You will discover the truly life of local people and pristine natural sight-seeing. The trip will let you visit the hidden villages, sleep in local houses, biking on thousand - year - old village road, experience the "transportation" rural men used to use, buffalo cart, visit untouched cave, Galaxy and witness the normal life of people in Cat Ba Island.
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Welcome to Vietnam. Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, obtain your Vietnam visa (with pre-approval letter), and then clear Immigration and Customs. After collecting your baggage, exit the airport to meet outside our Tour guide of Asianway travel. He/she will be holding a sign with your names on it.
In the afternoon, you will take a walking tour around The Old Quarter with your tour guide. This is a network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as “The 36 Streets.” This is a wonderful place to watch the local life, and peruse items from fabrics to crafts to exotic medicines. Finish your trip at Water puppet theatre and have a show, a unique performance of the wet rice agriculture area.
In the evening, you will enjoy a home-cook dinner with a Vietnamese family. It is one of the local styles in Vietnam.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi City tour
In the morning, you will take a tour to a must-see of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh complex with Ba Dinh Square, the Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and One Pillar pagoda.
After that, you will take a walk to Ngoc Ha village, a famous village of planting flower. Nowadays, with the urbanization of the Capital, a large area of planting was changed into houses and building. But some families can remain their traditional work. You will stop at the village’s market to see hour people buy and sell food, flowers, fruits…
This morning will end with an electric cart around West Lake, the largest lake in Hanoi.
An active afternoon is waiting for you. We will ride bicycle to Bat Trang village. Ride your bike on Historic Long Bien Bridge, following the dyke along Red River Delta, through the lush garden of guava, apple, vegetable… Up on your arrival in Bat Trang, you will visit the workshops, communal house, Temple, wharf, market and try making a product.
Overnight in Hanoi
Note: Please note that Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closes every Monday and Friday and annually closes for maintenance from Sep to beginning of November.
Day 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau (170km)
We will start our trip to the Northwest of Vietnam. Farewell the Delta and City, the trip takes you to the mountainous village of Thai people. Check in your home-stay in Mai Hich Village and have Lunch.
In the afternoon, you will discover the village. There are two options for this afternoon: walking/biking around the village or walking around before take a bamboo raft back to the home-stay.
Overnight in a home-stay in Mai Hich village
Day 4: Mai Chau - Pu Luong Natural Reserve (40km)
We leave our hosts after breakfast and drive East for about 15 km before entering the Pu Luong nature reserve. You’ll then get down the car for 2-hours trekking on single trail through Thai villages and rice terrace, with opportunity to take a break at local houses en-route.
Meet your car again for a quick transfer to our lunch stop at a small lodge. In the afternoon, we step into the wild with an awesome hike on trails across the second half of the reserve to reach its Western edge. The hike is not too hard and lasts 3 to 4 hours. It makes it an intermediate level trek. Plan to bring along good shoes and batteries for your camera.
After a demanding afternoon, we get to the ecolodge, check-in the private bungalows and go for a refreshing swim in the cascades and natural pools that surround the lodge. Homemade dinner before a well deserved time for rest.
Overnight in an Eco-lodge in Pu Luong
Day 5: Pu Luong - Ngoc Son Ngo Luong Natural Reserve
Prepare for a challenging day but you will visit an un-touched area between two Natural reserves. You will trek across the forest and river in about 5 km, where only local people know the trail and no transportation can access. After reaching a small dirt road, you will get on Xe Om (motor bike taxi) for your driving to next Ngoc Son.
During your motorbike trip, you will visit Khay and Mon villages in one of the most beautiful parts of the Reserve. As we walk, we’ll journey from quiet and wild natural areas into unusually dynamic villages alive with vivid sounds and scenes of life. This is your chance to really breathe in an atmosphere quite different from the one we usually know at home. We promise your guide will provide opportunities for numerous encounters with locals as you learn that these people are poor only in technology, but have an immense wealth of human knowledge about how to live together happily.
In the afternoon, you will arrive at Mu village, check in your lodge and relax after a long day.
Overnight in Suoi Mu Lodge in Ngoc Son Ngo Luong
Day 6: Ngoc Son Ngo Luong – Van Long Nature reserve (80km)
In the morning, we take our time to stroll around the village and have a break near the cascade of the Mu waterfalls. After visiting the waterfall, we will meet our van at the entrance of the Natural Reserve. Heading to Van Long Nature reserve.
Up on your arrival, you will relax for a while and join a small cooking class to prepare your Lunch with our chef.
In the afternoon, you will take a biking trip along the area to visit cave, pagoda and villages. At the end of the day, you will relax after some “hard-working” days at Kenh Ga hot Spring.
Overnight at a house-on-stilt on Van Long
Day 7: Van Long - Tam Coc (40km)
After Breakfast, you will take a short driving to a small wharf, get on a rowing sampan visit Thien Ha cave. You will discover the cave in about 700m long. Keep sitting on your sampan for cruising to Thung Nham. Finish your sampan, you will join a funny activity, travelling around by a buffalo cart.
In the afternoon, you will visit Hoa Lu ancient capital with Dinh and Le Temples.
The left time of the day is free at leisure. Please talk to the guide if you are interested in:
- Walking/biking around to visit the village as Thai Vi temple, Bich Dong Pagoda
- Biking/driving car to visit Thung Nham bird sanctuary. Please note that entrance fee to here is not included.
Overnight in Tam Coc
Day 8: Tam Coc - Cat Ba National Park (150km)
Take an early departure to Hai Phong province. Up on your arrival, a speed boat will take you to Cat Ba Island. To be warmly welcomed by a local host at their house where you will spend this night here, you will have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will visit Cat Ba National Park, Military Hospital cave and finish the day with a sunset view on the sea from Cannon fort in the center of Cat Ba town.
Overnight in home-stay in Ang Soi
Day 9: Cat Ba – Hanoi
Get on a boat cruising in Lan Ha Bay. Free time for kayaking, swimming and enjoy the fresh air of the Bay.
Lunch on the town before getting on the speed boat back to Hai Phong. Your driver will take you to Hanoi.
Finish the trip in Hanoi at about 6.00pm.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 10: Hanoi departure
Today is your final day. You are free to chill out and relax. Depending on your departure flight, your private driver (no tour guide) will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the airport in time for your flight to the next destination. They will ensure you are the correct gate.
We wish you a safe and pleasant journey.