NORTHERN VIETNAM ADVENTURE

NORTHERN VIETNAM ADVENTURE

BRIEFING AND TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DETAILED TOUR ITINERARY 

Day 1
HANOI ARRIVAL

You will meet your guide on arrival Hanoi airport, be transferred and check-in to your chosen hotel. During the drive your guide will provide an introduction to Hanoi, answer any questions you have. Enjoy free time for the remainder of the day.

Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city and home to more than seven million people. Traditional and refined, with French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards, scenic lakes and a bustling Old Quarter, Hanoi has a sophisticated charm. Observe elderly people practicing Tai Chi by the lake, with barbers and food vendors plying their sidewalk trade.

Hanoi has many great restaurants with French, Vietnamese and international cuisines available. Ask your guide for personal recommendations.

Included meals: None
Accommodation in HANOI

Day 2
HANOI – CITY VISIT WITH CYCLO & STREET FOOD

Accompanied by your guide early this morning to visit Long Bien Market under the historic Long Bien Bridge to get to explore the local life of Hanoi.

Visit the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest of all pagodas in Hanoi – located beside the dazzling West Lake.

We then continue to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, centre of Vietnam’s military power for over a millennium. The complex’s monumental palaces and pavilions reflect a unique Southeast Asian culture specific to this region, as the crossroads between influence from China to the north and the ancient kingdom of Champa to the south.

Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university.  Constructed in 1070, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

Enjoy a one hour tour by cyclo, a chauffeur-pedalled tricycle, through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as “36 streets”. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore, especially by cyclo, with plenty of photo opportunities all around you.

Afterwards walk through Ha Noi’s vibrant Old Quarter on a special tour. Experience the area’s world famous street food as we venture through local shops, small eateries, and roadside markets selling fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables. The owners of the food stalls are always helpful and love to explain how they prepare their dishes. We then visit a renowned local coffee shop, where we will get a demonstration and tasting of a delicious Hanoi specialty, egg coffee.

Get back to hotel and rest of the day is free at leisure.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch street-food
Accommodation in HANOI 

Day 3
HANOI – DUONG LAM VILLAGE – YEN BAI  

Breakfast at hotel.

Depart your hotel this morning and travel west (1.5 hours drive) of Hanoi to Duong Lam village, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red River Delta which still preserves many hundred-year-old houses.

Wandering along the village and explore rural life and Vietnam’s ancient architecture. Visit Mong Phu temple in Mong Phu commune – the only hamlet whose original village entrance remains intact. Continue on through the narrow alleys to see the old laterite houses which make up this charming village. The village well – the traditional feature of communal life – is also worth a look.

we drive up to the North of the country by road. Enjoying the mountainous scenery through country and extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads.

Arrive Yen Bai, wandering around the local village, have  chance to meet the local farmers to experience who managed to settle rice-fields and other plantations up there and getting to know the daily life activities of Dzao people.

Then enjoy a boat trip to discover the Thac Ba Lake which covers an area of 23,400 hectare, comprising 1,331 islands and hills with a diverse eco-system.

Come to the Vu Linh commune and enjoy the peaceful overnight.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation in YEN BAI

Day 4
YEN BAI – MU CANG CHAI

After breakfast prepared by host family, drive along the mountainous roads follow the mountain of Hoang Lien Son and winds through the rice terraces with spectacular scenery along the way.

Don’t forget to take photos on the way. You have chance to walk/hike and enjoy the beautiful scenery. See the H’mong woman working their looms and say hello to the passing children and you will find yourself drawn in by the land and the people here. Thai and H’mong ethnic minority people here are dressed in traditional costumes and will welcome you with open arms. The locals here still retain their traditional lifestyle, customs and habits so this is a good chance to learn more about their culture.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation in MU CANG CHAI

Day 5
MU CANG CHAI – SAPA

After simple breakfast, leave Mu Cang Chai for Sapa. The drive is about more than 4 hours with beautiful scenery.

Close to Sapa, we have chance to stop at one of the famous landscape Silver Waterfall.

Check in the hotel on arrival Sapa. Have lunch at local restaurant.

Then you are invited on a walking tour of Sapa to visit the marketplace where the Red Dao, Black H’mong and other ethnic minorities come together from the surrounding countryside. Peruse the marketplace as the different hill tribes sell their embroidery, silverware and handicrafts along with buying provisions for themselves…

Then you will commence from Sapa on a trail running through the beautiful gardens and lush pine forests. You will then pass through the Black Hmong ethnic minority village, a very small village hiding way from the civilisation. The walk continues through rice paddy fields and spectacular scenery. You will return to hotel for overnight.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation in SAPA

Day 6
SAPA VISIT

Breakfast at hotel, then you will commence your journey from Sapa to Tavan village where the Giay ethnic minority hill tribe lives. After a visit here you will also be able to visit a local school (some gifts as pens/ pencils/ books/ note books… should be prepared).

Continue walking through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is ready for your journey back to Sapa.

Rest of afternoon is free at leisure.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation in SAPA

Day 7
SAPA – HA GIANG

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before driving to visit a vibrant, local market (Ban Cam on Tuesday/ Cao Son on Wednesday/ Can Cau on Saturday/ Bac Ha on Sunday) located in the mountainous area. Exploring the authentic opened-market of hill tribe people. Here you’ll see mostly Flower Hmong however Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, Nung hill tribe groups also gather here. The market offers a variety of local products, which could not be found in others areas such as an interesting animal market where pot-bellied pigs, cows and buffalos can be seen. We enjoy lunch in a small local restaurant or picnic one.

And then continue driving for Ha Giang, which is one of the most remote provinces in Vietnam. Check in the hotel on arrival and enjoy the free time for the rest of the day.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation in HA GIANG

Day 8
HA GIANG VISIT

Breakfast at hotel.

Discuss with your guide to have a day hiking/ trekking to local villages as your interest. There are some options for the day to the local villages as Yen Son or Nam Khoa or Nam Nghi – Giang Ha.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation in HA GIANG

Day 9
HA GIANG – DONG VAN

Today you will travel by car up to the altitude of 1,500m, through the mountain landscape and paddy-field terraces. Stop en route for photo taking at Quyet Tien minority market where the minorities of Nung, White H’Mong, Po Y, Dao Lanten, Tay gather for trade. Continue to Heaven Gate, Fairy Mountain before reaching a White H’Mong village specialized in flax weaving. After lunch you will drive up to the mountain (1,432m) to visit the ancient village of White H’Mong.

Stop en route for photo taking at Chin Khoanh slop. Drive to Sung La to visit Pao’s house (from a famous movie), explore the typical architecture of an H’Mong ancient house and a LoLo’s house before visit the old H’Mong King Palace, belongs to Vuong family.

Arrive late afternoon and check in hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation in DONG VAN

Day 10
DONG VAN – CAO BANG

Morning visit the minority market right in Dong Van town before reaching the Ma Pi Leng top (1,245m) for breakfast and to admire the panoramic of rocky mountain, the Nho Que river and paddy-field terraces.  Continue to visit Meo Vac market (held on Sunday only) then proceed 15km to visit the village of Dao Ao Dai (Zao Long Dress) at Sung Mang.

Keep driving to Cao Bang. We pass the frontier region of China to pay a visit to the Pac Po Grotto, Ho Chi Minh’s former base during the 1941s. Here you will have the chance to learn more about this all-time Vietnamese hero and his long struggle for liberation against the colonial forces. Included lunch and dinner at local restaurant.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation in CAO BANG

Day 11
CAO BANG – BAN GIOC WATERFALL

After breakfast, drive to a local minority market and the beautiful 800-meter long grottoes of Nguom Ngao (Tiger cave) before arriving at the famous Ban Gioc Waterfalls that marks the border between Vietnam and China. Take a picnic lunch at the waterfalls. Return to Cao Bang in the afternoon, stopping along the way to visit the 100 year old forging village of Phuc Sen. Lunch & Dinner are included at simple local restaurant.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation in CAO BANG

Day 12
CAO BANG – LANG SON

Today we travel back in time, back to Indochina, by driving the famous Colonial Road No. 4. We pass areas like Dong Khe and That Khe. The places are well-known for their countless bloody fights between Viet Minh and French forces during the 1950s. In the late afternoon we arrive in Lang Son to visit the central market, the gateway of trade between China and Vietnam. Before checking into our hotel in Lang Son, we visit the Tam Thanh and Nhi Thanh grottos.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation in LANG SON

Day 13
LANG SON – HALONG BAY OVERNIGHT CRUISE

Drive from Lang Son to Ha Long Bay via many beautiful countryside of mountain and Tonkin Gulf.

Arrive in Halong and board a traditional sailing junk. As the vessel sets sails, you will be greeted by the Crew Team who will aim throughout your stay at providing you with the highest standards of service for a pure pleasure and utmost comfort onboard. Discover some of the treasures disseminated across the Bay of the Descending Dragon during the afternoon: fascinating caves, pristine beaches, picturesque floating villages, fantastic rock formations rising up out of emerald water. While onboard, you can take advantage at leisure of the cruise services; surrounded by a stunning setting in motion, you could attend our chef’s cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking.

Defined to be one of the highlights of your stay, a highly refined, innovative and varied cuisine will be presented for Lunch and Dinner in the elegant dining-room, accompanied by a wide selection of wines and beverages (with extra charge applied) for drink).

In the evening enjoy the entertainment activities as movie night, squid fishing or just enjoying a cocktail surrounded by limestone rocks majestically springing out from silent waters in the night.

NOTE: This tour is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation in HALONG

Day 14
HALONG – HANOI

Early birds can attend a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck at the break of dawn. Start the day enjoying some delights with a light breakfast and follow by a colorful brunch.  . Continue exploring Halong Bay sailing across its 2000 islets and visiting some of its major highlights. Your cruise will come to an end at the pier in Halong late morning and you will be met and transferred back to Hanoi. The drive will take around 2.5-3 hours with technical stop en-route. You will arrive in Hanoi around mid afternoon.

Included meals: Brunch
Accommodation in HANOI

Day 15
HANOI DEPARTURE

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure.
Your guide and private car will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Included meals: Breakfast

TOUR PRICE(S):

Standard 3*: from US $ 1,920

* Prices are based on twin/ double share for group of at least 02 passengers travelling together and depend on availability and season.

All our itineraries can be customised. For questions or further information, Enquire Now!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION