Highlights:
- Visit Luang Prabang to see the Kuang Si Waterfalls and thousands of Buddha images during your riverboat to Pak Ou caves.
- Explore the Plain of Jars and the old capital of Muang Khoun
- Sail through hundreds of limestone karsts that rise dramatically from the emerald waters of Halong Bay
- Take a adventure to the north of Vietnam: Ha Giang and Sapa.
- Experience to do rice planting and go fishing in Hoi an.
- Explore the Mekong Delta culture and lifestyle
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: LUANG PRABANG ARRIVAL
Landing at Luang Prabang International Airport, our driver will pick you up at airport terminal and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Inclusion: Airport pick up service, accommodation.
DAY 2: LUANG PRABANG – KHUANG SI WATERFALL – PAK OU CAVES (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
This morning we drive to Khouangsi Waterfall stopping along the way to visit the morning Phousi Market, this where all locals of Luang Prabang come to do their daily shopping. You will see a variety of local foodstuffs and products including dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, fish, vegetables and fruit, everything needed for daily life in Laos.
On arrival at the Khouangsi Waterfall you will have the opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim in the topaz pools below the falls, walk along the forest trails and visit the Bear Sanctuary. You will also enjoy a picnic lunch below the falls.
Upon return to Luang Prabang we board our private boat for a pleasant and scenic cruise up on the Mekong River to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. These caves are an ancient pilgrimage site and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha images left there over hundreds of years.
Returning to Luang Prabang we disembark our boat and have the option of taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving or returning to the hotel for free time to relax. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, meals, entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 3: LUANG PRABANG – XIENG KHOUANG (BREAKFAST / LUNCH/-)
Today we depart early for a drive through spectacular scenery to Xiengkhouang Province, the home of the Plain of Jars. There are many stunning photo opportunities along the way and a couple of stops to explore hill tribe villages. After check in at your hotel in Phonsavan there will be time to go for a wonder through town, visit the MAG Centre or chill out over a drink at the hotel. Overnight in Xiengkhouang.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, meals, entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 4: XIENG KHOUANG – PLAIN OF JARS AND MUANG KHOUN (BREAKFAST /LUNCH/-)
This morning we head out to explore the Plain of Jars. We will be visiting Sites 1, 2 & 3 as well as taking a short trek to a Tai Dam and Lao Leum village along the way.
Following lunch we drive on to explore the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people. Overnight in Xiengkhouang.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, meals, entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 5: XIENG KHUANG – LUANG PRABANG (BREAKFAST / LUNCH/-)
On our way out of town this morning we have time to visit the interesting Phonsavan Central Market and then drive on to Luang Prabang arriving there midafternoon.
After check in at your hotel you can explore the town or relax at the hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, meals, entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 6: LUANG PRABANG – FLY TO HANOI (BREAKFAST/-/-)
Free and easy visit Luang Prabang, until our driver will pick you up at hotel and transfer to airport, fly to Hanoi. At 18:10, Another driver will pick you up at airport and transfer to hotel. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, meals, entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 7: HANOI – HALONG BAY (BREAKFAST /LUNCH/DINNER)
08:00 – 08:30: Our tour guide and bus pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter.
08:30: Departure to Halong Bay for 3.5 Hours.
10:00: Arrive in Hai Duong province, and have 20 minute short break.
12:00: Arrive to Tuan Chau harbor, 12:15 Welcome to cruise and enjoy Welcome drink, get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Check-in your cabin.
12:30: Enjoy Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch, while cruising in the magnificent Halong Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay.
15:00: You at Tung Gau Area. The airy and fresh air, cool breezes, blue sea and sky, and natural seascape will captivate any visitors setting foot here. Especially, Tung Gau of Lan Ha Bay is extremely suitable for enjoying kayaking and swiming and then Visiting Halong Pearl Farm Village
17.30: Come back to our cruise and relax.
19:30: Time for dinner enjoying special food on the cruise.
21:00: Evening entertainments: play game on the cruise: cards game, chess, karaoke, squid fishing, and overnight on the cruise.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English Speaking Guide, All entrance fees, activies, meals, accommodation on cruise
DAY 8: HALONG BAY – HANOI (BREAKFAST /LUNCH/-)
06.30: Early morning sun risers can enjoy Tai Chi lesson on sundeck.
07.00: Morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast.
08:00: Arriving Sung Sot Cave (Amazing Cave) and joining with guide to visiting and explore the cave
10:00: Check-out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay. Join cooking class guided directly by Chef of Rosa Boutique cruise. You have chance to practice Vietnamese traditional dishes such as spring roll or famous cuisine of Vietnam.
11:00: Enjoy the lunch on cruise.
12:00: Rosa Cruise are landing Halong Bay harbor, tourist say goodbye to sailors and finish the cruise.
12:30: Return to Hanoi by shuttle bus.
14:30: Stopover in Hai Duong province to visit a ceramics workshop.
16:00 – 16:30: Arrive in Hanoi.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 9: HANOI – QUAN BA (BREAKFAST/ LUNCH/DINNER)
At 07:30 Am: Our tourguide and car will pick you up at hotel in Hanoi and drive to Ha Giang. The drive to Ha Giang takes around 6 hours but is some of the most breathtaking in Vietnam. Then, take a scenic drive to Quan Ba, a small town in the province with stops en route for photographs at Heaven’s Gate and the Fairy Mountain. Have local lunch on the way. Check in homestay at Nam Dam village at the end of the day. Have herbal bath by local herbal at lodge. Dinner at the homestay.
Evening, you will take part in “Le cap sac”, an initiation ritual marking a young man’s entry into manhood or a traditional wedding ceremony. Stay overnight in Nam Dam village, Quan Ba.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 10: QUAN BA – LUNG TAM VILLAGE - DONG VAN (BREAKFAST /LUNCH/ DINNER)
Breakfast at the homestay. Morning, depart to visit Lung Tam weaving village. In this village of the H’mong minority, we will learn how to make hemp fabrics from locally grown hemp in Northwest Vietnam. There, you will have an opportunity to talk to the local people to learn about their way of life, culture and customs.
After that, continue the undulating terrain, between 700m and 1,300m in altitude, through extraordinary mountainous landscapes and terraced paddy fields. Stop at Sung La to discover a LoLo house and its people (the Lo Lo minority is one of Vietnam’s least-common ethnic people and are only found within this region). Afterwards, visit the impressive ancient H’mong King Palace before reaching Dong Van town. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, visit Lung Cu Flag Tower – North pole of Vietnam - this is the landmark with important historical signifiance. Arrive in Dong Van in afternoon, check in hotel. Have dinner and stay overnight at hotel in Dong Van.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 11: DONG VAN – MEO VAC – HA GIANG (BREAKFAST /LUNCH/DINNER)
After breakfast and have a cup of coffee at Dong Van town – plateau of rock mountain, relaxing a short time at this mountain town, we start our long journey to Meo Vac through villages. Visit the Ma Pi Leng Pass – the one of 4 wonder highest pass in Vietnam, take the panorama view of the beautiful Nho Que river flows around mountain ranges, the best views in North East of Vietnam. Lunch on the way. Arrive in Ha Giang. Check in the family host upon arrival and time at leisure for a stroll around. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner and stay overnight at homestay in Ha Giang.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 12: HA GIANG – SAPA (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
After breakfast at homestay, we start our journey to Sapa ( it takes 6 hours ). Arrive in Sapa in the afternoon. Lunch at local restaurant in Sapa. Check in hotel. Free visit Sapa. Stay overnight in Sapa.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 13: TREKKING TO Y LINH HO – LAO CHAI - TA VAN – RETURN HANOI (BREAKFAST /LUNCH/-)
After breakfast, our tour guide will pick you up and walk down to the south east of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa Valley to Y Linh Ho village of the Black H’mong. Continue a 2km trekking down to Lao Chai Village, through terraced rice fields to Ta Van village of the Dzay minority people. We will have lunch at a local family, it gives you a worth chance for you to learn about the local house architecture which is full of their daily life styles and exclusive custom. Enjoy landscapes… on the way. Last trek is about 2Km to Ta Van village. Get on private car back to Sapa town, collect all luggages and transfer you back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at around 09:00 Pm, drop you off at hotel. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 14: HOA LU – TAM COC – FLY TO HUE (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
At 07:30 Am, Our guide will pick you up at hotel and depart to Ninh Binh. Then continue to Hoa Lu, the ancient citadel of Vietnam in 10th century. Visiting temples of two Kings: Dinh and Le. You will have buffet lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we continue to visit Tam Coc, take a boat trip to visit 03 caves which considered as Halong bay on land. Biking around the countryside roads near Tam Coc area and after that you get on car return Hanoi. Transfer direct to airport, fly to Hue, Another driver will pick you up at airport and transfer to hotel. Stay overnight in Hue.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A,C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 15: HUE CITY TOUR (BREAKFAST /LUNCH/-)
At 08:00 Am, our driver will pick you up at hotel and then start our Hue City tour.
We start visit : Minh Mang tomb and Khai Dinh tomb and Thanh Tien Paper flower village, then have lunch, afterward, go to visit Imperial Citadel and boat trip on Perfume River. Check in hotel and stay overnight in Hue.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 16: HUE – MOTORBIKE TOUR TO HOI AN (BREAKFAST /LUNCH/-)
At 08:00 Am, pick you up at hotel, you will seat on the back side of our driver guide, leaving Hue in the morning our first stop is Elephant Springs where you can wade in the rock pools.
Next we stop for photos at Lang Co Beach before traveling over the Hai Van Pass. Hai Van means "Sea of Clouds" and when crossing the top of the Pass you are literally surrounded by clouds on one side with stunning ocean views on the other.
Next we travel through Danang to a stop at the famous China Beach with its fine white sand. Marble Mountains our final stop are 5 marble outcrops topped with delicate pagodas.
Don't worry about your luggage as our bikes are equipped to carry it.
But if you are traveling with hard suitcases or a large number of bags we can easily arrange for them to meet you in Hoi An. Stay overnight in Hoi An.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 17: RICE PLANTING AND FISHING (BREAKFAST /LUNCH/-) – FLY TO HO CHI MINH
Picking you up at hotel by mini- van, we will bring you over the countryside where bike are available to ride .You start the day by cycling to the local farmer in Cam Thanh Ecological village. Here you are greeted by a local host and then you join with them how to grow wet rice with their family.
Starting farming work like plough and raking with buffalo, riding water buffalo, learning how to transplant rice, flooding farm, grinding rice, pounding rice.
After then, our guide and van will bring down to a local fishing village . You will be boarded on boat . Joining to go fishing with local fishermen at Phuoc Hai local fishing boat to experience local cast net CHAI. Continue to visit water coconut palm jungle, enjoying the basket boat and visiting the water coconut palm forest. Learn how to learn origami such as grasshoppers, flowers, rings, caps, bracelets toys made from water coconut leaves..., Jungle walk and join for a mock battle with mud attack for fun. and afterthen boarding back boat, our Captain Cook will cook for your lunch and cold beer or soft drink we will bring you back to hotel. Our driver pick you up at hotel and transfer to airport fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Another driver will pick you up at airport and transfer to hotel. Stay overnight in HCMC.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 18: HO CHI MINH – CAI BE – VINH LONG – CAN THO (BREAKFAST / LUNCH/-)
Depart Ho Chi Minh City around 8h30 Am for a scenic morning drive to Cai Be, stopping en route at the ornate Cao Dai Temple. From Cai Be ,take a boat trip along the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries to view the daily lives of people who work and play on the waterways of the Mekong Delta.The trip includes a visit to the floating market at Cai Be,and a family-run business producing pop rice,coconut candy,rice paper- a key ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine.Lunch is on an island mid-river,in a local house set amongst fruit orchards and bonsai trees and then followed by a performance of traditional Vietnamese music. Continue to Vinh Long by sampan boat and proceed by car to Can Tho for overnight.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 19: CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET – HO CHI MINH (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
Breakfast at the hotel. Take a leisure boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong River (Bassac River) then visit to Cai Rang floating market which is the liveliest one in the whole of region.
Walking trip to visit the fruit plantation and local noodle factory.
Visit Binh Thuy communal house and Munir Ansay Pagoda - a Khmer pagoda, renowned for its unique structure. Have lunch and return to Ho Chi Minh City. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 20: HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI TUNNELS (BREAKFAST / LUNCH/-)
08:30 am we will start city tour to visit War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, followed by exploring Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office
We will have lunch before go to Cu Chi to explore the amazing site where Viet Cong hid during the War. It is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists - the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a "Free Target Zone". Visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed before entering the tunnels. Spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food in war time). Return to hotel. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, entrance fees, meals, English speaking guide, accommodation.
DAY 21: HO CHI MINH DEPART (BREAKFAST/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel then our driver will pick you up at hotel and transfer to airport, fly home or next destination. Tour ends.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, Accommodation.
