15 DAYS – THE JOURNEY OF INSIGHTS

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

Morning, tour guide and driver pick you up at hotel in Hanoi where you start for the trip. The drive today takes about 7 hours, including some stops on the way for photo opportunities. ​Once you arrived in Thong Nguyen commune, Hoang Su Phi, check-in a home-stay at a Red Yao ethnic village for the night.. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Homestay in Hoang Su Phi

Today, you will do a whole day trek from Thong Nguyen Commune to Nam Son Commune. Along the way, you are able to enjoy the beautiful scenery with stunning rice fields. The trek is moderate but there are some small challenges at times. It takes about 5 - 6 hours for trekking Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Homestay in Hoang Su Phi

After breakfast, check-out and heading to the Karst Geo- Park. The drive up to the highland region of Ha Giang will offer you some good photo opportunities on the way. In the afternoon, the scenery is getting more stunning with high passes and august mountains. The typical photo opportunities are a stop at Quan Ba pass, a step hike to a viewpoint for Quan Ba Fairy Mountains. Short walks at Pho Cao village of the Hmong, Pho Bang of the Han (Chinese). Check-in a hotel in this peaceful town for the night. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Dong Van

After breakfast, set off for the scenic morning trek in Karst Geopark. The trek in between the gray limestone mountains takes more than 3 hours (approx. 13km). This trek is a real discovery on which you have a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery and learning the amazing daily life of the tribal H'mong people. At the end of the trek, you will reach an interesting historical and cultural site. It is the H'mong King Palace. Take your time to visit the construction. In the afternoon, take a drive to Lung Cu Flag Tower (The monument was built to mark the northernmost point in Vietnam). Walk to the tower for the view over the area. After that, your private vehicle will take you to Dong Van town. Check-in a hotel and stay for the night. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Dong Van

There is a colorful market in town (If it is Sunday today), take time of the morning to stroll around the market for hunting some photos of the locals while they are trading before hiking up to Dong Van Cannon Fort Mt. for the stunning panorama view over the valley and its town. ​ Back to the town for lunch. ​The afternoon transfer takes you to Meo Vac. On the way, stop for another trek which is above the Ma Pi Leng Pass. This scenic trek is amazing as it is on a small path but offers you marvelous views over the abyss and Nho Que River. Arrive at Meo Vac, check into your hotel and take easy for the remainder of the day. (If it is not on Sunday, the morning will be spent for the sky-walk trek and the afternoon will be for a boat ride on Nho Que River through Tu San Canyon. This boat ride is a new experience in Ha Giang and this is considered one of the deepest and most unique canyons in Vietnam) Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Homestay in Meo Vac

Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Bac Kan province, where Ba Be National Park located and it is famous for its large, green freshwater lake. Along the way, you will clearly see the change of terrain from the barren mountains with jagged limestone to the mountains covered with dense vegetation. A countryside of small rivers winding from one valley to the next, a lot of lush fields, and the villages looming at the foot of the mountains. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at a Tay ethnic minority village located in the national park. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Hotel in Ba Be National Park

After breakfast, take a short walk to the boat dock and take the motor-boat ride through Ba Be Lake, which is considered as the biggest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. The cruise is beautiful with the scenery of steep limestone mountains covered by dense rainforest. Onward to Nang River and downstream to visit Dau Dang Waterfall. After viewing the waterfall, we will get back to the boat and move on upstream for Puong Limestone Cave. The Nang River runs through a limestone mountain in this national park and created a big cave that is decorated with many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is also the shelter of thousand bats. About 15 minutes after the cave, you will land at a little dock where your private vehicle awaiting, get back on, and drive to Cho Ra Town for your lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon drive will take you to Cao Bang province. On arrival in the city, check-in a centrally located hotel for the night. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Hotel in Cao Bang

Start the day with 3-hour drive to the remote Trung Khanh District which shares the border with China. There are stops on the way to take photographs and witness the ethnic Nung people making basic blacksmiths with their farming tools in Phuc Sen village. Upon arrival at the waterfall, we take a walk to the base of the falls. If the water is not so violent, we will take a raft to get closer to the falls and enjoy the cool temperature, due to the water mist in the air. The fall is located right on the border between China and Vietnam. Enjoy your Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant nearby. Continue on visiting Nguom Ngao limestone Cave, which is about 2 km from Ban Gioc Fall. Thousands of colorful stalactites and stalagmites will amaze you. Back to the car and make your way to a homestay in this rural region. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Hotel in Cao Bang

After breakfast, drive you to Bac Son Valley in Lang Son province. The drive includes some stops on the way for you to take photographs whenever you want. Arrive at Quynh Son village of the ethnic Tay people and have lunch on a stilt house. This afternoon you will walk to visit the village and hike up to the top of the telephone-station mountain for stunning scenery over the valley. This is a great point for those who love photographing. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at Hotel in Bac Son

After the traditional breakfast, this morning we will embark on a 3,5-hour hike on a rural back road. Along the hike, you can have a close look at the local farming, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in a good harmony of mountains, forests and local life. At the end of the hike, get picked up by our private transport back to the family. After lunch, spend the afternoon drive back to Hanoi. On arrival, check into your accommodation and take it easy for the remainder of the day. 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