From :
- Arrival at the airport, welcome and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight.
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 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a sacred place pagoda 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 ride 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.
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.
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.
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.
It will be time to say goodbye to the hosts and hit the road towards Khau Pha pass, know as the “photographer road”. Arriving shortly before lunch, you will have time to settle in quietly before enjoying a local lunch. In the afternoon, connect with the local with a batik workshop. Experience the beeswax drawing like a local. You will return to the Homestay to share time with the hosts. Dinner and night in peace.
Khau Pha 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.
On the way to new adventures, the car takes the direction of Si Thau Chai, in the province of Lai Chau. The rest of the route has plenty of 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 village tour . You will have free time before joining the family for a traditional dinner.
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 Thai 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 at leisure until the transfer to the airport to catch your flight
