Our guide is waiting to meet you at the arrival hall, and you will soon be transferred to the hotel. Vientiane is a fascinating capital, with a fusion of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. The capital is seen as the center of commercial and trade operations, the head of international organizations, and major universities. Late in the afternoon, we begin our first visit to the oldest Sisaket temple – one of the few that survived the Siamese invasion in 1827. Pay a visit to Wat Si Muang, the country’s most well-known worship site and home of the Guardian spirit. The temple is believed to be drawn by its good luck or good fortune power, and it is also the presence of a city pillar. A visit to That Luang Stupa is believed to enshrine a relic of the Buddha. To honor the great stupa, a yearly procession and ceremony is held, which includes alms giving, a wax castle procession, traditional music and songs, a Lao hockey game, and night fare.our return, a guided walk around the victory monument – Pratuxai – built in 1957 and dedicated to those who fought for independence from France. End our day with a nice sun-set walk along the Mekong River at Chao Anouvong Park. Some are here for outdoor workouts, jogging, or dancing. Nonetheless, there are many food stores at the night market there for you to try. 

Luang Prabang is a home of many significant temples (Wats) and those are to be included in your today program including Wat Visoun – half water melon stupa -, the shrine of Wat Aham, and Wat Xieng Thong, a magnificent piece of architecture, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan River. The temple structures are decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes as well as doorways and the main sim has a marvelous ‘tree life’ mosaic pattern on an outer wall. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as viewing a beautiful and panoramic sunset over the Mekong River. Then it is time to stroll down the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of textiles made by the local and the hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River to Buddha Cave, locally called Tham Ting. These two linked caves are crammed with thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, left by pilgrims for centuries. Up the river for about five minutes is Ban Muang Keo, where we sometimes spend time walking around the village to witness how people live here. Kids are playing on the ground together. You may also notice some ducks, dogs, pigs, and roosters are also around. You may ask to sample lao-lao (rice whiskey). 

On the way back to the mainland to continue our excursion toward Khouangsi Waterfall, en route we visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village, and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall, where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. The Khouangsi Waterfall setting really illustrates paradise. Visit an ethnic Hmong village, a buffalo farm, and a bear rescue center before returning to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continuing to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for silk hand weaving and traditional Saa paper making. We return to the city by late evening to observe the sunset at Wat Phabath. 

After breakfast, you will be free to venture into town and stroll around the shopping area at your own time. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for your next destination.