"Overland from Laos to Vietnam Tour"

Day 1: Vientiane - Arrival
Meet upon arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: in Vientiane Meals: None Transport: Car
Day 2: Vientiane - Luang Prabang
Morning excursion of That Luang, Wat Ho Pra Keo and Wat Sisaket.
Afterwards transfer to the Airport. Fly Vientiane to Luang Prabang - by Green Trail Tours. Meet upon arrival and transfer to hotel.
Overnight: in Luang Prabang Meals: Breakfast Transport: Car | Air | Car
Day 3: Luang Prabang
After breakfast drive to the Ban Sankhong, a village where weaving and sa papermaking takes place. Continue to Ban Don. In this village you will see local blacksmiths at work. Proceed to the village Ban Xang Hai famous for the local production of Lao Lao, the local whisky. Cross the Mekong to the Pak Ou caves There are two caves in the steep rock cliff at the confluence of the Mekong River and Ou River: Tham Ting, the lower cave and Tham Phum, which can be reached by a long stair case. They are full of Buddha images of varying styles, ages and size. Enjoy a picnic lunch, catered by a restaurant from Luang Prabang, nearby the caves.
Afterwards board a boat for a leisurely cruise down the Mekong back to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival transfer back to your hotel with the rest of the afternoon free at leisure.
Overnight: in Luang Prabang Meals: Breakfast | Lunch Transport: Car | Boat | Car
Day 4: Luang Prabang
Free day in Luang Prabang.
The town Luang Prabang is an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the French colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries. The town has been declared a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1995.
Overnight: in Luang Prabang Meals: Breakfast Transport: None
Day 5: Luang Prabang - Plain of Jars
Full day drive by private car from Luang Prabang to Phonsawan. The main attraction of Phonsawan, also known as Xieng Khouang, is the Plain of Jars.
In the 18th and at the beginning of the 19th century, Xieng Khouang was the center of a kingdom of the Hmong (Meo). In 1832, it was conquered by the Vietnamese, annexing the entire region.
The town of Xieng Khouang was totally destroyed during the Vietnam War. The most important place near the Plain of Jars is Phonsawan with a small airport serving the region. The town itself has an interesting market, and various modest restaurants along the dusty main road.
Overnight: Phouphadeng Resort Meals: Breakfast Transport: Private car
Day 6: Plain of Jars
At 08:30, after breakfast, pick up at your hotel and depart on your private tour of several of the sites of the mysterious jars. The large jars are attributed to an ancient civilization that lived between 1500 and 2000 years ago. Some archeologists think that they are burial jars but no one knows for sure. The Plain of Jars was extensively bombed during the Indochina wars. We start with a visit of "Site One", which is closest to Phonsavan, where about 250 jars are to be seen. Continue to "Site Three", 150 jars on a scenic hilltop location near the Lao village of Ban Xieng Di. This village has a small monastery with some Buddha images that were damaged during the war.
Lunch in a local restaurant. Apart from the Jars there are many minority villages in this area. In the afternoon we'll visit Ban Na Sala, a Hmong village, as well as "Site Two", where 90 jars are scattered. We'll also visit Muang Khoun, Xieng Khouang's former capital.
Late in the afternoon transfer back to your accommodations in Phonsavan.
Overnight: in Plain of Jars Meals: Breakfast Transport: Car
Day 7: Plain of Jars - Sam Neua
You will pass through Muang Kham, the capital of Xieng Khouang Province, located in a fertile valley. Late in the afternoon you'll arrive in Sam Neua.
Overnight: in Sam Neua Meals: Breakfast Transport: Car
Day 8: Sam Neua - Mai Chau
Drive to Viengxai. Departure at 0700. You will arrive in Viengxai and visit the cave of Kaysone Phomvihane, one of the Pathet Lao leaders who later became the first prime minister of Lao PDR. During the war the Pathet Lao leaders had their headquarters in these caves.
Continue to the border at Na Meo. Arrive at the border not later than noon. At this off the beaten track bordercrossing there is no visa upon arrival service so you need to have a valid visa for Vietnam.
Your Vietnamese guide and driver will wait for you. Your transportation will be a Russian jeep. You have entered Vietnam in Thanh Hoa province, one of the least visited and unexplored provinces in the country. Along the way we will stop at several Muong villages.
Picnic lunch along the way. We'll drive along the Ma river to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. The Pu Luong limestone landscape is an area of outstanding beauty, cultural interest and high biodiversity stretching from Mai Chau to Cuc Phuong National Park.
Overnight: Mai Chau homestay Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner Transport: Car | Car
Day 9: Mai Chau
Today you will explore by private car the beautiful valley of Mai Chau with its verdant rice fields and White Thai villages together with your guide.
Overnight: Mai Chau homestay Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner Transport: Car
Day 10: Mai Chau - Tuan Giao
Today will be a long day driving to Tuan Giao. Our first destination today will be Son La. This sleepy town has few points of interest except for an old French colonial prison. We will continue our journey through spectacular landscape and pass many minority villages of Hmong, Muong, White and Black Thai.
Drive to Thuan Chau before starting the ascent of the "Phan Din" pass. We will spend the night in the small town Tuan Giao.
Overnight: Tuan Giao Hotel Meals: Breakfast | Lunch Transport: Car
Day 11: Tuan Giao - Muong Lay - Tam Duong
After breakfast continue to Tam Duong. Another day of spectacular scenery and minority villages. of Flower Hmong, Red Zao, amongst others. We pass Lai Chau where we have lunch. Afterwards we continue to Tam Duong.
Overnight: in Tam Duong Meals: Breakfast | Lunch Transport: Car
Day 12: Tam Duong - Sapa
Continue to Sapa where you will arrive before 1 PM. Rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight: in Sapa Meals: Breakfast Transport: Car
Day 13: Sapa
Free day to explore Sapa and surroundings.
Sapa, originally built as a hill station for the French in 1922, is well known for its spectacular scenery and the various hilltribes that live nearby.
Most visitors are here to visit the hilltribes (mostly H'mong, Dao and Kinh people) who live in the area. Especially worthwhile is the Saturday market, where various tribes come to sell/buy goods. The ground floor is for food products, but on the first floor the minorities sell their handicrafts, such as blankets, traditional clothes, hats etc.
Overnight: in Sapa Meals: Breakfast Transport: None
Day 14: Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi
Free day.Check out at noon.
Transfer to Lao Cai for the overnight train back to Hanoi.
You will sleep in shared airconditioned compartments with four soft sleeping berths. Drinks are being sold on this train but we advise you to buy some bread and fruit in advance for this trainride.
Overnight: Sleeper Train Vietnam Meals: Breakfast Transport: Car | Train
Day 15: Hanoi
Arrival in Hanoi.
You will be met by our driver who will transfer you to your hotel of choice.

To contact this tour operator please use the contact form next to the map on the right.

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Price/Person: 1300 EUR
Number of participants 2
Duration: 15 Days

Area: Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Plain of Jars - Sam Ne
Accomodation is included in this tour: 3 stars hotel in the central of city

The Guide is able to understand this language also    
   english
   french

Special Hints: Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Plain of Jars - Sam Neua - Mai Chau - Tuan Giao - Muong Lay - Tam Duong - Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi

edited at 30.09.09 | 10:17 AM
last update 30.09.09 | 10:17 AM

Guide details

Kim Tham

Web: To contact this tour operator please use the contact form above.
Phone Number: ---
Vita
Mr. Nguyen, with his passion for natural and cultural beauties of Indochinese Nations desired to bring these beauties to the world. In 1994, Indochina Holiday Travel was established. Since then, the company has been recognised as one of leading tours operators in Indochina.

Our team is qualified experienced and professional staff will help you discover a new, more meaningful way of traveling. More than just Green Travel; Eco-travel is mindful travel; personality fulfilling, challenging and enlightening. We like to call it travel with purpose - a personal purpose and a global one. With Indochina Holiday Travel, you will look at the world from a different vantage point and explore a more satisfying way to travel that can challenge you to rediscover your passions, learn about the places and people you visit, and help sustain the fragile environments, economies and disappearing cultures of the earth.

What we offer you? Luxury Private & Custom-designed tour packages; Adventure Tour; Eco Tour; ....


edited at 26.01.07 | 08:01 AM
last update 30.07.09 | 10:22 AM

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