Impressive Vietnam 17 days

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Arrival at Noi Bai International airport, welcomed by our guide and transfert to hotel. Free at leisure. Welcome dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi – Cooking class – Hanoi (B.L)
Breakfast at hotel. then, explore the Vietnam cuisine, you go to the market with the chef to choose the necessary ingredients. Then, we back to a local familly where the chef will teach you how to prepare and cook the traditional dishes of Vietnam. Lunch with dishes prepared by yourself. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature “Vietnam first University” and the Ethnographic Museum (closed on every Monday). You enjoy 01 hour richshaw around Hoan Kiem Lake and Old Quarter, visit the Ngoc Son temple. In the evening, you enjoy the Water Puppet Show. Dinner on your own and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ba Be – Hua Ma cave (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Departure from Hanoi to Ba Be through green hills of tea and beautiful fan palm. On the way, stops to visit Tay, San Chi and Cao Lan villages. Lunch at local restaurant. Continuation to Ba Be. Arrival in Ba Be, check in to the traditionnal house on stilt for a welcome cup of green tea. Then, you visit Hua Ma cave, the most beautiful and largest cave in the region, walk around the village to discover the daily life of the Tays ethnic. Dinner and overnight at homestay.

Day 4: Ba Be – Boat Cruise – Cao Bang (B.L.D)
Breakfast at homestay. Then, you take a cruise in Ba Be lake which knowns as the most beautiful freshwater lake in Vietnam to discover the most beautiful and quite corners there. Continue the boat cruise on the Nang River, cruising through the beautiful Poung cave and visit Dau Dang waterfall, the most beautiful and largest waterfall. Lunch at Ong Pirate. You say goodbye to the family and depart to Cao Bang through forests landscapes and ethnic villages. Arrival in Cao Bang at the end of day. Discover the central market. Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Cao Bang.

Day 5: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc – Nguom Ngao cave (B.L.D)
After breakfast. Departure to at Ban Gioc Waterfall, which is the largest waterfall in Vietnam where you can walk or swim. Local lunch beside the waterfall. Return to Cao Bang, on the way back, we will visit Nguom Ngao Caves, this enormous cave has two main entrances and one branch reaching almost all the way to the waterfalls where is a “secret” entrance. Dinner at local restaurant and overnight at hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 6: Cao Bang – Bac Me – Bao Lac (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Depart to Bao Lac through beautiful scenery, visit the colorful local markets of multiple ethnic minority on the way (if this is the day because these markets are held every 5 days). Stopping along the way to admire the beautiful karst mountains and valleys as well as meetings with different ethnic minorities. This trip will give you lots of great photos. Arrival in Bao Lac in late afternoon, transfer to hotel. Walking in the surrounding villages to discover the daily life of many different minorities. Dinner and overnight in Bao Lac.

Day 7: Bao Lac – Meo Vac – Dong Van (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Then, you will visit Khuoi Khon village, home of Black Lo Lo to discover their daily life. Lunch at local restaurant. Depart to Dong Van (unique stone plateau in Vietnam) via Meo Vac, you will stop on the way to visit Gateway to Heaven, Fairy Mountains and fabulous scenery… Arrival in Dong Van at the end of the day, check in hotel. Dinner al local restaurant and overnight in Dong Van.

Day 8: Dong Van – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Ha Giang (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Then, you will visit the French colonial market and the old house that have more than 400 years old, and go to Dong Van – unique stone plateau in Vietnam. You will visit the Royal Palace of Vuong Chi Sinh King Hmong, a famous historic site dating from the colonial era. Lunch at local restaurant. Continue to Ha Giang and arrival in Ha Giang at the end of day. Dinner and overnight in Panhou.

Day 9: Ha Giang – Bac Ha – Hiking (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Depart to Bac Ha through the most beautiful and adventurous road in North – East Vietnam with different ethnic minorities: the Nungs, the Tays, the Hmongs… you will stop for beautiful photos… Lunch at local restaurant. Continuation to Bac Ha, check in the hotel. Hiking in ethnic villages around Bac Ha, home of the Hmongs, the Phu La, and the Tays… Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Bac Ha.

Day 10: Bac Ha – Bac Ha typical market – Sapa (B.L)
Breakfast at hotel. Depart in early morning to Bac Ha typical and colorful market, it’s the most beautiful and colorful market in the region which is not only a place for trade but also a place for young lovers. After lunch, you go to Sapa through a beautiful mountain road. Arrival in Sapa in late afternoon. Discover this charming town and its central market. Dinner on your own and overnight in Sapa.

Day 11: Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Sapa (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. All day will be dedicated to a beautiful hiking in the most beautiful valley of Sapa through the terraced rice fields, schools, ethnic villages. Visit Lao Chai and Ta Van villages where live the Hmongs, Daos, Zays ethnic. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, hiking through terraced rice fields, ethnic villages and bamboo forests to Giang Ta Chai village, our driver pick you up to Sapa. Dinner at your own and overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Sapa – Than Uyen – Mu Cang Chai (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Depart to Mu Cang Chai village via Tram Ton pass, you enjoy a wonderful valley and mount Fansipan view … Continue to Mu Cang Chai and many stops on the way to take photos. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, walking in ethnic villages around Mu Cang Chai and discovery of the daily life of the H’mongs, the Thais… Dinner and overnight at homestay.

Day 13: Mu Cang Chai – Nghia Lo (B.L.D)
Breakfast at homestay. Depart from Mu Cang Chai to Nghia Lo through fabulous sceneries, this road is known as its of photographers. Stop at Khau Pha pass for a beautiful panoramic view. Continue to Nghia Lo and arrive in Nghia Lo at noon, check in a traditional house on stilt for a welcome cup of tea. Lunch at homestay with locals. In the afternoon, cycling or walking in the surrounding Nghia An villages and meeting with the Muongs and Thais. Dinner and overnight at Thais homestay.

Day 14: Nghia Lo – Hiking – Hanoi (B.L)
Breakfast at homestay. Visit Muong Lo market where you will meet different minorities. Then, hiking in the H’mongs, Thais and Muong village… to discover their daily life. Lunch at homestay. Then, return to Hanoi through beautiful landscapes, rural villages and vast rice fields. Arrival in Hanoi at the end of the day. Dinner on your own and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 15 : Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Halong Bay on land (B.L)
Breakfast at hotel. Depart to Hoa Lu, one of the most famous sites in Vietnam for its rich history and impressive limestone peaks which is known as Halong Bay on land. Visit two King temples of Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh dating from the 10th century. Then, take a sampan to discover the langune Van Long “Nature Reserve”, and enjoy karst rock and fishing activities. Lunch with locals in Van Long. In the afternoon, cycling around Van Long through fabulous scenery. Back to homestay and learn Vietnamese cuisine. Dinner with dishes prepared by yourself and overnight at homestay.

Day 16 : Hoa Lu – Halong – Overnight on board (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Depart to Halong Bay through vast rice fields and arrival in Halong at noon.
12h00 – 12h30: Embark on boat followed by a short cruise briefing.
13h00 – 15h30: Savor a delectable lunch as cruises among the limestone islands.
15h30 – 16h30: Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Bo Nau Cave area. Back to the boat
16h30 – 17h30: Cruising to Soi Sim island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Soi Sim or climb up to the top of the island for a panorama view of Halong Bay.
17h30: Cruise back to the main boat for a shower. Relax or snap photos as the sun starts to set.
19h00: Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, fish for squid, or just laze around. Overnight on board..

Day 17: Halong – Hanoi – Departure (B.L)
06h30 - 07h00: Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt.
07h30 - 08h30: Have breakfast at sunrise.
08h30 - 09h30: Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave - the nicest cave in Halong Bay.
09h30: Return to the boat. Freshen up and check out of your cabin.
09h30 - 10h30: Continue your cruise exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more.
10h30 – 11h30: While heading back to the habor, watch the cooking demonstration before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch.
12h00 – 12h30: Disembark and back to Hanoi. On the way back to Hanoi, you will visit pottery village where you can see the stages in pottery making, ceramic making process… Transfer to the airport for the departure flight. End of our services.