Vietnam adventure tour > 14 days North

Experience adventure tour in Vietnam
Meeting with different minorities
Adventure in the mountains with a multi-day trek
Cruise in Lan Ha Bay, a UNESCO site
Discovery of crafts
Exploration of sites off the beaten track
Discovery of the various natural riches of North Vietnam

Vietnam adventure tour > 14 days North

Start an adventure tour in Vietnam for a unique experience. A mix of adventure and culture, let yourself be guided through spectacular landscapes off the beaten track and meet ethnic minorities. You will also indulge in local crafts. Between rice fields, mountains, waterfalls, jungle, you will have an overview of the riches of North Vietnam.

First, start with a trek to climb Mount Ta Xua in Yen Bai Valley, 2865m above sea level. Passing by the dinosaur ridge and then crossing the jungle, you will discover the secrets of the local fauna and flora. Then return to the Tu le plain, in the middle of the mountains and at the entrance to the photographers’ road (Khu Pha pass) which you will take on the way to the perched village of Si Thau Chai. Stop at the Dao with flat hats to learn about their traditions. Short walk to the waterfall of thac Tinh, grandiose. Finally, you will visit Halong Bay on land, Ninh Binh, as well as Lan Ha Bay. Lan Ha Bay is much less touristy than the main Halong Bay but just as pretty.

Vietnam adventure tour 14 days North

Day 1 > Hanoi
Day 2 > Hanoi
Day 3 >Hanoi – Tram Tau – Ta Xua
Day 4 > Ta Xua
Day 5 > Ta Xua – Tram Tau
Day 6 > Tram Tau – Tu Le
Day 7 > Tu Le
Day 8 > Tu Le – Khau Pha pass – Si Thau Chai
Day 9 > Si Thau Chai – Lao Cai
Day 10 > Hanoi – Ninh Binh
Day 11 > Ninh Binh
Day 12 > Ninh Binh – Halong Bay
Day 13 > Halong Bay – Hanoi
Day 14 > Hanoi

Day 1 > Hanoi
Arrival at the airport, welcome and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight.
Day 2 > Hanoi
Departure for the local market of Ngoc Ha followed by a fresh fruit juice around Lake B52. Explanation on this place steeped in history due to the carcass of the American fighter plane emerging from the water. Passing through small alleys teeming with life, we reach the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, a sacred place in Vietnam. After a local lunch in the Old Quarter, depart by bike to visit Banana Island, which begins under Long Bien Bridge. We go from the urban frenzy to the countryside, a mixture that perfectly describes Hanoi. The walk runs along the Red River to reach the Tay Ho district in the north of the city to then go to the Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest in the capital. Slowly return to the Old Quarter to rest at the hotel. For dinner, taste a delicious local specialty, Cha Ca, fried fish served with Bun and aromatic herbs. Night at the hotel.
Day 3 > Hanoi – Tram Tau – Ta Xua
Departure for Tram Tau, in the province of Yen Bai. Arrived there for lunch, you will then be transferred to the starting point of the adventurous trek in Ta Xua mountain , the 13th highest peak in Vietnam culminating at 2865 meters. The first stage will consist of climbing for 5 hours, going from 1,000 meters to 2,400 meters. The climb is tough but has nice views. Arrived at the first camp, a dinner will be served before spending the night in a rudimentary house built by the local Hmong.
Day 4 > Ta Xua
In the early morning, after breakfast, we begin the second stage, a walk that will lead to the summit. You will start by crossing the "Dinosaur's Spine", a small narrow path on the peak of the mountain. You will then reach the dense jungle by crossing the reed forest and diving into the “magical forest, almost everything there is covered with green moss, including the artistically shaped trees from which you can feel the natural life. On the way, the guide will explain about the plants, flowers, fruits that you will see (depending on the season). Lunch will be on the way in a hut built for hikers. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the view, take photos and relax before resuming the trek to the second camp where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Day 5 >Ta Xua – Tram Tau
Descent from the mountain to reach the guest house at Tram Tau where lunch will be served. After a well-deserved break, you can take a tour of the village to learn about the H'mong minority and visit a traditional house. Back at the Homestay , you will relax in a Dao herbal bath. The rest of the day and the evening are free. Diner and night at the place.
Day 6 > Tram Tau – Tu Le
It will be time to say goodbye to the hosts and hit the road towards Tu Le. Arriving shortly before lunch, you will have time to settle in quietly before enjoying a local lunch. In the afternoon, the bike ride will guide you through the surrounding countryside to experience local life. You will return to the Homestay to share time with the hosts. Dinner and night in peace.
Day 7 > Tu Le
Tu Le is not yet well known for international tourism yet it is a place rich in landscapes and culture. You will board the vehicle to reach the starting point of the trek which will take you to the top of the mountain to contemplate the magnificent view. A picnic will be organized there. Returning slowly towards the Homestay, you will arrive in the afternoon where you will have free time to soak up the local atmosphere. You will then be invited to join the family in preparing local dishes that you will savor for dinner. Quiet night.
Day 8 >Tu Le – Khau Pha pass – Si Thau Chai
On the way to new adventures, the car takes the direction of Si Thau Chai, in the province of Lai Chau. You will pass by the famous Photographers Route (Khau Pha pass ), ideal place to admire the rice terraces. The rest of the route has plenty of other great scenery. Lunch break on the way. Arrived in the hilltop village of Si Thau Chai, inhabited by the Dao with flat hats, you can have a tea to refresh yourself before leaving for a botanical tour in the jungle around the village. Find out how locals use plants and herbs. One way is to prepare them for a relaxing foot bath that you can try back in the village. You will have free time before joining the family for a traditional dinner.
Day 9 >Si Thau Chai – Lao Cai
After breakfast, start the walk along the mountain that leads to the magnificent waterfall of Tac Tinh . Great views on the way up to the jungle entrance. If the weather allows it, it is possible to swim there. A Picnic will be organized at the waterfall. Then, depending on the season, we will explore the Tay village of Ban Bo to discover the bamboo watermills, aligned like a work of art along the river. Specialty of the Ta y minority , they sing while spinning. But the stormy season in summer forces the villagers to dismantle them to reassemble them for the rice transplanting season in the fall. The second option is to go to the Hmong Catholic village of Chu Va 6. A brand new church is built on the village square next to traditional houses, a very surprising sight. Return to the border town of Lao Cai via the O Quy Ho pass, among the most beautiful in Vietnam. Arrived in town, you can enjoy a traditional herbal bath before heading to the station to take the sleeper train and say goodbye to the mountains of the North.
Day 10 > Hanoi – Ninh Binh
Arriving in the early hours of dawn in Hanoi, you will have a local breakfast before taking the road to Halong Bay on land, Ninh Binh . You will stop at the imperial city of Hoa Lu to learn about the history of the ancient capital of Vietnam. Lunch and installation in the guest house. The afternoon bike ride will pass through local villages through rice paddies and karst peaks to reach Tam Coc. You will board a sampan, a traditional boat, and sail on the river winding between mountains and rice fields. Back on the bike, you will go up to the Mua cave, which you can explore. But the main interest of the site remains the climb to the dragon temple to admire the splendid view. Local dinner.
Day 11 > Ninh Binh
The day will be dedicated to the exploration and discovery of local crafts. We will pass through the villages of Kim Son, Van Lam , Phu Loc , Ba Bot to try our hand at pottery, sewing and many others. The visit will also pass by the cathedral of Phat Diem, an impressive building dating from the 19th century. Lunch will be taken during the visit in a local restaurant. After this long day, you will relax with a 45-minute massage. You will then be invited to join the Hosts to cook and dine.
Day 12 > Ninh Binh – Halong Bay
Transfer in the early morning to reach the pontoon where the boat will be waiting for you to escort you to the junk. The cruise in this fabulous site classified by UNESCO. Once the safety instructions have been announced, lunch will be served while the junk sails towards Lan Ha Bay, the calmest but equally pretty of the bays. After lunch, the junk will stop for a first kayaking activity. You can reach a beach suitable for swimming. Back on the boat, it will continue to the mooring place for the night. After dinner, you can indulge in squid fishing, sip a cocktail on the pontoon or simply enjoy the calm of the night on board.
Day 13 > Halong Bay – Hanoi
Early in the morning before lunch, try your hand at a Tai Chi class on the upper pontoon. The cruise continues with the visit of the isolated village of Viet Hai. This fishing village is only accessible by sea or a long walk through Cat Ba National Park. You will learn the history of Halong Bay and the making of rice wine. A tasting will be offered. During the drive back to Halong pontoon , brunch will be served. Upon arrival, you will be picked up by the vehicle to return to Hanoi. Stop at the ecotourism village of Yen Duc on the way. You will be dropped off at your hotel. After a free moment, you will be joined by the guide for a gastronomic tour in the Old Quarter, in search of the many flavors of Vietnamese cuisine.
Day 14 > Hanoi
After breakfast, stroll through the Old Quarter for a shopping tour. After crossing the Long Bien bridge, you will reach the Song café where you will share a last lunch with the Song Voyages team. Transfer to the airport. End of round