Northern Vietnam & Laos Discover 12 days

Upon arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, you will be greeted by an English-speaking guide. Hanoi is renowned for its emphasis on the arts and learning, and local law ensures that the buildings maintain a small, simple, tube-style architecture that harmonizes with the city’s age-old colonial ambiance.

You will have the opportunity to explore all that Hanoi has to offer, including a unique water puppet show. This will be followed by a welcome dinner at one of the finest restaurants in the city, after which you will enjoy a restful overnight stay at your hotel.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Dinner

At 8 AM, you will be picked up by a driver and depart for a 2-hour journey to the west of the capital, allowing you to escape the bustling city. As you approach the summit of Ba Vi Mountain, you will be awestruck by the breathtaking scenery, with sprawling mountain ranges and a variety of crops dotting the hills.

Upon arrival, you will embark on a short trek through the cloud forest, leading you to the Uncle Ho Temple or the Tan Vien “Mountain God” Temple.

After enjoying the fresh air of the national park, you will rejoin your vehicle and travel to the Duong Lam Ancient Village, the only village in Vietnam that is designated as a national heritage monument. Upon arrival, you will savor a delicious lunch at a local family’s home, which dates back to the 17th century.

Following the meal, you will take a leisurely bike ride through the village’s alleyways and past ancient temples. During this ride, you will stop at the Ngo Quyen Temple, which honors the individual who freed Vietnam from 1,000 years of Chinese domination, as well as the Phung Hung Temple, which was the residence of a military leader who briefly ruled over Vietnam during the 8th century. This visit will provide you with insights into Vietnam’s history dating back 1,000 years.

Finally, you will return to your vehicle for the transfer back to your hotel.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

The day’s tour will take you around Hanoi’s must-see highlights, starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This includes a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and his stilt house, as well as the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda, allowing you to learn about the Buddhist practices in Vietnam.

Next, you will have the opportunity to visit the historic Temple of Literature, which dates back to the 11th century. Continuing the tour, you will explore the Ethnology Museum, a highly informative museum featuring both indoor and outdoor exhibitions.

Afterward, you will head to Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you can stroll through the narrow streets that were once famous for their specialized craft-making guilds. These streets still bear the names of the products or locations they were known for.

Following this, you will have a light break at a small hotel near the train station. In the evening, our staff will escort you to your cabin on the train bound for Lao Cai, where you will spend the night on the train.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Upon arrival at the Lao Cai train station around 6 AM, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Sapa, which is about a 1-hour drive. Once in Sapa, you will have breakfast and check into your hotel, subject to early check-in availability and hotel policy.

You will then have some free time to explore the town on your own. In the afternoon, you will embark on an enjoyable walking tour of the Cat Cat village, home to the Hmong minority people. During this tour, you will have the opportunity to engage in cultural interactions with the families living in the area before heading back to Sapa in the late afternoon. The overnight stay will be in Sapa.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at your hotel, you will take a car ride approximately 5 km northeast of Sapa to visit the Matra village, home to the Hmong people.

From there, you will embark on a 4-hour trek through the mountains, reaching Ta Phin village, a traditional handicraft village inhabited by the Red Dzao and Black Hmong minorities. The Ta Phin village is surrounded by stunning mountain landscapes.

In the afternoon, you will have some free time to explore the Sapa markets in town. Late in the afternoon, you will be brought back to the Lao Cai Railway station for an overnight train journey to Hanoi.

*Note: If your visit falls on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday, we will recommend visiting some of the most beautiful markets in northwest Vietnam.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Around 5:00 AM, you will arrive at Hanoi, where our staff will pick you up from the train station. You will then have some time to rest and enjoy breakfast at a small hotel near the Hanoi train station.

At 8:00 AM, you will depart Hanoi for Halong Bay, a journey that will take approximately 2.5-3 hours. Upon arrival, you will board the boat at around noon. Halong Bay is a magical destination, home to thousands of limestone islands that rise from the waves like the teeth of a dragon.

In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit an interesting fishing village, where you can interact with the fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you will be able to enjoy cocktails or cooking classes while watching the sunset, before indulging in a lavish dinner.

After dinner, you can choose to participate in various activities, such as joining a movie night, playing board games, or relaxing at the onboard beauty spa before retiring for the evening.

Tour guide: English speaking guide on board

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Charming Halong Bay

You’ll start your day with a morning Tai Chi exercise and the opportunity to witness the sunrise over the serene Halong Bay. Following this, you’ll enjoy breakfast on board.

After breakfast, you’ll be taken to explore a beautiful limestone grotto before returning to the junk boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay as you cruise back to the dock. Check-out will be at around noon, and you’ll then be transported back to Hanoi.

Once in Hanoi, you’ll have free time to shop or explore the vibrant nightlife of the Old Quarter. Overnight accommodations will be provided at your hotel.

Tour guide: English speaking guide on board

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch

Today is a free and easy day, giving you the opportunity to relax, shop in the Old Quarter, or explore Hanoi on your own.

Alternatively, you may choose to join an optional day tour to Ninh Binh, which is located approximately 2.5 hours from Hanoi. During this tour, you’ll visit the Tam Coc-Kenh Ga region, where you’ll glide down a narrow stream on a sampan, passing through caves and lush green paddy fields, giving you a sense of being in a true paradise. The drive to and from Ninh Binh will also allow you to take in the beautiful and scenic rural landscapes along the way.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast (Lunch applied if visiting Ninh Binh)

After breakfast at your hotel in Hanoi, you will have free time until your check-out. You will then be transferred to the airport for your afternoon flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be welcomed by our driver and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at your own leisure.

Overnight accommodations will be provided in Luang Prabang.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will embark on a cruise up the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves, also known as Tam Ting. These two caves are carved into towering limestone cliffs and contain thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues. You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant during the river cruise.

In the afternoon, you will be driven through the Luang Prabang countryside to the Kuang Si Waterfalls, located approximately 32 km southwest of the city. At the waterfalls, you will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. You will also visit the nearby bear sanctuary, which is run by the Free The Bears Fund Inc.

Later in the afternoon, you will climb to the top of Mount Phousi to enjoy the sunset over the town of Luang Prabang.

Overnight accommodations will be provided in Luang Prabang.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you will be picked up from your hotel in Luang Prabang at 9:00 AM by your guide. Your first stop will be the local Phosy Market, where you can observe the local residents obtaining their daily supplies.

After the market, you will bike to visit several notable sites in Luang Prabang, including the National Museum, the important Wat Mai from 1796, which showcases the graceful Luang Prabang architecture, and the glamorous Wat Xieng Thong at the end of the peninsula. During these visits, you will learn more about the interesting history of Laos and the kingdoms that have influenced this place.

You will then continue your bike ride to the Ock Pop Tok, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving traditional weaving techniques. Here, you will have the opportunity to learn about the entire process of silk weaving, from creating the dyes to the final loom weaving.

Following the weaving demonstration, you will take a short ride to the Elephant Village, an outdoor facility focused on elephant preservation. You will have the chance to try elephant riding on these well-trained, calm elephants.

Around noon, you will have free time to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the ancient Wat Visoun, dating back to the 16th century. Another highlight will be the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center, where you can learn about the diverse ethnic groups in Laos.

You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at your hotel, you will have the morning free at your own leisure. You may use this time for any last-minute shopping for souvenirs.

At the appropriate check-out time, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home, marking the end of the services provided during your stay in Luang Prabang.

Tour guide: None

Meal: Breakfast