Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival 

Our guide meets you at Noi Bai airport and escorts you to a hotel in the center of Hanoi. Relax after a long journey. Overnight in Hanoi.

 

Day 2: Hanoi (B)

Morning visit Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature and Imperial College) which dated back from the 11^th century and the excellent Vietnam Museum of Ethnology for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. The museum has an interesting outdoor exhibition of traditional houses of major hill tribes. Free time afterwards to explore yourself or free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

 

Day 3: Day 3: Hanoi- Mai Chau (B/L/D) 

Depart at 7.00 am from your hotel to Mai Chau (135km from Hanoi). It takes around 4 hours drive with stops on the way to take pictures. Arriving in Mai Chau, checkin to your homestay. Relax and have lunch there. In the afternoon, you will visit Pom Coong and Lac village of White Thai ethnic minority people or take easy cycling through the verdant rice paddies. Return to the village for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 4: Mai Chau- Cuc Phuong (B/L/D)

Have breakfast at homestay and then drive directly to Cuc Phuong National Park. First, we visit the Endangered Primates Rescue Center. Have lunch at Cuc Phuong Guest house and check in. 
In the afternoon, visit the flora, fauna and one-thousand-year-old sequoia tree, and the cave of Prehistoric man in Cuc Phuong National Park. Dinner and overnight at Cuc Phuong National Park.

 

Day 5: Cuc Phuong- Kenh Ga- Hoa Lu- Ninh Binh (B/L)

After breakfast, we leave the Cuc Phuong to visit Kenh Ga. Enjoy a boat trip along Hoang Long River to contemplate the beauty of the natural landscape and then visit Hot Spring, Van Trinh Cave. Have lunch at local restaurant. After lunch we take a short drive to Hoa Lu - an ancient capital of Vietnam - and the remaining two temples of Dinh King and Le King. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

 

Day 6: Ninh Binh- Ha Long Bay (B/L/D)

After breakfast, drive to Ha Long. Upon arrival at about 12.00, get aboard a junk for a cruise around Ha Long Bay with delicious seafood lunch served onboard. The cruise passes by many rocks, islets, named by their shape such as Dog, Incense Urn, Fighting Cock, Finger, Hoa Cuong, and beaches etc. Stop for a while to explore Surprise Cave and to swim (in good weather only). Have dinner on board. In the evening, night fishing service is available upon request and later overnight on board.

 

Day 7: Ha Long Bay- Hanoi- Lao Cai (Brunch)

In the morning, cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay, passing by several more of rocks, islets, and fishing villages. Brunch is served on boat before arriving at Ha Long wharf at about 11:00. Drive back to Hanoi. Free time until transfer to the railway station for the overnight train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.

 

Day 8: Lao Cai- Sapa- full day Trekking- Topas Ecolodge (B/L/D)

Arrive at Lao Cai Train station at about 6.30, welcome by our local guide and take a ride to Sapa for breakfast. After breakfast, trek down to Cat Cat village of Black H’mong people, see their daily life. Car pick up, back for lunch in Sapa town. After lunch, drive to Lao Chai Village of Black H’Mong minority, trek through Muong Hoa Valley with many beautiful sceneries to Ta Van village of Dzay minority. Transfer directly to Topas Eco-Lodge. Dinner and overnight at Topas Ecolodge.

 

Day 9: Topas Ecolodge- Trekking- Sapa- Lao Cai- Hanoi (B/L)

Wake up with the locals in the sound of pigs, chickens and the family dogs. The family is already on their feet preparing your breakfast. After breakfast, say good bye to the locals and trek though a bamboo forest up to Giang Ta Chai (home of Red Dzao and H’Mong peoples) meet and talk with people to learn more about their daily life, customs and traditions. Pass over the Cau May Bridge then back to Sapa Town by car. Your free time for lunch, drinks and shopping around.
Leave the town for Lao Cai train station at around 16:30 pm. Dinner at a local restaurant and a night train back to Ha Noi.. At 17h30, you will take the shuttle bus to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi.

 

Day 10: Hanoi- Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Upon arrival at the railway station in Hanoi in the early morning, transfer to a small mini hotel (in Hanoi) for freshen up and breakfast. Transfer to Noi Bai airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After check in at hotel, free time to explore the city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City- Cat Tien National Park (B/L/D)

Depart in the morning to Cat Tien Nation Park. Check-in at Guesthouse in the National park. After lunch, walk around to explore the fauna and flora, visit the 400-year-old conifer there and a Bang Lang tree, which is almost 300 years old. Dinner at a local restaurant, then back to National Park to see night life of nocturnal animals such as: porcupine, squirrel. Overnight in guesthouse.

 

Day 12: Cat Tien- Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)

After breakfast, take a boat trip on Dong Nai River to visit T’Chai Village of Chau Ma and X’Tieng ethnic people. Get in touch and discover their daily life. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then back to Ho Chi Minh City for overnight stay

 

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City- Mekong Delta home stay (B/L/D)

In the morning, drive to Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta. Visit caged fishing village on Mekong river, rural brick kiln and pottery workshop and bonsai garden. Ride bicycle or walk around the peaceful villages to see daily life activities of local people. Dinner and homestay with a local family.

 

Day 14: Mekong Delta- Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)

After breakfast, cruise on small creeks and canals of Mekong River to the colorful Cai Be floating market, followed by visit to local cottage industries of pop rice, coconut candy, rice paper, etc. After lunch at an ancient gardenhouse, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B) 

Free time until transfer to the airport for departure flight. End of tour.