The Mystical Beauty of Northern & Central Vietnam

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. You will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information, so please ensure you bring these details to provide to your guide.

Room is at your disposal from 02:00pm.

Take a short rest before enjoying the city tour in the afternoon. We will visit Hoa La Prison, the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” where captured American soldiers and airmen were incarcerated during the Vietnam War.

Then, enjoy 1-hour cycle trip around Old Quarter to enjoy the local life before getting back to the hotel. Meals on your own account.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken by our car to another fascinating land – the gem in the north of Vietnam – Halong Bay. Visiting the bay, you will experience the magic of the wonderful wonder of the world.

From the harbor, board our boat for a cruise among the numerous limestone karst rising from the emerald water. Make a stop en route to visit a grotto of spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Meals will be served on the cruise.

Overnight on the cruise.

Meals:

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Adela Cruise – Junior Suite - https://adelacruises.com/ (or similar)

Enjoy a Tai Chi session on the sundeck in the morning with a light breakfast of tea, coffee and pastries. After breakfast, enjoy your time to sunbathe and relax in the fascinating background of the bay.

After brunch on board – around 11.30am, transfer back to Hanoi to check in the hotel.

Dinner on your own.

Leave behind the hectic pace of life in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi and journey to the clean air of the mountainous Mai Chau valley (approximately 3 hours). There are great photo opportunities along the way – stop at a vantage point to take in the view of Mai Chau, home to a variety of minority groups with their own unique culture and languages.

Along the way, there's also the opportunity to help local farmers plant rice seeds into the fields. Arrive in Mai Chau and head to the village of Pom Coong to enjoy a local lunch. This is a great opportunity to experience the local area, chat with the local people, and gain a real insight into life in this fascinating and picturesque region. Check in the hotel.

After lunch, take some time to relax before walking to nearby villages. This breath-taking view takes you on small footpaths through the rice paddies of the spectacular Mai Chau Valley, where rising mountains form a ring around you. Riding through this majestic scenery, there are great photos to be taken and lots of chances to interact with the locals. Back at the hotel, relax while watching the sun set over the peaceful mountains.

Enjoy Gala Dinner at the hotel.

Today is a free day to explore the city by yourself. Lunch & Dinner on your own account.

Free at your leisure until the check out time (12:00). Then we will head to Ninh Binh (4 hours).

Once arrive in Ninh Binh, check in the hotel. Lunch & Dinner on your own account.

This morning, check out of the hotel, then, we will visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, the ancient capital of Vietnam dating back to the 11th century. Visitors can see temples built in honor of the emperors Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh their sons, and Queen Duong Van Nga, who was married first to Dinh Tien Hoang and then to Le Dai Hanh.

Then, set off your cruise on the beautiful sampan to explore Tam Coc (three caves) - which is also known as "The Halong Bay on land”. You will be enchanted by the breathtaking views of rice paddies, majestic caves and rock formations.

Have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will climb 486 steps to Mua Caves for panoramic views and photo opportunities.

Back to Hanoi to check in the hotel (2.5 hours).

This morning, drive to Sapa (6 hours by car).

Once arrive, check in the hotel and have a short rest before driving uphill offers most spectacular scenery of Fansipan Mount. Just a kilometer out of the town, rose flower farms and later chayote grows on bamboo frames covered a vast area. We’ll stop at the magnificent Silver Waterfall before continuing the road trip for some kilometers further to Heaven Gate and Tram Ton Pass.

At 2047m above sea level, the Heaven Gate & Tram Ton Pass is the highest mountain pass in Vietnam. From here enjoy walking around for half an hour for beautiful scenery of both two side of Hoang Lien Son Mountain range. The wind blows stronger to force the clouds moving constantly. It is the best point here to enjoy breathtaking scenery of the two side of Fansipan Mountain Range. Amazingly that the weather is very different by the side: In many days It is foggy and cloudy on Sa Pa side and sunny brightly the other side.

Leaving the Heaven Gate for the way back downhill 7 km, where you may stop to taking pictures of some lush farm in O Quy Ho where different kind of vegetable, flower, fruit trees and even medicinal plants are grown for years which makes this part of Sapa ever green.

Back to the hotel in Sapa.

The day is devoted to a beautiful hike through the breathtaking scenery of Sa Pa valley. Start by road that descends in the wake of the street Cau May (6 km) En route, admire the rice terraces hidden behind mist of the morning, a truly awe-inspiring sight.

Follow a small track and cross Muong Hoa River and pass well-tended rice terraces on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Continuing through the colorful rice terraces you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement. Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and some beautiful decorative patterns. We lunch in a home in the village.

After lunch the walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is ready for your journey back to Sapa.

Check out of the hotel after breakfast, then, we will visit Ta Phin commune, 14km southeast of Sapa town. Located in a large valley, surrounded by high mountains, which covered by pine trees and forest, Ta Phin commune is home to the Red Dzao and Black H’mong ethnics. Although living closed to each other for decades, these two ethnic people are very different: The H’mong are cheerful and open minded while the Red Dzao are economical and reserved.

Taking a short drive to the center of the valley, you will enjoy an easy walk following village path around the valley, paying visit to H’mong hamlets scattering from the bottom of the valley to higher mountain slopes. From high elevation, great view of the valley stretching under your feet. Continue your walk to the Red Dzao village in which you will meet groups of women making handicrafts includes embroidered clothes, handbags…After that transferring back to Hanoi. It will take around 5.5 – 6 hours by car.

Arrive in Hanoi in the evening. Check in the hotel. Rest of the day is at your leisure.

This morning, take a short domestic flight to Da Nang. When arrive, you will be picked up to transfer to the hotel in Hoi An to check in.

After a short rest, take a walk around the ancient town. As the national trading center in the 16th century, Hoi An is home to the diversity of ancient streets and homes. Stroll around the unusual cobblestone streets to admire the hundred century old Chinese houses.

The leisurely trip offers you a great chance to see the ancient houses built in Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures. There are some incredible places that you should not miss when visiting Hoi An including the hundred- year – old Japanese Bridge, the Phuc Kien Hall. You also have a chance to stop at a tailor-made shop to get your favorite clothes.

Rest of the day is at your leisure.

We will pick you up from your hotel and spend 20 - 30 minutes exploring the local materials at Ba Le market. You will learn how the locals prepare shellfish, meat, and vegetables. Look at how Vietnamese people use herbs in their cooking.

Learn how to tell the difference between different types of rice papers (which one will be used for rolling, grill or mix). Discover how to prepare pineapple and taste it right away at the market.

Then, take a quick break with a sweet soup or Palate Cleanser before joining the cooking class (do not forget to wash your hands).

Don't forget to try a Cu Lao Cham specialty tea. The cooking class will last approximately 2 hours, after which you will be able to enjoy your own special dishes.

Return to the hotel by electric buggy. Rest of the day is at your leisure.

We will leave our hotel at 8:00 am and set off on our cycling ride towards the peaceful countryside of Cam Kim Island. The route will lead us through lush sceneries, rice paddies and farmlands. We will be free to stop along the way as many times as we wish or just keep on riding eagerly, if that is the way we prefer.

Stunning rural scenes, rice paddies, villages and quiet roads are the big draws of Cam Kim. Cycling in Vietnam usually involves some nervous encounters, but Cam Kim’s roads are traffic free, flat and relatively safe. There will be plenty of opportunities for taking photographs and simply absorbing the wonderful scenery.

There will be time to visit a local family and learn about the curious ancestral technique that they use to make traditional sedge mats and noodle.

Back to the hotel for the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Today is a free day to explore the town by yourself.

Optional activities include: Hoi An Memories show, My Son Sanctuary, Street Food walking Tour.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you will free at leisure until appoint time for transfer to Da Nang airport for your flight home!

Room is at your disposal until 12:00 only.