Highlights of Vietnam tour > 14 days North to South

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

Depart early in the morning to drive to the local Ngoc Ha market, known for its  early morning bustle. Short stop at

Lake B52 to have a fresh fruit juice and learn about the history of this plane wreckage that springs from the water, a

remnant of the war with the Americans. We then stroll through the alleys that make the charm of Hanoi, we discover a

lively and hidden local life. The walk leads us to the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, a sacred place in Vietnam. Visit to

the Literature Museum.

Local lunch. In the afternoon, head to the ethnology museum to learn about the 54 minorities living in Vietnam, the garden exhibits some of the most surprising dwellings. On the way back, stop at the Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest in the capital which is located on the shore of West Lake.

7:00 – Pick up the guests at hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.

You will have a stop in Thung Khe Pass for a spectacular view of Mai Chau Valley. During the stop, you can see the local stands selling typical products. Take a chance to try one of the local specialties, the “Com Lam”, sticky rice cooked in bamboo. Arrival in Pu Luong Nature Reserve for lunch and check in.

14:00 – 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.

After that, 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 in your room or enjoy a swim in the infinity pool. Dinner in the Eco – Restaurant and peaceful evening at the bar or by the pool

After breakfast, board the van to reach the starting point of the trek of the day. On Thursday and Sunday, you will have a stop at the local Pho Doan market.

Then the trek will pass through a small dirt path, passing by an isolated hamlet and through the jungle. You will arrive at 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

After lunch, rest and relax in the village before boarding the car back to Pu Luong Eco Garden. Free time to relax in the hotel in the room or by the infinity pool or to explore an easy walk around Bang Village.

Breakfast at the Retreat. Then start the trek to Kho Muong Village & Bat Cave. The trekking will start by a small alley

and some 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. Possibility to visit the cave (depending on weather conditions).

Check out and lunch at Pu Luong. 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. Dinner and overnight at Trang An Ecolodge Resort.

Cycling to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Back to the X century, the ancient Vietnamese capital was the place of the emperors of the dynasty of Dinh, Tien Le and Ly. Travel out of time on this spectacular site.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is not only a valuable relic site but also a remarkable tourist attraction, offering tourists the chance to appreciate both stunning historical scenery and unique architectural values of a bygone era.

It will be time for a relaxing tour in the UNESCO site of Trang An. 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.

Free time before dinner and overnight in the lodge restaurant.

Early morning (6.30-6.45am), board the bus 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. You will beach the anchor for the first time for the first activities (depending on the cruise chosen). Back on the boat to enjoy a cocktail or a massage, the junk will sail to its home base for the night.

The cruise continues for other activities in the morning until mid-morning. Opportunity to practice a Tai Chi class on the pontoon at dawn.

Cozy bay option : You will head to Viet Hai (ancient fishing village). Reaching the pier, you will take a bicycle (possibility to go by electric car) to visit this special village only accessible by boat or a trek through the national park.

Moncheri option: You will join the tour of Cat Ba World Biosphere by transshipment. It takes 30 minutes to transfer from Gia Luan to Trung Trang – one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba island, Vietnam. The limestone cave has thousands of stalactites in various shapes, offering geological values with a typical cave ecosystem.

The boat will return quietly, while a brunch will be served to you, to the port of Halong from where you will be taken care of for the return shuttle to Hanoi. You will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Hue.

In the morning, you will visit first Dong Ba market, the biggest market in Central Vietnam. Then, you will visit the Citadel, place where the emperors used to live with their courts. Learn about the history of the site and the traditional daily life within the site.

Then a local lunch will be taken in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit two tombs of emperors, Khai Dinh and Tu Duc, fascinating stories. Stop at the incense village. You will then board the boat for a 45mn cruise on perfume river to come back to the center. In the evening, you will join a dinner on the boat.

Depart for Hoi An via the fabulous Cloud Pass, one of the most beautiful coastal roads in Vietnam. We will take the time to make photo stops and have a drink. Arrived in Hoi An late morning for a cooking class followed by lunch. After check-in at the hotel, departure by bike in the magnificent countryside around Hoi An. Afternoon, city tour of the Old town to see the traditional houses and main monuments as the ancient Japanese tiled roof bridge. Sunset boat trip on Thu Bon river before having diner in a local restaurant to experience special dish of central Vietnam.

Early departure for the other UNESCO listed site, My Son Sanctuary, ancient kingdom of Chapa. The place benefits from a special light and atmosphere early in the morning. You will learn about the history of these vestiges for a journey through time. Back to the hotel for check out. Lunch will be at a local restaurant to test local dishes. Then, depart for Danang airport to catch the flight to Ho Chi Minh, the vibrant economic capital. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and free time.

Departure in the morning for the surprising Cu Chi tunnels. You will discover Vietnamese ingenuity with their underground networks and the countless traps created to defend themselves during wars.

Back in Ho Chi Minh for lunch, you will then visit the main architectural buildings of the megalopolis such as the Post Office, the Cathedral or the Reunification Palace. The day will end at the Ben Thanh market, a real souvenir supermarket where you can do your shopping.

It’s time to hit the road for one of the most surprising and exciting places in Vietnam, the Mekong Delta and more precisely Cai Be. You will be welcomed at the pontoon for a transfer to the Lodge where you will be staying.

After check-in and lunch, bike ride to Tan Phong Island to discover the making of banana leaf hammocks, coconut leaf roofs and various daily products made from hyacinth of water. Tasting of fresh fruit and folklore show. Short 30-minute tour aboard a traditional boat in the middle of the canals.

After breakfast, head to Cai Be floating market. It is one of the main attractions of the Delta which punctuates the life

of the locals. We will then visit artisan villages before returning to the Lodge for check out and return to Ho Chi Minh in

the early afternoon.