Tien said the company had been promoting the route as a new connection for the Laos-Vietnam heritage route. The border has been open to international tourists since 2004.

Backpackers have been traveling on the route but this is the first time the company has launched the package tour for European tourists.

“We now launch the tour as the Government has upgraded the border. We’ve promoted the tour to European markets and are starting to receive first guests,” she said.

The Na Meo border gate is about 230km from the city of Thanh Hoa and about 60km from Sam Neua Town in the province of Hua Phan.

Instead of returning to Hanoi and going to Laos via the Cau Treo Gate, tourists can now travel from Mai Chau in Hoa Binh Province or Sam Son or Quan Son in Thanh Hoa Province and get directly to the Laos heritage route.

“There are some heritage sites such as Plain of Jars, the prehistoric site of Hintang, Caves of Viengxay. I think that with attractions in Vietnam the tour will attract Europeans who like to explore culture,” Tien said.

The tour operator has promoted sample tours taking in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Sam Son in Vietnam, Nameo, Viengxay, Sam Neua, Phonsavan, Xiengkhoang/Plain of Jars, Phonsavan, Luang Prabang, and Oudomxai in Laos, and then back to Dien Bien Phu, Lai Chau, Sapa, Lao Cai, Halong and Hanoi.