Best North and The central of Vietnam

7:00: Pick up from your hotel and depart from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai (distance: 285 km) follow no.32 road. On the way, you can enjoy some beautiful sightseeing, take photos, and stop at Thu Cuc tea plantation for a cup of tea.

12:00: Arrive in Nghia Lo town, Yen Bai province. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, and then keep on driving up to Mu Cang Chai. We stopover in Khau Pha Pass for taking beautiful photos of Lim Mong valley.

We continue driving for about 40km to Ngoc Chien, located at an average altitude of 1,800 m above sea level, which compared to the year-round mild weather is like Dalat. This beautiful and peaceful commune is the home of the Thai, Hmong, and La Ha ethnic groups who have many unique customs and habits, one of which is their naked bathing custom. In addition to the special identity of the locals, the other great factors that make Ngoc Chien attractive to many tourists annually, are the natural hot mineral springs and the century-old stilted houses made of Pomu.

You will be welcomed by a local family, enjoy a warm meal with many local specialties such as Tao Meo wine, Tan sticky rice, grilled chicken, and grilled fish.

Overnight with local family at Ngoc Chien or at a lodge in Mu Cang Chai.

After breakfast, we drive to Mu Cang Chai, the land of the most beautiful rice terraces of North Vietnam.

When arriving at Mu Cang Chai, be ready to be impressed by the marvelous scenery of the terraced fields and the unique culture and traditional lifestyles of people living here.

Here are 500 ha of terraced fields in 3 communes: La pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, and De Xu within the whole 2,000 ha terraced fields of the area. For years, Mu Cang Chai has become an ideal stop for all nature lovers and adventurous travelers.

Overnight in Mu Cang Chai.  

We wake up early in the morning and enjoy the fresh mountain air.  After breakfast, we make a short walk to Tu Le Valley before we continue our trip on the hidden loop to Tam Duong. Lunch in tam Duong.

In the afternoon, drive on the thread road up to the Heaven Gate for universal view of Lai Chau and Sapa and Hoang Lien Son mountain range with Fansipan summit of 1343m high

The afternoon arrives in Sapa. Check in hotel then free time to relax and stroll around Sapa.

Overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

After breakfast, we are ready to explore Sapa town. We embark on a lovely walking tour to the hill tribe village of Cat Cat, home of the H'Mong hill tribe minority people. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with families that live in the area.

Then transfer to Fanxipan Cable car station to begin the journey conquering Fansipan by modern cable car system. The cable car system in Sapa is the world’s longest and highest cable car, running up from sleepy Sapa Town in Lao Cai Province to the peak of 3,143-meter.  Fanxipan Mountain, known as Indochina’s rooftop.

Reaching Mount Fansipan used to mean a full-day hike at least. But from Feb 2016 the trek up will be reduced to a 25-minute flight by cable car. The 6.5km long cable car can carry a maximum of 2,000 passengers an hour, with each cabin accommodating 35 passengers.

While traveling by cable car, you can enjoy the scenery and magnificent views to Sapa and swallow views of Muong Hoa valley, Hoang Lien National Forest as well as beautiful landscapes of Lai Chau province. After conquering Fansipan Peak, you will also take the cable car to get back to the foot of the mountain. Then you will be transferred to Bac Ha.

Overnight in Bac Ha.

Depending on the day of the week, Bac Ha, home to the flower H’mong hill tribe minority people is open on Sunday; Can Cau on Saturday. It always delivers a very photogenic display of ethnic costumes. At the market, we can meet hundreds of beautiful women from the Flower Hmong tribe, who are famous for their wonderful craft and hand-made flowering clothes and textile fabrics, or intermingle with people from Black Hmong, Dzay, Dzao, and other ethnic groups coming to the market not for purchasing stuff, but for meeting and chatting – just once a week - like in a real cultural center. After lunchtime, we drive to back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Transfer to Ninh Binh province. Visit Hoa Lu - Nearly one thousand years ago, this place used to be the Capital of Grand Viet ruled by Dinh and Le Dynasty. In spite of many feudal and historical conflicts, Hoa Lu still preserved its heritages with many temples and pagodas. Your one-day tour will be filled with many legends and myths. Additionally, one thing that makes this tour the most exciting is the boat trip through the winding stream to visit Tam Coc ( three grottoes)- regarded as “ inland Halong Bay”. Climb up to Mua cave to enjoy the spectacular view from the top of the mountain.

Check-in hotel in Ninh Binh then free time to explore the village/temple nearby the hotel by bicycle.

Overnight at the hotel in Ninh.

Departure to Ha Long Bay, listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea“ as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Ha Long bay has more than 1.000 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes.

Check in to the Junk for our overnight boat cruise discovering this magnificent UNESCO World Wonder. This is a great journey among surreal islands rising from a tranquil emerald sea. The Junk adds to the experience for an overnight stay and fresh seafood meals. This is a truly memorable experience. Without a doubt, Ha Long Bay is a destination in Vietnam which should not be missed.

12:00: Check in to the Junk

13:00: Have lunch on board and then you will have a fantastic cruise on Ha Long bay, visit Dinh Huong, Ga Choi and Sail Island. Stop at Sung Sot cave and swim at Titop beach.

19:00: Dinner on boat and free time.

Overnight on the Junk.

Remark: The itinerary of Ha Long bay will be changed according to the cruise’s itinerary.

Early morning coffee and tea will be served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. After breakfast, we take a Sampan boat to explore Luon Cave. We may have a chance to see the wild monkeys that gather around waiting for food from the tourists. After that, we continue to cruise around the bay. Lunch is served on the boat on our way back to the docks then we transfer to Noi Bai airport for a short flight to Dong Hoi.

Overnight at the hotel in Dong Hoi.

Breakfast in the morning before the start for an exciting day full of outdoor activities. You will discover the National Park through paths hidden beside Limestone Mountains and friendly villages. Stop to burn incense and listen to a story about the local ladies’ sacrifice at Eight Ladies Cave, then you will visit Paradise Grotto – Asia’s longest grotto with the magical beauty of stalactites and stalagmites. Lunch will be served at the service area in Paradise Grotto.

In the afternoon, you will continue trekking then go kayaking on the pristine Chay River and discover Dark Cave, as you have the chance to admire the birds, butterflies, and dragonflies on the way to the meeting point and a chance to refresh yourself at a delightful swimming area.

You will transfer to your hotel and have free time.

Overnight in Dong Hoi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Take upstream Son River to discover Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park then head to Phong Nha Grotto. Located in the World Natural Heritage of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, this amazing grotto is known as the second biggest one in Vietnam and possesses geological values formed over 500 million years ago. You will enjoy its spectacular beauty with your own eyes and have unforgettable experiences on your Vietnam tour.

Following our exploration of the caves, we drive to Hue. Hue is one of Viet Nam’s most cultural and historical cities once ruled by the Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty. This afternoon, you take time to visit the impressive tomb of King Khai Dinh.

Overnight in Hue.

Visit the Forbidden Citadel before we drive to Hoi An. Stop on the way to visit Lang Co beach and Hai Van pass.

Overnight in Hoi An.

This morning we take a walking tour of the old town Hoi An. Hoi An nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Before the river silted up, Hoi An was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia and a center for East-West exchange and trade. From the 2nd until the 10th century, Hoi An was one of the principal Cham cities. Over the years, Indian, Dutch, Portuguese, French, Thai, Indonesian, Spanish, American, Japanese, Filipino, and Chinese ships docked in Hoi An. In the 19th century, as the result of warfare and environmental changes, Hoi An was replaced by Da Nang as a major port. Reflecting the diversity of the traders and missionaries that settled in the port (including Alexander of Rhodes), the ancient architecture is a fascinating mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese. The rooftops of Hoi An retain a magical old-world Oriental feel and are a favorite subject for Vietnamese artists. In the early 1980s, Hoi An’s ancient quarters and historical monuments came under the protection and restoration efforts of UNESCO and the Polish government. Visit the Japanese covered bridge, Phuc Kien assemble hall, Phung Hung old house, Hoi An Museum, and Quan Cong temple.The rest of time is fee to walk in the old town, feel the atmosphere of its original culture, enjoy shopping for tailor clothing, lanterns, shoes and food, or simply relaxing on the beach.

Overnight in Hoi An.