Adventure North Vietnam by Cruise Halong Vietnam

If you are interested in visiting ethnic groups, natural parks and nice landscapes, meeting the local people, take this adventure offered by First Choice Travel

 

 

 

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi
On your arrival, you are met and pick up from the airport to your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi
 
Day 2: Hanoi - Mai Chau
 
Drive to Mai Chau, sight seeing en - route. Lunch in Mai Chau, walk around the Mai Chau valley to visit the villages of Thai people with house on stilt, embroidery art and home stay with hill tribe people, enjoy their common life and activities. Stay overnight in Mai Chau
 
Day 3: Pu Luong Trek
Take a short ride (15 minutes) to the Ma river. We will take a short boat trip then start a 2 to 3 hour walk through beautiful hill side villages, magnificent rice paddies, seeing hand crafted bamboo water wheels. The highlight on this walk is experiencing the beauty of Pu luong Nature Reserve, the everyday life and culture of the White Thai people. Trek inside the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Become a part of local life when we are welcomed as honored guests at a traditional Thai home on stilts. Here in Hang village we will have a traditional dinner and stay the night.
 
Day 4: Moc Chau - Son La - Tuan Giao - Dien Bien Phu
 
Drive to Son La, a stop in Moc Chau with hundreds of giant grass farm for cows...visit the ancient prison in the French war period. Stop for lunch in Tuan Giao. Continue on to Dien Bien, enjoy the wonderful scenery in Pha Din pass. Stay overnight in Dien Bien

Day 5: Dien Bien Phu - Lai Chau - Tam Duong
 
Visit the old battle field in the French colonial period, war museum, Muong Thanh airbase. Drive throughout Lai Chau for Tam Duong, on this day you'll have a chance to see the most beautiful hill tribes in Northern Vietnam such as H'Mong, Black Thai, Black Dzao, Pazi... Stay overnight in Tam Duong

Day 6: Tam Duong - Sapa
 3 - hour trek to hill tribe villages around Tam Duong then drive to Sapa. Check in and lunch. Short walking around Sapa, Dragon Mountain, Sapa valley, Cat Cat stream... Stay overnight in Sapa

Day 7: Ethnic Market in Sapa
Visit one of the following hill tribe market in Sapa
Tuesday:   Coc Ly Market
Thusday:   Muong Khuong Market
Saturday:  Can Cau Market
Sunday:    Muong Hum or Bac Ha Market
Overnight in Sapa
 
Day 8: Sapa -Hanoi
Today you are free in Sapa. Transfer to Lao Cai station. Take night train to Hanoi
 
Day 9: Hanoi
Arrive Hanoi early in the morning. Get a transfer to your hotel. Relax in Hanoi after a long trip. In the afternoon, the guide will meet you and take you walk around the Old Quarter, Dong Xuan Market. Take 2 hour cyclo tour to Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son temple. Enjoy water puppet show in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.
 
Day 10: Hanoi - Ba Be Lake
Pick-up at your hotel is at 7:00 am and head for Bac Kan, the province of Ba Be Lakes. During the 6 hours drive, we will make a stop at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Thai Nguyen city. Take a coffee break here if you wish.
We continue our drive, stopping for lunch at a local food stall in Bac Kan town. Our destination is a small village of the Tay minority people situated inside Ba Be National Park. Arrive at our homestay and refresh with a short afternoon walk around the park and even a swim in the nearby lake.
Back home for dinner and talk with our very warm and friendly hosts. Learn about this interesting culture and way of life. Then retire to our beds for a delightful sleep in a traditional stilt home.
 
Day 11: Ba Be Lake Boat Trip
Wake up with the chirping of birds and sounds of village life. Well rested, take in the moment of natural tranquility away from the stresses of the city. Breakfast then we start to discover the imposing beauty of the area on a local hand crafted canoe. Glide along the river, through a pretty cave and onto a powerful waterfall. The whole journey offers great natural scenery and photo opportunities. After lunch at a local food stall near the waterfall, we canoe till our hearts' content into Ba Be lakes and all its majesticness. Enjoy great swimming and water fun. Finish the day with a light trek through ethnic minority villages back to our new home. Dinner, followed by a second nights sleep in the traditional stilt home
 
Day 12: Ba Be- Hanoi
Again, take advantage of the morning's fresh air and village energy. Have breakfast and enjoy a last leisurely walk in the park. A bicycle or scenic motorbike ride is a great alternative and also great fun. Pack up your things then say goodbye to your new friends. Leave the village for Hanoi by 10:00 am. If we're lucky, and it is Sunday, we will make a stop on the way to visit Kermis, a typical local maket, in the highlands area. Have lunch on the way. We arrive in Hanoi by 5:30 pm back at your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi
 
 
Day 13: Hanoi- Halong- Overnight on boat
Wpick you up  at your hotel for the 3.5 hr drive (165km) to Halong City . Stopover on the way. 12.00: Board Halong Cruiser. Lunch and a welcome drink are served while the boat cruises the bay to enjoy the beautiful limestone seascape. You will see Dog Rock and Incense Burner Rocks, as well as Fighting Cock Rock before heading to Sung Sot Cave ( Cave of Surprises ).  Then, we stop at a floating house owned by fishermen before kayaking to Luon Cave to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the bay.  After returning to the boat, we will anchor in a safe and scenic location for swimming and seasonal fruit in the “ Floating Garden ”. Dinner is served onboard and then you will have free time to listen to music or relax. Overnight in comfortable cabin.
 
Day 14: Halong bay- Discover by kayak boat
 
Full day sea kayaking to discover the hidden beauty of Halong Bay. After breakfast, served at around 7:30, kayaking begins. The guide will show you the most beautiful parts of the bay, such as Drum Cave , Man's Head Islet, Turtle Islet and Fairman's Cave before heading to Van Gia fishing village for BBQ lunch and relaxation. You will have an opportunity to understand more about fishermen's daily life in the bay. Afterwards we continue kayaking to the other side of the bay to visit a pearl farm. We return to the mother boat at around 16:00 for the second night.
 
Day 15: Halong- Hanoi
After breakfast, we take a local wooden boat back to the mother junk for our return to Halong City. Enroute there will be time for swimming and ‘arm-chair' exploration of more beautiful limestone islands- have your camera ready for some beautiful shots!
11:30: Halong Cruiser arrives at the dock for lunch in an A/C restaurant before returning to Hanoi . Overnight in Hanoi
 
Day 16: Hanoi- Perfume Pagoda- Cuc Phuong National Park
 
Depart at 07:30 A.M. for about 2 hours drive to Perfume Pagoda (75km). Enjoy a 1.30 hours boat trip on Yen (Swallow Bird) stream and visit Trinh temple. Follow is 2 hours trekking up the mountain to visit pagoda inside grotto Huong Tich, where people often come to pray for health, luck, ... etc. After lunch, visit Thien Tru pagoda and scenery of Holiest in the country. After 1.30 hours boat trip back to the Wharf, we will ride to Cuc Phuong National Park and arrive there around 18.30 pm. Overnight in hotel at Cuc Phuong National Park.
 
Day 17: Cuc Phuong - Kenh Ga - Ninh Binh  
In the morning, walking to visit flora, fauna and one-thousand-year-old sequoia tree and visit the cave of Prehistoric man. Back to restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon , visit the Endangered Primates Rescue Center then drive to Ninh Binh town. On the way, visit Kenh Ga village (floating village) and arrive at Ninh Binh about 18.00 pm. Overnight in a hotel at Ninh Binh town.
 
Day 18: Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - Hanoi
8:00 A.M. drive to visit Hoa Lu - the Ancient Capital and the remaining two temples of Dinh King & Le King. Continue trip to Tam Coc – the "'Halong bay" inland. After lunch, sit back and relax whilst the a local villager rows a small boat through the rice fields and mountain ranges, visit 3 caves and contemplate the beauty of the natural landscapes. Return to Hanoi and arrive in Hanoi about 17:00 pm. Overnight in Hanoi.
 
Day 19: Hanoi
After breakfast, time for relax
 
Day 20: Departure:
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. End services.

Price in USD per person

Low Season (5th May - 31st August)

Price/ person	2 persons	3- 6 persons	8- 10 persons	12 persons up
USD	3,800	3,380	2,980	2,650

High Season (1st Sep - 4th May)

Price/ person	2 persons	3- 6 persons	8- 10 persons	12 persons up
USD	4,180	3,718	3,278	2,915

Includes:
Land- Cruiser to North West & North East
Car/ Van Transfer
Local English speaking guides
Train Ticket (soft sleeper) from Lao Cai to Hanoi
Boat on Halong bay, Tam Coc, Perfume Pagoda, Kenh Ga
Entrance fees & water puppet show tickets
Hotel accommodation (twin/ triple sharing)
Boat accommodation (deluxe)- Phoenix Cruiser/ Bai Tho Cruiser
Daily breakfasts
Meals: 3 lunches, 2 diners (Halong tour)

Excludes:
Drink
Other meals not mentioned
Kayaking boat
Single room on request
Insurance (compulsory)
Flights & airport tax
Credit card surcharge (3%)
Visa to Vietnam on request
Others not clearly mentioned

Accommodation
2 star in the remote areas
3 star hotels in the main tourist destinations
3 star boat cruiser on Halong bay