DAY 1 – Arrival Hanoi

Arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, collect your luggage process through custom. Your private tour guide and driver will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim/ custom area to transfer you in a private vehicle to the hotel in downtown.

While every effort is made to have your room available upon arrival, check in time is at 02:00pm; your room may or may not be ready before this time. Your tour guide will provide additional details regarding your stay, and you will be able to ask any questions you may have.

The rest of the day is at leisure.
 
DAY 2 – Hanoi, Half day city tour & Cyclo tour (B/L)

08:00 Dive in to the sights, sounds and smells of Hanoi. Your guide and driver will collect you from the hotel lobby to start your trip with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh complex on the site where he declared Vietnam’s independence in 1945, and see the reverence with which Vietnamese people treat their “Uncle Ho”. Other sites that we will visit with our local guide include: House 54, Stilt House, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda.

10:00 Continuing on our journey through Hanoi we drive to visit Vietnamese Women Museum, a beautifully presented tribute to the women of Vietnam through the time. There are amazing collections and photography of historical contexts alongside a wealth of information on today’s modern Vietnamese ladies.

Our next stop is the Temple of Literature. Originally built in honor of Confucius by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070, a university was added to the grounds six years later. The university provided education to the royal family and children of the aristocracy or "mandarins". The University remained here until Emperor Gia Long moved the countries administrative capital from Hanoi to Hue in the 18th century.

Have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, embark on a cyclo ride around the trading area in the busy Hanoi Old Quarter. Since the cyclo goes at the same pace as walking, you will have a chance to take photos of this beautiful city. Traveling by cyclo, you will have your full attention to just enjoy the scenes around you, instead of worrying about where you are going. So let’s enjoy the variety and drama of daily life in the old quarter.

Drop off at your hotel in Hanoi for a hotel check in. Enjoy the leisure time for the rest of your day.

DAY 3 – Hanoi-Travel to Ninh Binh-Visit Tam Coc, Bich Dong pagoda & Hoa Lu Temple (B/L/D)
Distance: 95 kilometers/ Estimate driving time: 02 hours

07:30 Pick up and transfer to Ninh Binh province which is located to the south of the Northern Delta, between the Red and Ma rivers.

09:30 Upon arrival at Tam Coc/ Three caves, known as Halong Bay on land, we will embark on a two-hour excursion by small boat along the Ngo Dong River, beginning at the village of Van Lam and proceeding through a scenic landscape dominated by rice fields and karst towers. The route includes floating through Tam Coc - the three natural grottos (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba), the largest of which is 125m long with its ceiling about 2m high above the water. The boats are typically rowed by one or two local women who also sell embroidered goods.

11:30 Returns to the dock and be transfered to the nearby site to visit to Bich Dong pagoda - a cave pagoda - which was built in the 15th century. There are 3 main pagodas here called Chua Ha, Chua Trung and Chua Thuong. We'll start a walking tour across a stone bridge and start hiking up the mountains on some stone steps, passing through the dark cave and we'll find ourselves on top of the mountains with private view of the surroundings.

12:30 Have lunch at a local restaurant

14:30 In the afternoon, we travel on our private vehicle to Hoa Lu, the capital of an ancient Vietnamese Kingdom called Dai Co Viet in the 10th century. Hoa Lu existed as the capital of Vietnam for 41 years before King Ly Thai To moved it to Thang Long (Hanoi now) in 1010. Since then Hoa Lu became an ancient capital which maintained lots of ancient temples and relic sites of Vietnam.

Check in your hotel and spend time for relaxation.

DAY 4 – Ninh Binh, Private transfer to Puluong, Visit Hieu village (B/L/D)
Distance: 140 kilometers/ Estimate driving time: 03 hours

08:30 After breakfast, meet your private local guide at the hotel lobby and travel on your private vehicle to Puluong, a region with endless mountains, fertile valleys and pristine jungle.

Upon arrival, have a relaxing time and enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit to Ban Hieu (Hieu village), a Thai village located on the bank of the Hieu stream, which is originating from the Pu Luong peak, flowing tortuously across the village with hundred rooftops scattered along its both sides. Lying in the steep slopes of jagged mountains, Hieu village overviews stunning valleys with its natural waterfall running day & night.

After an interesting time taking in the natural beauty and walking around the village, hop on your private vehicle and return to your hotel for a check in.

Have a cozy night in Puluong.

DAY 5 – Puluong, Travel to Mai Chau (B/L)
Distance: 70 kilometers/ Estimate driving time: 02 hours

08:30 In the morning, leave Puluong to Mai Chau, a beautiful valley inhabited by the Thai people in Hoa Binh province. This is an authentic hill tribe region and a fantastic base for treks and home stay adventures.

Upon arrival, visit Mai Hich village where we will enjoy a walking tour to explore the surroundings, meet local people and learn about their lives raising crops and livestock.

Check in your hotel and have lunch at a local restaurant.

Spend the afternoon time on your own leisure.

DAY 6 – Mai Chau-Transfer to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi (B)
Distance: 140 kilometers/ Estimated driving time: 03 hours

After breakfast, meet your private guide and vehicle then depart to Hanoi. Our trip will end after a drop off at Noi Bai airport. Time to say goodbye and hope to welcome you back soon.