Duration

10 days 9 nights

Tour Type

Beaches & Bay
Retreat

Group Size

10 Persons

Tour Guide

English speaking guide

Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay, Northeast Vietnam, Red River Delta

Leisurely North Vietnam: From bustling city to tranquil shore, valley to majestic mountain

Join us for a relaxing journey that celebrates the heart and soul of North Vietnam! This leisurely cultural tour takes you from the historic charm of Hanoi’s ancient streets to the peaceful countryside, where you’ll experience authentic ethnic minority villages and their time-honored traditions. Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites while savoring comfort and genuine local hospitality throughout your journey.

This thoughtfully paced tour emphasizes cultural immersion and scenic beauty over strenuous activities. Float through mystical cave systems, cruise emerald waters on a charming junk boat, and connect meaningfully with local communities through homestays and cultural workshops. From learning traditional crafts with Thai minorities to gentle boat rides through limestone landscapes, every experience is designed for comfortable exploration and cultural enrichment.

Join local weaving workshops in Mai Chau

Highlights

Discover the captivating capital Hanoi
Explore fantastic landscape with endless mountains, fertile valleys and virgin jungle
Bamboo raft ride on the Cham River and admire the bamboo water mills
Be impressed with the friendship, warmth and hospitality of the Thai minority
Taste local gastronomy
Cruise on a boutique junk on Lan Ha Bay
Visit the land bay and its many treasures

Tat Nang waterfall - Mai Chau

What to bring

Sun & rain gear (including sun screen and brimmed hat)
Warm clothing for winter (mid-November to early March)
Insect repellent
Hiking shoes/sandals
Swimsuit
Waterproof bag for digital devices
Backpack for trekking
Toiletries, towel, and flashlight
Passport

Notice

Destination	Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Lan Ha
Included	Meals as specified in the program Accommodation as mentioned in the program (2 people/room) English speaking guide and local guide Adapted air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver Activities as mentioned in the tour program Water, tea and local fruits All entrance fees
Excluded	Drinks, guide tips Personal expenses Insurance Supplement 10% – 20% on lunar new year and other national holidays (2/9, 30/4, 1/5, 24/12, 31/12, 1/1) VAT
Travel by private car

Accommodation provided by a local family in their traditional house-on-stilts

Price

Price if for per person based on a private group
Price per person will be different based on how many pax you buy:

Group Size	Price per Pax
1 pax	51,870,000 VND
2 pax	31,380,000 VND
3 pax	28,900,000 VND
4 pax	24,600,000 VND
5 pax	23,350,000 VND
6 pax	21,500,000 VND
7 pax	20,870,000 VND
8 pax	19,900,000 VND
9 pax	19,700,000 VND
10 pax	18,700,000 VND

Note:
For group of 3 – 5 or 7 pax, there will be double room + 1 single room
Surcharge for holidays and national days or discount for larger group is available; please contact our travel consultants at
[email protected] or send us inquiry through the contact form

Details

Upon your arrival, our friendly driver will meet you at the airport and whisk you away to your beautiful hotel in the heart of the Old Quarter. Take this free day to unwind and immerse yourself in the vibrant surroundings as you recover from your journey.

We invite you to connect with the DCT Responsible Travel team for a delightful coffee or meal, allowing you to start your adventure with insightful conversations and local insights.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel, then embark on the first journey by visiting the Temple of Literature, a stunning architectural gem from the 11th century. Next, explore Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, beautifully situated by West Lake.For lunch, indulge in the delightful flavors of Hanoi with specialties like “Pho cuon” and “Pho chien” that truly capture the essence of this vibrant city.[caption id="attachment_14901" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]

Vietnam Temple of Literature[/caption]In the afternoon, dive into the lively atmosphere of the Old Quarter. Visit the enchanting Ngoc Son Pagoda and discover the captivating legend of the returned sword at Hoan Kiem Lake. To round off your day, enjoy a charming one-hour cyclo ride through the streets, before returning to the comfort of your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Meet our driver and guide at 8 am and start the transfer to Mai Chau Valley. You will pass through Thung Khe Pass on the way - one of the 10 most beautiful passes in Vietnam. Arrive in Mai Chau around 11:30 am for check-in, followed by a delicious home cooked lunch, prepared by the host.

In the afternoon, you will jump on the bicycle to explore the valley. You will see the traditional houses on stilts in Na Meo village and the beautiful rice fields around Na Cat village.On the way back, you will stop at Mrs. Xuyen's where you can participate in a traditional weaving workshop using the old machines of the Thai minority. You will have time to rest at the homestay before having a BBQ dinner on site.[caption id="attachment_10020" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]

Join local weaving workshops in Mai Chau[/caption]

After breakfast, walk about 20 minutes to the local market of Mai Chau, a central place of activities for locals to gather around. They sell daily products as well as food. Take the opportunity to buy fresh ingredients that will be used for your upcoming cooking class.[caption id="attachment_16196" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]

Food in Mai Chau Pu Luong[/caption]Back to the homestay, you will learn how to prepare signature dishes of the White Thai minority. You can then taste the dishes by sharing a lunch with the hosts.After lunch, you will leave for the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, also called the “Little Sapa”. Arrival in the middle of the afternoon, free time to enjoy the superb view from the swimming pool.

Eco-lodge nestled in Pu Luong nature reserve

You will head towards the village of Don, the tourist epicenter of the Reserve. From there, you will begin a hike through rice fields that will take you to the village of Uoi and further to Lan. Two villages specializing in ancient sewing techniques. You can learn and even try your hand on traditional machines.You will then take the car again to head to the village of Hieu. A small isolated village, you can relax by the waterfall and cool off there.You will have lunch at a local house nearby.In the afternoon, you will hit the road again. On the way, the driver will drop you off at a suspension bridge for a hike (about 4 km on flat terrain). You will pass through picturesque villages to the starting point of a leisurely bamboo raft ride. This will also be an opportunity to see the famous bamboo water mills, a specialty of the Thai minority.[caption id="attachment_10010" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]

Bamboo rafting experience in Pu Luong[/caption]You will then continue hiking along the river and fields to the pick-up point by the driver who will take you back to the homestay.Rest the day at leisure.

After breakfast, board the car to the top of Bang village and start hiking on small trails, passing by isolated houses and superb viewpoints on the rice fields.[caption id="attachment_16205" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]

Kho Muong cave (Doi cave) in Pu Luong Nature Reserve[/caption]The trekking route leads you to the village of Kho Muong, a hidden spot amidst the Nature Reserve. You will be impressed by the rustic beauty of the stilt houses located at the foot of the mountain next to rice fields, corn fields, and cassava fields.The journey continues by walking to a stunning cave nearby, formed 250 millions years ago, the locals named it “Bat Cave”.You will have a traditional lunch at the locals' house In the afternoon, leave the Pu Luong Nature Reserve to join the spectacular Terrestrial Halong Bay.Arrival at the homestay, check-in and rest of the day at leisure.

At around 8 am, the car will bring you to Trang An complex for a boat ride in the UNESCO listed site. The ride which lasts about 2h30 will take you through magnificent viewpoints, pagodas and under caves.You will then go to the Bich Dong pagoda, an important Buddhist site with a particular architecture. Located on three levels, you will pass through a symbolic cave to reach the last level at the summit.

You will then have lunch in a local restaurant in Tam Coc.In the afternoon, you will leave for the site of Hang Mua. The approximately 500 steps to reach the summit deserve a physical effort but the view from the summit will be a very nice reward. The site which now includes two paths on the karst peaks, allows you to have a full panorama of the Tam coc site as well as the countrysideTo end this beautiful day, you will go to the Bai Dinh pagoda, the largest in Southeast Asia. The immense site contains two long corridors decorated with hundreds of statues, two impressive bells and at the top the main temple and its giant statues. At the end of the day, you can stroll until sunset if the weather is good.If you wish, you can also take the elevator that goes up to the tower for an even more beautiful view (ticket not included).

Board the car in direction to Cuc Phuong National Park, an hour away from the hotel. You will first visit the primate rescue center and the turtle conservation center. Two centers to preserve some endangered animal species. After, you will get into the park and start trekking in the jungle. Possibility to see the “prehistoric cave” after a short hike.[caption id="attachment_12400" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]

Cuc Phuong National Park - Ninh Binh[/caption]Lunch will be taken on the way back.In the afternoon you will take a bike ride in the Van Long Nature Reserve. Far from mass tourism, you can enjoy the tranquility of the place and admire the local life. You will then leave for a ride of about an hour in a sampan (traditional boat) to relax in this idyllic setting.

The driver and the guide will take you to Cai Beo Harbour. Meet your crew team at 12pm, say goodbye to the driver and guide, then board a 12-cabin or 5-cabin junk for a 24-hour cruise on the bay. While you get to know our friendly crew, the junk will pass through the largest floating village in the Gulf of Tonkin, with more than 400 floating houses between hundreds of stunning limestone islands. Stop for lunch and swimming time on the beaches of Ba Trai Dao.During your siesta on the upper deck, contemplating the bay's beauty, the junk sails through Lan Ha Bay. The area is surrounded by extraordinary limestone karst landscapes. You can start your journey to visit the Ba Trai Dao Beach area and islets by kayaking which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage. Then, enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Bay.

At the end of the afternoon, the junk will return to the center of Lan Ha Bay and drop its anchor. You will have time to admire the landscapes and have a drink for an aperitif on the deck. While the crew prepares your dinner, you can swim further from the boat or try your luck at fishing.After dinner on board, trying squid fishing will be a great memory. Overnight on board.

On the second day of the cruise, while you enjoy breakfast, the junk continues to sail towards the Viet Hai fishing village on the Bay.Transfer to a tender to visit Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba Island and hop on a bicycle ride. (electric car also available) through a rainforest tunnel that leads to a village nestled in a valley deep in a national park. Meet, visit a traditional house, greet local inhabitants doing their daily work, and see their homes and the village school.

When returning from the village, you will check out of the cabin and then start cruising towards the port, where a set lunch will be served. We will then come back to Cai Beo harbor before noon, leaving you with lasting memories of your adventures. Finally, unwind in a luxurious limousine as we take you back to Hanoi, with an expected arrival around 4 PM.