Wonders of Vietnam

Upon arrival in Hanoi International airport, you will travel to hotel at your own. In the late afternoon, estimated 16:30, the guide will have a group meeting in hotel lobby, then, you will take a stroll around the Sword Lake and stop to visit the beautiful Ngoc Son Temple on an island in the middle of the lake, accessed via a red wooden bridge. And have a welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Meals: Dinner Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi Transfer distance of airport to hotel in downtown: 28 kilometers - 45 min. Notes: Rooms will be at guests’ disposal from 14:00

In the morning, you will reach Tho Ha Traditional Village, a great opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of rural life in Vietnam. Upon arrival, you will have a short ferry ride to cross the Cau River to Tho Ha village. Time for a walk to visit the village and the traditional Communal House. You will be amazed by the old architecture of this village, some of the houses still keep the original construction of late 1800s. Then you will be welcomed by a local family and you will observe and learn how rice paper is created and dried. Then interact with the family through a mini Quan Ho folk song show. The traditional Quan Ho songs are performed as alternating verses between two women from one village who sing in harmony, and two men from another village who respond with similar melodies, but with different lyrics. Quan họ songs express the spirit, philosophy and local identity of the communities of Bắc Ninh province. Then it will be time to say good bye to say to your host and to continue your journey. Distance and duration: 50 kilometers -1h 30min per way Next, you will return to Hanoi and visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu in Vietnamese), situated in the place once known as the first university of Vietnam. Built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the university was first opened for princes and mandarins exclusively. Inside, you will find 82 of the original 116 stelae engraving the names of the winners from doctorate competitions. Outside, with its ancient courtyards, altars and roofs, Van Mieu is a very fine example of Vietnamese architecture. Then Stroll in Hanoi Old Quarter: You will set off from Sword Lake, passing by Hang Hanh - the famous coffee street and heading towards the Catholic Church. Wandering in these peaceful alleys, your eyes will catch the daily scenes of street vendors quietly napping in the shade or a motorbike taxi-driver (or xe om in Vietnamese) sleeping precariously on his bike. Then, suddenly you will again find yourself in a noisy and busy street. Throughout the tour, your senses will be bombarded with a cascade of different sights, sounds, smells and characters that harmonize to the music of life in Hanoi. At the end of the walk, you will have time to enjoy a cup of coffee from one of the many small shops in the area. Distance and duration of the walk: 4 kilometers - 2 hours. Level: 0 While you are in the Old Quarter, try one of Hanoi's experiences: Egg Coffee: Iconic to Hanoi, the egg coffee recipe was developed by a Vietnamese local who once worked in the most legendary hotel in Hanoi, the Sofitel Legend Metropole. Although his cafe was once the only destination to enjoy the unique drink, due to its popularity the secret egg coffee recipe has been copied and is now served in many coffee shops around Hanoi. According to many, the original is still the most special place to try the iconic beverage, which has earned a place in local legend. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Hotel: Hong Ngoc Cochinchine 

Today, head out of bustling Hanoi to the mountainous area of Mai Chau. En route, the road ascends gradually until you find yourself in the middle of a landscape of mountains set at a medium altitude. Upon arriving in Mai Chau, you will be served a welcome lunch prepared by a local family in a traditional Thai stilt house. This will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about the culture and daily life of the locals. In the afternoon, you will take a short walk to Na Cut village at the foot of the mountain to observe a genuine example of the local life of the region, where long practiced traditions are still retained. At night in the home of the local inhabitants you will sleep in the large main room of the house. To ensure your maximum comfort the house will be furnished with beds (mattresses, sheets, pillows, mosquito nets, fans). Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Accommodation: Overnight at homestay (Supplement for overnight at hotel if you wish) Distance and duration of the afternoon hike: Mai Chau - Na Cut: 8 kilometers - 2h 30min Level: 1 Transportation: 150 kilometers - 4 hours

You will head off to Cum village where you will start your hike to Mai Hich. You will then be in the heart of Northern Vietnam, with its mountainous landscapes set at a medium altitude and its green valleys filled with rice fields. Upon arrival at Mai Hich you will have lunch with a Thai ethnic family. In the afternoon you will continue the hike for two more hours, crossing the wildly beautiful valley of Mai Chau with its small villages of wooden stilt houses, rice fields, corn fields and serene atmosphere. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Accommodation: Homestay in Mai Chau Level: 0 Distance and duration of the hike: - Mai Chau - Mai Hich: 8 kilometers - 2h 30min - Mai Hich – Mai Chau Valley: 8 kilometers - 2 hours

You will depart from Mai Chau to the site of “terrestrial Halong Bay” by taking a road that crosses picturesque landscapes. You will arrive at noon in a village and have lunch in a local house there. At the beginning of the afternoon, you will take a pleasant bike ride through the villages to discover the areas and their inhabitants. Arriving in the Van Long Nature Reserve, you will step aboard a small rowboat for a slow journey through the flooded rice fields and the spectacular landscape of rocky peaks, canals and vegetation. You will then make the trip to the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, lunch Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh Distance and duration of the cycling: 8 kilometers - maximum 1 hour Level:0 Transportation: 150 kilometers - 4 hours Note: Duration of the rowing boat visit is 1h 30min

In the morning, you will travel to Halong and arrive around noon. There, you will embark on a cruise in the must-see Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in luxuriant vegetation overlooking the waters. Halong Bay includes some 1,900 islands and islets of rocky peaks, often uninhabited and unvisited. This scene creates a spectacular marine landscape, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994. You will be served lunch and dinner aboard with excellent and freshly caught seafood from the bay. At the end of the day, you will have the chance to enjoy a night fishing session on the boat. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Accommodation: Overnight on board Transfer distance: 200 kilometers - 3h 30min to 4 hours

The guide will meet your group at the hotel in the late afternoon. You will spend the evening exploring Vietnam‘s capital, enjoying the colonial era charm of the city. You will spend most of the evening exploring the city by walking around Vietnam’s capital, the colonial era charm of the city, and the surroundings of Hoan Kiem Lake: the heart of the capital city around which all aspects of life in Hanoi revolve. Hoan Kiem Lake is also a place which is associated with a fascinating legend: One day, the heavens entrusted to the Emperor, Le Thai To, a magic sword to chase the invading Chinese out of Vietnam. Once the task was accomplished, as he was walking around the lake, a giant tortoise arose from the waters, took the sword and returned it to his divine owners, hence the name “Lake of the Returned Sword”. Meals included: Dinner Accommodation: Overnight at hotel Notes: Rooms will be at guests’ disposal from 14:00 Recommended flight time should arrive in before 15:00 p.m Note: Airport pick up can be provided as a supplement for travelers arriving on a different flight.

Hotel: Sunline Hotel 

In the morning, you will begin your full day discovery of the capital with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - a tribute to the architecture of Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow, his traditional stilt house and the One-Pillar Pagoda - built in the 11th century. Later on, you will visit the Ethnology Museum. Created in November 1997 at the Francophonie Summit, it is both a research center and a public museum featuring the 54 ethnic groups found across Vietnam. In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu in Vietnamese), situated in the place once known as the first university of Vietnam. Built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the university was first opened for princes and mandarins exclusively. With its ancient courtyards, altars and roofs, Van Mieu is a very fine example of Vietnamese architecture. Then, continue your way to the Old Quarter and the surroundings of the Sword Lake. Have dinner at a local restaurant before getting on the night train to Sapa (estimated time of departure 22:00 - arrives at 06:05 on the next day). Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Accommodation: Overnight on the train.

Upon arrival in Lao Cai train station, you will meet the local guide and leave for Muong Hum Market, a weekly traditional market of ethnic groups. The market is very active, lively and colorful. It is a great chance for you to interact with local people, who are from different ethnic groups like H’mong, Ha Nhi, Red Dao…, with different colors and designs on their costumes. These people are mostly from the villages around Muong Hum, however, there are also some of them who come all the way from Sapa to this market to sell and buy their stuff. You will also see many different kinds of products, from farming products to clothes, to family housewares like bowls, spoons and even… hairs are sold here. Enjoy hiking through the market to understand the tradition and culture of this area. After the market, you will go toward Sapa to visit Ta Giang Phinh, a land of H’mong ethnic people. Hiking from villages to villages will give you a chance to see the daily life of local people around their houses, in their fields or sometimes, on the side of the road where they stop for chit chat. The rice terraces and mountains around the villages will also give you a great view of landscape and atmosphere. Then, you will have lunch in a local restaurant before heading back to Sapa. Balance the day at leisure. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel • In Ta Giang Phinh: 3.8 kilometers – 1h 30min Level: 1 Difference in elevation: +60 meters/ -180 meters Terrain: mostly downhill in Ta Giang Phinh, paved road, village road, local village, rice field Transportation: • Lao Cai – Muong Hum: 44 kilometers - 1h 30min • Muong Hum – Ta Giang Phinh: 20 kilometers – 45 minutes • Ta Giang Phinh – Sapa: 25 kilometers – 50 minutes

Hotel: Le Bordeaux 

Begin with a hike to the heart of the Hoang Lien Mountain range. En route, you will get to admire vast rice fields on the terraces with rivers that wind around, a definite feature of the region. The path passes through Y Linh Ho village, giving you a great opportunity to observe the local people in their colorful clothing. The journey will continue along winding paths and offer breathtaking views of the rice fields nestled in the Muong Hoa valley. You will head to Lao Chai before ending the hike at Ta Van. Balance the day at leisure to discover at your own pace the stunning natural landscape and experience the lifestyle of the local people living here. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch at a local house or picnic lunch, dinner Accommodation: Overnight at homestay in Ta Van Distance and duration of the trek: 10 kilometers - 5 hours Level: 1 Height difference: +400 meters Terrain: flat, slippery after rain Transportation: No transfer needed

In the morning, you will head towards Su Pan village, populated by two of the larger ethnic groups in Northern Vietnam: the Black H'mong and the Red Dao. From here, you will begin a walk to discover another minority, the Tay, renowned for their wooden houses and the skillfulness of their crafts. Return to Sapa town after the hike. Having lunch at the local restaurant and refresh for a while before taking public bus back to Hanoi (estimated departure time in Sapa 14:30 – estimated arrival in Hanoi at 20:00). The local guide will escort you to the public bus office and say goodbye when the bus departs Sapa. Upon arrival in the bus office in Hanoi, another join-in bus will take you back to hotel. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch Accommodation: Overnight at the hotel Distance and duration of the walk: 3 kilometers - 1 hours Level: 0 Distance Sapa - Hanoi by road: 320kilometers - 5.5hrs

In the morning, you will head down south to the village of a To He artisan. You will be welcomed by his friendly family and his lovely To He products. After an introduction about his family and the To He art, it will be your turn to learn how to make a traditional Vietnamese toy. The first product will be guided closely by the artisan himself, but the second one will be entirely your own creation. You can freely choose the shape and follow one of the many traditional designs, such as the shapes of the Vietnamese zodiac, or something more modern like a Pokemon character (or create your own design)! Finally, it's time to say goodbye to the artisan’s family, and together with your own To He products, continue your way toward Ninh Binh and have lunch in a local villager's home. In the afternoon, you will set off a bike ride, passing slowly through rice fields amids the spectaular scenery of rocky peaks, meandering canals and lush vegetation, then boarding on a small wooden boat, a sampan, to explore Van Long Nature Reserve, the surreal landscape of rainforests and ancient mountains reflected in the aquamarine waters. Then heading to your hotel. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch at a local house Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh Distance & Duration: + Transfer Hanoi to To He artisan’s house:1 hour – 42 kilometers + Duration at the artisan's house: 1 hour – 1h 30min + To He artisan’s house to Ninh Binh: 1h 25min – 70 kilometers + Distance and duration of cycling: 8 kilometers - 45 minutes to 1 hour. Level: 0

Hotel: Ninh Binh Legend 

In the morning, you will leave Ninh Binh and head to Halong where you arrive around noon. There, you will embark on a cruise in the must-see Lan Ha Bay, a part of Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in luxuriant vegetation overlooking the waters. Halong Bay includes some 1,900 islands and islets of rocky peaks, often uninhabited and unvisited. This scene creates a spectacular marine landscape, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994. You will be served lunch and dinner aboard with excellent and freshly caught seafood from the bay. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Accommodation: Overnight on the junk Distance: 200 kilometers - 3h 30min to 4 hours