Northern Vietnam & Laos Discover 12 days

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a guide upon arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, which celebrated its 1000 year anniversary in 2010. With its emphasis on the arts and learning, local law stipulates that buildings in Hanoi remain small, simple tube style and in harmony with its age-old colonial ambiance. You will be able to explore all the city has to offer before taking in a unique water puppet show. Followed by a welcome dinner in one of the finest restaurants in the city. You’ll then have a restful overnight stay at the hotel.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Dinner

At 8 am you will get pick up by our driver then depart for about 2 hours to the west of the capital to get out of this busy city.  As you approach the summit of Ba Vi Mountain, you will be amazed by the breathtaking scenery with mountain ranges, and a variety of crops along the hills. Upon arrival, start a short trek through the cloud forest up to Uncle Ho Temple or Tan Vien “Mountain God” Temple.

After enjoying the fresh air of the national park, rejoin your vehicle and move to Duong Lam Ancient Village, the only village in Vietnam listed as a national heritage monument. Upon arrival, enjoy a tasty lunch at a local family whose house dates back from the 17th century. After lunch, take your bike and ride leisurely past village alleyways and ancient temples. Stop at Ngo Quyen (who freed Vietnam from 1000 years Chinese domination) and Phung Hung (a military leader who briefly reigned over Vietnam during the 8th century) Temples to learn about the history of Vietnam 1000 years ago. Finally, return to your vehicle for your transfer back to your hotel. 

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

The full day tour takes you around Hanoi’s highlights sites including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and his stilt house, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda to learn about Buddhist practices in Vietnam. You also have a chance to visit historic University – The Temple of Literature dates back to the 11th century. Continue the trip to Ethnology Museum the very informative museum including indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Back to the Old Quarter to walk through the narrow streets that were famous for its specialized craft making guilds, the guild streets were named for their product or location and still bear such names nowadays. Afterward, have a light break at a small hotel near to the train station. Then later that evening, our staff will escort you to your cabin on the train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Arrive at Lao Cai train station at around 6 am. Pick up and transfer to hotel in Sapa (1-hour drive). Once in Sapa, have breakfast and check-in to your hotel (the early check-in is upon availability and hotel’s policy). Some free time is offered to explore the town by yourself. The afternoon is started by an enjoyable walking tour to the hill tribe village of Cat Cat, home to the H’mong minority peoples. You will have the opportunity to get cultural interaction with the families that live in the area before heading back to Sapa in the late afternoon. Overnight in Sapa.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, by 8.30 am, take a car ride 5 km to the North East of Sapa. From here, take off a car to visit Matra village of the H’ mong people. After this village, do a 4-hour trek through the mountain and reach Ta Phin village – a handy craft traditional village of 2 different minorities: the Red Dzao and the Black H’ mong. The Ta Phin village is surrounded by mountains and the landscapes are beautiful. Have some free time in the afternoon to explore Sapa markets in town. Late afternoon, we bring you back to Lao Cai Railway station for overnight train to Hanoi. Overnight is on the train.

*If today is Tuesday, Thursday, Sat or Sunday, we will recommend visiting some of the most beautiful markets in North West Vietnam

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Around 5.00 am, Arrives at Hanoi and our staff picks you up at the train station. Rest and breakfast in a small hotel near the Hanoi train station. At 08:00, you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay (3.5-hour drive) and board the boat at noontime. The magical bay is home to thousands of limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons’ teeth. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you’ll enjoy cocktails or cooking classes while watching the sunset, before indulging in a lavish dinner on board. Afterward, you can choose to do anything from joining movie night, playing board games, or relaxing at the beauty spa before retiring for the evening.

Tour guide: English speaking guide on board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

December is the wonderful time for travelers to visit Halong Bay as you can have chance to join themed parties and GALA dinners on board for Christmas and New Year's Eve

You’ll start the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise and an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will be taken to a beautiful limestone grotto before returning to the junk for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Check out at noontime and the vehicle is waiting for you to take you back to Hanoi. Free time to shop or chill out the nightlife in the Old Quarter. Overnight at your hotel.

Tour guide: English speaking guide on board

Meals: Brunch

A free and easy day to relax or shop at the Old Quarter or to do some of your own explorations.
Optional day tour to Ninh Binh (2,5hour drive from Hanoi): a visit to Tam Coc- Kenh ga, where you’ll glide down a narrow stream on a sampan, passing through caves and green paddy fields that will make you feel you are somewhere in paradise. The drive back and forth is rewarded with the beautiful and scenic rural landscape along.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast (Lunch applied if visit Ninh Binh)

This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, you will be free till check-out time and then drive to Airport for your afternoon flight to Luang Prabang. 

Arrive in Luang Prabang, welcome by our driver, transfer to the hotel. Free time at your own leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will embark on a cruise up the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves. Locally referred to as Tam Ting, these two caves are carved out of towering limestone cliffs and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. Lunch is served in a local restaurant. Afternoon, you will be driven through Luang Prabang countryside to Kuang Si Waterfalls (32km southwest of the city). Upon reaching Kuang Si Waterfall, relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. Visit the bear sanctuary which is next to the falls, run by Free The Bears Fund Inc. Back in town, climb up to the top of Mount Phousi and enjoy the sunset over the town. Overnight is in Luang Prabang.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

You will be picked up at your hotel in  Luang Prabang at 9:00 am by your guide and then proceed to the local morning Phosy Market where you can see the locals getting their daily supplies. Then bike to visit the National Museum, the important Wat Mai from 1796 which emphasizes the graceful Luang Prabang architecture, and the glamorous Wat Xieng Thong on the end of the peninsula. Learn more about the interesting Lao history and the kingdoms which inherited this place in former times. Later continue your ride to the Ock Pop Tock, a non-profit organization that seeks to preserve traditional weaving techniques. We will spend some time learning about the process of silk weaving from the initial stages of creating the dyes to the final process of loom weaving. From here take a short ride to the Elephant Village, an outdoor facility focused on elephant preservation. You will have some times to try elephant riding – those are natural well-trained elephants with calm personality. Around noon enjoy some free time for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will proceed to visit the ancient Wat Visoun dated back to the 16th century. Another highlight of this tour is the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center where you learn many things about today’s ethnic diversity in Laos. Overnight is in Luang Prabang.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel – Free at own leisure or last minute shopping for souvenirs until check out time and transfer to the airport for your flight home. End of services.

Tour guide: None

Meal: Breakfast