On the paths of the ethnic groups of North - East of Vietnam - 12 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

Continue the day with an walking tour. Start with a small pagoda named Ba Da quietly located in a small alley - only few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by French colonialism since the 19th century. Your tour guide also takes you to typical streets of Hanoi such as Lan Ong Street selling traditional medicine, Lo Ren Street where metal items are produced ... Stop to visit the Dong Xuan central market - the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the famous area for night activities and street food - Ta Hien street, where you can see the vibrant streets with a lot of the amazing local foods and drinks. Trying to taste some for an unforgettable experience.

9:00 AM: Get Pick up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "stone steles” which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.

Next stop at the Ethnology Museum (closed every Monday) which offers a deep insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments and traditional houses of many ethnic groups. To fully explore this interesting museum, it takes you around two hours. 

In the after noon you visit the French Quarter – it is a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices and a big square. Visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum before having a leisurely walk in the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live and work. Towards the unique One – pillar pagoda which is one of the city’s symbols. It takes us from 1 to 2 hours to explore this complex, depending on the number of traveler.

Come back to city centrer and have a rest before enjoying the water puppet shows that is the unique performances, first appeared in the 11th century. In these shows, the daily life, culture and belief of Vietnamese people are described by puppets on water. The show usually integrates a traditional music performance as well.

8:00 AM: Depart from your hotel in Hanoi to Ha Giang via the highway to Phu Tho. Stop to visit the Dao village in Ham Yen, Tuyen Quang. First, discover the houses on stilts, a typical style of ethnic groups in this undulating region.

Arrive in Ha Giang in the middle of the afternoon, beginning a trek to the Me – Lup – Tha villages. Featuring serene beauty, these villages are made up of hundreds of houses on wooden stilts covered by palm leaves. In front of the houses, there are small ponds for raising fish and water hyacinth cultivations for pigs. You will be welcomed by big smiles from the villagers testifying to their legendary hospitality. Visit a typical house and discover the local daily life. Arrive in Tha Village, a village on the palm hills with rice fields where you can rest in the serenity.

Finally, check in your accommodation and free to stroll around to catch the rhythm of daily life in the mountain before sunset.

8:00 AM: Depart from your accommodation for the Tay Con Linh Mountain range, following the itinerary: Ha Thanh - Lung Vai - Khuoi My - Na Thac - Tha villages. Begin with a car transfer to Ha Thanh Village, where your trek up the hill starts. The initial part of the journey may be a bit tiring, but the effort is well worth it due to the stunning natural landscapes. As you ascend, you'll be treated to views of the valley, the mountain peak, and Ha Giang city.

After a few hours of trekking, you'll reach Lung Vai Village, home to the Dao ethnic group. Take some time to explore the village and enjoy lunch. Continue on the uneven path from the top of the hill to Khuoi My village and then to Na Thac. Along the trek, you’ll be accompanied by splendid views of rice terraces and the chance to meet local inhabitants.

The trek concludes with a return to Tha village in the afternoon.

8:00 AM: Travel to Dong Van with the magical landscapes of this region present along the route. Before arrival at the Quan Ba pass, we will stop to visit a village of Bo Y people in the Quyet Tien Commune. Their origin is from China. The Bo Yis a small community of 2000 people who populate in the mountainous parts of the north. Stop at the Quan Ba pass and take a short break to admire Quan Ba town with the famous Twin Fairy Mountain (Nui Co Tien).

Continue drive to the Limestone rock plateau zone, considered as mountainous Halong Bay. This majestic natural treasure has been listed in the World Geological Park book. On the way, you will discover “Nha Trinh Tuong” (a special type of house) by a walking to the Lung Hoa Village. This is the typical house of Hmong people in the village which is built on sticky ground. Next, visit the Palace of the H'mong King (Dinh Vua Meo). Dating back 100 years ago, far from the plain, the regions of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac created an autonomous zone with their own king. They cultivated poppies and their economy was based on the opium business with China. Arrive in Dong Van, check in accommodation and relax.

Depart to Lung Cu, located 1470m above sea level. This is well known as a Northern Vietnam landmark. Lung Cu flag pole highlights our nation's sovereignty. Walking up 900 steps will give you the magnificent view of the mountains, valleys and villages in the vicinity then discover the Lo Lo Chai village where the Lo Lo ethnic group lives.

Return to Dong Van town at noon and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, trek to the villages in Dong Van through Hau De – Ma Pia – Ma Pang Village along the Nho Que river that separates Vietnam and China. Travel back to Dong Van at the end of the day.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart from Dong Van to Meo Vac by crossing Ma Pi Leng Pass which seduces you with the breathtaking view of limestone mountains, Nho Que River and H'mong Villages nested in the mountain. Continue toBao Lac. This is well known for the Black Lo Lo ethnic group. This region was highlighted by the French media, “The journey into unknown land”. This documentary was filmed in Khuoi Khon village of the Lo Lo people, 9km away from Bao Lac town, by the rugby player, Frederik Michalak. Lunch is served in Bao Lac town and check in to your hotel.

In the afternoon, we transfer to Coc Xa village, in the Na Van commune. This village of the Lo Lo ethnic group remains more authentic than Khuoi Khon village which became more touristic after the famous documentary. Walk through the rice fields and trails in the village, visit the local people's houses, and talk with the hosts to understand more about the local life as well as their traditional customs. Go back to the town and stay overnight in your hotel.

Depart to Ba Be via Tinh Tuc, 30km from Bao Lac, in Hung Dao commune, there is a beautiful village of San Chi ethnic. Of course, we will stop to visit and discover the beauty of the village. You are one of a small number of travelers who get to visit this area because of its hidden location behind the hill. The village has hundreds of houses on stilts nested on the side of mountains and views of the beautiful valley. To reach to the village, you will have to walk up a 2km steep incline. The higher you walk, the better view you get. Visit a family to understand the authentic life of this ethnic group.

Continue to Ba Be, where you will be surprised by the magnificent nature where the mountains gently meet the valleys of rice terraces. Stop to film or take photos whenever possible. Upon arrival in Ba Be, check in your accommodation in Pac Ngoi Village and go cycling through several villages of Tay ethnic groups to Hua Ma cave (5km from the village). This is an attractive place with amazing formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Finally, come back to your accommodation.

In the morning, transfer from the village to Buoc Lom Pier to take a boat trip along the Nang river and enjoy the beautiful scenery of forests along the river. The boat will pass through Puong cave, home to thousands of bats, toward Dau Dang waterfall.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant by the waterfall. In the afternoon, take the boat back to the lake, stopping at the Fairy pond located in the middle of the primitive forest. Here, you will gently cruise around the lake and it's possible to swim if the weather permits. Disembark at around 04:00 PM. Rest of the day on your own free and easy, enjoy sunset over mountain ranges.

Enjoy breakfast and pure air in morning at the national park, then travel to Tan Trao, a former Viet Minh resistance base during the first Indochina war. Visit the historic banyan tree, Na Lua shack house and Tan Trao communal house where President Ho Chi Minh and his team lived and worked before August, 1945 Revolution.

Continue on the less touristic journey which is distinguished by the Tay ethnic villages whose houses stand on stilts, with a backdrop of tea plantation hills, palm plantations and rice valleys. Visit the villages to meet the locals along the way and obviously do not miss some stops to take the photos of the scenery whenever possible.

Arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon. Check in at your hotel and enjoy some free time after the mountain getaway.

8:00 AM: Pick up at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter). Enjoy three hour drive from Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay. Your journey will pass the series of villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta. Have a stop for drink and restroom. Continue your driving, arrive at the harbor around noon, get warmly welcomed at cruise reception.

07:30 – 8:30: Our driver will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter (for private transfer) or at our Shuttle Bus stop (for shared transfer). We will head to Halong city. 

12:15: Arrival at Sunworld Harbor, where you'll have a short time to relax before boarding the Garden Bay Classic Cruise.

12:30: Transfer to Garden Bay Classic Cruise Boat by tender (5-10 minutes). Warmest welcome drinks, listen to safety briefing, then check into your cabin.

13:00: Enjoy a delicious Vietnamese Set Menu while our boat cruises leisurely to the heart of Bai Tu Long Bay, Cap La area.

15:30: Embark on a kayaking adventure to discover the breathtaking natural scenery of limestone islands and islets. You can also indulge in swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing.

17:30: Join the Sunset Party on the Sundeck while the boat cruises to the Cong Do area to anchor for the night (Happy Hour offer from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm).

18:30: Participate in a cooking class where you can learn how to cook traditional Vietnamese cuisines.

19:30: Indulge in a sumptuous BBQ dinner on the Sundeck (not available until October).

21:00: Free time to relax on the Sundeck or try your luck with squid fishing. Board games are also available.

06:30: Wake up early in the morning for Tai Chi exercise.

07:00: Have a light breakfast with Western styles while the boat cruises toward the most beautiful fishing village in Ha Long Bay.

07:30: Transfer to Vung Vieng Fishing Village by tender.

08:00: Ride on the rowing boat (rowed by the local fisherman) to explore the Vung Vieng fishing village and learn about the local fishing life.

09:00: Return to the main boat for the cruise back to the harbor by a different route.

09:30: Check out.

10:00: Have lunch onboard (Fusion style).

11:00: Disembark at Sunworld Harbor. Our driver will pick you up at the port, and bring you back to Hanoi. Expected arrival time in Hanoi at about 3:00 PM.

Welcome by driver at the harbor then enjoy travel back to Hanoi. Have a rest at the middle of the way. Drop off at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter).

Private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby (Hanoi Old Quarter) for about 45 minutes to Noi Bai 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.