Untouched Northern Vietnam (SIC)

Welcome to Hanoi! 

Upon your arrival, you are greeted by your tour guide and driver, then you drive to your hotel in Hanoi city center for check-in. This afternoon, embark on a local food tour in Hanoi and enjoy the tastiest street food, including noodle soup, Vietnamese baguettes, steamed rolls, and Banh Cuon, a sweet dessert. Afterward, you will hop on a double-decker bus for a 40-minute ride, traversing different corners and streets in Hanoi for a glance at Hanoi City. The rest of the day will be free for you to enjoy Hanoi's nightlife or rest. 

Meal included: Street food tour

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi 

Remarks:

• The standard check-in time is 14:00. Earlier check-in is subject to room availability. 

• If your flight arrival time is different from that of other guests, you will be picked up by your driver (no escort guide)

After breakfast, you will see your tour guide and begin a full day exploring interesting attractions in Hanoi. Begin with the Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on a peninsula on the West Lake in Hanoi. Thereafter, take a 1 km walk along the lovely Thanh Nien Road, situated between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake. At the end of the walk, you will find Ba Dinh Square and visit the Ho Chi Minh complex, including the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh in front of Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh’s residences, the Presidential Palace, and One Pillar Pagoda. 

After lunch, you will visit the Temple of Literature, a famous and charming attraction known as Vietnam's first university, established in 1070. Afterward, you will visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake, iconic places in Hanoi. The rest of the day will be free on your own to stroll around Hanoi Old Quarter, train street, shopping, etc. 

Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast, you will see your tour guide and begin a full day exploring interesting attractions in Hanoi. Begin with the Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on a peninsula on the West Lake in Hanoi. Thereafter, take a 1 km walk along the lovely Thanh Nien Road, situated between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake. At the end of the walk, you will find Ba Dinh Square and visit the Ho Chi Minh complex, including the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh in front of Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh’s residences, the Presidential Palace, and One Pillar Pagoda. 

After lunch, you will visit the Temple of Literature, a famous and charming attraction known as Vietnam's first university, established in 1070. Afterward, you will visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake, iconic places in Hanoi. The rest of the day will be free on your own to stroll around Hanoi Old Quarter, train street, shopping, etc. 

Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

In the morning, travel about 220 km to get to Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan Province. Upon arrival, have lunch and check in at your homestay. Enjoy a quick nap in your room before continuing our journey. 

Early in the afternoon, we’ll first visit a nearby market to delve into the local culture. Shortly afterward, there is a leisurely trek to the picturesque Vang Village, home to the Tay ethnic group. This trek ends at a 40-meter-high waterfall called Silver Waterfall, which cascades from the top of Khau Vang Pass and, from afar, looks like a graceful white ribbon draped against the mountainous backdrop.

At dusk, go back to your homestay to recharge with a delicious home-cooked dinner. Spend the evening soaking up the natural beauty of Northern Vietnam on your own.

Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay in Ba Be Lake

Driving distance: 230km ~ 5 hours

After breakfast, embark on a fun boat trip on Ba Be Lake – the star of Ba Be National Park. This is Vietnam’s largest natural lake, with an area of 6.5 km² and approximately 200 million years old. The boat will first transfer you to Cam Village on the other side, from where you’ll traverse through rice paddies and local houses to reach Puong Cave – another natural masterpiece of the Park with countless strange-shaped stalactites. Notably, Puong Cave is home to 23 bat species, with tens of thousands living inside.

Afterward, board another boat along the Nang River to Dau Dang Waterfall, which is dubbed Ba Be’s most gorgeous fall with strong flows and an impressive length of 1,000 m. Have a hearty lunch here while admiring the majestic white-water flows.

In the afternoon, get ready to float on Ba Be Lake again. Then you’ll have the chance to explore the legendary Fairy Pond as well as some other areas of Ba Be National Park during another nice walk around the lake.  

Later, come back to your homestay for another tasty dinner. Unwind and enjoy your last night in Ba Be.
 

Have breakfast at your homestay, then head to Ban Gioc Waterfalls in Cao Bang Province, which lies on the international border between Vietnam and China. Along the way, you’ll have a few breaks to indulge in the natural charm of Northern Vietnam.

At noon, we’ll arrive at the Ban Gioc Waterfalls area. Stop for lunch here before your homestay check-in.

Start your Cao Bang adventure by unveiling Ban Gioc Waterfalls – the world’s fourth-largest waterfall along a national border and one of the most striking destinations in Southeast Asia. Spend the whole afternoon immersed in the stunning landscape here, or continue your trip with a walk to nearby Nguom Ngao Cave, one of the most superb cave systems in Vietnam.

As the tour ends, head back to your homestay. Feast on authentic local dishes and enjoy a quiet evening here.

Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Local standard hotel in Cao Bang
Driving distance: 206km ~ 5 hours

Kickstart your last day with a flavorsome breakfast, then check out and head toward Po Tau Market. This is a colorful ethnic market where locals gather to trade traditional crafts, fresh food, and regional delicacies. You’ll have a while here to visit several French colonial buildings around the market, walk along the bank of the Quay Son River, or hike up a hilltop for a lovely view of the largest valley in Trung Khanh District.

Next, move 40 km further to Phuc Sen Forging Village – one of the last villages to retain the traditional forging techniques of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups, with about 160 forges. It’s worth mentioning that forging here has a history of over 300 years.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll go back to Hanoi.

Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Driving distance: 325km ~ 6h30mins

After breakfast, you will travel to Halong Bay, a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in Vietnam. There, you will embark on a day cruise and sail to the must-see Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rocky islets covered in luxuriant vegetation that overlook 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. You will be served lunch and dinner aboard, featuring excellent, freshly caught seafood from the bay. After hiking up to the huge cave and kayaking on HaLong Bay, you will get back to the shore and drive back to Hanoi. 

Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Stay at leisure on your own today. At a convenient time, you will meet your tour guide and driver for the transfer to Noi Bai airport for your flight to your next destination.

Meal included: Breakfast

Accommodation: None

Remarks:

• Hotel standard check-out time is 12:00 pm.

• If your flight departure time differs from that of other guests, you will be transferred to the airport without an escort or tour guide (driver only).