13days Hidden Treasure North and South Vietnam

Airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Depending on arrival time, stroll through Hanoi’s Old Quarter and free time. Night at the hotel.

Our tour starts at your hotel. We begin our journey by picking you up from your hotel located in and around Hanoi Old Quarter. Our guide and driver will greet you at your hotel lobby or a meeting point and give you a safety briefing before we begin our adventure.

On the first part of our Hanoi Jeep Tours, we’ll expose you to the REAL HANOI and give you a day-in-the-life experience of the city. We’ll take you through parts of the city that other travel companies don’t usually venture into, including maze-like backstreets, tiny alleyways, local homes, schools, random markets, and black marketplaces. You’ll get to experience where and how locals live, work, and play. At Hanoi Backstreet Tours, we don’t just show you the good side, but also the bad and weird sides of your destination. For us, the popular tourist sites are the tip of the iceberg, and the real destinations are hidden in the parts-unknown.

The second part of our Hanoi Jeep Tours takes you to pass by the MUST-SEE places of Hanoi, including the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the Tran Quoc Buddhist temples, the amazing Hanoi TRAIN-STREET, the enchanting French Quarter, the hustling and bustling Old Quarter, the romantic lakes of Hoan Kiem and West Lake, Hanoi Opera House, and the famous Long Bien bridge, etc.

Finally, our tour ends with food! We’ll take you to the Hidden Gem Cafe, where you can savor the tastiest, authentic, healthy, and organic dishes of Hanoi. We offer vegan and vegetarian options as well. Join Hanoi Jeep Tours and experience the beauty, culture, and authentic tastes of Hanoi.

Free time to rest in the room before starting the evening food tour. Try the local dishes walking

and contemplating the active night life of the Old Quarter. (If you didn’t see the train street in the

morning, you will go for a drink) Overnight in the hotel.

Vegan & Vegetarian options are available.

08:30 am – Pick-up from Hanoi Old Quarter Meet your tour guide and driver at your hotel or designated meeting point in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Leave the city behind as we head toward the peaceful countryside.

08:30– 10:00 am | Scenic Drive to Duong Lam ancient village. Enjoy a relaxing 1.5-hour drive through suburban neighborhoods, farmland, rivers, and rice paddies, gaining insight into the contrast between urban and rural life in Vietnam.

10:00 – 11:00 Arrive at Duong Lam Ancient Village. Explore traditional Vietnamese architecture and enjoy Instagram-worthy scenery: centuries-old banyan trees, village wells, communal courtyards, pagodas, and winding lanes. With nearly 1,000 well-preserved houses, some dating back over 370 years, Duong Lam exudes nostalgia and tranquility.

12:00 pm – Arrive at The MD Bavi Retreat. Enjoy a welcome drink and meet the Manh family, eco-tourism experts and nature enthusiasts. Visit their organic farm.

Savor a home-cooked lunch made from organic ingredients straight from the family’s garden. Check in the room.

01:30 – 04:00 pm | Village Exploration (2.5 Hours) cycling to explore the villages, following quiet paths through rice fields, farms, and residential areas. Depending on daily village life, you may: Visit local homes and interact with villagers Observe or join farmers at work in the fields Stop by a village temple or communal house Meet children at a school or playground Experience spontaneous cultural moments such as a local gathering or celebration Every visit is unique, organic, and unscripted.

04:00 – 05:30 Tea break in the garden. Unwind with a cup of aromatic tea, lovingly prepared by the family, and enjoy the peaceful garden setting. Free time to walk around the village or enjoy the sunset by the river dam.

05:30 – 07:30 pm | Vietnamese Cooking Class & Farm-to-Table Lunch

Take part in an authentic Vietnamese cooking class using fresh, organic ingredients sourced locally. Learn traditional techniques, share stories, and enjoy the dishes you prepare together in a relaxed countryside setting.

07:30 – 08:00 pm | Enjoy evening tea with family or night walk around the field for stargazing.

07:00 -08:00 am | Wake up to the sounds of nature in a tropical garden and bask in the morning sunlight.  Enjoy traditional Vietnamese breakfast and freshly brewed coffee and drinks from the garden to kickstart another day of adventure.

08:00 – 11:00 am | Hop into an old-school Jeep to explore Ba Vi National Park.

First, we will take an easy walk in the forest to visit the Old French Military Camp in the park then back to the car to go up to 1000 meter for the hike up to the top of Ba Vi Mountain to visit Ho Chi Minh president temple, the most sacred place in Vietnam built in 1296m with panoramic view.

11:00 pm | back to the retreat. Check out and enjoy the lovely lunch prepared by the family.

14:00 – Take the car to Pu Luong

08:00 – Early breakfast to be ready for the amazing day coming. You will board the van to reach the starting point of the trek. On Thursday and Sunday, you will have a stop at the local Pho Doan market.

You will then be dropped at the starting point. The trek will pass through a small dirt path, passing by isolated hamlet and through the jungle. You will arrive to the higher part of Hieu village contemplating some stunning views.  While going down to reach the waterfall, you will see some local houses. Free time to enjoy the waterfall (swimming and water hiking depending on season). Time to join the local house for a Garden to Table Lunch at the homestay of ethnic minority people.

In the afternoon, board the car to reach the starting point of the afternoon trekking. You will first pass a hanging bridge over the Cham river. You will pass through Ba village and see old traditional houses.

You will admire the ingenious agriculture system of the Thai ethnic minority, the bamboo waterwheels. Specific to the Thai people, the water wheels in Pu Luong are amongst the most impressive in Vietnam. The day will end by a relaxing and tranquil bamboo boat ride. Adapted for tourism, the boat is kept in use by locals to navigate and visit other houses or to go to the fields.

Back to the Retreat to relax

After breakfast, start the trek to Kho Muong Village & Bat Cave. The trekking will start by a small alley nearby traditional Thai stilt houses until reaching beautiful viewpoints of the infinity rice terraces. Arriving from the top of the hill, you will slowly see the village of Kho Muong and understand how special this place is. After walking around the village, you will walk to the entrance of the cave.

11: 00 – Back to the hotel for lunch

After that, Say goodbye to the fabulous Pu Luong Nature Reserve and start the journey to reach Halong Bay on land, Ninh Binh. Arrival at the lodge and free time to relax around the pool or on the terrace to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

Enjoy your breakfast at your hotel. Then cycling to do Tam Coc boat trip

You will enjoy a boat tour in the wonderful landscape in between karst pics covered by jungle, passing through a cave and watching temples. It is a world apart and a unique destination in Vietnam. A relaxing and serene boat trip with the most amazingly beautiful views and rich in history with perfectly preserved architecture.

11:30 – Back to your hotel have lunch

14: 00 – Continue the trip to Bich Dong Pagoda, a spiritual complex tucked into the cliffs of the limestone mountain. Often called the” Second Most Beautiful Cave in Vietnam”. This hidden gem is a peaceful blend of ancient pagoda architecture and lush natural surroundings. Built into the mountainside, the pagoda consists of three levels – Ha, Trung and Thuong each offering tranquil views and glimpse into the spiritual life of the region.

After that, we will visit Mua Cave, Mua Cave offers unique views of Tam Coc Rivers from above. This “mini Grand Canyon” is the best place to get high in Ninh Binh. Views change every meter make the hike more interesting.

7:30 – Board the car to be transferred to the pontoon in Halong. You will be transferred to the main boat to start the cruise to Lan Ha Bay. Takeaway breakfast will be provided.

Lunch will be served as the boat leisurely sails through the calm waters. The spectacle is dazzling as much by the beauty of the karst peaks gushing out of the water as by the color of the sea.

In the afternoon, you will go to see the Dark and Lights Cave where you can do kayaking or bamboo boat rowed by local people. . Back on the boat to enjoy a cocktail or a massage, the junk will sail to its home base for the night. Dinner served on board and a quiet night lulled by the waves.

Wake up early to start your perfect day with Tai Chi class or watch the sunrise on the top deck or you can choose Gym as a great place to get an unspoiled view of a sunrise. Light breakfast is served in the restaurant.

Exploring Lan Ha Bay the most beautiful natural bay in Vietnam. Having leisure time by doing kayaking around Lan Ha Bay. Then check out and have brunch in the restaurant while the boat sails back to pier.

11:30 – Get a car to Hanoi airport.

Take a flight to Ho Chi Minh

Fulfill your breakfast for a busy day.

08:00 our car will take you to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Listen to thrilling stories through a movie about the Vietnam War in Cu Chi. Then, walk deep into the underground tunnel and admire the network to understand the life of Vietnamese soldiers during the Vietnam War.

For a hands-on experience, try the shooting ranges where you can fire historic weapons like AK-47s (with surcharge). The site also has a museum with artifacts and exhibits about the war.

Go inside the jungle, where you can find traps, secret entrances, bunkers, and underground hideouts. Cu Chi Tunnels provides a mix of history, hands-on activities, and reflection, making it a compelling visit for anyone interested in Vietnam’s past.

Stop for a light lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

14: 00 – Back in Ho Chi Minh City, we continue the city sightseeing at the highlight historical landmarks around.

Coming to the Reunification Palace was the official residence and working place of the President of the Republic of Vietnam before April 30, 1975. Today, this place is considered a monument to Vietnam’s victory over independence and reunification.

Admire the French colonial architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office. Both of these buildings are delicate works of the cultural interference of Vietnam in the renovation period and the French colonial period.

Note: The Notre Dame Cathedral is currently under renovation.

Continue visiting the War Remnants Museum, where you can witness firsthand the artifacts recording a fierce war in Vietnam.

Walk around Ben Thanh market, where you can practice your bargaining skills and find unique local gifts for relatives and friends.

After returning to your hotel, freely explore fanciful Ho Chi Minh by night.

08:00 – Recharge your energy with breakfast and process checkout. Our transfer and guide will meet you at the lobby for the trip to the mysterious Mekong Delta.

Upon arrival at My Tho City, we drop in Vinh Trang Pagoda, the best-known Buddhist temple in Southern Vietnam.

Spend three hours rowed sampan by locals into the Mekong River’s narrow waterways and mangrove forest. After that, visit some tropical plantations on a nearby island, and watch the natives create coconut candy while sampling some of these delectable treats.

Experience sitting on‘Xe Loi’ through the hamlet and try fresh fruits and honey bees. Then, have lunch at a lovely restaurant overlooking the river and try regional delicacies.

Afternoon

Transfer to Can Tho, where you may spend the night and take in the sights.

Morning

Wake up early to feel the fresh atmosphere in Southwest Vietnam.

08:00 – After breakfast you will board a motorboat to watch Cai Rang Floating Market, visit to a floating local market where people of the area trade products and services using the Mekong River as a medium.

Try fresh fruits and Southwest cuisine sold on sampans.

Afternoon

On the way back to Ho Chi Minh City, stop for lunch at the restaurant.

After checking in at the hotel, freely discover the culture of the people in Saigon.

Enjoy your breakfast in the hotel.

Depending on your flight time, we will arrange the car to take you to the airport.