UNDISCOVERED NORTHERN VIETNAM TOUR – 7 DAYS

* UNDISCOVERED VIETNAM TOUR – BRIEF ITINERARY:

 Day 1: Hanoi Arrival 

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour

Day 3: Hanoi insight- wake up today local way!

Day 4: Hanoi – Mai Chau

Day 5: Mai Chau- Ninh Binh

Day 6: Ninh Binh- Halong Bay, overnight on the cruise.

Day 7: Halong Bay– Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi departure.

Day 1: Northern Vietnam Tour to Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay: ARRIVAL – HANOI  (-/-/-)

Upon arrival in Noi Bai Airport, you’ll receive the cordial welcome and comfortable transfer to hotel. Check-in and enjoy your free time then.

O/N in Hanoi.

Day 2: Northern Vietnam Tour to Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay: HANOI SIGHTSEEING TOURS (B/L/-) 

Today you’ll be on a full day tour to discover the soul of Hanoi. First, pay a visit to Cho Hom, the local market, to get caught up in the lively atmosphere. This is where the city dwellers come daily to purchase the local food, fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, seafood, meat, and household appliances. Come and enjoy with your six senses!

Afterward, visit to Ba Dinh Square where stands the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh who led Vietnam to independence from French colonial rule. This site has become an important city landmark and a perfect place to learn more about Vietnam’s rich history. From there, wander through the beautiful surrounding gardens toward the One Pillar Pagoda and Presidential Palace, where a replica of Ho Chi Minh’s simple working space is on display.

Next, visit the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. Time for lunch at Cha Ca La Vong. This rustic restaurant was founded more than 100 years ago and was the first restaurant to serve this iconic dish of Hanoi. The fresh seafood, grilled, seasoned, and dipped in sauce, will tantalize your taste buds and fill up your empty stomach to get you ready for the afternoon excursion.

After lunch, stroll down the streets and try café Trứng—egg coffee at Café Giang, 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street, about a 10-minute walk from the restaurant. Hot café Trứng, with its rich taste of coffee, creamy egg yolk, and sweet condensed milk, will leave you smiling.

Later on, enjoy a tour by cyclo around the old quarter streets, an interesting introduction of the city.  Disembark at the hotel and relax then.

O/N in Hanoi.

Day 3: Northern Vietnam Tour to Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay: WAKE UP TODAY LOCAL WAY (B/-/-)

Rise up early to find yourself among thousands of locals doing Tai- chi & exercise around Hoan Kiem Lake. Different from the bustling city after 7:00 a.m., you will see another Hanoi at dawn.

Continue to try pho bo— beef noodle soup—at Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su just nearby. As the national typical dish, it’s beloved by all the locals and a good kick-start for your day. Stroll to the Roman Catholic Saint Joseph Cathedral, just a five-minute walk from the pho restaurant. As the biggest and oldest cathedral in the city, it was built by the French in late 1880s in the Neo-Gothic style, it was beautifully designed with stained-glass windows and a high-vaulted interior.

Stop at a sidewalk and take a seat like the locals do, and ask for an iced lemon tea and some roasted sunflower seeds, or slowly sip a cup of hot jasmine or lotus tea while people are rushing to work on their motorbikes. Like other big cities, Hanoi is hustling and bustling, with thousands of people riding motorbikes, the most convenient means of transportation in the city.

Transfer back to the hotel where you’ll spend the rest of this morning at leisure.

The metropolitan area of Hanoi is truly impressive; however, there is another lesser known area of Hanoi that offers much to see! This afternoon, just a short drive away from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi’s city center to the majestic beauty of the peaceful countryside. We’ll visit Dong Anh- a rural suburb of Hanoi and origin of Vietnam’s culture and traditions. This area is well known for Co Loa, the very first national capital and the less visited Dao Thuc village, whose origins date back to the foundation of the art of water puppetry. This village still remains a very traditional village on the Red River Delta.

During your exploration, you will have a chance to admire not only the charming rice fields, local houses, gardens, and friendly locals working on their farms… a beautiful village with poetic scenery, charming rivers….but also a water puppet show performed right where this art form originated!

P/s: Water puppet is a unique traditional art form and expression of cultural identity. The shows capture Vietnamese traditions; farming, tending buffaloes, and catching fish; entertainment, like swimming contests and lion dancing; and historical legends with traditional music. The one-hour show is a fun and insightful look into Vietnamese culture enjoyed by both adults and children.  

Day 4: Northern Vietnam Tour to Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay: HANOI- MAI CHAU (B/L/D)

Today, you’ll join us to open another page of Undiscovered Vietnam. We’ll transfer overland to Maichau, the beautiful gateway to the mountainous area of northern Vietnam. This 4- hour scenic drive offers an excellent opportunity to observe rural Vietnam up-close. The valley of Mai Chau is inhabited by a community of the Thai minority group while the upper lands of Mai Chau are inhabited by the H’mong minority group.

On arrival at Mai Hich village, take a short break. Unlike the other well-known tourist destinations, Mai Hich is the newly discovered village, a harmonial combination between human being and nature.

In the late afternoon, experience an exciting bamboo rafting to be immersed in gorgeous landscapes of jungles, the peaceful beauty of the countryside culture followed by a walk around while interacting with the locals to learn how they live in this beautiful part of the world.

Dinner and homestay at the local family.

Day 5: Northern Vietnam Tour to Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay: MAI CHAU- NINH BINH (B/L/D)

Enjoy breakfast hosted by the local family before journeying to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s former capital. On arrival, visit two significant temples dedicating to King Dinh and King Le who ruled the first dynasties of the country. Then, walk a hundred steps up to the top of a mountain for a panorama view of the old capital.

After lunch, enjoy a relaxing sampan tour along Ngo Dong River in Tam Coc while passing rocky outcrops and through three limestone caves. During the rowing boat ride, you will enjoy a unique landscape that has been dubbed “Halong Bay on Land”.

Take a short walk through Limestone Mountains to Thai Vi temple which was dedicated to the four Kings of the Tran dynasty in the 13th century and now offers a place of peace and simplicity against a backdrop of ancient architecture.

Visit Bich Dong Pagoda which set among pink lotuses. The pagoda offers spectacular views of the surrounding area.

Transfer later today to the hotel where you will stay overnight tonight. 

Day 6: Northern Vietnam Tour to Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay: NINH BINH- HALONG BAY (B/L/D)

After having breakfast at the hotel, we journey northeast to Vietnam’s greatest natural wonder, Halong Bay. On arrival, we’ll board a beautiful traditional junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay’s 3000 magnificent limestone islets. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is the opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Kayaks are also available if specified at the time of booking. Spend the night on our luxurious boat.

Day 7: Northern Vietnam Tour to Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay:  HALONG BAY- HANOI (B/L/D)

Wake up to fresh coffee before cruising back to the shore. En route the junk weaves through impressive rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even further! After lunch, we disembark and return to Hanoi. En route, take a detour to the 500-year pottery village of Bat Trang.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: Northern Vietnam Tour to Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay:  HANOI- DEPARTURE (B/L/D)

After having breakfast, free at leisure until transferring to the airport for your departure flight home.

—End of services—

* INCLUDING:

+ Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
+ Accommodation in hotels (twin shared room) with daily breakfast 
+ English or French speaking guide 
+ Meals as indicated: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch & D = Dinner 
+ Entrance fee to indicated sights 
+ Water puppet show
+ Pure bottled water & wipes
+ Government’s taxes

* EXCLUDING: Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room, personal expenses, insurance…