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Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel in Hanoi. Local dinner and night
Visit the local market of Ngoc Ha. Pause for a fresh juice at Lake B52 and learn about the history of this plane wreck emerging from the water. Then, walk to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a cult and emblematic place. Then head to the Dong Xuan market in the Old Quarter for a tasting of the main dishes of North Vietnam. After lunch, head to the ethnology museum where you will learn about the different ethnic groups and can visit some witness houses scattered around the garden. To conclude this day of discovery, relax in a SPA for two hours of treatment including the Himalayan salt treatment, purifying and detoxifying the body. After tasting a delicious Cha Ca, fried fish accompanied by aromatic herbs, you will enjoy a night walk in the old quarter around Hoan Lake Kim . Night on site
After breakfast, you will take the road to Thac Ba Lake. Arrived at the pontoon, you will embark on the boat to the ecolodge La Vie Vu Linh. A vegetarian lunch will be served. In the afternoon, you will go into the surrounding jungle with a local guide for a botanical visit to learn more about medicinal plants. Dinner with the Dao hosts and quiet night.
In the morning, you will hike in the jungle to the waterfall where a picnic will be organized. Enjoy a swim (depending on the season). After this moment of connection with nature, you will return to the lodge. In the afternoon, you will embark on a tour on the lake where you can try your hand at local fishing. The boat will stop in a village or an islet to contemplate the view and take a peaceful stroll. Depending on the season, you can also swim in the lake. Return to the host family to relax, dine and watch a traditional local dance performance.
In the early morning, transfer to Ha Giang , stops on the way to admire the view and the local villages. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the hotel. Dinner on site
After breakfast, you will leave for the Karst Plateau Geopark of Đồng Văn. After crossing the Bac Sum Pass, a small path will take you to Tùng Vài. If this day is a Friday, you will have the opportunity to visit the weekly ethnic market. Otherwise, you will take time to visit the Tùng Vài valley where the Bố Y and Tày ethnic groups live by growing vegetables. You will then visit a Bố Y family, one of the 16 ethnic groups with very few people in the community of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. You will have lunch with the family.
In the afternoon, you will continue the small path to the village of Nậm Đăm where you will spend the night. This village consists of traditional mud houses of the Dzao Áo Dài who still maintain their traditional culture and lifestyle by doing solidarity tourism.
Full day exploration of the geo park. You will hike through lost trails and visit remote villages. Between breathtaking views and immersion in the local life of minorities residing in remote places. . Dinner night at homestay in Dong Van
After breakfast, the journey takes you towards Meo Vac an passing through the most beautiful pass in Vietnam, the Ma Pi Leng pass . A true natural masterpiece, the landscapes are simply dazzling. Local lunch during the visit. Then head to the pontoon for a relaxing ride on the Nho Que River which meanders through the high mountains. Dinner and overnight at homestay in Meo Vac.
The journey continues towards the town of Bao Lac via a mountainous road dotted with sublime viewpoints and crossing isolated villages. Lunch at Bao Lac. After a free moment to relax, a peaceful hike will take you around to discover the local way of life. Dinner and night at the inhabitant.
The morning will be devoted to the discovery of minorities in the district of Bao Lac (Lolo, San Chi) discovery of traditions, daily life, for a deep immersion in the culture of minorities in the high mountains of North Vietnam. Afternoon, transfer to the village of Phia Thap where the Nung minority live. Dinner and night at the inhabitant.
The Nung are known for meticulous craftsmanship and precision. Specialists in sewing and cutlery, they have many other strings to their bows. You will first visit the incense workshop and then a forge to see them working the steel and making their knives and other utensils. At the end of the afternoon, you will take the direction of Trung Khanh . Dinner and night at the host.
The day begins at dawn with a soothing walk to take a breath of fresh air and enjoy the tranquility of the site in the early morning. Back at the lodge with peace of mind, you will have breakfast before boarding the car in the direction of the Ban Gioc waterfalls , the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in Vietnam. Time stands still in front of this dazzling spectacle and you will take the time to admire every corner of it. You will then visit the Tiger Cave ( Nguom Ngao ) which is located nearby. Very beautiful cave filled with stalagmites, stalactites and other millennial rock sculptures. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the river for a bamboo boat ride. Relaxing cruise (swimming depending on the weather) and introduction to local fishing. Return to the guest house. Short bike ride in the middle of rural landscapes until sunset. Dinner and night in peace.
In the early morning, departure for the Province and town of Lang Son. Arrived on site for lunch, you will then check in at the hotel. Lang Son is a very airy town and commercial crossroads with the Chinese neighbor. In the afternoon, head to To Thi mountain, famous for its rock formation representing a woman carrying a child, as if waiting for her husband to return. The mountain offers a nice panorama of the countryside of Lang Son. Return to the hotel to freshen up. You will then discover the nightlife of the city by strolling in the pedestrian street while tasting local dishes. Rest of the evening at leisure and overnight at the hotel.
Early departure for the pontoon to take the shuttle that will take you to the junk to start a cruise in Lan Ha Bay, a little sister just as pretty as Halong Bay and much less touristy. After a welcome drink and a brief introduction, you will have lunch in Cat Ba before rejoining the junk. Navigation begins crossing the houseboats. You can then jump in the kayak to explore the bay and visit the “dark cave” and the “bat cave”. Dinner and night on board the junk .
Wake up gently in the middle of the bay. You can go kayaking again through the lagoon and the “three tunnels” cave. You will then have lunch on the beach of the island “of the three peaches”, known for its crystal clear water and its wild beaches. Then return to Cat Ba Island where transport will be arranged for a return to Hanoi in the late afternoon. End of round.