- Tour Name: Discovering Northern Vietnam: A 24-Day, 23-Night Expedition of Heritage, Culture, and Breathtaking Nature.
- Tour Overview: Hanoi (3D2N), Ha Long Bay (2D1N), Ninh Binh (1D1N), Pu Luong (2D2N), Mai Chau (1D1N), Moc Chau (1D1N), Son La (1D1N), Dien Bien (2D2N), Tam Duong (1D1N), Sapa (4D4N), Ha Giang (2D2N), Dong Van (2D2N), Cao Bang (2D2N), Ba Be Lake (2D2N), Hanoi Departure.
WHY CHOOSE THIS TOUR?
- Comprehensive and Relaxed Pace: This new itinerary has successfully fixed the previous flaws, allowing you to discover Northern Vietnam’s most significant destinations at a more relaxed and comfortable pace.
- Deeper Immersion: With better-balanced travel times and added rest days, you will have the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in each destination, not just sightseeing but genuinely feeling and connecting with the place.
- Authentic and Unique: Beyond the well-known landmarks, you will get the chance to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations like Pu Luong, Moc Chau, and the legendary Ha Giang Loop, ideal for those who love to explore.
- Genuine Local Connection: Experience staying in homestays, interact with ethnic minorities, and explore the authentic day-to-day life of local people.
Outline Itinerary
- Day 1: Hanoi – Cultural & Culinary Discovery, Overnight in Hanoi
- Day 2: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay Cruise (Overnight), Overnight on Cruise
- Day 3: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi, Overnight in Hanoi
- Day 4: Hanoi City Tour, Overnight in Hanoi
- Day 5: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Pu Luong, Overnight in Pu Luong
- Day 6: Relax and Explore Pu Luong, Overnight in Pu Luong
- Day 7: Pu Luong – Mai Chau, Overnight in Mai Chau
- Day 8: Mai Chau – Moc Chau, Overnight in Moc Chau
- Day 9: Moc Chau – Son La, Overnight in Son La
- Day 10: Son La – Dien Bien, Overnight in Dien Bien
- Day 11: Discover Dien Bien, Overnight in Dien Bien
- Day 12: Dien Bien – Tam Duong, Overnight in Tam Duong
- Day 13: Tam Duong – Sapa, Overnight in Sapa
- Day 14: Sapa – Fansipan Peak – Cat Cat Village, Overnight in Sapa
- Day 15: Sapa – Trekking Lao Chai & Ta Van, Overnight in Sapa
- Day 16: Relax and Free Exploration in Sapa, Overnight in Sapa
- Day 17: Sapa – Ha Giang City, Overnight in Ha Giang
- Day 18: Ha Giang – Dong Van – Visit Dong Van Town, Overnight in Dong Van
- Day 19: Ha Giang – Visit Ma Pi Leng Pass & Nho Que River, Overnight in Dong Van
- Day 20: Dong Van – Cao Bang, Overnight in Cao Bang
- Day 21: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Nguom Ngao Cave, Overnight in Cao Bang
- Day 22: Cao Bang – Ba Be Lake, Overnight in Ba Be Lake
- Day 23: Explore and Relax at Ba Be Lake, Overnight in Ba Be Lake
- Day 24: Ba Be Lake – Noi Bai Airport, Tour Concludes
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: HANOI – CULTURAL & CULINARY DISCOVERY (L, D)
- Morning/Afternoon: Your guide will pick you up at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) and transfer you to your hotel in the Old Quarter for luggage storage (standard check-in is from 2:00 PM).
- Afternoon: Begin your Hanoi exploration with a half-day tour of the Old Quarter.
- Option 1 (Hanoi Cultural Discovery Tour): Stroll through the historic streets, enjoy a 1-hour cyclo ride, and learn about local life.
- Option 2 (Walking Street Foodie Tour): Dedicate your time to a culinary adventure, savoring Hanoi’s signature dishes at 6 carefully selected food stops.
- Evening: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. The rest of the evening is free for you to explore.
- Overnight: At a hotel in Hanoi.
DAY 2: HANOI – HA LONG BAY CRUISE (Overnight) (B, L, D)
- Morning: Depart from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.
- Noon: Board the cruise, enjoy lunch while sailing through the bay.
- Afternoon: Go kayaking through caves and explore hidden islands.
- Evening: Participate in a cooking class to learn how to make a traditional Vietnamese dish. Dinner and overnight stay on the cruise.
DAY 3: HA LONG BAY – HANOI (B, L)
- Morning: Start your day with a Tae Chi session on the sundeck.
- Late Morning: Explore Sung Sot Cave, one of the most magnificent caves in the bay.
- Noon: Enjoy a farewell brunch before the cruise returns to the harbor.
- Afternoon: Transfer back to Hanoi and check into your hotel.
- Evening: Free for dinner and exploring the city.
DAY 4: HANOI CITY TOUR (B, L)
- Morning: Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi. See the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and the Temple of Literature.
- Noon: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
- Afternoon: Visit the Hoa Lo Prison Relic and the unique Hanoi Train Street. Conclude the day with a visit to Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Evening: Free for dinner.
DAY 5: HANOI – NINH BINH – PU LUONG (B, L, D)
- Morning: Drive to Ninh Binh. Take a gentle boat trip through the beautiful limestone formations of Tam Coc - Bich Dong, also known as "Halong Bay on land."
- Noon: Enjoy lunch.
- Afternoon: Continue the journey to Pu Luong (approx. 3-4 hours), arriving early to relax.
- Evening: Check into a homestay and enjoy a local dinner.
DAY 6: RELAX AND EXPLORE PU LUONG (B, L, D)
- Full Day: This is a dedicated day for relaxation. You are free to explore Pu Luong's terraced rice fields and ethnic villages. You can choose to go for a light trek, ride a bicycle, or simply enjoy the peaceful, fresh air.
- Overnight: At a homestay in Pu Luong.
DAY 7: PU LUONG – MAI CHAU (B, L, D)
- Morning: Drive from Pu Luong to Mai Chau (approx. 1.5-2 hours).
- Noon: Have lunch in Mai Chau.
- Afternoon: Explore the scenic countryside of Mai Chau by bicycle. Afterward, visit Lac Village, learn about the culture of the White Thai ethnic group, and see traditional weaving.
- Evening: Check in, have dinner, and stay overnight in Mai Chau.
DAY 8: MAI CHAU – MOC CHAU (B, L, D)
- Morning: Drive from Mai Chau to Moc Chau (approx. 1.5 hours).
- Noon: Have lunch in Moc Chau.
- Afternoon: Visit Moc Chau's vast tea hills and the majestic Dai Yem Waterfall.
- Evening: Check in, have dinner, and stay overnight in Moc Chau.
DAY 9: MOC CHAU – SON LA (B, L, D)
- Morning: Drive from Moc Chau to Son La City (approx. 2 hours).
- Noon: Have lunch in Son La City.
- Afternoon: Visit the Son La Prison Historical Site.
- Evening: Check in, have dinner, and stay overnight in Son La.
DAY 10: SON LA – DIEN BIEN (B, L, D)
- Full Day: Drive from Son La to Dien Bien (approx. 4 hours).
- Noon: Enjoy lunch on the way.
- Afternoon: Arrive in Dien Bien, check into your hotel, and relax.
- Overnight: At a hotel in Dien Bien.
DAY 11: DISCOVER DIEN BIEN (B, L, D)
- Full Day: Spend the entire day touring the Dien Bien Phu battlefields, including Hill A1, De Castries’ Bunker, and the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum.
- Overnight: At a hotel in Dien Bien.
DAY 12: DIEN BIEN – TAM DUONG (B, L, D)
- Full Day: Drive from Dien Bien to Tam Duong, Lai Chau (approx. 4-5 hours).
- Noon: Have lunch on the way.
- Afternoon: Arrive in Tam Duong, check in, and relax for the rest of the day.
- Overnight: At a hotel in Tam Duong.
DAY 13: TAM DUONG – SAPA (B, L, D)
- Morning: Visit the Rong May Glass Bridge and O Quy Ho Heaven’s Gate.
- Noon: Have lunch on the way.
- Afternoon: Visit Silver Waterfall on the way to Sapa.
- Evening: Check into your hotel, have dinner, and stay overnight in Sapa.
DAY 14: SAPA – FANSIPAN PEAK – CAT CAT VILLAGE (B, L, D)
- Morning: Take the cable car to Fansipan Peak, the “Roof of Indochina.”
- Noon: Have lunch.
- Afternoon: Visit Cat Cat Village, home to the H’Mong ethnic minority.
- Evening: Have dinner and stay overnight in Sapa.
DAY 15: SAPA – TREKKING LAO CHAI & TA VAN (B, L)
- Morning: Your guide will pick you up and transfer you to Mimosa Sapa. Take your time to relax and take photos with the beautiful mountain backdrop.
- Afternoon: Begin a trek through the beautiful terraced rice fields of the Muong Hoa valley. The trail leads to Lao Chai and Ta Van villages, where you can interact with the H'Mong and Giay people, the Rattan Bridge.
- Evening: Free for dinner.
DAY 16: RELAX AND FREE EXPLORATION IN SAPA (B)
- Full Day: Enjoy a free day to relax or explore Sapa at your own pace. You can go shopping, visit local cafes, or simply soak in the town's misty atmosphere.
- Overnight: At a hotel in Sapa.
DAY 17: SAPA – HA GIANG CITY (B, L, D)
- Full Day: This day is dedicated entirely to the long drive from Sapa to Ha Giang City (approx. 6-7 hours).
- Noon: Have lunch en route.
- Afternoon: Arrive in Ha Giang, check into your hotel, and relax for the evening.
- Overnight: At a hotel in Ha Giang.
DAY 18: HA GIANG – DONG VAN (B, L, D)
- Morning: Begin the drive on the famous Ha Giang Loop. Stop at Bac Sum Pass, Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate, and the Fairy Bosom Mountains.
- Noon: Have lunch.
- Afternoon: Admire the dramatic Tham Ma Pass, visit the H’Mong King’s Palace, and explore Dong Van Old Quarter.
- Overnight: At a hotel in Dong Van.
DAY 19: HA GIANG – MA PI LENG & NHO QUE RIVER (B, L, D)
- Morning: Witness the spectacular views from Ma Pi Leng Pass, overlooking the Tu San Canyon.
- Afternoon: Take a scenic boat trip on the Nho Que River.
- Evening: Have dinner and stay another night in Dong Van.
DAY 20: DONG VAN – CAO BANG (B, L, D)
- Full Day: Drive from Dong Van to Cao Bang (approx. 5-6 hours).
- Noon: Have lunch en route.
- Afternoon: Arrive in Cao Bang, check into your hotel, and relax.
- Overnight: At a hotel in Cao Bang.
DAY 21: CAO BANG – BAN GIOC WATERFALL – NGUOM NGAO CAVE (B, L, D)
- Morning: Visit the majestic Ban Gioc Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia.
- Noon: Have lunch at a local restaurant.
- Afternoon: Explore Nguom Ngao Cave with its stunning stalactites.
- Overnight: At a hotel in Cao Bang.
DAY 22: CAO BANG – BA BE LAKE (B, L, D)
- Full Day: Drive from Cao Bang to Ba Be Lake (approx. 3-4 hours).
- Noon: Have lunch.
- Afternoon: Arrive at Ba Be Lake, check into a homestay, and relax.
- Overnight: At a homestay by the lake.
DAY 23: EXPLORE AND RELAX AT BA BE LAKE (B, L, D)
- Morning: Take a boat trip on Ba Be Lake, exploring An Ma Temple and Fairy Pond.
- Noon: Enjoy lunch at the homestay.
- Afternoon: Free time to relax and explore the area around the lake. You can rent a bicycle or go for a light walk.
- Overnight: At a homestay by the lake.
DAY 24: BA BE LAKE – NOI BAI AIRPORT (B, L)
- Morning: Have breakfast and take a boat trip to visit Puong Cave.
- Noon: Enjoy your final lunch at the homestay.
- Afternoon: Transfer directly from Ba Be Lake to Noi Bai International Airport (approx. 4 hours) for your evening or late night departure flight.
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Tour Suitability: This tour is ideal for adventurous travelers with a reasonable level of physical fitness.
- Flexibility: The guide will adjust the daily itinerary based on real-time conditions (weather, traffic, etc.) to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
- What to Pack: Bring light, comfortable clothing for warmer days and a warm jacket for cooler nights. Pack sturdy walking or trekking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
- Culture: Respect local customs and traditions, particularly in ethnic minority villages. Always ask for permission before taking photos of local people.
CHILDREN’S POLICY
- Children under 4 years old sharing a bed with parents: Free of charge.
- Children aged 5-11 years old sharing a bed with parents: 70% of the adult rate.
- Children 12 years and older: Adult rate applies.
CALL TO ACTION
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