The first day Hanoi Arrival
Upon arrival in Hanoi international airport, pick up and transfer to hotel in Hanoi centre, the rest of the day you will relax at hotel after your long flight. In evening enjoy Hanoi by night with night & food markets, culture and music shows at weekend.
The second Hanoi morning free – afternoon street food tour
Today you are free at leisure or visit key attractions of the city on your own arrangement until 4PM our local guide will come to pick up at hotel for a 3 hours walk and eat tour (Hanoi street food tour). We will walk along the narrow lanes of Hanoi old town to visit some temples, church and along the walk, visit local restaurants and learn the way they cook traditional Hanoi food then sit back and try some typical food of Hanoi. End of the tour today, we’ll enjoy with local people at the Hanoi beer corner for some local beer.
The third day we leave Hanoi for Mai Chau
After breakfast and check out hotel, our local guide and driver meet at hotel and we start to travel northwest to the rural, indigenous villages of Mai Chau valley. Enjoy 4 hour scenic hilly road in the north Vietnam. We will have some stops for photography and coffee. Upon arrival, you’ll visit a local homestay and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared using fresh, local farm produce. After familiarising yourself with the surroundings, your guide will take you on a leisurely bike ride through the lush green countryside. Our cycling tour will go through villages, rice paddies, rivers and meet local families. See local Thai ethnic tribes working with buffalo in the fields, wander past thriving vegetable gardens and terraced rice paddies before heading to your Eco-lodge. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure – relax with a book or take in the beauty of this unique area.
To stay with local family on this trip is a very nice experience, if you’d like a more local experience, we can arrange a homestay with a hill tribe family for tonight – just let your travel specialist know if you’d like this option.
For homestay, there are a number of families doing homestay services. we recommend the homestay Minh Tho in Mai Hich village. It is a very cozy and tranquil village nested in a green valley with rice paddies, river and mountain. This is a really off-the-beaten-path trip. The host is so friendly and helpful and of course the food there is fantastic for your holiday.
Optional: in the evening after dinner, we can enjoy the Thai Traditional dance with local people and try their special wine.
The Day 4 we drive Mai Chau to Hoa Lu -Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)- little Halong Bay
After breakfast and farewell to your host, you’ll continue your travels to Tam Coc, approximately 3.5 hours away. We will go through Hoa Lu – Tam Coc and Trang An. This is a famous limestone mountain range with magic river and karst cave system. It is called Halong bay on land. Thanks to its special limestone landscape, the director Jordan Roberts has selected this place for his new King Kong Movie – The Skull Islands filmed in 2016 and released in 2017
You’ll visit the 17th Century temples of King Dinh and King Le in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. Tam Coc is known for its tranquil waterways edged by steep limestone cliffs and in the afternoon you’ll take a scenic sampan ride along these serene waterways, watching fisherman and local birdlife as you drift by.
Your accommodation this evening is at a comfortable local resort nested in a peaceful village & surrounded by limestone mountains, which effortlessly blends into the surrounding landscape. Take your free time to relax or do a cycling tour around villages. Make your own dinner plans and feel free enjoy a drink with your fellow travellers.
The fifth day Tam Coc venturing to Halong Bay and overnight onboard
Our trip today is to the most amazing limestone formation declared UNESCO heritage site since 1994. There are thousands of limestone islands jutting out from emerald water and many of them are appeared in the new King Kong Hollywood movie.
After breakfast, travel from Tam Coc to Halong Bay with a 4 hour scenic drive through the Red-river delta. You’ll board a traditional junk boat in Halong Bay where you’ll be assigned a cabin complete with its own ensuite. Sail out of the harbour and into the incredible surrounds of this World Heritage listed site, with a freshly prepared lunch shortly after departure. During your travels in Halong Bay you’ll visit exotic caves, limestone islets, private beaches, fishing villages and oyster farms, while having the chance to swim, kayak, cook and even try your luck at some night fishing.
The Day 6: Halong Bay drive back to Hanoi
The following morning enjoy the breathtaking views as the junk boat makes its way back to the harbour. You’ll have lunch on board before departing the boat for your hotel transfer back to Hanoi, approximately four hours away.
Although the tour ends here, the options from Hanoi are endless. You can extend your vacation to central part to see Hue royal city or ancient town of Hoian or to southern part to explore Ho Chi Minh city and mighty Mekong delta. Contact us at bookingvietnam365@gmail.com for more information
