Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and your private driver will be waiting at the airport to take you to your hotel in the Old Quarter area. The rest of the day is yours to either explore on your own or take it easy after your flight.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (Noi Bai International Airport Pick Up )
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter at your own pace
Landmarks Hanoi Old Quarter 
- Day 2
Hanoi
This full-day group tour takes you through traditional Vietnamese villages and crafts. You'll start at Ha Thai village learning lacquerware production and making your own piece, then head to Chuong village for conical hat making. After homemade lunch with a local artisan and trying your hand at hat making, you'll finish at Quang Phu Cau incense village. By late afternoon you're back in Hanoi with an option to stop at Train Street.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Home-cooked lunch prepared by a local female artisan)
Included Activities
- Visit Ha Thai village and learn lacquerware production from local artisan
- Create your own lacquer painting as a souvenir
- Visit Chuong village and observe conical hat making
- Meet local artisan or war veteran to hear personal stories
- Experience hat painting or hat-making process
- Visit Quang Phu Cau incense village and observe family-scale incense production
- Tour the village's largest incense factory
Optional Activities
- Be dropped off at famous Train Street instead of hotel
Landmarks Ha Thai village Chuong village Quang Phu Cau incense village Train Street - Day 3
Hanoi to Bac Ha - Ta Van Chu
Your private car heads from Hanoi toward the Sapa region on a scenic 5-hour drive through winding mountain roads. Once you reach Bac Ha village, you'll trek about 10 km to your homestay in Ta Van Chu surrounded by farmland. The rest of your day is for settling in and relaxing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Ta Van Chu homestay (approximately 10 km)
Landmarks Bac Ha village 
- Day 4
Bac Ha
After breakfast at your homestay, you'll visit Bac Ha fairground market to check out locally dyed fabrics, hemp plants, and handmade textiles. Depending on what day it is, you might see ethnic markets in the region. Then comes a 5 to 6 hour trek through terraced farmland and bamboo scrub to a hill tribe village, with a picnic lunch along the way overlooking emerald valleys and rice terraces.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch on the way during trek), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Bac Ha fairground market
- Trek to hill tribe village (approximately 5 to 6 hours)
Optional Activities
- Witness ethnic markets depending on day of week (Coc Ly on Tuesday, Sin Cheng on Wednesday, Cao Son or Lun Khau Nhin on Thursday, Can Cau on Saturday, Bac Ha on Sunday)
Landmarks Bac Ha fairground market Coc Ly market Sin Cheng market Cao Son market Lun Khau Nhin market Can Cau market - Day 5
Bac Ha to Ha Giang
A long morning drive takes you to Ha Giang province, Vietnam's highland frontier with forests, terraced paddies, and the dramatic Heaven's Gate mountain pass. Once there you'll relax and get familiar with the area, then explore local markets and shops. You can visit the local museum and check out Cuom Village to see the colorful traditional dress of the local people. Your evening is free to do what you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit local museum
- Explore Cuom Village
Optional Activities
- Browse local markets and shops
Landmarks Cuom Village Heaven's Gate (Quan Ba pass) 
- Day 6
Ha Giang to Dong Van
You'll spend the day driving through scenic Ha Giang mountain roads. Stop to browse Minh Tao Market, wander through Nam Luong village, and pass through Lung Tam textile village. Then visit the Vuong Family Palace in Sa Phin commune, an impressive royal Manchu-style structure that was once home to the Hmongs' King. You'll end up in Dong Van for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Browse Minh Tao Market
- Wander through Nam Luong village
- Visit Lung Tam textile village
- Visit Vuong Family Palace in Sa Phin commune
Landmarks Minh Tao Market Nam Luong village Lung Tam textile village Vuong Family Palace - Day 7
Dong Van to Bao Lac
Drive Vietnam's most dramatic road, winding 15 km to the Ma Pi Leng Pass with its desert peaks and canyons. From there you'll descend to Meo Vac for lunch and visit the local market. Then comes a moderate 4-hour trekking loop through spectacular landscape with great views of lush valleys and rice paddies. After trekking past terraced rice farms, you'll head to Bao Lac, a small mountain town home to the Black Lo Lo ethnic group known for colorful attire and bronze drum making.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cross Ma Pi Leng Pass
- Visit Meo Vac market
- Moderate trekking loop (approximately 4 hours total)
Landmarks Ma Pi Leng Pass Meo Vac Meo Vac market Bao Lac - Day 8
Bao Lac to Ba Be Lake
A 4-hour trip takes you to Ba Be Lake where you'll board a boat to explore Ba Be National Park and Vietnam's largest natural lake. You'll disembark for light walks and see waterfalls feeding the lake while observing local flora and fauna. In the afternoon you'll head to a family guesthouse in Pac Ngoi village. Your hosts will prepare lunch for you, and you'll have free time to explore. Dinner with your hosts lets you learn about their lives and culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch prepared by family-owned guesthouse), Dinner (Dinner with hosts)
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Ba Be Lake and Ba Be National Park
- Visit waterfalls that feed the lake
- Light walks along the way
Landmarks Ba Be Lake Ba Be National Park Pac Ngoi village - Day 9
Ba Be to Hanoi
After breakfast, you'll take another boat trip on the lake and Nang river out to Dau Dang waterfalls. You'll stroll around to see the waterfall up close, then board the boat again to head up river and cross the lake from north to south. Back at your homestay, you'll get ready for your transfer back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to explore Ba Be Lake and Nang river
- Visit Dau Dang waterfalls
- Cross the lake from north to south
Landmarks Dau Dang waterfalls Nang river - Day 10
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
A group tour picks you up around 7:30 to 8:00 AM for a day exploring ancient Vietnamese culture in Ninh Binh Province. You'll visit Hoa Lu ancient capital to see King Dinh and King Le temples, built by Vietnam's first emperors. After Vietnamese lunch at Tam Coc wharf, you'll board a rowing boat through limestone caves. The day ends with a cycling trip through rice fields around the village before heading back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese food at Tam Coc wharf)
Included Activities
- Explore Hoa Lu ancient capital
- Visit King Dinh temple
- Visit King Le temple
- Row boat cruise along river through limestone caves
- Cycling trip around village through rice fields
Landmarks Hoa Lu ancient capital King Dinh temple King Le temple Tam Coc wharf Ninh Binh Province 
- Day 11
Hanoi to Halong Bay
You'll check out and get picked up for the scenic drive to Halong Bay, crossing the Red River Delta with emerald rice paddies. At the pier, you'll board the cruise and take in views of limestone rocks and karst formations. After seafood lunch and time on the sundeck, the cruise stops at a secret spot where you can kayak or swim near the grottos. You'll return for early dinner and have leisure time with optional onboard activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Seafood lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Halong Bay limestone rocks and karst grottoes
- Kayaking or swimming in secret location
Optional Activities
- Optional onboard activities in the evening
Landmarks Halong Bay 
- Day 12
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Rise early to catch the sunrise with breakfast in the dining room. You'll join a Tai Chi class on the sun deck, then head off to explore limestone caves full of stalagmites and stalactites. Back on the boat, you'll check out and enjoy brunch while sailing back to harbor. Later you'll transfer to your Hanoi accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Brunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing at Halong Bay
- Tai Chi class on sun deck
- Visit limestone cave with stalagmites and stalactites
Landmarks Halong Bay - Day 13
Hanoi
You'll have a healthy breakfast on your final morning, then complete your hotel checkout. There's time to visit local markets for souvenirs before your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight home.
- End point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (Noi Bai International Airport Drop off)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit local markets to buy souvenirs
