Vietnam and Laos cultural holiday
| country: | Laos, Vietnam |
| location: | Indochina holidays |
| departures: | This trip can be tailor made throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary |
| price: | From US $1700 - US $1900 (16 days) (16 days)per person minimum of 2 people, excluding flights. Single supplements apply |
| more info: | Price includes: transfers, local English speaking guides, meals, admission fees, drinking water, accommodation, internal flights and trains |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
After a tour of Ho Chi Minh’s highlights including the Cu Chi Tunnels, and an authentic dinner experience in a local home, fly to Danang and spend some relaxation time in the beautiful, quaint town of Hoi An. During the summer months you can enjoy beach time, in addition to year round shopping in tailor shops & art galleries, as well as enjoying fabulous restaurants and cooking classes.
From Hoi An drive back to Danang (45 minutes) and board an overnight sleeper train to Hanoi where you will arrive early hours of the morning. After freshening up and relaxing in the morning, spend the afternoon visiting the highlights of Hanoi.
The following morning drive into the countryside for an overnight stay. Mai Chau is only a 4 hour drive from Hanoi instead of a long overnight train journey to and from its alternative, Sapa. Check into our boutique Mai Chau Lodge - Involving the surrounding community in initial consultations when building, the lodge was created with local materials and hires only from the hill tribes of this region, providing them with language, hospitality training & opportunity. Equipped with a pool, sauna & spa you can enjoy a little luxury, as well as the option of hiking or cycling to local farms, villages and craft markets.
Return to Hanoi for one night and then head to Halong Bay - a ‘must see’ when visiting Vietnam. However here is an insider’s tip – avoid the main cruise route. Our junks use an exclusive, alternative route through a different section of Halong Bay (peaceful ‘Bai Tu Long’), and offer private one or two cabin junks and four to ten cabin shared junk options.
To truly unwind, this trip offers a two night cruise in the Bay. Visit floating fishing villages & caves, kayak & watch the sunset as you meander through 1000’s of jungle covered islands, a cool beverage in hand and a camera in the other to capture this amazing scenery. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site and our junks & crew are actively promoting & funding environmental initiatives with local floating villages – unique to this region.
Return back to Hanoi in the afternoon for one last night in Vietnam, before flying the next morning to Laos for a mini adventure in laid back Luang Prabang. Spend the afternoon on a walking tour of this beautiful town, visiting the night markets and relaxing in a café on the banks of the river. The following morning set out to explore the jungle surrounding Luang Prabang by bicycle, foot and boat. This trip provides the perfect opportunity to see traditional ethnic minorities and experience village life, while soaking up spectacular scenery. You will spend two nights staying in a village homestay, allowing you to interact with the locals, taste homemade cooking, and enjoy the typical laid back Lao lifestyle. Upon return to Luang Prabang you have time to relax and unwind for one more night before departing the following day.
From Hoi An drive back to Danang (45 minutes) and board an overnight sleeper train to Hanoi where you will arrive early hours of the morning. After freshening up and relaxing in the morning, spend the afternoon visiting the highlights of Hanoi.
The following morning drive into the countryside for an overnight stay. Mai Chau is only a 4 hour drive from Hanoi instead of a long overnight train journey to and from its alternative, Sapa. Check into our boutique Mai Chau Lodge - Involving the surrounding community in initial consultations when building, the lodge was created with local materials and hires only from the hill tribes of this region, providing them with language, hospitality training & opportunity. Equipped with a pool, sauna & spa you can enjoy a little luxury, as well as the option of hiking or cycling to local farms, villages and craft markets.
Return to Hanoi for one night and then head to Halong Bay - a ‘must see’ when visiting Vietnam. However here is an insider’s tip – avoid the main cruise route. Our junks use an exclusive, alternative route through a different section of Halong Bay (peaceful ‘Bai Tu Long’), and offer private one or two cabin junks and four to ten cabin shared junk options.
To truly unwind, this trip offers a two night cruise in the Bay. Visit floating fishing villages & caves, kayak & watch the sunset as you meander through 1000’s of jungle covered islands, a cool beverage in hand and a camera in the other to capture this amazing scenery. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site and our junks & crew are actively promoting & funding environmental initiatives with local floating villages – unique to this region.
Return back to Hanoi in the afternoon for one last night in Vietnam, before flying the next morning to Laos for a mini adventure in laid back Luang Prabang. Spend the afternoon on a walking tour of this beautiful town, visiting the night markets and relaxing in a café on the banks of the river. The following morning set out to explore the jungle surrounding Luang Prabang by bicycle, foot and boat. This trip provides the perfect opportunity to see traditional ethnic minorities and experience village life, while soaking up spectacular scenery. You will spend two nights staying in a village homestay, allowing you to interact with the locals, taste homemade cooking, and enjoy the typical laid back Lao lifestyle. Upon return to Luang Prabang you have time to relax and unwind for one more night before departing the following day.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Ho Chi Minh arrival: Our guide will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel to freshen up. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a half day Ho Chi Minh city tour including the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral (time permits). We also can drop you at Ben Thanh Market for some shopping in the late afternoon. (BL) |
| Day 2: | Cu Chi Tunnels and Saigon family dinner: Leaving Saigon we drive through pleasant countryside before arriving at Cu Chi. Before entering the tunnels we watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. We then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers. We then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City arriving at approximately 2pm for some free leisure time. You will be picked up again from your hotel in the evening and driven to a local house for dinner. Spend the next 2 -3 hours experiencing delicious and traditional Vietnamese dishes, served in a typical Saigon home dining room. Vietnamese food is very fresh, simple but tasty and healthy. After dinner, bid farewell to your hosts and be driven back to your hotel. (BD) |
| Day 3: | Ho Chi Minh – Hoi An: Take a morning flight to Da Nang, and drive approx 40 minutes to Hoi An. After lunch our guide will take you on a walk through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting the various Chinese Assembly Halls, ancestral homes, the Japanese Covered Bridge and well-preserved Pagodas that make Hoi An a fascinating town. (BL) |
| Day 4: | Hoi An: Free day (B) |
| Day 5: | Hoi An – Hanoi: Free day until 12pm when we will transfer you to Da Nang train station for the overnight train to Hanoi at 14.00 (SE6) (B) |
| Day 6: | Hanoi: Arrive in Hanoi at 4.30am, pick up and transfer to your hotel for refreshment. Later in the morning, we set out on a half day city tour, including Ho Chi Minh Complex, the Temple of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake and a one hour cyclo (rickshaw) tour through the Old Quarter. In the evening, we enjoy a traditional water puppet show. (BL) |
| Day 7: | Hanoi – Mai Chau: We leave Hanoi at 8am for a scenic 4 hour drive to Mai Chau. On arrival, a welcome briefing on the activity options and Lodge facilities is followed by lunch. At 1pm you can check into your room and take a shower. There is then an optional hike to the nearby Thai villages of Pom Coong and Lac. Here we have time for handicraft shopping from the local artisans or enjoying a coffee with the friendly villagers. At about 4pm there is an optional trip to a private cave attached to the Lodge. The cave, which used to be a military base, is looked after by a team of local hill tribe people. During the cave tour you will learn more about the limestone karst cave and its history in the local region. A fabulous dinner is served at 7pm, accompanied by a traditional dance performance by the local Thai tribe. (BLD) |
| Day 8: | Mai Chau – Hanoi: After breakfast you are welcome to join a two hour cycling tour or walking trek through the beautiful valley of Mai Chau. You will meet the local hill tribes going about their daily routines such as planting rice, herding buffalos or building traditional houses. Lunch is served after check out. We then leave for Hanoi, returning to your hotel at approximately 5pm. (BL) |
| Day 9: | Hanoi – Halong - Bai Tu Long: In the morning you will enjoy a shared transfer (private available on request) from your hotel in Hanoi to Halong City (the drive takes about 3 hours but you will stop off for a refreshment break en route). Meet the crew at the dock and cruise to the famous islands of Ha Long Bay and onto Bai Tu Long Bay. Aside from a cave visit and swimming (weather permitting), there is a chance to explore this stunning area by sea kayak. Return back to the junk for a scrumptious dinner (BLD) |
| Day 10: | Bai Tu Long: Spend the morning at Bua Cua beach for swimming, sunbathing etc. Lunch will be a delicious barbecue on the beach and there will be plenty of opportunities for kayaking. In the afternoon visit floating villages and a local school. Retire back to the junk for the night. (BLD) |
| Day 11: | Bai Tu Long: Enjoy fresh air & gentle breeze of the bay in morning. Cruise through Bai Tu Long, visit the floating fishing village of Vong Vieng and learn about daily life here. Cruise back to the dock arriving in Ha Long around noon then drive back to Hanoi, arriving at your hotel at about 4pm. (BL) |
| Day 12: | Hanoi – Luang Prabang: Morning flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and enjoy a half day tour around this beautiful World Heritage town. Visit a number of golden Wats (temples) and local sites and spend the afternoon exploring on your own at ‘local pace’.(BL) |
| Day 13: | Luang Prabang - Ban Peaw (Cycle 5 hrs): Depart from Luang Prabang and cycle downhill to a boat landing to cross the Mekong River. Cycle to Ban Na Kham, a village known for growing sugarcane and cooking sticky rice. There is time to have a look around before moving onto to Ban Houay Tan (Khmu village). After lunch, cycle to the surrounding area of Ban Chan Neua to see how pottery is made, and then head to Ban Peaw for the night, where you will stay in a village homestay. (BLD) |
| Day 14: | Ban Peaw - Ban Phou Luang Tai (Cycle 4 hrs; Walk 2.5 hrs): After breakfast, cycle through rice paddy fields to Ban Na before stopping for lunch. Then leave behind the bikes and begin hiking for around 2 1/2 hours uphill through Ban Mok Prai (Hmong village). Arrive at Ban Phou Luang Tai (Hmong village) where you will stay overnight in a simple guesthouse. (BLD) |
| Day 15: | Ban Phou Luang Tai - Luang Prabang (Walk 5 hrs): Following breakfast, start the last day’s trek through the forest to Ban Houay Pong (Khmu village) to relax and have lunch. Then continue to Muang Kham village and from here take a 20 minute boat ride back to Luang Prabang. (BL) |
| Day 16: | Luang Prabang departure: Free day until your flight home. End of service.(B) |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
|
Environment
Halong Bay: The junks we use in Halong Bay actively fund & implement environmental initiatives with a specific local floating fishing village in Bai Tu Long Bay that you will visit and learn more about on your tour. The Halong Bay project takes place in Vung Vieng fishing village, where many families live. The campaign is to encourage local people and nearby businesses to collect litter and protect the appearance and ecology of Ha Long Bay at the community level. On the day the campaign was launched, 50 rubbish bins were given to families living in this village. More importantly, the project focuses on education and communication in hopes that all the locals will soon realize the benefit of conservation. In addition to the environmental issues, they are working hard in seeking support to help build schools and create job opportunities for the local people here. A community house in Vung Vieng fishing village was built in order to accommodate tourists and provide local people with jobs. Luang Prabang: Exploring Luang Prabang on foot and bicycles. Community Mai Chau Lodge – this lodge was built in active consultation with local community and employs all locals from hill tribes in the region providing them with hospitality training. Ingredients for the restaurant are sourced locally wherever possible. Locals are also given employment through presenting traditional dance performances, which in turn help to preserve and keep alive cultural traditions. Cultural exchange experience through the local home dinner in Saigon: Meeting local people is the fastest way to understand the culture of the area. Unlike western meals where bread, potato, soup are the main dishes, Vietnamese people use rice and noodle as their main dishes which reflects its agricultural civilization. Joining a local family dinner, you will not only understand the Vietnamese cuisine but also their culture, life style and history. You will have a chance to try your hands at cooking which will give you an unforgettable experience. All tour guides, plus staff onboard the junk and guides used throughout the trip are locally employed. All guests are emailed our Responsible Travel guidelines policy prior to travel and guides are also fully trained in this. We donate to many local charities, such as funding a nutrition program at Binh Luc Orphanage and sponsoring an annual trip to Halong Bay for underprivileged disabled children & their families from ‘Blue Dragon’. We hold an annual medical trek with local & international doctors and medical students into the hill tribes of Northern Vietnam, and organise many volunteer projects such as building wells & housing in Agent Orange affected communities and teaching English. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |