DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL
Your adventure begins with your arrival in Hanoi. Your private driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city, with the fascinating Old Quarter at your fingertips. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight.
Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 2: ECO TOUR TO BAVI (B/L)
Have breakfast at the hotel and meet your guide at the hotel lobby. The guide will escort you on the trip to Ba Vi, a countryside located on the outskirt of Hanoi.
Arrive at Ri village, enjoy the welcome drink and snacks, and meet your first host - Mr. Duoc, a Vietnam war veteran and tea-farm owner. Listen to his stories during the war while enjoying the drink and then visit his tea plantation. You will learn how to pick the best tea leaves to make the most wonderful beverage in Vietnam. Carry on with the tea production at his small workshop, where most of the work is manual. Then have a short drive to Moc village, where you will meet another host Mrs. Chin, who will teach you how to cook local Vietnamese dishes. Later have the meals you made for lunch in a beautiful tropical garden.
Have a short break after lunch, and join Mrs. Chin for a walk around the village. You will visit some local families to understand the rural lifestyle and learn how tofu, conical hats, and other local products are made. Then have a cycling trip through beautiful paddy fields.
Wrap up your countryside tour with traditional feet soak in warm water with herbs, following the traditional recipes of the Muong ethnic minority. It will relax you (and your feet) after cycling around the village.
In the late afternoon, enjoy a transfer from Ba Vi back to your accommodation.
Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 3: HANOI – PU LUONG (B/L)
Pick-up from your hotel in Hanoi. You will start the Pu Luong adventure trip and be ready with 4 hours driving journey following Ho Chi Minh Trails (1B – National Highway). One stop on the haft way for a short break.
You will enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.
You will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk passing the rice field to stunning water wheels area. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes. Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the rafting adventure. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted bamboo rafts. Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat.
Overnight in Pu Luong.
DAY 4: TREKKING TO KHO MUONG VILLAGE (B/L)
Have breakfast at the hotel and get ready for the trekking to the village of Kho Muong, which is home to about 65 families with over 300 white Thai people. In the local dialect, “Kho Muong” is understood as the place where people first settled in the whole area. The Kho Muong village was founded about 300 years ago by some hunters who were amazed by the flat valley with abundant water from streams and they moved all of their family, and neighbors and settled down here. Regarding location, it lies deep in the core zone of the reserve, isolated from other villages in the region.
Overnight in Pu Luong.
DAY 5: PULUONG – HANOI (B/L)
Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Your camera will not be able to sit still!
Then head back to Hanoi and ready for your next destination.
Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 6: HANOI – HALONG (B/L/D)
In the morning, check out of the hotel, and get picked up by the cruise team. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see.
On arrival at the pier, you will board the cruise and enjoy the fantastic views of limestone rocks and the karst grottoes. Have an utterly delicious seafood lunch and enjoy the time at the sundeck exploring the Bay.
The cruise will stop in a secret place where you will spend time kayaking or swimming, so you can explore the karst grottoes closer. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.
Overnight on cruise.
DAY 7: HALONG BAY – HANOI ( B/L)
Rise early today to view the sunrise at the wonder of nature with breakfast served in the dining room. Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. After your exploration, return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor.
Driver is waiting for you and transferred back to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 8: HANOI DEPARTURE (B)
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip to Vietnam. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later your private driver will transfer you to the airport to take your flight back home.