Trips & Tours: Thai Stilt-Houses and Mysterious Jars

Arriving at Hanoi airport you’ll be met and transferred to your accommodation. Welcome to Hanoi!

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and a delightful, exciting city. The old French Quarter and the many lakes and parks give the city a very special atmosphere. The city is located on the right bank of the Red River and its history goes back more than 1000 years. It boasts numerous buildings of historical significance from centuries-old pagodas and tiny back alleys to opulent buildings from the French colonial era. One thing’s for sure - you won't be bored in this fantastic city.

Today you have the opportunity to explore Hanoi on your own. Highly recommended is a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Museum and Mausoleum (please be aware that both are closed in October, November and December). The nearby Temple of Literature is worth a visit as well as is a walk around Hoan Kiem lake. Why not take in a water-puppet performance an old art form unique to Vietnam.

Another day at leisure exploring Hanoi. We have a wide variety of day trips that are available heading beyond the city – please contact us for a full range.

Today you head out of the city and head for the mountains. Your first stop will be at a Muang minority village for a walk and to meet the local people. The Pu Luong limestone landscape is an area of outstanding beauty, cultural interest and high biodiversity stretching from Mai Chau to Cuc Phuong National Park. The valley of Mai Chau, 5 hours from Hanoi, is dotted with White Thai villages and a night in a homestay is a great way to learn of their culture and lifestyle in an ever-changing world.

This is a beautiful area and is best enjoyed on foot or by bike. We have left the day free so you are able to explore by whatever method appeals. You can rent a bicycle and explore the beautiful valley with its verdant rice fields on your own or trek past White Thai villages together with your guide. A great day exploring a stunning region.

An early departure today as you head for the seldom-used border-crossing at Na Meo. The border is 150 km from Mai Chau, approximately 4 hours drive. This is real adventure travel as you drive through Thanh Hoa Province, one of the least visited and unexplored provinces in Vietnam, and enter Laos in Houaphan Province itself one of the remotest in the country. At this off the beaten track border-crossing there is no facility to obtain a visa on arrival service, so you’ll need to have obtained a valid visa for Laos prior to the start of the trip.

Your Lao guide and driver will be waiting for you for the drive to Vieng Xai. Here you visit the cave of Kaysone Phomvihane, one of the Pathet Lao leaders who later became the first Prime Minister of Lao PDR. During the war the Pathet Lao leaders had their headquarters in these caves. After your visit you continue to Sam Neua, capital of Houaphan Province. Sam Neua is 84kms, a 2 hour drive.

As ever on these epic overland trips it’s an early start for the long but very scenic drive to Phonsavan on the Plain of Jars. The landscape is spectacular and you will pass many minority and lowland Lao villages passing through Muang Kham, the capital of Xieng Khouang Province, located in a fertile valley.

During the 18th and at the beginning of the 19th century, Phonsavan was the centre of a kingdom of Hmong people. In 1832, it was conquered by the Vietnamese who annexed the entire region. Phonsavan was totally destroyed during the Vietnam War. The town itself today has an interesting market, and various restaurants along its dusty main road.

The main attraction of Phonsavan, also known as Xieng Khouang, is the Plain of Jars and you’ll visit this afternoon. Split into numbered sites you’ll visit No.1, the most accessible and well-known jars site where about 250 jars are scattered around. The large jars are attributed to an ancient civilization that existed some 1500 and 2000 years ago; some archaeologists think that they are burial jars but no one knows for sure.

After breakfast you will be collected by your guide and driver who will take you to Luang Prabang, a full-day journey through spectacular landscapes arriving late this afternoon.

The town of Luang Prabang is an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and that built by the French colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries; it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995.

From your hotel you can easily explore the town on foot, our recommendation for you today. Just breathe in the atmosphere, wander through the small alleys, visit the mystical temples (don't forget to dress respectfully and remember to take off your shoes). Enjoy the wonderful mix of Lao and French food, go shopping for textiles (Luang Prabang has some of the best textiles of the country) or take a Bia Lao on one of the terraces along the Mekong River.

Make the easy climb up Mt Phousi from where you have a commanding view over the town. Luang Prabang has an attractive evening market in one of the side streets of Sakkarine Rd, the ideal place to find some great bargains to take home.

After breakfast today you drive to Ban Sankhong, a village where weaving and sa papermaking takes place and, after exploring, you’ll continue to Ban Don where you will see local blacksmiths at work.

Your next stop is the village of Ban Xang Hai famous for the production of Lao Lao, the local whisky! Crossing the Mekong you arrive at Pak Ou Caves There are two caves in the steep rock cliff at the confluence of the Mekong River and Ou River: Tham Ting, the lower cave and Tham Phum, which can be reached by a long stair case. They are full of Buddha images of varying styles, ages and size. Afterwards you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch.

After lunch you board a boat for a leisurely cruise down the Mekong back to Luang Prabang and upon arrival transfer back to your hotel with the rest of the afternoon free at leisure.

After breakfast you will drive to Vang Vieng, an increasingly popular destination for travellers some 230km from Luang Prabang. Vang Vieng really is getting a reutation as the adventure centre of Laos – close by this relaxed riverside town are a multitude of caves, rapids and villages to discover. On arrival the remainder of the day is at leisure.

The choice of activity today is yours – your guide is on hand to help make suggestions as to how to spend your day. It’s possible to explore caves, either on your own or on a pre-booked tour, or how about shooting the rapids by kayak or a cycling or walking trip through local countryside to outlying villages. We’ll be pleased to assist you with advice and to help make arrangements.

After breakfast today you drive to Vientiane, a journey of approximately 3 hours (156 km). On arrival you’ll check in then enjoy a city tour visiting the city’s major points of interest - That Luang (national symbol of the Lao PDR), Wat Ho Pra Keo and Wat Sisaket. You will finish the day at the Morning Market, a misnomer as it is in fact open the whole day!

Today we transfer to the airport and fly to Bangkok. On arrival transfer to your hotel; the rest of your day is free.

Your tour ends this morning after breakfast. We can assist you with onward arrangements or with travel services such as airport transfers.