Amazing Northern Vietnam (Hanoi - Mai Chau - Pu Luong - Ninh Binh - Ha Long)

A warm welcome to Ha Noi awaits you!

Arriving at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be met and taken up to the hotel. The rest of the day is your own time for relaxation or visit around on your own.

A comfortable overnight stay at the hotel marks the end of the first day of your 8-Day Amazing Northern Vietnam Trip!

Meals Included: Dinner.

08:00 - 08:30: We will pick you up at the hotel. In the morning, we will visit:

• Tran Quoc Pagoda - West Lake, which is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam with its historical progression in 1500 years. It has a harmonious combination between the majesty, hoariness of architecture, and peaceful landscape of the West Lake. 
• Visit the Complex of President Ho Chi Minh (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Stilt House) - Where the great leader lived and worked until the last years of his life. Here, you will have the opportunity to learn about Uncle Ho's simple life. In addition, stop by One Pillar Pagoda to admire one of the 4 symbols of Hanoi. 

Note: On Friday, June 23rd Mausoleum Management Board will carry out maintenance of the mausoleum, you will visit only outside of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda.

• The Temple of Literature, which was constructed in 1070, was the first university in Vietnam. Its gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

12:00: Have lunch at the restaurant. 

Then We will visit:

• Thang Long Imperial Citadel, which was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. The Imperial Citadel buildings reflect a unique South-East Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south.
• St. Joseph's Cathedral: A Hanoi Attraction with Unique Structure in the Old Quarter.
• Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake) - is famous for its peaceful beauty, and its cultural as well as historical values with Turtle Tower, Ngoc Son Temple. Furthermore, you can discover the Vietnamese traditional and French colonial architecture through the buildings surrounding.

15:00: Back to the hotel. Relax. 

Free to have dinner and have free time to enjoy Hanoi at night.

Overnight in Hanoi. Finish Day 2!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Have breakfast. 

08:00: Start leaving for Mai Chau. The drive will be pretty long (it’s over 3 hours), so you should get comfortable and enjoy the ride - and the view! 

• Take a short break on the way.
• Pass Thung Khe Pass, where you may see wonderful valley views before landing at Mai Chau town. 

Mai Chau is a lovely valley located 145 kilometers from Hanoi. It is a beautiful area with beautiful scenery, green mountain ranges, rice terraces, and White Thai ethnic settlements.

Arrive in Mai Chau Town. Have lunch. 

Hotel check-in. 

Take a bike to visit around Lac Village, where Thai ethnic groups live, and surrounding neighborhoods such as Van, Pom Coong village, or Mai Hich village in Sam Khoe commune for more admiration of pristine landscapes and non-touristic villages in the region. You will be seduced by the gorgeous landscapes as the villages, rice fields, mountains, and streams are in perfect harmony with one another. 

• Visit Mo Luong Cave, which is a large cave system in the heart of Pu Kha mountain in Mai Chau. 

Back to the hotel. Have dinner with local specialties. 

Overnight in Mai Chau. Finish Day 3!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Have breakfast. 

08:00: Leave Mai Chau for Pu Luong Nature Reserve, towards Eo Ken Village, 30 kilometers distant, where the Muong ethnics dwell. Walk down the slope to take in the breathtaking views of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, rice field terraces, and mountains. 

• Discover the actual life of a Muong ethnic family in Eo Ken Village. 
• Pass Kho Muong Village on the way. Make sure you have your camera at hand, you’ll be taking quite a lot of pictures! 

Continue to Pu Luong for lunch.

• Get transferred to Chieng Lau, a lovely rice field location with bamboo water wheels. Walk through the field to the village and meet the residents to learn about their lives, culture, and customs.
• Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the bamboo river rafting, and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.

Back to the point where the driver picks you up and transfers you to the hotel.

Have dinner and enjoy your night in Pu Luong. 

Overnight in Pu Luong. Finish Day 4!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Have breakfast. Free to enjoy your time: walk down rice terraces or enjoy hotel services.

09:00: Leave Pu Luong for Ninh Binh. It takes around 3 hours to drive.

12:00: Arrive in Ninh Binh City. Have lunch.

13:00: Take a boat to visit Trang An Landscape Complex. 

Trang An Landscape Complex is the first and only UNESCO World Mixed Heritage Site of Vietnam, which is a combination of a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys and the Vietnamese ancient culture from the 10th century with temples, pagodas, paddy fields, and small villages.

15:30: Visit Mua Cave. After climbing several hundred stone steps, you can see all the way to Tam Coc and enjoy one of the most spectacular panoramic views in Vietnam. Enjoy the beautiful sunset from Mua Cave. 

17:00: Hotel check-in. Relax.

Have dinner and be free at night.

Overnight in Ninh Binh. Finish Day 5!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Have breakfast.

08:30: Leave Ninh Binh for Ha Long Bay. Enjoy the peaceful scenery as we travel through the countryside, farmlands, and Red River Delta.

Ha Long Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world, has thousands of islands forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars and great biological interest. 

12:00: Reach Tuan Chau Wharf. Upon your arrival in Halong Bay, you will be taken on board. Check-in before lunch.

13:00: Have lunch while the boat is sailing through Ha Long Bay. After lunchtime, you will have a short break before joining the first activity of the tour. Time to refresh and unwind with Paradise Sails Cruise:

• Tung Sau Pearl Farm is the most well-known pearl farm in Halong Bay where you can witness and learn the entire process of making pearls and expansive pearl products from the first step of growing to harvest pearl. You can enjoy kayaking here.
• Drop anchor in the calm water surrounded by beautiful islets. Visit Titop Island for swimming and snorkeling or do the short trek to the top of the island to have an overview of Halong bay from here.

Heading back toward the sleeping area.

Summit on the sundeck watching the sunset, and enjoy a Sunset party.

Have dinner. Enjoy your free time. You can try night squid fishing.

Overnight in Halong Bay. Finish Day 6!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Start the new day with the sound of sea waves.

06:30: Greets first light of the Day on Sundeck, warming up your body with Tai Chi lessons or enjoying leisure time in your room.

07:00: Enjoy a light breakfast, before starting the journey to visit

the last view in the schedule.

• Visit Sung Sot Cave (Surprising Cave), the largest and most beautiful cave in Halong Bay. The stalagmites will astound you. Magnificent stalactites formed over millions of years, evolving into abundant and mystical forms. 

08:45: Back on the cruise, you can enjoy a deluxe breakfast buffet. The cruise will once again pass through Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, and Ga Choi Islet before you check out and return to Tuan Chau Wharf.

11:30: Reach the Wharf. Move back to Hanoi.

12:00:  Have lunch in Ha Long.

16:00: Back to Hanoi Hotel check-in. Have free time to relax or visit Hanoi City

• Recommend: Hanoi Train Street, enjoy Egg Coffee, enjoy the sunset at West Lake, museums, Long Bien Bridge, Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi Old Quarter.

Free to have dinner and enjoy the last night of the trip.

Overnight in Hanoi. Finish day 7!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

It’s time to collect all the memories of this Northern Vietnam Trip!

Enjoy your time while waiting to move to Noi Bai International Airport to take off back home. You can enjoy hotel services or go shopping around.

Finish 8-DAY AMAZING NORTHERN VIETNAM TRIP! Thank you and see you on your next GTRIP adventures!

Meals Included: Breakfast.