Ethnic Minorities of South Vietnam and Cambodia

14 days visiting

• Saigon
• Dalat
• Lak Lake
• Buon Ma Thuot
• Pleiku
• Banlung
• Stung Treng
• Kampong Cham
• Phnom Penh

From $2660 AUD pp (2 pax)

Day 1 Hanoi
Arrival in Hanoi
Transfer by air conditioned vehicle
– Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2 Hanoi (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sightseeing in Hanoi
There’s no arguing – Hanoi has to be the coolest city in Vietnam. And no, we’re not just referring to the climate. This chaotic, colourful, motorbike-clogged, 1,000-year-old city is a delicious mix of East and West. Hanoi clings on tightly to its heritage – the Temple of Literature is one of the oldest landmarks. More recent history can be seen in Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, while the man himself, lies embalmed in an austere mausoleum. There’s picturesque lakes and parks, as well as museums and prominent colonial buildings. Let’s jump right in and experience it all. We’ll even go green and explore the Old Quarter by electric buggy. Today’s Highlights: Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology, Hoan Kiem Lake, Old Quarter by electric buggy – Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3 Hanoi (Breakfast: Hotel / Lunch: Meals incl. in itinerary (Vietnam) )
Excursion to Halong Bay with boat trip including lunch
Halong Bay was formed by dragons who used their tails to gouge out valleys and crevasses, and spat out jewels that turned into islands. Or so the Vietnamese believe. Whether true or not, this is an otherworldly landscape. On a traditional wooden junk we’ll drift through a fairyland of sheer limestone islands that rise from the emerald water. We’ll pass by unique rock formations and discover caves in the rocks. We can explore even closer on a kayak or bamboo rowing boat. Today’s Highlights: Boat trip through Halong Bay, Thien Cung Cav – Overnight in Hanoi

Day 4 Hanoi – Mai Chau – Son La (Breakfast: Hotel )
By vehicle from Hanoi to Mai Chau
Sightseeing in Mai Chau (including Van, Lac & Pomcoong)
A world away from the bustle of the towns and cities, the minority villages in the stunning Mai Chau Valley are friendly and quiet. They’re home to the White Thai, whose women are masterful weavers. We’ll visit several of these villages to see traditional stilt houses surrounded by rice fields, rivers and streams. Today’s Highlights: Mai Chau, Poom Coong, Lac and Van Mai villages
By vehicle from Mai Chau to Son La
– Overnight in Son La

Day 5 Son La – Dien Bien Phu (Breakfast: Hotel )
Visit Son La Prison
By vehicle from Son La to Dien Bien Phu with sightseeing at Muong Phang
During our journey, we’ll stop at Moung Phang, a town connected with the general who led the battle of Dien Bien Phu – thereby ending French colonial rule in Indochina. Today’s Highlights: Muong Phan – Overnight in Dien Bien Phu

Day 6 Dien Bien Phu (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sightseeing in Dien Bien Phu
The site of an epic battle, Dien Bien Phu saw the end of French colonial rule in Indochina. We’ll see the actual hill there it took place along with the original bomb crater. We’ll also visit the museum and the Bunker of De Castries where the headquarters of the French commander have been re-created, complete with old French tanks. Today’s Highlights: Dien Bien Phu Museum, Hill A1, Bunker of De Castries
Visit Black Thai villages
Visit some villages to see how ethnic minorities live. The whole area is inhabited by Montagnard people, which include the white and black Thai, Hmong, Zao and Muong – Overnight in Dien Bien Phu

Day 7 Dien Bien Phu – Pang Hok – Muang Khua – Oudomxai (Breakfast: Hotel )
By vehicle from Dien Bien Phu to Tay Trang (Vietnam/Laos border) (Dien Bien Phu)
By vehicle from Pang Hok (Laos / Vietnam border) to Muang Khua
Arrival in Muang Khua
By vehicle from Muang Khua to Oudomxai (Muang Xai)
– Overnight in Oudomxai

Day 8 Oudomxai – Luang Nam Tha (Breakfast: Hotel )
By vehicle from Oudomxai (Muang Xai) to Luang Nam Tha
Sightseeing in Luang Nam Tha
Let’s take a look around the friendly little town of Luang Nam Tha to check out the local market, the ethnic museum and the beautiful red-gold stupa of Phoum Pouk Pagoda. Today’s Highlights: Local market, Phoum Pouk Pagoda, Luang Nam Tha Museu – Overnight in Luang Nam Tha

Day 9 Luang Nam Tha (Breakfast: Hotel / Lunch: Meals incl. in itinerary (Laos) )
Nam Ha Discovery
We depart from Luang Namtha at 8:30am and drive for 30 minutes southwards to Ban Jaluensouk (Khmu village) which is the starting point of our trek. On the way we pick up a village guide who is very familiar with the area. This trek of about 8-10 km is not too difficult. First, we will go uphill for a while before the terrain gets more flat. Only during the rainy season that it may be bit slippery from time to time. We will cross a few small and beautiful streams. The dense canopy is shading us and keeps the temperatures comfortably cool and the hike enjoyable.
We will stop and spend some time wherever we find something interesting and our experienced local guide will do the explanations. At noon, we will enjoy a rustic picnic lunch with traditional Lao food, accompanied by the music of bird songs and chirping cicadas. After lunch, we walk to meet with the waiting car which will bring us through to some open rice paddy fields with some good views. On the way back to town and the hotel, we may stop in some villages such as a Lantern village which is known for its paper made of bamboo pulp and Ban Pieng Ngam village famous for cotton and silk.
Approximately : 1 hour transfer & 4 hours trekkin – Overnight in Luang Nam Tha

Day 10 Luang Nam Tha – Oudomxai – Luang Prabang (Breakfast: Hotel )
By vehicle from Luang Nam Tha to Oudomxai (Muang Xai)
Sightseeing in Oudomxai
Oudomxai is home to many different ethnic groups and just a handful of tourists. We’ll take a stroll through the town to see the market and a temple. From the top of Phou Xay Hill we can view the entire town and the surrounding valley. Today’s Highlights: Local market, Phou Phra That, Phou Xay Hill
By vehicle from Oudomxai (Muang Xai) to Luang Prabang
Visit Tad Lak Sip-Ed Waterfall
Visit Tad Lak Sip-ed Waterfall, not far from Oudomxai. This narrow waterfall cascades over a limestone cliff into a tributary of the Nam Beng River – Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 11 Luang Prabang (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sightseeing in Luang Prabang
In the charming UNESCO-protected town of Luang Prabang, golden Buddha images adorn gilded temples with sweeping roofs, while saffron-clad monks drift silently by. We’ll stroll through the town stopping at some of the many temples. One of the most photographed sights is the unique pink mosaic of the tree of life at Wat Xieng Thong. In the 16th century Wat Visoun, we will find a beautiful collection of antique wooden Buddhas. In the National Museum, formerly the Royal Palace, we’ll see the royal family’s private quarters
preserved just as they were when the family were forced to leave. The Hor Phrabang contains the palace’s most prized art including the Phrabang itself, a beautiful Buddha image. Throughout the tour we’ll see many other temples including Wat Sibounheuang, Wat Si Moungkhoun, Wat Sop, Wat Mai, Wat Sene and Wat Aham.
Visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) with tea/coffee with snacks
TRADITIONAL ARTS AND ETHNOLOGY CENTRE: The Centre exhibits unique ethnic clothing, household objects, religious artefacts, and handicrafts from various ethnic groups. Learn about their lifestyles, beliefs, and traditions with information in English and Lao languages – Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 12 Luang Prabang (Breakfast: Hotel )
Transfer by air conditioned vehicle