Essence of Northern Vietnam 7 Days

You are welcomed by our driver at Noi Bai airport, transfer to hotel and check in. The rest of the day is on your own leisure to explore the Hanoi Old Quarter. Overnight in Hanoi.

Tour guide: No
Meals: No

Breakfast at your hotel. At 08:00, you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay (3.5 hour drive) and board the boat at noon time. The magical bay is home to thousands of limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons’ teeth. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you’ll enjoy cocktails or cooking classes while watching the sunset, before indulging in a lavish dinner on board. Afterward, you can choose to do anything from joining movie night, playing board games, or relaxing at the beauty spa before retiring for the evening.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You’ll start the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise and an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will be taken to a beautiful limestone grotto before returning to the junk for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Check out at noon time and the vehicle is waiting for you to take you straight to Ninh Binh. Free time to relax. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, we will visit Hoa Lu, the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries then proceed to Mua Cave to do the 500-step trek to the pagoda at the top where there’s a simple altar to Quan Am. Enjoy the spectacular view! After lunch at a local restaurant with some specialties, have a rowing boat trip at Tam Coc. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at your hotel, at 08:30 am, our guide and driver will take you to Pu Luong – a “hidden gem” of North Central region of Vietnam. On the way, you will go through a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. After around 4 driving hours, you will arrive at your accommodation – Pu Luong Retreat and have a delicious lunch there. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes. Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the bamboo river rafting with local boatman. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts. Arriving at scenic Tan Lap Bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Your camera will not be able to sit still!
Continuing to the base of the valley, you weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savour the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot to enjoy a simple picnic lunch.
PM: After enjoying delicious food, you have free time to explore the refreshing water to the nearby river, before moving to our pick up point to be transferred back to the Retreat.

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Village life and the community | 4,5 km easy walk – 2 hours
AM: You have the chance to get close to village life and interact with locals living in the hills above the Retreat. Glimpse at daily life, walk around working farmland and rice fields, and learn about making weaving colourful textiles, followed by lunch at the Lodge.
PM: Check out the Lodge. Back to Hanoi after approximately 4 hours ride. End of services!

Tour guide: English Speaking Guide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch