Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (-)
Upon arrival in Hanoi, our bus will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
Enjoy free time for the rest of the day.
(note: visit of Hanoi night market on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
Day 2: Hanoi – City Tour (B, L, D)
Today, we will discover the millennium city of Hanoi and learn more about its rich history. Hanoi is without a doubt one of the most interesting cities to visit in Vietnam.
First, we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Presidential Palace, and Temple of Literature. Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology, West Lake, Old Quarter (including Dong Xuan Market, Hang Giay Street, and the O Quan Truong gate), and Hoan Kiem Lake.
Finally, we will enjoy a very nice water puppet show and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel (note: visit of Hanoi night market on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – if not previously visited).
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Giang (B, L, D)
Today, we will head to Ha Giang via Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Tuyen Quang.
Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant.
Upon arrival in Ha Giang, we will meet our hosts for the night, a Tay family. We will reside in their house for the night. After enjoying a cup of tea, we will relax while visiting this charming Tay village.
Dinner with the family and overnight at the homestay.
Day 4: Ha Giang – Quan Ba (B, L, D)
After a nice breakfast at the host house, we will go to the Museum of Ha Giang, where the most updated collection of objects depicting the 23 ethnic minorities living in the province is exhibited.
Afterwards, we will go to Quan Ba, with stops to visit a flower garden and climb to a peak to have a view on Fairy Mountain. We will finally land in a village of the Dzao minority. Then, we will meet our hosts for the night and join them for lunch.
Later, we will walk to visit several villages in the area.
Dinner and overnight at the homestay.
Day 5: Quan Ba – Pho Cao – Pho Bang – Lung Cu – Dong Van (B, L, D)
Enjoy a nice breakfast before embarking on the drive to Dong Van. During our drive, we will stop to visit Pho Cao village, a place where you can find original houses built by limestone.
Then, we will visit Pho Bang, a small H’Mong town, known for its ancient streets mixing different architectural influences.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
We will continue on our way during the afternoon. Shortly after, we stop to visit the Palace of the King of H’Mong ethnic group. We will resume our drive until stopping in Lung Cu and climb to the top of Flag Tower, where we will take pictures of the amazing scenery.
We will finally reach Dong Van.
Check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay in Dong Van.
Day 6: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Bao Lac (B, L, D)
If today is a Sunday, we will visit the local weekly market before heading to Bao Lac through the “Happiness Road” via Meo Vac. We will stop at the breathtaking Ma Pi Leng pass where we will enjoy a jaw-dropping view of Nho Que canyon. You will find yourself surrounded by beautiful karst landscapes stretching over tens of kilometers between Dong Van and Ma Pi Leng Pass.
We will have lunch in Meo Vac and visit a village nearby.
We will continue our drive while stopping along the way to capture marvelous pictures of the landscapes, until finally reaching Bao Lac.
Check-in at the hotel.
Dinner and free time in the evening.
Day 7: Bao Lac – Khuoi Khon – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc (B, L, D)
After a nice breakfast in Bao Lac, we will drive up to Khuoi Khon village, home of the Black Lo Lo ethnic group. This minority group has its origins in southern China (Yunnan Province) and migrated to the North of Tonkin about 400 years ago.
Additionally, we will walk through the village and see typical Lo Lo inhabitations: houses that are "neither on stilts nor on soil". Indeed, animals live under the house, whether it’s water buffaloes, cows, pigs, ducks, chickens, dogs, or cats.
The Lo Lo culture is patriarchal. Rice and maize are their two main food crops. Not to mention, they form the only ethnic group in Vietnam that still uses old bronze (or copper) drums for funerals. Initially, the bronze drums, kept by the head of the family, were buried or placed in a rice granary outside of their home. Due to theft, the bronze drums are now hidden inside the houses.
Lunch in Cao Bang.
Then, we will drive to Ban Gioc and check-in at a resort before enjoying a walk to visit the most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam: Ban Gioc falls.
Overnight stay at the resort.
Day 8: Ban Gioc – Ba Be (B, L, D)
Today, we will drive to Ba Be Lake. The road leading to this destination is quite smooth but also includes many zigzags. During our drive, we will stop to visit some local hill tribe villages
Upon reaching Ba Be Lake in the late afternoon, we will meet our hosts, a family who will welcome us in their stilt house for the night. We will then visit the village, home to the Tay ethnic group, before heading back to the house to enjoy a delicious dinner and cheerful moments with our hosts.
Overnight at the homestay.
Day 9: Ba Be Lake – Hanoi (B, L)
After breakfast, enjoy a 4-hour boat trip on the beautiful Ba Be Lake. We will visit the Puong grottoes before disembarking at a small pier. We will then go back on land and go on a short drive to Ba Be town.
We will have lunch there in a local restaurant before going back to Hanoi.
We will reach the capital in the late afternoon.
Check-in at the hotel, dinner on your own, and free time for the rest of the day.
Day 10: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)
Today, we will drive for 3h30 to reach Ha Long City.
At Ha Long tourist port, we will get onboard and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch while cruising through the thousands of islands and islets that form this incredible World Natural Heritage site. We will have the opportunity to swim in the bay, to explore caves with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites or to take kayaks and discover the hidden treasures of Ha Long Bay.
Dinner and overnight onboard.
Day 11: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi (B, L)
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast onboard while observing the sunrise. Then, we will continue cruising and sightseeing in Ha Long Bay before heading back to the port, where our driver will be waiting for us.
Board back on the bus – we will drive through the Red River Delta until reaching Hanoi.
Check-in at your hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the day.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 12: Hanoi – departure (B)
Free time until the bus picks you up to take you to the airport for your departure flight.
