Best of Northern and Central Vietnam - 11 Days

Landing at the Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed by professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. Enjoy 45-minute driving to the city center (Hanoi Old Quarter) with city's briefing information about the most visited spots, culture, traffic and cuisine....Arrive in your hotel, check in and have a rest.

Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00

In the morning, explore Exploring the Capital City of Hanoi

In the morning, visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda—dating back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De. Then visit the mausoleum (closed on Mondays and Fridays), dedicated to Ho Chi Minh, who led Vietnam to independence from the French. Enjoy a pleasant stroll through the botanical garden to visit the Presidential Palace—Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house where he lived and worked.

Late morning, visit the Temple of Literature—known as the first National University and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After lunch, transfer to In the afternoon, continue to the Hoa Lo Prison Museum (Hanoi Hilton), which chronicles Vietnam’s history during French colonial rule and the Vietnam War. Take a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter to Hoan Kiem Lake.
Evening at leisure. Meals are at the guests’ own expense.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Arrive in Lao Cai train station in the early morning. Private guide and car will escort you an hour trip up-hill to Sapa. Enjoy the beauty of nature and rice terraces after every turns and meet H’mong, Red Dao people along the way. Have a breakfast at local restaurant before exploring the town.

Leave the luggage at hotel and trek to Lao Chai village. Turn on a small path crossing the rice field to a small hamlet. Have a special visit to grandma who is the only craftsman left in the community, traditionally using beeswax for decoration to make the unique Hmong’s indigo clothing. It is also great chance to learn about their daily life and culture.

The next will be Ta Van village, the charming land of the Dzay people, well located on the hill with amazing views of river, rice terraces and Hoang Lien Son Mountain range. As you leisurely walk, meet villagers who will kindly invite you to visit their homes.

In the morning, we will start our full day of authentic trekking on a route from the Ta Phin village. This peaceful land was chosen by the Red Dao people when they immigrated to Vietnam from China since the 17th century. Follow a small hill path you can see many orchid gardens that supply even the biggest demands of cities for New Year's decorations. Towards the Ban Khoang village, trek through the corn–farm to the rainforest with amazing views of rice terraces. On season, you may see local people and buffalos working on the field.

Have a picnic lunch on the way (or at a local restaurant in village). Being on an isolated up-hill, the primitive culture of the Red Dao people in Ban Khoang has been preserved. They are not only well-known for the most beautiful attire in Sapa, but also the “No eyebrow” tradition of married woman. Visit some houses and stroll around the village. 

Take a mountain train for 2km with scenic views up to the cable car station. Conquering the peak of Indochina by taking the World’s longestnon-stop three-rope cable car of 6292.5m, you will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gaze down upon the Hoang Lien Son MountainRange, Muong Hoa Valley and enjoy the magnificent natural landscapes. These breathtaking views and picturesque sceneries appear dramatically and leave unique memorable experiences to all who witness it.

You will then have a break to visit the Buddhist complex. An opportunity to take a 2nd mountain train or hike 500 steps uphill to leave your footprint on the Peak of Indochina, at 3143m high. On the way back, you can enjoy a hot drink at 3000m high café and enjoy the beauty of nature.

In the afternoon, Get pick up by shuttle bus at hotel lobby for a transfer to Hanoi. Arrive to your hotel in Hanoi around 8:00 PM

Well-known as Halong onland, Ninh Binh is an awesome site with giant limestone karst formations jutting out of the rice paddies and enriched with historical, cultural and geographic wonders. The tour experiences you with the most popular landscapes.

- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital

- Hiking to Bich Dong pagoda

- Boat trip in Tam Coc - the 'Halong on Land"

8:00 AM: The professional tour guide and driver will pick you up at hotel, then transfer to Ninh Binh Arriving in Ninh Binh, first pay a visit to Hoa Lu - the former capital of Vietnam from the 10 to the 11 century, visit the two temples: Temple of King Dinh and King Le Continue to Tam Coc and enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Tam Coc which has been well-known as the “Halong Bay on land” and appeared in famous French movie “Indochina”. Then boarding a small sampan to visit Tam Coc which means literally “three caves” (2.5 hour boat trip) Then, you visit Bich Dong pagoda nearby. Return to the hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in hotel

07:30 – 08:00 Our driver will pick you up from your hotel in the Old Quarter (A short break on route for refreshments about 20 minutes)
11:30 – 11:45 Arrive at Halong International Harbor 
12:15 Embark on cruise by tender. Check-in, enjoy welcome drinks and cruise briefing
13:00 Enjoy lunch while cruising to magnificent Ha Long Bay, and admire the fascinating formations on the way
14:45 Luon cave - Kayak or Bamboo boat 
Luon cave excursion on bamboo rowing boat by locals or kayak. This is one of the must-do activities in the bay. 
16:00 Titop island – Climbing, Beach & Swimming 
Your next stop is Titop island with its famous crescent moon-shaped beach and tranquil beautiful blue waters. Viewing Halong Bay from the peak of Titop island is another not-to-be missed activity. 
17:00 – 18:30 Enjoy the best moments of the day at sundeck as the sun hits the water between the dramatic limestone peaks and emerald-green coves, enjoying drinks and a cooking demonstration.
19:15 Savour a delicious dinner
21:00 Night time squid fishing 
22:30 Free of mind with sweet dreams

Note:

-The itinerary is subject to change in case of bad weather
-English speaking guide on board

06:15 Enjoy sunrise on the Bay. Morning Tai Chi session on sundeck
06:30 Light breakfast. Coffee, tea and pastries served in restaurant
07:20 Sung Sot cave excursion
Explore Sung Sot Cave – the biggest and most stunning cave in Halong Bay
09:15 Check-out of cabins & bill settlement. Start cruising back to the port
09:30 Buffet brunch served at the restaurant 
10:45 – 11:00 Back to the port. Farewell and disembark
11:15 – 11:30 Transfer back to Hanoi Old Quarter. Arrive at approximately 14:30-14:45.
End of our service. 

Hoi An used to be one of the most typical South-East Asian trading ports dating from the 15th to the 19th century and the Old Town is still well-preserved. The exchanged cultures is displayed on many historic buildings, religion, daily business and enriched by the authentic lifestyle of local inhabitants.

the Hoi An city’s symbol - the Chua Cau or the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 17th century to allow the Japanese quarter to be accessible from the Chinese neighborhoods. The bridge’s original style has been carefully preserved for the last 400 years.

the Cantonese Assembly Hall sits right next to the Cau Pagoda, constructed by Cantonese settlers during the 19th century for communication among Chinese residents and worshipping the Thien Hau Holy Mother. On a visit, you can admire the structure as well as the decor, which includes a striking dragon made from pottery.

Cam Pho - one of the oldest communal houses in Hoi An. It was built in the shape of Chinese character means the country for worshipping and trading business and cultural exchange between locality and Chinese, Japanese traders.

Hoian center market where is the best place to see the local daily life. Situated on the riverside, the large market is packed with stalls where you easily find a huge variety of food at extremely cheap prices. There is also a great fresh vegetable, meat and fish market which is worth visiting.

Far diffrent from the famous Hoian ancient town or sand beaches, the rural countryside gives you the most authentic experience about life and people here. Cycling through the riverside villages, crossing rice fields and meeting people...

- Gently cycling in Kim Bong carpentering village

- Witness the landscaps from Thu Bon river

- Sampan boat experience

Take a boat to Kim Bong village. On the boat, you will immerse yourselves into the comfortable fresh air and enjoy the idyllic landscapes on both sides of the river.

This village has long been known for its wood carving. At first, the artisans inherited the techniques from the northern Vietnamese. Later, from business exchange, they could successfully adopt the know-how of Chinese and Japanese sculptures and cultivate their own style. Bike around the village to understand their daily life and visit a carpenter's workshop to admire their talent. It is possible to buy some wood products as souvenirs.

Travel to Tra Nhieu village. Immerse into the countryside in the center of Vietnam. The trip will allow some unprecedented meetings for instance, Ms Duoc with the mat weaving, Mr Kha with the bamboo sampan basket making and Mr Huynh Ri with his craftsman shipyard. A countryside landscape of palm and rice fields, buffaloes and farmers in the fields will surround you along the way.

Finally to Cam Thanh village. Along the way the landscapes of fishing farms and water palmtrees will accompany you. Arrive in Cam Thanh and embark a small round bamboo sampan basket boat. Enjoy crab catching in the water palm trees forest. This is a relaxing moment after hours of biking.

After that take a little rest in the house of fisherman (Mr. Phong) enjoy green tea and foot massage with medicinal herbs that planted in the family garden. Then prepare vegetables and herbs from Tra Que village, join in a small practice of cooking the typical dishes: crispy pancake (meat, shrimp, beansprouts…), spring rolls of Hoi An, Tam Huu, grilled fish in banana leaf… Enjoy the dishes you made.

Free and relax at your hotel until getting pick up by private driver for about 45 minutes to Da Nang airport (international or domestic hall according to your request). Thanks for the visit to our city.

Note: International flights require you to be at the airport 3 hours and domestic is 2 hours before departure time.