Tour Highlights
– Visit the historical Hanoi and its Old Quarter. Decorated with peaceful lakes, French-style architecture, museums, pagodas, and exciting nightlife, this is a city that you don’t want to miss.
– Travel to the enchanting Halong Bay, and enjoy one of the famous overnight cruises through the mountainous lakeside scenery. This is a stop that can’t be missed by nature lovers, photographers, and culture seekers alike.
– Take a trek through the mountainous area, the picturesque highland town where you can unplug and reconnect with nature while getting a true look into the lives of local hillside communities.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Giang (L, D)
After breakfast, our driver and tour guide will pick you up from your hotel. Drive to Ha Giang, a province in the far north of Vietnam. Your route will take you through mountainous landscape and striking scenery. Upon arrival in Tuyen Quang, you will visit the 15th century Mac Dynasty Citadel and a market nearby.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you will head towards a small town in Ha Giang to spend the 1st night. You will arrive and check-in with time to relax in a pool of hot spring water or wander to the peaceful villages nearby.
Day 2: Dong Van – Ma Pi Leng Pass – Meo Vac – Bac Me (B, L)
After breakfast, you will visit the small communities of Quan Ba, Yen Minh and Dong Van, some of the most picturesque villages in the north of Vietnam.
After lunch, a scenic route will take you to the Ma Li Leng Pass from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Nho Que River and enjoy the wonderful sightseeing of this vast limestone mountain range and perpendicular walls of rock, which brings one a feeling of adventure whilst being lost in the rocky highlands. You might see one of the northeast’s stunning sunsets. Finally, after your busy day, you’ll arrive at Meo Vac in the late afternoon where you’ll spend the night.
Day 3: Meo Vac – Bac Me (B, L)
After breakfast and a brief visit to Meo Vac local market, you’ll return to Yen Minh via a different scenic route and then to Bac Me in Cao Bang Province.
Your lunch will be arranged in a local restaurant in Quan Ba Town. From there, you’ll travel back to Ha Giang and then to Bac Me arriving in the afternoon. After checking into your accommodation, you might consider wandering to a nearby Tay ethnic minority group on the outskirts of the town to see the daily life of the local people.
Day 4: Bac Me – Cao Bang (B, L)
A morning drive will take you through three passes en-route. The scenery is spectacular and the road runs along the sides of the mountains. You’ll have lunch in a small town and in the afternoon, you’ll arrive in Cao Bang town to check in to a hotel.
Day 5: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfalls – Cao Bang (B, L)
After breakfast, you’ll visit the Ban Gioc Waterfall on the China-Vietnam border, 85km from Cao Bang, passing through attractive scenery en-route. Ban Gioc is one of the largest and possibly the most impressive waterfalls of Vietnam.
After a picnic lunch, you’ll visit Nguom Ngao, one of the largest caves in the area. It has many fascinating shapes and formations of stalactites. From there, you’ll head back to Cao Bang with time to relax before dinner and your overnight stay.
Day 6: Cao Bang – Lang Son – Halong Bay (B, L)
Today, you will visit Lang Son, Vietnam’s gateway to China and an ancient citadel that played an important and strategic role in the Sino-French War. On the way to Lang Son, visit remote minority villages to take souvenir photos and enjoy some of Vietnam’s most spectacular and ageless scenery.
Arrive in Lang Son and visit the Tam Thanh Cave and Nhi Thanh Cave, then into the limestone hills. Lunch will be in a local restaurant, followed by a drive to Halong City where you will check in to your hotel and have some time at leisure.
Day 7: Halong Bay – Check in on cruise (B, L)
Enjoy fresh air and leisure time in the morning, at noontime our crew in Halong will welcome you aboard a junk with a complimentary drink and help you check into your cabin. A seafood lunch will be served and at 13.00 the 3.5 hour cruise on Halong Bay begins, visiting the famous karsts including Mat Qui (Monsters’ face) islet, But Moc islet, and Cap De islet, as well as Trong (Drum) and Trinh Nu caves and a floating fishing village for insight into a unique way of life.
Explore Luon cave from 16.40 to 17.30 pm and enjoy plenty of time for swimming and sunbathing. Savor a beautiful sunset dinner and relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin.
Day 8: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)
Early risers can enjoy a morning view of Halong Bay’s landscapes with a cup of tea or coffee and fresh fruit. From the upper deck of the junk, you will be amazed at the breathtaking beauty of the rocky islands rising up from the crystal-clear water.
The quiet is quite eerie; you can hear birds singing and cicadas chirping onshore accompanied by the gentle lapping of the waves against the boat; the perfect soundtrack to the fresh air and gentle breezes.
Explore the Sung Sot (Amazing) cave for an hour, then swim and relax at Titop beach before cruising back to the mainland at 09.30 while enjoying a brunch buffet from 10.30 to 11.30 am. Return to in the harbor around noon then drive back to Hanoi, arriving around 16.00 pm. Check-in hotel for relaxing.
Day 9: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel, start your city tour at the Ho Chi Minh complex, visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the iconic One-pillar pagoda, and the historic Tran Quoc pagoda. Continue with a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university established in 1076, then have lunch in one of Hanoi’s famous restaurants.
In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology then ride in a traditional cyclo around the famous Old Quarter, stop at Dong Xuan market, and enjoy a water puppet show before dinner.
Day 10: Hanoi – Departure
After breakfast at the hotel, your day is free to enjoy the city until you are transferred to the airport for your outgoing flight.
What's included:
– Private tours with English or French speaking guide for the entire trip
– Entrance fee to any applicable tourist sites
– Hotel or Homestay as indicated
– All transfers with our A/C transport
– Meals as indicated
– Cruise on Halong Bay
What's excluded:
– International flight ticket
– Visa arrangement
– Other meals not mentioned
–Tips & personal expenses
– Laundry
– Other not stated above
– Travel insurance