Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Nghia Lo
Hotel pickup happens at 8:00 AM, and you'll drive northwest through countryside into Yen Bai province. By early afternoon you're settling into a traditional stilt house homestay in Nghia Lo. After lunch and some downtime, there's a bike tour through local villages, rice fields, and mountain areas where you can see how the ethnic communities live day to day. Dinner and overnight stay at the homestay.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (WELCOME TO VIETNAM)
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bicycling tour through ethnic villages and rice fields
- Day 2
Nghia Lo to Mu Cang Chai
Following breakfast, the drive takes you to Tu Le town situated in a beautiful valley. There's a soft trek planned through rice paddies, with village visits and chances to meet locals. Lunch happens at a local restaurant, then you'll drive up Khau Pha Pass which has these famous terraced rice paddies with great valley views. You arrive in Mu Cang Chai in late afternoon and check into a homestay. Later there's a gentle walk to a Thai ethnic minority village at the foot of the mountains. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant), Dinner
Included Activities
- Soft trek to rice valley and village visits
- Drive through Khau Pha Pass with photo stops
- Evening walk to Thai ethnic minority village
Landmarks Khau Pha Pass 
- Day 3
Mu Cang Chai
This is a full trekking day covering about 13 km from Che Cu Nha commune to La Pan Tan Commune. Along the route you'll pass through rice terraces and H'mong hill tribe villages. Around 4:00 PM transportation picks you up for the transfer back to your homestay for a second night there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Full day trek (approximately 13 km) through rice terraces
- Visit H'mong hill tribe villages
- Day 4
Mu Cang Chai to Sapa
After breakfast you say goodbye to your host family and drive toward Sapa with photo stops at Than Thuoc Tea Plantation, O Quy Ho Pass, and Silver Waterfall. Arriving in Sapa, you'll check into your hotel and have the afternoon free to explore on your own. Hotel overnight in Sapa.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Photo stops at Than Thuoc Tea Plantation, O Quy Ho Pass, and Silver Waterfall
Landmarks Silver Waterfall O Quy Ho Pass 
- Day 5
Sapa to Bac Ha
This morning involves trekking down the Muong Hoa valley to see rice terraces and visit a Black H'mong hill tribe village. You're back in Sapa town by lunch time, then driving to Bac Ha in the afternoon. Check into your hotel there and relax for the evening. Hotel overnight in Bac Ha.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Trek to Muong Hoa valley and rice terraces
- Visit Black H'mong hill tribe village
- Day 6
Bac Ha to Hoang Su Phi
Most of the morning is spent walking through Bac Ha's Sunday market, experiencing the colors and traditions of this important community gathering where ethnic minorities display their culture. After lunch, you continue driving to Hoang Su Phi with stops to photograph and visit hill tribe villages along the way. Arriving at the homestay for dinner and overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Bac Ha Sunday market
- Visit hill tribe villages along the route
Landmarks Bac Ha Sunday Market - Day 7
Hoang Su Phi
The whole day is trekking to visit Tay, Black Dao, and Red Dao hill tribe villages while taking in rice terrace views along the hike. You'll arrive at Pan Hou Lodge around 4:00 PM, and the rest of your day is free. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full day trek to visit Tay, Black Dao, and Red Dao hill tribe villages
- View rice terraces during trek
Optional Activities
- Traditional massage and herbal bath treatments
- Day 8
Hoang Su Phi to Yen Minh
After breakfast there's a drive to Dong Van karst geo-park with photo stops and village visits included. Climbing the steps leads to the Heaven Gate in Quan Ba area for panoramic views. Lunch at a local restaurant, then continuing to Yen Minh town with more stops along the way. You'll check into your hotel and, if there's time, take a short walk to a nearby village to learn about local life. Overnight in Yen Minh.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Drive to Dong Van karst geo-park with village visits
- Visit Heaven Gate at Quan Ba
- Photo stops throughout the day
Optional Activities
- Evening village walk and local life experience
Landmarks Dong Van Karst Geo-Park Heaven Gate (Quan Ba) - Day 9
Yen Minh to Meo Vac
Driving through the geo-park entrance with its grey limestone mountains and H'mong settlements on the rock formations. The day includes visiting H'mong King Palace and Pho Bang ancient town with traditional Chinese-style houses. Ma Phi Leng Pass over the Nho Que River is the final stop, offering panoramic river scenery. Check into your hotel for overnight in Meo Vac.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit H'mong King Palace
- Visit Pho Bang ancient town
- Stop at Ma Phi Leng Pass over Nho Que River
Landmarks H'mong King Palace Pho Bang Ancient Town Ma Phi Leng Pass - Day 10
Meo Vac to Pac Ngoi
Check if Meo Vac town's Sunday market is available, then take a long drive downhill to Ba Be National Park with lunch along the way. By late afternoon you arrive at Pac Ngoi village, home to an ethnic minority community. Dinner and overnight at a homestay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Ba Be National Park
Optional Activities
- Visit Meo Vac Sunday market (schedule dependent)
Landmarks Ba Be National Park - Day 11
Pac Ngoi to Cao Bang
After breakfast, most of the morning goes to exploring Ba Be Lake and Nang River through activities like a cruise on Vietnam's biggest freshwater lake, visiting Dau Dang waterfall, and exploring Puong cave. Around noon you drive to Cho Ra town for lunch at a local restaurant, then head to Cao Bang City. Check into your hotel for a free evening. Overnight in Cao Bang (dinner on your own).
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant in Cho Ra)
Included Activities
- Cruise on Ba Be Lake
- Visit Dau Dang waterfall
- Visit Puong cave
Landmarks Ba Be Lake Dau Dang Waterfall Puong Cave - Day 12
Cao Bang
After breakfast, drive to remote Trung Khach District stopping at Phuc Sen village of the Nung people to watch local blacksmiths make farming tools. Arriving at Ban Gioc Waterfall around 11:30 AM, you'll walk down to Quay Son River and board a bamboo raft to see Vietnam's most beautiful waterfall. Lunch at a nearby local restaurant. The afternoon brings a visit to Nguom Ngao limestone cave about 2 km from Ban Gioc to see stalagmites and stalactites. Return to Cao Bang City for overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant near Ban Gioc Waterfall)
Included Activities
- Visit Phuc Sen village and Nung blacksmith workshop
- Bamboo raft trip to Ban Gioc Waterfall
- Visit Nguom Ngao limestone cave
Landmarks Ban Gioc Waterfall Nguom Ngao Cave - Day 13
Cao Bang to Bac Son
After breakfast you drive to Bac Son Valley in Lang Son province with photo stops along the way. Arriving at Quynh Son village of the ethnic Tay people, lunch happens at a stilt house. The afternoon includes walking through the village and hiking up to the telephone-station mountain top for valley scenery (great for photographers). Dinner and chatting with your homestay host. A basic mini hotel option is available instead of homestay (note: homestays separate male and female guests by local custom).
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at stilt house in Quynh Son village), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Quynh Son village of Tay ethnic people
- Hike to telephone-station mountain summit for panoramic valley views
Optional Activities
- Stay at basic mini hotel instead of homestay
- Day 14
Bac Son to Hanoi
After a traditional breakfast, there's a 3.5-hour hike on rural back roads where you'll observe local farming practices and enjoy the peaceful mountain and forest surroundings. Private transport picks you up at the hike's end and drives you to Hanoi for lunch. Check into your hotel for overnight in Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional breakfast), Lunch
Included Activities
- 3.5-hour hike on rural back road through countryside
- Day 15
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Hotel pickup at 7:30 AM for a scenic 2.5-hour drive through the Red River Delta to reach Trang An in Ninh Binh. There's a 3-hour sampan boat ride through tunnels and caves in the 'Inland Halong Bay' with its karst formations. After boating, lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon includes cycling on back roads through countryside to Hang Mua, then hiking to the summit for panoramic karst views. Biking down, you continue to Tam Coc area before checking into your hotel. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- 3-hour sampan boat ride through Trang An caves and tunnels
- Cycling through countryside to Hang Mua
- Hike to Hang Mua summit
Landmarks Trang An Hang Mua Tam Coc 
- Day 16
Ninh Binh to Nam Dinh
After breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive toward Nam Dinh coastal province. Midway stop at Co Le, a Buddhist pagoda featuring Vietnamese traditional architecture mixed with European Gothic elements. Arriving at Giao Xuan commune in Xuan Thuy district, you'll check into a village homestay near the coast. A boat trip goes through Xuan Thuy Mangrove National Park (about 30 minutes) into a clam farming area. Climbing to a clam stilt hut, you'll have fresh seafood lunch with sea breezes and learn about clam farming. The afternoon cruise returns to shore and visits the fish market on the cofferdam, followed by a stop at a family-made fish sauce operation to see traditional techniques. End with a gentle bike tour through the national park's bird garden. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Fresh seafood lunch at clam stilt hut), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Co Le Buddhist pagoda
- Boat trip through Xuan Thuy Mangrove National Park
- Visit clam stilt hut and enjoy fresh seafood lunch
- Visit afternoon fish market
- Visit fish sauce family and learn traditional fish sauce making
- Bicycling tour to national park's bird garden
Landmarks Co Le Pagoda Xuan Thuy Mangrove National Park - Day 17
Nam Dinh to Halong Bay
You might wake early from roosters on the farm. After checking out and saying goodbye to your host, breakfast happens before driving through the Red River Delta toward Halong Bay, arriving around noontime. Boarding a luxurious yacht, you'll see hundreds of limestone towers rising from blue waters. Activities include kayaking, swimming, visiting limestone caves, and squid fishing. Meals are served on the boat, and your cabin is ready for your night on the bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise on luxurious yacht through Halong Bay
- Kayaking activity
- Swimming
- Visit limestone caves
- Squid fishing activity
Landmarks Halong Bay 
- Day 18
Halong Bay to Hanoi
This overnight cruise on Halong Bay lets you catch sunrise over the Gulf of Tonkin and sunset behind islands and limestone outcrops. The blue hour between dusk and darkness is considered by locals to be the bay's most beautiful time. After an early lunch, the cruise ends around 11:00 AM. You'll then be driven back to Hanoi. Tour ends.
- End point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (GOODBYE AND SEE YOU SOON)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise and sunset viewing on Halong Bay
