Travel Style
Active & Adventure
Destinations
Pu Luong, Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau
Highlights Itinerary Accommodation Inclusions/Exclusions
An impressive Vietnam travel itinerary of 10 days to explore northern Vietnam in depth with memorable experiences of indigenous culture and mesmerizing nature. Mai Chau and Pu Luong Nature Reserve are enchanting mountainous destinations located only 150 km (93 miles) from Hanoi with picturesque scene of mountains, paddy fields; also residing home of variant ethnic tribes. Halong bay overnight cruise on the other hand showcases thrilling landscape of the ocean with emerging of thousand karst mountains. While Hanoi let you have snapshot of city lifestyle, the trip to Ninh Binh discloses bucolic villages and customs in the northern delta of Vietnam. You will visit captivating nature of Tam Coc renown as dried Halong Bay and variant wildlife in Cuc Phuong National Park.
Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a beguiling city of Asia with chaotic streets of Hanoi Old Quarter and a impressive blend of colonial and Asian culture. Hanoi City is a inspiring city to admire the architecture, street life, cuisine, history and culture.
Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by your local tour guide and travel to hotel for check-in. Have free time rest of the day to get off the jet lag.
Today, you will tour Hanoi City to explore the best places to see of Hanoi. Begin the day with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where house the embalmed body of President Ho Chi Minh. Roundabout, you also can visit the Presidential Palace, Uncle Ho ‘s former accommodations and the One-Pillar Pagoda constructed in the 11th century. Then, you will visit the Vietnam museum of Ethnology featuring 54 minority tribe groups of Vietnam. Comprising 2 parts of indoor and outdoor exhibition, this museum is a research center and a public museum which showcases a colorful brocade of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.
This afternoon, pay a visit to Temple of Literature renown as the very first university of Vietnam since 1070. The original purpose of opening this school was the exclusive study sanctuary for princes and mandarins' children; just then be public to all the talented students. The surrounding walls keep the temple away from the hustle Hanoi city. Entering the place, you will find a spiritual and cultural ambience when stroll around the courtyards, alters; admire the roof, lake, etc. Later on, you will discover Hanoi Old Quarter and Sword Lake.
In the morning, you will leave Hanoi and travel to Mai Chau, a mountainous valley with situation of only 135km (84 miles) to the south-west of Hanoi. Being the nearest mountainous point to Hanoi, Mai Chau is ideal place for whom keen to know about the ethnic villages and mountain scenes of Vietnam with short driving. The welcome lunch will be prepared at a local family who live in Thai traditional house. You will taste of local tasty cuisine and have moments to learn more about their daily life.
Settle into the ecolodge, you will have a pleasant hike to visit a neighboring villages of white Thai minorities and contemplate Mai Chau Valley. The peaceful place is mainly dominated by idyllic landscapes of the rice paddies, farming plantation and small villages. You take a walk then hop on the bicycle traversing through the rice fields and see more of local life.
After dinner at hotel, you also have chance to participate in the traditional dances and enjoy traditional performances at hotels.
Early in the morning, save the golden hours and take a walk to the roundabout countryside near your lodge. The sunshine just come out and comfortably soft; and also, when the farmers working on their fields. After your breakfast, you have free time to relax or visit the surrounding villages nestling in Mai Chau; then depart to Pu Luong Nature Reserve in one-hour drive, among the most fascinating region of northern Vietnam. The place is featured by limestone peaks, deep green rice terraces and minority tribe villages of Thai and Muong people.
This afternoon, you will drive to Chien Lau Bridge where you will begin the walk and exploration till reaching Tan Lap Bridge where you will see the driver and head back to the lodge. Free time to enjoy the lodge as well stunning view from your bungalow.
Today you will enjoy the hike to have an indepth exploration of Pu Luong Vietnam passing by terraced of rice field near Don Village; then tread along corn fields and small villages. You will have more chances to observe the local people as well as stop at their houses for further interaction. After your picnic lunch, return to the lodge and refresh till rest of the day.
This morning, you will depart from Pu Luong to Ninh Binh in nearly 4-hour drive. Upon your arrival, you will have lunch of local cuisine prepared at a local house. Then begin your two day touring Ninh Binh Viet Nam sightseeing outstanding attractions like Tam Coc boat trip, Hoa Lu Temples and Cuc Phuong National Park.
In the afternoon, you will board the local sampan and traverse on the Hoang Long River to explore Tam Coc. Mean Three Cave, the region is set in an aquatic landscape and gigantic rock terraces. Finish the boat trip in Tam Coc, you will visit Hoa Lu Temples where worship the respected Dinh and Le Kings dating back to the 10th century. This is one of the most highlighted places of Ninh Binh for its historical relics and natural limestone peaks make the land named “Terrestrial Halong Bay”. Afterward, you will rest at hotel in Ninh Binh.
In the morning, depart to Cuc Phuong National Park for a full day hike and trek in the jungle and explore the verdant luxuriant jungles. Cuc Phuong Park is sited between two karst mountain ranges; also home of few Muong tribe villages scattered around the park’s premises. You will have a short visit to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center for the gibbons, langur, turtles, etc. Then have a hike up to the Cave of Prehistoric man. Carry on, you will trek through the rain forest to see the fauna and flora, thousand year old trees as well as spot the wild animals.
This morning, you will leave Ninh Binh for the renown Halong Bay cruise among the best things to experience in Vietnam. Arriving around noon, you will embark the traditional wooden junk and sail further to the bay on stunning bay of thousand limestone peaks. Halong Bay include nearly 2,000 islands and islets creating a spectacular landscape and make it a UNESCO World Heritage site twice in 1994 and 2000. While the boat set sail calmly, you will enjoy lunch on windy and captivating Halong bay. In the afternoon, there are activities to do hiking to the cave, kayaking in the water lagoon and enjoy the sunset over the bay. The boat will set sail in a quiet place for overnight.
Early in the morning, the cruise is available with Tai Chi exercise during the sunrise. After breakfast, you will cruise further for the bay contemplation. Keep touring around, the boat will return to mainland early noon. You will travel back to Hanoi.
After breakfast, have free & easy time to relax till your transfer to airport for your flight to next destination.
Inclusion:
- Accommodations with daily breakfast
- Private air-conditioned transfer
- Professional local English-speaking tour guide
- Non private cruise on Ha Long Bay
- Meals mentioned in program
- Biking tour and boat trip as mentioned in program
- Entrance fees for sightseeing indicated in the program
- 02 bottles of water (500ml each) per person per full day tour
Exclusion:
- Vietnam visa authorization letter/ stamping fee
- Food/beverage not mentioned in program
- International and domestic air-fares
- Tips & gratuities
- Services not mentioned in program
BOOK THIS TRIP
8 days 7 nights
30 days 29 nights
20 days 19 nights
7 days 6 nights
6 days 5 nights
5 days 4 nights
5 days 4 nights
12 days 11 nights
