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AMAZING NORTH VIETNAM AND LAOS
Hanoi – Sapa – Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay – Vientiane – Luang Prabang

12 Days/11 Nights

Day 1: HANOI - Departure
You are arrival at our thousand years Capital – Hanoi city. Our guide will welcome you at the airport Noi bai airport and then be transferred to your hotel in the center of city.
After freshen up, we would like to show you of Hanoian daily life with one hour Cyclo (trishaw) ride around the old streets and stop to visit Ngoc Son temple then enjoy one hour Traditional Water Puppets Show at Thang Long theatre. Overnight in Hanoi.
 
Day 2: HANOI – full day city tour – train to LAO CAI (B)
The day starts with visit to the complex dedicated to Ho Chi Minh- the nation’s founder, containing Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (viewed from outside on Mondays, Fridays and afternoons as closed), and house on stilts. This complex also comprises the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda- Hanoi’s oldest pagoda on the bank of West Lake.
After lunch, visit Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature & Vietnam’s first university). Constructed in 11th century, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam's past. Then, you will visit the Museum of Ethnology, displaying the biggest open-air cultural collection of Vietnam’s 54 minorities. Free for the remainder of the day for dinner before connecting a train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train.
 
Day 3: LAO CAI – Hill Tribes Kermis - Sapa (B/L)
Arrive at Lao Cai Train station at about 6.30, welcome by our local guide. Enjoy breakfast at local restaurant. After that, proceed to Hill Tribes Market by car. Dip yourself into the happy atmosphere of Dzao and Flower Hmong tribes. The markets are very simple but really meaningful to the local people and are scheduled as follows:
Tuesday: Coc Ly Market
Wednesday:  Cao Son Market
Saturday: Can Cau Market
Sunday: Bac Ha Market
Have lunch boxes and then get back to Lao Cai and on to Sapa. Checkin your hotel in Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.
 
Day 4: Sapa – Cat Cat - Lao Chai - Ta Van villages - Lao Cai (B/D)
Breakfast at hotel and check out at around 8:00-09:00am. Trek down to the Muong Hoa Valley to visit the typical Black H’mong people in Cat Cat Village. Car pick up and back to Sapa. Lunch in the town at your own arrangement. After lunch, our private car takes you to Lao Chai Village of Black H’mong people. Trek through Ta Van Village of Dzay people, then you’ll be taken back to Lao Cai station via Sapa town. Have dinner at a local restaurant and get on the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train.
 
Day 5: HANOI – NINH BINH – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Bich Dong (B/L)
Arriving in Hanoi early morning, you will be picked up by our driver to a mini hotel for breakfast and shower. Depart at 7.30AM from your hotel in Hanoi for 2 hour drive to Ninh Binh Province. Our first visit is to Hoa Lu- Vietnam’s former capital before it was move to Thang Long- Hanoi in 1,010 and the remains of Dinh & Le Kings’ Temples. After lunch, get on small rowing boats to travel along the canals amid local villages, green fields. Enjoy the beauty of Tam Coc (3 caves) which is also called “Ha Long Bay on land”. Go through the caves and then row back to the boat quay. Continue by road to Bich Dong, 2 km from Tam Coc, which was conferred by a King the title “Vietnam’s second most beautiful grotto”. Climb up the Ngu Nhac Son (Buddha’s Palm Mountain), be charmed by the marvelous scenery offered by the mountains, rivers and pagodas. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
 
Day 6: NINH BINH – HA LONG BAY (B/L/D)
After breakfast, travel to Ha Long City for about 3 hours. Upon arrival, welcome on aboard. Enjoy welcome drink before check in. Then, sea food lunch served on board while the junk cruises pass by Thien Cung, Dau Go Caves and Fighting Cock Rock. Later on the cruise docks for short visit to Sung Sot Grotto. On the return, we will have some spare time on Titop Island: Relaxing, swimming, kayaking (at additional charge), sunset watching etc. Savor our set-dinner in dinning room and overnight stay on board.
 
Day 7: HA LONG BAY - HANOI (Brunch)
Breakfast served while the junk cruises around Ha Long Bay passes by many rocks, islets, named by their shape such as Dog, Man Head, and beaches etc. The junk continues cruising toward Halong Tourist port. Brunch buffet served in the dinning room from 09:30am and you should be ready for disembarking at 11:00am. Your car/coach is ready to take you back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: HANOI – VIENTIANE (B)
You will be free today until our driver and guide comes to pick you up to the airport in a good time to connect to your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival at Wattay Airport, you are met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. After a short rest, we set our orientation short walking tour to Lao Capital, strolling around the city distance, and observing the sunset by the Mekong Riverside and late evening. Seeing the city lifestyle of local Lao people. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 9: VIENTIANE – LUANG PRABANG (B/L)
After breakfast, we start to visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane 's own Arc de Triumph. From there, we visit the Central Market call 'Morning Market' where you can find the antique items for collection, well handmade textile and gift away items. We spend the rest of this day touring Lao capital, visiting the National Museum (Revolutionary Museum) where varied antique items and legend of Laos's history fighters and leaders displace from the ancient times to new revolution period. 
We then board a short flight to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best - preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. UNESCO registered 1995 as World Cultural Heritage City. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Asia. On arrival, we transfer you to hotel. After a short rest, we are strolling around to see the Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang, we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as viewing a beautiful panorama sunset over this once royal ancient city and the Mekong River. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
 
Day 10: LUANG PRABANG - Pak Ou Cave (B/L)
Breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city's oldest temple of impressive Stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. We then board a boat embarking upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we overland local villages at Ban Xiengmene and Ban Chan continue seeing the royal temple at Wat Longkhoun, which once belongs to royal family patronage and nearby Sackarine Caves. We cross to city and take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
 
Day 11: Luang Prabang - Kuangsi Waterfall (B/L)
This morning you may want to wake up early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. From there you will visit the morning Phousi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local village of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Quay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths, return to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
 
Day 12: Luang Prabang - Departure (B)
Breakfast, we then visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign, silver smith's and Fine Arts School and the Central Market are not to be missed. We visit these sights before we catch a flight goodbye to this ancient city.  
 

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