After breakfast, we take boat up the Mekong River. On the way, we stop at paper making village, Lao sticky rice wine making village and Pak Ou Cave (1000 Buddha Cave). At the confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Ou, we continue up the Nam Ou River and stop for lunch at Pha Lai restaurant.
Nam Ou is the longest inland river in Laos. The cruise along the Nam Ou offers us an enjoyable time of viewing the beautiful scenic landscape and stunning mountain. We arrive in Muang Ngoi around 5:00pm, a full enjoyable day of river trip. The night will be spent in a guesthouse in Muong Ngoi Kao.
Approximately: 6 hours boat
Accommodation: Ning Ning Guesthouse
It is worth an early wake up to watch beautiful sunrise over lime stone mountain and wonder around the Ngoi village. After breakfast we embark to continue our journey up the Nam Ou past picturesque scenery. We stop for lunch served with local food on the river bank. We continue to Muang Khua for over night in a guest house.
Muong Khua is a small town inhabited by Yunanese, Vietnamese and Lao. There are some colonial building can be found. The town is 45 km from Laos – Vietnam border, recently open to foreigner. From here, we’ll enter Vietnam end start the infamous North West loop.
Approximately: 4 hours boating
Accommodation: Sinary Guesthouse
After breakfast, we travel through one of the most remote area of Northern Laos toward Lao – Vietnam border. In the rainy season, there will be several river crossings along this bumpy ride! Our guide from Vietnam will pick you up at Tay Trang border and transfer you to Dien Bien Phu for check-in.
Dien Bien Phu is well known through out the world as a battle field in the first Indochina War. The city, 45 km from the Laos border, locates in Muong Thanh Valley famous for its tasty rice and Thai minority traditional dance.
After lunch, we visit the historical sites such as De Castrie’s bunker, the Dien Bien Phu museum, the A1 hill…
Approximately: 3 hours drive
Accommodation: Muong Thanh Hotel
After breakfast, we drive to Sin Ho. The road twists and passes through the picturesque sceneries. Moreover, we’ll have chance to encounter with the minorities people as White Thai, White Hmong… We arrive in Sin Ho around lunch time. Sin Ho now day is famous for its medical plantation and its tropical orchid variety.
After lunch, we continue the ride on a winding road to Paso, a little town lies on a confluence of Black River, famous for its giant cat fish. We arrive to Paso by late afternoon for check-in. The night will be spent in the hotel on the river.
Accommodation: Lan Anh Hotel
Approximately: 5 hours drive
The drive from Paso to Sapa is one of the most scenery and mountainous stretch of road in the whole of Viet Nam. We pass by many small villages of Red and White Hmong, Black Dao and White Thai ethnic minorities. We stop at Tam Duong for lunch.
After lunch, the road weaves its way through the picturesque valley and mountain. We will drive uphill to the highest pass “Heavens Gate Pass” which is in a height of 2000 meter. If the weather is clear the views here are magnificent. There are plenty of possibilities for making photo stops.
We arrive in Sapa in the afternoon.
Approximately: 3 hours drive
Accommodation: Gold Sea Hotel
We first sneak through the Sapa market and leave the busy town behind. After a couple of minutes, we follow a road going downhill to Cat Cat village. We’ll stop by a waterfall and a hydroelectric station for a while before continuing the trek on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraces. We also will enjoy spectacular scenery while walking along a narrow river. We eventually arrive in Y Linh Ho village of Black Hmong minority, where we can take a rest while lunch is served nearby the river.
After lunch, you head toward Muong Hoa valley. You will pass through Lao Chai village of Black Hmong minority and then Tavan village of Giay minority by following a very popular trekking route. You will return Sapa from Tavan by car.
Approx: Grade 2 of 5/ 30 minutes driving/ 5 hours walking
Note: be aware that in rainy time the trail is muddy and slippery.
Accommodation: Gold Sea Hotel
Today is free at your leisure. You can take a walk to Sapa Market where you can find diversity of local product and beautiful handy crafts made out of indigo and natural dying process from Black Hmong and Red Dao ethnic minorities. In the afternoon, you can climb up to the top of Ham Rong Mountain, a botanic garden. A panorama view of Muong Hoa Valley and Hoang Lien Mountain Range deserves your effort! Entrance fee is on your own account.
In the late afternoon, you will be transferred to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi. Dinner is on your own account.
Approx: 1 hour driving
On your arrival to Hanoi, our driver will pick you up at the train station. You will be transfer to the hotel
Accommodation: Hong Ngoc Hotel
Price:
| Price per person |
| 2 persons |
US$ 814 |
| 3 persons |
US$ 642 |
| 4 persons |
US$ 562 |
| 5 persons |
US$ 516 |
| 6 persons |
US$ 472 |
| 7 persons |
US$ 502 |
| 8 persons |
US$ 481 |
| 9 persons |
US$ 459 |
| Supplement Single |
US$ 97 |
Note: Please contact us for price for group size over 9 people
Inclusive:
- English speaking guide from day 1 to day 6
- All private transportation
- Accommodation indicated
- Meal as indicated
- All entrance fees (except on Day 7)
- Boat trip to Halong
- Boat trip Luang Prabang – Muong Khua
- Train ticket
- 1 days trek
|
Exclusive:
- Personal pocket-money
- Drinks
- Insurance
- Visa
|
(will be provided upon confirmation)
Those who look for the best way to enter North West Vietnam from Phongsaly Province of Laos, this tour is the answer. The boat trip between Luang Prabang and Muong Khua has perhaps the most spectacular mountain scenery of any river trip of Laos. Once enter Viet nam, scenic drive through mountains with picturesque views; colorful ethnic minorities with their unique costume; Sapa with amazing Muong Hoa valley and its challenged Fansipan peak and infamous Dien Bien Phu battle filed are the highlights.
