An insider journey from North to Center Vietnam
This trip brings you to the famed and iconic spots. However, we promise an individual and memorable experience by adding healthy servings of creativity and panache. So to offer you the best possible service we find the trails and hidden gems that others overlook in their haste. When you visit the ‘must do’ spots with DCT Responsible Travel, you’ll do more than just see them, we’ll give you a deeper understanding of these beautiful places. We’ll take you to the spots you expect to see while taking you far.
Highlight
- Exploring the bustling Hanoi at your rhythm.
- Colorful and vibrant ethnic market and unique experience with Lien villagers at spring tea harvesting in Bac Ha
- Unspoiled and breathtaking scenery within 2 days trekking in Sapa
- Loads of fun activities: cycling, sampan riding in Ninh Binh
- A unique cruise in natural grandeur of the World Heritage Halong archipelago
- Seeing the very best of the world’s nature and culture heritages in Hue and Hoi An
- Vivid ethnic cultures. Big smiles. Unforgettable memories
| Destination |
Sapa – Lao Cai, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An |
| Included |
- Accommodation during the whole trip as listed hotels below
- Bac Ha: Homestay in Lien village
- Sapa: Chapa famstay and homestay in Ta Phin village
- Hanoi: Hong Ngoc Dynasty
- Ninh Binh: Little Tam Coc
- Halong bay: Renea cruise
- Hue: Alba Spa Hue
- Hoi An: Ancient House Hoi An
- Meals as specified in the program
- Travel in an appropriate air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
- The service of French speaking tour guide
- All activities mentioned (trekking, kayaking, cycling, visits…)
- All entrance fees
|
| Excluded |
- Any international and domestic flight tickets and airport tax.
- Visa application service and visa stamp fee
- Beverages, gratuities and personal expenses.
- Individual insurance
- Camera fee (if any)
- VAT and other taxes
|
|
|
What to bring
- Sun & rain gear (including sunscreen and brimmed hat)
- Warm clothes in winter (mid-November to early March)
- Insect repellent
- Walking shoes/sandals
- Cycling shoes/sandals
- Swimsuits
- Toiletries, towel, and flashlight
- Original passport
Price
Price per person and based on private group
| Service |
Group of 3 people |
Group of 4 people |
Single supplement |
| Tour package |
VND 30,000,000 |
VND 26,530,000 |
VND 7,649,000 |
| Flight ticket |
| Hanoi – Hue air ticket |
VND 1,185,000 |
| Danang – Hanoi air ticket |
VND 969,000 |
| Surcharge for |
| Upgrading to La Siesta Classic in Hanoi x 2 nights |
VND 2,586,250 |
| Upgrading to Emeralda Ninh Binh resort in Ninh Binh |
VND 628,125 |
| Upgrading to Pilgrimage Village Resort in Hue x 2 nights |
VND 2,068,750 |
*Single supplement is an additional sum of money that a hotel charges for one person to stay in a room meant for two people.
Discount for larger group is available; please contact our travel consultants at
lam@dcttravel.vn or send us inquiry through the contact form
Details
Pick up from the airport and transfer to your hotel. Time for your breakfast and refreshment. having a free morning to recover after a long flight or starting your discovery journey right after checking in at the hotel.
Afternoon, at around 15h our guide will pick you up from your hotel then transfer you to Hanoi Old Quarter. From here, we start by a gentle walk across the old quarter to its biggest covered market. The walk will take you through a maze of small streets of this 1000 year old city. Then, we take the time to walk around the bustling market, where anything and everything can be bought.
You will meet the host of your cooking class in the market. She will introduce you about Vietnamese cuisine and help you to choose fresh ingredients for the cooking class. Transfer to a private house where you will get busy in the kitchen learning to cook a typical Hanoian meal. Once you’ve prepared your dinner, you can sit down and eat dishes that you’ve cooked while having a discussion with your host about Hanoi cuisine and lifestyle.
At 20h30, we depart to Hanoi Railway Station to catch the night train to Lao Cai, you will arrive at Lao cai at 6 AM (Livitrans private 4-berth sleeper cabin with air conditioning). Night on the train.
Hanoi Old Quarters, the name of the historical civic urban core of Hanoi, came to be during the Lý and Trần dynasties and was then located east of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long and along the Red River. This quarter used to be the residential, manufacturing and commercial center, where each street was specialized in one specific type of manufacturing or commerce. It’s also called by the 36 streets after the 36 streets or guilds that used to make up the urban area of the city. While visiting Hanoi Old Quarters, you will see both modern and ancient Hanoi as well as commercial and cultural aspects of this 1000 years old city.
About Tam cuisine, a cooking class center which was founded in 2017 by a group of Hanoian women with the aim of promoting and maintaining traditional Hanoi foods and highlighting Hanoi as well as Vietnamese culinary culture.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: Homestay at a traditional house-on-stilts in Lien village
Around 6:00 AM – Our driver will pick up from Lao Cai station, time for your breakfast and refreshment. After breakfast, transfer to Bac Ha, 72 km / 1.5 hours from Lao Cai.
Although it’s quite a long drive, the landscape is attractive and the ethnic markets are a fascinating experience. Unlike those in the tourist areas, this weekly market is not only for buying and selling, but are also meeting places for ethnic minority people to meet and exchange news.
When reaching Bac Ha, we will take time to wander around the market, enjoy the atmosphere and have fun trying out your trading skills with the friendly local people. Have lunch in a local restaurant where a variety of foods are available for your delectation and delight. You can even try the traditional local lunch of Thang Co (horse stew) and strong corn wine!
After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit Bac Ha town, the capital of the region of the Flower Hmong and check out Hoang A Tuong palace, an architectural building built in the early twentieth century of H’mong King. Then, transfer to Lien Village which is located in a mountainous area 25 km far from Bac Ha town.
Meet up with a Tay ethnic family who will be your host for the next 2 days. Welcome dinner with the family. Overnight at homestay.
Recommended by Lonely Planet, Bac Ha Market is held every Sunday and is the biggest minority peoples market in Northwest Vietnam. Alive with the bright colors and extravagant costumes of the local people, here you will meet Flower Hmong (Red Hmong), Black Dao, Tay, Nung, La Chi, Phu La and other minority groups who come from far and wide to buy and sell a wide variety of goods and livestock, to exchange news and to renew friendships. In the past the market was a center for trading horses but now that motorbikes have replaced them it is more common to see buffalo, cows, goats, fish and other livestock being traded. The market opens at around 7.30am and closes mid-afternoon, so an early start is advisable.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: Homestay at a traditional house-on-stilts in Lien village.
Lien village is a remote village of Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province. Tay people have lived here for many generations and grow organic Shan Tuyet tea on top of hills and mountains.
The “snow mountain” Shan Tuyet is a tea variety that is named due to being cultivated at high altitude, while the buds are covered by thick white coats. This tea can be found in forests and mountains over 1,000 meters above sea level only.
When the first rain of Spring comes, the villagers start their first Shan Tuyet tea crop of the year. Thanks to clean air and cool climate, the tea here has excellent quality. Besides, local people still retain their traditional making process which helps to keep tea's natural flavor.
You will join your host family on their tea plantation, carefully pick the buds from the trees and then dry them within a day to maintain their fragrance.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: Chapa farmstay - Private bungalow
Enjoy the morning at this peaceful village. After breakfast, you can choose either a handicraft workshop with a Tay lady or an enchanting walk to the waterfall through villages.
The workshop will show you how to make a colonial hat by palm leaves from scratch. During 3 hours making the hat, you will also have the opportunity to learn more about Tay culture and lifestyle here.
After lunch, we will say goodbye to our hospitable host and get in the car to drive to Sapa town. Arrive in Sapa town at around 5PM, go through the town down to Lao Chai village where your next accommodation is, Chapa farmstay. Overnight at the hotel.
About Chapa farmstay: this is a mountain lodge in the outskirts of Sapa town, owned and operated by local H’mong people with breathtaking views of rice paddies, vegetable gardens, and the lush jungle of Hoang Lien National Park. This lodge is built with the aim of preserving H’mong culture and providing educational and job training to the villagers.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: Village stay in Ta Phin with Red Dzao family
We begin Day 1 with a 3km trek to the village of Suoi Ho, home to the Hmong minority people. From here you can enjoy stunning views of rice terraces, and you will have the opportunity to see some of the animals used by the locals.
Continuing on to Matra village you will come across the impressive ruins of a nunnery (or convent), often misconceived to be a monastery, dating back to the French occupation in the early 1900s.
The next stop is the village of Ta Phin where you will be able to meet both Hmong and Red Dao minorities. The Red Dao are known for their expertise in herbal medicine as well as usage of plants from the land to treat many illnesses. Your guide will introduce you to some Red Dao women who can tell you more about their many remedies. You will be welcomed into the home of the Red Dao family, where dinner will be cooked on an open fire. You can soak your body in a herbal bath and sleep soundly enjoying the serenity of sleeping out in the mountains.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: Chapa farmstay - Private bungalow
As the resident rooster will kindly let you know it’s time to get up… and if that doesn’t rouse you, maybe the pigs asking for their food will.
After breakfast, you will begin your trek to Trung Chai Village, with a choice of routes depending on the weather and your preferences. Trung Chai is home to Red Dao and Hmong minorities, and they have chosen a location with an exceptional landscape! You will be provided with a picnic lunch on route to the village and upon arrival to Trung Chai there will be transport back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: Hong Ngoc Dynastie hotel
Enjoy your last morning of Sapa. Free time, we walk around Lao Chai village. On the way we will meet farmers working the fields with buffalo, have a chat with them while admiring the beautiful scenery of the mountain and rice terraces surroundings.
At around 10h, our driver will pick you up and transfer to Hanoi. Lunch at a local restaurant in Lao Cai city.
Arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon, check in at the hotel.
Option: Upgrade to La Siesta Classic
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: Little Tam Coc hotel
8:00 AM – pick up from your hotel, then we drive south to Ninh Binh’s region and stop first at Tam Coc and meet with a friendly couple in their homestay then hop on bicycles for an easy-paced ride through scenic rural landscapes to Bich Dong pagoda.
The site offers a nice climb up to the top building for a breathtaking view of the region. We then get farther to a remote valley, stop at a small pier and embark on traditional hand-rowed sampan. We venture for about one hour on a less traveled canal of the region. It goes through caves and along the border with the natural site of Trang An. Come back to the homestay for a tasty home-cooked meal with local ingredients.
In the afternoon, transfer by car or taxi to the ancient temples of Hoa Lu imperial capital, visit Dinh Le temples and Yen Ngua mountain as an introduction to Vietnam’s History
Dinner and overnight at Little Tam Coc hotel, in Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
Option: Upgrade to Emeralda Ninh Binh resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: Private traditional wooden junk in Lan Ha bay
We depart from Tam Coc at around 7:30 AM, after breakfast, for a more than 3-hours drive to Halong City through the Red River Delta. Arrive at Renea office at Sun World harbor, you will have a bit of time to relax and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee. Say goodbye to your guide then get in a tender to Renea boat.
Enjoy a welcome drink and spend a couple minutes briefing about safety on the boat and activities included then we check in your cabin. At 13.30: Delicious Vietnamese set menu will be served while leisurely cruising further into Bai Tu Long Bay.
In the afternoon, enjoy kayaking through the karst and breathtaking nature, swimming and relaxing around Cap La Island. Then, get back to the boat and enjoy the Sunset party while our cruise sailing to the overnight anchorage.
After dinner, it will be free time to challenge yourself in board games or try your luck with squid fishing or simply have a cocktail and enjoy the quiet night on the bay.
Renea Cruises is a fleet of boutique wooden boats cruising on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. The cruise features a traditional design style, a cozy comfortable cabin with a friendly crew team. Cruising with Renea Cruise, passing through thousands of evocatively shaped islets of Bai Tu Long Bay, the less visited experience of Halong Bay. It can be a magical experience to follow this off-the-beaten-track itinerary.
Option: Upgrade to Sena cruise
Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: Alba Spa hotel
Start your day with a Tai Chi class on the sundeck or catch a morning view of the stunning bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. And the breakfast will be served in Western style, familiar to you to fulfill your strength and ready for another exploring day.
From 8h, you will explore the well hidden Thien Canh Son Cave and enjoy a white sandy beach at Hon Co Island. Then, return on the boat and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch before heading back to the harbor and disembark in Hon Gai pier. Farewell Halong Bay then transfer to Noi Bai airport for your Hanoi - Hue.
Note: The itinerary is subject to change due to the weather, tide level and operating conditions without prior notice.
On the way to Halong and back to Hanoi, we will stop at a place with food, beverages and souvenirs for sale. This is not to trick you but that is the only place on the way, where you, your driver and your guide can use clean toilets without being forced to buy anything. Thanks for your understanding.
In Hue, we will pick you up from Phu Bai airport and transfer you to Alba Spa Hotel. Overnight at Alba Spa Hotel.
Option: Upgrade to Pilgrimage Village Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: Alba Spa Hue
8:00 AM – pick up from your. We go first for a visit to the citadel and an incredible jump into the past with the introduction to Vietnam History, its emperors, mandarins, and feudal system. A past heritage that is reinvented by the person we visit next. This artist took the tradition of using bamboo for paper production to a whole new level with his innovative techniques. He will introduce his art to us in his workshop. We end the morning with an easy paced visit to the Thien Mu pagoda, one of the prettiest religious buildings in Vietnam that was built in the early 1600’s.
We cross the Perfume River on a local boat and reach Thuy Bieu village to have lunch at a local house. The village is a real maze of narrow alleys giving access to ancient garden houses all more beautiful than another. But the real treasures of this village are the people, descendants of the Mandarins. We have a gentle walk around and will stop by some houses to meet villagers and taste some of their fruits.
On the way back to the city center, we visit emperor Tu Duc’s tomb and climb up a little hill to have a scenic view over the Perfume River.
If you’re keen on cycling, we can do the whole program with bicycles without any surcharge (but NO car support)
Option: Upgrade to Pilgrimage Village Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: Hoi An Ancient house
9:00 AM – Pick up from your hotel, we head out of Hue center to Thanh Thuy – a picturesque village which has been famous for its 200 years-old Thanh Toan bridge. For a glimpse of Hue’s rural life, please take a walk across the bridge onto the village museum, where you’ll get an introduction on local farming tools and techniques.
Afterwards, your car continues the journey to Danang. On the way, you'll cross the Hai Van mountain pass. The views from the top are excellent – you should be able to see Lang Co beach and village, and the lagoon far below, with Danang spread out before you to the south.
There’s time for a visit to the Cham museum before lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll have a guided visit to the Marble Mountain before settling down at Ancient House hotel in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hoi An Ancient house
Free morning for you to enjoy the hotel, you can also have a walk around ancient streets of Hoi an. If you are a fan of tea, we recommend Reaching Out Teahouse, a tranquil oasis in the center of bustling Hoi An. Delicious coffee, tea, fruit juices and biscuits are served in the charming atmosphere of an ancient, tastefully decorated house in the heart of the town.
In the afternoon, our guide will pick you up from your hotel with bicycles; we’ll then set off towards Duy Vinh – the countryside of Hoi An. The picturesque cycling route is highlighted with rice fields, local garden and market... Stop as often as you wish for taking photographs or some easy chat with locals. There’s also time for a visit to a local family who are making sleeping mats in the traditional way or a local carving workshops nearby.
After around 1 hour cycling, you’ll meet your water gear, let’s explore Cam Thanh coco palm forest in your own way by kayak or SUP (stand-up-paddle). The area is a unique mangrove ecosystem to Hoi An and the scenery is spectacular. The Coco palm forest provides the locals with products such as fish, shells and Nipa leaves which are commonly used as a roofing material for local homes.
You'll be back to the boat pier after 1-1.5 hours paddling. Cool down with some local snack before getting back to hotel by a taxi
Option: Upgrade to Le Belhamy Beach Resort and Spa, Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel
Morning/noon flight from Danang to Hanoi with private airport transfers. Pick up from Noi Bai airport to Hanoi city.
Free time for strolling in Hanoi. Overnight at Hong Ngoc Dynasty hotel.
Option: Upgrade to La Siesta Classic
Option for tour / activities:
- Water Puppet show
- Hanoi after dark visit
- Hanoi street food adventure
Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Not any
Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrives to take you to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight. End of our services.
Note: Depending on your flight and your wish that we can arrange more activities in Hanoi for you such as:
- Hanoi vintage ride by Vespa
- Bat Trang pottery village cycling
- Hanoi handicraft villages
