Vietnam – Laos Exploration 14 Days

Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide who will escort you to a waiting vehicle for your transfer to downtown with a brief introduction en route. Your guide will be holding a welcome signboard with the ASIA TOUR ADVISOR LOGO & your name. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the tree-lined boulevards, French Indochinese architecture and tranquil lakes of this unique city.

Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city and home to seven million people. Traditional and refined with French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards, scenic lakes and a bustling Old Quarter, Hanoi has a sophisticated charm. Observe locals practicing Tai Chi by the lake, with barbers and food vendors plying their sidewalk trade.

Notes:
+ Hotel check-in time is from 14:00/ early check-in subject to room availability
+ We’re flexible to switch the itinerary if you want to start/finish your trip in another city

After breakfast at your hotel .The guide pick you up at your hotel and then visit the capital of Vietnam, a city that celebrated 1.000 years in 2010 has countless fascinating cultural and historic sites and our days' tour will visit the highlights.

See the grand and solemn mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov), the 'icon of Hanoi' - The One Pillar Pagoda, West Lake's Tran Quoc temple. After lunch, visit the beautiful Temple of Literature, take a cycle for visiting the bustling Old Quarter .

Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure or on your own activities.

About 08:00 – 8h30am: We pick you up at your hotel, departure for Hoa Lu - Tam Coc, enjoying the beautiful sceneries of the rural areas on the way.

10.30: After arriving in Ninh Binh province, the guide takes you to visit Hoa Lu - the Ancient Royal capital of Viet Nam. We will visit Dinh king temple and Le king temple.In the 10th century, finding out the heroic histories of this two Kings in Chinese Wars. After that, we go to Tam Coc (10 km far from Hoa Lu).Have lunch at local restaurant.

After lunch you will get on bamboo boat - rowed by the local people - in Hoang Long river to visit Tam Coc (three caves) on the way. You pass through three enormous caves that provide a brief respite from the intense summer sun.

It takes approximately two hours to go up and down the river and along the way, you witness local fisherfolk, village life along the river and, of course, the striking limestone karst formations that Tam Coc is famous for.If you like to go biking, it is a good idea. You will have chance to visit real villages and amazing landscapes by bicycle about one hour (from Restaurant).
16.00: We take the car come back Ha Noi and will be in Hanoi around 18:00. Enjoy your leisure evening.

We'll pick you up at hotel and drive through the verdant Red River Delta to make our way to the famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay. You'll board a luxury junk ship for an overnight cruise-- while you relax on-board you can marvel at the incredible limestone karsts that jut out of the sea and the thousands of jungle-covered islands that seem to float on the waves. The turquoise waters of the Gulf of Tonkin swirl around hidden grottoes and ancient caves to create an enchanting, timeless world.

We'll serve you a fresh seafood lunch while you sit back and relax as you enjoy the incredible view with a drink in your hand. We'll take you to a traditional fishing village where the locals have created an entire town on the decks of their boats, then you can explore Tien Ong Cave before returning to the cruise for cocktails, canapés, and a spectacular sunset. End your day with a romantic, candlelit dinner.

Begin the day with a Tai Chi class on deck in the early morning mist or just admire the beautiful scenery as the sun rises over the azure waters. Choose between an excursions to a secluded island with a sandy beach for a swim or join the chef for a cooking demonstration to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine. Enjoy a leisurely brunch while your junk cruises Halong Bay, passing islets and caves as you make your way back to the dock.

Your driver will meet you when you disembark and transfer you straight to the airport for a short flight to Luang Prabang/Laos. Upon arrival, you will be met outside the baggage claim area by your guide who will escort you to a waiting vehicle for your transfer to downtown with a brief introduction en route. Check in to hotel & relax.

After your enjoyable breakfast at your hotel, your Laos tour guide takes you to the nearby pier for a short river cruise. The Mekong River is beautiful and makes for a relaxing start to the day. The surrounding countryside is both tranquil and picturesque. We will take you to visit the village of Ban Xanghai, famous for its distilled local rice wine.

You will then arrive at the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. These are packed full with thousands of golden statues of the Buddha. On the return journey you will take a short drive to Ban ZangKhong. In this village the local people hand weave beautiful silk materials. The day ends with your Laos tour guide returning you to your hotel for the overnight stay.

After breakfast, we drive to Living Land Lao Organic farm at Pung Van village. Upon arrival, your guide and the representative of the farm briefs about the historical and activity of the farm. Today attending a half day of rice experience including growing ride until stream ride. We also have time to visit the Organic products after rice experience.

Afternoon, transfer you back to town. We drive out of town 30KM to the beautiful KuangSii Fall, where you can swim, relax, soft trek to the top of the fall. On return short stop at Black Hmong Village, where hill tribe hand-made handicraft as souvenirs for visitors pass by. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today will be taking around 6 to 7 hour drive to XiengKhuoang. Between 1964 and 1973 this whole area was devastated by American bombing and is the most bombed area per capita in the world. We will take you to see the Plain Of Jars 1, an extraordinary piece of local history.

Hundreds of stone jars, of origin unknown, litter the countryside, Also visit site 2. We will also make time to take in the villages and old capital of MuangKhoun Province. This area is home to the fascinating Hmong hill tribe people. Day 4 of your Laos vacation ends with an overnight stop in Phonsavanh.

After breakfast, Visit Phonsavanh Market to see local lives, we then visit MAG Office, where you can find information about sites and unexploded bombs in Laos.

After that transfer you to Phonsavanh Airport for a short afternoon flight to Vientiane (flight QV402 at 1320-1350pm) Upon arrival in the country’s capital you will be taken to your hotel where this Laos tour has organized your overnight stay. The rest of the day is free and relax at your leisurely. Overnight in Vientiane.

Today starts with breakfast at the hotel then your Laos tour guide will escort you to see the City sights. WatSisaket houses 6840 miniature statues of the Buddha and is a must see for any Laos vacation. The famous Emerald Buddha housed in Bangkok’s WatPrakeow, used to be kept in WatPrakeo here in Vientiane. Now it is home to many other statues. On the way to see That Luang Stupa you may stop to photograph the Patuxai monument. This victory arch commemorates the war dead and is known locally as The Vertical Runway, because it was built from concrete that was intended for use on the airport.

Afternoon, we start to visit the major sight out of town about 30 km, visit Buddha Park, a blend of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures created by mystical monk on parkland located by the Mekong River and the impressive Lao- Thai Friendship Bridge. En route stop at Lao/Thai Bridge, taking photos before continue to the park. Overnight in Vientiane.

Your Laos tour guide will transfer you to the airport for the early morning flight to Pakse. You will take the flight QV 305 at 0800-0850am. You will be met at the airport by one of our Laos tour guides and driven to Saravanh Province via Tateng. The scenery is superb as we travel towards the Tad Fan waterfall. Local farmers grow coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas and many other crops. Time will be made for you to wander off the beaten track to discover this lushly vegetated area.

This part of your Laos vacation will give you a glimpse of the way of life on the Boloven Plateau. Upon arrival at the waterfall we will visit the nearby villages of Alak, Nge and Katu. The day is completed by arrival and check in at your hotel. Over accommodation has been arranged in Pakse by your Laos tour operator.

After breakfast on day 8 your Laos tour driver will take you to the Khong Island region. Here you will visit the dramatic pre-Angkorian ruins of WatPhu.

You may explore the hilltop ruins of what is yet another Unesco World Heritage site. The spectacular Khmer ruins date back to the 9th century. You will continue on your road journey into the 4,000 islands region. Overnight in Khong island.

You will take breakfast again at your hotel, before boarding a long tail boat and travelling to the Don Khone area. On the way we will see the Liphi waterfall or “The Corridor Of The Devil”. Returning to the mainland we will visit the fishing village of Ban Nakasang before heading out to see KhonePhapheng, the biggest waterfall in Southeast Asia.

This spectacular waterfall, close to the border with Cambodia, is surrounded by lush vegetation and incredible wildlife. We then return to Pakse in the afternoon where you may relax and retire for the evening.

After breakfast, proceed to airport for the flight back home or to next destiation. Tour ends.
Thank you for traveling with us & we wish to see you in the next trips.