13 days in Northern Vietnam

Your trip begins with your arrival in Vietnam. Our driver will meet and greet you at the airport. You will be escorted to the hotel by private transportation. Check in to the hotel and get over the jet lag.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Have breakfast at the hotel then you will be escorted by an experienced English-speaking guide, to the countryside located on the outskirt of Hanoi. The approximate travel time is one hour and 30 minutes.

Then arriving at Mr. Duoc’s house, you will be welcomed with fresh honey tea and green lentils or lotus seeds made by his family.  Imagine Vietnam in the old days of war through the stories of Mr. Duoc, who is not only a veteran who lived through those hard times but also a green tea expert. You will visit his tea plantation, which is one of the largest in Ri village and join locals in green tea processing. Afterward, have a Vietnamese cooking demonstration with another local host and then enjoy a home-cooked lunch in a lovely garden.

After that, you will wander around the village and mingle with local people. You will visit the local craftsman who has been skilled at making conical hats from a very young age and other workshops in the village to see how people there make tofu or shell the rice.  

Then join your guides for a leisurely cycling trip along the country roads. Observe traditional Vietnamese rural life as the local people work in the paddy fields. Along the way, watch out for a water buffalo plowing a paddy field while ducks swim across the top. Stop at another host family for foot bathing following the recipes of Muong ethnic group and relaxing time before embarking on your private boat for a trip along the Da river. Later, enjoy a transfer from Ba Vi to Hanoi.

Overnight in Ha Noi.

Leave Hanoi at 8 am and travel towards Mai Hich, Mai Chau. The peaceful town of Mai Hich is situated in a stunningly beautiful valley surrounded by verdant green mountains and is famed for its breathtaking scenery and friendly hill tribe people.

Limestone peaks climb in the background and banks of green line the road, and you’ll take regular stops to admire the view across the lush valleys. Upon arrival in Mai Hich, you will meet and be greeted by the village hosts at the local homestay.

In the afternoon, walking or cycling to discover the surrounding villages, and enjoy the beauty of surrounding nature, there's also the opportunity to help local farmers plant rice seeds into the fields.

Tonight you’ll enjoy local hospitality in a simple homestay in the village. You can join your host in cooking dinner or even have a chance to sample some of the local wine produced in the region.

Overnight in Mai Hich.

You will leave Mai Hich for the Pu Luong Nature Reserve where the white Thai and Muong ethnic groups live. While strolling in the park, you will admire a very rich fauna and flora, composed of a multitude of birds and exotic plants. You will then settle into your lodge and have the afternoon free to enjoy the charming vibes around you. This is picture-perfect Vietnam – lush green fields, towering limestone mountains, tranquil waterways, and charming historic sites. This is a wonderful chance to see everyday rural life in action as well as take in the beautiful countryside.

Overnight in Mai Hich.

Have departure towards Nghia Lo, Yen Bai. Some stops are planned on the way to visit ethnic villages, you will have an opportunity to meet Hmong and Thai people along the way. In particular, you will see fields of tea plantation as far as the eye can see and you may enjoy a picturesque landscape during the blossom season of peach and plum trees. You will reach the Muong Lo Valley, where the town of Nghia Lo is located in the late afternoon. Muong Lo is the second-largest rice granary in the northwest and is also the capital of the Thai ethnic group.

Overnight in Muong Lo.

Breakfast with the locals and departure by air-conditioned vehicle. The road winds along with the Hoang Lien Son range, where the tallest mountains of Indochina are found. Start the trekking from Tu Le, you will cross rice terraces and suspension bridges to reach the Thai and H’mông villages. The local people here will welcome you with open arms and wide smiles. After lunch at Tu Le, continue your trip to North Vietnam. You will reach the Khau Pha pass, one of the most winding passes in Vietnam, which is the ideal place to get the most beautiful photos on the rice terraces. The landscapes are of exceptional beauty with cultivated valleys and mountains with rice terraces. Mu Cang Chai is considered an unique paradise and one of the best places in Vietnam for landscape photographers.

Overnight at homestay.

Depart from Mu Cang Chai to Sapa via Than Uyen. Stop at the top of the pass to enjoy the freshness and see the roof of Indochina, Mount Fansipan (3143m). Once you arrive in Sapa, enjoy some free time to rest your legs.

The afternoon is devoted to hiking in the Hoang Lien Son valley, passing through rice terraces, and local villages, and meeting black Hmongs, and Red Daos.

Overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast at your homestay and trek to Giang Ta Phin village – home to the Red Dzao and Black Hmong people.

Push on through 18 kilometers of terraced farmland and bamboo scrub for excellent views of emerald valleys and rushing waterfalls as you stroll. Take a picnic lunch along the way, then depart by a private car to Bac Ha.

Overnight in Bac Ha.

After breakfast at your homestay, visit the Bac Ha fairground market. This is a great place to pick up locally dyed fabrics, hemp plants, and handmade textiles. Depending on your availability, you can witness the extraordinary atmosphere of the ethnic markets around this region:

Tuesday: Coc Ly market

Wednesday: Sin Cheng market

Thursday: Cao Son market Lun Khau Nhin market.

Saturday: Can Cau market

Sunday: Bac Ha market

After that, hop on the private car and travel back to Hanoi

Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, your English–speaking guide will meet you at the hotel at between 8 am and 8.30 am. You will be transferred by a professional driver from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, which is located 80km to the South of Hanoi. This is the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century and your guide will tell you all about the history of the Le and Dinh Dynasties, who ruled this antique citadel.

Enjoy a Vietnamese traditional lunch before boarding into a private sampan to visit Tam Coc, well-known as “Halong Bay inland” and see the beauty of the karst formations as you pass along their base and row into one of the many caves carved through the limestone.

You will then continue with a cycling tour through the stunning scenery of rice fields, karst formations, river and tranquil village (around 5km).

In the evening, return to Hanoi and enjoy a lovely night on your own.

Breakfast at the hotel. Get pick-up by the Cruise at 7:30. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival at Halong, you get to enjoy a cruise on the Bay to better explore the limestone rocks and the karst grottoes.

After you are done with your exploration of the bay, it is time to enjoy an utterly delicious seafood lunch, after which a trip to the famous limestone cave in Ha Long Bay, you’ll get to spend some time here, kayaking or swimming, so that you can get closer to the floating villages and shops. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can opt to attend the activities taking part in the boat or relax for the day.

Overnight on cruise.

Rise early for a Tai Chi lesson or just to enjoy a hearty breakfast. The boat will make its way back to the port stopping at the Limestone Cave, full of stalagmites and stalactites. From here, it’s clear sailing back to the main harbor and the return to Hanoi around 17:00. Visit the local markets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. 

Overnight in Hanoi.

Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip. Have a relaxing time before transferring to Noi Bai International Airport by a professional driver. Then fly back to your homeland.