DAY 1. ARRIVE IN HANOI (D)
Arriving in Hanoi and exploring the Old District, Hoan Kiem: its old 36 streets corporation & also the Lake of the Restored Sword, through a unique tour. Dinner followed by a typical show from Northern culture: Water Puppetry.
DAY 2. HANOI – BABE LAKE (B, L, D)
Learning about the hill tribal ethnic groups at the Ethnology Museum. Transfer to Babe Lake (300km at the North). Overnight in a house-on-stilts in Pac Ngoi village of “Tay” people.
DAY 3. BOAT TRIP ON BA BE LAKE – TUYEN QUANG (B, L, D)
Morning boat to cruise on emerald water of Ba Be Lake, with stop to visit the Fairy Pond, Puong Cave or to swim near Widow Islet. The Nang River and its two-colored water flows and surrounded by wonderful greenery, paddy fields, and magnificent mountain peaks.
DAY 4. TUYEN QUANG – HA GIANG – YEN MINH (B, L, D)
Off for Ha Giang, the northest province of Vietnam. Land of H’mong ethnic group. Meet many ethnic villages en route with rich culture. Climb up the steps to “Heaven’s gate” at Quan Ba Pass and enjoy beautiful landscapes.
DAY 5. YEN MINH – DONG VAN – MEO VAC – DONG VAN (B, L, D)
Early wake up to assist to the weekly market, crossroad of all ethnic groups of the region. Hundreds of people from H’mong, Yao, Thai, Tay tribes… Visit the surrounding with the house of Vuong Chi Sinh, considered as “the H’mong king” by its tribe.
DAY 6. DONG VAN – HA GIANG – TUYEN QUANG – YEN BINH (B, L)
Transfer back to Tuyen Quang with stop at any village you like to explore the routine of the mountain dwellers.
DAY 7. YEN BINH – COC LY – SAPA (B, L, D)
Enjoy one of the best mountain market in Northern Vietnam at Coc Ly. The market is on Tuesday weekly and full of Flower H’mong people coming for exchanging, purchasing goods and meeting as in a cultural centre. Take a boat a long Chay River, between high cliffs of limestone mountain range to visit a small typical village of the region.
DAY 8. SAPA (B)
Morning at leisure. Climb up the Sapa Flower garden and reach the Dragon Peak, to have a panoramic view of the town, with pinewoods and gardens looming in the mist. Immersion in Ta Phin valley to reach the villages of the H’mong and Red Dzao people. Walk into Ta Van and stops at the villages of the tribal people H’mong, Tay and Dzay en route.
DAY 9. SAPA – DIEN BIEN PHU (B, L, D)
Farewell to Sapa and head to Dien Bien Phu, the old battlefield of the fight that ended the Indochinese War I. Stop en route near Tam Duong and Lai Chau for visit, surrounded by beautiful mountains and few tourists.
DAY 10. DIEN BIEN PHU (B, L)
Explore the traces of the Indochinese War I, which called by the Vietnamese as the French War. We can stop at A1 Hill, where the most fierce and longest battles among the battles of Dien Bien Phu Campaign took place, visit Dien Bien Museum, the Shelter of General De Castries…
DAY 11. DIEN BIEN PHU – SON LA – MAI CHAU (B, L, D)
Drive overland to Mai Chau via Son La and take a look at the old Prison of the French, visit tea farm at Moc Chau, one of the most famous tea hubs of Vietnam before to arrive at Mai Chau, a beautiful valley inhabited by the Thai people. Overnight in a house-on-stilts in Lac or Pom Coong village.
Day 12. MAI CHAU – XA LINH – HOA BINH – HANOI (B, L)
Walk around to enjoy the green of the paddy fields surrounding the village and exploration to Xa Linh market of the “blue” H’mong people, with extremely graceful girls in strange hair style and hair switch!
Day 13. HANOI DEPARTURE (B)
At your leisure today to enjoy your time in Hanoi, until our tour guide come to take you to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight.
