Adventure Travel in Vietnam and Laos 18 days

We are delighted to be able to offer you one of our favourite adventures. This is a trip where you can go at your own pace, as you visit the heart of Vietnam and Laos by motorcycle like a real Vietnamese (tour is also available by private car). We will guide you through this amazing part of South-east Asia, helping you to get off the beaten track and explore the mesmerising landscapes the area has to offer. We'll take you away from the hustle and bustle of the tour bus routes, so that you can get to know the real Vietnam and Laos: its people and their culture. You will visit magical Halong Bay and Cat Ba island, before heading North to Sapa and biking one of Vietnam's most scenic roads to Dien Bien Phu. Next, we will take you into Laos, home to arguably South-east Asia's friendliest (and most laid-back) people. Then, for the final touch, the myriad of waterways and jungle that make up the Mekong Delta, where you will taste the traditional cuisine of South Vietnam.

As always, this is merely our suggested route. We can alter or adapt any aspects so as to suit your specific needs. Ultimately, the decision is yours.

Detailed Itinerary:

DAY 1: ARRIVE TO HANOI
Upon your arrival to the Noi Bai airport, our driver will be waiting and transfer you to your hotel
You will spend the night in the Gondola Hotel Hanoi
*depending to the time of the arrival, we could arrange a tour around Hanoi and visit some of the most interesting places.

DAY 2: HANOI – HALONG BAY [3 Days 2 Nights]
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
This adventure will reveal to you the recently declared as the eighth wonder of the world, Halong Bay. After your breakfast at your hotel, and the Junk boat guide will pick you up in your hotel. You will take a 4 hours bus ride that will take you to Ha Long Bay, with a stop of 20 minutes for resting and stretch our legs.
Approximately 12:30 pm you will be welcomed to the Cruise and the lunch will be served. After gaining the strength, we will visit the Surprise Cave and we can go Kayaking or join a boat trip; we will also pass by the Bo Nau Cave and we will reach to the Titov Island, an ideal place to relax, bath and rest. We can also climb to the top and contemplate the amazing landscapes of the Bay. Afterward, we will head back and enjoy the cruise, the Halong Bay and a 15 minutes foot massage or an demonstration of Vietnamese cooking. For the one that enjoy fishing, you can go squid fishing and others of the Halong Bay.
At night, you can taste a delicious dinner while surrounded by pure beauty.
Night on the Deluxe Dragon Cruise

DAY 3: HALONG BAY AND CAT BA ISLAND
(Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner)
This second day in the bay, you will be visiting and observe how they cultivate the famous Halong pearls. You will be explained about how the pearl are elaborated and above all, how they entail. We will continue in the Bay, and by boat we will head for the fishing villages of Van Gia; there we will boat on smaller boats to do a trip around the Lan Ha Bay and finish in the Viet Hai Port
From the port, we have prepared a 5 km route on bicycle for you. For those who don’t feel like it can relax on the cruise without problems. Those who has chosen the bicycle trip will head for the Cat Ba National Park and there will be a mini trekking. After we have returned to the port, we will boat the cruise, the lunches will be ready for you. After lunch we will visit the island of Monkey, and after that, the cruise will take you to the Port of Beo, and the bus will take you to the town of Cat Ba.
You will spend the night in Cat Ba, you will have the option of choosing between the Bungalow, the Hotel Holiday Viet and the Sunrise Resort. In the price of this trip is included the Cat Ba Sunrise Resort, which is categorized 4 stars.www.catbasunriseresort.com

DAY 4: HALONG BAY – HANOI – NIGHT TRAIN TO SAPA
After the breakfast, the bus will be transferring you back to the port, and a boat will take you to the village of Van Gia, where our Cruise will be waiting. There will still be time to relax and take a few last pictures of the magical scenery of Halong Bay. At around 11:45 am we’d be back to Halong, and we will enter a local restaurant to have lunch and then get on the bus to head back to the city.
You will be back to Hanoi at around 17:30 pm and at around 21:00 pm, you will board on the night train to Sapa. In Hanoi your guild will leave you in your hotel in case you need to take your suitcases. Approximately 19:30 pm they will transfer you to the train station of Hanoi.Night on the night train, in a 4-beds compartment (Orient Express, King Express or Livitrans Train)

DAY 5: SAPA
(Meal: Breakfast)
[the trip can be done by private car or by motorbikes. Traveller’s choice]
The night train will arrive to the train station of Lao Cai and upon your arrival; you will be picked up and transferred to Sapa (1 hour trip). In Sapa, you will have your breakfast prepared, and a room available in case you want to have a shower or get changed if you need to. Afterward, a trip on motor or private car will be waiting for you, that you are going to enjoy. This day we will head for Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta van, the surrounding of Sapa.
It’s about a private tour, where you can go at your own rhythm, making stops for photos taking, chat with the locals, and get to know the minorities… including trekking for those who enjoy walking around the rice fields of the north of Vietnam. Our guide will adapt to whatever the group wants to do. It’s also about visiting the surrounding of Sapa, learning about the people who inhabit those splendid landscapes and be able to enjoy its beauty in a private way without following a strict program
This day, you’ll be able to choose the place where you’ll be staying the night, but from Rutas Vietnam we recommend that it’d be interesting for you to spend your first night in Sapa and enjoy the charm of this town
Overnight stay in Bamboo Sapa Hotel or similar in mountain-view rooms.
www.bamboosapahotel.com.vn

DAY 6: SAPA – PHONG THO – SIN HO. 170KM
(Breakfast and Lunch)
The trip from Sapa to Phong Tho by motorbike is ideal. Around here you will also be seeing the people from different ethnics, with different way of dressing, different colors… it’s a unique opportunity for the photography lovers.
We will leave Sapa and be on the road to Tram Ton pass, a route of 42km which offers some of the most impressive views of the Hoang Lien Son Mountains. We will visit a few villages inhabiting the village of Ban Hon like the Lu or the Thai. We will have a stop in Phong Tho for lunch and rest. In the afternoon we will head for Sin Ho and we will spend the night in Sin Ho, Lai Chau.

DAY 7: SIN HO – MUONG LAY – DIEN BIEN PHU
Today we will be on the highway number 12 to reach Muong Lay. After a stop for lunch, we will be arriving to Dien Bien Phu. In Dien Bien Phu you will be able to view the places related to the Vietnam War or continue around the surroundings.
The landscape that you will witness is filled with greens, with mountains and rice fields. There are sceneries where it’d seem to you that the time has stopped.
Dien Bien Phu is a key point in the history of Vietnam. We can visit the museum and go around the trenches that the French and the Vietnamese built in the time of war.
Upon your arrival, we will stop at the hotel Muong Thanh Dien Hotel for you to rest.

DAY 8: DIEN BIEN PHU – MUANGKHUA [LAOS]
(breakfast)
[By private car]
At the first light, we will leave Dien Bien Phu and ride for the frontier of Tay Trang. Our partner there will be waiting and help you with the visas, if it’s needed. Afterward we will continue to toward Muangkhua by private car. On the road you will able to visit some of the Hmong’s towns
Night spent in Muangkhua, Laos

DAY 9: MUANGKHUA – NONGKHIAW
(breakfast)
We will board on a boat – cruise, which will take you around the river Ou. This river is considered one of the most beautiful and picturesque of Laos, we will have our first stop to visit the town of the Khmu Ethnic, famous for the style of their houses.
We will arrive to Nongkhiaw in the afternoon.
We will spend the night in Nongkhiaw

DAY 10: NONGKHIAW – LUANG PRABANG
Today we will continue along the river Ou and take a route to Ban Pak Ou where we will continue navigating around the Mekong, visiting the Buddhism caves of Tamting, a sacred place for the local people.
We will also visit the town of Ban Xanghai, famous for the production of the rice alcohol. We will later continue until reaching Luang Prabang.
Overnight stay in Luang Prabang

DAY 11: VISITING THE CITY OF LUANG PRABANG
(Breakfast)
Today we will have to wake up early. After the breakfast at 5:45 am, we will head for Ban Vat to watch the long lines of monks collecting offerings from the town. It’s one of the ceremonies where you can only witness at this time in the morning. We will later return to the hotel for breakfast and regain energy to start the visit to the city of Luang Prabang. It’s listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage. We will visit the majestic temples like the Wat Visoun, Wat May, Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Praphoutahbat.
The beautiful town is located on the banks of the Mekong River and is surrounded by forested mountains. We will climb 238 stair steps to reach the height of Phousi hill which isn’t just a temple, but also is the place where you get the best view of Luang Prabang.
In the afternoon we can walk around the night market and have dinner there.
Overnight stay in Luang Prabang.

DAY 12: LUANG PRABANG – KUANGSI’ WATERFALL
(breakfast)
We will visit today the national Museum and the Real Palace, which was the resident of the last King. We can admire his collections and treasures. Afterward we can visit the waterfall of Kuang Si.
After returning to Luang Prabang we’ll visit the village of Ban Phanom.
Overnight stay in Luang Prabang

DAY 13: LUANG PRABANG – FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH
(Breakfast)
At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Ho Chi Minh.
In Ho Chi Minh, our partner will be waiting for you at the airport to have you transferred to your hotel.
We will send you all the information about what can be done in Ho Chi Minh so you don’t miss anything.

DAY 14: GETTING TO KNOW THE MEKONG OF VIETNAM
Private trip on motorbike or car
At 6:30 am, our guide will look for you in the hotel and will direct you toward Cai Be on motorbike or private car, depending on your choice.
 We will stop at the town of Tan An to contemplate the distinct landscapes of Cai Be. Upon your arrival to Cai Be, we will visit the floating market and you will be witness of their small businesses on the Mekong. We will go into the river and pass by the villages located by its shores. We will see their fruit gardens, then when reached Binh Hoa, we will be having lunch.
After lunch, we will head for Can Tho, where we will spend the night in the city
Night in Can Tho

DAY 15: CAN THO – THE MARKET OF CAI RANG – CA MAU
(Meal: Breakfast)
Can Tho is the largest city in the region of Mekong. We can visit some of the most interesting places of the city and we will later, visit the market of Cai Rang. After visiting the market, we will head for Ca Mau. It’d be a trip of approximately 4 hours. But it can all depend on the stops that you’d like to make.
We will reach to the south point of the Mekong, and there, we will have an adventure around the jungles and bird sanctuaries. We will show you the unknown, greener Mekong.
Overnight stay in Ca Mau.

DAY 16: CA MAU
(Breakfast)
We will travel the surroundings of Ca Mau with its jungles and birds. And depending on the taste and preference of each group, we can also visit the interesting places as well as the city.
Night in Ca Mau

DAY 17: FLIGHT TO CA MAU – HO CHI MINH
(Breakfast)
Today you will take the flight from Ca Mau to Ho Chi Minh and in the city of Saigon, our partners will take you to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 18: HO CHI MINH – HOME
(Breakfast)
Today you will finalize your trip to Vietnam and Laos. And depending on the time of your flight, there might be time to further explore the city of Ho Chi Minh. At the scheduled time, we will transfer you to the airport for your international flight.

Inclusions:

• There will be English speaking guide in the different destinations of Vietnam and Laos. If you need guide in other languages, contact us, we will try our best to find them for you.
• Accommodations in hotels of 3 stars; 4 stars in Dien Bien Phu and Cat Ba
• The meals described in the itinerary.
• Everything in the tour is in private
• Private vehicles with air-con for those who prefer to do the trip by private car.
• Motorbike up to 150cc for those who prefer to do the trip on motorbike
• 24/7 telephone assistance in Vietnam and Laos. Whenever it is, we will be available to help you with any problem.
• Domestic flights: Luang Prabang – Ho Chi Minh; Ca Mau – Ho Chi Minh.
• Tickets to all the places of interest.
• Visa arrangement to Vietnam and Laos

Exclusions:

• The international flights (note that Vietnam – Laos, Laos – Vietnam flights are listed as domestics flights)
• International travel insurance for the trip
• The payment for the visa ($65/person) in Vietnam for multiple entries.
• $35 per person in Laos for the single entry visa.
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundries, etc.)

Contact us for a quote

This trip is available throughout the year. If you wish to book this trip please contact us. If you want us to send you more information on this tour or tailor this tour to your requirements (dates, tastes ...) you only have to ask.

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