INDOCHINA: HANOI - HALONG BAY - LUANG PRABANG IN 7 DAYS
Grading
Easy
Traveller rating
Activities
- Cultural
- History
- People
- Landscapes
Accommodation
- 6 nights at highly rated hotels
Meals
- Daily buffet breakfast at hotel
- 6 dinners at local restaurants
Duration
7 Days
Double
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Single
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Tour highlights:
- Graceful Hanoi and the colorful Old Quarter.
- Dreamlike Halong Bay
- Serene Luang Prabang ancient capital
- Kuangsi Waterfall
- Thousands of Buddha images of Pak Ou Caves
The tour brings you a contrast of charming Hanoi, super picturesque Halong Bay and the sense of serenity of Luang Prabang.
* Hanoi, a charming city filled with beautiful tree lined boulevards, colonial architecture and natural lakes.
* Halong Bay – the jewel in the crown with spectacular scenery where dreamlike islets rise from the tranquil emerald sea
* Luang Prabang, a UNESCO-listed town is well known for its many temples, monasteries and gilded roofs, as well as for French provincial style houses, ethnical culture and the natural beauty surroundings.
Itinerary:
Day 1. HANOI ARRIVAL
Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, an Aiitours host will meet and take you to hotel for check-in. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2. HANOI CITY TOUR
Today we explore Hanoi, a charming city filled with beautiful tree lined boulevards, colonial architecture and natural lakes. Our city tour today includes visits to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, stilt house and museum, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Old Quarter. This evening enjoy a performance of the famous Water Puppets.
Day 3: HALONG BAY
Today we travel east to the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Vietnam – Halong Bay. We cruise through spectacular scenery where dreamlike islets rise from the tranquil emerald sea. Lunch onboard. After our cruise we travel back to Hanoi through the striking rural countryside of the Red River Delta.
Day 4. HANOi – LUANG PRABANG
Today fly to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is for your own orientation. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 5. WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU BUDDHA CAVES
This morning we visit the National Museum – former Royal Palace on display 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 followed by the National Museum and Central Market. We enjoy a short tour seeing the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and Wat Xieng Thong, a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art. Next Wat Mai, the largest and most richly decorated of the temples in this city.
We embark on a boat for a leisurely trip on the Mekong River, stopping en route at Ban Xang Hai to see the production of local rice wine. Upon leaving this village we pass through stunning mountain landscape to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. End the sightseeing day with Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 6. KHOUANGSI WATERFALL AND LOCAL VILLAGE
An early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. Walk through the morning Phosi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Visit ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. Returning to Luang Prabang late evening to observe the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 7. DEPART LUANG PRABANG
Bid farewell to Luang Prabang and Laos. Transfer to airport for your onwards flight. This short tour is ideally extended to Hanoi and Halong Bay of Vietnam or Siemreap Cambodia.
Map:
Inclusions:
Daily breakfast at hotels and 6 diners at local restaurants
6 nights at highly rated hotels on a twin share basis
All transfers and transportation in private vehicle
One regional flight Hanoi to Luang Prabang
Sightseeing and admission fees
Boat fee in Halong
English speaking guide
Two drinking water bottles per day
- International airfares
- Travel Insurance (compulsory)
- Visa fees
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls, alcohol etc
- Tips and gratuities
Accommodation:
HANOI @ Melia Hotel (3 nights)
LUANG PRABANG @ Villa Maly (3 nights)
Essential Information:
Yes, this tour can run 365 days a year, spring, summer, autumn and winter.
– Hanoi and north Vietnam experience two seasons – summer and winter. Summers are dry and warm, averaging 25 to 33 degrees. Winters (October to March) can be cool with temperatures in Hanoi averaging 10 to 20 degrees in January. Some winter months experience a light, drizzling rain.
– Laos is characterized by a tropical climate, influenced by the southeast monsoon which brings high annual rainfall and high humidity. There are two distinct seasons: the rainy season, or monsoon, from May to mid-October and the dry season from mid-October to April. Laos is very warm all year round, with an annual average of 32 degrees, but has few truly tropical and sultry months.
To VIETNAM
VISA EXEMPT:
Visitors from the following countries may enter visa free, and stay for the indicated number of days.
ASIA:
Brunei, Myanmar – 14 days.
Japan, South Korea (ROK) – 15 days.
The Philippines – 21 days.
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand – 30 days.
EUROPE:
Belarus, Denmark, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, The United Kingdom – 15 days.
To stay beyond this number of days, you may apply for a visa extension upon your arrival in Vietnam.
Others not in the above lists must require a visa before coming to Vietnam.
To LAOS:
If you are a Southeast Asian citizen, you are visa exempted. Others must require a visa to Laos. Prepare in advance a passport photo and 35$US cash with you. Your visa will be granted right upon your arrival at Luang Prabang Airport.
Before traveling to Vietnam, be sure to purchase insurance for your trip. Two months before you leave, you should also consult your doctor or local travel clinic for the latest information on health risks in Vietnam and to receive any vaccinations you may need.
Pregnant women should consult their doctors for specialized advice. Anti-malarial drugs and many diarrhea treatments are not completely safe during pregnancy.
If you have a medical condition or allergy of which requires particular attention, carry a doctor’s letter with you that describes the nature of the condition and treatment needed. We also recommend you pack a medical kit with:
• DEET-based insect repellent
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief
• Anti-itch ointment, such as hydrocortisone
• Sunscreen
• Antihistamine for allergy treatment, such as zyrtec, Benadryl
• Bacitracin for wound care, such as Neosporin
• Diarrhea treatment, such as Imodium
Some medications may be difficult to find in Vietnam: be sure you travel with a full supply of any prescribed medicine you need.
If you forget your medications, don’t panic! Somewhere somehow you can find an alternative for your treatment in Vietnam.
