Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (-)
Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be picked up and driven to downtown Hanoi. Check-in at the hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the day.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi – City Tour (B, L)
You will kick off this journey with a visit of the millennium city, Hanoi. Thanks to the architecture of its buildings, blending both local and western styles, charming little streets, wide lakes, and large boulevards enhanced by lush vegetation, Hanoi is certainly one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in Vietnam. In the morning, you will visit Ho Chi Minh City Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, and Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) –1st national university in the history of the country.
After a good lunch at a local restaurant, you will go to West Lake (Ho Tay), the largest in Hanoi, where you will visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist site in the city. Later, you will go to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, where you will learn about the diversity of the Vietnamese people. After that, you will enjoy a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and in the Old Quarter, famous for its 36 streets – each one of them being a place where merchants specialize in a particular trade (such as jewelry or silk). You will end the day with the famous water puppet show, a must-do when you are in Hanoi.
Dinner on your own and free time in the evening.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)
We will leave Hanoi around 8:00am and drive through the Red River Delta region, before finally reaching Ha Long port of embarkation. Then, you will board a magnificent junk and enjoy a delicious lunch onboard, while the vessel cruises through the jaw-dropping landscape made of karst islets floating on emerald waters. Ha Long Bay is officially listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
In the afternoon, you will visit “Surprise Cave” (Sung Sot), the largest in the Bay, where you will see imposing stalactites and stalagmites. Later, you will have free time to swim in the bay, take a kayak to explore the surroundings, or just relax on the boat while admiring the beautiful scenery. You will have a nice dinner around 7:30pm.
Overnight on the junk boat in Ha Long Bay.
Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi (B, L, D)
Wake up in the morning and admire the sunrise while having a nice breakfast. The vessel will continue to cruise. You will then board a sampan for an excursion and visit the area. Later, you will go back to the boat and enjoy a brunch, before disembarking at the pier around 11:30am.
You will then be driven back to Hanoi. Free time for the rest of the day.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi – Duong Lam – Nghia Lo (B, L, D)
You will start the day with a trip to Duong Lam, an ancient town located on the edge of Hanoi. Duong Lam is famous for its 100-year old traditional houses designed with a typical Vietnamese architecture. In Duong Lam, you will also visit the entrance gate of the village, secular banyan, Mong Phu communal house, and Mia Pagoda, among others.
Then, you head back on the road and at around 50 km from Duong Lam, you will see the first hills covered with tea plantations and peasants picking tea leaves. Later, you will stop to see the water wheels – an original irrigation method used by the Thai ethnic group. Finally, you will reach Nghia Lo in late afternoon. There, you will enjoy a walk to visit Nghia An Village (inhabited by the Black Thai group) and discover their traditional stilt houses.
Overnight in Nghia Lo (either homestay or hotel).
Day 6: Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Khau Pha – Nga Ba Kim – La Pan Tan – Mu Cang Chai (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will ride along the famous Road No32 leading to Mu Cang Chai. While driving on this stretch of 100 km, you can marvel at extravagant rice terraces. Next, we stop at Khau Pha Pass to enjoy a beautiful view on Tu Le Valley.
We will head to Nga Ba Kim, then for 6-km, hike through La Pan Tan rice terraces, classified by the Vietnamese government as "National Heritage". After a stop at a Thai village, we will head to Mu Cang Chai.
Overnight in a homestay.
Day 7: Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – Sapa – Muong Hoa (B, L, D)
After breakfast, you will take the road to Sapa. On your way, you will visit several ethnic villages. Starting from Than Uyen, you will see beautiful hills covered by tea plantations of a vivid green color. You will also visit a village inhabited by the Lao Lu people.
After arriving to Sapa, you will directly be transferred to Muong Hoa Valley.
Overnight at a homestay – in a dormitory or bungalow with a nice view of the rice terraces and Muong Hoa Stream.
Day 8: Muong Hoa – Lai Chau – Dien Bien Phu (B, L, D)
After breakfast, you will hit the road again and travel through an amazing mountainous landscape. You will stop at Hong Thu Man Pass and visit villages inhabited by the Dao Tien people. Later, you will arrive in Dien Bien Phu. There, you will visit the remnants of the Indochina War: the Command Bunker of General De Castries and A1 Hill (Eliane 2 Hill).
Overnight at a hotel in Dien Bien Phu.
Day 9: Dien Bien Phu – Muang La (Laos) (B, L, D)
After breakfast, you will be brought to Tay Trang international border pass, at 40 km from Dien Bien Phu. You will cross the border to exit Vietnam and enter Laos. Then, you will be brought to Muang La, while admiring the amazing mountainous landscape and catching a glimpse of the local ethnic minorities. You will reach Muang La in late afternoon.
Dinner and overnight at Muang La Resort.
Day 10: Trekking in Muang La (B, L, D)
In the morning, you will experience a 15-min drive while enjoying an amazing view of Nam Phak River, rice terraces, and charming little villages. You will reach Pak Khai, from where you will start a trek following short trails that will lead you through a nice natural setting made of water streams and green landscapes. During this trek, you will have the opportunity to meet local farmers who work in rice fields, and you will learn about the technique they use to cultivate their lands, fish, and hunt, before entering the primary forest.
After trekking for 90 minutes through the forests, you will arrive in Ban Phavie Village, a wonderful Khmu village perched at the top of a hill. After a good lunch, you will resume your trek and see incredible waterfalls. There, you will be able to bath in the fresh waters of the pools located at the foot of the cascades, if weather permits.
Later, you will go back to Muang La Resort.
Dinner and overnight at the resort.
Day 11: Muang La – Muong Khua – Nong Khiaw (B, L, D)
You will leave Muang La Resort around 8:30am and depart for Muong Khua. First, you will follow the main road in the direction of Phongsaly province, driving through poetic hills on a road that leads to Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam. You will then continue along Nam Phak River, where gold panning is still an activity practiced by locals – but women took over from the men. You will see these women in their colorful costumes.
After a 2.5-hour drive, you will reach Muang Khua. This place will be your starting point for a superb cruise downstream, during which you will undoubtedly enjoy one of the most sumptuous panorama in the region. During the cruise, you will observe many villages and incredible landscapes where karst formations seem to jump out of the water.
Your cruise will end when you reach Nong Khiaw in late afternoon. This peaceful haven, located on the banks of Nam Ou River, is surrounded by amazing mountains and fabulous hills.
Overnight at a hotel in Nong Khiaw.
Day 12: Nong Khiaw – Luang Prabang (B, L, D)
After breakfast, you will start a 30-min trek and go to Tham Kang Cave, a place that served as a shelter for locals between 1960 and 1962, during the Indochina War. While on the trek, you will gaze at the marvelous countryside.
Later, you will head towards Luang Prabang, while visiting ethnic villages.
Overnight at a hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 13: Luang Prabang – City Tour (B)
You will have free time to visit Luang Prabang on your own. Today this town, the ancient capital of Xang Lane Kingdom, is the religious center of the country. Today, Luang Prabang is listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
Interesting sites to discover in Luang Prabang include:
- Wat Visoun (or Wat Wisunarat): this temple dates from the 16th century and is today acting as a museum where you can find a lot of religious items
- Wat Aham: dating from the 19th century, this temple is guarded by two tigers and by statues representing Ravana and Hanuman.
- Wat Xieng Thong: largely recognized as the most elegant temple in the city, this 16th-century edification is remarkable due to its original architecture.
- National Museum: the old Royal Palace now houses a collection of precious items that include the famous Pha Bang statue, a flamboyant 83-cm gold-alloy Buddha representation.
- Phu Si (or Phou Si): you will have to climb 328 steps to get to the top of this hill, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view on Luang Prabang.
In the evening, you will discover the night market, where you will find beautiful artisanal fabrics.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 14: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Falls – Luang Prabang (B)
After a nice breakfast at the hotel, you will go for an excursion that will lead you to the amazing Kuang Si Falls, nestled amongst a lush nature. On your way, you will visit Talat Phosy Market and Ban Na Oune Village, where H’Mong people are living. You will also visit the peaceful Ban Tha Baen Village, home to both the Tai Lue and Khmu ethnic groups.
Please make sure to bring your own food for the picnic lunch, or if you wish, you will be able to eat at a local restaurant. Finally, you will reach Kuang Si Falls, where you will relax and refresh by bathing in the water pools or hike on forest trails.
Later, you will be driven back to Luang Prabang.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 15: Luang Prabang – Departure (B)
Start your final day of the trip with a nice breakfast, before enjoying your free time at your own leisure, until being driven to the airport for your departure flight.
