Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Mai Chau
Your hotel pickup happens at 8 AM for the drive out to Mai Chau Valley, which takes about 4 hours. Along the way you'll stop at a local market to learn about how the Muong Ethnic Minority lives, or if you prefer you can catch the views from Thung Khe Pass instead. After grabbing lunch, you'll visit some traditional Thai stilt houses and then cycle through the Thai villages to get a feel for how people live there. The day wraps up with a short walk to your homestay bungalow in Mai Hich village where you'll spend the night.
- Start point
- Quận Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam (We pick up all travelers at your hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter)
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit local market of Muong Ethnic Minority to learn about daily life and customs
- Stop at Thung Khe Pass for panoramic scenery
- Visit real local Thai traditional stilt house
- Cycling tour to Thai Ethnic Minority villages to learn about daily lives and culture
- Short walk to Mai Hich village homestay
Landmarks Thung Khe Pass Mai Chau Valley Mai Hich village 
- Day 2
Mai Chau to Pu Luong Nature Reserve
You'll start with a local breakfast and then take an easy walk through the surrounding villages, passing through rice terraces and crossing a hanging bridge over a wild stream. After lunch, it's a 2-hour drive to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Once there you'll trek about 5 km through green terraced rice fields, cross some streams, and visit remote Black Thai minority villages. Dinner at the lodge features locally made rice wine, and you'll spend the night right in the heart of the reserve.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Local breakfast), Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at the lodge with locally made rice wine (happy water))
Included Activities
- Easy walk to visit surrounding villages with rice terraces and hanging bridge
- 5 km trek through terrace rice fields and jungle
- Cross stream to visit remote rural villages of Black Thai minorities
- Dinner at lodge with locally made rice wine
Landmarks Pu Luong Nature Reserve 
- Day 3
Pu Luong Nature Reserve to Tam Coc, Ninh Binh
You'll need to wake up early to catch the sunrise from the lodge, then head to Doi Cave to see the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites inside. The hike takes you through emerald rice fields and jungle from Kho Muong Village to Pho Doan, following one of the best trails in the reserve. By afternoon, after lunch, you'll transfer to Tam Coc in Ninh Binh for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Early morning walk to enjoy sunrise view from lodge
- Visit Doi Cave with stalactites and stalagmites
- Trek through emerald terrace rice fields and jungle from Kho Muong Village to Pho Doan
Landmarks Doi Cave Kho Muong Village Pho Doan 
- Day 4
Tam Coc, Ninh Binh
Your transfer takes you to Mua Cave where you'll climb 500 steps to reach panoramic views of the whole area. From there you'll visit Hoa Lu, the 10th-century ancient royal palace, to learn about Vietnam's first feudal dynasties. After lunch, you'll return to Tam Coc for a 1.5-hour boat ride through 3 caves, where you can spot karst mountains, rice fields, and if you're lucky, some monkeys. The day finishes with a bike ride around the area to Bich Dong Pagoda.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Climb 500 steps at Mua Cave for panoramic views
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient royal palace from 10th century
- 1.5-hour boat ride through 3 caves in Tam Coc
- Bike ride to Bich Dong Pagoda
Landmarks Mua Cave Hoa Lu Bich Dong Pagoda 
- Day 5
Ninh Binh to Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba
Your transfer from Ninh Binh gets you to Cat Ba National Park, and at 12:00 you'll board your junk at Beo Tourist Wharf with a welcome drink. You'll cruise through Lan Ha Bay past a floating fishing village, spending an hour cruising among the limestone islands before lunch at Van Boi beaches. The afternoon is yours for kayaking and swimming. As evening comes, the boat anchors for the night, and you can try squid fishing or swim off the boat before dinner and sleeping aboard.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Welcome drink at Beo Tourist Wharf
- One-hour scenic cruise through Lan Ha Bay among limestone islands
- Lunch at Van Boi beaches
- Kayaking in surrounding waters
- Swimming at the beach
- Squid catching activity
- Dinner and overnight on cruise
Landmarks Cat Ba National Park Beo Tourist Wharf Lan Ha Bay Van Boi beaches 
- Day 6
Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi
Wake early if you want fresh air and sunrise from the boat. After breakfast on the cruise, you'll head to Viet Hai village in the middle of Cat Ba Island to cycle and explore the village and the park's natural surroundings. You'll return to the junk for lunch and need to check out of your cabin by 11:00 AM. By noon you'll arrive back at Beo Wharf where your driver will pick you up for the return journey to Hanoi.
- End point
- Quận Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam (We drop off all travelers at your hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on the cruise), Lunch (Lunch on the cruise)
Included Activities
- Breakfast on the cruise
- Cycling tour of Viet Hai village
- Explore Viet Hai village and Cat Ba National Park natural surroundings
- Lunch on the cruise
Landmarks Viet Hai village Cat Ba Island Beo Wharf
