Experience the Great North - 14 days

You will be picked up at the hotel at 8:00 am, starting the day trip with a visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays) and his former stilt–house residence. We will continue with the Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. The site also honors 82 Vietnamese doctorates who passed a number of rigorous exams in the feudal ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are engraved in 82 headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring one luck. Its peaceful green compound and its neatly maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds make it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle and heat. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative being the History Museum), which offers informative and well–documented displays on the country’s 54 ethnic groups cultures, including elaborate and colorful hill tribe costumes. The display continues in the museum’s garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses of numerous minority groups, from the Kinh to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. Then back to the Old Quarter for a one hour and a half walking tour to give you a deeper insight into local daily life. Head to Ngoc Son Temple set on a tiny island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Ngoc Son Temple dates back to the 13th century, and the lake itself is the picturesque heart of Hanoi, frequented by tourists and locals alike. The day ends with a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) before watching the traditional water puppet show. 

Car: 30km        Night: hotel

After breakfast, at 8h00 am, you will take an eight–hour drive to Ha Giang via Tuyen Quang province. Along the way, you will see a picturesque landscape of rolling hills, quiet villages and lush rice paddies dotted with palm trees. Arrive in Ha Giang town in late afternoon. Overnight at the hotel in Ha Giang.

Car: 300km/6h        Night: homestay

After breakfast, let’s drive to Quan Ba District. On the way, enjoy the spectacular scenery of the mountains on the frontier area, stop at Quan Ba Heaven Gate to take some pictures and admire the beauty of Breast Mountain. Then head to Yen Minh District for lunch. After lunch, we will visit Lung Cam village and the house where Pao’s story was filmed. Keep going with Vuong Palace – the house of Vuong Chi Sinh, king of H’mong people, a special and complex architecture that can only be seen in Dong Van. Back on the road, direction Lung Cu flag tower, the Northernmost point of Viet Nam. Lung Cu is an historical and sacred tourism destination, and the pride of each and every Vietnamese people. Then our car heads back to Dong Van District where you will have free time to explore Dong Van Old Street. After having dinner, enjoy a cup of coffee at Dong Van coffee shop with some gossip and a traditional music performance. Overnight at the hotel in Dong Van Town.

Car: 170km/4h        Night: hotel

After breakfast, let’s head to the weekly Dong Van Market to meet the local people and peruse the fascinating display of handmade goods and speciality products. Then climb above town to Pu Lo, a French fortress built in 1890 and kept in great condition. After exploring the fortress and the incredible views it offers, hit the road to experience one of the most spectacular roads of Vietnam. At an altitude of 1200 meters, the Ma Pi Leng Pass clings to the side of the undulating mountains, giving unrivalled views of the valleys and terraced hemp fields decorating the mountainsides. You will zigzag down into Meo Vac Valley for lunch, before transfert to Bao Lac.

Car: 120km/4h        Night: hotel

Early departure for Ba Be. The lake is 145m above sea level in the middle of a national park famous for its limestone rocks. Many ethnic groups live on its banks: the Tay, the H'mong, the Dzao ... Discovery of Lake Ba Be and the surrounding mountains covered with thick forest. Cross the lake by boat to the Dau Dang waterfalls. Overnight homestay in a house on stilts by the lake.

Car: 170km/5h        Night: homestay

The morning is devoted to the discovery of Ba Be Lake and the surrounding mountains covered with wooded forests. You will follow the lake in a sampan to the famous Dau Dang waterfalls, before hitting the road towards Thac Ba. Crossing the province of Bac Kan and Tuyen Quang to join that of Yen Bai. Your guide will not forget to tell you about Viet Minh when you are in the ATK region – the evacuated capital of Viet Minh between 1945 and 1954. Several stops are planned along the way to visit ethnic villages and take beautiful photos. Overnight homestay near Thac Ba Lake. Nigth in homestay.

In the morning, boat ride on the magnificent Thac Ba Lake. A hundred inverted bowl–shaped islands stand in the middle of the lake and the banks are covered with dense vegetation. The local population lives from fishing and culture on these steep islets. Then, drive to Nghia Lo – the second rice granary in the Northwest and the capital of the Thai people. Crossing a region where the cultivation of tea is very important. Stop along the way to see the tea fields and watch the locals work with eucalyptus wood. Arrival in Nghia Lo in the middle of the afternoon. You will be warmly welcomed by Mr. Binh and his family. Short break to drink tea, then walk in the great valley of Nghia Lo. Opportunity to participate in the preparation of dinner with the family to discover Thai gastronomy.

Car: 140km/4h            Night: homestay

Depart from Nghia Lo to Mu Cang Chai, the road winds its way through Hoang Lien Son Mountain chain, which has the highest peak of Indochina, Mount Fansipan. Stop at Tu Le for an easy hike. You walk through rice terraces to reach Thai and H’mong villages where people still dress in traditional costumes and H’mong women sit by their loom. Tu Le is a small hill tribe town surrounded by picturesque landscape and full of warmhearted people living in tiny wooden houses nestled at the foot of the mountains. Leaving Tu Le, you cross Khau Pha Pass (1550m). Dominating the entire area of La Pan Tan for a hundred years, the Mong still keep their morals and customs very well. Being always in traditional clothing, speaking their own language, refusing the invasion of modern life, they cultivate maize in plots of land embedded with rocks, they grow vegetables and especially rice in terraced rice fields. A new road will take you to the heart of the village where you can discover Mong culture and meet with villagers, a great opportunity for photo shoots.

Car: 100km/2h        Night: homestay

After a 2 hour drive, the road begins to climb up the Tram Ton Pass, the highest pass in Vietnam at 2047 meters of altitude. Stop for photos opportunities and enjoy the fresh air. From here, you can see Mount Fansipan, “the Roof of Indochina” with its 3143m peak reaching the clouds. Arrive in Sapa at noon. Start your walk in the Muong Hoa River on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Past the colorful rice terraces, you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River, you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement. Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and decorative patterns. 

Car: 150km/4h        Night: hotel

This is the biggest local ethnic market of the region and it takes place every Sunday. Tribal people from surrounding villages flock here to exchange their products. Join the local ethnic people for about 2 hours to enjoy the exciting atmosphere as well as the activities of this weekly market. Walk from section to section, seeing and smelling different local products, spices, vegetables, farming tools, handicraft, even medicinal herbs… above all meeting smiling people everywhere. The market is always crowded from the morning to after lunch time. Finally take a 300 km road transfer back to Hanoi. 

Car: 400km/7h            Night: hotel

After breakfast, depart for Ha Long Bay, passing through the typical peaceful countryside of Red River Delta with endless rice fields and winding rivers. We will arrive at Halong’s tourist wharf around noon and embark on an elegant wooden junk. Lunch will be served while the boat gently cruises past numerous islands and limestone structures rising from the emerald water. A fresh seafood dinner will be prepared by an experienced chef and served on deck. A peaceful night indeed in your private cabin.
Please note the program may vary a little depending on the cruise you choose & weather conditions on that day.

Car: 160km/4h        Night: on the boat

Awakening to the tranquil beauty of the bay, you have time for an early morning dip while the sun rises, followed by breakfast on board. We will sail through the bay all morning to explore more secluded areas. The junk will stay close at all times serving as a backup vessel for those who require it. Around midday we will return to the main harbor and drive back to Hanoi.

Car: 160km/4h            Night: hotel

Free time to go shopping in the busy streets of the old quarter or rest at the hotel (room available until 12 noon). Transfer to the airport. End of our services.

Car: 30km