Vietnam – Laos Adventure Tour

Day 1: Arrive Ho Chi Minh (-/-/-)
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi Tunnels (B/-/-)
DAY 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Mighty Mekong Delta (B/-/-)
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh – Hoi An (B/-/-)
Day 5: Hoi An – My Son Holyland (B/-/-)
DAY 6: Hoi An Free Day (B/-/-)
Day 7: Hoi An – Hanoi (B/-/-)
DAY 8: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Sapa (B/-/-)
Day 10: Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van (B/-/-)
Day 11: Sapa – Local Market – Hanoi (B/-/-)
Day 12: Hanoi – Luang Prabang (B/-/-)
Day 13: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves - Ban Xiengmene (B/-/-)
Day 14: Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfall (B/-/-)
Day 15: Luang Prabang - Xieng Khoang (B/-/-)
Day 16: Xieng Khoang - Vientiane – Departure (B/-/-)

PRICE: USD/PAX

INCLUSIONS

• Private door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services
• Accommodation shared in Twin/Double room with daily breakfast
• Experienced English speaking guide
• Sightseeing as shown in the itinerary with all admissions
• Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner)
• Cruise trip on Halong Bay, Train from Hanoi - LaoCai - Hanoi
• Entrance fees according the above program
• Services charges and government tax
• No extra charge after confirmation
• 24/7 hotline support guaranteed

EXCLUSIONS

• All the International flight
• International departures taxes
• Travel insurance
• Surcharge for early check in and late check out the hotel
• Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
• All the meals which does not mentioned clearly above
• Peak season or Public holidays surcharge if any
• Compulsory Gala dinner on X-Mas or New Year if any
• Visas & Visa fees
• Other services not mentioned above

• DAY 1: ARRIVE HO CHI MINH (-/-/-)

  Welcome to Vietnam. Upon arrival at HCM Airport, you will be greeted by Vietsense tour guide and privately transferred to your lovely hotel. Settle in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

• DAY 2: HO CHI MINH – CU CHI TUNNELS (B/-/-)

  After a hearty breakfast at the hotel and take a morning tour to the Cu Chi Tunnel. Enjoy scenic drive through the countryside as people work on their rice paddies and thatched hut villages scattered along the way. Visit a local village making rice paper, a well-known product used to make the delicious spring rolls. Arriving at the Cu Chi Tunnels to explore part of the 151-mile underground network that zigzagged from the southern tip of the Ho Chi Minh Trail near Cambodia to the Saigon River.
  In the afternoon, get back to Ho Chi Minh city to discover Saigon’s historic landmarks to understand about Vietnam culture and history. Ending at Ben Thanh Market or House of Saigon for shopping and café. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

• DAY 3: HO CHI MINH CITY – MIGHTY MEKONG DELTA (B/-/-)

  After hearty breakfast at the hotel, leave the city by minivan and drive south to Cai Be in the Mekong delta. On arrival in Cai Be embarkation, set off by motor boat to visit the Cai Be floating market and watch the locals trading fruit and many other commodities on board their vessels. Visit a small family business to see how coconut candy and crispy rice popcorn are made. Then wander into the small villages to visit the orchard and fruit plantation, accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music. Keep cruising through a series of small canals to experience the charms of the Upper Mekong Delta.
  Afternoon we cycle around the village path with fruit orchards and bonsai garden. Cycle around the village path with fruit orchards and bonsai garden. Meet the local islanders to learn more about the local daily life in the Mekong delta. Take a boat ride back to Cai Be, meet your bus for the trip back to Ho Chi Minh city.

• DAY 4: HO CHI MINH – HOI AN (B/-/-)

  After breakfast, free at your leisure until you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival at Danang Airport, you will be privately transferred to Hoian and stayed at a lovely hotel. Settle in and enjoy the rest of day at your leisure.

• DAY 5: HOI AN – MY SON HOLYLAND (B/-/-)

  Morning tour to My Son holly land, a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu Temples constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa
  Leave My Son, drive to Hoian silk village for lunch and then discover how the traditions of the past are treasured in the present in Hoi An on the Thu Bon River, a key international trading port between the 15th and 19th centuries – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, visit the workshop of a traditional lantern maker for a demonstration of this time-honored craft; meet the artisans and try your skills as you create your own lantern to take home.
  End of the day, we enjoy a boat trip along the Thu Bon River seeing life along the river. This sunset river boat trip enables you to witness two special daily rituals: the passing parade of the local fishing fleet setting out to sea and the magic of the sun slowly sinking in the western sky.

• DAY 6: HOI AN FREE DAY (B/-/-)

  We can also hire a bicycle to see the countryside of Hoian or soak up the sun at the beautiful Cua Dai Beach. There is also a good chance to catch up with your tailor or search the numerous galleries for a masterpiece.

• DAY 7: HOI AN – HANOI (B/-/-)

  This morning, you’ll be transferred to Danang airport in time for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival at Hanoi Noi Bai Airport, you will be privately transferred to check in your lovely boutique hotel. Take some rest before go on an afternoon city tour. Drive through Colonial Hanoi, seeing the Opera House and other local sights. Continue to the Temple of Literature, which dates back to 1070 and is dedicated to the cult of Confucius. Next enjoy an cyclo tour through the Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as “The 36 Streets.” This is a wonderful place to watch the local life, and peruse items from fabrics to crafts to exotic medicines. Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet performance, a uniquely North Vietnamese art form celebrating rural life and folklore for over 1,000 years in this evening.

• DAY 8: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B/L/D)

  After breakfast you will leave Hanoi for the 3.5-hours journey to Halong Bay, passing through a number of North Vietnamese towns and villages. Upon arrival you will be welcomed aboard your traditional junk. A delicious fresh seafood lunch will be served as you cruise this spectacular bay, a UNESCO listed site.

• DAY 9: HALONG BAY – HANOI – SAPA (B/-/-)

  Wake up early in the morning to see the sunrise over the spectacular horizon, reflecting in the pristine waters of the bay, with a cup of tea or coffee. Then join a Tai Chi class on the sundeck if you wish before enjoying breakfast in the fresh air. Continue to sail around this natural wonder to explore the Bay. After that, return to the boat then check-out of the cabin, the crew will bid you farewell and you disembark to return Hanoi for a train to catch the overnight train to Lao Cai.

• DAY 10: SAPA – Y LINH HO – LAO CHAI – TA VAN (B/-/-)

  After hearty breakfast, today excursion begin to trek through beautiful landscape surrounded by rice paddy terraces and mountains covered by rain forest under the protection of Hoang Lien National Park. The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to Y Linh Ho village settled down by the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai. Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area.
  After that, continue to Ta Van village to observe and experience how the local do planting and harvesting, one of the most important activities in the daily life. After visiting Ta Van village, the car will return you to Sapa. Settle in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

• DAY 11: SAPA – LOCAL MARKET – HANOI (B/-/-)

  After breakfast you will be picked up again by your private local guide and driver and then depart Sapa for a 3-hour drive to one of the most colorful markets of the region. Option for choosing to Bac Ha – Sunday market, Can Cau – Saturday market, Lung Khau Nhin – Thursday market, Cao Son – Wednesday market, Coc Ly – Tuesday market. After the market tour, back to Lao Cai station to catch the overnight train back Hanoi.

• DAY 12: HANOI – LUANG PRABANG (B/-/-)

  Get back to Hanoi early this morning, free at your leisure until transfer to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, take some rest before your city tour to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Continue to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. If time permits, we will take a stroll around the city to visit Big Brother Mouse, which is the most famous bookshop in Laos. The next stop is Ock Pop Tock, meaning East Meets West, where you can learn about the traditional weaving in Laos. A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hill-tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

• DAY 13: LUANG PRABANG - PAK OU CAVES - BAN XIENGMENE (B/-/-)

  Wake up early to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. From there, we will take a short visit to the morning local market near the Royal Palace. This is chance for you to get a real flavor of the local culture.
  After breakfast, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, firstly stopping at Xiengmene Village, where visit Wat Long Khun temple and the limestone cave Tham Sakkarin, and a tour around Ban Xiengmene village. We then continue by boat up the Mekong which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well time to explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. Along the way back to the town, visit the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine and continue to typical Laos villages at Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek, well known for its handmade Jute Sar paper.

• DAY 14: LUANG PRABANG - KUANG SI WATERFALL (B/-/-)

  After breakfast, morning excursion to Elephant Village. On arrival at the camp, you can stroll around to make friends with some very big elephants before enjoying the elephant riding in about 30 minute to the nearby jungle. Then transfer to Kuang Si Waterfalls where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. Along the way, we take a short visit to the tomb of the 19th century French explorer Henri Mouhot; the first European to rediscover Angkor Wat and to visit the Royal Kingdom of Luang Prabang. Before get back to Luang Prabang, stop to visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park, one of the must-visit spots, newly opened on January 2014. Stop to visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, Khmu villages. Arriving in Luang Prabang, transfer to Wat Siphouthabath to admire the sunset.

• DAY 15: LUANG PRABANG - XIENG KHOANG (B/-/-)

  After breakfast, take an excursion over the mountains to Xieng Khuang, the province which is best-known for having been heavily bombed during Indochina War. But of course it is also famous for its historic Plain of Jars. The journey takes about 8 hours and we can make some stops at villages to observe the rural life of local people, including ethnic minorities such as the Hmong people. Arrival in Phonsavanh, the capital of Xiengkhouang province and check into your hotel & refresh.

• DAY 16: XIENG KHOANG - VIENTIANE – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

  Today is your final day. You are free to chill out and relax. Depending on your departure flight, your private driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the airport in time for your flight to the next destination. They will ensure you are the correct gate. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey.