NORTHERN NATURE AND CULTURE VIETNAM BEAUTIES – 12 DAYS

Welcome to Ha Noi! Our guide and  driver meets and transfers you to downtown. Hanoi, a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and verdant public parks – the capital of Vietnam. Check in time from 14:00 and take a rest Tour guides will take tourists to eat at lots of special corners , alleys and restaurants of The Old Quarter that you might miss if you go by yourself to try variety of street foods and drinks such as:Bún chả ( Grilled pork with noodle), Phở bò,gà ( Beef, chicken noodle soup), Bún ốc (Snail noodle soup), Bánh cuốn ( Steamed rice papper rolls), Bánh gối ( Pillow dumpling), Nem rán ( Fried spring rolls), Bánh tôm (Shrimp dumpling), Bánh Mỳ (Vietnamese sandwich), Chè ( Sweet gruel soup), Bánh Bao (Vietnamese dumpling), Bánh khoai, chuối ( Sweet potato,Banana cake), Hoa quả dầm ( Mixture fresh-fruit), Bia Hơi (Fresh beer), Trà đá (Iced tea), Café trứng (Egg coffee) ……. Drop you off at the hotel. Overnight in Ha Noi

Have breakfast at hotel & ready for the trip at the lobby. 8.30: Get picked up by our friendly guide and start to explore Hanoi City 08.45: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish IsLand in West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century. 09.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Godess of Mercy – It is the most unique padoga in the world             Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, pagodas…             Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.              Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed at least 2 months (15thJune -15thAugust) for the annual maintaining but still can take picture Mausoleum and visit around that area 11.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam Special Note : we will visit Women Museum instead of Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays 12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. 14.00-14.15 : Continue to visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century 15.15: Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton 16.15 -16.30: Tour finishes. Back to hotel Overnight in Ha Noi

Thanh Son green tea hill  and  Muong Lo rice valley. In the morning, meet our tour guide and driver at your hotel and transfer to Muong Lo via Thanh Son. Muong Lo is known as one of the four most important fertile valleys of the north west (Muong Thanh in Dien Bien Phu, Muong Tac in Phu Yen and Muong Than in Than Uyen) in which the Thai ethnic group predominates. The village consists of hundreds of houses on wooden stilts and Thai people cultivate the water rice. Drive to the national road number 32 along the black river (Da River) one of the most important rivers in the northwest. In Thanh Son, we will make a stop to visit the green tea plantation hill then walk through the stilt-house villages. It belongs to the Muong ethnic group, considered as Authentic Viet. The Muong ethnic group is one of few communities in the north that is immune to Chinese influence. Arrive in Nghia Lo, check in at your home stay in the Thai village and enjoy their hospitality. Walk or bike around the Thai village to discover the beautiful rice field valley and hamlets that still preserve the authentic houses on stilts and meet the friendly locals. Go back to the home stay to freshen up and rest. Dinner will be served with special traditional local foods. Driving time: 5hours – 200km Cycling: 5-10km depends on your interests. Overnight in Nghia Lo.

Thai people in Tu Le Valley – Khau Pha pass – Mu Cang Chai rice terraces. After breakfast, visit a local market in Nghia Lo then transfer to Mu Cang Chai via Tu Le. Mu Cang Chai is well known for its marvelous rice terrace widely considered as the most beautiful in the world. In 2007, Che Cu Nha, De Su Phinh and La Pan Tan were recognized as outdoor masterpieces on the list of national heritage. At the exit of Nghia Lo, you will cross the hilly region populated by the Zao ethnic group on the hills and the Zay in the valley. Stop for a chance to take photos and meet the local people on the way. Arrive in Tu Le. It is possible to trek to the valley where Thai people live in houses on stilts and have some unusual encounters that allow you to immerse yourself into the authentic local life. In the afternoon, continue to Khau Pha pass which offers you a splendid panoramic view of the valley of rice terraces. Then the car will take you to La Pan Tan which is a legendary route for photographers. You will admire the gorgeous rice terrace masterpieces created by the Hmong peasant artists from generation to generation. Enjoy the majestic landscape and follow the route from La Pan Tan to Mam Xoi. Arrive in the village and take a shower and rest. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight in a homestay. Driving time: 3hour – 100km. Trekking: 2-3 hours (optional). Overnight in Mu Cang Chai.

Thai valleys in Than Uyen, Laotian and Lu ethnic groups in Na Tam – Hoang Lien Son pass. After breakfast, transfer to Than Uyen, one of the Thai rice valleys. The splendid landscape of rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai will follow you along the way to Than Uyen. Before turning right to Sapa, we will make a stop to visit Na Tam Village where the Laotian and Lu people live. This is a beautiful, tranquil landscape. Traditionally, the local women are distinguished by black teeth and indigo colored clothing encrusted with silver pieces. Take a 2 hour hike through the river, villages, rice fields, and hills and meet the locals. Meet our driver for a transfer to Sapa, crossing Hoang Lien Son pass (O Quy Ho pass). This is the longest and highest pass in Vietnam, 54km in length and 2047m in height. Stop to relax at the top of the pass and soak up the grandiose landscape. This is also a great place for photos. Arrive in Sapa, a town discovered by the French in 1903, in the afternoon. With a temperate climate, Sapa became an attraction for holidaymakers because of its beautiful rice valley, splendid mountain range and the diversity of minority tribes such as Black Hmong, Red Zao and the Zay ethnics. Stay overnight at a hotel in the town. Driving time: 4hours – 140km Trekking: 2 hours in Na Tam. Overnight in Sapa.

Depart from your accommodation for the hike following the itinerary: Ma Tra – Ta Phin which is less touristic. The journey will lead you to the superb rice terrace valley, meeting the local people of the Black Hmong and Red Zao ethnic groups. They were originally from southern China. They settled in Vietnam in the 11th century. And still live at high altitude, far away from the modern world. This helps them to preserve their traditions, language and especially their ancestral way of life. Make a stop on the way to visit a Hmong family and school in Ma Tra Village.  After a 3-hour trek, you will reach the Red Zao village to transfer to Sapa. In the afternoon, transfer in Bac Ha via Lao Cai City. Stop in the city for a visit to the Vietnam - China border gate. Arrive in Bac Ha in the late afternoon. Located at an altitude of 1000m, Bac Ha is home to several ethnic groups such as the colorful Hmong, Phu La and Tays. Bac Ha is well known for its weekly, colorful Sunday market surrounded by wild and beautiful scenery. Bac Ha market is not only for the exchange of goods but it has also been for the cultural exchange of the ethnic groups for centuries. Walking distance: 12km – 3 hours. Driving distance: 100km – 3 hours. Level: Moderate. Overnight at hotel in Bac Ha.

Flower Hmong Village – Thac Ba Lake. From Bac Ha, it is possible to visit a colorful, ethnic market if it falls on these days: Bac Ha Market on Sunday, Can Can Market on Saturday. Enjoy the striking atmosphere with so many goods such as vegetables, poultry, horses and buffalos while capturing many minority groups in their best colorful clothing of the week. The next stop is Ban Pho Village, famous for its corn alcohol. Discover life in the village and the people who survive from the cultivation of corn and plums. Thanks to the village’s water source, they make and exceptional corn-flavored alcohol that is appreciated by both the locals and the guests from afar. Go trekking through some Hmong ethnic villages and end up at Na Kheo, a Tay ethnic village. Simply idyllic, it's a typical Bac Ha Landscape, mixed with corn fields, manioc hills and clay houses. Plum gardens decorated with Hmong women and their colorful skirts will accompany you along the trip. In the afternoon, depart to Thac Ba Lake, inhabited by Zao ethnics with white trousers. This is an ideal resting place as it's an ecological lake. Along the way, encounter untouched ethnic groups of Tay and Nung people in the middle of authentic villages with hundreds of houses on stilts covered with thatch. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight in a homestay (A stilt-house of the Zao people) Driving time: 3hours – 130km Walking distance: 10km – 3hours  

In the morning, take a boat trip to discover Thac Ba Lake, an artificial hydroelectric lake. In front of your eyes, you will see the huge valley covered by water and numerous hilltops from the hundreds of islets which bring a certain charm to the lake. Visit a Zao village. Go back to host family to say good bye and transfer to Tan Trao, a former Viet Minh resistance base during the first Indochina war. Away from most tourists, the path is distinguished by the Tay ethnic villages whose houses stand on stilts, with a backdrop of tea plantation hills, palm plantations and rice valleys. Visit the villages to meet the locals along the way and obviously do not miss some stops to take the photos of the scenery whenever possible. Arrive at Ba Be Lake in the afternoon. Located at an altitude of 150m, Ba Be is a beautiful, natural park with a lake surrounded by a primitive forest. Enjoy a homestay in Pac Ngoi village.

Boat trip in Ba Be Lake and admire the wilderness. In the morning, transfer from the village to Buoc Lom Pier to take a boat trip along the Nang river and enjoy the beautiful scenery of forests along the river. The boat will pass through Puong cave, home to thousands of bats, toward Dau Dang waterfall. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant by the waterfall. Take the boat back to the lake, stopping at the fairy pond located in the middle of the primitive forest. Here, you will gently cruise around the lake and it's possible to swim if the weather permits. Disembarkation is at 4.00pm. Walk from the pier to the village, have dinner and stay overnight atthehome stay. Dinner and overnight home stay.

In the morning, go cycling through several villages of ethnic Tay people to Hua Ma cave ( 5km from the village). This is an attractive place with amazing formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Then bike to discover the Silver waterfall Go back to Pac Ngoi village at noon. Enjoy lunch before transfer to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon. Check in your hotel and enjoy some free time after the mountain getaway. Driving time: 5 hours – 250km

Enjoy your last minutes in Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam before transfer to airport for your next destinations.