TOUR OVERVIEW

Wake up very early in the morning and our tour guide will take you to visit Nghi Tam flower market where you could capture the best bustling market in Hanoi and then we will be back to Hoan Kiem Lake to watch local people doing morning meditating and Tai Chi exercise.

Back to hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, you’ll explore Hanoi’s hectic Old Quarter including Hoan Kiem Lake, you will catch sight of many young men with their professional cameras stick to their eyes and beautiful young girls in their fancy clothes attractively posing, capture very lively street atmosphere around the old quarters and then we will visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Tran Quoc Pagoda.

In the afternoon, we will come over Long Bien Bridge over the Red River at sunset where you will surely capture the best shots of the historical bridge.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will meet our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30 am. You will depart on a journey to Quang Phu Cau village, where you will have the opportunity to observe the fascinating art behind the creation of traditional incense. Located just outside of Hanoi, this charming village has a long and ancient history in the craft of manual incense making, dating back thousands of years. Soak in the lively atmosphere as you wander in and document the intricate process of incense making. This extraordinary opportunity will allow you to capture the essence and highlights of this ancient tradition through your camera, resulting in an unquestionably authentic experience.

You will transfer to Ninh Binh, a place rich in historical, cultural, religious and natural wonders. During the journey we will cross the Red River Delta, where you will stop to admire the beauty of the place. You will arrive at Van Long village, where you will have the option to take a 4-km bicycle ride or walk among the villages. Along the way, you will see traditional Vietnamese landscapes, such as rice paddies stretching between the river and limestone mountains.

Lunch will be included at a local family.

In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to take a leisurely rowboat excursion along the stream and among the majestic limestone mountains to admire the extraordinary beauty of the Van Long Nature Conservation Center. The second part of the afternoon will be devoted to visiting Hang Mua, also known as the Vietnamese “Great Wall,” one of the best trekking routes in Ninh Binh.

Dinner will be free and you will spend the night in a comfortable hotel in Ninh Binh.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet with our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30 am. You will transfer to Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam from the 9th to 10th centuries, you will visit temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968-80) and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980-1009), who played a key role in gaining the country’s independence after 1,000 years of Chinese rule.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

Next stop will be Tam Coc, also known as the “landed Ha Long,” which appeared in the famous French film “Indochina.” Upon arriving at the pier, you will board a private rowboat for a ninety-minute cruise down the Ngo Dong River. You will pass through three caves and enjoy a beautiful landscape dotted with small villages, rice fields, cemeteries and temples.

The tour then continues to Bich Dong (closed around 4:30-5 p.m.), a typical pagoda located in the countryside of the Red River Delta, built in the 15th century. As soon as you arrive, you will cross a stone bridge to reach Chua Ha and from there, more than 100 steps will lead you to Chua Trung – the cave pagoda that houses unique clay statues. Next, you will walk up to Chua Thuong. Here you will not only have the opportunity to learn about Buddhism, but also enjoy incredible panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The tour will end around 6 p.m./6:30 p.m.

Return to Hanoi by private car/ship coach and free time in the city. Transfer to Ha Noi station by private car for the train to Lao Cai.

Arrival at Lao Cai station around 06:00. Welcome with a local English-speaking guide. Breakfast at a local restaurant.

Depart for Bac Ha by crossing Thanh Kim and Thanh Phu. Along the way, you will be able to enjoy breathtaking views of mountains, rivers and lakes. Located at an elevation of 1,000 meters, Bac Ha is home to several ethnic groups, including the Hmong, Phu La and Tay, all characterized by their vibrant colors. The Bac Ha region is famous for its weekly markets, which take place in an enchanting wilderness setting. These markets are not only places to exchange goods, but are also a cultural meeting point between the different ethnic groups living in harmony in this region. You will have the opportunity to visit one of these colorful ethnic markets, held once a week.

You can explore the market and observe the products sold, such as vegetables, poultry, horses and buffalo. Your attention will be caught not only by the liveliness of the market, but also by the various ethnic groups wearing colorful clothes.

After visiting the market, you will take a short walk through some of the small ethnic villages that make up Bac Ha, surrounded by corn fields, cassava hills and clay houses, as well as plum gardens. You will have free lunch at a local restaurant. En route, you will have the opportunity to visit the H’Mong King’s Palace, which was built in 1914 and completed in 1921.

You will stay in a hotel in Bac Ha for the night.

Breakfast included in the hotel/accommodation facility.

You will depart for Sapa and trek to Y Linh Ho village. You will follow a downhill trail and have the opportunity to interact with the friendly H’mong ladies and children who live in the houses in the valley. If you are fond of sports and adventure, you can follow an uphill trekking route along the buffalo trail, which offers breathtaking views and is less frequented by tourists. For those who prefer an easier trek, there is the option of taking a leisurely walk along the Muong Hoa River. Afterwards, you can head to Lao Chai village via a picturesque path through rice terraces until you reach the village. This is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily life and cultural traditions of the local people. The tour will continue with an exploration of the charming village of Ta Van, which is the homeland of the Dzay people. Situated on a hill, it offers beautiful views of the river, rice terraces and the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. During a walk through the narrow streets of the village, you will have the opportunity to meet the friendly locals, who will kindly invite you to visit their homes.

Dinner will be free and you will spend the night at a hotel in Sapa or a lodge in the village.

Your day will begin with a delicious breakfast at the hotel/homestay. Afterwards, you will head to the Mu Cang Chai region, one of the most spectacular destinations in the area. On the way, you will pass through mountainous landscapes and enchanting valleys, with breathtaking views at every turn. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to make numerous photo stops to capture the essence of traditional villages, farmers intent on working in the fields, and beautiful rice terraces. Once you arrive at Mu Cang Chai, you will be enchanted by the majesty of these iconic terraces, which are tinged with a fascinating golden yellow during harvest season. You will be able to walk among the fields, explore ethnic minority villages, and capture unique glimpses suspended between heaven and earth.

After leaving Mu Cang Chai, your journey will continue to Tu Le, a charming village surrounded by terraced rice fields. Here you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily life of the villagers, observing their traditional crafts and typical architecture of the area. You will stroll through the narrow streets of the village, admiring its relaxed and authentic atmosphere. You will have time to capture the most picturesque views, local markets and villagers engaged in their activities, capturing the essence of Vietnamese culture.

Dinner will be free and you will spend the night in a hotel in Tu Le or a lodge in the village.

Breakfast included in the accommodation.

You will explore the charming village of Tu Le, surrounded by rice terraces. You will head to the walled city of Son Tay, near Hanoi. During the journey, you will have the opportunity to capture images of an ever-changing landscape, with mountains, valleys and picturesque traditional villages unfolding before your eyes.

Once you arrive at Ky Son village located in Son Tay province (190 km from Tu Le).

Dinner will be free and you will spend the night in a hotel in Son Tay.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Arrive at Moon Garden, where you will enjoy local green tea and have free time to explore the village and the century-old church, which has been carefully restored and furnished with furniture from the French colonial period. You will be able to take photos of the ancient walls, gateways and French colonial buildings that give Son Tay a unique charm. There will be no shortage of opportunities to observe the daily life of the inhabitants, visit local markets and admire picturesque views.

12:30: Delight in an included traditional Vietnamese lunch and then you can rest or listen to the stories of your host family.

2:00: The afternoon will be devoted to a leisurely bicycle ride to visit Ky Son village and other small villages, getting in touch with the locals.

Short hike (6 km) to Ky Son – Tam Son – Van Minh villages: Cycle to Ky Son village and then continue along rural trails to Tam Son and Van Minh villages. You can stop at one of the houses to enjoy a cup of tea and converse with the locals to hear some anecdotes about their daily or past lives. To fully experience the life of a farmer, you can participate in farming activities according to the season, a pleasant way to get closer to the Vietnamese way of life. Also, if available, you can visit a small kindergarten in the village.

Long hike (12 km) in the villages of Ky Son – Van Minh – Duong Lam: Bike tour, accompanied by a local guide, through Ky Son village, Van Minh village to the ancient village of Duong Lam. You will have the opportunity to visit the village’s main attractions: the medieval Mia pagoda, built in the 15th century and housing some 300 wooden and terracotta statues; the Mong Phu Communal House, dedicated to the Mountain God, in which it was believed he could protect the village from negative events; and the temple of King Ngo Quyen, who lived in the 10th century and defeated the Chinese in 938 AD.

On your return to Moon Garden you will be offered a local drink and have the opportunity to taste some traditional products, such as corn, sweet potatoes, cassava and peanuts, depending on the season.

At 5 p.m. you will return to your hotel in Hanoi.

Dinner will be free and you will stay at the hotel for the night.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meeting scheduled at 08:30 am at the hotel reception with the driver for private transfer to Halong or shared transfer via boat company bus to Halong (about 4 hours with a short break in between).

Halong Bay, called “the bay where the dragon goes down to the sea” in Vietnamese, is an enchanting bay with thousands of limestone islands, karst caves, stacks and islets that make it a picturesque and fascinating place. Wonderful, mysterious and majestic, Halong Bay was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world. Arrive at the port at 12:00-12:30 pm. Navigation company’s program will follow.

06:30: You will have the opportunity to participate in a sunrise Tai-chi class on the sun terrace or simply enjoy the beautiful bay in the morning while sipping a cup of tea or coffee.

07:00: Breakfast will be served Western style, providing you with the energy you need for a new day of exploring the bay. During breakfast, you can admire the lovely view that will charge you to take on new adventures.

08:00: The day begins with exploration of the secret cave of Thien Canh Son, located on the top of the mountain. This cave represents a true historical and geological treasure, a rare natural beauty. It is recommended that you wear appropriate sports clothes for the hike and bring a camera to capture the wonders offered by the cave.

09:00: Return to the ship. You will have 30 minutes to freshen up and check out of your cabin. We kindly ask you to remove all your belongings from your cabin, but you may leave heavy luggage outside your cabin (staff will transfer it directly to the pier).

10:00 a.m.: Brunch will be served on board as the boat heads to port.

10:30: Arrival at the port.

11:00: Disembarkation at the cruise port in Ha Long.

Return to Hanoi by private car/ship coach.

In the afternoon, we will take you to discover the city of Hanoi by Vespa. Our team will pick you up and guide you through the narrow streets to the Old Quarter, where you will visit the French Quarter and the Opera House to learn about colonial rule.

Then we will take you to see the railroad tracks and the lives of residents within inches of the trains. We will continue to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, from which you will get an overview of the city.

You will explore the Botanical Garden and Huu Hiep Lake, where an American bomber was shot down. We will also pass by the West Lake and Thanh Nien Street, to visit the John McCain monument.

Finally, we will take you to the bustling An Duong Market, Red River Island, and banana and kumquat plantations, before stopping to enjoy a Vietnamese coffee.

To conclude, we will take you to a local restaurant for lunch and then drive you back to your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will have free time in Ha Noi until your transfer to the airport without a guide present. Please note that the room will be available until 12 noon. Please inform us in advance if you wish to extend your stay in the room beyond your departure time. We wish you a safe journey back!