MAGIC OF NORTHERN VIETNAM

Day 1 : Arrival in Hanoï (- / L / D)

Hanoi also known as "Thang Long", its historical name meaning "flying dragon", was the main feudal capital of the country for hundreds of years - from the Ly Dynasty (11th century) to the dynasty of Le postérieur (late 17th century), so far the city of Hanoi still preserves the historical, traditional and typical monuments of Vietnamese culture and values of the immortal spirits of Hanoians.

Arrival at Hanoi airport, the guide and the driver will welcome you and proceed to the transfer to the city center. You will explore the city and the old quarters in a rickshaw. Then you will go to Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) and you will listen to his legend. Foreigners cannot miss when they arrive in Hanoi because this lake is considered to be the heart of the city. Small visit of the Jade Temple and the Brush tower.

Option: If you don’t want to visit the city right after because of the long flight, we will suggest you a massage. You will have one hour to relax, extra cost of 15$ per person will be ask.

Included meals: lunch and dinner.

Day 2 : Hanoi. Visit of the city (B / L / D)

You will go to the Literature Temple. This is an important monument since it is considered as the first university of Vietnam. By visiting the temple, you can watch the old objects that reflect the past kingdoms of Thang Long.

You will visit the Ethnographic museum in which is retraced the ethnic minorities life in Vietnam. The objects, houses, clothes, documents are gathered among the museum. You will have the opportunity to enter in the long house of Ede, Jarai the Rong house or the earthen house of Ha Nhi.

You will arrive at the Tran Quoc Pagoda (the pagoda of the defense of the Fatherland), which was built in the 6th century under the Ly Antérieur Dynasty. It was the Buddhist center of the Thang Long Citadel during the dynasties of Ly, Tran (for about 250 years). Currently, it still preserves many ancient artifacts : the Buddhist canonical books, statutes, bells and drums... You will hear the story of the founding and development of Buddhism in Vietnam, a religion with a national character. In addition, you will have the opportunity to explore the charm of the West Lake Pagoda which is located on the side of the lake.

You will feel the rhythm of the daily Hanoian life entering the old quarters. Although the city is becoming more and more dynamic, active and modern, we can still feel past vibrations in the neighborhood of the 36 streets: the Kim Ngan Dinh (communal house jewelry), the old house at 87 Ma May, Hoan Kiem Lake,…

By late afternoon, you will attend a water puppet show. This is a traditional Vietnamese art that combines folk music and actions of wooden puppets.

Overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 3 : Hanoi – Ba Be (220km/ 5 - 6h journey) (B / L / D)

At 8.00am, the guide and the driver will be waiting for you at your hotel and take you to Ba Be. The journey will take about 5-6 hours, you'll get to pass through magnificent landscapes. Imagine your transport gliding over the mountains, the clouds… this will be amazing ! You will be able to make small stops in the shade on the road with the aim of admiring the beautiful landscapes of the northern forest. From above, you will have a beautiful view of the valleys : there are homes that are hiding in the hills, minority women who are working... you’ll certainly have magnificent pictures to take.

Lunch on the road, and continue to Ba Be Lake. Arrival in Ba Be, instead of taking the van to enter into the village, you will make a motor boat cruise on Nang River. We guarantee you that you will be alone to invade this natural space made of limestone rocks looking like natural bonsais floating on the water.

You will arrive at the homestay where you will spend the night in a house on stilts typically local. For you, this is an opportunity to experience the daily life of Tay residents. In the evening, you will prepare dinner with the people who are opened to tourists. This will be a good time to understand better their daily lives. Tasting traditional dishes, the manager will invite you to taste his corn alcohol and he’ll explain you the story of Tay people.

Overnight at the homestay (basic comfort).

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 : Ba Be - Cao Bang (115km/ 3h journey) (B / L / D)

Ba Be Lake - Lake of Three Seas, is located in the middle of a national park. It is considered as a nature pearl lost in the Bac Kan forests. It is a site that attracts many visitors thanks to its outstanding biodiversity. The Ba Be Lake is one of the 20 largest freshwater lakes worldwide.

Breakfast on the terrace with a view on the nature will give you the needed strength for the today to discover the beauty of the lake. The cruise will last approximately 5 hours during which you will be able to admire breathtaking landscapes. From above, the boat is as beautiful as a sliding leaf on jade water. The An Ma temple, the fairy pond, Puong cave, the Dau Dang waterfall are the sites of the visits mentioned in the walk.

In addition, you will be able to be as closer as possible to the people entering the village of Cam, another place where live the Tay people. Get your camera ready ! Departure for Cao Bang. Arrival at Cao Bang, installation at the hotel and then you will have free time in the small street of Cao Bang.

Overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 5 : Cao Bang – Ban Gioc – Nguom Ngao – Cao Bang (B / L / D)

After breakfast you will start a nice excursion to Ban Gioc waterfalls that form the border between Vietnam and China. Then you will continue to visit Nguom Ngao. To visit the cave, you will make a 1 km walk in contact with local villagers of Ban That and Ban Viet. Return to Cao Bang.

Overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 6 : Cao Bang - Lang Son (140km/ 3.5h journey) (B / L / D)

The course is characterized by its very rugged appearance. It is a series of passes, gorges, all inserted into a thick lush tropical vegetation. This road is known as the RC4 - Colonial Road number 4 which was the major fighting between the French and the Viet Minh in the fall of 1950, during the Battle of borders.

Then you will continue the road to Lang Son, again and again by a winding road that goes up the steep valley of the river Ky Cung River tributary of Canton (China). You will have a nice view of the river, crops and surrounding rocky peaks. Arrival in Lang Son.

Visit the Nhi Thanh pagoda and Tam Thanh, central market of Dong Kinh. Installation at the hotel. Free time. During the evening, you could go to the night market in the city. This is an opportunity to feel the active pace of local life. The market is always dynamic, with lots of people. You will have the opportunity to choose small souvenirs.

Overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 7 : Lang Son – Ha Lon (190km/ 3.5h journey) (B / L / D)

Two days one night cruise to untouched Bai Tu Long Bay is ideal for you to discover natural beauty and local life, you will get to visit cave, go kayaking and visit a floating village. This trip takes you deep into natural wonder and experience a memorable night in the majestic bay. The route is off the beaten track and our staffs are keen on taking care of customer’s request, it is quite potential to be your highlight trip in Vietnam.

You will cross all the northern basin of the Red River to reach Halong Bay.

12h15 Embark. Enjoy welcome drink as Cruise Manager gives you a brief overview of the itinerary and important safety guideline. Check in your cabin.

13h00 Start cruising among famous Islets (Indochina studio, Am Islet…) of Bai Tu Long Bay, the wildest beauty with the panoramic natural views. Admire the grace of the bay while enjoying the delicious lunch in the restaurant at the first deck.

14h30 Explore the well-hidden Co Cave (known as Thien Canh Son Cave). Relax on white sandy beach or walk along the beach at Hon Co Island (no swimming).

15h45 Return and enjoy the wonderful beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay at sunset; admire the striking islands and islets, savoring the fresh and peaceful atmosphere which could hardly be found in land while cruising to Cong Do sleeping area.

16h30 Enjoy kayaking at Cong Do or relaxing on the cruise.

18h00 Onboard the vessel, surrounded by a stunning, setting in motion, attend our chef’s cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking (spring roll) on the sundeck.

19h15 Dinner is served in the restaurant at the first desk. You can enjoy the charm of Bai Tu Long Bay at night.

21h00 Evening activities: relax at leisure; enjoy our Movie Night, Board Games or our Massage & Spa services (massage and spa fee is not included in the price), squid fishing.

Overnight on Bai Tu Long Bay

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 : Ha Long – Tam Coc (175/ 4h cruise) (B / L / D)

06h30 Welcome a new day with an amazing dawn on Bai Tu Long Bay. Refresh your body and soul with a Tai-chi session on the sundeck.

07h00 Catch the morning view of seascapes while enjoying the breakfast with cookies an tea, coffee at the restaurant.

07h30 Visit Vung Vieng village - the famous fishing farm by bamboo boat and discover life of local people living on the surface of Halong Bay

08h30 Return to boat

09h15 Pack up the luggage and check out of the cabin.

09h30 Enjoy the brunch in the restaurant while cruising back to Vinashin tourist harbor.

11h00 Disembark. Drive to Tam Coc. Overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Jour 9 : Tam Coc. Visite (B / L / D)

At 95 km away from Hanoi in Ninh Binh province, there is a large number of rich historical heritages of Vietnam, as it was the ancient capital of the country according to the 11th century.

Ninh Binh attracts visitors with its historic highness, and culturally rich destination. At Ninh Binh, visit the most authentic sights of this beautiful province Kenh Ga (natural hot springs), Thung Nang (Sun Valley) with a portion of the inland Halong Bay, Tam Coc (three caves also named the HaLong Bay inland), Thai Vi temple, Pagoda Bich Dong.

After breakfast, drive to Hoa Lu and visit the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century under the dynasty of Dinh, Le and Ly Anterieur. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Hanoi. You will explore the temples of King Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh.

Then you will return to Tam Coc by bike, for about 15 km. On the way, you will cross again the Trang An landscapes - Halong Bay. Continuing the bike ride (for about 1 km) to the temple of Thai Vi. You will contemplate a part of the Tam (Tam Coc means three caves also named inland Halong Bay). You will feel the clean air of mountain chains invading the above rice fields, you will continue the road through typical Vietnamese villages to go to Thung Nang where you will make a 2 hour boat cruise (return). You will stay in the boat to enjoy the peaceful scenery and the daily activities of the local.

On the way back, you will visit Bich Dong Pagoda (Bich Dong means jade’s cave). It is an ancient pagoda built into the mountain which is considered as the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam. A three-floor pagoda, accessible by a staircase carved on the occasion of the visit of Emperor Minh Mang in 1821.

Overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 10 : Tam Coc – Mai Chau (150km/3h30 journey) (B / L / D)

Mai Chau, which is located in the southwest of Hanoi, is an ideal destination for those who are looking for outdoor trips or hiking to villages of ethnic groups in the valleys. Mai Chau is also considered as the cradle of Thai minority inhabitants and Muong. So far they have kept their customs and traditions. By visiting Mai Chau, you will have the opportunity to learn about the life of ethnic groups in the mountains.

After breakfast, you will go to Mai Chau. You will be able to admire the beauty of the mountainous region with its rice fields terraces lined with banana groves. Sometimes you will see the homes of Thai and Muong hiding under trees.

Arrival at Mai Chau. In the afternoon, you will make a nice bike ride to visit the villages Poom Coong, Nhot, Na Phon, and Lake Van and observe the daily activities of local people. Overnight at the homestay (basic comfort). In the evening, you will participate to a folk music show of the Thai inhabitants, dancing with khene (traditional flute of the minority ethnic groups), and taste rice wine.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 11 : Mai Chau – Son La (187km/ 4h30 journey) (B / L / D)

Departure to Son La - the town where different minorities live. There are Thai minority villages nearby. Stop in Moc Chau, visit of the hills of tea plantations. Then continue the road towards west and discover the beautiful landscape of mountains, green valleys, rice fields and villages of Black Thai. Arrival in Son La. Check-in. Overnight at the hotel.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 12 : Son La – Tuan Giao – Dien Bien (151km/ 3h30 journey) (B / L / D)

Breakfast and drive to the town of Dien Bien via Tuan Giao. Then fork to Dien Bien Phu. You will invade Pha Din Pass (one of the 4 longest passes of North Vietnam) and beautiful scenery from the top. Visit the villages of black and white Thai. Visit the remains of the ancient battlefield, hills, museum and PC General De Castrie.

Arrival at the hotel. Check-in, Overnight at the hotel.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 13 : Dien Bien - Hanoï (B / L / D)

You will have free time and afterwards go to the airport. Flight to Hanoi and return flight.

Included meals: breakfast

End of the Tour