Upon arrival, you will be met outside the baggage claim area by your friendly driver who will escort you to a waiting vehicle for your transfer to downtown with a brief introduction en route. Arrive in hotel. Free time in Hanoi

Night 1: Overnight in hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast at your hotel. The guide pick you up at your hotel and then visit the capital of Vietnam, a city that celebrated 1.000 years in 2010 has countless fascinating cultural and historic sites and our day tour will visit the highlights.

See the grand and solemn mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov), the ‘icon of Hanoi’ – The One Pillar Pagoda, West Lake’s Tran Quoc temple. After lunch, visit the beautiful Temple of Literature, and visit Long Bien bridge.

You’ll end your day with a show at the Water Puppet Theater – a beautifully unique cultural performance from northern Vietnam.

Night 2: Overnight in hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast and check out the hotel, our tour guide and driver will pick you up for an interesting journey to Western Northern Vietnam. Taking high-speed road Ha Noi – Lao Cai toward Bac Ha.

You will spend the afternoon on a motorbike tour to Hoang Thu Pho village, up and downhill to see unbreathing sight-seeings. If the weather permits, you can swim at the waterfall. Sleep 1 night at a local homestay. 

Night 3: Overnight in hotel in Bac Ha

Option 1: If this day is Sunday – Visit Bac Ha Market

Bac Ha Market is held every Sunday and is the biggest minority people market in Northwest Vietnam. Alive with the bright colors and extravagant costumes of the local people, here you will meet Flower Hmong (Red Hmong), Black Dao, Tay, Nung, La Chi, Phu La, and other minority groups who come from far and wide to buy and sell a wide variety of goods and livestock, to exchange news and to renew friendships.

In the past, the market was a centre for trading horses but now that motorbikes have replaced them it is more common to see buffalo, cows, goats, fish and other livestock being traded. The market opens at around 7.30am and closes mid-afternoon, so an early start is advisable. Take time to wander around the market, enjoy the atmosphere and have fun trying out your trading skills with the friendly local people.

Have lunch in a local restaurant where a variety of foods are available for your delectation and delight. You can even try the traditional local lunch of Thang Co (horse stew) and strong corn wine! After lunch, you will be driven to Ban Phung village. Sleep in homestay.

Option 2: If this day is Wednesday – Visit Sin Cheng Market.

Located in the center of Si Ma Cai districts more than 10km away, in the past, there have a lot of difficulties when traveling on this road, so Sin Cheng was almost separate from the outside. That barrier makes it difficult for Sin Cheng land and people to get rich as the lower, but also so that the value of a long tradition still preserved.

On Wednesday morning, starting at 8.30 am from Bac Ha to Sin Cheng market, it takes us about 1.30 hours. Opened only one time each week from 9.00 am to 1.30 pm. This market which is in the border area is far 40km from Bac Ha (in the Si Ma Cai district) so just a few people know this place. The market is almost untouched by modern life. Where you will be surprised by the way of living of the people here that you can find nowhere in the modern world.

After the market, we come back to Bac Ha for lunch. And then we go to visit some villages of the Mong and Tay ethnic minorities around Bac Ha town about 2 hours. After lunch, you will be driven to Ban Phung village. Sleep in homestay.

Option 3: If this day is Thursday – Visit Lung Khau Nhin Market.

Lung Khau Nhin is a small market very close to the border with China, close to Muong Khuong town. The Black Dao, Giay, Tay, and Flower Hmong (Red Hmong) minority peoples all attend this market.

Lung Khau Nhin market is held every Thursday starting around 7.30 am and closing in the early afternoon. The market is set in beautiful scenery and is very remote. It is a very ‘authentic’ market with few tourists visiting. The market mainly sells vegetables, seeds, and livestock for the minority peoples.

Drive to Lung Khau Nhin (67 km/2 hours from Bac Ha) Spend time walking around the market taking in the sights and sounds and perhaps trading with the local people. On the way back we will stop in Muong Khuong and pay a visit to pineapple and tea plantations. You can have lunch either in Muong Khuong village After lunch, you will be driven to Ban Phung village. Sleep in homestay.

Option 4: If this day is another day in the week – Freetime to explore Bac Ha Town – Ban Phung village.

After breakfast, you will have free time to walk around the town. You also can visit Hoang A Tuong Palace – Meo’s King.

After lunch, you will be driven to Ban Phung village. Locating on the Tay Con Linh mountain range. Phung Village has an unsullied nature and is the home of La Chi ethnic. Villages are connected by steep winding roads. This will bring you to off-the-beaten paths (in every sense of the word!). The transfer will stop about 10 km away from your homestay.

From there, you can choose either trek up to your accommodation or hop on the back of the bike. Vietnam’s extreme north will be greatly rewarded with some of the most breathtaking mountain and cliff views imaginable as well as a peak into the lives of the villagers who inhabit the region.

Night 4: Overnight in hotel in Ban Phung

After breakfast, we start the day to discover Ban Phung on foot. We will explore the terraced fields and the beautiful landscape of Ban Phung. While hiking, we can have the opportunity to meet and talk with locals to better understand their lives.

Most locals are La Chi, they often speak their language, and they can speak very few Vietnamese words. After hiking, we stop at a La Chi to visit their house. Return to the inhabitant for your second night.

Night 5: Overnight in hotel in Ban Phung

After late breakfast, we will say goodbye to Ban Phung village, and head to Hoang Su Phi. 

Upon arrival in Hoang Su Phi, you will check in your room and walk around to visit Nam Hong village – Home of the Red Dao people to discover their local daily life before having dinner.

Night 6: Overnight in hotel in Hoang Su Phi

Getting up in the extravagant marvelous of the wildness. A day cannot be better with a home-cooked breakfast with your host. Make sure you eat a lot as you will need energy for an active day.

You will set out on a trek to explore the many villages situated at high altitudes around Thong Nguyen. The path will carry us upwards for about half an hour before spilling out into scenes of lush forest, tea plantations, terraced rice fields, and majestic mountain slopes. During our hike, we will stop for lunch with another local family, and many encounters can be had with the locals along the path.

The trekking route will be customized based on your request from medium to hard trek. Your day can also be filled with various activities Hiking in the area from a few hours to a full day.

Participating in agricultural activities: Prepare the rice field for transplanting: May – June. Harvesting paddy rice: September to mid-October. Carp fishing in the terrace fields: August to mid-September.Tea harvesting and processing: March – April; June-July; October-November.

Discovering the rich and various local crafts Enjoying a bath with herbs or specialties of the Dzao ethnic group Watching and joining cooking preparation By the end of the afternoon, you will be back to your accommodation, when you’re free to utilize the rest of the day as you see fit, before having dinner.

Night 7: Overnight in hotel in Hoang Su Phi

In the morning, you will head back to Hanoi. En route, you will stop along the way to visit the villages, take memorable pictures, and admire the landscapes before arriving in Hanoi in the afternoon. Distance: 300 km – 7.5 – 8.0 hours.

Night 8: Overnight in hotel in Hanoi

Have breakfast at hotel.

8:00 – 8:30: Leave from Hanoi to Halong bay harbor by bus.

12:00: At Tuan Chau International Marina, a tender boat will take you to our Cruiser. A refreshing welcome drink is served and you can check into your cabin.

13:00: When you are putting all of your stuffs into your cabin, our boat starts gliding out to the centre of the World Heritage Site. Your set menu lunch, at the boat’s restaurant, is would be served with fresh local seafood, but vegetable menu is always available at your request. From the marina area, our cruiser passes by Duck then Thumb Islands before reaching to Luon cave area for kayaking.

15:00– 16:00: We have time to gear up for one hour kayaking around Luon cave area .Our guide will show you some basic safety guidelines and techniques to paddle before helping you to sit on our brand new sit-on-top kayaks. After that our boat will help you visit the Titop Island one hour for swimming, sun-bathing or getting a panoramic view on island peak.

17:00: As the sun sets over the bay, we head back to our cruise and relax. Coffee, tea and fruits will be available on the sundeck or you can order your favorite drink while our boat cruises to the night’s anchorage area.

19:00: Dinner will be served with local seafood. After dinner you may choose to enjoy drinks from the bar or top deck or experience squid fishing before retiring.

Check in on cruise at around 12h00.

Enjoy the activities and full package on cruise (except drinks and massage). Overnight on cruise

Night 9: Overnight on Cruise

07:00 – 07:45: Enjoy the morning view of the beautiful landscape with a cup of coffee or tea. Have breakfast in the fresh air.

08:00 – 09:00: You will visit the impressive Cave of Halong Bay – Surprising Cave (Sửng Sốt) with your tour guide, a truly awesome and amazing cave to experience.

9:00 – 9:30: Check out of your cabin and settle your bill as our boat begins cruising back to the harbor. Experience more views of Halong Bay such as Fighting Cocks Island (Symbol of Halong Bay), Incense Burner and Stone Dogs Islands.

10:30: A cooking demonstration onboard shows you how to make authentic Vietnamese Spring rolls. You will learn about the recipes and techniques that create this popular dish of Vietnamese people.

11:00: Lunch is served on board during cruising towards the harbor.

11:45: Depart the Halong Cruiser and travel by tender boat back to Tuan Chau International Marina where you then board the bus for your return journey to Hanoi. Arrive at your hotel around 15.30

Our private car pick up in Hanoi and transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Da Nang. Arrive in Da Nang airport, pick up by driver and transfer to Hoi An. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An

Night 10: Overnight in hotel in Hoian

Option 1 – Cooking class:

Your cooking class today will begin with a visit to a colorful local market, buying all the necessary ingredients and heading back to prepare. Your chef will demonstrate how to cook some typical Vietnam cuisine, you will then start cooking yourself and enjoy what you have cooked.

In the afternoon, explore the enchanting time-capsule town of Old Hoi An on a walking tour with your guide. Hoi An was a major seaport in Asia and it resulted in a fusion of style and culture that has been perfectly preserved. Wander traditional Chinese shops, luxurious French homes, and an ancient Japanese bridge. The town is home to silk markets, Vietnamese food stalls, and talented street performers– all of which are sure to charm you. 

Option 2 – Vegetable village:

Breakfast at your hotel and then it’s time for a little bit of exercise and riding a bike to Tra Que Village and a visit to a local farm. This is a very special involvement in true Vietnamese rural life. You will learn about the history of the village and then be shown the daily practices of growing vegetables. You will learn how vegetables are used in traditional Vietnamese medicine. 

You will join in the activities of the farmers – collecting seaweed fertilizer, sowing, raking, watering and picking. Your cultural immersion continues as you join the family to prepare and eat the lunch you have helped grow. You will also taste other local specialties such as Tam huu (spring roll) and Banh xeo (pancake). 

Of course, you must also join in the after-lunch nap before returning to the field to learn how to harvest and wrap the produce. Mid-afternoon we wave goodbye to your new friends and go back to Hoian to visit Hoian Old Quarter. Return to your hotel for relaxing 

Option 3 – Countryside biking or motor riding:

Our guide will pick you up at the hotel by motorbike, ride to Tra Que village and then ride back to the river for aboard a local ferry to  Kim Bong Village. This village is not only famous for wood carving but weaving sleeping mats as well, so we will stop at a family to see how they weaved the mat for everyday use in the old times before having today’s popular mattresses. 

Visit a local family making the famous local noodle – Mi Quang is another chance to learn the local life. You also have a chance to make and eat the perfect banh dap (rice cracker). Riding into a small village. Have lunch at Cam Thanh homestay. Back to town for a walking tour and free in the evening. 

Note: If you prefer biking than scooter tour, we can be flexible to modify the route, matching your ability. 

Night 11: Overnight in hotel in Hoi An

After checking out, our driver will transfer you to the Da Nang airport to take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Welcome to the once southern capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, where the streets are lively and the scents are enticing, from chili to garlic, ginger to coriander.

You arrive at the airport and are met by your private transfer who will soon have you relaxing in the comforts of your hotel centrally located within the city. Vietnam’s center of commerce, the modern metropolis, wraps around the Saigon River bringing a vibrant skyline to the soothing waterway. Through a blend of tradition, modernity, colonial history, and reunification, the wonder of Vietnam has begun.

Night 12: Overnight hotel in Ho Chi Minh

08:30 am: The guide will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Ben Tre.

On arrival in Hàm Luông pier. Cruse  on Bến Tre river  exploring  the  lively activities along river as fishing, water transferring…….see  brick making in  handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to village. Take a walk to family workshop making sleepmats and enjoying some fruits and tea. Riding a motor cart (xe lôi) or bike  on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on really life and find out  about tropical culture from Peasants. Lunch at Hai Hồ house. Afternoon –  riding a sampan  along canal, before boat back to Ham Luông pier.  End your touring, going back to HCM city.

Drop you off at your hotel.

Night 13: Overnight in hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrive to take you to the airport for your flight to your next destination. 

Note: Check-in time – 2.00 pm and check-out time – 12.00 pm

Finish an unforgettable Vietnam Tour with Sun Getaways Travel. Goodbye & see you the next time!