North Vietnam & Luang Prabang Border Crossing 13 days

When you travel to Indochina, you can’t miss seeing the wonderful scenery of Northern Vietnam and Laos, especially the border crossing between North Vietnam and Laos, which is an amazing, very scenic area off the beaten path. Embark on our "North Vietnam & Luang Prabang Border Crossing 13 Days" tour to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature of this region.

13 days 12 nights

Vietnam

Multi-Country Tours

Attractions

Ha Noi - Ha Long City - Lao Cai - Sapa - Dien Bien - Muang Khua - Luang Prabang

Duration

13 days 12 nights

Code

MUVN7

Overview

Travel to Indochina, you can’t miss to see the wonderful scenery of the Northern Vietnam and Laos, especially the border cross between North Vietnam and Laos is amazing, very scenic area off the beaten path. The first site is Hanoi with filled with cultural and historical sites including Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple Literature, Ethnology Museum, Water Puppet show. Following day, take the traditional wooden junk in Halong Bay to explore caves, life of floating fish villages.
Then discover some ethnic hill tribes in the mountain areas – Sa Pa with the beautiful terraces rice paddies combine with cool weather to make a must-see destination. Drive along road with breathtaking scenery of mountains to Dien Bien and then crossing the border to the Laos area. Muong Khua is a beautiful, peaceful spot halfway up the river between Nong Kiaow and Hat Sa in northern Laos, from here taking the traditional boat through Muang Ngoi and Nong Khiaw to discover the life and spirit of two bank sides living and have the opportunities to enjoy beautiful landscapes.
The final is in Luang Prabang with its palm-lined riverbanks, terracotta roofs, golden stupas and saffron-robed monks all come together to form a picture postcard increasingly difficult to find in Southeast Asia.

Highlights:

- Experience Hanoi gracious capital with the fascinating streets of the Old Quarter, visit the ancient Temple of Literature and enjoy an evening performance of Hanoi’s famous water puppets.
- Take the picturesque boat tours through emerald waters and limestone isles
- Have great chance to explore the customs, traditions and way of life of the Vietnamese hill tribes
- Get the closer see daily life of some ethnic minorities such as Red and White Hmong, Kho Mu and White Thai in Pasa & Dien Bien Phu.
- Across the border between Vietnam & Laos to explore the one of the most remote areas of Northern – Muang Khua.
- Sail down Nam Ou River on the traditional boat to Luang Prabang to enjoy beautiful landscape and lime stone mountains.
Take in the best sites & off the beaten track places from the monasteries & fading colonial architecture of Luang Prabang.

Itinerary

Expand All

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a welcome dinner at a good restaurant in a colonial building. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry (an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and an interesting, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture). Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

Today we enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh (closed on Friday, Monday and from 5 Oct to 5 Dec 08) the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. The beautiful West Lake and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history are also highlight of our trip. We visit these sights before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem and visit Ngoc Son temple and take a cyclo tour in Hanoi old quarter. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

Drive to Halong bay through the lush of Red River vegetation. Arrival Halong bay pier and check-in registration, board our boat for a stunning cruise amongst towering limestone backdrop while enjoying lunch on board. The cruise will take you by exotic islets with shapes of Dog, Incense Urn, Sail, Fighting Cocks, which are naturally formed by process of erosion between the see water and lime stone mountains. Arrive Surprise Cave and explore the by bay kayak, paddle to Luon cave, this cave is a natural tunnel thrusts through a mountain's foot and leads to an exotic lagoon surrounded by mountains covered by dense jungle. Seafood dinner and optional night paddle. Overnight on Halong Junk

Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. Brunch will be served onboard. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3-hour journey to Hanoi. Tonight we take overnight train journey to Lao Cai (soft sleeper & AC cabin of 4 pax). Overnight on the train

At approximately 06:00 we arrive in Lao Cai.

Located 70 km from the northeast of Lao Cai, 105 km from Sapa, this is the biggest weekly market opening every Sunday morning, gathering all the locals for bartering and stocking up on goods. Here you will have chance to witness thousands of local minority people in their traditional ethnic dress busily meet, drink alcohol and trade goods. The best time to join the market is from 09.00 to 12.00 but it is fascinating to spend few hours earlier to see the people along the trail to the Bac Ha Market.
Transfer back to Sapa for your own time to explore Sapa town. Overnight in Sapa

We then embark on a lovely walk that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Tavan, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is a spectacular walking through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people that you can meet along the way. Stopping for a picnic lunch on the way to the family in Ta Van village. Transfer back to hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Sapa

The drive from Sapa to Pa so is one of the most scenery and mountainous stretch of road in the whole of Vietnam. From Sapa town, you will drive uphill to the highest pass (Heavens Gate Pass" which is in a height of 2000 meter. If the weather is clear the views here are magnificent. There are plenty of possibilities for making photo stops.40 km more we arrive Binh Lu where inhabit of many different of minorities. You will have chance to visit some villages surrounding and the market. You will have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch the road weaves its way through the picturesque valley, past many small villages of Red and White Hmong, Kho Mu and White Thai ethnic minorities. Late after noon you reach to Paso the new head town of Lai Chau province. Overnight at the hotel in Paso

You will start the trip today by driving back toward Tam Duong for a while, before take a right turn to a dirt road, which will lead you to Sin Ho. Again, the road today is also passing through the picturesque sceneries. Moreover you will have chance to encounter with the minorities people as Nung, White Thai, Black Dao, Dao Tien...You will then arrive in Lai Chau. From Lai Chau to Dien Bien, you will have an easy ride on the nice road. Dien Bien Phu is well known through out the world as a battle field in the first Indochina War. The city, 45 km from the Laos border, locates in Muong Thanh Valley famous for its tasty rice and Thai minority traditional dance. Check in hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Dien Bien

After breakfast, we visit the historical sites such as De Castrie’s bunker, the Dien Bien Phu museum, the A1 hill. After lunch, transfer toward Tay Trang, cross the border and meet the Laos guide, proceed to Muang Khua, one of the most remote areas of Northern. Muong Khua is a small town inhabited by Yunanese, Vietnamese and Lao. There are some colonial building can be found. The town is 45 km from Laos – Vietnam border, recently open to foreigner. In the rainy season, there will be several river crossings along this bumpy ride! Overnight at the hotel in Muang Khua

After breakfast, we embark on a long tail boat to cruise down on Nam Ou River from Muang Khua to Muang Ngoi. The long tail boat ride allows us to visit local villages nesting along the river sides. A picnic lunch is served on the river side. We have many opportunities to enjoy beautiful landscape. We eventually arrive in Muong Ngoi, a small town surrounded by beautiful scenery and lime stone mountains. We stay overnight in a local guest house in Muong Ngoi

After breakfast, we continue cruising down the Nam Ou River. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before we arrive to Pak Ou Cave. The Nam Ou River feeds the mighty Mekong, facing infamous Pak Ou Cave or Tham Ting. After visiting the cave, we continue our boat trip on Mekong River to Luang Prabang. There is time to visit some of the villages a long the Mekong River. We may have an opportunity to enjoy the sunset while cruising downstream. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets.
From there, we will visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. This is the best chance to experience the flavor of local life
Your full day city tour begins after breakfast, with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then visit Wat Visoun, dating back to 1513 during the reign of King Wisunarat (Visoun), this is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and was once home to the Prabang Buddhas. From there we stroll around to visit Wat Aham, which was once the residence of Sangkharat, the supreme head of Lao Buddhism.
In the afternoon, we visit to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. We then take a short walk around the small roads of city center, watching the life of local people, and visiting the traditional house of Heuan Chan, the Chantal wooden house dating back to 100 years old. Late afternoon, we climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang