Destination: Hanoi/Perfume Pagoda/Tam Coc/Halong/Vientiane/Nam Ngum Lake

Explore the best of Northern Vietnam and Laos on this extra-special 9-day tour will bring you to the contrast of Hanoi, superb sceneries of Halong Bay, Perfume Pagoda and Tam Coc-"Halong Bay on land" before discover the charming Vientiane and colorful cultures of local people. The trip will provides you an forgettable experience with a rare insights into a traditional and unique part of South East Asia

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D, G)

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a welcome dinner at a colonial building. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry (an art form unique to northern Viet Nam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture). Your overnight stay will be in Ha Noi.

Day 2: Hanoi ‘Back Street art’ and museums 1 day (B, L, G)

Intangible heritage: Visit to the Ethnology Museum and Fine Art Museum. After lunch at a colonial building, you’ll have an “Back Street Art” tour including a serial of visits to homes, which are also the studios and workshops, of some of the talented artists in the city, tucked away down tiny alleys and back streets. Overnight in Hanoi.

Another option for the afternoon is our walking tour though Hanoi’s streets and boulevards with an expert guide to discover its hidden architectural wealth of colonial villas, commune buildings, tube houses, traditional homes, temples, and pagodas

Day 3: Perfume Pagoda 1 day (B, L, G)

In the morning you’ll be picked up to travel to the Perfume Pagoda. On arrival you’ll be rowed through rice fields on a scenic waterway to the complex of pagodas and shrines built into the limestone cliffs of the Mountain of Fragrant Traces. Your picnic will be taken from Hanoi. In afternoon you’ll drive back to the city.

Day 4: Tam Coc/Van Long 1 day (B, L, G)

In the morning you’ll be picked up to travel to Van Long. On arrival you’ll ride an ox cart to visit the Old House and the Old Pagoda and then board a boat to visit the Van Long Natural Reserve. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll visit Tam Coc - being rowed through paddies and into three caves in a peaceful valley. In the afternoon you’ll return to Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

A morning drive to Ha Long Bay, (one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas - the world’s largest marine ‘karst’ landscape). Travel by traditional-style boat to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Includes swimming, fishing, hill (not mountain) climbing for Bay overviews, exploring sea level caves in a small sampan, etc. All meals will be provided on board and your accommodation will be on the boat in a twin room with en suite toilet and shower.

Day 6: Halong/Hanoi (B, L, G)

Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for an overnight stay.

Day 7: Hanoi/Vientiane (B, G)

After breakfast, you'll be free until tranfer to airport for your departure flight. On arrival in the Laos capital of Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. After a short rest, we start visiting the major sights of the capital; including the Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Enroute to Lao’s national icon, the precious and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. The Mekong river side is the perfect place to end the day and admire the sunset. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 8: Vientiane/Nam Ngum lake (B, G)

After breakfast, we head out of the city and make our way to Nam Ngum, a huge reservoir created by damming the Nam Ngum River. We stop over at Ban Keun, which is famous for its salt extraction plant and a village that distills the local Lao whiskey. On arrival at Nam Ngum Lake, we embark on a long tail boat visiting fishing villages in the various islets. We take a short walk to explore the lifestyle of the local fishmen. On return, [if time permits], perhaps you might want to experience gambling at the legal Lao casino located in the valley where you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the lake. We return to Vientiane by late evening. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 9: Vientiane departure (B, G)

After breakfast, we visit the Morning Market and the hand weaving village of Ban Nong Bouathong (if time permits). The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure.

Price in US$ per person:

Our price includes:

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.

• Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned car as specified in the itinerary above

• Travel by private, air-conditioned car with an experienced, safe driver.

• Boat cruise as mentioned.

• International flight tickets: Hanoi-Vientiane with airport tax.

• The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary except leisure time

• Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the good local restaurants, picnics where suitable restaurants are not available and full board on the boat in Ha Long Bay.

• Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.

• Government tax

• Service charge

Our price does not include:

• Visas

• Other meals not mentioned.

• Drinks, gratuities, tips and personal expenses.

• Insurance.

Hotel list for Five Star standard:

• Hanoi: Melia Hotel (***** modern high-rise building in one of Hanoi’s leafy boulevards in the city centre) or similar

• Vientiane: Settha Palace Hotel (***** located right in the city centre, within walking distance) or similar

Hotel list for Four Star standard:

• Hanoi: Sunway Hotel (**** comfortable boutique hotel 15 minute’s walk from the city centre) or similar

• Vientiane: Novotel hotel (**** ideal location for business trips and holidays) or similar

Hotel list for Three Star standard:

• Hanoi: Silk Path Hotel (**** modern boutique hotel in the old quarter) or similar

• Vientiane: Inter City hotel (*** centrally located, facilitated with basic modern comforts) or similar

If, at the time of booking, any hotels or rooms in the list above are fully booked, we will endeavour to find accommodation of a similar standard elsewhere. If the only available accommodation is of a higher or lower standard, we will revise the price accordingly and consult you immediately.