NORTHERN VIETNAM MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO LAOS 15-DAY

Northern Vietnam Motorcycle Tour to Luang Prabang, Vientiane via Dien Bien Phu, Xieng Khouang – Brief Itinerary:

In the morning we start our motorbike tour by leaving Hanoi on dyke roads to avoid the heavy traffic around 9 am , we ride our motorcycles west to Mai Chau, an area of beautiful landscape and home to the Thai ethnic minority. We will ride on Highway 6 passing extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads punctuated by limestone karst scenery.

After a light lunch in Hoa Binh Province, we cross Thung Khe, one of the most beautiful mountain passes in North Vietnam then descent to the mountain valley settlement of Mai Chau. After dinner we join performance, where you can dance and share a range of special liquors (rice wine) with the locals. Overnight in a house-on-stilts of the Thai people.

Mai Chau is one of the closest places to Hanoi where you can experience a ‘real’ Montagnard village. In the morning we take a short walk around village to discover local life. Life in the countryside starts early so by sunrise there is a wealth of activity. The Thai women are masterful weavers who ensure that there is plenty of traditional-style clothing to buy in the village centre. You will see women weaving on looms under or inside their houses in the village We can buy some handmade traditional-style clothing, knife or cross-bow.

After breakfast in home-stay, we say goodbye to villagers and leave Mai Chau around 10 am. We ride from Mai Chau to the direction of Moc Chau, where we have lunch. This highland town produces some of Vietnam’s best tea and is a good place to stock up. The surrounding area is also home to several ethnic minorities, including Green H’mong, Dzao, Thai and Muong.

Moc Chau boasts a pioneering dairy industry that started in the late 1970s with Australian (and, later, UN) assistance. The dairy provides Hanoi with such delectable iuxur us as fresh milk, sweetened condensed milk and little tooth-rotting bars called “Banh sua”.

After lunch, we turn to the less travelled Road 43 leading to the Da River, crossing the reservoir of Da river at Van Yen ferry, then ride on a beautiful winding secondary road until Phu Yen mountain town (a district of Son La Province in the Northwestern region of Vietnam), where we stay in a basic guest-house.

Summary:
Distance: 140 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guest-house

Heading out northwest from Son La, the road crosses a series of mountain passes and areas of busy Black Thai activity. Children walk to school, kids tend buffaloes, women plant rice seedlings and men pull the buffalo. Then we come to the beginning of the very long and steep Pha Din pass where at the top we have vast views of the surrounding mountains, then down the other side on very steep sealed road. Lunch at local restaurant en route.

In the afternoon, we’ll ride our bikes around Dien Bien Phu city to explore some historical relics relating to the French war such as Muong Thanh Bridge, War Museum, the strategic hill A1 and the old battle field where the lush vegetation grows behind many war relics including old French tanks and artillery pieces.

Summary:
Distance: 220 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

Breakfast at guesthouse. Hit the road to Muang La. Several stops in villages allow you to meet these people. Arrival and visit Ban Ano village. The local guide will give you explanations on the culture and traditions of the Akha minority and also see some handicraft production like Akha textile weaving style.

Then continue to Oudomxay. Located north of Laos and border with China, this province has beautiful mountainous terrain, mostly forested. It hosts no less than 23 ethnic minorities who all have their own language, culture and way of life. Khmus and Lu are among the most important minorities in the region.
Arrival and check in a local guesthouse. (simple comfort)

After breakfast, you leave Oudomxay to go to Nong Khiaw. Visit on the way some local villages. Upon arrival, you visit the Nong Khiew Bridge, a local school (if it’s weekday) and the Pathok Cave. 

Then, heading to Muang Ngoy. During this journey, you can discover wild landscapes and, near your destination, large cliffs and more mountainous reliefs. You arrive in Muong Ngoy in the late afternoon and settle in local guesthouse (simple comfort).

After breakfast, heading to Muang Kham via Hintang. Arrival in Muang Kham, and visit  Tham Piu Cave. This cave stands as a solemn monument to hundreds of innocent villager killed in a 1968 us missile attack. Today, the statue of a man, straining to hold his anger as the carries a lifeless child, call for an “annual Day of Remembrance”. First, go to the visitor centre and contemplate the display of photographs and history behind the bombings.

You’ll read about the single shell that his the core of Piu Cave and claimed the lives of a reported 374 locals seeking shelter inside. Then, climb the upper staircase, which passes a golden Buddha, grave markers, and bomb craters, until your reach Tham Piu, a sad hillside hole with the rubble floor. Inside, locals light incense to play tribute to the dead.  Back outside and visit a Hot spring before back to Muang Kham town to check in a local guesthouse. (simple comfort)

After breakfast, we make our way over the mountains to Xieng Khouang, the province which is best-known for having been heavily bombed during Indochina War. But of course it is also famous for its historic Plain of Jars. We can make some stops at villages to observe the rural life of local people, including ethnic minorities such as the Hmong people.

Arrival in Phonsavanh, the capital of Xieng khouang province, visit UXO office before continue to Plains of Jars.

The Plain of Jars is a huge archaeological complex littered with mysterious 2000 years old stone jars sized from 70cm up to 3 or 4 meters. Their true origin remains a mystery. It seems that they were carved into boulders. Several researches lead by the French archaeologist Madeleine Colani in the 30’s suggested that they could be old graves, but to this day they remain an enigma. Your trip will enable you to visit the 3 sites and also discover some local villages where you can observe local village life.

Site 1, close to the town is settled at Thong Hai Hin and is the biggest site.
Site 2 is at Hai Hin on Phou Salator, “Phou” in Lao means “Mountain”.

End your tour at site 3 in Hai Hin Lat Khai. Site 3 is the most impressive with over 150 jars. Close to this site, you will visit Ban Xiengdi where there is a small monastery with Buddha images. On the way back, you will pass areas that were important battlefields during the American secret war. You can still see bomb craters from that time today.

In the afternoon, enjoy a half day trip to Muang Khoun. Muang Khoun one place in the old provincial capital that was not been destroyed by the American bombings during the secret war. Muang Khoun is home to unique sitting giant Buddha as well of some old pagodas that lies in ruins. Then return to Xieng Khouang and check into your hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive south of Luang Prabang to the elephant camp. Here, you will visit the elephants and then go for a elephant riding (25 mins, one person per elephant, howdah free).

Then continue to hit the road along the mighty Mekong River. Enjoy stunning mountain scenery and witness the simple rural lifestyles. You will reach Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers.

Then ferry to Pak Ou entrance and visit 2 caves Tham Ting and Tham Phoum are displayed hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images which are the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities around mid-April. End of visit, ferry back and drive back to town.

In the afternoon, driving through green rice paddies and farms. Stop for visit few villages of H’mong and Lao Loum people. On your arrival at the Kuang Si falls, enjoy main waterfalls with spectacular views and surrounding of orchids inside the park and falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools where you can cool off with a swim.

Vientiane’s own Victory Monument, which looks like the Arc de Triumph. This was built at the end of the Indochina wars with money rumored to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway. This is the departing Americans dubbed this monument the vertical runway! Have a look at the lovely arches inside the monument.

Then check in your hotel for resting.

 After breakfast, free time until transfer with guide and driver to airport for your departure flight.