A Different Side of Northern Vietnam

Hanoi Arrival / Visits and City Discovery (D)

Arrival at the airport.
Welcome by our English-speaking guide and driver, followed by a transfer to Hanoi city center.

Depending on your arrival time, you will begin your first discoveries of Hanoi, visiting sites off the beaten track:

• Visit Dong Xuan Market – a commercial, cultural and spiritual place located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. It is the oldest market in the capital, built in 1889 by the French after leveling part of the To Lich River and the Red River.
• Then, a walk along Long Bien Bridge (Paul Doumer Bridge), built at the end of the 19th century by the Daydé & Pillé company (and not Eiffel), which was also responsible for the Grand Palais and Pont Mirabeau in Paris. The bridge is very popular with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. It is one of the iconic landmarks of the Vietnamese capital. From the bridge, you can take beautiful photos of the Red River.

Followed by a visit to the ancient Citadel of Hanoi (Hoang Thanh Thang Long). It has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. At first glance, it may appear to be only a collection of structures, palaces and ruins from an ancient civilization, more specifically from the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties.

Then, visit the legendary Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword) with Ngoc Son Temple (Jade Mountain Temple).

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant with typical Hanoi dishes.

Hanoi – Hoa Binh / Excursions – Mai Chau / Walks and Visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet at 08:00 for departure on a loop through the mountains of Northwestern Vietnam, via Hoa Binh, which is considered the gateway to the region.

After a 2-hour drive, you descend to the Black River Dam for a boat excursion through the second inland Ha Long Bay, surrounded by magical and authentic landscapes. Meet the Muong people by the lake. They invite you into their stilt houses with their warm hospitality, smoke their traditional water pipes and tell you about the customs of their people.

Lunch on site.

In the afternoon: continue the journey to Mai Chau, a beautiful valley surrounded by rice fields and home to the White Thai people. Check in at a local homestay in a stilt house.

In the evening, after dinner prepared by Thai women, you are invited to attend traditional folk dance performances by five ethnic groups and taste local wine made from fermented sticky rice and medicinal herb roots.

Overnight with a Thai family in their traditional stilt house.

Mai Chau / Walks – Moc Chau / Walks & Visits (B,L,D)

After a Thai-style breakfast,
enjoy a beautiful walk through the Mai Chau Valley to visit the central market, where livestock, fruit and vegetables, fresh fish and even snails are sold. You can taste dishes from the local ethnic groups, admire handwoven brocade fabrics and traditional clothing, or sip local rice wine.

Continue with a visit to Ban Van Village, a small village peacefully nestled in a deep valley at the foot of the mountains. The stilt houses are simple yet charming and offer wonderful views. Continue by vehicle towards Moc Chau.

Arrival at Hua Tat Village, where the fresh air offers a peaceful escape from the bustle of city life. You will have the opportunity to explore the agricultural areas and go hiking while enjoying breathtaking views.

Lunch at a local homestay, followed by a walk to discover this H’Mong village. You can try authentic workshops in H’Mong paper-making, embroidery and cooking.

Their hospitality and sincerity are warmly expressed through rice alcohol! A stop in Moc Chau allows you to admire the largest tea plantation in Vietnam.

Dinner and overnight with a H’Mong family in Hua Tat Village.

Moc Chau – Son La / Visits – Tuan Giao – Dien Bien / Visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the homestay.
Meet at 08:00 and depart for Dien Bien, passing through Son La and Tuan Giao.

Upon arrival in Son La, visit the former prison built during the French colonial period.

Then continue towards Tuan Giao, with a stop to visit Thuan Chau Central Market, where you will meet not only Black Thai people but also White H’Mong who come here to trade. White H’Mong women wear colorful traditional costumes, including green-sleeved shirts and, above all, pointed hats decorated with red pom-poms.

Crossing Pha Din Pass, the longest mountain pass in Vietnam at 32 km, you can admire the magnificence of the natural scenery. At the foot of the pass, visit a multi-ethnic primary school in Tuan Giao before having lunch at a local restaurant.

Arrival in Dien Bien in the afternoon. Located in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains, Dien Bien lies at the heart of the Black Thai region. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Dien Bien.

Dien Bien – Sin Ho / Visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet at 08:00 for departure towards Sin Ho, passing through beautiful ethnic Black Thai villages with traditional stilt houses and slate roofs, as well as an impressive dam.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

On the way to Sin Ho, you also visit Kh’Mu villages along the roadside. Belonging to the Mon-Khmer linguistic group, this ethnic community is closely related to neighboring Lao populations. Although the women’s traditional costumes are similar to those of the Black Thai, they can be distinguished by their jewelry.

Arrival in Sin Ho at sunset. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at a local guesthouse.

Sin Ho – Lai Chau – O Quy Ho Pass / Photos - Muong Hum / Walks and Visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast.

Early in the morning, around 06:00, you leave for the great multi-ethnic festival held at Sin Ho Market (every Sunday morning), if it is Sunday, where you will meet the following ethnic groups: White Thai, Dzay (or Nhang), Lü, Red H’Mong, Red Yao, Man “with Boards” and Man “with Horns” (Man is another name for the Yao people). They come here to trade their agricultural products and handicrafts, especially indigo used to dye clothing. This spectacular gathering will captivate you until midday.

A walk and visit to a Dzao village (Ta Phin), followed by continuation of the journey towards Lai Chau and Muong Hum.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Lai Chau town after visiting Ban Hon Village of the Lü people.

In the afternoon, you cross O Quy Ho Pass, which rises to more than 2,000 meters above sea level (also known as Tram Ton – one of the four highest mountain passes in Vietnam).

Stop to visit Thac Bac Waterfall, then continue to Muong Hum Village along an inter-district road surrounded by beautiful terraced rice fields.

Arrival in Muong Hum in the late afternoon. Check in at a local homestay.

Dinner and overnight at a homestay in Muong Hum.

Muong Hum – Y Ty / visits – Lao Cai – Bac Ha / Visits & Walks (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the homestay.

Meet the team for walks through ethnic villages and a visit to Lao Chai Village of the Ha Nhi people, who live in their typical rammed-earth houses in Y Ty.

Then, drive to Lao Cai for lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit the border gate with China before heading up towards Bac Ha Pass to reach the district of the same name. Walk through Ban Pho Village to meet the H’Mong people.

Check in at a local homestay. Dinner and overnight at a homestay in Bac Ha.

Bac Ha / Ethnic Market (Sunday) – Sapa / Visits & Walks (B,L)

Breakfast at the homestay.

Meet early at around 07:00 to visit the ethnic market – the colorful multi-ethnic fair of Bac Ha (every Sunday morning), attended by ethnic groups including the Tay, Flower H’Mong, Blue H’Mong, Nung and Phu La.

Enjoy a cruise on the Chay River to Trung Do Village, where you will have lunch.

Continue the journey to Sapa. Walk around the town, followed by a walk through Cat Cat Village to meet the Black H’Mong people.

Dinner at your own expense and overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

Sapa / Trekking through Muong Hoa Valley: Lao Chai, Ta Van Villages – Giang Ta Chai Village (B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet the team at 08:00 and head towards Muong Hoa Valley, passing through Lao Chai Village (home to the Colorful H’Mong) and Ta Van Village (home to the Giay people). Stretching along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, the valley offers unique scenes for your camera: terraced rice fields resembling sculptural masterpieces carved into the land, simple house roofs perched on hilltops, and paths winding from one village to another... In this valley, you will enjoy a pleasant and surprising trek while encountering members of various ethnic groups such as the H’Mong, Giay and Dao.

Lunch at a local homestay in Ta Van Village.

Then, spend some time walking around the village and meeting local residents before continuing with an easy trek towards Giang Ta Chai Village, passing through bamboo forests and waterfalls in an area inhabited by the Red Dao people.

The driver will wait for you at the other end of Giang Ta Chai Village to transfer you back to Sapa.

Dinner at your own expense and overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

Sapa – Than Uyen – Mu Cang Chai / Walks through the Terraced Rice Fields (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet at 08:00. The road takes you towards Than Uyen and then Mu Cang Chai, once again crossing O Quy Ho Pass, with stops at ethnic villages along the way.

Lunch in Than Uyen. Continue towards Mu Cang Chai, followed by a walk through a Thai village.

Dinner and overnight at a local homestay in Mu Cang Chai.

Mu Cang Chai / Walks & Visits, Ethnic Encounters – Tu Le / Photos and Walks – Nghia Lo / Ethnic Encounters (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet at 08:00 and walk through areas featuring some of the most beautiful terraced rice fields. Visit La Pan Tan and Che Cu Nha villages before ascending Khau Pha Pass – one of the four highest mountain passes in Vietnam.

Stops along the way for visits and photographs at unforgettable locations throughout Northwestern Vietnam.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Tu Le.

Continue the journey to Nghia Lo, followed by a direct transfer to Muong Lo Village. Check in at a local homestay.

Dinner and overnight at a homestay in Nghia Lo.

Nghia Lo / Walks – Thac Ba Lake / Lake Excursion and Walks in Vu Linh Village (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the homestay.

Meet at 08:00 and drive towards Yen Bai, then continue towards Thac Ba Lake, with stops for visits and photographs along the way.

Lunch in Yen Bai, then continue to Thac Ba Village. Thac Ba is an artificial lake and one of the three largest in Vietnam, created following the commissioning of the hydroelectric power plant in 1970. Covering an area of approximately 23,400 hectares and stretching 80 km in length, the reservoir contains 1,300 islands and islets, resembling a miniature Ha Long Bay, as well as numerous caves.

Check in at a local homestay in Vu Linh Village, home to the White-Trouser Dao people. Walk around the village and meet local residents to discover their way of life.

Enjoy a friendly dinner with your host family.

Overnight at the homestay in a traditional stilt house of the White-Trouser Dao people.

Thac Ba / Excursion and Walks – Hanoi (B,L)

Breakfast at the homestay.

Meet at 08:00 and enjoy a cruise on Thac Ba Lake through the islands, passing small villages inhabited by Tay and Dao communities. More than 300 red-earth islands and islets emerge from the waters, some covered with carpets of grass and bushes and others with forests.

Lunch at the homestay, then say goodbye to your host family before continuing the journey back down to Hanoi.

Arrival in Hanoi after approximately 4 hours of driving. Direct transfer to your hotel in Hanoi.

Dinner at your own expense and overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi – Ha Long Bay / Cruise, Visits and Relaxation with One Night On Board the Junk (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet at 08:00 and depart by shuttle bus without a guide for Ha Long Bay.

Arrival at Hon Gai Pier. At around noon, board the junk.

Welcome cocktail on board and briefing.

13:00: Check in to your cabin.

13:30: A delicious lunch of fresh seafood and Vietnamese cuisine is served while the junk cruises towards the heart of Ha Long Bay.

15:00: Arrival at the kayaking area: Cap La Island. You may, of course, choose to go swimming and relax on the beach instead!

17:30: Return to the junk to enjoy the sunset party. The boat anchors for the night.

19:00: Impressive Vietnamese dinner.

20:30: Free time for games. Squid fishing is also available.

Overnight on board the shared 4-star junk (depending on the number of travelers / your request).

Note: During these two days in Ha Long Bay, the cruise may take place in Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay depending on the boats available at the time of your decision and choice.

Ha Long Bay / Cruise and Return to Hanoi – Departure (B,L)

06.30: Morning Tai Chi session on deck at sunrise (For those who wish...).

07.00: Breakfast on board.

08.00: After breakfast, the junk sails to Thien Canh Son cave, which you visit. Your guide explains the history of Halong Bay and this cave, created by Mother Nature.

09.30: Return to the junk. Then, it's time for you to refresh, pack your bags and vacate your cabin.

10.45: During the return trip to the pier, you enjoy a cooking demonstration before tasting a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

12.00: Disembarkation.

Return to Hanoi. Direct transfer to Hanoi airport for the departure flight.

NOTE: The cruise program in Halong Bay may vary depending on different junks.