Self Drive 4×4 Tour From Vietnam to Laos crossing borders – 9 days

Kick off the first day of the self-drive 4×4 tour from Vietnam to Laos at around 9 a.m. and escape from the heavy traffic in the capital city of Hanoi. Go west to Mai Chau, a fabulous destination for both international and domestic travelers. It’s a rural valley that has lofty cliffs, unique culture and lifestyle of northwest Vietnam. Run along Highway 6 when getting out of Hanoi and you will see the tree-lined roads cutting through the immense paddy fields, punctuated by limestone karst scenery.

After having lunch in Hoa Binh Province, we will head to one of the most beautiful passes in North Vietnam – Thung Khe. With its steep slopes, frequent rocks, and spiral sequences, the pass offers riders a danger yet full of excitement. Then roll down to the mountainous valley settlement of Mai Chau. Enjoy your dinner, rice wine – the special liquors of the region and the locals’ performances. Stay overnight in a stilt house of the Thai people.

Summary:
Distance: 160 km

Accommodation: Homestay

From Mai Chau, Hoa Binh, our team continues to move to Thanh Hoa province by riding on the path stretching along Ma River until Nameo Town. There, let’s go straight to Laos! Coming to Laos- Vietnam border areas, you will feel close to nature more than any time because of the lush tropical forests and magnificent mountains. Most of the borders between Vietnam and Laos go through the top of the mountains or mountain slopes; or in the middle of jungles. This leads to a more challenging trip for everyone. After passing the border, the team arrives in Xamnuea. You can pay a visit to the ancient temple, where local people and tourists often come to get a lucky charm. Speaking of food, do not forget to taste a wide range of street food in the border province.

On the third day of the long journey from Vietnam to Laos, we will drive to Xieng Khoang. On the way, we can see plenty of gorgeous hills and mountains. Besides that, the deep valleys and villages of H’mong people are the highlights of the third day of the road trip. Stay healthy because you have to ride for about 208 kilometers. However, hard things pay off; the landscapes on this road are incredible and worthy. Before arriving in Xieng Khoang, we will take a visit to the famous Plain Of Jars. Our team will have dinner, spend the night time in a hotel in Xieng Khoang and take a good sleep for a coming great day. Dinner in town, overnight at the hotel.

You should begin your trip in the early morning. The length of the road is up to 230 kilometers; therefore, it will take you a lot of time to pass hills and mountains before getting to Luang Prabang. Along the way, you can stop at some places to take nice photos of breathtaking landscapes. During this journey, you will get involved in riding through the paved roads to discover the natural beauty of majestic waterfalls and jungles and learn more about the daily life of the Laotians. You will arrive in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. After that, you have dinner here and take some rest at the hotel.

When the fifth day of the tour comes, we can leave the stunning roads to enjoy a bit of an easy life. So what is the special thing here? Luang Prabang is a must-visit place for anyone who travels to Laos. It is honored as UNESCO Heritage site with old French colonial buildings, excellent monasteries and the romantic Mekong River. Because of the special location, surrounded by fabulous mountains and peaceful rivers, the atmosphere is always cool and greatly suitable for exploring. All of these things combined will make this town an unforgettable location on the trip.

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Our sixth day of the journey is the final complete day in the Laos territory. Saying goodbye to Luang Prabang, we will go to the North. Our next destination is called Muang Khua. There are some traditional villages of H’mong and Thai people in Laos. We will not ignore the opportunity to learn something new. That’s the reason why we should talk to them to have a clear point about local people living where we come.

Summary:

Distance: 294 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Leaving Muang Khua, we will say goodbye to peaceful Laos to cross the border and go back to Vietnam. Historic Dien Bien Phu is our first destination when coming back to Vietnam. It is located in Dien Bien Province and widely known in the world as the mighty 1954 victory. On the one side, you can listen directly to this story by local people who were born and grew up here. It must be a touching moment. On the other side, excellent natural landscapes in the capital of Dien Bien Province are also worth staying in. The majority of locals are ethnic people who are so friendly and hospitable; wonderful views and emotional stories; this is one of the best days of our long journey.

Summary:

Distance: 110 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Starting the day, we will spend time at A1 Hill, Him Lam Hill, Dien Bien Phu Museum for realistically getting knowledge. After that day, you will certainly feel more admirable to excellent General Vo Nguyen Giap, brave Vietnamese soldiers. Stay tuned! Back to the roads, it’s time to check the historical Pha Din Pass. This pass is seen as the biggest and most dangerous in the North of Vietnam. This will be the shining moment of skillful bikers. Hard things pay off! In return, when you set your foot at the top of the pass, you will have a wonderful view and thank yourselves for being there. After going down the pass, we will reach to Son La where the whole group stays overnight.

Summary:

Distance: 161 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

It is the last day of the journey. You prepare to leave Son La and return to Hanoi after breakfast. On the way, you can have some stops to take beautiful photos and take a coffee break. At around 4 p.m, you will reach Hanoi City and check-in at the hotel. Tour ends.