Grand Northern Vietnam Tour – 10 Days

Hoan Kiem Lake – The heart of Hanoi Capital

Welcome to Hanoi, take a walking tour in the Old Quarter.

Landing at the Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed by our tour guide and driver and transferred to the city. Enjoy a 45-minute drive to the city center with the city’s briefing information about the most visited spots, culture, traffic, and cuisine…Arrive at your hotel, check in, and have a rest.

Note: Hotel check-in time is 14.00

Continue the day with a walking tour. Start with a small pagoda named Ba Da quietly located in a small alley, only a few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by the French colonialists in the 19th century. Your tour guide also takes you to typical streets of Hanoi, such as Lan Ong Street, which sells traditional medicine, and Lo Ren Street, where metal items are produced. Visit the Dong Xuan Central Market, the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the famous area for night activities and street food – Ta Hien Street, where you can see the vibrant streets with many amazing local foods and drinks. Try to taste some for an unforgettable experience.

Drive back to the Hotel

Overnight in Hanoi

Tower of Literature in the temple of Literature – The Symbol of hanoi

Explore the center of culture & education, Van Mieu, the outstanding museum of ethnology, visit the French Quarter, and discover Old Town.

9:00: Get picked up by a tour guide to the Temple of Literature, which was built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century to worship Confucius and teach the Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol, Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage “stone stelas” where the names of outstanding students are shown. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam, the first national university in Vietnam.

Next, visit the Ethnology Museum (closed every Monday), which offers a deep insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments, and the traditional houses of many ethnic groups. It takes you around two hours to fully explore this interesting museum.

In the afternoon, you visit the French Quarter, a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices, and a big square. Visit the (outside) Ho Chi Minh mausoleum before having a leisurely walk in the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts, where he used to live and work. Visit the unique One Pillar Pagoda, one of the city’s symbols.

Go back to the city center for a rest before enjoying a water puppet show, a unique performance that first appeared in the 11th century, portraying daily life, culture, and beliefs of Vietnamese people, described by puppets on water. The show usually integrates a traditional music performance as well.

Come back to the hotel. End of the day

Overnight in Hanoi

Green rice fields in Mai Chau valley

Alluring landscapes in Mai Hich & Xam Khoe, learning Thai culture

8:00: Meet tour guide and driver, then depart to Mai Chau. Continue to Thung Khe pass, where you can view magnificent panoramic views of the valley of Muong Ethnic before arriving in Mai Chau town. Mai Chau is a beautiful valley located 145 km from Hanoi, a great place with harmonious landscapes, green mountain ranges, rice terraces, and White Thai ethnic villages.

Arrive at Mai Hich, have a rest, and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, explore Mai Hich by walking along the trails and concrete roads. You will be seduced by the gorgeous landscapes as the villages, rice fields, mountains, and streams are in harmony. Do not miss the opportunity to communicate with the friendly local people who are always willing to welcome you into their homes to enjoy a cup of tea.

Continue trekking, passing the rice field and small communities to Xam Khoe, a Thai village that is still not touristy. Enjoy the harmony of nature’s beauty and rich human culture. Meet the driver and then transfer back to your accommodation.

Overnight in Mai Chau

Villages of the white Thai in Mai Chau valley

Discovering Eo Ken, Ban Hang villages, and Chieng Lau discovery

Depart from Mai Hich directly to Eo Ken, 30km away, where the Muong ethnic live. Walk down the slope and enjoy the spectacular view of Pu Luong Nature Reserve, rice field terraces, and mountains. Visit a Muong ethnic family in Eo Ken village and discover their authentic life. Continue walking through this beautiful landscape and cross a stream to reach Hang Village.

Get in the car and then travel to Pu Luong to enjoy lunch. Later, Head to Chieng Lau, a picturesque area renowned for its lush rice fields and bamboo water wheels. Here, embark on a scenic walk, allowing you to engage with local people and catch a glimpse of the bamboo water wheels used for irrigation.

Come back to your accommodation.

Overnight in Pu Luong.

Rice terraces in Pu Luong natural reserve

Full-day trek to the Kho Muong village of Thai people, following Uoi, Lan Ngoai villages

8:00: Start a trekking day to discover the Pu Luong Nature Preservation and its inhabitants. Transfer 5 km from your accommodation to Kho Muong village. Start trekking on the path to the most remote village in Pu Luong, located in the valley and surrounded by beautiful limestone mountains and rice terraces. Kho Muong is home to the Thai ethnic group. Have your camera ready to capture the breathtaking scenery of rice terraces and encounter the locals en route.

Lunch will be served in the homestay at Kho Muong Village. In the afternoon, continue following the trails in the forest and the manioc field to reach Uoi village, a beautiful village home to another Thai ethnic group that still preserves their thatched houses. Keep walking to Lan Ngoai Village before transferring back to your accommodation.

Overnight in Pu Luong

Water wheels along a river in Pu Luong

Visiting Leo, Mo, Chu, Danh villages, admiring the beautiful rice terrace, and transferring to Ninh Binh

8:00: Enjoy breakfast before saying goodbye to the host, then walk down to the spectacular rice terrace valley. Hike through small paths and reach four picturesque villages, Leo, Mo, Chu, and Danh. Don’t forget your camera to capture these unforgettable moments. During the hike, you will enjoy the changing landscapes of rice terraces, villages, wild fields, ponds, streams, and mountains. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Transfer to Ninh Binh. Along the way, take a break to explore the sacred fish stream in Cam Luong. This location is renowned for a unique species of fish that inhabit the stream, often referred to as sacred due to the numerous mysterious tales woven around this extraordinary creature. Continue the journey to Ninh Binh and check into your accommodation.

Overnight in Ninh Binh

A family of languor in the Primate Rescue Center in Cuc Phuong national park

Explore the natural diversity by doing a 2-hour trek in the national park and visiting the Endangered Primate & Turtle Rescue Centre.

8:00: Depart from your hotel for a 1-hour journey to Cuc Phuong National Park. Located in the southwest of Hanoi, Cuc Phuong National Park was officially opened in 1960 as the first nature reserve in Vietnam. It is a tropical rainforest with a rich and diverse flora and fauna system. On arrival, visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre where the rare primates of Vietnam are reared and rescued. Continue visiting the turtle house project, then drive to the park center. Have lunch at the house-on-stilts before setting out for a 6km trek into the park center. Trek through the tropical jungle for an open view of majestic landscapes, pristine limestone mountains, and valleys. Take a rest at a giant ancient tree halfway through the journey. On the way back, take a short trek to the Cave of Early Man before driving to the hotel.

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Peaceful life on a river in Ninh Binh

Discover Thung La temple by bike, take a sampan row, and an embroidery course, and travel back to Hanoi.

You can choose to embark on a 10 km bike ride (one way) or a 20 km ride (round trip) along the dyke, offering stunning views of rice fields, a river, and limestone mountains. Take optional stops along the way for picturesque photos and interactions with locals. Explore Thung La Temple, dating back to the 11th century, and immerse yourself in the traditional musical instruments, essential to the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

Take a sampan boat trip along the stream and among the limestone mountains to discover the beauty of the Van Long nature reserve. If lucky, you might see white monkeys and egrets on the cliffs. After the boat trip, visit an embroidery village and take part in an embroidery course under the instruction of a local craftswoman. She will proudly explain the techniques of her traditional craft. This will be a good opportunity for you to practice on fabric like a real craftsman.

Head from Ninh Binh to Hanoi and soak in the scenic beauty as you traverse the Red River Delta with photo opportunities amidst the lush rice fields and tranquil countryside.

Overnight in Hanoi

Halong Bay – The world natural heritage

Transfer to Ha Long Bay, admire the wonderful seascape, and swim in the less-touched area of Con Vit, Ao Ech.

9:00: Pick up at your hotel. Enjoy a 2.5-hour drive from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay on the Highway. Your journey will pass a series of villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta. Have a stop for a drink and a restroom. Continue driving to the harbor around noon, and get warmly welcomed at the cruise reception.

12:00: The crew will welcome you at Tuan Chau Port, Quang Ninh province.

12:30: You will be taken aboard our support vessel and travel from the wharf via the bay to board our luxurious craft. During this time, an itinerary briefing will be provided.

13:00: Welcome aboard with fresh drinks and wet towels, followed by a special lunch featuring fresh food and an assortment of delicacies. We then set sail for Ha Long and Lan Ha Bays, the World’s Most Beautiful Bays.

15:30: We’ll visit the Tra Bau area, renowned for its unspoiled, poetic natural beauty and attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. This is the perfect time for kayaking to discover the true beauty of the limestone islands. Immerse yourself in the emerald green waters of the bay or enjoy the Jacuzzi pool.

17:30 – 18:30: Join us for a cooking demonstration and learn how to make one of the most famous Vietnamese cuisines, spring rolls. Alternatively, head to the top deck of the cruise to admire the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. Enjoy a Happy Hour – BUY ONE GET ONE FREE at the bar. It’s an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the greatest sunset over Lan Ha Bay.

19:30: Indulge in delicious local food prepared and served by our skillful chef. This delightful dinner is served in an intimate, romantic setting.

21:00 – 22:00: Relax and sip exotic cocktails and drinks at the sky bar (with a surcharge). Treat yourself to a spa service (optional) or relax on the top deck under the brightly illuminated sky. Alternatively, try your luck at squid fishing on the main deck.

Overnight on board

Relaxing time on board in Halong Bay

Exploring Trung Trang cave, leisurely cruising, getting back to Hanoi, and departure

6:00: Begin the day full of energy with a Tai Chi session and enjoy the sun as it rises beyond the horizon.

6:45 – 7:15: Breakfast is served while cruising back to Gia Luan jetty. (Breakfast time may be adjusted to follow the real itinerary.)

7:30 – 9:00: Join the tour of Cat Ba World Biosphere. Transfer about 30 minutes from Gia Luan pier to Trung Trang cave, one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. The limestone cave has thousands of stalactites in various shapes, offering geological values with a typical cave ecosystem.

9:30: Return to the main boat from the cave, and you will check out of your cabin. Luggage is to be placed outside the cabin.

Early Lunch is served at the restaurant. Settle any bar bills at the restaurant’s desk.

10:30 – 11:00: Disembark from the cruise and transfer back to Tuan Chau port.

11:30 – 12:00: You should be ready at Tuan Chau port.

Picked up by the driver at the harbor, then enjoy a 2.5-hour drive back to Hanoi on the highway.

Arrive at your hotel.

Thank you for choosing LuxeTravel Asia. We hope you had a memorable journey and look forward to welcoming you back to Vietnam or Indochina.

Tour Ends