10 DAYS – TREKKING TOUR IN THE NORTH OF VIETNAM

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, welcome by our guide and transfer to your hotel. Hanoi or “River-bound City” as its name literally means is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty which is characterized by unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and romantic lakes has made it one of the most charming cities of Asia. Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Morning, start a full day city tour beginning with Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. At the complex, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the nation’s founder’s body is preserved (closed on Monday, Friday and through October - November) and the rural style house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars. Afternoon, continue the tour to one of the following museums of choice namely the Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Vietnamese, the Museum of Revolution, the Museum of Military History and the Museum of Ethnology. Go to Hoan Kiem Lake, the center point of Hanoi whose name “The Return Sword Lake” originated from a legend of a sacred sword and home to a rare endangered giant turtle species and visit Ngoc Son Temple on the lake. Next, take a one-hour cycle tour of the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its ancient streets representing traditional trades from the past. Finish the tour at the Thang Long Opera Theatre with a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province. This is the longest highway in Vietnam. The scenic drive from the Red River Delta, through the midland to Lao Cai province, will be a good start for your trip. The afternoon drive takes you about 20 km uphill to Bac Ha town. On arrival, check-in a local house for the home-stay tonight. After refreshment, set off with your private tour guide to embark on a 1,5-hour trek to a Flower H' mong village nearby (Ban Pho Village). Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Bac Ha

This morning, if it is on Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday. There are interesting hill tribe markets that you are able to attend. The hill tribe markets in Bac Ha region are very colorful. Spend about 1.5 hours or 2 hours to stroll around and hunt some good photographs. The markets are alive with the bright colors and extravagant costumes of the highlanders, especially the Flower H'mong. Together with other minorities, they come from different villages at the surroundings to the markets to buy and sell a wide variety of goods and livestock. It is more common to see buffalo, cows, horses and other livestock being traded. After the market, make your way to Coc Pai town for lunch. Thence keep driving to Hoang Su Phi for the late afternoon scenic terraced field trek to Ban Luoc stilt-house village of the Tay ethnic people - Another home-stay for tonight. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Homestay in Hoang Su Phi

Morning, you will trek the scenic dirt trail up and down the terraced fields in Ban Luoc area. This area is one of the highlighted landscapes in Hoang Su Phi. The fields look best at the yellow season (in the early half of October). After 2.5 hours, you will get back to the bigger road where you will get the car transfer to the nearby town for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, drive down to Thong Nguyen Commune for another up-hill trek to Nam Hong village. The trek takes almost 2 hours. Check-in hotel and relax Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Homestay in Hoang Su Phi

Today you will have the whole day trek to admire the amazing rice terraces in Nam Khoa commune. The trek is moderate but there are some small challenges at times. It is about 6 - 7 hours. Late in the afternoon, arrive at your last home-stay of the trip to Nam Hong village. This village is of the Red Yao ethnic minority people. Check-in and relax Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Homestay in Hoang Su Phi

Morning, transfer to Hanoi. It takes 7 hours transportation. Arrive at your hotel in Hanoi in the afternoon. After hotel check-in, spend the remainder of the day relaxing or doing your own things. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Morning pickup at 8:00 AM from your hotel for transfer to Ha Long Bay, which is about 160 km or 3.5-hour drive away. On the way, you will see some rural areas of the Red River Delta with plenty of chances to take photos of Vietnamese farmers working in paddy fields. Stop half way to visit a handicraft workshop of fine clothes and embroidered paintings. Arrive in Ha Long City at 11:30 AM and check in aboard the booked junk right after the welcome drink is served. Start cruising while having lunch on board and enjoy the mighty bay view. Ha Long Bay meaning Descending Dragon Bay in Vietnamese as legend has it that it was where a holy dragon landed down from sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s wonders and heritage sites whose formation dates back 500 million years, consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2. The bay cruise will continue with up close sighting of Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail Island, a visit to Sung Sot Cave and swimming stop at Titov Beach. Relax to enjoy the bay view at sunset, have dinner after, go fishing at 09:00 PM and spend a night on board. Meals: Breakfast / Lunch/ Dinner Accommodation: overnight on cruises in Ha Long Bay

Wake up at 06:30 AM and refresh your body and mind with a Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck. Tai Chi is an ancient internal martial art often practiced in soft and gracefully slow moves to enhance internal harmony and vitality. Have tea and coffee onboard before proceeding to Titov Islet or SoiSim Island to trek and swim. Check out at 09:30, have a buffet brunch while cruising back to shore. Disembark at 11:00 AM to transfer to Hanoi for relax Meals: Brunch Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Leisure time until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City for departure