13 Days Adventurous Honeymoon in Northern Vietnam and Laos

ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi | Arrive in Hanoi

International Flight: Excluded

Meals: Dinner

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival in Hanoi, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

After check-in, enjoy a stroll on your own around Hoan Kiem Lake outside your hotel. Feel free to also pick up a souvenir at the night markets or at one of the many trinket shops in the alleys and small roads of this historic part of town.

Enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine at Home Restaurant – a historic French colonial residence restored in between the Old Quarter and the serene West Lake. Enjoy fine Vietnamese cuisine as you reminisce on your journey through Thailand and Vietnam. Once you finish your dinner, you’ll be escorted to your hotel.

Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi | Best of Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast

See the highlights of Hanoi during your full-day city tour, enjoy the visit to cultural, historical and iconic landmarks.

In the morning, you’ll be escorted to see some of the most significant places in Hanoi.

You’ll begin by seeing the Tran Quoc Pagoda. This 1,400-year-old temple features ten tiers surrounded by gardens and which also hosts a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original bodhi tree under which Buddha sat. Next, you’ll pass by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a large memorial where the charismatic Vietnamese leader read the Declaration of Independence in 1945. Not far from here is the One Pillar Pagoda. This millennia-old structure was built on a large stone column in the middle of a pond to resemble a temple seen in the Emperor’s dream.

Then you’ll learn about the highlight of this tour – The Temple of Literature. The ancient university was erected almost a millennium ago and has hosted many of the most prominent scholars through Vietnamese history. The site features many gardens, pools, buildings, courtyards, and ancient trees where the best and brightest of Vietnam studied under the guidance of Confucius teachings.

In the afternoon, you’ll go on to see the museum of Ethnology to learn about the different ethnicities in Vietnam. Next, you’ll take a stroll around the Hoan Kiem Lake where you can see the Tortoise Tower sitting on the water. You’ll also be able to visit the Ngoc Son Temple, which rests on the lake with a narrow bridge for access.

Hanoi Old Quarter Cyclo Tour

Then you’ll enjoy a half-hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The cyclo is a historic mode of transportation in the cities of Vietnam where a cyclist escorts you while you sit in a seat affixed to the front with a canopy over top. In the Hanoi Old Quarter, you’ll enjoy streets full of life with genuine shops and cafes frequented by locals.

The tour finishes with a Water Puppet Show performed by the world-renowned Thang Long Opera House. This performance features a talent unique to Vietnam. You’ll watch as water puppets perform the folklore legends of Vietnam while live ethnic music sets the mood.

Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Day 3: Hanoi – Sapa | Road Trip to Sapa | Leisure

Meals: Breakfast

Today, you will travel around 4 hours on the newly built highway northward from Hanoi to Sapa through the lush countryside and beautiful mountainsides. Sapa is a lovely small town located near the top of the Annamite Range and surrounded by the ethnic hill tribes. Then you will check in your hotel and enjoy some leisure time.

Accommodation: Victoria Sapa

Day 4: Sapa | Meet Remote Hill Tribes (Lao Chai-Tava-Gian Tour)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

View of Sapa Valleys – 13 Days Adventurous Honeymoon Northern Vietnam Laos

You’ll then leave your hotel to visit Lao Chai village while following the road down the mountain. Views of the Muong Hoa valley and magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields can be seen from this road. Along the road, you may have a chance to see ethnic groups of H’mong, Giay, Red Dao, and stalls serving tea, fruits, and sweets. Arrive at the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai, where you will experience the daily life of the villagers. After that, take a walk from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Giay hill tribes live. Here you’ll take a rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by the local guide in a local house.

After lunch, you’ll trek through the winding hills and venture through a bamboo forest to find a hidden waterfall. Here, you’ll stop to relax. Continue on foot to explore the Red Dao village of Giang Ta Chai where you will also have the chance to see their daily activities. In the afternoon, you’ll return back to Sapa.

Accommodation: Victoria Sapa 

Day 5: Sapa | Authentic Weekly Bazaar of Flower H’mong Ethnic

Meals: Breakfast

Each day of the week, various ethnic village tribes congregate together in remote sections of the mountains. They dress in their finest ethnic garments to represent their tribes as they come together to buy, sell, and trade their produce and livestock with other villages. The hill tribe market is a unique opportunity to see the colorful ethnic apparel proudly on display. It is a time of social and community gathering. Finally, return to your hotel and relax.

Note: As different regions have different markets on certain days of the week, we will clarify in the itinerary which market you will visit based on your travel dates.

Accommodation: Victoria Sapa

Day 6: Sapa – Hanoi | Return to Hanoi | Leisure

Meals: Breakfast

Today, you will travel by vehicle back to Hanoi with the view of the lush countryside and beautiful mountainsides along way. Arrive the hotel and enjoy your leisure time.

Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Day 7: Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay | Voyage Lan Ha Bay with Cruise by Orchid

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, your guide and driver will transfer you to Halong Bay. Upon arrival, enjoy refreshments at Private Lounge until boarding. Then board Orchid Cruise.

Receive a safety briefing and check in your cabins. The boat sets adrift for Da Chong islet, home to an old French lighthouse. Enjoy a sumptuous feast in the panoramic dining hall while en route to the islets of Con Vit and Gia Luan. The bay opens up to you with stunning green karsts towering above the water. This area receives very few cruise ships as it has just been newly opened up. Continue to Ba Trai Dao beach of Lan Ha Bay. A paradise with perfect beaches and natural beauty. Stop at one of the beaches for swimming or kayaking during the afternoon.

As dusk approaches, welcome the sunset with a local specialty – “Ba Kich”(a liquor made from Noni fruit). Back on board, you’ll join a cooking demonstration to learn a few Vietnamese culinary secrets. Enjoy your creation! Then time for supper in the dining hall. Delicious Vietnamese cuisine and seafood in a romantic setting. After dinner, you may enjoy watching the stars from the sundeck, watching a movie in the restaurant, or give night squid fishing a try with the staff(subject to seasonal availability).

Accommodation: Orchid Cruise

Day 8: Halong Bay – Ninh Binh | Lan Ha Bay Sunrise | Bai Dinh Temple

Meals: Breakfast

Rise early for one of the top best sunrises in the world. Then head to the sundeck for an invigorating Tai Chi session amongst a picture-perfect backdrop of karsts, sea, and nature. Enjoy breakfast in the dining hall before taking the journey to explore the area around Sang Tai sea cave via canoes.

Return back to the pier for check out and then transfer to Ninh Binh.

Check-in at the resort with stunning views all around.

Time to stretch your legs! Go with our guide to visit Bai Dinh Temple, the largest temple in Vietnam. This Buddhist temple was built into the mountain with 3 terraces and faces the river. Explore the many halls, rooms, carvings, and statues during the late afternoon. Our guide will then take you to the best place for watching the sunset over this untouched part of Vietnam. Shortly afterward, you’ll witness the 13-tier pagoda – Chau Bai Dinh – be lit up for the evening: a true spectacle to behold! Return to the resort for overnight and leisure.

Accommodation: Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh

Day 9: Hanoi – Luang Prabang | Wonders of Ninh Binh | Flight to Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, enjoy some time at the resort to relax and take in the stunning views. Check out late morning and then you’ll go to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital. In 968, Dinh Bo Linh declared himself as the King. Since then Hoa Lu existed as the capital for only 41 years. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long – present-day Hanoi. Hoa Lu became the old citadel. In Hoa Lu, there are now two temples dedicated to two Vietnamese kings, which have been built on the grounds of the old royal palace. The visit offers a chance to learn more about the feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.

Trang An Grottoes Boat Tour

Next, you’ll take an amazing boat trip through Trang An Grottoes. A gathering of 31 valleys and 50 cross-water caves are home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna many of which are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. Rowing through the Trang An Grottoes is a peaceful trip of serenity. The highland air is a respite from modern living and the sounds are only that of birds and the oars stirring the clear water. Towering overhead is magnificent forested mountains upon which you might catch a glimpse of grazing white-bearded goats. You will return to Hanoi after the adventure.

Board an evening flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and continue the transfer to your resort next to the beach for check-in.

After you arrive in Luang Prabang, your guide will escort you to your hotel and assist with check-in. Feel free to explore the beautiful city of Luang Prabang on your own to discover night markets selling local tapestries and souvenirs.

Feel free to explore the beautiful city of Luang Prabang on your own to discover night markets selling local tapestries and souvenirs.

Accommodation: Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh

Day 10: Luang Prabang | Kuang Si Waterfalls and City Highlights

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you’ll start with a visit to the Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

We then return to Luang Prabang. In the afternoon, your half-day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.

A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribes surrounding Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao 

Day 11: Luang Prabang | Befriending the Gentle Giants of Asia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, transfer to Elephant Village – an elephant sanctuary with a focus on rehabilitation and care of rescued elephants. Here you’ll meet the camp manager and receive a short briefing about the elephants. Throughout the day, you’ll take place in the following activities:

• • Mahout Training – learn about the commands of how to communicate to the elephant
  • Enjoy lunch at the outdoor garden restaurant
  • Bathe your elephant – Go down to the nearby Nam Khan River to bath your elephant; perhaps the elephant will bathe you as well!

Elephant Village – 13 Days Adventurous Honeymoon Northern Vietnam Laos

Then return to your hotel for leisure time.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 12: Luang Prabang | Pak Ou Caves by Boat

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make Laos rice wine and rice whiskey. You’ll be able to try some and see the process they use to make it. Then we’ll reach the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

Lunch will be served nearby the caves. During lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to try a local dish called “Orlam” which is a soup with vegetables and features a spicy wood that is partially edible. On return, we disembark the boat to visit a traditional weaving village of Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving.

Evening dinner at Hive Restaurant with “Ethnik Fashion Show” – modern fashion show with a twist – ethnic wedding garments from over 100 ethnic groups in Laos on a show by Hmong underprivileged university students(all donations go to support their families and education).

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao 

Day 13: Luang Prabang | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast

Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your homeward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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