10-Day Vietnam to Laos Mountain Discovery

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Depart for Halong Bay, a World Heritage Site as designated by UNESCO, with thousands of limestone islets. Upon arrival, take a boat trip for about four hours on Halong Bay to enjoy its splendid seascape as you weave between the islets, visiting grottoes and perhaps go swimming. Lunch will be fresh seafood served on board by the crew. Late afternoon, go back to Hanoi for dinner before transferring to the railway station for the night train to Lao Cai.

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Around 6 am, we arrive at Lao Cai Station close to Sapa. Transfer to Sapa past terraced paddy fields, small waterfalls and pinewoods. Have breakfast in Sapa then, our tour guide will take us to Sapa market. Start the day by climbing up the Dragon Peak for a panorama of Sapa with its old colonial-style villas. In the afternoon, walk downhill from Sapa to Cat Cat village of the Hmong people to meet the H'mong people and enjoy the landscape in Cat Cat.

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After breakfast, we have a full day of easy hiking in Muong Hoa Valley. In the morning, you'll go down to the end of the valley to hike along the river and terraced rice field to visit Lao Chai, a small village of the H'mong people. From Lao Chai, we continue along small trails to Ta Van, a village of the Zay people, where you have a stunning panorama of the whole valley. During the harvest season, you have may want to learn some traditional farming techniques. Return to Sapa in the afternoon.

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Head west to Dien Bien, crossing over Hoang Lien Son, the highest mountain range of Vietnam. After the first 40 kilometres, you will reach O Quy Ho pass, where you have a magnificent view of the northwest mountains and the zigzag roads stretched to the end of the horizon. You will pass Son La hydropower station, the biggest one in Southeast Asia. The meetings with tribal groups surrounding Lai Chau like Black Thai, White Thai, Muong and Dzao people will take away the tiredness of a long trip.

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Dien Bien is only 35km from the border of Laos and was the last battlefield of the French and Vietnamese during the First Indochinese War. Visit the historical sites of Dien Bien Phu and have lunch before driving to Laos The guide-driver will meet you at the Tay Trang Bordergate and take you to Muong Khua, a small town by the Nam Ou riverbank that is a popular stopover. Visit many local minority villages of the Hmong, Thai people before reaching Muong Khua and continue to Udomxai via Muang La.

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After breakfast, we venture into the mountainous and remote areas in northern Laos. Oudomxay Province is home to 23 ethnic groups, who are unfailingly friendly, welcoming you with waving hands and smiling faces. We can make a few breaks today to meet the H'mong people in 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.

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After breakfast, head out on a guided tour, visiting the Royal Palace, Wat Visoun and the Watermelon Stupa, Wat Aham and the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. Then, drive to Kuang Si Waterfall, visiting some H'mong village on the way. First visit the Asian Bear Rescue Centre before arriving at the waterfalls with their pearly turquoise waters. You can go for a cooling swim if you wish. Transfer back to the city and learn traditional dishes as a Lao cooking class!

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Start early morning to witness the morning Alms-giving ritual to the saffron-clad monks. Then, visit the Morning Market, where you will see interesting items. After the hotel breakfast the hotel, visit Wat Xiengthong. Then, cruise up to Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold Buddha statues. Along the way, stop at Ban Xang Hai where rice wine is distilled, and continue Ban Xang Khong, known for silk hand-weaving and paper-making. Then, climb up Mount Phousi and visit the night market.