Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
Your private driver meets you at Hanoi airport and takes you to your hotel in the city center. After settling in, the Old Quarter is right there if you want to explore, or you can rest up from your flight and head out later this evening.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter at your own pace
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 2
Hanoi
Hop on a Vespa tour through Hanoi's historic neighborhoods. You'll check out the French Quarter and see the Hanoi Opera House, then cross the Long Bien Bridge and head to a hidden island village. The route takes you past farms and the Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake, plus you'll stop at the John McCain Monument and the B-52 crash site at Huu Tiep Lake. Try the famous Vietnamese egg coffee in the afternoon before dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit French Quarter and Hanoi Opera House
- Cross Long Bien Bridge
- Visit hidden gem island village and meet local families
- Visit Kumquat farm
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake
- Visit Monument of John McCain
- Visit B-52 Crash site at Huu Tiep Lake
- View Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area overview
- Enjoy Vietnamese egg coffee
- Vietnamese cuisine lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Opera House Long Bien Bridge Tran Quoc Pagoda West Lake Monument of John McCain Huu Tiep Lake Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - Day 3
Hanoi to Mai Chau
After breakfast at your hotel, it's a 4-hour drive by private car to Mai Chau. Once you check in, you have the rest of the day free to walk around the valley at your own pace and get a feel for the local minority culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Mai Chau valley
- Experience local minority culture
Optional Activities
- Walk around Mai Chau village
Landmarks/POIs Mai Chau Valley - Day 4
Mai Chau
This morning you'll paddle out on the Da River (the Black River) surrounded by limestone islets. Stop by a fishing village to chat with locals about how they work the water, then explore the fairy pond area. Lunch features local meals, and you're back at your hotel by afternoon.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local meals)
Included Activities
- Kayak on Da River (Black River)
- Visit fishing village and meet local fishermen
- Paddle through limestone islets and fairy pond
- Lunch with local meals
Landmarks/POIs Da River (Black River) - Day 5
Mai Chau to Hanoi
Have breakfast and spend the morning at leisure. Your driver picks you up from the lobby in the afternoon for the drive back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Leisure time in Mai Chau
- Day 6
Hanoi to Sapa
Around 6:00 am, you'll board a bus heading to Sapa. After you arrive and check in, lunch happens at your hotel. Then you trek about 3.5 km down to Cat Cat village where Black Hmong people live. You'll see how locals go about their day, hike to a waterfall, and check out an old French-era power station before heading back for dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Cat Cat village
- Visit Black Hmong community
- Trek to waterfall and French colonial hydraulic power station
- Lunch
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Cat Cat Village Fansipan Peak - Day 7
Sapa to Hanoi
Breakfast at 9:30 am, then a full day of trekking. You'll walk 6 km down to Y Linh Ho village, continue another 2 km through rice fields to Lao Chai, then reach Ta Van village where the Dzay people live. Lunch is with a local family who'll tell you about their homes and life. After a 2 km trek to the bus stop, you head back to Sapa by jeep. Later, around 14:30, transfer by bus back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with local family)
Included Activities
- Trek to Y Linh Ho village
- Trek through Lao Chai village
- Trek to Ta Van village
- Lunch with local family
- Trek to bus stop
Landmarks/POIs Y Linh Ho Village Lao Chai Village Ta Van Village Muong Hoa Valley - Day 8
Hanoi to Phong Nha
Your driver takes you to Hanoi airport for a flight to Dong Hoi. Once you land, you'll be picked up and driven to your accommodation in Phong Nha. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and relax.
- Day 9
Tu Lan Cave Trek (Day 1)
After breakfast and checkout, your guide picks you up between 7:30-8:00 am for the 70 km drive to Tan Hoa Village and Oxalis office. After a briefing and safety gear, you hike 2.5 km to Rao Nan River, cross it, climb a small rocky hill, then reach Hung Ton Valley for lunch at the cave entrance. The trek continues with steeper hills to Tu Lan Valley campsite by a waterfall. Spend the afternoon swimming and exploring Ken Cave before dinner at the campsite.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through corn and peanut fields to Rao Nan River
- Cross Rao Nan River and climb rocky hill
- Lunch at Hung Ton Cave entrance
- Trek to Tu Lan Valley campsite
- Swim in waterfall area
- Explore Ken Cave
- Dinner at campsite
Landmarks/POIs Rao Nan River Hung Ton Valley Hung Ton Cave Tu Lan Valley Ken Cave - Day 10
Phong Nha
Trek and swim through two cave systems, Hang Tu Lan and Hang Kim, to reach To Mo Valley. Lunch is at To Mo campsite, then you swim into Hung Ton Cave and climb a 10m ladder with safety gear. Hike back with valley views perfect for photos. By 18:00, you're back at the Oxalis office where you'll shower and rest before returning to Phong Nha.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at To Mo campsite)
Included Activities
- Trek and explore Hang Tu Lan cave
- Trek and explore Hang Kim cave
- Reach To Mo Valley
- Lunch at To Mo campsite
- Swim into Hung Ton Cave
- Climb 10m ladder with safety harnesses
- Hike to cave entrance
- Return trek via Hung Ton Valley and Rao Nan River
Landmarks/POIs Hang Tu Lan Hang Kim To Mo Valley Hung Ton Cave - Day 11
Phong Nha to Ho Chi Minh
Early morning at your homestay with time to explore Tan Hoa village and watch sunrise over the fields by bike, or have breakfast at Tu Lan Lodge. Checkout is by noon. If you want more action, there's an optional 2-hour ATV tour through Lim forest, or you can visit Phong Nha Cave, Paradise Cave, or other nearby spots. Later, you'll fly from Dong Hoi to Ho Chi Minh City and check into your hotel.
Included Activities
- Explore Tan Hoa village
- Sunrise viewing over paddy fields by bike
Optional Activities
- ATV off-road tour through Lim forest and Kong's home (2 hours)
- Visit Phong Nha Cave
- Visit Paradise Cave
- Visit Blue Diamond Camp
- Visit Mooc Spring
- Visit Chay River-Dark Cave
Landmarks/POIs Tan Hoa Village Phong Nha Cave Paradise Cave Mooc Spring Chay River-Dark Cave - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh
After breakfast, you'll tour Ho Chi Minh City by Jeep. Visit Independence Palace (the symbolic end of the Vietnam War), then the War Remnants Museum with weapons and documentation. See Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Old Post Office. Drive past famous streets like Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue, explore Ben Thanh Market, check out Bui Vien Street, then return to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Jeep tour of Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit Independence Palace/Reunification Palace
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- View Notre Dame Cathedral
- View Old Post Office
- Drive along Dong Khoi Street
- Drive along Nguyen Hue Street
- Visit Ben Thanh Market
- Visit Bui Vien Street
Landmarks/POIs Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) War Remnants Museum Notre Dame Cathedral Old Post Office Dong Khoi Street Nguyen Hue Street Ben Thanh Market Bui Vien Street - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh
On your last morning, have a healthy breakfast and handle your hotel checkout. Stop by local markets for souvenirs before your driver takes you to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit local markets for souvenirs
