Northern Vietnam Adventure Tour – 10 days

Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Giang

Pick up and departure for Hanoi-Viet Tri-Tuyen Quang-Ha Giang on Road #2. Lunch will be served in Tuyen Quang.  Arrive in Ha Giang and go to a nearby Tay village for dinner. Overnight in homestay in Ha Giang.

Day 2: Ha Giang – Dong Van

Breakfast at the homestay. Head to Dong Van on a spectacular road for experiences of a series of long passes and deep valleys. Lunch at the small mountain town of Tam Son. Then cross a landscape of pine forest and arrive at the astonishing King of the H’mong’s Palace- a fortress built by a local chief allied with the French against the Vietminh, Vuong Chin Duc, who was evacuated in 1950 (his descendants now live in France and Canada). Arrival in Dong Van around 6pm. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Dong Van Town.

Day 3: Dong Van – Ma Pi Leng – Meo Vac – Cao Bang

Breakfast at the hotel and get started for visitting of Dong Van market, where the locals shop for their daily needs.Then climb a pass up to the French Fortress of Pu Lo, which was built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945.  After that,  be driven to the most astonishing road in Vietnam, which climbs on 15 km up to the top of the Ma Pi Leng Pass, through a gigantic maze of lime peaks, “stone forests”, and canyons unique in the world. Head down into the valley of Meo Vac, visit Meo Vac market, and continue going through the mountains, cross the river, and arrive in Cao Bang town. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Cao Bang.

Day 4: Cao Bang- Ban Gioc Waterfall

Start early to take the mountain road Cao Bang about 2-hour drive to visit Ban Gioc waterfall (though not full of water in the dry season)., the highest and most spectacular place in the area. Enjoy an imposing sight of Ban Gioc waterfall and relax, with plenty of time for taking photos.  Then visit Nguom Ngao “Tiger Cave”. After that, go pass a gorgeous small road snaking through the mountains to the Nung village of Quang Uyen. Dinner and overnight in homestay.

Day 5: Cao Bang – Ba Be

Breakfast at the homestay and take 3-hour drive to Cho Ra for lunch. Then get to the boathouse, and the owner will take you through the entire length of the 3 connected lakes (Ba Be – “3 bays”) and up the Nang River, to an astonishing site- Dong Puong, an enormous tunnel 300-long that the river has dug through a lime mountain. The boat then enter into Ba Be lake and visit the stilt houses of the Tay community in Coc Toc village. Dinner and overnight in homestay.

Day 6: Ba Be – Hanoi

Following breakfast, visit some lovely villages and hike up to the upper reaches of the lake in an area marked by the massive limestone cliffs and mountains. On the way, visit Pac Ngoi village where the local people still keep the traditional stilt house. After lunch at a local restaurant, get back to Hanoi. Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi.

Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Halong Glory Cruise

Arrive Hanoi in the early morning, pick up and transfer to the hotel in the old quarter for shower and breakfast. Depart to Halong City through paddy fields in the Red River Delta. Stopover on the way for a refreshment break. Board the Junk and enjoy a welcome drink on arrival, check in to cabin. Enjoy a sea seafood lunch served on board. Cruise on the Bay and enjoy beautiful views of this world natural heritage site with limestone cliffs growing up from the green tranquil water. See Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island and Sail Island. Visit the Vung Vieng fishing village by local rowing boat (01 hour) or Kayak into the village then return to the vessel for your leisure or join one of the following optional activities: Sunbathing, traditional massage, swimming etc Have dinner and relax in the quiet and calm of the Bay. Overnight on board.

Day 8: Cat Ba Rock climbing

Wake up and have breakfast, coffee, tea and pastries… for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape. Transfer by tender to Tuan Chau wharf to Cat Ba Island.

Duration: Approximately 5.5 hours. Depart – Return: Cat Ba Island Town

Agenda Time Segment Option 1:

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Coastline ride into the small farming village of Lien Minh

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Basic instruction and introduction to Rock Climbing

9:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Guided Rock Climbing in Butterfly Valley

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Delicious lunch on a bee farm with fresh local food

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Return to Cat Ba Town

Agenda Time Segment Option 2:

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM: Coastline ride into the small farming village of Lien Minh

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Delicious lunch on a bee farm with fresh local foods

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Basic instruction and introduction to Rock Climbing

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Guided Rock Climbing in Butterfly Valley

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Return to Cat Ba Town

Primary Activities: Scenic Coastline Ride, Rock Climbing, Local Farming Village Experience with Lunch on a Small Farm.

Other Activities: Petting Water Buffalo, Chasing Baby Cows, Hammocks, Bouldering, Drinking locally made honey rice wine!

Dinner at a local restaurant and Overnight at a hotel in Cat Ba Island

Day 9: Cat Ba National Park Trekking – Hai Phong – Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the National Park for trekking. Trek in the National park, climb up to visit Ngu Lam. Back to the bus for transfer back to hotel, check out and have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we take a high speed boat back to Hai Phong. Arrive Ben Binh Harbor, transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.

Dinner at a local restaurant and Overnight at a hotel in Cat Ba Island

Day 10: Hanoi city tour – Departure

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda. Continue on to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son temple and enjoy riding in a rickshaw for 1 hour in the old quarter of Hanoi and its teeming streets filled with fascinating shops. Free at leisure until time to transfer to the airport for the departure. End of services. Finish your Northern Vietnam Adventure Tour.