 10,000 square meters, when you visit the cave like our Vietnamese house with three chambers as lobby, dining room and bedroom with most beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. We will tour the cave for about 60 minutes.

09:00:  Upon return to the boat you will have time to freshen up and finish packing. When checking out please remove all of your belongings from the cabins, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins.

10:00: Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier

10.45:  Lunch is served.

After lunch, relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier.

11:45   – 12:00: Shuttle Bus back to Hanoi

Free time to visit and relax in Hanoi, then serve yourself dinner before being transferred to Hanoi station for night train to Sapa.

* Meal code: (B,L)

* Services: Boat trip, English Speaking Guide, Entrance fees, Bus transfer, Daily room in Hanoi hotel, Train ticket.

DAY 8: LAO CAI – TREK TO LAO CHAI & TA VAN VILLAGES (B/ L)

Upon arrival in Lao Cai station, bus transfers to Sapa town then have breakfast in the hotel before trekking down to Lao Chai village to visit the Tay and Dzay tribes then keep going along the bottom of Sapa valleys to get to Ta Van village, which is supposed to be one of the most beautiful area. Have a picnic lunch on the way, then get back to Sapa by car.

Free by yourself for dinner, you can feel free to enjoy Sapa Town by night.

* Meal code: (B, L)

* Services: Car transfer, English Speaking Guide, Entrance fees, Hotel in Sapa

DAY 9: SAPA – TREK TO CAT CAT VILLAGE – LIMOUSINE BUS TO HANOI (B/L)

You will have breakfast, relax before start trekking journey uphill. Once we reach to the top, you will take a chance to Catcat village.  It is the most popular attraction in Sapa district, located at the bottom of the Muong Hoa Valley and near the stunning Cat Cat Waterfall. This is an age-old village of H’Mong ethnic group remaining unique customs and practices that are lots in other villages. Picnic lunch will be served before our vehicle will be waiting for us for the journey back to Sapa.

15h30: It‘s time to say “Good bye Sa Pa!” and drive back to Hanoi by bus. 

21h30: We arrive in Ha Noi. 

* Meal code: (B,L)

* Services: Car transfer, English Speaking Guide, Entrance fees, Limousine Bus to Hanoi, Hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 10: HANOI – HOA LU – TAM COC GROUP TOUR (B/L)

You will be served breakfast in our restaurant then our bus comes to pick you up again for Ninh Binh province at around 08h00 AM, enjoying the rural scenery along the road. Visiting Hoa Lu citadel until 12h00 to have lunch at the restaurant. Taking the rowing boat along the tiny canal among the rice fields to visit Tam Coc ( three grottoes) for the rest of the day then you will be transferred to Hanoi in the evening at 18h00, overnight in hotel in Hanoi.

* Meal code: (B,L)

* Services: Shuttle Bus, English Speaking Guide, Boat trip, Entrance Fees, Hotel in Hanoi

DAY 11: HANOI – DEPARTURE (B)

On time as your request, our car will come to take you to the airport for catching your flight to other city or home.

* Meal code: (B)

* Services: Car transfer

End of service!!

INCLUDE:

• Accommodation based on twin sharing with daily breakfast at selected hotels.
• Transportation
• English speaking guide
• Entrance fees for all sights visited.
• Meals as indicated
• Soft sleeper train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai, Limousine bus Sapa – Hanoi
• Overnight cruise trip in Halong Bay
• Boat trip in Tam Coc
• Daily room at a standard hotel in Hanoi on arrival.

EXCLUDE:

• Other meals & Drinks
• Personal Expense
• Travel Insurance
• Airfare Luang Prabang – Hanoi