DESTINATION

Hanoi - Mai Chau - Pu Luong - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Hue - Hoi an

TRAVELING

ThemeCity Tour, adventure, Beach, Cruise, Culture, History, Mountain, Nature, village
StyleSmall Group
Suitablecouple, Family, friends, Seniors
398

HIGHTLIGHT

  • Visit beautiful areas in Northern Vietnam from city to countryside
  • Experience a large variety of activities (Cycling, trekking, boat tour, bamboo rafting, kayaking)
  • Various and sublime landscapes
  • A gastronomic stay full of flavors
  • A perfect combination between adventure and relaxation
  • Meet the Thai and Muong minorities to learn about their daily life
  • Learn about Vietnam ’ancient times through historical sites
  • Be amazed with the charming Hoi An

INTRODUCTION

The best 14 days tour in North and center of Vietnam. Easy to go with this beautiful tour combining hidden places and must-see places. From the ethnic minority life in remote areas as Mai Chau and Pu Luong to the two most famous places as NInh Binh and Halong Bay. Start with the exploration of the most exciting city in Vietnam. Walk and visit the main sites in the center and experience the local food Then continue for 4 days from Valley to Mountains. Immerse yourself in the Thai minority daily life. Stunning landscapes with traditional villages, rice paddies, mountains, jungle. Then, head to the Halong Bay on land, Ninh Binh. Two full days to contemplate and visit one the highlight of Vietnam. From historical to spiritual sites and the unique boat ride in Trang An complex. Finally, end the tour in the North Vietnam with one wonder of the world, Halong Bay. Cruise in the less touristy but as stunning as the main bay, Lan Ha Bay. Arrival in the Center, you will discover another atmosphere of Vietnam. First with the historical city of Hue and its citadel and emperors ’tombs. Finally, to the city of lanterns, the charming Hoi an to relax for the end of your trip. North and Center Vietnam tour is your best choice to see the best of Vietnam ! 

ITINERARY

Day 1: HANOI (-/-/-)

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

Deluxe room at Tyrant hotel

Day 2: HANOI (B/L/D)

After breakfast, you will start the exploration of the fascinating city of Hanoi. You will head first to Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi on the edge of Westlake.  After the visit, you will go to the Temple of Literature, a peaceful place.

Local lunch in a restaurant

Take a walk in the Old Quarter to visit Ngoc Son pagoda to learn about the legend of “Sword lake”. Take a break to enjoy a Hanoi specialty, the egg coffee. Then continue walking along the lake to the Women Museum, unique museum of this kind in South East Asia. On the way back, pass by the opera house.

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. End your day to have a drink in the train street. Overnight in the hotel.

Deluxe room at Tyrant hotel

Day 3 : HANOI – MAI CHAU (B/L/D)

Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter to board the VIP bus and start the trip to Mai Chau. You will have a pass by Thung Khe Pass for a spectacular view of Mai Chau Valley.

 

Arrival in Mai Chau which is considered the capital of the Thai people. Check in and have lunch in the traditional house on stilts with specialties of the Northwest mountains.   Take a small rest to relax by the pool or a quick walk in the narrow alleys to admire the local life.

Start the cycling tour to discover the beautiful Mai Chau valley. You will pass through fields and villages and get the opportunity to discover more about the unique cultural activities of the White Thai ethnic group. Take a break to visit brocade production facilities made by locals.  You are welcome to visit the shops and to buy souvenirs from this unique place.

Back to homestay & free time to relax, enjoy the swimming pool or walk around in the narrow alleys around the homestay. Diner and peaceful night in the homestay

Deluxe room Mai Chau Rustic Home

Day 4 : MAI CHAU – PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE (B/L/-)

Early breakfast to be ready for the amazing day coming. Board the car to reach the beautiful Pu Luong Reserve and stop at Pu Luong Eco Garden to drop your bags before starting the exciting day. You will board the van to reach the starting point of the trek. On Thursday and Sunday, you will have a stop to the local Pho Doan market.

The trek will pass through a small dirt path, passing by isolated hamlet and through the jungle. Keep going to reach Hieu waterfall. 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 a relaxing time in the village, you will come back to the Retreat. Rest of the day at leisure

Deluxe room Pu Luong Eco Garden

Day 5 : PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE (B/L/-)

After breakfast, 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. Specificity of the Thai people, the waterwheels 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.

Rest of the day at leisure to chill around the pool, take a walk to Bang village to see beautiful rice fields.

Deluxe room at Pu Luong Eco Garden

Day 6: PU LUONG - NINH BINH (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the Retreat. Then start the trek to Kho Muong Village & Bat Cave. The trekking will start by small alley nearby traditional Thai stilt houses until reaching beautiful view points of the infinity rice terraces. Arriving from the top of the hill, you will slowly see appearing the village of Kho Muong and understand how special is this place. After walking around the village, you will walk to the entrance 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 the Halong Bay on land, Ninh Binh. Arrival and check in. Dinner in Trang An Ecolodge Resort.

Deluxe room at Trang An Ecolodge

Day 7 : NINH BINH (B/L/-)

The day begins with a bike ride in the middle of rice fields and karst peaks, crossing hamlets. You will arrive to Trang An complex, classified by UNESCO. The 3 hours boat ride is passing through karts pics covered by a lush nature, pagodas and crossing a long cave. Back to the lodge for lunch.

Afternoon, you will visit Hoa Lu Ancient capital, back to the 10th and 11th century when Ninh Binh was Vietnamese capital. Learn about the history of the place and dive into the old times when the emperors where leading the country.

Back to the Lodge and free time.

Deluxe room at Trang An Ecolodge

Day 8 : NINH BINH (B/L/-)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Bai Dinh Pagoda, the second biggest in Vietnam. Walking through this huge site, you will immerse yourself in this amazing and surprising site. Passing by the corridors with its hundreds of statues, the giant bells to reach the top and the ancient pagoda. From there, you will be amazes by the panoramic view.

You will then go to the restaurant for a local lunch to try specialties.

In the afternoon, you will visit Bich Dong pagoda. Three-levels pagoda with an ancient architectural style. This is a very spiritual place in Northern Vietnam. You will end the guided tour by climbing to Mua Cave. The 500 stairs can be challenging but you will be rewarded by the most spectacular view in Ninh Binh over the Tam Coc area.

Back to the hotel to relax. Evening and diner at leisure.

Deluxe room at Trang An Ecolodge

Day 9 : NINH BINH – HALONG BAY (B/L/D)

After breakfast, transfer to the pontoon in Halong. You will be transferred to the main boat to start the cruise to Lan Ha Bay.

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 as kayaking, swimming. 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 quiet night lulled by the waves.

Ocean cabin on Mon Cheri cruise

Day 10 : HALONG BAY – HANOI - HUE (B/L/-)

The cruise continues for other activities in the morning until mid-morning. Opportunity to practice a Tai Chi class on the pontoon at dawn. 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 around 3pm.

You will have free time (we can take care of your bags) until taking the night train to Hue. Overnight on the train.

Bed in night train

Day 11 : HUE (-/L/-)

The Driver and tour guide will welcome you at the train station and take you to a place for breakfast

Then, you will visit the Imperial 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 get on the boat to cruise on the perfume river until reaching Thien Mu pagoda. Beautiful and spiritual place on the edge of the river.

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 Thuy Xuan incense village. Evening at leisure. Night in the hotel.

Deluxe room at Emm hotel

Day 12 : HUE - HOI AN (B/L/-)

After breakfast, check out and board the car to continue your journey. You will visit Dong Ba market, the biggest market in Central Vietnam. You will get a glimpse of the local daily life in a traditional city.

Continue your journey to reach Danang passing by the Hai Van pass, beautiful road along the coast. You will stop at a local restaurant to try some special dishes of central Vietnam.

On the way to Hoi An, take a stop to visit Marble Mountain. At the foot of the mountain, you will see all the artisans working on the marble to create statues. Go to the top of the mountain passing by temples and caves. From there, you will see a wonderful panoramic view on the sea and the countryside.

Arrival in Hoi An, check in and free time.

Deluxe room Lasenta hotel

Day 13 : HOI AN (B/-/-)

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 Hoi An at lunch time and rest of the day at leisure. We can drop you at your hotel or in the Old town.

Deluxe room Lasenta hotel

Day 14 : HOI AN (B/L/-)

After breakfast, jump on your bike for a cycling tour in the countryside. You will cycle amongst villages and rice fields on quiet roads, ending up in Van Lang fisherman village and Bay Mau water coconut forest – 7 hectares of mangrove forest, canals, and houses covered in water coconut leaf.

On our journey to the village we will stop at Ba Le market.

In the village you will be warmly welcomed with a green tea by Mr.Han and his family, the third generation of his family to live there. There you will have free time to stroll through the village, before rowing a basket boat with the locals, learning their traditional fishing techniques in the water coconut forest.

After returning to Mr.Hai and his family, you will enjoy a traditional therapeutic foot bath with medicinal herbs, before preparing lunch with a local family. Lunch will feature many local dishes, such as spring rolls, Banh Xeo local pancakes, among many other Vietnamese delicacies.

After lunch you will have free time to take a short rest and enjoy the calm of this relaxing region. Then we return to your hotel at 14h00. Tour ends

End of the journey!

PRICE

PricePax
$$

PRICE INCLUDES:

  • All transports mentioned in the itinerary (included night train tickets)
  • All mentioned meals
  • English speaking local guide
  • Accommodation mentioned
  • Entrance tickets
  • Activities mentioned
  • 1 bottle of water/day/pax

EXCLUDES:

  • International flights
  • Visa
  • Drinks
  • Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses

Booking

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
1 adults
0 children
There are no recently viewed products...