Vietnam is a beautiful country that evokes strong image for many people who have ever been there. Join us today to experience the incredible diversity of Vietnam from hill tribe villages in Mai Chau to the ancient of Temple and Cathedral to the majesty of Halong Bay from colonial Hanoi.
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Arrive at NoiBai airport. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Check in. One- hour cyclo tour of this charming capital city through the scenic Colonial Quarter, the Restored Sword Lake and end at the Old Quarter of “36 streets of 36 wares”. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi. (D)
Day 2: Explore Hanoi
After breakfast, morning sightseeing tour to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his House on stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda. Lunch at restaurant. Afternoon, Visit Fine Art Museum and Temple of Literature. Dinner on your own. In the evening, you will attend a water puppets shows. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi – Handicrafts villages
Full day excursion to visit handicrafts villages in the rural outskirts of Hanoi, Bat Trang, 12km from Hanoi, is a village entirely devoted to the pottery making ceramic production of exquisite dining wares and vases. Lunch at restaurant. Continue visiting Ha Khe and Dong Ky villages where beautiful hand-carved wooden furniture is made. Then visit Dong Ho village to observe the ancient art of woodblock printing. Return to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L)
Day 4: Hanoi – Mai Chau
AM: Leave Hanoi for Mai Chau village by private car. Enjoy lunch in a local house. Afternoon walk to the Thai villages in Mai Chau valley. Go back to Mai Chau for dinner and homestay in the stilt house with the friendly Thai ethnic people. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Mai Chau – Xalinh – Biking tour
After breakfast, you will be driven to Xa Linh where you will start biking (9km) through the verdant rice paddies from Xalinh to Hang Kia. Road trip to H’Mong village. Discover the custom of H’Mong People. Dinner and overnight at H’Mong’s house on stilts. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Mai Chau – Hoa Binh
Drive to the Da River for a 30-minute boat ride. Get off the boat and walk through Muong villages for 2 hours. After lunch, drive to Ninh Binh. Dinner and overnight in Ninh Binh. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Ninh Binh – Hoa Lu Temple – Tam Coc Grotto
After breakfast, visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam. Visit the famous ancient temples of The Dinh & Le Dynasties. Drive through villages, rice fields, rivers and unique rock formations to Tam Coc for lunch. Then take trip boat on a peaceful river for about 1 hour into the heart of the “Halong Bay on land” karsts formations where you’ll pass through a cave. Overnight in Ninh Binh. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Ninh Binh – Phat Diem Cathedral – Hai Phong
The pleasant trip to the specific architecture of this stone made Cathedral remains unique in the World. You will be surprised by the most attractive creation of the old Vietnamese people. After lunch, drive to Hai Phong for visiting Keo pagoda, one nicest pagoda in the North. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hai Phong. (B,L)
Day 9: Hai Phong – Cat Ba Island
Breakfast at hotel. We then drive to visit Du Hang Pagoda, Kenh temple and a carpet making factory. Lunch at restaurant in Hai Phong. PM: Leave Haiphong for Cat Ba Island by the hydrofoil. Time at leisure. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Cat Ba. (B,L)
Day 10: Explore Cat Ba Island
Morning visit Cat Ba National Park. Take a beautiful trek to Frog Pond stopping to enjoy the scenery on the way. Have Lunch. Go back to hotel. Time at leisure. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Cat Ba. (B,L)
Day 11: Cat Ba – Halong
After breakfast, you will take a Huong Hai Junk cruising Lan Ha bay and visit some caves in Halong and then you will return to Hanoi by a private car. Overnight in Hanoi.(B,L)
Day 12: Hanoi – LaoCai (Rail)
8:00 PM: Transfer from hotel to Hanoi train station for the night train to LaoCai at 9:00 PM. Overnight on train.
Day 13: SaPa – Ban Ho – Nam Toong – My Son – Thanh Phu
Arrive in LaoCai at 6:00 AM pick up and transfer to SaPa. Check in hotel. Breakfast, Gentle trek to Su Pan thru the breathtaking scenery. Pass thru the Ban Ho village to sightsee the stunning views of the valley and rice paddy terraces. Continue exploring the Ban Ho village of Tay minority before crossing the suspension bridge over the river. Then uphill to the Red Dao minority village of Nam Toong to prepare a delicious lunch either in local school. After lunch, descend to the valley where locates My Son village of Xa Pho minority, one of the smallest groups ethnic in Northern Vietnam. Take a short walk to Thanh Phu village of Tay minority to explore local daily life. Dinner will be served with Vietnamese dishes. Overnight in traditional house of the Tay. (L,D)
Day 14: Thanh Phu – Nam Cum – Sin Chai
Morning trek to Nam Cum to overview the surrounding mountains. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then walking toward Sin Chai village of Red Dao minority. You will be attracted by the wonderful hospitable atmosphere of the Red Dao. Overnight in Sin Chai. (B,L,D)
Day 15: Sin Chai – Nam Ket – Ta Thang – LaoCai (B,L)
Breakfast, leave Sin Chai to take to a fabulously mountainous area, the most remote part of SaPa. En route meet children’ curious eyes of Red Dao ethnic minority inhabit the entire area. Enjoy the fresh of bamboo forest and jungle until stop at Nam Ket for lunch. After lunch, trek down hill. After about half an hour, enjoy one of the most beautiful views of days over a green valley lying along the Red River. Arrive in Ta Thang village of Tay minority. Then drive back to LaoCai for the night train to Hanoi. (B,L)
Day 16: Departure
Arrive in Hanoi. Time at leisure until transfer to airport for departure