Northern Vietnam Adventure & Culture Trail - 10 days

Xin chào! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, is full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society. You are greeted by your guide and driver at Noi Bai International Airport for your transfer to the hotel.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Dinner

Hotel: La Siesta Trendy Nguyen Quang Bich

After breakfast, you take a short walk through old quarter of Hanoi from your Hotel to Quan Chuong Gate, one of the 4 entrance gate of Hanoi city. Go through some amazing maze of the city, visit a traditional morning wet market and stop at Long Bien whole sale fruit market where you will gather your bicycle.

Cycle off the dyke and get suck in another dimension when you suddenly left busy Hanoi behind and lost in total quiet nature. Cycle around Banana island, helping local with their field work, stop for a tea and some petang game at a local home before continue up to Long Bien Bridge an continue to a secret pizza garden where you have lunch.

Return to town to handle back your bicycle. Return to your hotel for refreshment.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: La Siesta Trendy Nguyen Quang Bich

Drive up North to the mountainous area of Vietnam and enter the small off the beaten path to your nature lodge by the lake

Check in and enjoy lunch.

• 2.00 PM: It’s time to explore Mai Chau, drive to Mai Chau valley and start biking from lac village. exploring Mai Chau beautiful ethnic villages including Cha Long, Tòng Đậu villages Stopping over Village, dropping in on a Thai family, be welcomed by the friendly local people, talk with them and discover their traditional culture.
• 5.00 PM: Drive back to your lodge
• 7.00 PM: Dinner

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cruise: Mai Chau Hideaway

After breakfast, cruise around Hoa Binh Lake, the biggest lake of Vietnam. You will visit floating houses and fish farm to have a chat and see how local fisher man daily life is like.

As reaching the Ngoi Hoa Bay then you take a short climb up to Fairy Pond a beautiful and pristine blue jade water mirror nested among the green on the mountain. Take some time to relax before heading back to the resort by boat, check-out and enjoy lunch before we say good bye.

Your driver will take you for 2.5 hour-drive to Ninh Binh, a beautiful land once was the capital of Vietnam thousand years ago. Check-in, relax and have a stroll among peaceful village.

Dinner at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: Ninh Binh Hidden Charm

After breakfast, you will travel deeper into the lesser-known region of Mount Tuong. Here, hop on your bike and leisurely cycle across the quaint and peaceful surrounding countryside. Take a sampan ride from Thien Ha grotto to Thung Nham sub valley.

Then, have lunch and in the afternoon, end our exploration by climbing the three levels of Bich Dong pagoda to enjoy spectacular views over the so-called inland Halong. If time permits, you can tread lightly for a little while in the village nearby before continue our journey along the river to Nam Dinh City.

Visit the ruin church of Hai Ly by the sea, in the late afternoon and take some photo of sun down. Come back to your Ecohost for a foot bath and dinner.

You will stay in the middle of Dong Bien Ancient Street, the place used to be an old French boulevard and well-kept with many traditional house. Enjoy your evening stroll along the street and visit local church in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Ecohost Nam Dinh

After breakfast, your guide will make a short introduction and safety briefing before cycling into the country side. You will pass the relic complex of Ngoi Bridge, Luong pagoda, Phong Lac communal house, Luong market with unique architectural styles. Ngoi Bridge (Cau Ngoi) was built in 15th century with unique architecture of Vietnam Countryside, crosses over the Trung Giang River – the small river runs along Hai Anh commune. (One of the most beautiful bridge in Vietnam like Japanese Bridge of Hoi An). Luong pagoda, also known as 100-apartment pagoda, was built in the late 15th century. Explore of the daily life of local people by a visit to Luong Market and taste the countryside local snack (seasonal fruit, local cake, etc).

Continue to cycle through Pham Phao Church which was built in 1908. Pham Phao villagers are known as true farmer artists. We will visit house of local artist, the fourth generation of making brass instruments. The family has practiced the craft for decades now and he is famous for repairing and making brass instruments as well as playing them

Lunch at local restaurant in Hai Hau with a cooking demonstration of a traditional Nam Dinh dish (Nem nắm Hai Hau) and enjoy meal (indoor or in the garden depending on the weather).

In the afternoon, you will get to know more about the culture of Red River Delta when visit the impressive museum run by a local family, here you will get to know more about the war history with rich collection from the famous general of Vietnam.

Headd to Xuan Thuy National park where you board a wooden junk through small canals and mangrove to reach a clam hut. Take some time to relax and see how local people plant the clam, collect and send them out in clam boat to Hai Phong main port.

As the sun is set, enjoy magnificent sunset here or at the salt field.

Back to your lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: Ecohost Nam Dinh

7.00 AM: Breakfast at Ecohost with some traditional food such as “banh Cuon” or “Pho Bo Nam Dinh”

Transfer to Halong.

12.15 PM: Arrival Tuan Chau pier. You will receive a warm welcome by our Captain and his crew with drink and some refreshing towels. You have lunch while enjoying the beauty of the canals on our way to Halong Bay.

In the afternoon, kayak to Trinh Nu Cave – one of the finest sunlight-filled cave in Halong Bay covering an area of 2,000m2 with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Trinh Nu Cave is an exclusive destination for Bhaya Cruises’ passengers.

Take a swim or sunbathe on Trinh Nu Cave’s beautiful private beach.

5.00 PM: Return to Bhaya Cruise and freshen up for the evening’s activities. Bar opens for Happy Hour for buy one get one free on a selection of drinks with complimentary snacks.

Join the exciting Master Chef “Halong Bay Edition” Competition and fruit carving demonstration on the sundeck (or in the restaurant, depending on the weather). Try your hand at creating authentic Vietnamese dishes, with the winner of the competition awarded with surprising gifts. Don’t miss out on admiring the sunset over enchanting Halong Bay as Bhaya Cruise anchors for an overnight stay.

7.30 PM: Savor the delicious set-menu dinner in the restaurant.

9.00 PM: Free time to enjoy a drink at the bar or stargaze on the sundeck.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: Bhaya Cruise

6.15 AM: Don’t miss out the sunrise Tai Chi lesson this morning as complimentary tea and coffee is served.

A light breakfast is served in the restaurant while Bhaya Cruises towards the heart of Halong Bay. Explore Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave inside Halong Bay with 10,000 square meters of space hold thousands of stalactites and stalagmites and are threaded by a 500-meter paved passageway.

8.30 AM: Return to Bhaya Cruise and prepare to check out.

Enjoy the brunch buffet as Bhaya Cruise go back to the port, passing Lom Bo Island, Trong Mai Islet and Ba Hang Fishermen Village. Disembark from Bhaya Classic at Tuan Chau International Marina

10.30 AM: Get in the car, and transfer to Yen Tu Mountain. Check in and then enjoy a delicious vegetarian lunch at Lang Nuong Restaurant by the stream.

Afternoon is free at leisure to relax, enjoy meditation session or chill by the pool.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Legacy Yen Tu

After breakfast ride the cable cap to the top of the sacred mountain. This activities required you in good physical condition so be prepared.

Situated within the immense arched mountain range of North-Eastern Vietnam, Yen Tu Mountain bears at its peak the Dong (Bronze) Pagoda, at an altitude of 1,068 meters above sea level. The beauty of Yen Tu consists in the majestic of its mountains mingling with the ancient and solemn quietness of its pagodas, shrines and towers. You will ride through 3 stations, after each station you can enjoy a great zen walk among the nature, reach the summit and come back down.

After descend from the mountain, take some time to refresh and check out. Have lunch before coming back to Hanoi.

Check in your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: La Siesta Trendy Nguyen Quang Bich

The day is free at your own leisure until your transfer to the Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight. We wish you a pleasant flight!

Meals: Breakfast