Scenic Train Journey: Vientiane to Dien Bien Phu 8-Day | Best Tour Package from Vientiance to Vietnam

Embark on a journey through the heart of Laos, a country full of natural beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality. This 8-day tour will take you to some of the most breathtaking locations in Laos, from the vibrant city of Vientiane to the serene town of Luang Prabang, and the stunning mountainous landscapes in between.

1. Discover the charms of Vientiane, Laos' capital city, and take in the unique blend of French colonial architecture and traditional Lao culture.
2. Board the express train to Vang Vieng, a stunning riverside town nestled amidst stunning karst mountains.
3. Journey on to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its ancient temples, peaceful atmosphere, and traditional arts and crafts.
4. Explore the mystical Pak Ou Caves, located along the Mekong River and filled with hundreds of Buddha images.
5. Visit Ban Long Lao, a traditional Hmong village, and marvel at the beauty of Kuangsi Waterfalls, a stunning cascade of turquoise blue water.
6. Take a relaxing ride on the Namkat Yolapa Express Train to Oudomxay, a charming town surrounded by picturesque mountains.
7. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Muang La, a tranquil town known for its hot springs and stunning river views.
8. Finally, cross into Vietnam and visit Dien Bien Phu, a city that played a pivotal role in the country's history and is now a vibrant cultural center.

Upon arrival in the capital, our staff will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. Vientiane is a captivating city with an intriguing blend of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. After a short rest, we will begin our visit to the major city sights, including Wat Sisaket, the country's oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo. Along the way, we will stop at the famous That Luang Stupa, which is the most important monument in Laos. You will have the opportunity to take photos of the impressive Patuxay Monument, also known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. Tonight, we will enjoy a welcome dinner at one of the city's fine restaurants.

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Accommodation Options:

Orchid Laos Hotel - 3-star or similar

Green Park Hotel - 4-star or similar

Crown Plaza - 5-star or similar

After breakfast, we catch the express train to Vang Vieng, a small and tranquil town nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. After check into your hotel, we explore the famous caves of Tham Jang, which was once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. Next, we take a drive through paddy fields to the Tham Phoukham caves, the country’s beautiful and famous limestone caverns surrounded by forest. Along the way, you will meet local villagers and learn about their daily lifestyle. There is a small natural pool in front of the caves where you can swim and refresh yourself from the heat. Overnight in Vang Vieng

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Accommodation Options:

Vansana Vang Vieng Hotel - 3-star or similar

Inthira Vang Vieng Hotel - 4-star or similar

Amari Vang Vieng Hotel - 5-star or similar

After breakfast, we take an express train to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best preserved city in South East Asia’. After a short rest, we visit The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture throughout the ages. Next, we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textile made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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Accommodation Options:

Villa Chitdara Hotel - 3-star or similar

Le Belair Resort - 4-star or similar

Villa maly Hotel - 5-star or similar

Today, we will board an upstream cruise on the Mekong River, offering a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. We will stop at the Pak Ou Caves, which are sanctuaries consisting of two large caverns, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images. Along the way, we will also stop at a few villages, including Ban Muangkeo, where the local rice wine is produced, and Ban Xiengmene. We will also have a chance to climb up to Wat Chomphet, offering one of the best views of Luang Prabang from across the river. Once we return to Luang Prabang city, we will take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xieng Lek - small villages well known for their silk weavings and Saa (jute) papermaking. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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Accommodation Options:

Villa Chitdara Hotel - 3-star or similar

Le Belair Resort - 4-star or similar

Villa maly Hotel - 5-star or similar

After breakfast, we will transfer to Ban Long Lao where we will first visit the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Longlao Nung before heading to the nearby Hmong village of Ban Longlao Song. This will give us a chance to observe the lifestyles of these two culturally different minority groups and see how they manage to work together on a daily basis, even sharing the same school.

Next, we will continue our excursion to the stunning Kuang Si Waterfall. Along the way, we will stop at the Buffalo Dairy Farm, where we will take a 40-minute tour that includes a guided tour of the mini farm, feeding and washing the buffalo, a milking demonstration, and feeding chickens and rabbits. After the tour, we will visit some ethnic minority villages to learn more about how these colorful people live.

Then, we will continue to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where we can swim in the turquoise pools or walk along forest paths. On our return to the city, we will stop at Wat Phabath to observe the sunset. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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Accommodation Options:

Villa Chitdara Hotel - 3-star or similar

Le Belair Resort - 4-star or similar

Villa maly Hotel - 5-star or similar

After breakfast, we will catch the express train to Oudomxay. This province is home to 23 ethnic minority groups. Upon arrival, our staff will meet you and transfer you to the jungle resort, Namkat Yolapa. After checking into your hotel, we will enjoy a short trek through the jungle to the Namkat waterfall. You can take your time at the waterfall before returning to the hotel for an overnight stay.

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Accommodation: Namkat Yorlapa Resort (local best)

In the morning, we will depart from Namkat Yolapa towards Pak Khai, enjoying stunning views of the Nam Pak River, terraced rice fields, and small villages along the riverbanks. Upon arrival, we will begin our trek along a mountain trail that follows a mountain stream through lush vegetation. You will have the opportunity to meet local farmers working in their rice fields, and learn about their farming practices, as well as hunting and fishing in the mountain stream. After about 1.5 hours, we will leave the forest and arrive at Ban Phavie, a beautiful Khamu village located on top of a hill. After having lunch in the village, we will continue on to nearby waterfalls, where you can relax in the refreshing waters and enjoy the peaceful surroundings (weather permitting). We will return to Namkat Yolapa at around 2:30 PM and arrive in the late afternoon.

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Accommodation: Namkat Yorlapa Resort (local best)

After breakfast, we will journey into the remote and mountainous region of Northern Laos towards the Sophoun border. En route, we will stop at the village of Pak Nam Noi, which hosts a market every 10 days based on an ancestral calendar, where locals come to purchase goods from surrounding areas. We will also take a leisurely stroll around the Khamu village and temple before crossing into Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam. The trip will conclude at the border. Goodbye and we hope to see you on your next adventure with Legend Travel Group.

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The land port on the Laos side is the Sop Houn Border, and on the Vietnamese side, it is the Tay Trang Border, Dien Bien Phu. It takes approximately one hour to travel 36 km from the border to Dien Bien City or 11 hours and covers approximately 470 km by car to Hanoi.