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From Hidden Laos to Hanoi

Laos to Vietnam Overland

Route: Phonsavan (Plain of Jars) - Sam Neua - Vieng Xai- Mai Chau - Hanoi

Our Laos to Vietnam tour is a great way to travel between Laos and Vietnam as you’ll see both secluded north eastern Laos and the stunning scenery of Mai Chau. Your exploration will be well rewarded as you’ll catch a glimpse of rural life in a rarely visited area.

You’ll begin your adventure in Phonsavan, home to the Plain of Jars, and then you'll travel by local bus to Sam Neua where you’ll spend the night in a cosy guest house. On the next day of your travels from Laos to Vietnam, you’ll visit the limestone caves in Vieng Xai and cross the border into Vietnam. In Mai Chau you’ll stay in a traditional stilted house and taste typical Vietnamese cuisine, before completing your journey in lively Hanoi.

If you'd like to start building your own Laos trip, take a look at our range of bite-sized Laos tours. Alternatively, if you'd rather leave the planning to us, you can take your pick from our selection of ready-made Laos holidays.

Duration	4 days / 3 nights Departs from Phonsavan (Plain of Jars) Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays	Accommodation	One night in a cosy guest house with en-suite in Sam Neua - Comfort Level 2. Two nights in Mai Chau homestay - Comfort Level 1 (see our photos, and our accommodation page)
Price	£419 - per person based on 2 people sharing	Includes	Local bus ticket, accommodation in Sam Neua, private transfer to Na Meo border via Vieng Xai, private transfer from border to Mai Chau with guide, homestay in Mai Chau with guide (includes all meals), private transfer from Mai Chau to Hanoi with guide
Transport	Public bus from Phonsavan to Sam Neua, private car transfer from Sam Neua to Na Meo border via Vieng Xai, private car transfer from border to Mai Chau, private car transfer from Mai Chau to Hanoi.	Excludes	Drinks, all other meals and excursions

Day 1: Plain of Jars - Sam Neua

It's the first day of your travels from Laos to Vietnam and after breakfast, you’ll be collected from your hotel in Phonsavan and transferred to the bus station for the windy journey to Samneua; the capital of Houaphan province and one of the least visited provinces in Laos. Although the journey will take most of the day, you’ll see some of the most remote and rugged landscapes in South-East Asia. This route is often described as “a journey of a million turns”. Late in the afternoon you'll arrive in Sam Neua where you’ll spend the night in a simple guest house.

Day 2: Sam Neua - Mai Chau

On day two of your Laos to Vietnam trip you’ll be picked up in the morning from your hotel and transferred to Viengxai. This narrow valley is littered with spectacular limestone peaks and caves. With a guide you’ll visit the cave of Kaysone Phomvihane, one of the Pathet Lao leaders who later became the first prime minister of Lao PDR. During the war the Pathet Lao leaders had their headquarters in these caves which accommodated them and around 23,000 of their followers.

After exploring the caves you’ll continue travelling from Laos to Vietnam on to the border at Na Meo, where you’ll arrive at around noon. At this remote border-crossing there is no visa upon arrival service so you’ll need to arrange your visa for Vietnam in advance. You can find more information about Vietnam Visas on our Vietnam Visa Page.

Once you’ve been through all the usual formalities your Vietnamese guide and driver will be waiting for you on the other side of the border. You’ll travel through Thanh Hoa province, one of most unexplored regions in Vietnam. Along the way you’ll see several Muong villages, tumbling rice paddies, and limestone summits. Late in the afternoon you’ll arrive at your home stay in Mai Chau, where you'll spend 2 nights in very simple stilted houses. Thankfully, you won’t have to wait long for a delicious dinner before crawling into bed for a well deserved rest.

Day 3: Mai Chau

On the third day of your Laos to Vietnam journey, your guide will take you round Mai Chau village after breakfast and show you all the main areas of interest and discuss some of the customs in this area. You’ll then head back to your home stay for lunch and have the afternoon free to do as you please. If you’re still feeling full of energy, you can rent bicycles and explore the beautiful valley of Mai Chau with its verdant rice fields and White Thai villages. You’ll have dinner back at your homestay and if you’re lucky you might hear the beating of drums in one of the nearby houses. The people in this area of extremely welcoming of visitors and often welcome half the village into their homes during these performances, so don’t be shy, go and take a look!

Day 4: Mai Chau – Hanoi

After breakfast you’ll be picked up by your private car and guide for the five hour drive to Hanoi. The scenery along the way is spectacular, so if you’d like to stop off at any point to take some pictures of the fantastic panoramas, just ask your guide. You’ll take a break at a few places along the way to stretch your legs and buy some local treats. Depending on the traffic you should arrive in Hanoi in the early afternoon. The Old French Quarter and the many lakes and parks give Hanoi a great deal of character and an exciting atmosphere.

If you’re wondering what to do next after your Laos to Vietnam trip, why not take a look at our North Vietnam tours for some inspiration?

A peek at your accommodation during your Laos to Vietnam trip (click to enlarge)

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