Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive at Noi Bai International Airport where your guide meets you for the transfer to your hotel in the city center. After checking in and resting for a bit, the afternoon is yours to take a rickshaw tour through the Old Quarter's vibrant streets. The rest of the evening is free to do as you like.
Included Activities
- Rickshaw tour of Old Quarter
Landmarks Old Quarter - Day 2
Hanoi Cycling & Craft Villages
After hotel breakfast, you'll cycle out to craft villages on the outskirts of Hanoi, riding through small village paths and vegetable fields. You'll get to interact with local farmers and try farming activities like plowing and watering crops. A cooking session and lunch with a host family follows. Later, you'll continue cycling to see a rice wine producer and wood carving workshops in Son Dong village, finish at a pagoda, then drive back to the city center.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (Cooking session and lunch with host family with local foods)
Included Activities
- Full-day cycling trip around craft villages
- Farming activities with local farmers
- Cooking session and lunch with host family
- Visit to rice wine production village
- Visit to Son Dong wood carving village workshops
- Local pagoda visit
Landmarks Son Dong Wood Carving Village - Day 3
Cuc Phuong National Park
Your guide and driver pick you up at the hotel to start a 2-week journey through North Vietnam. You'll travel to Ninh Binh and head into Cuc Phuong, the country's oldest national park. The Endangered Primate Rescue Centre shows rare apes and monkeys while staff explain conservation work. Cycling through tropical forest lets you see the flora, fauna, and thousand-year-old trees. You'll spend the night in a lakeside bungalow inside the park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Endangered Primate Rescue Centre
- Cycling through national tropical forest
- Explore thousand-year-old trees
Landmarks Cuc Phuong National Park Endangered Primate Rescue Centre - Day 4
Trekking
After breakfast, you'll drive to Mai Chau, a valley between towering cliffs with emerald green rice paddies. There's a stop for photos of the valley views before lunch with local food in the village. In the afternoon, you trek through terraced rice fields to reach Pom Coong and Na Phon villages, where Thai minority people live. You'll meet residents and experience the local culture, then head back to your host family for a homemade dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local foods in the village), Dinner (Homemade dinner with local foods)
Included Activities
- Trekking tour to Pom Coong and Na Phon villages
- Experience with Thai minority people
- Homemade dinner with host family
Landmarks Mai Chau Valley 
- Day 5
Mai Chau to Dien Bien Phu
You start with breakfast from your host family, then head toward Dien Bien where battle history still lingers. Along the way, you stop at villages of H'mong, Thai, Muong, and Dzao tribes and pass through green tea hills at Moc Chau. Lunch happens in Son La. After that, you drive through mountain roads with a stop at Pha Din Pass, one of Northwest Vietnam's four most beautiful passes, for photos. You'll reach Dien Bien Phu by late afternoon and have the evening free.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Simple breakfast with host family), Lunch
Included Activities
- Stop at local villages of H'mong, Thai, Muong, and Dzao tribes
- Pass through Moc Chau green tea hills
- Photo stop at Pha Din Pass
Landmarks Pha Din Pass Moc Chau Green Tea Hills - Day 6
Phong Tho
This morning you'll visit the local Thai market to see vendors in traditional costumes selling farming products. Then you check out historical sites like Dien Bien Phu Museum, A1 hill, and the cemetery for a moment honoring fallen heroes. You'll also see General De Castries Bunker, Old Muong Thanh Bridge, and Nam Ron River. In the afternoon, you drive toward Lai Chau with stops at ethnic villages along the way, overnighting in Phong Tho.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to local Thai market
- Dien Bien Phu Museum
- Visit to A1 hill
- Dien Bien Phu Cemetery visit
- General De Castries Bunker visit
- Old Muong Thanh Bridge visit
- Nam Ron River visit
Landmarks Dien Bien Phu Museum A1 Hill Dien Bien Phu Cemetery General De Castries Bunker Old Muong Thanh Bridge Nam Ron River - Day 7
Lai Chau to Sapa
Breakfast comes first, then you leave Lai Chau and drive up to Tam Duong to see the morning market. From there, you head to Sapa on a bumpy but scenic route with views of valleys, rivers, and rows of mountains. Crossing Tram Ton Pass, Vietnam's highest pass, you'll see Fansipan peak. A stop at Silver Waterfall follows before arriving in Sapa town. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to morning markets in Tam Duong
- Drive over Tram Ton Pass
- View of Fansipan peak
- Visit to Silver Waterfall
Landmarks Tram Ton Pass Fansipan Peak Silver Waterfall 
- Day 8
Sau Chua Village Trek
Your morning is free to relax. Around 10:00 AM, your guide picks you up to start a trekking day. You'll tour the local market, Old Church, and dining shops in town. Then you trek through village paths to Sau Chua, home to H'mong minority people with nearly untouched scenery. From the mountain summit, the village offers panoramic views of the town below. You'll meet locals who share their daily lives, then drive back with the rest of the day free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to local market
- Old Church visit
- Trek to Sau Chua village (H'mong minority)
- Village exploration and local interaction
Landmarks Sau Chua Village Sapa Old Church - Day 9
Red Dzao & Hmong Villages Trek
You spend the full day trekking through local villages starting from Sapa. You trek through paths with beautiful scenery and waterfalls to reach Can Ho B village, home to Red Dzao people who welcome you warmly. You visit families, learn about their traditions and customs, and see how they make and dye traditional costumes. Next you trek for 4 hours to Ta Giang Phinh village where Hmong people live. You'll drive back to your hotel in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through stunning paths and waterfalls
- Visit to Can Ho B village (Red Dzao people)
- Local family visits
- Learn about traditional costume making and dyeing
- 4-hour trek at Ta Giang Phinh village (Hmong people)
Landmarks Can Ho B Village Ta Giang Phinh Village - Day 10
Sapa to Bac Ha to Hoang Su Phi
You leave Sapa for Bac Ha and then Hoang Su Phi, an untouched area of Ha Giang. Departing early, and if it's Sunday, you'll visit one of the most typical markets of the Northwest region at Bac Ha ethnic market. You wander around Bac Ha to visit villages of Flower H'mong people and see Hmong's King House. After lunch, you head toward Hoang Su Phi, trek through beautiful villages, and spend the night in a local homestay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Bac Ha hill tribe village of Flower H'mong people
- Visit to Hmong's King House
- Trek through villages in Hoang Su Phi
Optional Activities
- Bac Ha ethnic market visit (if Sunday)
Landmarks Bac Ha Ethnic Market Hmong's King House Hoang Su Phi - Day 11
Hoang Su Phi to Ha Giang
After breakfast, you stroll around town before transferring to Ha Giang. You'll enjoy sightseeing along the route. As you get closer to Ha Giang, you stop at a local village home to Tay ethnic minority for a short trek.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Short trek in Tay ethnic minority village
Landmarks Ha Giang 
- Day 12
Dong Van Karst Plateau
After breakfast, you head to Dong Van Karst Plateau to see Pac Sum Pass, Heaven Gate, and Fairy Mountain in Quan Ba. You stop in Yen Minh for lunch. From there, you go to Sung La Valley with endless green scenery, rows of mountains, and aged houses. You visit an old house surrounded by a buckwheat flower garden that was famous from the movie 'Pao's Story'. Then you see King H'mong's Palace, the Vuong family residence, Lung Cu Flag Tower, and a Lo Lo minority village before arriving in Dong Van for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Pac Sum Pass
- Visit to Heaven Gate
- Visit to Fairy Mountain in Quan Ba
- Explore Sung La Valley
- Visit old house with buckwheat flower garden
- King H'mong's Palace visit
- Lung Cu Flag Tower visit
- Lo Lo minority village visit
Landmarks Dong Van Karst Plateau Pac Sum Pass Heaven Gate Fairy Mountain Sung La Valley King H'mong's Palace Lung Cu Flag Tower 
- Day 13
Dong Van to Cao Bang
You have breakfast and leave Dong Van's old town, heading toward Cao Bang, a border town. You stop at Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the four most beautiful passes in Northwest Vietnam, for photos. You check out Meo Vac market and wander around town. Then you drive through mountains and cross rivers, arriving in Bao Lac village for lunch. You'll reach Cao Bang by late afternoon and have the rest of the day free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Photo stop at Ma Pi Leng Pass
- Visit to Meo Vac market
Landmarks Ma Pi Leng Pass Meo Vac Market Bao Lac - Day 14
Ban Gioc Waterfall & Ba Be
You depart for Ban Gioc Waterfall, located close to Vietnam's northern border with China. The route passes through beautiful terraced rice fields dotted with houses. You arrive around noon and spend time relaxing and taking photos of the waterfall. You visit nearby Nguom Ngao Cave and listen to legends about it from your guide. Driving to Ba Be in the late afternoon follows.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Ban Gioc Waterfall
- Visit to Nguom Ngao Cave
Landmarks Ban Gioc Waterfall Nguom Ngao Cave 
- Day 15
Boat Tour & Hiking
You wake up early for a simple breakfast with your host family, then head out for an exciting day in Ba Be National Park. You board a private boat on Ba Be Lake to visit Puong Cave, known for thousands of bats. You sail down the Nang River to see Dau Dang Waterfall. Lunch happens at a nearby village restaurant on the river bank. In the afternoon, you visit An Ma Temple and travel through the forest to your homestay, enjoying wild scenery along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Simple breakfast with host family), Lunch (Lunch at village restaurant on river bank), Dinner
Included Activities
- Private boat tour on Ba Be Lake
- Visit to Puong Cave
- Sail down Nang River to Dau Dang Waterfall
- Lunch at village restaurant on river bank
- Visit to An Ma Temple
- Forest trek to homestay
Optional Activities
- Kayaking option available with applicable surcharge
Landmarks Ba Be Lake Puong Cave Dau Dang Waterfall An Ma Temple - Day 16
Ba Be to Hanoi
After breakfast, you pack up and head back to Hanoi. You'll enjoy sightseeing and lunch along the route. Once you check in to your hotel in Hanoi, the rest of the day is yours for your own exploration.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Day 17
Junk Cruise
After hotel breakfast, you travel 3-4 hours to Halong Bay, a natural world wonder. You'll spend 2 nights onboard an elegant junk, cruising emerald waters to far and lesser-known areas. Arriving at the dock around noon, you board the cruise and enjoy lunch while sailing to secluded island-dotted bays. You'll visit caves and explore on a bamboo boat past floating villages and Luon Cave. You return to the junk for dinner with the evening free.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Delicious lunch on junk), Dinner (Dinner on junk)
Included Activities
- Junk cruise to Halong Bay
- Visit to caves
- Bamboo boat exploration
- Floating village visit
Landmarks Halong Bay Luon Cave - Day 18
Halong Bay Junk Cruise
You wake early to catch the most beautiful sunrise moments of the bay. A Tai Chi lesson with other passengers follows. Light breakfast with pastries and coffee is served while the cruise continues sailing through the islands. Depending on the cruise itinerary, you visit a floating village, explore caves, and kayak on Halong Bay's emerald waters. You return to the cruise for dinner on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast with pastries and coffee), Lunch, Dinner (Dinner on board junk)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing
- Tai Chi lesson
- Visit to floating village
- Cave exploration
- Kayaking on Halong Bay
Landmarks Halong Bay - Day 19
Halong Bay to Hanoi
You do a Tai Chi session onboard while your junk navigates through rock formations of Bai Tu Long and heads back to Halong. Brunch with fresh seafood is served. You bid farewell to the crew and transfer by car back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Brunch (Brunch with fresh seafood)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi session
Landmarks Bai Tu Long - Day 20
Hanoi Departure
You have breakfast at your hotel on your last day in Hanoi. Wander around the city for last-minute shopping or sightseeing before your transfer to Hanoi Airport for your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Last-minute shopping in Hanoi
- Last-minute sightseeing in Hanoi
