Laos: Vientiane – Capital Vientiane – Vang Vieng – Ancient Capital Luang Prabang – Paksan

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1: VINH – CAU TREO BORDER GATE – BOLYKHAMXAY – VIENTIANE (Lunch, dinner)

06h30: The vehicle and tour guide will pick up the group at Vietravel Nghe An's office (201 Dang Thai Than, Vinh City) and depart for Laos on Highway 8. The group will cross the majestic Truong Son Range – the natural border between Vietnam and Laos, reach the Cau Treo Border Gate (Ha Tinh) and complete the exit procedures to Laos.

The group will have lunch at Laksao (20km from Cau Treo Border Gate), then continue the journey to Vientiane:

• The group will stop at the area known as "Small Stone Mountain Peak" of Laos. From the top of the Truong Son Range, guests will have a view of the Nam Thon Dam.
• In Vientiane, the group will visit and have a panoramic view of the capital city from the top of the Patuxay Victory Monument located on Lanxang Boulevard (Elephant Road), imbued with Lao culture, with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Hindu Ramayana epic.

Guests will check into the hotel and relax, enjoy dinner with cuisine from the 3 regions of Champa.

Guests are free to explore and experience the life of the capital city in the Western district or the night market.

Overnight stay in Vientiane

DAY 2: VIENTIANE - VANG VIENG RESORT CITY (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

The group has breakfast at the hotel and checks out. The car and tour guide take you to visit:

• Paying respects at a Buddhist temple, hand-tie-the-wrists ceremony for blessings, a traditional custom of Lao people, at Si Muang Mother Temple - one of the most sacred temples in the faith of the Lao people.
• Check in and take souvenir photos at the Lao Presidential Palace, Ho Kham,built with architecture reflecting the blend of Asian and European styles, representing a period in the history of the Indochinese Federation.
• That Luong -a distinctive religious symbol of the friendly and welcoming Lao country - view the Buddha statue entering Nirvana.
• The ancient Sisaket Temple (Wat Sisaket) with thousands of Buddha statues, also one of the most important and famous temples in Vientiane.
• Experience the life of local people at the Morning Market – the capital's commercial center, buy souvenirs at the Lao silver shop Chitana owned by Vietnamese expats who live and do business in Laos.

The group has lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, the group departs for Vang Vieng - a famous tourist destination for nature lovers.

Upon arrival, you will visit:

• Nang Pha Cave (Fairy Cave) - a natural cave with a stalactite system from millions of years ago, many stalactites shaped like fairies, very impressive and unique. Feel free to play, explore the cave or enjoy ziplining through the mountains of Northern Laos (cost not included).
• Free time for relaxation, or participate in activities such as kayaking along the Son River, swimming in waterfalls, experiencing the beautiful mountains of Northern Laos by hot air balloon, Motorsky... (cost not included).
• Experience sky lantern release, carrying wishes for peace and prosperity (Vietravel provides the cost of sky lanterns, 1 sky lantern for 2 guests).

The group has dinner at a local restaurant and checks in for rest or is free to explore the night market, Vang Vieng Town.

Overnight stay in Vang Vieng

DAY 3: VIENTIANE - LUANG PRABANG (EXPERIENCE THE MOST MODERN TRAIN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA) (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

The group has breakfast at the hotel and then checks out. The vehicle will take you to the high-speed train station to Luang Prabang - the Buddhist capital of Upper Laos and the former capital of Laos, established over 700 years ago (scheduled train time: 08:56 - 09:48).

Upon arrival, the group will visit:

• Kuang Si Falls Tourist Area - the most famous waterfall in Upper Laos, with a height of 120 meters and emerald green water. Feel free to take photos, enjoy the scenery of the Upper Lao mountains and swim in the streams.
• Take photos by the terraced rice paddies of the ethnic minority people (Hmong) along the way.
• Elephant Camp (elephant camp) and experience services such as feeding elephants, taking photos with elephants (own expense).

The group will have lunch at a local restaurant with dishes such as grilled fish with salt, grilled local chicken sticky rice, grilled local pork, ... reflecting Lao culinary culture. After lunch, you can freely visit and explore the endangered bear conservation area or swim in the streams, and have fun at the Kuang Si Eco-Tourism Park.

The group will return to the city center, experience a boat trip on the Mekong River, admire the sunset over the river and the magnificent scenery of the Upper Laos mountains. The group will have dinner at a local restaurant, enjoying the Lamvong dance of the Champa flower country.

Overnight stay in Luang Prabang

DAY 4: VISITING THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF LUANG PRABANG - VIENTIANE (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

The group gets up early to experience and perform rituals to offer offerings to the monks who are going on alms round through the old city – a unique cultural and religious tradition of the capital, known as the Southern Buddhist Capital (self-sufficient cost for offering).

After breakfast at the hotel, the group checks out and departs to visit:

• Conquering Phousi Mountain – enjoying the peaceful sunrise and a panoramic view of the capital nestled at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers.
• Royal Palace (National Museum) of the Lao Royal Monarchy, where King Savang Vadthana abdicated in 1975.
• Wat Xieng Thong temple – the most beautiful ancient temple in the Land of a Million Elephants, where the Lao king worships daily.

The group has lunch at a local restaurant and takes the high-speed train back to Vientiane (scheduled train time 12.52-14.50).

Upon arrival in Vientiane, a vehicle will take the group to visit the Buddha Park (Wat Xieng Khuon) – a place with many Buddha statues with different postures, modeled after Indian Buddhism.

The vehicle continues to take you to Paksan, check in to the hotel, and have dinner. The group is free to explore, shop, and learn about the local lifestyle.

Overnight stay in Paksan

DAY 5: PAKSAN - CAU TREO - VINH CITY (Breakfast, lunch)

The group has breakfast at the hotel and then checks out.

07:00 The group departs for Vietnam on National Highway 13 and National Highway 8. Along the way, the group travels through the provinces of Bo Ly Kham Xay, Xay Xom Bun, and crosses the majestic Truong Son Mountains, reminiscing about songs about the journey, such as:

Truong Son stick,

Truong Son East - Truong Son West,...

The group has lunch in Laksao town (20 km from the Cau Treo border crossing).

After that, the group goes to Nam Pao - Cau Treo border gate to go through immigration procedures and return to Vietnam.

Upon arrival in Vinh, the tour ends. The tour guide says goodbye to the group and looks forward to seeing them again on future journeys.

(The tour itinerary may have the order of attractions swapped based on the arrangement of the company or the local tour guide, but the attractions are still included in the program)

*****

Pricing for Children

- 11 years and above: Pay full price;
- 8-11 years old: Pay 75% of the price (adult meal, same room as parents);
- 4-7 years old: Pay 50% of the price (child's meal, same room as parents);
- Under 4 years old: No ticket required, family responsible for childcare. 2 adults can only accompany one child; if more than one child is accompanying, then the additional child(ren) need to pay 50% of the ticket price (train or airline ticket according to rules). An individual passport is needed for each child, subject to an additional fee of 25 USD;
Note: A half-price ticket provides one meal + one seat and accommodation with the family.

Tour Change and Cancellation Policy

- After payment, if you wish to transfer or cancel the tour, please bring your tour ticket to the tour registration office to process the transfer/cancellation and pay the relevant fees as per Vietravel's regulations. Do not attempt to contact us for transfer/cancellation via phone. - If cancelled or changed to other tours 20 days prior to departure: no fees.
- If cancelled or changed to other tours from 15-19 days prior to departure: 50% of the deposit.
- If cancelled or changed to other tours from 12-14 days prior to departure: 100% of the deposit.
- If cancellation occurs immediately after the embassy or consulate has issued the visa: 100% of the deposit.
- If cancellation occurs from 8-11 days before departure: 50% of the tour price.
- If cancellation occurs from 5-7 days before departure: 70% of the tour price.
- If cancellation occurs from 2-4 days before departure: 90% of the tour price.
- If cancellation occurs within 1 day of departure: 100% of the tour price.
* Tour cancellation time is calculated in working days, excluding Saturdays and Sundays.

Cancellation Policy for Public Holidays and Tet

- If cancelled or changed to other tourist routes 30 days prior to departure: no fees.
- If cancelled or changed to other tourist routes from 25-29 days prior to departure: 50% of the deposit.
- If cancelled or changed to other tourist routes from 20-24 days prior to departure: 100% of the deposit.
- If cancellation occurs immediately after the embassy or consulate has issued the visa: 100% of the deposit.
- If cancellation occurs from 17-19 days before departure: 50% of the tour price.
- If cancellation occurs from 8-16 days before departure: 70% of the tour price.
- If cancellation occurs from 2-7 days before departure: 90% of the tour price.
- If cancellation occurs 1 day before departure: 100% of the tour price.
* Tour cancellation time is calculated in working days, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, and public holidays.