Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi.
Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will meet our tour guide and transfer to your hotel in downtown Hanoi. On the way to Hanoi, your tour guide is briefing your tour and give you some information about Hanoi. Overnight at hotel.
Summary
Hotel transfer: Private AC vehicle – 45 minutes
Meal: None
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi full day city tour – Overnight train to Lao Cai
After breakfast in the hotel you will take an interesting guided city tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh complex (the mausoleum, the house & garden and the museum) and One Pillar Pagoda, a unique ancient architecture. After here we move to Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s first university, dates back to 1070. Its peaceful gardens and pavilions offer a relaxing respite from Hanoi’s busy streets.
In the afternoon, we visit the most beautiful museum in Hanoi - Ethnology museum then enjoy unique water puppet show in center of Hanoi. Walking down some small and lively street to see busy local market then join locals for green tea or coffee in local café. Free time for shopping and dinner on your own until pick up time for transfer to Hanoi train station for overnight train to Lao Cai.
Summary
Activities: Full-day city tour
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Shared cabin on overnight train
Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa Trekking tour to remote area
Early arrival at Lao Cai Train Station, meet your driver for join transfer to Sapa. Take your time for refreshment and breakfast at a local restaurant before start your trekking tour.|
Get on your car for 18km transfer to Red Dzao Village – Ban Lech. We will trek along a narrow valley downhill for 2 hours to the Ngoi Bo River, then uphill for 1 hour to Muong Bo Village at the center of Thanh Phu Commune where your lunch will be provided in a local house.
After lunch, you will trek gradually uphill to Nam Cum Village and then head to Sin Chai B village of Red Dao where the night will be spent in a local house in the village. Dinner at homestay.
Summary
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 6 hours
Accommodation: Homestay
Day 4: Trekking back to Sapa town – Sapa
After breakfast, we start our day by walking downhill toward the My Son village which is inhabited by the Xafo ethnic minority, one of the smallest group’s ethnic in Northern Vietnam. After one and a half hours walk to the Red Dao village of Nam Toong, we will stop for lunch.
In the afternoon, we continue our trip towards Ban Ho village where it will be possible to take a swim. Please check your guide’s advice before jumping on the water. Then our vehicle will transfer you back to Sapa from ban Ho.
Check in your hotel and enjoy your free time to explore the town on your own
Summary
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hiking: 5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa
Day 5: Sapa – Bac Ha – Panhou
Breakfast at hotel then early pick up for transfer to Panhou Eco Lodge at Hoang Su Phi. En route, we will visit Bac Ha Town with a stop at Hoang A Tuong Palace – the H’mong King house which was built by the French colonist and the Chinese in 1920. If your date drops on Sunday, you could spend your time to visit Bac Ha Market and see how the locals sell and buy their goods. Lunch at the town before continue transfer to Panhou Ecolodge.
A full free afternoon and evening to relax for your full day hiking on the next day.
Summary:
Transfer: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Panhou Ecolodge/ Private room
Day 6: Panhou trekking to remote area
Breakfast at Ecolodge. You leave with your local guide at 9am to explore the nearby mountains through tropical forests and rice terraces. You stop in a village of the Red Dao for lunch. By necessity, they have sculpted the mountain and its rivers to grow rice, the main food of their meal. These painful adjustments enable them to live in the heights and, by the way, offer you unique landscapes to contemplate. The cooler climate and fresh water in abundance also contribute to the growth of lush tea trees. You keep walking in the afternoon through manioc fields, bamboo forests, tea plantations, then a village of Yao with Long tunic and finally Pan Hou.
Summary:
Hiking time: approximately 5 hours
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Panhou Ecolodge/ Private room
Day 7: Panhou – Ha Giang – Quan Ba
Breakfast and free at leisure on your own to walking around the lodge. Late afternoon, check out and continue your trip with transfer to Quan Ba Heaven Gate and scramble to the top of Fairy Mountain via Ha Giang City. From here, you can see the famous Twin Mountains and overlook the small towns in the valley spread out at your feet.
Arrive at Quan Ba Town in the afternoon, check in and at leisure on your own.
Summary:
Transfer: AC Vehicle ~ 4 hours on zig zig roads
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Quan Ba
Day 8: Quan Ba – Dong Van - Lung Cu Flag – Meo Vac
Breakfast at hotel, we will depart to Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark – the first Karst Geopark of Vietnam. Continue your drive with a visit to the ancient Pho Bang Town – the home of the Hoa and H’mong people and Vuong family house, once home to the man considered the King of the H’Mong ethnic people in the Dong Van highland area. The architecture of the building bears highly artistic value and clearly reflects ancient Chinese architecture.
Drive straight to Lung Co Mountain “the forehead of the motherland” and marks the northernmost point of Vietnam and visit Lung Cu Flagpole.
Reaching Dong Van Town at late noon, having lunch at local restaurant and strolling around the Dong Van ancient town to see the former market and two villages which have long made up the heart of Dong Van Commune.
Back you’re your car and you will drive onto one of the most beautiful pass in Vietnam – Ma Pi Leng Pass. It is also the most spectacular sightseeing spot both in terms of landscape and history on the road from Dong Van to Meo Vac.
Check in at hotel in Meo Vac and dinner at local restaurant.
Summary:
Transfer: AC Vehicle ~ 6 hours on zig zig roads
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Meo Vac
Day 9: Meo Vac – Bao Lac – Pac Bo – Cao Bang
Check out at hotel and keep driving to Cao Bang Province via Bao Lac and if your date drop on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th day of lunar calendar, we will visit Bao Lac Market and join the Tay, H'mong, Dao, San Chi and Black Lo Lo ethnic minorities in one of the most authentic tribal markets in Northeast Vietnam.
En route we will visit Pac Bo Historical Relic. This scenic spot near the Chinese border is highly significant for Vietnamese people, as the cave sheltered their beloved leader Ho Chi Minh from 1941-45 upon his return from China.
Reaching Cao Bang in the afternoon, check in hotel and relax.
Summary:
Transfer: AC Vehicle ~ 6 hours on zig zig roads
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Bang
Day 10: Cao Bang – Ban Giooc Waterfall – Nguom Ngao Cave.
Today is your chance to see one of the most beautiful waterfall in the north of Vietnam – Ban Giooc Waterfall. Along the way to the waterfall, you will enjoy stunning views of karst landscapes and picturesque hill tribe villages.
Back to the city and stop at Nguom Ngao Cave, the longest and most beautiful cave in Northern Vietnam. With more than 900 of its total 2,144 metres in length, you will be dazzled by sparkling seven-coloured stalactites hanging from high above and startlingly life-like rock formations.
Free in the evening. Overnight at hotel.
Summary:
Transfer: AC Vehicle ~ 4 hours
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Bang
Day 11: Cao Bang – Ba Be National Park – Boat Trip
The morning is your transfer time to Ba Be National Park and along the driving, you will admire the lively and colorful scenery where the paddy fields, streams, rivers and mountain ranges seem to harmonize into a beautiful picture.
Lunch en route before arrive at Boc Luom Pier where you will hop on your boat and take a boat trip to Puong Cave and Dau Dang Waterfall. Relax and enjoy the fresh air right at the waterfall before coming back to the boat and continue the trip to Pac Ngoi village where you will spend your night at a homestay.
Summary:
Transfer: AC Vehicle ~ 4 hours
Boat trip: 2.5 hours
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Cao Bang
Day 12: Ba Be short trekking – Hanoi
A short transfer to Hua Ma Cave which offers trademark underground limestone formations in the midst of Ba Be National Park. A short walk up the mountain and you will enter a wonderland of stalagmites and stalactites. From here you will visit Silver Falls, a 40m falls on the edge of the park which offers a great chance to cool off and enjoy the breeze. Back to the homestay to pack your luggage and say goodbye to the host for transfer back to Hanoi.
Check in your hotel in Hanoi then free at leisure on your own.
Summary:
Transfer: AC Vehicle ~ 5.5 hours
Hiking: 2 hours
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 13: Hanoi – Halong
Breakfast at hotel then check out, meet your driver for joint transfer to Halong. Have a short time to relax before embark at the cruise. Take your key from the crew and enjoy relaxing time in your own cabin or at sundeck before having lunch at the restaurant. After lunch, continue your journey to discover Halong Bay – the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Vietnam. Each cruise will have different schedule for your trip and you may visit a beautiful cave, have some swimming or other activities like sunset party, cooking demonstration etc before dinner.
Evening is your free time and you may choose to enjoy fresh air on the sundeck or playing board games or try your luck with squid fishing.
Note: The cruise program may be changed depend on the cruise’s schedule
Summary:
Transfer: Shuttle vehicle ~ 2.5-3.5 hours
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Private cabin on shared overnight cruise
Day 14: Halong – Hanoi
If you don’t mind, please try to wake up early and join the Taichi class with the crew and enjoy watching sunrise on the bay. Take part in other activities of the 2nd day while the boat cruise back to the Habour.
Farewell with the crew and Halong. Join the shuttle bus again for transfer back to hotel in Hanoi for check in.
Summary:
Transfer: Shuttle vehicle ~ 2.5-3.5 hours
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch/ Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 15: Hanoi Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Our guide and driver are at your disposal until we transfer you to the airport for your flight home or connect to another adventure in Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar with ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA.
Summary
Airport transfer: 50 minutes
Meals: Breakfast
Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety.