Welcome to another RAFCARLOSAID!
I recently embarked on another backpacking adventure to countries in the Indochina region, and this time, I traveled solo! I am thrilled that I successfully managed this two-week journey independently, thanks to my credit cards (NO JOKE!) and detailed research.
The trip includes experiencing the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival, visiting three provinces in Laos, and exploring Central Vietnam. It was one of my most expensive trips so far, but every penny was worth it!
Beginning my first day...
DAY 1: Flight from Manila to Bangkok + Free Time + Bus Ride to Chiang Mai
Flight from Manila to Bangkok via AirAsia
Arrive at Don Mueang International Airport
Depart for the Airport; Arrive at Mo Chit Bus Station
Leave my Luggage at the Luggage counters in Basement 1.
Visit Wat Arun (Via Sephan Taksin Pier Station)
Visit Icon Siam (Via Chao Phraya Public Boat)
Back to Mo Chit Bus Station (had dinner)
6-hour ride going to Chiang Mai
DAY 2: Chiang Mai City + Temple Tour
Arrive at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal (Around 6 am)
Booked a Grab Car to Micasa Hotel and took a rest
Lunch near the Hotel, then roam around the place.
Walking Street
Three Kings Monument
Taphae Gate
Tha Phae Road
Wat Phan Tao
Saphan Lek Bridge
The Ping River (release Loy Kratung)
DAY 3: Elephant Sanctuary visit + Lantern Festival Experience
08:00 - Pick up from the Hotel
Elephant Experience (Elephant Jungle Sanctuary)
02:00 pm - Back to the Hotel & freshen up
Booked a grab bike to the Meeting place for Lantern Festival (Maya Shopping Mall G-Maps)
Start Lantern Festival
Activities: Dinner, musical shows, Fireworks display, rituals, and Lantern release.
09:00 pm End of Lantern Festival
Watched a parade at the center and had a snack near the bridge.
DAY 4: Free Day + Flight to Laos
Breakfast at Brewginning Cafe
Arrived at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 and had lunch in the terminal.
6-hour bus ride going back to Mo Chit Bus Terminal
Move to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
DAY 5: Arrive in Laos + Vientiane City Tour
Flight to Laos; Arrive in Vientiane
Go to Hotel Barn 1920s Hostel, leave my luggage and rest.
*Start of VTE City Tour (DIY)
Koi Chai Deo (restaurant)
Talat Sao Morning Market
That dam Stupa
Wat Sisaket
Ho Phra Keo Museum
Patuxay Monument
Pha That Luang Prabang
Wat That Luang Tai
Mekong River Side Walk
Amusement Park
Overnight in Vientiane
DAY 6: Vang Vieng (Day 1)
Morning in Vientiane
Talat Sao Morning Market Visit
09:00 am - To Vientiane Railway Station (Laos-China)
11:00 am Depart Train; 11:56 am - Arrive in Vang Vieng Railway Station
Check in: Saphaothong Guesthouse, leave luggage, and rest.
Rent Motorbike
Blue Lagoon Visit
Vang Vieng Walking Street & Night Market
Overnight in Vang Vieng
DAY 7: Vang Vieng (Day 2)
05:30 AM - 07:00 AM - Hot Air Balloon (Above Laos)
Breakfast near the Hotel
Hike to Nam Xay Viewpoint
02:00 PM - Move to Vang Vieng Railway Station; 04:42 PM - Train to Luang Prabang
06:05 PM - Arrive at Luang Prabang Railway Station
Check-in: Barn Laos Luangprabang Hostel
Visit Luang Prabang Town Center
Overnight in Luang Prabang
DAY 8: Luang Prabang Mekong Tour
Alms Giving ceremony Photo op (Front of Hotel)
08:30 AM 06:00 PM - Luang Prabang Full Day Tour (via trip.com)
Mekong Cruise
Pak Ou Caves
Kuang Si Waterfalls
Wine Village
Night Market in Luang Prabang
Overnight in Luang Prabang
DAY 9: Luang Prabang City Tour (DIY) + Flight to Hanoi
Alms Giving Ceremony Experience (Front of Hotel)
**Explore Town Center (Luang Prabang)
Phaosi Hill
National Museum
Buy food & go to Luang Prabang International Airport
07:15 pm Flight to Hanoi; 08:35 pm Arrive in Noi Bai International Airport
To Hotel Nusmile’s Homestay and rest.
DAY 10: Ha Long Bay
07:0am - 03:45 pm Ha Long Bay Half Day Tour
Sung Sot Cave
Kayaking at Luon Cove
Back to the hostel, explore Hanoi at night.
DAY 11: Hanoi Motorcycle Tour
Meet up for the Tour
Incense Village
Hanoi Train Experience & Cafe Trung
*Start of Motorcycle Tour
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Long Bien Old Bridge
Hanoi Opera House
St. Joseph's Cathedral
10:00 PM - Go to the Meeting point; 11:15 PM - Bus to Sapa
DAY 12: Sapa (Fansipan)
05:35 AM - Arrive in Sapa, SSB
To Hotel / Rest
Fansipan Whole Day Tour
Dinner near the Hotel
DAY 13: Sapa DIY Tour
Breakfast at Cafe Bao Cap (Egg Coffee)
Rented a Motorcycle
Rong Mae Glass Bridge (Heaven's Gate)
Cat Ca Village
06:00 PM - To Meeting Point, Bus to Hanoi; 11:00 PM - Arrive directly to Noi Bai International Airport; Overnight in Airport
DAY 14: Da Nang DIY City Tour
05:30 AM - Flight to Da Nang; 06:50 AM - Arrive Da Nang International Airport
Check-in Hotel: Da Nang Crystal Hotel; Rented Motorbike
The Marble Mountains
My Khe Beach
Da Nang Cathedral
Ba Na Hills (Klook)
Alpine Coaster
Golden Hand Bridge
Dragon Bridge (Night)
Overnight in Da Nang
Day 15: HOI ANN (DIY TOUR)
Breakfast at Jollibee Da Nang
Motorcycle from Da Nang to Hoi An
Hoi An Coconut Tour & Ancient Town (Klook)
Hoi An Old City
Boat Ride & Lantern Release (Afternoon)
Back to Da Nang; Overnight in Da Nang
DAY 16: Flight to Bangkok + Free Day
Flight to Bangkok; Arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport; Leave Luggage
Yao Warat Chinatown Visit
Icon Siam
DAY 17: Flight back to Manila
Flight back to Manila
TIPS & GUIDE
TRANSPORT: Flights & Train (with Links)
✈️ MNL TO BKK (09:00a - 11:30a) = ₱6,100.00 (AirAsia)
🚌 BKK TO CNX (08:00a - 06:10a) = ₱1,200.00 (12go.asia)
🚌 CNX TO BKK (01:30p - 11:30p) = ₱1,200.00 (112go.asia)
✈️ BKK TO VTE (06:25a - 07:35a) = ₱3,700.00 (Vietjet Air)
🚆 VTE TO VV (11:00p - 12:30p) = ₱1,200.00 (Lao-China High Speed Train 12go.asia)
🚆 VV TO LPQ (04:42p - 06:00p) = ₱1,400.00 (Lao-China High Speed Train 12go.asia)
✈️ LPQ TO HAN (07:15p - 08:20p) = ₱8,500.00 (Vietnam Airlines)
🚌 HAN - SPA (Morning) =. ₱2,300.00 (12go.asia)
🚌 SPA - HAN (Afternoon) (vv price above) (12go.asia)
✈️ HAN TO DAD (05:30a - 06:50a) = ₱9,000.00 (Vietjet Air)
✈️ DAD TO BKK (09:35a - 11:20a) = ₱3,700.00 (Airasia)
✈️ BKK - MNL (03:30a - 08:05a) = ₱5,600.00 (Cebu Pacific)
HOTELS (with Links)
Chiang Mai, Thailand - Micasa Hotel
Vientiane, Laos - Barn1920s Hostel (Backpacking)
Vang Vieng, Laos - Saphaothong Guesthouse
Luang Prabang, Laos - Barn Laos Luang Prabang (Backpacking)
Hanoi, Vietnam - NuSmile's Homestay and Travel (Backpacking)
Sapa, Vietnam - Tuong Mai Hostel
Da Nang, Vietnam - Crystal Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, Thailand - A-Place Suvarnabhumi (Airport Hotel)
ACTIVITIES (With Links to Klook, KKDay & Trip.com)
CHIANG MAI LANTERN FESTIVAL = ₱7,200.00 (KKDay App Link)
ELEPHANT SANCTUARY = ₱2,250.00 (Paid in Cash: ฿1,200) (Facebook Link)
HOT AIR BALLOON = ₱6,600.00 (119 USD booked through Hotel) (you can book at Above Laos)
LUANG PRABANG TOUR = ₱2,500.00 (Trip.com Link)
HA LONG BAY TOUR = ₱2,350.00 (Klook Link)
MOTORCYCLE TOUR = ₱1,350.00 (Klook Link)
INCENSE TOUR = ₱1,700.00 (Booked through Crossing Vietnam Tour)
FANSIPAN TICKET = ₱2260.00 (Klook Link)
RONG MAE GLASS BRIDGE TICKET = ₱1,100.00 (KKDay Link)
BANA HILLS TICKET = ₱2030.00 (Klook Link)
COCONUT TOUR = ₱580.00 (Klook Link)
BOAT TOUR & LANTERN RELEASE = ₱580.00 (Klook Link)
CAT CA VILLAGE (Klook Link)
BUDGET (Pocket Money Only for food and transport)
POCKET MONEY: 340 USD (Equivalent to 10,800 Baht or 20,000 Pesos) + ₱5,200 (Equivalent amount withdrawn in KIP & VND)
Thailand (Bangkok & Chiang Mai) 55 USD ( Equivalent to 2,000 Baht or 3,000 Pesos)
Laos (For 4 Days) 36 USD (Equivalent to 750,000 KIP or 2,000 Pesos) + Withdraw 750,000 KIP (Equivalent to 2,000 Pesos)
Vietnam (For 7 Days) 111 USD (Equivalent to 4,740,000 VND or 10,000 Pesos) + Withdraw 1.2M VND ( equivalent to 2,700 Pesos)PAYMENT
Visa & Mastercard are accepted for withdrawal with a fee.
Better to have baht or US Dollars when traveling to these countries for a lower conversion.
Most restaurants in Laos only accept cash.
Using credit cards has a fee of up to 3%.
TRANSPORT
The easiest way to travel to Laos is via Plane from Bangkok or Hanoi. Other options include the bus land border, but this would take extra time.
Download the local Car / Motorcycle-hailing app if you are traveling solo. Vietnam: Loca, Chiang Mai & Vietnam: Grab
LANTERN FESTIVAL IN CHIANG MAI
If you are planning to attend the festival, BOOK IN ADVANCE. Flights can be really expensive, and tickets to the festival may sell out. Also, hotels may be fully booked.
Another option to go to Chiang Mai is via a 9-hour bus ride. You can book tickets at 12go.Asia site.
This is a three-day event. Anticipate traffic and road closures and all-day happenings in the city.
The official lantern festival is presented by CAD Events. There are also free events on flying lanterns, other than
There are official places for releasing the Lanterns on the city's outskirts. However, you can still release some lanterns on the Nawarat Bridge. Fireworks are also free to use there. You can also release Loy Kratung as it is simultaneously celebrated during these days.
Have time visiting the temples around the city, as there are different rituals for good luck and fortune during these days.
VIETNAM TIPS & GUIDE
Grab is widely used as a ride-hailing app in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Hoi An.
MUST TRY! Vietnamese Egg Coffee. Try it in Hot.
Cebu Pacific offers flights from Manila to Da Nang, Hanoi, and HCMC. If you are doing an Indo-China Tour, the suggested flights are from Bangkok or Laos in Luang Prabang.
My Ha Long Bay, Motorcycle (Solo) Tour, Incense Village tour, Ba Na Hills, Fansipan, Cat Ca Village, Coconut Tour, and Lantern boat ride are booked through Klook. (Use my voucher code: RAFCARLOSAIDKLOOK)
The cheapest way to travel to SaPa is via Sleeper Bus. I booked my sleeper bus through 12go.asia. A tip is to book an overnight bus so time won’t be wasted.
SaPa is a small city center. If you plan to travel to other places, you can rent a motorbike. No need for a license, just deposit your passport. Note to be cautious about your journey since this is a mountain, there are curved roads, cliffs, and thick fog.
If you plan to visit the province in cold weather. The best time to visit is from December to March. When visiting Fansipan, check the weather; a foggy day is not worth it when visiting.
Da Nang is located in Central Vietnam. The quickest travel to Da Nang from Hanoi is via plane. The Golden Hand Bridge is located in Bana Hills. Also, Bana Hills is an amusement park where you can try the longest alpine coaster.
Hoi An is 30-45 minutes away from Da Nang City. The best is to hire a motorcycle.
The Dragon Fire and Water Breathing Bridge is only operational on weeknights at 9 PM.
LAOS TIPS & GUIDE
You can use their ride-hailing application: Loca. In Vientiane, places here are a bit far from each other, so it is best to use the app if you are solo. Otherwise, you can hire a tuk-tuk and haggle the price if possible.
In Luang Prabang, the city is bikeable. You can rent a bike here and roam around the old city and nearby temples. The attractions and places to see here are near each other.
If you are visiting Vang Vieng, it is best to hire a Motorcycle. Around 150,000 kip for two days. No need for a driver’s license, just present and deposit your passport.
There is not much to see in Vang Vieng other than the Lagoons, the Viewpoint, and the Hot Air Balloon.
If going to Lagoon, it is 7km away from the city center. The road is pretty straightforward; just take caution about the potholes.
Hot Air balloons are only operational at Sunset and Sunrise. You can book at the Above Laos website, or you can check with your hotel if they offer a Hot Air Balloon ride. I got my Hot Air Balloon ride for $119.
Nam Xay Viewpoint. The best time to visit is during Sunrise or Sunset. Or around 9 AM to 12 noon. No guide will accompany you since the trail is pretty straightforward, and you’ll not get lost since there are lots of tourists doing the hike.
The difficulty of the hike is 7/10 for me. Not pretty much air inside, but the view is worth it! The entrance fee is 10,000 kip
Luang Prabang Mekong trip. I booked my tour through Trip.com (Mekong Whole Day Tour). I booked a whole-day tour that starts from 8 AM until sunset. You will be riding a slow boat that is usually used as a public vehicle from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. So if you are missing the Slow Boat experience, this is the best option.
There is no option to swim to Kuansi Waterfalls during the tour. So if that is your plan, book a separate tour. Free Beers and snacks during our tour! And the best is that I met a lot of travelers during the trip! One for the books!
BOTEN-VIENTIANE RAILWAY. I book my tickets through 12go.Asia - This is the easiest way to secure tickets since same-day purchase is not allowed at any of the railway stations. You can do so, however, 2 days before your day of travel. The Route is available for VTE to Luang Prabang.
The price range when booking on 12go is twice its price. Since a third party or local is purchasing your ticket. There are instructions about picking up the physical ticket or having an e-ticket. So always read instructions carefully.
The train arrives and leaves on time. So arrive at least an hour before your schedule.
Thank you so much for your support! Kindly share this with co-travelers out there! Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more travel content! You can also check my Instagram highlights for the whole trip!
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