Discover the splendors of Northern Vietnam and Laos 8  days 7 nights

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (-/-/D)

Our tour guide and driver will meet you at Noi Bai International Airport upon your arrival and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Depending on your time frame for this day, you can arrange to join a half-day city tour to discover the Hanoi Old Quarter with amazing labyrinthine streets which is well-known for the history, architecture, enormous amount and diversity of products and even the everyday life of its residents, or enjoy a water puppet show – a special traditional art performance of Vietnam.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Be free until around 8:00 when our tour guide and driver pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi and head to Halong for an exciting cruise to discover Halong Bay – the World Natural Heritage in Vietnam.

Upon arrival in Halong after a 3.5 hour drive, we will embark on a traditional wooden boat and start the cruise to explore the stunning seascape created by the rocky islands and emerald calm water. Fresh seafood lunch will be served on board.

After the lunch, the cruise will take you to visit the famous Sung Sot Cave (Hang S???ng S???t) which is considered one of the biggest and finest caves in the bay. The boat will then stop at the Titov Island where you can relax on the sandy beach or walk up to the top for a panoramic view of the anchorage area.

Come back to the boat for relaxing and admiring the magical seascape under the sunset. You will then enjoy dinner with the typical local seafood on board and be free for relaxing under the starry sky.

Overnight on board.

Day 3: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi (B/L/-)

Awake early and participate in Tai Chi session on the sundeck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Be sure you bring your camera  to capture the beautiful moments of the bay in the dawn when the sun rises from the sea.

After breakfast, you will listen to some kayaking instructions and experience the exciting kayaking around the area for a stunning vista in the scenic bay, approaching the rock islets and touching their bumpy surfaces.

Returning to the boat for a journey back to the harbor, then geting on car and we will drive back to Hanoi.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 4: Hanoi – Luang Prabang (B/L/-)

On the first half of today, you will join a Hanoi City tour to visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam Fine Arts Museum and Vietnam Ethnology Museum where you can learn more about the Vietnamese tradition, culture and history as well as some of the famous traditional art performances in Vietnam.

Following lunch and a short rest, you will transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for a departure flight to Luang Prabang - the ancient capital of Laos and the World Cultural Heritage acknowledged by UNESCO. Upon your arrival at the airport in your first destination in Laos, our local guide will greet you and escort you to the hotel for check-in.

Day 5: Luang Prabang (B/L/-)

You spend this whole day joining an exciting Luang Prabang tour to discover this World Cultural Heritage, get the culture of your destination under the skin. Our local guide will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast.

We will start our day by a visit to the former Royal Palace and the National Museum which is an ideal base for you to understand more about the history of Laos. Continue on foot, we reach Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and then Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden facade. We will finish this morning's tour at the great Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located on the northern tip of the peninsula where the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers meet each other, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.

Lunch is at your convenience. Following lunch, we will continue to visit Wat Visoun, the holiest temple of the city with the famous Watermelon Stupa shaped like the fruit from which it takes its name. Our next stop is Wat Aham where the ashes of King Sisavang Vong are kept inside the large central stupa.

Continue our tour of enchanting Luang Prabang with a visit to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, a museum dedicated to exploring the rich diversity of Laos' ethnic minorities. It gives you a great opportunity to gain insight into the Lao people (note: closed on Monday).

As today comes to a close, we climb to the top of Mount Phousi and watch the sunset over the city and surrounding hills. Here, you can also visit the hilltribe evening market and look for some special souvenirs.

Transfer back to your hotel and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 6: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave (B/L/-)

This morning you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to a pier for a boat journey up the Mekong River to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Cave. As cruising, you will have chance to watch the peaceful scenery along the river, observe the daily activities of fishermen, how they throw their nets in an elegant arm gesture, and rely on the water for their livelihood.

After two hours upstream from Luang Prabang, we will reach the famous Pak Ou Cave which is home to thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues whose height ranges from a few centimeters to nearly 2 meters. Looking like a museum of Buddha statues which are crammed into the holes nestled in a limestone cliff, the temple is a popular destination for both local pilgrimages and tourists to the city. After visiting the cave, we reboard the boat for a cruise back to Luang Prabang. En route, we will stop at Ban Xang Hay, a village which specializes in making traditional rice-wine.

Lunch is served at a restaurant in Luang Prabang center. After that, we continue heading to visit the Kuang Si Waterfalls, about 32 km south west of Luang Prabang. Upon reaching the falls, you can enjoy a swim in the cool, clear waters or trek to the top of the falls via a steep track where stunning views await you.

After leisure time at the waterfalls, transfer back to your hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 7: Luang Prabang – Vientiane (B/L/-)

You will be free to further discover the insight of Luang Prabang in the morning until our driver meets you and transfers you to the airport for a departure flight to Vientiane – the capital of Laos.

Upon arrival at Vientiane airport, our local guide will welcome you and take you to the hotel for check-in. After taking a short rest and having lunch, you will transfer to visit Wat Sisaket – the only temple in Vientiane to survive the sacking of the city by the Siamese (Thai forces) in 1828. Continue our way, you will see the nearby Wat Phra Keo - a religious museum displaying a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art. Then, it is time for you to explore some ancient French architectures nearby including the Presidential Palace and the Patuxay Monument – the Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

We finish our afternoon sightseeing by a visit to the golden That Luang – the most sacred temple in Laos whose aura can be seen from a distance. Built by King Setthethirat in the 16^th century, the temple has become the national symbol and most important religious monument of Laos.

Now, get on car to back to your hotel and overnight in Vientiane.

Day 8: Vientiane Departure (B/-/-)

Have breakfast at your hotel and you will be free to further discover the sights and sounds of Vientiane until our driver meets you and transfers you to the Vientiane airport for your departure flight.

Say goodbye to each other at the airport and conclude our Vietnam and Laos discovery tour.

• Accommodation in a shared twin or shared double room in selected hotel and Boat Cabin
• Meals as mentioned
• English speaking guide (for other languages a supplement applies)
• Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle unless stated otherwise
• Entrance fees for mentioned visits
• Daily drinking water and cold towel

• Visa for Cambodia (Visa issued on arrival for most nationalities, USD20/pax, please bring 1 passport photo).
• Other meals than mentioned
• International and Domestic Flights (quoted separately)
• Camera/video entrance fees
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone, tips etc)
• Gratuities
• Travel insurance including recommended helicopter evacuation for Cambodia
• Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions above

Guide speaking other languages is subject to availability.
This trip includes temples and pagoda, please DO NOT wear shorts or mini-skirts to show your respect.
Tour program is subject to change due to weather and operating conditions.