Natural Wonders of Northern Vietnam

Your Vietnam adventure begins with your arrival in Hanoi. Your guide and private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. They will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city, with the fascinating Old Quarter at your fingertips. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel then our experienced English-speaking guide escorts you on the trip to Ba Vi, a countryside located on the outskirt of Hanoi.

Arrive at Ri village, enjoy the welcome drink and snacks and meet your first host – Mr. Duoc, who is a Vietnam War veteran and tea-farm owner. Listen to the stories of Mr. Duoc’s life during the war while enjoying the drink and then visit his tea plantation. You will learn how to pick the best tea leaves to make the most wonderful beverage in Vietnam. Carry on with the tea production at his small workshop, where most of the work is manual.

Then have a short drive to Moc village, where you will meet your next host Mrs. Chin, who will teach you how to cook local Vietnamese dishes. Later have the meals you made for lunch in a beautiful tropical garden.

Have a short break after lunch, and join Mrs. Chin for a walk around the village. You will visit some local families to understand the rural lifestyle and learn how tofu, conical hats, and other local products are made. Then have a cycling trip through beautiful paddy fields to meet your last host Mr. Chinh, who will meet you with fresh mint lemon juice. All ingredients are freshly picked from his own garden.

Wrap up your countryside tour with traditional feet soak in warm water with herbs, following the traditional recipes of the Muong ethnic minority. It will relax you (and your feet) after cycling around the village.

Then your driver will transfer you to Mai Chau.

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Today you will have a great opportunity to discover Da River ( Black River) and enjoy the scenic landscapes with limestone islets sprinkled all around. Jump on a kayak and explore the true beauty of nature in Northern Vietnam. Visit the fishing village, where you will meet and talk to the local fishermen to know more about their lifestyle. Paddle through islets and explore the fairy pond.

Have lunch with local meals and spend more time kayaking. Later you will be back at your hotel.

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Today we will take you on a cycling trip (about 15 km) around the local villages, where you will learn a lot about the unique Thai culture.

Soak up the tranquil daily life by seeing the farmers working on their lush green paddy fields: growing rice, vegetable, and grazing livestock depending on the seasons. The spectacular landscapes with soaring mountains, green paddy fields, and nice traditional houses on stilts, all together with the unique cultural features of Thai ethnic people, which are less affected by modern life, will bring you unforgettable memories.

Have lunch and get ready for your transfer to another area of Mai Chau.

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Have breakfast at your resort, and your tour guide and driver will take you to Mai Ha village. Your hike will start with a walk through the local Kha village along the dirt trail through a forest with tropical trees, that covers Pu Poc sacred mountain of the Thai ethnic minority in Mai Chau. Enjoy the spectacular landscapes, that gradually appear in front of you. Then you will reach Te – a charming little village located next to the forest and rarely visited by tourists.

Have lunch served at the local homestay.

After lunch, have a walk between the villages of the Thai ethnic minority Pu and Khoe. You will enjoy the peaceful mountain scenery and paddy rice terraces.

From Khoe village, you will be transferred back to your accommodation, where you will have time to swim or enjoy the view of the valley and the surrounding mountains.

Stay overnight at May Chau Ecolodge.

Duration: 4 – 5hrs

Route: 15km

Level: Easy to moderate

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Have breakfast at your hotel and get ready to depart to Ninh Binh, known as Halong Bay on Land. Upon arrival, you will visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital to learn more about the time of feudal dynasties in Vietnamese history.

Take a rest for lunch, after which you will depart to the dock for a boat ride in Tam Coc. Admire the beauty of the karst formations on both sides of the river while the boat takes its way along the river.

Then have a cycling trip (around 5 km) through the quiet roads passing by the rice fields and rivers. After the cycling trip, you will be transferred to your hotel to have a rest after a busy day.

Overnight in Tam Coc.

Have a hearty breakfast at the hotel. Today you will make your trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vietnam. We leave the greeny rice fields of Ninh Binh behind, bound for the serenity of Lan Ha Bay, the less touristy area of Tonkin Gulf on the South of Halong Bay.

Upon arrival at Tuan Chau International Marina, you will board the cruise.

Get acquainted with the facilities on board as the boat starts sailing into the bay. Savor your first hours of cruising on the sun deck and let your eyes wander over the breathtaking scenery of Lan Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago. Have lunch on board.

Later the cruise vessel approaches a secret hideaway place with beaches, caves, and coves, where you can see the spectacular natural beauty of about 400 islands. Have a stop here for kayaking and swimming in the clear water of the bay.

Then return to the boat and enjoy the afternoon tea while watching the sunset from the sun deck. Later join the Vietnamese cooking class led by the cruise chef, followed by a delicious dinner.

In the evening, have a relaxing time on the boat or try your luck with squid fishing.

Overnight on cruise.