Vietnam - Laos Mountain Discovery

Welcomed by THREELAND tourguide at Hanoi airport, transfer to the city and have a city tour - an essential preparation for your next excursions. Have a look at the Ethnology Museum, where we can learn much about the hill tribal culture of Vietnam before our upcoming visit to Sapa. A cyclo visit is probably the best way to experience the Old Quarter of Hanoi, stop at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake) and at the Temple of Literature, the very 1st high school of Vietnam since 11th century. Late afternoon we will enjoy a unique fascinating show of Water Puppetry, a traditional stage art of Northern Vietnam. Dinner and overnight in Hanoi. (lunch at your own arrangement for flexibility)

Early depart for Halong Bay, a World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994, with thousands limestone islets with stopovers en route to visit the rural life of the Red River Delta’s farmers (esp. in transplanting and harvest times), or the ceramic town at Dong Trieu. Upon arrival, take a boat trip for about 5 hours to cruise Halong bay (width 1,500 sq. km) to enjoy its splendid seascape of thousands odd-shaped rocky islands, visit the inside-island grottoes and / or swimming. Lunch of fresh seafood served on board by the crew. Late afternoon back to Hanoi for dinner before transfer to the Railway Station to take a night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the Train.

Arrive at Lao Cai Station around 06:00 AM and transfer to Sapa (40 km), enjoying scenic views of terraced rice fields, waterfalls, and pine forests along the way.

Have breakfast in Sapa and leave luggage at the hotel. Begin the day with a visit to Sapa Market and a walk up Dragon Peak for panoramic views of Sapa’s colonial villas and surrounding mountains.

In the afternoon, walk down to Cat Cat Village (4 km) to explore the daily life of the Hmong people and enjoy the peaceful landscape.

Optional (only on Saturday, Sunday, or Tuesday): Visit a weekly hill tribe market instead of Cat Cat Village:

Saturday: Can Cau Market

Sunday: Bac Ha Market

Tuesday: Coc Ly Market
Experience colorful gatherings of Hmong, Tay, Dzao, and other ethnic groups trading goods, especially handmade textiles. Return to Sapa for lunch, followed by a visit to the Sapa Church.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day of easy hiking through the scenic Muong Hoa Valley. Start by descending to the valley floor and walk along the river and terraced rice fields to visit Lao Chai, a Hmong ethnic village.

Continue on small trails to Ta Van Village, home to the Day people, where you’ll have stunning panoramic views of the entire valley. During the growing season, you may also witness or join in traditional farming activities.

Return to Sapa in the afternoon. Free time at leisure.
Overnight in Sapa.

Let me know if you’d like to adapt this for student groups or add cultural learning points!

It would be a long day today. Head West to Dien Bien, you will be cross over Hoang Lien Son, the highest mountain range of Vietnam. After the first 10kms along the winding road you will reach on the top of O Quy Ho pass, where you could have magnificent view of Northwest mountain with sea of clouds under your foot and the zigzag roads stretched to the end of the horizon, as the lines of drawing on the splendid picture of nature. You will get over the reservoir of Son La hydropower station, the biggest one in Southeast Asia. The visit and communication with the people from tribal groups living surrounding Lai Chau like Black Thai, White Thai, Muong and Dzao people will sweep away your tiredness of the long trip. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu city

Located just 35 km from the Laos border, Dien Bien Phu was the decisive battlefield of the First Indochina War in 1954. Today, it’s a peaceful valley home to diverse ethnic communities.

Visit key historical sites:

Dien Bien Museum

A1 Hill

French General De Castries’ bunker

Memorials honoring both Vietnamese and French soldiers

After lunch in Dien Bien, transfer to the Tay Trang Bordergate, where you’ll say goodbye to your Vietnamese guide and driver.

Welcome to Laos!
Meet your local guide from Threeland Laos and transfer to Muong Khua, a quiet riverside town along the Nam Ou River. Stop to visit ethnic minority villages of the Hmong and Thai people en route.

Dinner and overnight in Muong Khua.
(Lunch not included for flexibility.)

After breakfast, we will begin our expedition, venturing into the mountainous and remote areas in Northern Laos and head to Oudomxay. The verdant and rugged mountain scenery here is combined with the colorfully-dressed montagnards makes the journey a memorable experience. Oudomxay Province now is residence to a mixture of 23 ethnic groups, who are unfailingly friendly, welcoming you with waving hands and smiling faces. We can make a few breaks today to intermingle with the groups of Hmong at Ban Jarong, Ban Songja, or people from the villages of Khmu, Akha and Taidam natives. Continue the journey to Luang Prabang enjoying spectacular landscape en route before arriving Luang Prabang in the evening. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved ancient city in Southeast Asia, whose tranquility and charm with splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it the most popular place to visit in Laos. After breakfast, we will commence our trip in Luang Prabang by the impressive and most ancient temples of Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Scene, which represent classical Laotian architecture and Buddhist temples’ scales. After visiting inside Luang Prabang, we will board a boat upstream on the Mekong River to enjoy the panoramic view of the quiet countryside near the city and reach the mysterious Caves of Pak Ou, where two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

On the way, we can stop at the small village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is distilled, then go on toward Khouangsi Waterfall. The journey today creates many chances for us to stopover and call at many ethnic minorities’ villages like Ban Ouay of the Hmong, Ban Ou of the Laoloum and BanThapene of the Khmu natives. Upon arrival in Khouangsi Waterfall, we can splash around in turquoise pools hereby, or hike along the forest trails to enjoy the nature of this paradise. Back to Luang Prabang late afternoon with a break at Ban Xangkhong, a village renown for silk hand weaving and traditional Saa Paper produce. Enjoy the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath in Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

If you wish to deeply understand the Theravada Buddhist spirit in daily Laotian life, wake up early to witness a special morning ritual in Luang Prabang—monks in saffron robes quietly collecting alms from local residents. This serene tradition reflects the deep-rooted spiritual culture of Laos.

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll spend the day immersed in nature and local life with a rafting trip out of town. Starting near the Nam Khan River, we’ll enjoy a scenic float through forested areas, plantations, and riverside villages before reaching the Tad Sae Waterfall (or an alternative site during dry season). Here, you can relax, explore, and enjoy lunch in a peaceful natural setting.

In the afternoon, return to Luang Prabang. In the evening, stroll through the night market, known for its beautiful handmade textiles crafted by ethnic hill tribe communities near the region.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we’ll visit The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating back to the days of the early King. Visit Central Market or Hmong market in Luang Prabang. At your leisure in the rest of the day until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.