From Halong bay to the mountain-side villages; from endless terraced rice fields in the Sa Pa region to the karst peaks of Tam Coc; from the bustling alleys of Hanoi’s Old Quarter to the multi-ethnic markets of northern Vietnam - this beautiful journey will take you through the vibrant streets of the capital, the vast rice landscapes, and the daily life of ethnic minorities in the remote highlands of northern Vietnam.
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Day 2: Hanoi city tour
Day 3: Hanoi – Bac Ha
Day 4: Bac Ha market – Sapa
Day 5: Sapa – Lao Chai San – Ta Van
Day 6: Sa Pa – Mu Cang Chai
Day 7: Mu Cang Chai - Nghia Lo
Day 8: Nghia Lo – Hanoi
Day 9: Hanoi – Hoa Lu - Tam Coc
Day 10: Cruise and overnight in Halong bay
Day 11: Halong bay – Hanoi
Day 12: Hanoi departure
Arrival in Noi Bai airport, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in the city center. The check-in will be available at 2 pm. The rest of the day is free to rest or discover the city at your own pace.
Car: 20km Night: hotel
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 Kinhs 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 of 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.
Car: 20km Night: hotel
You will leave Hanoi in the morning, escaping its traffic jams and the sound of motorbike horns, and take the expressway towards Sa Pa. The drive takes you through the provinces of Phu Tho, Yen Bai, and Lao Cai, passing rice fields, tea plantations, and traditional houses of the Tay and Dao ethnic groups. Arrival in Bac Ha around 3 p.m. Check-in at your hotel.
Car: 300 km / 6 hours Night: hotel
Visit Bac Ha market. 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. Most of them are still using horses to carry their loads, which means an early departure to get to the market in time. If you visit Sapa during a spring weekend, you will frequently meet locals in their colorful costumes heading to the markets as this is the best time for youngsters to find a partner to marry. Spring in Sapa, especially around Tet Holiday (late January to early February), is therefore a very joyful time despite the cool temperatures. This is the season of courting, dating and weddings. Nature also contributes to the vibrant atmosphere with red and white flowers blooming everywhere. It all makes for a rather unique setting. After lunch, leave the colorful market behind to follow a zigzag road along the mountain and visit Ban Pho 1 and Ban Pho 2 villages, inhabited by Flower H'mong people. Return to Sapa in the late afternoon.
Car: 100km/3h Night: hotel
Drive to Y Linh Ho, where you begin your hike through magnificent mountain landscapes. Visit little-known villages such as Y Linh Ho, San 1, and San 2, then walk through a still-wild area with small hamlets inhabited by the Hmong ethnic group. Picnic lunch in nature or at a local restaurant. Around 2 p.m, a pleasant descent will take you to the heart of the Muong Hoa Valley, home to the Black Hmong, Giay, Tay, Hani, Thai, and Red Dzao ethnic groups. Discover the daily life of the local communities. The walk ends in Ta Van, a charming village inhabited by the Hmong and Giay. Check-in at a local homestay.
Trekking: 5 hours Night: homestay
After having breakfast at your homestay, continue your walking through lush paddy fields and bamboo forests. You can admire a beautiful waterfall. Visit Giang Ta Chai village, inhabited by Red Dao and Black H’mong.
Departure for Mu Cang Chai via the Tram Ton Pass (2,047 m), offering stunning views of Hoang Lien National Park, home to the highest peak in Indochina — Mount Fansipan (3,143 m). On the other side of the pass, you will enter Thai territory. En route, stop to discover tea and rice cultivation and observe the daily life of the local people. Arrival in Mu Cang Chai in the late afternoon. Overnight at a traditional Thai stilt house homestay.
By car: 140 km / 4 hours Night: homestay
After breakfast, depart for Nghia Lo. Stop for a short walk in the village of La Pan Tan. Cultivated valleys and terraced rice fields on the mountain slopes — the landscapes are exceptionally beautiful. Then, cross the Khau Pha Pass (1,550 m) to reach Tu Le. An easy hike through the terraced rice fields will lead you to the villages of Lim Thai and Lim Mong.
You will then continue the journey to Nghia Lo, the second-largest rice granary in the Northwest and the capital of the Thai ethnic group. For over 700 years, the Thai people have been cultivating rice using an ingenious irrigation system. Traditional houses are built from ironwood and bamboo. Arrive in the village of Chao Ha in the late afternoon. Warm welcome by Mr. Binh and the opportunity to join his wife and mother in preparing dinner. Overnight at a homestay in Nghia Lo.
Car: 100 km / 3 hours Night: homestay
After breakfast, you will leave Mr. Binh’s family and take the road back to Hanoi. Stop at Mr. Chi’s place, a local beekeeper. Learn about all the stages of beekeeping and enjoy a delicious drink: honey lemon tea. Then, meet Mr. Tung to discover the traditional Vietnamese method of green tea production. Arrival in Hanoi in the afternoon.
Car: 200 km / 5 hours Night: hotel
In the morning, our car and guide will pick you up to travel to Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam, about a two-hour drive from Hanoi. Upon arrival, you will visit two temples, one of them dedicated to Emperor Dinh and the other in memory of Emperor Le, followed by a brief visit to the remains of the Old Palace. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the three caves of Tam Coc, a peaceful valley often compared to Halong Bay on the dry and probably Vietnam’ most underrated destination. There, you will be rowed down a gentle river along rice paddies and through the caves. After the boat trip, we will cycle the rest of the day along winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples and cottages, typical of Vietnamese countryside to visit Bich Dong Pagoda situated on a hillside.
Car: 100km / 2h Night: hotel
After breakfast, depart to Halong Bay via Thai Binh and Nam Dinh, passing a peaceful countryside typical of the 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 on board in your private cabin.
Car: 190km / 3h30 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: 150km/3h Night: hotel
Free time then transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Car: 30km
The price includes
þ Accommodation and breakfasts in hotels on the accommodation list
þ Meals clearly mentioned in the program: B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = dinner
þ The entrance fee to the sites
þ Competent English–speaking guides throughout the trip except the free days when it is mentioned clearly: without a guide
þ Private air – conditioned car for all land transport except free days when it is mentioned clearly: without driver
þ One litre of drinking water per person per day
þ Domestic flight Hanoi - Hue and Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh in economy class
þ All logistic services necessary for the program
The price does not include
ý International flights and airport taxes from/to your country
ý Bank commission
ý Means of transport not mentioned in the program
ý Meals not mentioned in the program
ý Tipping for services: local guides, crew members, drivers, porters…
ý Drink, telephone, linen or all personal expenses not mentioned in the "price includes" section