Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi!
Upon arrival, your guide or driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Day 2: Hanoi Half Day City Tour with Cyclo Ride
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Start the morning with a walk to the Northern Gate of the ancient citadel. Learn a bit about the history of the imposing structure and visit Cua Bac Church, a beautiful example of French and catholic influence in the city. Stroll along leafy Phan Dinh Phung Road,one of Hanoi’s most romantic boulevards. Admire the magnificent French-colonial villas along the way before heading to Quan Thanh Temple. The 11th-century Taoist temple is one of the oldest and most culturally significant in the city.
Next, stroll toward West Lake and walk along the shore of the lake to Chau Long Market for a closer look at Hanoian culture in the flurry of a local market. After exploring the street stalls, setoff along a quieter alley and take a short break at a local restaurant,sampling Pho Cuon, a delicious snack similar to fresh spring rolls. Continue toward Hang Than Street, the epic centre of Hanoi’s thriving wedding cake stores. Learn a bit about Vietnam’s unique wedding culture and continue walking to the historic Long Bien Railway Station, located on the bridgehead of the impressive Long Bien Bridge.
Wrap up this captivating tour of Hanoi with a cyclo ride. Equal parts transportation and travel experience, these traditional bicycle rickshaws move at a leisurely pace that’s perfect for photos and slow-moving sightseeing. Sit back and relax whilst weaving through some of the Old Quarter’s busiest streets and end the tour with lunch at a local restaurant.
Day 3: Hanoi - Pu Luong
Discover endless mountains, fertile valley sand pristine jungle in Pu Luong, only a few hours drive from Hanoi. After lunch take a walk in the foothills to get up close with the area’s flora and fauna. Listen to the waterwheels and forest sounds, wave at farmers and grazing water buffalo, and snap pictures of the greenery and wildlife. Pu Luong is dotted with quaint hamlets and villages and is home to Thai people, an ethnic group with two local branches, White Thai and Black Thai. The Thai people are highly skilled at wet rice cultivation and their homes are built in a raised stilt style.
During your tour you will visit Uoi Village where you can chat with thelocals and learn more about their way of life. After the trip you will be transferred back to your resort.
Day 4: Pu Luong - Day at leisure
Free day at leisure to relax in Pu Luong
Day 5: Pu Luong - Ninh Binh
Morning at leisure.
After breakfast embark on a journey of about 3 hours to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties dating back to the 11th century. Having been eroded over the millennia, the dilapidated ruins have nearly been absorbed by the spectacular scenery creating a mystical atmosphere that will be sure to titillate your imagination. . After lunch in a local restaurant you will continue to nearby Tam Coc, popularly known for its outstanding natural beauty and the scenic karst formations which contribute to its reputation as being the “Halong Bay on land”.
Board a small boat and meander lazily down the peaceful river while passing through a series of caves. While enjoying the sounds of soaring birds overhead and paddling along the crystal-clear waters of the river, jagged limestone hills jutting skyward out of electric green rice paddies will be sure to bring out the photographer in you. Finally, return to the pier, where your vehicle will be waiting for you for your transfer to your hotel in Ninh Binh.
Day 6: Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay
Depart from Ninh Binh and travel by road to the Tuan Chau Island pier in Halong Bay Set off on your luxury cruise, where you’ll be pampered in style and comfort whilst meandering through the towering limestone cliffs and emerald green waters of Ha long Bay. Stop in Tra Bau, a secret hideaway in Lan Ha Bay that has beaches, caves and coves. You can try kayaking or simply swim in the clear waters of the bay. Back to your boat, enjoy life aboard the vessel or in your suite, and with cocktail in hand watch the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin.
Day 7: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
Rise with the sun and practice Vivonam on the sundeck while taking in majestic views of the surrounding bay and the cool sea breeze. Wrap up your experience with a bamboo boat trip to visit Dark and Bright Cave before cruising back to Tuan Chau Marina. You will then be transferred back to Hanoi.
Day 8: Hanoi - Quang Binh
Today fly to Quang Binh, home to Son Doong, the world's largest and most impressive cave.
Upon arrival check in your homestay. Upon arrival in Quang Binh, check in Chay Lap farmstay, your base for the next couple of days.
Chay village is surrounded by mountains and rivers. The local people mainly make a living through farming. Take a look around, you can feel tranquility exuding from every corner you pass by. Wake up to the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves and the crowing of roosters. You can take bike or boat around to see the buffaloes and the cows lazily grazing the grass, while the kids happily play on the field, and a butterfly sits right at your palm, the brightest smile comes from a random passerby, and the amazing food that can always make your day better’
Day 9: Quang Binh - Hang Tien Day
Don’t want to sleep in the jungle but still want to explore a massive cave? This tour is for you. Trek through the jungle, enjoy a natural swimming pool and enter through the spectacular entrance. In the morning commence the trek which starts off with a steep uphill section, leading into the jungle. Some rocky sections at the top, and then a similarly steep descent before the trail levels off and you enter the valley. Turning west the trail isa large jumble of rocks to pick your way over, with the help and direction of the guide and safety team. The huge entrance is at the head of the valley.Enjoy some snacks before starting the cave exploration.
As you enter the cave you will appreciate the full size of the passage. Plants and algae cover many of the calcite formations. Further into the cave you will see many unusual cave features such as a ceiling dome, and multiple layers of rock, giving the walls a stripy appearance. Retrace the journey back to the entrance down the rocky valley and stop for lunch and a swim in the beautiful natural spring. Refreshed, it’s then time for the big hill back up and down to the road for the pickup and return to the office for a shower. Transferto Phong Nha arriving at around 19:00.
Day 10:Quang Binh - Drive to Hue
Today you will be transferred to Hue. The journey takes around 4 hours. Upon arrival in Hue,check in your hotel and relax. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 11: Hue Full Day Local Art and Handicraft
In the morning, ourguide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Hue. Take a boat trip along Perfume River to visit Thanh Tien Village, well-known for over 300 years of crafting paper flowers. Meet one of the local villagers and learn how to make your own ornate paper flower. You can be sure that your visit is backing a good cause as it is supported by Backstreet Academy, a social enterprise providing struggling artists, craftsmen and home-based workers with additional income and recognition
Next visit Sinh village which is well-known for Vietnamese folk paintings in Lai An village,Phu Mau commune. This is a type of woodblock paintings commonly used in Hue for the purpose of worshiping. The paper used for the paintings are embedded with seashell powder toughness and colour retention. The artist uses black ink to smear on a woodblock, and then pressed the woodblock to the paper before finishing it with his desired touches and colours.
You will then be taken back to Hue center to have lunch at a local restaurant.In the afternoon visit Thuy Xuan Incense making village, the largest incense making village in the country which has existed for 700 years. To make incenses, the villagers usually combine cinnamon, cardamom, clove, anise and eucalyptus powder which are well mixed with water. Then the incense “dough” is coated around thin bamboo sticks taken from Nam Dong district, Binh Dien commune or Phong Soncommune before being dried under the sun. Those traditionally made incenses are bright yellow in color and have a pleasant smell. The bamboo sticks come dyed in different colours and make it a wonderful photography opportunity as well.
Trip ends with a visit to Vong Canh hill and the mesmerizing tombs of Tu Duc.You will then be transferred back to your hotel.
Day 12: Hue drive to Hoi An, via Hai Van Pass - evening Hoi An Memories
Today you will be transferred to Hoi An over the scenic Hai Van Pass,probably the most scenic stretch of coastal road in Vietnam. Check in your hotel in Hoi An. The rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening take a boat ride from Bach Dang pier to see Hoi An Memories Show, perhaps Vietnam's most impressive art show. With 500 performers taking over the outdoor stage in their traditional ao dai costumes and modern staging techniques, the show is one spectacular visual performance that showcases the rich history, culture and identity of Hoi An.
Day 13: Hoi An - Day at leisure
Day is at leisure for youto discover Hoi An. Take a stroll to the Old Town, have your clothes made by anexpert tailor or join a food tour to discover Hoi An delicacies.
Day 14: Hoi An Departure
At leisure till you are transferred to the airport for your flight.
If you'd like, you can fly directly to Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho (famous for Cai Rang floating market) or Phu Quoc (to have a few days at the beach) after Hoi An.
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