With this Vietnam tour, you will experience total immersion in the "Little Northwest" featuring the picturesque Mai Chau Valley and the stunning Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Enjoy walks through tropical forests and uncharted hamlets to discover the daily lives of local ethnic groups, including the Thai and Muong. Your adventure ends with an unforgettable night in Lan Ha Bay, far from the crowds of mass tourism, where you can truly connect with Vietnam's natural beauty.
Brief itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Day 2: Hanoi – Mai Chau
Day 3: Mai Chau hiking
Day 4: Mai Chau – Pu Luong
Day 5: Pu Luong – Tam Coc
Day 6: Tam Coc – Hai Hau
Day 7: Hai Hau – Lan Ha Bay
Day 8: Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi
Day 9: Hanoi city tour
Day 10: Hanoi departure
Highlight
The sugar loaves of Pu Luong, Tam Coc and Lan Ha Bay
Typical Tonkinese countryside in Hai Hau District
Typical cuisine and delicious dishes
Meeting with the ethinic minorities Thai, Dzao and Muong
The fauna and flora of Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Overnight on a junk in Lan Ha Bay
Full itinerary
B (Breakfast), L (Lunch), D (Dinner)
Open and close
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
Depart at 8h00 am from Hanoi to Mai Chau, a picturesque valley, predominantly inhabited by the White Thai ethnic group. Arrive in Mai Chau around noon and transfer to your hotel, then lunch will be followed by a short break. In the afternoon, we will take a nice bike ride to discover an authentic and uncharted country, unspoiled by mass tourism. You will be charmed by the traditional houses on stilts, the Thai’s friendly smiles and greetings, vegetable gardens, green rice and bamboo forests along the way, crossing many villages of different ethnic groups: Chieng Sai, Cha, Cha Long, Na Tang, Tong Dau ... Return to the lodge to admire its natural surroundings. After dinner, enjoy the traditional music show. Overnight at the hotel.
Car: 150km/3h Night: homestay
After breakfast, drive to Mai Ha, a village known for its production of rice alcohol and corn. From here, you will start a pleasant hike that crosses Thai villages at the foot of the Pu Poc Mountain range, then a large tropical forest covered with beautiful vegetation. The ride will take you to Ban Te, a Thai village little known to travelers. Stop at a Thai family for lunch. In the afternoon, you will cross a bamboo forest before reaching the village of Na Meo where your driver will be waiting for you. Return to Mai Chau.
Car: 30km/2h Night: hotel
After breakfast, you’ll be picked up and transferred to Pu Luong. You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by some free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting. In the afternoon, transfer to a place about 12 km from the Retreat, where you will start your walk to a suspension bridge over Cham River, afterward follow the river, walk from village to village looking for stunning water wheels. Get close to each wheel and discover how water is directed from the river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes. Arriving at Chieng Lau village, you can rest and enjoy a tranquil streamside scenery. Walk to the main road to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat.
Car: 50km Night: hotel
You will leave the pretty nature reserve of Pu Luong to reach Tam Coc – nicknamed "The Ha Long Bay on land". The Ho Chi Minh track will cross a huge region dominated by the Muong. Sugar loaves on your way. Upon arrival, bike ride to the Bich Dong Pagoda located on the hillside. The afternoon will be devoted to a sampan ride to discover this magnificent region dotted with limestone peaks and rice fields. You will pass by the three caves of Tam Coc which cross the mountains… a spectacle at the same time sublime and soothing! Night at the hotel.
Car: 140km/3h Night: hotel
Breakfast at the hotel, then explore the superb Tam Coc region, known as "Halong Bay on land", in a rowing sampan. The boat will sail on a small river in the middle of villages, rice fields and karst rocks. At 10am, as the tourists begin to arrive, it will be time for you to leave Tam Coc. On the way to the district of Hai Hau, known for its culture of bonsai. Crossing rivers by local ferry. Meeting with Mr. Phi's family. In the afternoon, you will leave for a bike ride in the countryside to discover the orchards, bonsai, Catholic churches, the local market and especially the daily life of the inhabitants of Tonkin. Come home before night falls. Opportunity to participate in the preparation of dinner with the family's grandmother. Night in homestay.
Car: 50km/3h Night: homestay
After breakfast with the locals, drive to Lan Ha Bay through the provinces of Nam Dinh, Thai Binh and Hai Phong. Nam Dinh is known for its pagodas and temples dedicated to the emperors of the Tran dynasty (1225 – 1400). Crossing the Red River (Song Cai – Maman River) to enter Thai Binh province. The road will reveal a countryside landscape where rice cultivation prevails. At noon, embark on a traditional junk for a magical cruise in exceptional settings that UNESCO has not failed to include in its heritage. Kayaking in lagoons crossing rocky cavities and stops on deserted white sand beaches for swimming. Meal based on seafood served by the crew. Overnight on board.
Car: 180km/4h Night: on the boat
Wake up early to admire the sunrise over the bay. Breakfast on board around 7:30 am. The junk continues to sail in Lan Ha Bay, approaching the most beautiful peaks and rocks. Around 8:45 am, arrival at Viet Hai village, a small isolated fishing village. Bike ride to visit the village and discover its superb landscapes. Back on the junk to take a shower and free your cabins while the junk returns to Ben Beo. Lunch – brunch on board around 11am, then disembark and return to Hanoi. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.
Car: 120km/2h 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 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.
Car: 30km 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
€ 850euro/personneUSD
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 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
You need to know
Trip price
All prices mentioned in the quotes provided to clients are in US Dollars (USD). Euros are accepted, but the exchange rate will be determined by the international website https://www.xe.com/ on the date the payment is made. iLOTUS TOURS guarantees the rates mentioned in the quotes, invoices, or documents given to the client. Upon payment of the deposit or the full price, we guarantee the price of your trip (excluding changes made by you). However, certain force majeure situations may require us to adjust our prices to meet the travel conditions described in the quote. These force majeure situations may include: • An unpredictable and significant increase in the rate of our local providers (hotels, trains, planes, junks, boats, road vehicles...) • A significant currency fluctuation that has a considerable impact on the exchange rate • The introduction of a new tax imposed by the government Proof of these force majeure events will be provided to the client. In these cases of force majeure, even after the deposit has been paid, the client may refuse these increases and cancel their trip. We commit to refunding the deposit you have paid.
Reservation and Confirmation
All reservations must be sent to iLOTUS TOURS by email at: contact@ilotustours.com • Registration must be accompanied by a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the trip and 100% of the cost of international flights. • The deposit required for trips lasting less than one week is 50% of the total trip cost. • A larger deposit may be required in the case of last-minute bookings or depending on the specific requests of certain high-category hotels or airlines. • The balance must be paid upon your arrival, without any reminder from our side. • Upon confirmation of the booking, an invoice will be sent to the client by email.
Payment
The trip can be paid for in cash, by bank transfer, by credit card, or through an application (Wise, Revolut, One Pay...): • Cash payments must be made at the iLOTUS TOURS office located in Hanoi, and the client will not be charged any payment fees. • Credit cards: we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and JCB. Any bank fees are the responsibility of the client. • Bank transfer in US dollars or euros.
Cancellation by the Client
In the event of trip cancellation, all cancellations must be confirmed by email. The client must pay cancellation fees corresponding to the following rates: • 25% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS less than 30 days before the trip start date. • 50% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS less than 10 days before the trip start date. • 75% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS less than 3 days before the trip start date. • 100% of the total trip price, if the cancellation reaches iLOTUS TOURS 2 days before the trip start date or in case of no-show. For trips to Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, your travel advisor will provide you with all the information regarding the deposit and cancellation fees.
Cancellation by iLOTUS TOURS
iLOTUS TOURS reserves the right to cancel trips agreed upon with clients for reasons related to a force majeure situation: war or the threat of war, riots, a natural or nuclear disaster, a port blockade, looting, fires, and any terrorist activity, adverse weather conditions, an epidemic, quarantine, or any similar event. In all these cases of cancellation, iLOTUS TOURS will deduct the amount of these penalties from the deposit paid by the client but will refund the remaining amount to the client by bank transfer, with the client covering all bank fees.
