Northern Indochina - Laos to Vietnam - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Laos, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your hotel.

Rise before dawn to witness tak bat (the giving of alms to the monks who leave their pagodas to receive offerings of food from local residents) in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner. Get an overview of the country’s history at the Royal Palace National Museum, take in the city’s iconic temples, and get a deeper insight into Laos culture at the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre. See colourful woven textiles being made in the surrounding villages, then either opt to embark upon an energetic climb up Mount Phousi, visit Wat Prabath Tai for a more accessible sunset experience or head to Wat Aham’s colourful prayer hall in time for the daily chanting.

Luang Prabang is one of the My Way teams’ favourite Asian cities and it’s quite easy to while away a day exploring the UNESCO protected temples, visiting the renowned Pha Tad Ke Botanical Gardens and sampling the plentiful dining opportunities…you get the idea.

After breakfast drive out of Luang Prabang to the Living Lands Organic Farm, a community enterprise, where you will meet the local farming guide for an informative, but fun morning. Rice is an important part of life in Laos: it’s eaten at every meal and there are over 500 types of rice grown in the country. During your time at the farm, you’ll learn about each step of the rice harvest and cultivation process, and try your hand at the traditional techniques (and basic tools) that have been used for centuries. The morning concludes with a rice tasting session, by which time you will have a much greater appreciation of the work and effort that goes into a simple bowl of rice!

On your way back to town stop for a picnic lunch overlooking Kuang Si Waterfalls and visit the nearby Bear Rescue Centre that does a great job in protecting and rehabilitating the rare Asiatic Black Bear.

Morning departure by car for Phonsavan. It’s a long drive and the road follows a twisty mountain route, but you will pass through some stunning Lao mountain landscapes and the journey will be punctuated by stops en-route.

Your guide and driver will be with you all day as you explore Xieng Khouang Province. First stop is the MAG (Mine Advisory Group) Centre in Phonsavan to hear more about their crucial work clearing the country’s thousands of undetected mines and ordnance. Delve further back into the region’s past at the Xieng Khouang Provincial Museum, then travel on to the extraordinary ‘Plain of Jars’ - one of Asia’s most significant Iron Age sites and recently UNESCO-listed. Thousands of mysterious stone jars, many of which are thought to be over 2,500 years old, are scattered across the plateau, the biggest standing almost 10 ft high. Take your time to soak up the gravitas, then continue on to visit the Mulberry Farm co-operative, and the inspirational Lone Buffalo community education project, before watching the sun set from the Phou Xang viewpoint.

Today’s journey is long and parts of the route are windy and slow, but this allows you to really appreciate the mountainous landscape and break up the journey at small Hmong and Khmu villages and look-out points. Arrive in the village of Hintang after your morning drive, to discover the enigmatic menhirs or standing stones. No one is quite sure who built them or why, although one theory is that they mark ancient burial sites. Continue along the route, stopping at Ban Sa Levy, a Tai Phong weaving village, and arriving at Sam Neua in the early evening in time to check out some interesting markets and restaurants.

After an early start in Sam Neua (en route either visiting the weaving house to see the region’s highly regarded woven products, or walking along the river to visit the local produce market) you’ll go east to the Vieng Xai caves. These eerily atmospheric hollows are where an incredible 23,000 Laotians sheltered during nine years of aerial bombardment in the Vietnam War era. Some of the 480 caves have now been opened to visitors to help provide investment into what is one of the poorest regions in South-East Asia. Take time to wander around some of the little-visited caves and soak up the juxtaposingly beautiful limestone karst scenery, before returning to Sam Neua to enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Morning departure for the Vietnamese border. Having said goodbye to your Laos guide (and met your new Vietnamese guide) continue by road towards the picturesque Mai Chau Valley.

Upon arrival there will be time for lunch before exploring the countryside around Mai Chau on two wheels. Cycling is an excellent way to take in the rolling hills and traditional stilt-house villages dotted along the valley. Having worked up an appetite, return to the comfort of your lodge where, in the evening, you will enjoy dinner and some traditional dances performed by the local Thái tribe people.

Today can be as active or as laid-back as you choose, with the option of staying close to the lodge and enjoying some short walks in the rice paddies or simply relaxing on the terrace appealing to many.

For those that wish to make a little more of their day, there are several Thái minority villages within an hours' drive of Mai Chau. Or take a walking tour to the scenic Buoc village, where you will encounter local farmers working on the terraced rice paddies and women preparing and cooking meals. Just be sure to return to your lodge in time for dinner.

Depart Mai Chau for Ky Son Village, and arrive in time to enjoy a stroll around the village, soaking up the traditional North Vietnamese culture and lifestyle, before joining your host to help prepare lunch. In the afternoon take your pick of bike routes, ranging from 6-12 km along local trails, stopping to enjoy the impressive panoramas, pick herbs and vegetables, visit temples, chat with locals, and visit the village market. Return to the house in time for a relaxing herbal bath and a home cooked meal.

As soon as you’ve downed your first cuppa of the day, join in with some traditional Yi Jin Jing exercises to wake up body and mind, followed by morning worship. Take a bike ride along the network of local paths, visiting nearby villages, returning to the house in time for lunch. Bid farewell to your hosts and depart for Hanoi, arriving early afternoon. The remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Start the day away from the city centre bustle with a cycle ride around the perimeter of West Lake. Spend time in the shade of Tran Quoc pagoda’s elegant tower, and watch the world go by from a lakeside cafe. As the sun reaches its highest, continue your journey into Hanoi’s past with a visit to the atmospheric halls of the Temple of Literature on the site of Vietnam’s first university, and tuck into fast food, Vietnam-style, with lunch on the famous Trang Tien Street. Enjoy anything from pho to sweet treats sitting on a tiny plastic stool among the locals, with the grand Opera House just around the corner. Explore Hanoi’s contemporary culture with a Vietnamese coffee at Manzi Art Cafe, before heading back in time with a stroll past workshops and pagodas in the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. Enjoy a beer and keep exploring, or head back to your hotel for a little downtime.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.