IMMERSION IN TONKINESE CULTURE 6 DAYS

We pick you up from your hotel and depart for Duong Lam Village which is about 60 km west of Hanoi. This village has been known as a museum of laterite with ancient houses aged up to 400 years old. It is also the only place in Vietnam where the two kings came from. King Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen - the two heroes who led resistance wars against China's Sung and Southern Han troops to recover national independence. Walk around the village, you will explore the special architecture, traditional culture and traditions of countryside of Vietnam which is still well preserved today. Then, head to Mia Pagoda, built during the Tran Dynasty before 1632 and still preserves many ancient artifacts. Mong Phu is the biggest and the most famous communal house of Duong Lam village. Here, you also can admire ancient houses made of laterite and mud, two materials that are abundant in the area, stroll in small lanes, and watch local people in their daily activities. A visit to Duong Lam fore sure will help you understand much about the origin of Vietnam.

Depart at 2h00 pm 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 homestay.

After breakfast, transfer by car to reach the Cum village where you will have a short walk through the very authentic Thai villages seeing their stilt houses, their rice fields and their fish ponds. Meet the locals who are very friendly and welcoming. Your guide will tell you about Thai culture, the main ethnic groups in the region. The ride ends at the Hich suspension bridge where you will go on bamboo rafts. Descent of the Xia river follows a very gentle current. Discovery of the daily life of the Thai ethnic group. Return to Ban Van. In the afternoon, take a bicycle on the small peaceful paths of the Mai Chau countryside to explore the Chieng Sai, Cha, Cha Long, Na Tang, Tong Dau villages. This ecological mean of transport will allow you to go inland, discovering an authentic countryside. You will be charmed by the warm welcome of the Thai people who make their smiling faces go beyond their traditional dwellings on stilts, or by the surrounding landscapes made of vegetable gardens and bamboo forests. In the evening, after a delicious dinner of traditional dishes, enjoy a dance and folk music show. Try a straw tasting of a variety of typical Thai rice alcohol.

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 for dinner.

Car transfer to Tam Coc (Ninh Binh). In the afternoon, we will take the road to Tam Coc, where we will embark on a small rowing boat to discover the outstanding karst waterscape on Ngo Dong River. Tam Coc literally translates to « three caves» and is adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of all sizes shaped like gemstones. While rowing, enjoy the peaceful scenery of rice paddies lining the river bank. Then visit Hoa Lu, the ancient Royal Capital of Vietnam, and two temples: Temple of King Dinh and of King Le, where you can admire this unique architecture from ancient times. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

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 Lan Ha’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.

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. End of our services.