Northern Vietnam Discovery 15 Days

Discover the hidden beauty of the Northen Vietnam with our special Northern Vietnam Discovery 15 days tour. With two great days in Hanoi, it is time to discover the Old Quarters and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the city. Up next, dip into the natural beauty, the fabulous mountains and explore the daily life of the local minorities in the Northwest and Northeast (especially Sapa and Cao Bang). Continue the trip to the breathtaking beauty of the Northeast with Ban Gioc Waterfall and Ba Be Lake – the most beautiful fresh water lake in Vietnam, then finish with a special cruise on Ha Long Bay – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Take chance to visit caves by kayaking or have an overview of Ha Long from the top of the mountain.

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Day 2: Hanoi – Cooking class – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 3: Hanoi – Ba Be – Cruise on Ba Be Lake (B, L, D)
Day 4: Ba Be – Cao Bang – Quang Hoa (B, L, D)
Day 5: Quang Hoa – Ban Gioc – Nguom Ngao (B, L, D)
Day 6: Cao Bang – Bao Lac – Unknown land (B, L, D)
Day 7: Bao Lac –Meo Vac – Dong Van (B, L, D)
Day 8: Dong Van – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Ha Giang (B, L, D)
Day 9: Ha Giang – Bac Ha – Trekking  (B, L, D)
Day 10: Bac Ha – Bac Ha market – Sapa (B, L, D)
Day 11: Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai (B, L, D)
Day 12: Hanoi – Hoa Lu “Halong Bay on land” (B, L, D)
Day 13: Hoa Lu – Cat Ba – Lan Ha Bay (B, L)
Day 14: Cat Ba – Halong – Overnight on boat (B, L, D)
Day 15: Halong – Hanoi – Departure (B, L)

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Upon arrival at Noi Bai International airport, you will be welcomed by our tour guide before transferring to hotel for checking in. Have welcome dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Cooking class – Hanoi (B, L, D)
Breakfast is served at hotel. In the morning, you will explore Vietnam cuisine by visiting a local market with the instructing chef to buy the necessary ingredients for your first cooking class at a local family, then have lunch with your self-prepared dishes with the family. After that, visit the Temple of Literature and the Ethnographic Museum (closed on every Monday) before a rickshaw trip around Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarters. In the evening, enjoy a special Water Puppet Performance Show before dinner and stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ba Be – Cruise on Ba Be Lake
Have breakfast at hotel before departing for Ba Be Lake through green tea hills and beautiful palm trees. Upon arrival at noon, check in for your next stay at the traditional house on stilts and have a welcome cup of tea before enjoying lunch together with the locals. During afternoon, you will take a nice cruise in Ba Be Lake which is known as the most beautiful freshwater lake in Vietnam to discover some of the most breathtaking and natural sceneries from here. Continue cruising on Nang River through the beautiful grotto named Poung and visit Dau Dang waterfall. Dinner is served with the locals and stay overnight at the house.

Day 4: Ba Be – Cao Bang – Quang Hoa
Have breakfast at homestay before departing for Cao Bang through many forests landscapes and ethnic villages. After arriving in Cao Bang at noon, have lunch at the local restaurant, then depart to Quang Hoa through the ethnic villages and fabulous sceneries. During transition, take a few stops at your leisure for taking photos and visiting the villages on both roadsides. Upon arrival at Quang Hoa, check in at the reception and discover the lives of the Tay, Nung, Dao ethnic people. Enjoy dinner at the local restaurant and stay overnight in Quang Hoa.

Day 5: Quang Hoa – Ban Gioc waterfall – Nguom Ngao cave – Cao Bang
After having breakfast, you will be transferred to Ban Gioc Waterfall where you can walk or swim at your leisure. Have a local lunch beside the waterfall. before going back to Cao Bang. Visit Nguom Ngao Cave during transition, this is an enormous cave with two main entrances and one path that follows almost all tunnels of the waterfall, also known as the “secret” entrance. Dinner will be served at local restaurant and stay overnight at hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 6: Cao Bang – Bao Lac – Unknown land
Enjoy breakfast at hotel, then depart to Bao Lac through beautiful sceneries with terraced rice fields, ethnic villages, mountains and forests. You will stop at several places on the way to take photos or visit nearby locations at your choice. Have lunch at local restaurant and after the meal, you may take a walk to discover the daily life of H’mongs and Tays villages near Bao Lac. Finish your day with dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight in Bao Lac.

Day 7: Bao Lac – Meo Vac – Dong Van
After having breakfast, visit Khuoi Khon village – the home of Black Lo Lo ethnic people to discover their daily life. Have lunch at local restaurant, then depart for Dong Van – an unique stone plateau in Vietnam, via Meo Vac. Upon arrival at the end of the day, check in a local hotel, then have dinner at restaurant and stay overnight in Dong Van.

Day 8: Dong Van – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Ha Giang
After having breakfast at hotel, leave for Ha Giang via Ma Phi Leng Mount at an altitude of over 2000 meters. Visit the ancient city in Dong Van with mud houses dating over 400 years called the H’Mong King Palace and built in 1900 (Vuong Chi Duc was recognized as King of H’mong tribe by French colonialists). Next, visit Lo Lo flower villages before having lunch at local restaurant, then visit the Gateway to the heaven, Fairy Mountains and many fabulous sceneries… Upon arrival at Ha Giang, check in at your hotel, enjoy dinner and stay overnight in Ha Giang.

Day 9: Ha Giang – Bac Ha – Trekking
Have breakfast at hotel before travelling to Bac Ha through the most beautiful and adventurous North – East Highway of Vietnam. Upon arrival at eventide, check in at hotel and take a walk in Ban Pho village, the home of the Hmong to discover their unique culture and daily lives. Have dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight at the hotel in Bac Ha.

Day 10: Bac Ha – Typical market Bac Ha – Sapa
Enjoy your breakfast at hotel, then visit Bac Ha market – the most beautiful and famous market of the region, not only for the purpose of trading, but also a dating venue for young couples. After having lunch, take a private boat on Chay River and visit ethnic villages living at the riversides. Later, depart for Sapa through a beautiful mountain road, then check in at the hotel upon arrival and discover the charming town. Dinner will be served and stay overnight in Sapa.

Day 11: Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Hanoi
Have breakfast at hotel, then enjoy your day by hiking along the most beautiful valley of Sapa through the terraced rice fields, schools, ethnic villages to visit Lao Chai and Ta Van villages where the Hmong, Dao, Zays ethnic live, and later have lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, you can go hiking toward to Giang Ta Chai village through ethnic villages; terraced rice fields and bamboo forests. The village is named as a linking to the horizon. Return to Sapa and transfer to Lao Cai with a night train to Hanoi. Enjoy dinner at local restaurant and overnight on board at cabin of 04 berths with AC.

Day 12: Hanoi – Hoa Lu “Halong Bay on land”
Upon arrival at Hanoi in the early morning, you will be picked up and transferred to hotel for breakfast, then depart to Hoa Lu which is one of the most famous sites in Vietnam for its long large history and impressive limestone peaks – also known as Halong Bay on land. Upon arrival, visit the two King temples of Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh dating from the 10th century, then take a sampan to discover the natural reserved Van Long to see many natural-crafted karsts, or take part in our fishing activities. Enjoy lunch with the locals in Van Long. In the afternoon, cycle through the villages and many fabulous sceneries, then return to your homestay for a Vietnamese cuisine cooking class. Have dinner with dishes prepared by you and stay overnight at homestay.

Day 13: Hoa Lu – Cat Ba – Cruise in Biosphere Reserve
Have breakfast at homestay, then depart for Hai Phong and take a high speed boat to Cat Ba island. Upon arrival, check in the hotel before being served with lunch at local restaurant. After that, take an amazing trip with private boat at Lan Ha Bay, one of the most beautiful bays and recognized as “Biosphere Reserve” in Vietnam. Stay overnight at hotel in Cat Ba.

Day 14: Cat Ba – Halong – Overnight in junk
In the morning, transfer to Gia Luan harbor after breakfast and take a private boat from Cat Ba to Halong through many fisherman’s floating villages, islands and rocks… After that, travel to Halong and embark the boat before midday
12h00 – 12h30: Get on the boat, followed by a short cruising brief.
13h00 – 15h30: Have lunch while cruising among the limestone islands.
15h30 – 16h30: Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, which located around the Bo Nau Cave area, then return to the boat
16h30 – 17h30: Cruise to Soi Sim Island for swimming and relaxing at the beach of Soi Sim, or climbing up to the peak of the island for a panoramaic view of Halong Bay.
17h30: Return to the main boat for a shower. You may also relax or take photos as the sun starts to set.
19h00: Enjoy dinner on the boat while you meet and greet with other guests, fish for squid or just laze around. Stay overnight on board…

Day 15: Halong – Hanoi – Departure
06h30 – 07h00: Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or take part in a photo hunt.
07h30 – 08h30: Have breakfast.
08h30 – 09h30: Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave – the nicest cave in Halong Bay.
09h30: Return to the boat to freshen up and check out of your cabin.
09h30 – 10h30: Continue cruising to explore the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Cho Da Islet, and more.
10h30 – 11h30: On the way back to the harbor, take part in a cooking class before enjoying traditional Vietnamese lunch.
12h00 – 12h30: Leave the boat and return to Hanoi through Dong Trieu pottery village for a glimpse of the making processes of manufacturing pottery, ceramics and earthenware’s. After that, transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for the departure flight. Tour ends