Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
After landing at Hanoi airport, you'll be picked up and driven to your hotel. The city has a fascinating mix of French colonial and Chinese architecture layered over centuries of history. The rest of your day is open, so you can rest, walk around the neighborhood, or grab dinner whenever you're ready.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Terminal 2, Sân Bay Quốc Tế Nội Bài, Huyện Sóc Sơn, Hanoi 140800, Vietnam (Noi Bai international airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast)
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi city on your own
Landmarks Hanoi 
- Day 2
Hanoi
Your guided tour starts at 8:00am and covers several important sites. You'll head to Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island in West Lake, then move through the Ho Chi Minh complex to see his mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda. Next comes the Vietnam Ethnology Museum (or Women's Museum depending on what's open that day), followed by the Temple of Literature, which was Vietnam's first university. After grabbing lunch at a local spot, you'll check out Hoa Lo Prison Museum before heading back to the hotel. That evening at 19:30 you board a sleeping bus heading to Ha Giang, arriving between 3:00am and 4:00am.
- Meals
- Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Hanoi
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh complex with mausoleum viewing
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum or Women's Museum
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison Museum
- Lunch at local restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine
Landmarks Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam Ethnology Museum Women's Museum Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison Museum 
- Day 3
Ha Giang
Following breakfast, you drive north on a route locals call the Road of Happiness, leaving Ha Giang City behind. The journey takes you up and over Quan Ba mountain pass into Dong Van Geopark, where you'll pass Heaven's Gate and see Fairy Hills. Lunch happens in the Tam Son area, then you continue deeper into the mountains to reach Du Gia village. You'll spend the night staying with an ethnic minority family at their homestay, eating dinner and breakfast together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Tam Son area), Dinner (Dinner with ethnic minority family at homestay)
Included Activities
- Drive on 'Road of Happiness'
- Climb Quan Ba mountain pass
- Visit Dong Van Geopark
- Visit Heaven's Gate
- Pass Fairy Hills
- Visit Du Gia village
- Stay with ethnic minority family at homestay
Landmarks Quan Ba Mountain Pass Dong Van Geopark Heaven's Gate Fairy Hills Du Gia Village - Day 4
Ha Giang to Dong Van
After saying goodbye to your homestay family, you travel north through some serious mountain terrain with multiple high passes. Meo Vac is your lunch stop, then you tackle the Ma Pi Leng mountain pass and arrive in Dong Van, Vietnam's northernmost town. Depending on weather and season, you might continue to Lung Cu, the country's far northern point, and climb up to the Lung Cu Flag Tower for the views. You'll sleep in Dong Van at either a hotel or homestay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Meo Vac), Dinner (Dinner - possibly hot pot)
Included Activities
- Drive through mountain passes
- Pass through Meo Vac
- Climb Ma Pi Leng mountain pass
- Reach Dong Van
Optional Activities
- Visit Lung Cu Flag Tower and climb for panoramic views (weather and season dependent)
Landmarks Meo Vac Ma Pi Leng Mountain Pass Dong Van Lung Cu Flag Tower 
- Day 5
Dong Van to Hanoi
After breakfast you head back south, stopping first at Sa Phin to see the 100-year-old palace built by Vuong Chinh Duc, the H'mong king. From there you drive through the Highland of Stone and stop for lunch in Yen Minh. The route continues through mountain passes lined with pine forests and rice terraces carved into hillsides. You descend into the Song La river valley, cross back over Quan Ba mountain pass, and return to Ha Giang City. At 16:00 you board a bus back to Hanoi, pulling in around 22:00 to 22:30. You'll stay overnight in Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Yen Minh)
Included Activities
- Visit Sa Phin
- Visit 100-year-old palace of Vuong Chinh Duc
- Drive through Highland of Stone
- Drive through mountain passes with pine forest and rice terraces
- Return to Ha Giang City
Landmarks Sa Phin Vuong Chinh Duc Palace Highland of Stone Yen Minh Song La River 
- Day 6
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Meeting at Tuan Chau harbour at 12:00, you check in to the Royal Palace Cruise and have lunch while sailing through Halong Bay's limestone islands. You'll spend time relaxing and taking photos of the water and scenery. Titop Island comes next with a hike to the summit for views across the bay. By 16:30 you're kayaking and swimming. Later there's a sunset gathering on the sundeck with fruit and local music, then a cooking class followed by dinner prepared by the chef. Your evening can include karaoke, more time on the sundeck, or trying your hand at squid fishing.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on cruise while cruising through beautiful parts of Halong Bay), Dinner (Special dinner cooked by professional chef)
Included Activities
- Check-in Royal Palace Cruise
- Cruising through Halong Bay
- Visit Titop Island
- Hike to top of Titop Island
- Kayaking in Halong Bay
- Swimming in Halong Bay
- Sunset party on sundeck
- Cooking class on cruise
- Special dinner on cruise
Optional Activities
- Squid fishing during night time
- Karaoke
- Sunset party activities
- Tai Chi with master (Day 7 morning)
Landmarks Halong Bay Titop Island 
- Day 7
Halong Bay to Hanoi
You're up early at 6:00am for sunrise photos and optional Tai Chi with a local instructor. Breakfast comes at 7:00am, then at 7:45am you visit Surprising Cave, which is known as Halong Bay's best cave. Back on the cruise by 9:00am to check out, and you continue cruising past hundreds of islands. Lunch is served before arriving back at Tuan Chau Harbour around 12:00pm. A bus takes you to Hanoi, getting you there by 15:30. Your driver then picks you up from the hotel for the transfer to the airport for your next flight.
- End point
- Sân bay quốc tế Nội Bài, Sóc Sơn, Huyện Sóc Sơn, Hanoi 140800, Vietnam (Noi Bai international airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on cruise with coffee, tea, fruits), Lunch (Farewell lunch on cruise)
Included Activities
- Sunrise photography
- Breakfast on cruise
- Visit Surprising Cave
- Checkout from Royal Palace Cruise
- Cruising through Halong Bay islands
- Farewell lunch on cruise
Optional Activities
- Morning exercise with Tai Chi master
Landmarks Surprising Cave
