Hanoi - Mai Chau - Dien Bien - Tam Duong - Sa Pa - Bac Ha - Hoa Lu - Hai Phong - Ha Long - Bat Trang - Hanoi

Day 1: ARRIVE IN HANOI

Arrive at Noi Bai airport, transfer to the hotel. Hanoi, Vietnam's capital retains an elegance and old world charm not found in most Asian capitals. If time permits we take a short sightseeing tour by pedicab through the tree-lined boulevards and beautiful lakes.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: HANOI (B)

Full day visit the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh (close on Monday & Friday), Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology, West Lake, Tran Vu Pagoda, Lake of the Restored Sword. Evening enjoy a fantastic traditional water puppet show.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: HANOI - HOA BINH - MAI CHAU (B, D)

Drive to Hoa Binh (60 km), a mountainous province assortes with diverse minorities of characteristic culture and tradition. Stop en-route visiting a Muong minority village. Continue driving to Mai Chau (80 km) where exisits a very original culture. Admire this marvelous and beautiful village by viewing a fresh green valley with plants and fields together with rows of tilted houses. In the evening, we enjoy a traditional music show performed by the young White Thai boys and girls, reflecting the rich culture of this ethnic group. The show is followed by ethnic rice wine “Ruou Can” and ethnic rice “Com Lam”. Overnight in Mai Chau.

Day 4: MAI CHAU - DIEN BIEN PHU (B)

Early morning leave Mai Chau. Cross over Pha Din Pass through savage landscapes and waving rice fields on the way to Dien Bien Phu, the site of the decisive battle in Vietnam's struggle for independence with France in 1954.

Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.

Day 5: DIEN BIEN PHU - TAM DUONG (B)

Visit Dien Bien Phu's Museum, the ancient battlefield and the head quarters of French General Christian de Castries. Then travel into the Vietnam's most mountainous region (100km) through the spectacular landscape with a mixture of terraced fields and hill villages, opportunities to encounter Red Hmong, Kho Mu, Muong, Dao people. Visit Tam Duong great ethnic market where we can find all the ethnic tribes of the region (Man, Green H’mong, Black H’mong, Dao, Muong, PhuLa, etc…). The girls are beautiful with natural rosy cheeks and unique local hair style.

Overnight in Tam Duong.

Day 6: TAM DUONG - SA PA (B)

Depart to Sa Pa (200km) through the picturesque mountainous landscape. Arrive in Sa Pa late afternoon, rest of the day is free for relaxing or self-exploring the town.

Overnight in Sa Pa.

Day 7: SA PA (B)

Visit the unique Sa Pa Market where Red Dzao, Black Hmong, Tay, Xa Pho ethnic minority people living in different mountain and valleys have clustered to trade their goods. These people are still wearing colorful pattern dress in their tradition way. Then we get off the beaten track, trek into this mountainous region to visit the ethnic village of Cat Cat. Along the way we traverse several rustic villages and see many mountaineers doing their daily works such as logging, herding buffalo and tilling the field. The blend of verdant mountain backdrop and colourful population makes for an unimaginable view. In the evening we attend the extraordinary Love Fair if it’s on Saturday night.

Overnight in Sa Pa.

Day 8: SA PA - BAC HA (If on Sunday) (B)

Drive to Bac Ha, travelling through the Chinese border town of Lao Cai to the colourful Sunday Market at Bac Ha (50km). This market also attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the H’mong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi, Tay, etc. They still retain their age-old cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other by their dress. The experience of this congregation is unique. After the market we enjoy a walk around the area visiting the Hmong King's former residence and Ban Pho village where the villagers make the potent local maize alcohol.

Overnight in Bac Ha.

Day 9: BAC HA - HANOI (B)

Heading back to Hanoi (350km). The scenic roads pass through many picturesque landscapes changing from Tonkinese Alps to Delta Region. Lot of photo opportunities along the way.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 10: HANOI - NINH BINH - PHAT DIEM CATHEDRAL (B)

Depart for Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam late 10th century - early 11th century, which is called “the terrestrial Ha Long Bay” as its towering limestone cliffs and mountains spring up form the green, lush paddy field instead of blue water. Visit two temples edicated to Dinh and Le Rulers, climb 200 steps to the top of Ma Yen mount for a fantastic view over the surrounding areas. Take a boat trip on a river through the quiet and peaceful landscape to Bich Dong and Tam Coc caves. Then continue our route to visit the amazing Phat Diem stone cathedral built in 1875.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Day 11: NINH BINH - HAI PHONG - HA LONG (B)

Drive to Hai Phong, the biggest port town of northern Vietnam (100km). Visit Hang Kenh temple and Du Hang pagoda then travel to Ha Long Bay (60km). The remainder of the day is free to explore Ha Long city or simply to relax.

Overnight in Ha Long.

Day 12: HA LONG - BAT TRANG - HANOI (B, L)

Take 4-hour boat trip exploring Ha Long Bay, Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights, which provides a fantastic view of the magnificent bay, dotted with some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. Along the way, we will anchor for a leisurely swim or sunbath in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to its beautiful caves and grottoes.

Afternoon back to Hanoi (165km), stop en route at Bat Trang ceramic village where distinctive ceramics are hand-made and used throughout the delta region for over 500 years. The vitality of this village is still blown up by the hundreds of ceramic kilns on fire day and night. Stroll around various cottages watching craftsmen forming, painting and glazing their products in traditional ways.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 13: DEPART HANOI (B)

Free at leisure for last minute shopping until transfer to Noi Bai airport for departure flight.