Authentic Vietnam 14 days

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

Day 2: Hanoi – Cooking class – Hanoi(B.L)
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, explore the Vietnam cuisine, you go to the market with the chef to choose the necessary ingredients. Then, back to a local familly where the chef will teach you how to prepare and cook vietmamese traditional dishes. 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 rickshaw around Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter, then visit Ngoc Son temple. In the evening, you enjoy the Water Puppet Show. Dinner on your own and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3 : Hanoi – Ancient village Duong Lam – Vu Linh(B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Duong Lam ancient village, a farming village in the north Red River delta where 100 years old house are well-preserved. Visit the traditional village Mong Phu, its communal house of 18th century. Meeting with locals and walking through the village and surrounding countryside to visit Mia pagoda, the biggest and most beautiful pagoda in the region. Lunch at homestay. Depart to Vu Linh village through fabulous scenery. Vu Linh is the country of white Dzaos ethnic. Dinner and overnight at homestay.

Day 4: Vu Linh – Nghia Lo(B.L.D)
Breakfast at homestay. This morning is delicated to trek around Yen Bai to discover the daily life of smiling, friendly and hospitable ethnic minorities, it’s a linking to the horizon. Lunch with the locals. Depart to Nghia Lo through the fabulous scenery and arrival in Nghia Lo in the middle of the afternoon. Check in a traditional house on stilt of white Thai for a welcome cup of tea and they will introduce about their family, their traditional house and their typical culture. Cycling or walking around An Nghia village et surrounding villages of the Thais and the Muong ethnic to discover their daily lives. Dinner and overnight at homestay.

Day 5 : Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai(B.L.D)
Breakfast at homestay. This morning is delicated to hiking to Pa Lau village, home of Black H’mong to discover their daily life and their culture. Back to Thais family for lunch. Depart to Mu Cang Chai through beautiful sceneries. Stops at Khau Pha pass and on the way for beautiful pictures and for meeting friendly ethnic minorities. Mu Cang Chai is the most beautiful and remote region in Vietnam which remains intact for the tourists. Arrival in Mu Cang Chai, check in the local homestay (traditional house on stilt) and walk around Kim Noi village, you see vast rice fields, vegetables and potatoes from your house. Dinner and overnight in Mu Cang Chai.

Day 6 : Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – Binh Lu – Sapa(B.L)
Breakfast at homestay. Depart to Sapa via Than Uyen and Binh Lu which are the most beautiful mountain provinces in Vietnam. Several stops on the way to see rice fields, green hills of tea and many ethnic minorities : the Tay, the red H’mong, the Daos, the Lu… Lunch on the way. Continue to Sapa via Tram Ton pass and Fanxipan moutain which is knowns as the highest moutain top in North. Arrival in Sapa in the end of the afternoon, check in hotel and walk through small and charming streets of Sapa colonial town. Dinner at your own and overnight at hotel in Sapa.

Day 7 : Sapa – Muong Khuong Market – Vang Leng (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Depart in early morning to Muong Khuong colorful market which is held in a beautiful and colorful location, far from mass-tourism. Lunch at local restaurant. Hiking in the Nungs villages and overnight at homestay at Vang Leng village.

Day 8 : Vang Leng – Cao Son – Hiking(B.L.D)
Breakfast at homestay. Hiking to the Dzaos, H’mongs, Pazi ethnic villages. Lunch box. Return to Cao Son Lodge. Dinner and overnight at Cao Son Lodge.

Day 9 : Cao Son – La Pa Tan – Sin Chai – Muong Lum(B.L.D)
Breakfast at Cao Son Lodge. Hiking from Cao Son to La Pa Tan, you will visit a school with humanitarian action that Vietnam Original Travel is doing. Lunch box. Continue hiking in Sin Chai and Muong Lum villages. Dinner and overnight at Red Daos homestay.

Day 10 : Muong Lum – Ma Cai Thang – Cao Son(B.L.D)
Breakfast at homestay. Hiking from Muong Lum to Ma Cai Thang and visit Cao Son market, ethnic schools around Cao Son surrounding. Dinner and overnight at Cao Son Lodge.

Day 11 : Cao Son – Chay river cruise – Lao Cai – Hanoi(B.L.D)
Breakfast at Cao Son lodge. Transfer to the pier for an amazing cruise in Chay river, you will visit the ethnic villages along Chay river. Then, depart to Lao Cai station you will take a comfortable soft sleeper train back to Hanoi.

Day 12 : Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Halong bay on land(B.L.D)
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, you take a sampan to discover the langune Van Long “National Nature Reserve”, see limestone rock and fishing activities. Lunch with locals in Van Long. In the afternoon, cycling through fabulous sceneries. Back to homestay and learn Vietnamese cuisine. Dinner with dishes prepared by yourself and overnight at homestay.

Day 13 : Ninh Binh – Halong – Overnight on boat(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 14 : Halong – Phu Lang pottery village – 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 return to Hanoi through Phu Lang pottery village where you can see the stages of manufacturing pottery, ceramics and earthenwares. Transfer to the airport for the departure flight. End of our  services.