Lost Kingdoms Rediscovered:
Laos and Vietnam

Jan. 11-30  2009

The neighboring Buddhist countries, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, also share a wealth of ancient sites, lush locales abounding with tropical flora and fauna, national parks sheltering endangered species, stunning traditional and French Colonial architecture all packaged with Asian graciousness. In this unique blend of temples, touring, arts and crafts, enhanced by nature visits to remote, untouched Hill Tribes you will have an experience few travelers have encountered.
 
Trekking Hill Tribes Focus
This trip has been designed to offer a view of lifestyles very different from our own. How long they will continue in this “age of information” is any ones guess. If you are a seasoned traveler willing to undergo some hardships and forgo some creature comforts you will have a unique experience indeed. Those fit enough to accompany the treks will be rewarded with stunning nature walks as well as numerous village visits. The weather is perfect for trekking during this time of year, with temperatures averaging 72 degrees in the daytime and dipping to the lower 60’s at night. Slightly chillier temperatures will exist in Hanoi and HaLong Bay.
Vietnam, a fascinating sliver of a nation enjoys a rich and varied history, stunning art and architecture, a justly famed cuisine and a wide-range of high-quality fabrics and crafts. Our trip is designed to expose you to the best of these elements in the comfort of elegantly designed boutique hotels and with a pace that is never harried.
Begin your trip in the bustling city of Hanoi--a hodgepodge of wide tree-lined boulevards, expansive lakes, remodeled French colonial palaces and villas, tranquil Buddhist temples and traditional Chinese-inspired architecture. We will explore the Old Quarter of Hanoi with local architectural experts. Each street in this area is named after the crafts that were practiced there, and to this day, still are. You will visit streets where the artisans both sell and make shoes, silk, lacquer, headstones, tin products, towels, fragrant herbs, lanterns, Buddhist statues and alters, and more. You will see a performance of the famed water puppets, visit all the most important sites and museums, and be informed about what you are seeing by esteemed local scholars. You will also experience the essence of Northern Vietnamese cuisine in lovely settings.
From Hanoi we travel to tranquil and placid HaLong Bay, and take off for 24 hours on the gorgeous bay of granite outcrops. We travel with one of the best quality boats on the Bay, a wooden vessel modeled on the old Vietnamese court sailing vessels. Your cozy cabin is equipped with private shower, twin beds, fans and air conditioning (which will not be needed). All our meals, usually based on fresh sea food are provided. You will motor around unbelievable land and seascapes, and hop into motor boats to see it up close. You dock for the night in a lagoon completely ringed by sheer  mountains with trees eking out a living on hankerchief-sized ledges. Magical!

Our next visit is the Imperial City of Hue, half-way down the country. Here we will visit the lavish Forbidden City of the last Emperor, visit the museum where the treasures from his palace are stored, and take easy bicycle rides in the agricultural countryside to see two imperial tombs from the 19th century--huge complexes with lakes, bridges, temples, sepulchers, theaters and living quarters.
Our next visit is to Hoi An in Central Vietnam,designated a World Heritage Site primarily because it somehow managed to preserve its charming old town, reminiscent of 100 years ago. A river trading post only 4 kilometers from the ocean, Hoi An was once a thriving port with a large Chinese and Japanese population. Their influences on the architecture are stunning. Your trip to Hoi An will include exploring the popular near-by beach and countryside by bike. You will also visit the wonderful ancient Hindu temples at nearby My Son, and bicycle through the tranquil, neighboring countryside.

The highlights of our visit to Laos, besides the gentle and friendly Laotian people, are the visits to the unique hill tribes. The indigenous people that populate Northern Laos (as well as parts of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam) migrated from China about 200 years ago to avoid wars. Tribal dress, customs, and architecture differentiate each group, and cultural conservatism and lack of exposure to the outside world have preserved a unique alternative way to life.
Another delightful aspect of the village visits are photographing the colorful costumes of the locals, and the jewelry, weavings and embroideries we will observe villagers creating which you are encouraged to purchase, as they are poor and deserve support.
Past groups have commented on the well-paced itinerary , which contrasts city with rural hill tribe treks and visits. Everyone has commented on the fabulous climate, fresh and delicious food (similar to Thai cuisines, but less spicy) the incredible values to be had in arts and crafts, the gentle smiles of the local people. The charming, tranquil, yet cosmopolitan town of Luang Prabang is a special favorite, with its small parks, clean and comfortable streets, numerous markets, fascinating alleyways and back roads.
Laos had the misfortune to be the most bombed country in the planet, thanks to US aggression during the Vietnam war. The equivalent of 2 million tons of bombs dropped every 8 minutes for 9 years resulted in one person killed or maimed every 2 days. Although the country is poor, the infrastructure is in place, and the local people and government welcome tourism. The crumbling old French colonial mansions of Vientianne & especially the sparkling Luang Prabang are being rebuilt, and the stunning Buddhist temples are alive with incense & prayers.

“Another Amazing adventure! Thanks for opening my eyes to 3 new countries and cultures. Overall it was a wonderful trip & amazing experiences. Thanks for doing such a good job of packaging it all together & arranging to introduce us to such wonderful people.”
Cheryle Gackstetter, NYC NY
Vietnam and Laos Hill Tribes 2006

Itinerary 2009

Sun. Jan. 11: Transit  Arrive at the airport to check in for your midnight flight.

Mon. Jan. 12: (All meals) Depart the USA from New York, LA or San Francisco aboard regularly scheduled Eva Airways. Cross International dateline and lose one day, which is made up on your return. 

Tues. Jan. 13: Arrival at Hanoi (B/D) Arriving at mid-day at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a ‘Welcome Dinner” at a restaurant in a restored French colonial building. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry, an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Wed. Jan. 14: Hanoi (B)  You’ll have the entire day to explore Vietnam’s capital city. You’ll begin our day with the visit to Ho Chi Minh’s impressive Mausoleum and the creative and adventurous museum next door which documents his life. After lunch  you’ll also explore the excellent Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam's 54 distinct ethnic groups. Later in the day we meet with a noted professor and author at his office where he lays the foundation for our understanding of Vietnam, its history and culture.
 
Thur. Jan. 15 : Hanoi (B) The day begins with a visit to the  Hanoi’s  Fine Arts Museum. After lunch we tour the Old Town, visiting some traditional houses and cyclo’s through the old town to the Big Market. You’ll also visit the Temple of Literature, dating to the 11th century, and fine piece of architecture itself. 
 
Fri. Jan. 16: Hanoi/Ha Long (B/ L/D)  After an early breakfast, you’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape. There you’ll board your boat, a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels with sails, a wide transom and rectangular superstructure, that will take you first to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and a spectaular Sung Sot cave. Weather permitting, you’ll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill (not a mountain!) for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood, and you’ll sleep in a twin cabin with an private toilet and shower.
 
Sat. Jan. 17: Ha Long/Hanoi/Hue (B/L)  You’ll spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, and venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan. Enjoy lunch just before docking around noon. Back in Hanoi we have free time before going to catch the overnight train soft sleeper to Lao Cai. The train leaves at 22.00 from Hanoi railway station

Sun. Jan. 18: Lao Cai-Bac Ha (B) Sunday market-Sapa After meeting a guide at the Lao Cai railway station we have breakfast there and go to the Bac Ha market for two hours by a van (AC). This is the largest market in the region, a place where many ethnic groups gather to buy and sell, eat and drink together. There are 10 minority groups in the Bac Ha region. You can buy homemade handicrafts and clothes. In the afternoon we will have a 2 hour trek to Ban Pho village (Flower H’Mong people).In the village we can have a look in their house and understand little more about their lifestyle and traditional customs, and smaple their home made corn liquor. And then we drive back to Sapa  (3 hours.)

Mon. Jan. 19: Sapa (B/L) Continue area trekking. Ovenight in Sapa Hotel.

Tues. Jan. 20: Sapa-Lao chai-Ta van-Sapa – Lao Cai  (B/L) After having breakfast  we embark on a lovely trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages Lao Chai & Ta Van, home to Black H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Once on the valley floor you can really appreciate the wonderful scenery that surrounds you. The walls of the valley are covered with multi-layered rice terraced fields and scattered villages. Return to Sapa and then to Lao Cai railway station to get night train to Hanoi. The guide sees you off at Lao Cai train station and takes you on the train. Trekking distance 10 km

Wed. Jan. 21: Hanoi/Danang/Hoi An (B) Morning arrival in Hanoi, where we transfer to the airport, making connections to our flight to Danang.  In Danang we stop for lunch, and also tour the Champa museum there, where statues from My Song are housed. After a stop at a local coffee shop for a taste of “Weasel Coffee,” travel on to Hoi An, a world Heritage site and An ancient trading port, once the largest in Indochina. Hoi An was a meeting point for many cultures that left their mark in the different architectural features of its wooden buildings. The original traditional street pattern still exists, as does the quay that once welcomed ships from all over East Asia and beyond. Many remained there for months at a time, waiting for favorable trade winds to carry them home. You’ll have a guided walking tour of Old Hoi An, including homes, temples, market, neighborhood associations and workshops.

Thur. Jan. 22: Hoi An (B)  Early morning departure to visit the World Heritage My Son Sanctuary, once the  spiritual capital of the Cham Kingdom that dominated SE Asia for nearly a thousand years. Its remarkable brick towers were badly bombed, but are still impressive, as is its remote valley setting in a quiet, richly forested area, bisected by a clear stream. On-site performance by Champa ethnic dancers. You’ll be free in the afternoon. In the evening you’ll have ticket for another performance of dance. 

Fri. Jan. 23:  Hoi An/Danang/Hanoi/Vientiane  (B) After breakfast, transfer to  Danang, where you leave for your noon flight to Hanoi, making connections for  Vientiane, the capitol of Laos. We meet our Laotian local guide, and are transferred to Novotel hotel. Dinner with folk dancing at a local restaurant. 

Sat. Jan. 24: Luang Namtha (B/ L/D) Depart our hotel in Luang Prabang and drive to Luang Namtha En route, visit Ban Thabu Thai Dam (Black Thai) village and Ban Songja Hmong village. Upon arrival in Oudomxay, visit Vat Santhipeab. Lunch at local restaurant. Continue to Luang Namtha and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation

Sun. Jan. 25: Luang Namtha (B/L/D) Breakfast at hotel, followed by a visit Luang Namtha Museum. Drive towards Nam Ha NBCA , a National Biodiversity Conservation Area. Soft trek in the NBCA to visit
ethnic minorities’ villages, mainly Hmong, Thai Dam, Thai Daeng (Red Thai)  and Kalom. Picnic lunch en route. Return to Luang Namtha by car. Dinner and accommodation at the guest house.

Mon. Jan. 26 Muang Sing (B/L/D) Breakfast at hotel, then drive to Muang Sing, near the Chinese border. En route, visit Yao (or Mien) minorities’ villages. Upon arrival check into hotel. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Ikhor (or Akha) minority’s villa. Dinner at local restaurant.
Accommodation at a guest house.

Tues. Jan. 27:  Oudomxay(B/L/D) Breakfast at hotel. Visit the local market where the ethnic minorities from the surroundings  come daily to trade their goods. Drive back to Luang Namtha.
Lunch at local restaurant. Continue to Oudomxay. En route, visit Ban Lakkhammai Lanten village. Upon
arrival, check in at the hotel. Diner at local restaurant. Accommodation at a local guest house.

Wed. Jan. 28: Luang Prabang (B) Morning excursion by boat down the Nam Ou river, one of the most beautiful in Laos. At its juncture at the Mekong river we’ll visit the Tamting holy cave, housing thousands of Buddha's brought by devotees. Following this, we continue on to Ban Shanghai distillation village, where they produce alcohol from sticky rice. Return to Luang Prabang for lunch by the Mekong River. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Evening free to explore Luang Prabang and the Night Market.

Thur. Jan. 29: Luang Prabang  (B,D) Breakfast, followed by an excursion overland to a beautiful short trek  to the stunning Kuangsi waterfall. We have lunch there, then perhaps enjoy swimming in the falls. On return we stop at Ban Sangkong, a village making paper from mulberry trees. Evening meal in the home of a local family, noted for their excellent cooking, and a traditional Baci ceremony to wish you luck and happiness in the coming year.
 
Fri. Jan. 30:  USA (B) Trasit Depart Luang Prabang for our connecting flight to the USA. It is also possible to add on a 5 day, four night excursion to nieghboring Cambodia to view the splendors of Angkor Wat.

Guide to symbols: B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner
In all cases every effort will be made to fulfill all items listed on itinerary. No one is required to attend each activity, but anyone who leaves the itinerary at any time, for any reason, is on their own.

Cost: $4,300.00 based on two people sharing a twin or double-bedded room. Single supplement available. Limit 16 participants.

Deposits/ Penalties: A $350.00 refundable deposit reserves trip space. A penalty fee of $75.00 will be charged for all cancellations received in writing. After tickets have been issued airline penalties will occur.  No refunds will be made after departure. Final payments are due 60 days prior to  departure.

Trip leader: Madé Surya BS. While a graduate student in Economics at Udayana University in Bali, founded the Mountain Climbing Club, now boasting about 200 members. He has been organizing and leading study tours for 18 years and has assisted scholars and film crews in Exploring Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Greece and Italy. He has previously led many active tours, and remains a favorite guide and friend to former clients.

Airline Options: Participants may depart and return at any time. Participants are urged to sign up early and make plans regarding dates, as we are traveling during High Season. Call Wendy Simon at Pacific Harbor Travel, Santa Cruz : 427-5002 for special needs or further details.

Terms and Conditions: In case of unexpected situations, the tour leader reserves the right to cancel or postpone any event. Festivals and special events will be incorporated into the itinerary as optional excursions. Any one who leaves the tour at any time FOR ANY REASON is on their own. There will be no refunds for missed tour activities and no substitutions.

Accommodations: Are based on double occupancy. We stay in clean, comfortable locally-owned hotels with private baths and veranda. In more remote areas we stay in simple Guest Cottages. Some have swimming pools. In all rural cases we are booking on a "best available" basis, and in towns at 3 & 4 star hotels.

Medical: This trip is not extremely rigorous, but it is physically demanding and we travel to some areas where medical facilities are virtually nonexistent. We do pack a first aid kit, but do not guarantee the services of a doctor. Neither ourselves nor our organization assumes liability regarding provisions of medical care. Participants are urged to check their insurance coverage to be sure it is adequate. You must be in good general health; it is vital that persons with medical problems make them known to us well before departure. The trip leader has the right to disqualify any member from the group at any time if considered medically necessary or to avoid endangering the group, or if the participant in question is physically unfit for the rigors of the trip. Trip members should have a personal supply of medications which they may need. At this time no inoculations are required to enter Laos or Cambodia, so it is up to you and your doctor.

Responsibility of Trip Members: Luggage must be kept to 44 lbs each maximum allowed by domestic flights. Trip members are held responsible for being in sufficient good health to undertake the trip. Trip members are responsible for preparing for the trip by studying the itinerary and pre-departure information packets sent by Danu Enterprise and for bringing the appropriate clothing and equipment as advised.

Additional Options: We are also offering a four night visit to Angkor Wat in neighboring Cambodia as well as  5 night Cultural and  Trekking tour packages in Northern Thailand which can be enjoyed at the beginning and ending of this trip. Contact us for further information.

Call toll free 888-476-0543 or email for further information.
Contact Danu Enterprises today and escape the ordinary!

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