MYTHICAL TONKIN

Day 1 : Arrival in Hanoi (- / 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.

Meals included: lunch, 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.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

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

At 8:00, the guide and the driver will wait for you at your hotel and take you to Ba Be. The journey takes about 5 - 6 hours; you'll get to pass through magnificent landscapes. Imagine your carriage glides over the mountains, the clouds! It will be amazing! You will be able to make small stops in the shade on the road with the aim to admire 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...

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 bonsai 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 residents Tay.

In the evening, you will prepare dinner with the people who are open to tourists. This will be the perfect time to better understand their daily lives. Tasting traditional dishes, the boss will invites you to taste his corn alcohol and he will tell you the story of Tay people.

Overnight at the homestay (basic comfort).

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 : Visit of Ba Be (B / L / D)

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

Breakfast on the terrace with views on the nature will give you the strength to discover the beauty of the lake. The cruise will last approximately 5 hours during which you will be able to admire breathtaking views. From above, the boat is as beautiful as a sliding sheet of jade water. The An Ma temple, the fairy pond, Puong cave, the Dau Dang waterfall are the visiting sites mentioned in the walk. In addition, you will be closer to the people entering the village of Cam, another place where live the Tay. Get your camera ready!

Overnight at the homestay.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

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

After breakfast, you will do a bike ride to discover the village and the surroundings. The sound of insects, leaves, sources dominate all pure spaces. Visit the Hua Ma cave. Then you will take the road to Hanoi. There will be several stops in order to relax your legs, take pictures, or talk with villagers. Back in Hanoi, transfer to hotel.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 : Hanoi - Perfume pagoda – Giang Mo (70km + 90km / 1h + 1h30 journey) (B / L / D)

After breakfast, you will leave for the Perfume pagoda (located about 70km southwest Hanoi) - a Buddhist pilgrimage high place in the region. On the way you will stop at the Chuong village (or Vac town), one of the two villages which makes the best known conical hat of Hanoi, visit the village market. Here you will find the best models of symbolic Vietnamese hats.

You will continue the road to the Perfume Pagoda. Speaking of "the most beautiful cave in Vietnam," we immediately think of the "grotto of Huong Tich " part of all Perfume pagoda. Discovered in 1770, it now becomes one of the largest Buddhist centers in Vietnam. This legacy consists of several temples, pagodas. It attracts visitors not only through legends, typical sculptures, but also by the beauty of its landscapes as a multicolored picture.

Arrive at the Pier Duc, you will make a rowing boat trip amid stunning scenery on the river Yen (Yen means salangane) bordered by rice fields and limestone peaks.

During the cruise, you will hear legends about the dragon and the elephant around the cave. It is a really mysterious and interesting space for travelers. As you walk into the cave, you will pass by the stairs, the more you climb, the more you will feel touching the sky. When you find yourself in the middle of "Perfume Cave", you will be surprised by its natural beauty. The air filled with incense smoke, you can see and reach unreal worlds - a world encouraging the man to do charitable works and tolerant. Back at the pier. Road to Giang Mo.

Overnight at the homestay.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 : Giang Mo - Mai Chau (86km/ 2h journey) (B / L / D)

Mai Chau 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, traditions ... Visiting Mai Chau, you will have the opportunity to learn about the life of ethnic groups in the mountains.

After breakfast, visit the Muong Museum (located 2km from the village of Giang Mo). Then you will continue the road to Mai Chau, you will have the chance to admire the beauty of the mountainous region with rice fields terraces lined with banana groves. Sometimes you will see the homes of Thai and Muong hiding under trees. In the afternoon, you will make a nice bike ride to visit the villages Poom Coong, Nhot, Na Phon, and Lac & 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.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 : Mai Chau – Kenh Ga – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc (150km/ 3h30 journey) (B / L / D)

At 95 km of 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 terrestrial Ha Long Bay, Tam Coc (three caves also named the Bay of Ha Long terrestrial), Thai Vi temple, Pagoda Bich Dong.

After breakfast, you will go to Ninh Binh. Arrival at Nho Quan where you will make a boat trip to the floating village of Kenh Ga, in the middle of a vast flooded area. Visitors are attracted by the peaceful landscape and the authenticity of the isolated life of local residents. During the cruise, you will see locals growing rice or seeking small shells in the mud at the bottom of the river. Arrival at Kenh Ga, you can ask the guide to stop an hour to enjoy the source (with Jacuzzi) at your expense. Back on board, then drive to Tam Coc.

Arrive at Tam Coc. Installation at the hotel. Then you will go to the pier Thung Nham where you will take the bamboo sampan to discover Ha Long Bay land in 2 hours. Thung Nham has a tranquil natural beauty. You will have the opportunity to chat with the locals, observe their daily life: fishing, farming. Then you will visit Bich Dong Pagoda (Bich Dong means Cave Jade) is known as the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam. At the entrance, a staircase carved in the same rock and dotted with shrines increasing to a cave where the three Buddha enthroned on lotus. A magnificent pagoda on holy ground.

When leaving the pagoda, you will return to Tam Coc, you will continue the bike ride to the temple of Thai Vi - a beautiful stone temple. Return to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 : Ninh Binh – Hai Phong – Cat Ba (130km/ 2.5h journey 1h boat ride) (B / L / D)

After breakfast, drive to Hai Phong via Nam Dinh and Thai Binh; two territories rich in cultural traditions of the Red River Delta.

Arrive in Hai Phong; flamboyant city in a French colonial style. Visit the Du Hang Pagoda; an ancient pagoda of the city that has undergone a long process of construction and development since the dynasty of Le Anterieur. Then you will take the ferry to the island of Cat Ba. Arrival in Cat Ba, installation and free time.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10 : Cat Ba Island (B / L / D)

Cat Ba National Park encompasses evergreen tree forests on 331 m elevations, wet forests at the foot of hills and coastal mangroves, plus numerous small freshwater lakes, beaches and sand and coral reefs offshore. It is inhabited by 28 species of mammals, 37 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles and 200 species of fish.

You will also find a tree of a rare species "trees with chopsticks". It is so named because its wood, responsive to food poisons, was used to make baguettes used in court, eternal field of intrigues. Arrival and visit of this natural park Cat Ba. Take motorbike/car to go to Cat Ba National Park, the Worlds Biosphere Reserve with spectacular scenery and a high diversity of landscapes (about 40 mins driving each way).

Do trekking through jungle & forest and go up to the view point (it is about 2.5 hours trekking but can be more or less depending on your speed).

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11 : Cat Ba Island – Ha Long (B / L / D)

The highlight of the trip is taking people to less touristy areas and cruise more to see the best parts of Ha Long. The place where we anchor is also very peaceful; far away from the place where hundreds of boats anchor at the same place.

Lunching and cruising into the bay pass by Cap Bai Islet, Ngon Tay Island (Finger Islet), Sung Sot cave and Titop peak… (Now we are in the middle of the World Heritage site of Ha Long bay).

Continue towards Lan Ha bay on the hidden route for different amazing sightseeing, pass by Dark and Light cave, Ao Ech lagoon (Frog Lagoon), Ba Trai Dao (three-peach beach), Hon Dua (the Stick Islet), Buddhist statue stone…Arrive in Lan Ha – the Biosphere reserved area of the World, is famous for its crystal water, round lagoons, tunnel grottoes and the fisherman villages…and especially phosphorescence at night time.

Kayaking and snorkeling to open the hidden charm and feel how unique it is. On each 2-seat kayak our tour guide will lead you to paddle through narrow lanes of the karst mountains to fishing villages, we can visit and talk with the fisherman to get to learn more about the daily life on the sea. Paddle under a tunnel grotto to a stunning lagoon (depending on the tide sometimes). Here you can dip into the emerald waters. Swimming and Snorkeling to see Corals or you can also reach some secluded beaches for a while relaxing lying on sand…

Back to the boat for “cooking class” (our tour guide will show you how to make some famous Vietnamese traditional dishes that you can easily demonstrate home for your family after this trip).

Enjoy Dinner and overnight on the lovely peaceful bay once on your lifetime.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12 : Ha Long – Hanoi – Return flight (180km/ 4h journey) (B / L / -)

From the island of Cat ba, you have the opportunity to make unforgettable cruises (especially on Halong Bay) that will enhance your trip to Vietnam. The island of Cat ba is the largest of all the islands that make up the archipelago of the same name. It has superb sandy beaches and beautiful coral reefs. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations.

Wake up among the smooth waves (if you want to contemplate the sunrise, wake up earlier enough is important). A Light breakfast is served to energize for morning exercises by (fresh fruits, fresh fruit juices, cakes, tea and coffee or mineral water). Relaxing on board or swimming in the bay or breathing nature on the large sundeck chairs.

Check out and start cruising on another route throughout thousands of limestone islands and islets, taking precious pictures meanwhile enjoying our tasteful brunch.

Arrive back at Gia Luan dock. Disembark for another drive on the free-way AH5B back to Hanoi.

Transfer to Noi Bai Airport for departure flight.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch

End of the Tour