Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your Hanoi hotel. After check-in, you'll have the rest of the day to rest and recover from your flight.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (Noi Bai International Airport Pick Up )
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar)
- Day 2
Hanoi - Ba Vi
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll head to the countryside with an English-speaking guide. At Mr. Duoc's house, you'll have fresh tea and hear local stories, then join residents processing green tea. A local host teaches you Vietnamese cooking before lunch, and afterward you'll cycle through villages and meet craftspeople. The day ends with a traditional foot bath and a boat trip on the Da River.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Home-cooked lunch in lovely garden)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Join locals in green tea processing at tea plantation
- Vietnamese cooking demonstration with local host
- Home-cooked lunch in garden
- Cycling trip along country roads
- Visit local craftspeople and workshops
- Foot bathing following Muong ethnic group recipes
- Private boat trip on Da River
Landmarks Ba Vi Da River - Day 3
Hanoi to Mai Hich
You leave Hanoi at 8 am heading toward Mai Chau's peaceful valley. The drive takes around 2 hours through limestone peaks and green fields. When you arrive, you'll meet your homestay hosts. In the afternoon, you can walk or cycle around nearby villages and help local farmers plant rice seeds if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local hospitality with opportunity to join host in cooking dinner or sample local wine produced in region)
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Mai Hich Homestay)
Included Activities
- Enjoy tranquility of paddy fields and interact with local people
- Walking or cycling to discover surrounding villages
- Optional participation in helping local farmers plant rice seeds
Landmarks Mai Hich 
- Day 4
Mai Hich to Pu Luong and return
From Mai Chau, you'll travel to the Pu Luong Nature Reserve where white Thai and Muong ethnic groups live. You can walk through the park to see the local wildlife and plants. After settling into your lodge, the afternoon is free for you to explore. Later, you'll ride through rural countryside with green fields, limestone mountains, and quiet waterways.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Mai Hich Homestay)
Included Activities
- Explore Pu Luong Nature Reserve
- Admire fauna and flora including birds and exotic plants
- Ride through small towns and observe rural life
Landmarks Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Day 5
Mai Chau to Nghia Lo
You'll travel toward Nghia Lo with stops at ethnic villages along the way. You'll see Hmong and Thai communities and pass through tea plantations. Depending on timing, you might see peach and plum tree blossoms in late January to early February. You'll reach the town of Nghia Lo, capital of the Thai ethnic group, by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Muong Lo Homestay)
Included Activities
- Meet Hmong and Thai people in ethnic villages
- View tea plantation fields
Landmarks Muong Lo Valley Nghia Lo - Day 6
Nghia Lo to Mu Cang Chai
After breakfast with local hosts, you'll travel by air-conditioned vehicle along the Hoang Lien Son mountains. You'll trek from Tu Le across rice terraces and suspension bridges to reach Thai and Hmong villages. After lunch at Tu Le, you'll continue to Khau Pha pass, known for its rice terrace views and excellent photo opportunities. You'll arrive in Mu Cang Chai in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with locals)
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Mu Cang Chai Homestay)
Included Activities
- Trekking from Tu Le
- Cross rice terraces and suspension bridges
- Visit Thai and Hmong villages
- Stop at Khau Pha pass for views and photography
Landmarks Tu Le Khau Pha Pass Mu Cang Chai Hoang Lien Son Range - Day 7
Mu Cang Chai to Sapa
You'll leave Mu Cang Chai and head toward Sapa through Than Uyen. Along the way, you'll stop at a mountain pass to see Mount Fansipan, which stands at 3,143 meters. After arriving in Sapa, you'll have time to rest. In the afternoon, you'll hike through Hoang Lien Son valley, passing rice terraces and villages where you'll meet black Hmong and Red Dao people.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sapa Panorama Hotel or similar), Hotel (Amazing Sapa or similar)
Included Activities
- Stop at mountain pass with views of Mount Fansipan
- Hiking in Hoang Lien Son valley
- Pass through rice terraces and local villages
- Meet black Hmong and Red Dao people
Landmarks Mount Fansipan Than Uyen Hoang Lien Son Valley 
- Day 8
Sapa to Bac Ha
After breakfast at your homestay, you'll trek 18 kilometers to Giang Ta Phin village, home to Red Dzao and black Hmong communities. The route goes through terraced farmland and bamboo scrub with views of emerald valleys and waterfalls. You'll have a picnic lunch along the way, then travel by private car to Bac Ha.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at homestay), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Home-stay (Bac Ha Homestay)
Included Activities
- Trek to Giang Ta Phin village
- 18 kilometers trek through terraced farmland and bamboo scrub
- View emerald valleys and rushing waterfalls
- Picnic lunch along the way
Landmarks Giang Ta Phin Village 
- Day 9
Bac Ha to Hanoi
Following breakfast at your homestay, you'll visit the Bac Ha fairground market to see locally dyed fabrics, hemp plants, and handmade textiles. Depending on when you visit, you can experience different ethnic markets such as Coc Ly (Tuesday), Sin Cheng (Wednesday), Cao Son or Lun Khau Nhin (Thursday), Can Cau (Saturday), or Bac Ha (Sunday). Then you'll travel back to Hanoi by private car.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at homestay)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Bac Ha fairground market
Optional Activities
- Visit ethnic markets based on day: Coc Ly market (Tuesday), Sin Cheng market (Wednesday), Cao Son market or Lun Khau Nhin market (Thursday), Can Cau market (Saturday), Bac Ha market (Sunday)
Landmarks Bac Ha Market Coc Ly Market Sin Cheng Market Cao Son Market Lun Khau Nhin Market Can Cau Market - Day 10
Hanoi to Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu - Tam Coc
After breakfast, your English-speaking guide picks you up and drives 80 km south to Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient 10th century capital. Your guide explains the history of the Le and Dinh Dynasties. You'll have a traditional Vietnamese lunch, then board a private sampan to Tam Coc, called the inland Halong Bay. You'll paddle past karst formations and through limestone caves, then cycle around 5 km through rice fields and villages before returning to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese traditional lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Learn history of Le and Dinh Dynasties at Hoa Lu
- Vietnamese traditional lunch
- Private sampan boat trip to Tam Coc
- View karst formations and limestone caves
- Cycling tour through rice fields and villages
Landmarks Hoa Lu Tam Coc 
- Day 11
Hanoi to Halong Bay
You'll have breakfast at your hotel and meet your cruise at 7:30 am. The route crosses the Red River Delta with its green rice paddies. After arriving at Halong Bay, you'll board your cruise to explore limestone rocks and karst grottoes. You'll enjoy a seafood lunch, visit a famous limestone cave with options for kayaking or swimming in floating villages, then return to the boat for dinner and evening relaxation or onboard activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Seafood lunch), Dinner (Early dinner)
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Le Journey Cruise or similar), Berth / Cabin (La Pandora Cruise or similar)
Included Activities
- Cruise on Halong Bay to explore limestone rocks and karst grottoes
- Visit famous limestone cave
- Kayaking or swimming
- Seafood lunch
Optional Activities
- Onboard activities
Landmarks Halong Bay 
- Day 12
Halong Bay to Hanoi
You can take an optional Tai Chi lesson early or have a hearty breakfast. The boat heads back to port with a stop at a limestone cave featuring stalagmites and stalactites. You'll arrive back in Hanoi around 5 pm. After checking out of your hotel, you can visit local markets to pick up souvenirs.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast), Brunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi lesson (optional)
- Visit limestone cave with stalagmites and stalactites
Optional Activities
- Visit local markets for souvenirs
Landmarks Limestone Cave - Day 13
Hanoi Departure
On your final day, you'll have a healthy breakfast and relaxing time before a professional driver takes you to Noi Bai International Airport for your flight home.
- End point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (Noi Bai International Airport Drop off)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Healthy breakfast)
Landmarks Noi Bai International Airport
