Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
Your driver meets you at Hanoi airport and takes you to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to do what you'd like. Some people prefer to rest after traveling, while others head out to get a feel for the city right away.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Terminal 2, Sân Bay Quốc Tế Nội Bài, Huyện Sóc Sơn, Hanoi 140800, Vietnam (Pick up at airport upon arrival)
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi at leisure
- Day 2
Hanoi to Mai Chau
You'll drive through countryside toward Bakhan Village in Mai Chau Valley, stopping along the way for tea or coffee. Lunch happens at the village, and then the afternoon brings a walk around Muong Village where you can take in the valley views. After dinner back at the restaurant, there's an optional traditional dancing performance by villagers if you're interested in staying up for it.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Bakhan Village Restaurant), Dinner (Dinner at Bakhan Restaurant)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive to Mai Chau Valley via Hoa Binh City
- Afternoon walk around Muong Village of Khan Ha and West hill
- Lunch at Bakhan Village Restaurant
- Dinner at Bakhan Restaurant
Optional Activities
- Traditional dance performance by villagers (20:00-21:00)
Landmarks Bakhan Village Mai Chau Valley Muong Village - Day 3
Mai Chau
Early morning nature trek starts on the East Mountain route, leading to a local Muong house where you'll have lunch. From there, the afternoon involves more walking through the valley, passing through Khan Ho and Khan Thuong villages. You return to the resort in time to relax before dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch prepared at local Muong house), Dinner (Dinner at Bakhan Village Resorts)
Included Activities
- East Mountain trek
- Visit local Muong house and lunch
- Afternoon walk through Khan Ho and Khan Thuong villages
- Dinner at resort
Landmarks Khan Ho village Khan Thuong village - Day 4
Mai Chau to Son La
After breakfast, you head toward Son La province in Vietnam's far north. There's a hike to Pa Co village to meet the Black H'mong people, followed by driving through lush tea plantations in Moc Chau. A bamboo bridge crossing takes you to Na Ken village, where the Black Thai people live in distinctive tortoise-shell roofed houses. You reach Son La by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast prepared by Bakhan Village Resort)
Included Activities
- Short hike to Pa Co village to meet Black H'mong ethnic group
- Pass through Moc Chau tea plantations
- Visit Na Ken village and meet Black Thai ethnic group
- Breakfast at Bakhan Village Resort
Landmarks Pa Co village Moc Chau Na Ken village - Day 5
Son La to Dien Bien Phu
The drive to Dien Bien Phu crosses Pha Din Pass at 1,500m, Vietnam's highest and longest pass. Along the way you'll stop at a multi-ethnic primary school and a White H'mong village. Later, you'll see Indochina War sites including Ellianne Hill and the War Museum, which displays French tanks, artillery, and the bunker where Colonel de Castries surrendered in 1954.
Included Activities
- Cross Pha Din Pass (1,500m altitude)
- Visit multi-ethnic primary school
- Visit White H'mong hill tribe village
- Visit Ellianne Hill
- Visit War Museum and famous Indochina War sites
Landmarks Pha Din Pass Ellianne Hill War Museum - Day 6
Dien Bien Phu to Tam Duong
Transfer to Lai Chau, a town facing future changes from a hydroelectric dam project. The drive continues along Nam Na River, a major tributary of the Black River. You'll visit Chan Nua Thai, a Black Thai village with distinctive large wooden houses on stilts, before arriving in Tam Duong for the night.
Included Activities
- Visit Black Thai village of Chan Nua Thai
- Drive along Nam Na River
Landmarks Lai Chau Nam Na River Chan Nua Thai village 
- Day 7
Tam Duong
Today is devoted to trekking through villages around Tam Duong, a frontier town in a limestone valley. You'll meet members of the H'Mong, Man Tien, Lu, and Cu Chu hill tribes, learning about their authentic lifestyles and colorful traditional costumes. Many of these ethnic groups migrated from South China during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Included Activities
- Full day trekking through hill tribe villages
Landmarks Tam Duong - Day 8
Tam Duong to Sapa
The local Sunday market gives you a chance to see different ethnic minorities from surrounding areas trading goods and socializing. Later you'll hike through Ban Hon, a Lu ethnic village, where you can see the women's distinctive shining lacquered teeth and metal jewelry in their traditional costumes. From there, you head to Sapa, a former French colonial mountain town. After checking in, the afternoon is free to walk around the market and see the colonial architecture.
Included Activities
- Visit local Sunday market in Tam Duong
- Hike through Ban Hon village (Lu ethnic group)
Optional Activities
- Explore Sapa town, market, and colonial architecture
Landmarks Ban Hon village Sapa 
- Day 9
Sapa
Trekking begins from Sapa down through Muong Hoa valley's terraced rice fields to Y Linh Ho hamlet, a Black Hmong village. You continue along the river to Lao Chai village, visiting families to see their traditional houses and learn about clothing-making techniques. Lunch happens at a local riverside restaurant. In the afternoon, another trek takes you to Ta Van village, home to the Giay people, where you can visit families, have green tea, and learn about their culture. A vehicle returns you to Sapa by evening.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local riverside restaurant)
Included Activities
- Trek from Sapa to Y Linh Ho hamlet (Black Hmong village)
- Visit and explore Lao Chai village
- Lunch at local riverside restaurant
- Trek to Ta Van village (Giay people)
- Visit local families and learn about Giay culture
- Green tea at local family
Landmarks Muong Hoa valley Y Linh Ho hamlet Lao Chai village Ta Van village 
- Day 10
Sapa to Hanoi
Morning trekking from Sapa takes you to Cat Cat Village to see its waterfall and meet H'mong families. You'll watch traditional clothing production, hemp dyeing, and weaving, then walk through rice terraces for about 3km to Sin Chai village with its traditional Pumu tree wooden homes. At 3:30 pm, you board a luxury public bus via the new Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway, arriving in Hanoi around 8:30-9:00 pm with 2 restroom breaks along the way.
Included Activities
- Trek to Cat Cat Village and waterfall
- Visit H'mong family and learn about their way of life
- See traditional clothing production, hemp dyeing, and weaving
- Walk through rice terraces to Sin Chai village
- Visit traditional wooden homes in Sin Chai
- Transfer by luxury public bus to Hanoi
Landmarks Cat Cat Village Cat Cat Waterfall Fansipan Mountain Sin Chai village Muong Hoa Valley 
- Day 11
Hanoi to Halong Bay
After hotel pickup at 9:00 am, you drive roughly 3.5 hours through countryside and rice paddy fields to reach Halong port. An authentic Chinese Junk takes you into the UNESCO World Heritage Site waters. Fresh seafood lunch is served on board before you visit a cave and swim in the emerald water. The boat anchors in a quiet area for the night, and afterward, you can swim in the phosphorus water, relax in your cabin, or sleep under the stars on the top deck.
- Meals
- Lunch (Fresh seafood lunch served on board), Dinner (Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Drive to Halong Bay
- Board authentic Chinese Junk
- Visit the amazing cave
- Swim in Halong Bay
- Lunch aboard the boat (fresh seafood)
- Dinner aboard the boat
Optional Activities
- Swim in phosphorus water in the evening
- Relax on top deck under the stars
Landmarks Halong Bay 
- Day 12
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Wake up early to watch the sunrise and breathe in the fresh ocean air. Breakfast comes on the boat while you cruise through thousands of islands, giving you excellent photo opportunities. A stop at a floating fishing village lets you hear stories from fishermen about their daily lives. Lunch is served on board during the cruise back to Halong port, and then you return to Hanoi for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast served on the boat), Lunch (Lunch on board while cruising back to Halong City pier)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing and morning cruise
- Breakfast on board
- Leisurely cruise through islands in Halong Bay
- Visit floating fishing village
- Lunch on board while cruising back
- Return transfer to Hanoi
Landmarks Halong Bay 
- Day 13
Hanoi
Your hotel pickup is at 9:00 am for a cultural tour of Hanoi. You'll visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh's residence to learn about his life and legacy. The Temple of Literature comes next, Vietnam's first university from the 12th century dedicated to teaching Confucian theory to royals, and there's a traditional music performance. Authentic Hanoi Pho provides lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon options include the Ethnology, Women's, or History museums, or Quan Thanh Temple. The day ends walking around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter for shopping and street food, finishing with a Water Puppet Show.
- Meals
- Lunch (Authentic Hanoi Pho at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Visit Presidential Palace
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's residential place
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Traditional music performance at Temple of Literature
- Lunch at local restaurant (authentic Hanoi Pho)
- Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake
- Explore Old Quarter
- Water Puppet Show
Optional Activities
- Museum of Ethnology
- Women's Museum
- History Museum
- Quan Thanh Temple
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Presidential Palace Temple of Literature Museum of Ethnology Women's Museum History Museum Quan Thanh Temple Hoan Kiem Lake Old Quarter - Day 14
Hanoi to Airport
After breakfast at your hotel, you transfer to the airport for your international flight home, taking wonderful memories of Vietnam with you.
- End point
- Noi Bai International Terminal 2, Sân Bay Quốc Tế Nội Bài, Huyện Sóc Sơn, Hanoi 140800, Vietnam (Transfer until airport for departure)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to airport
