9 DAYS – EXPLORE 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

Morning, tour guide & driver pick you up and transfer to Nghia Lo. After getting out of the bustle and hustle Hanoi, you will enjoy the countryside view through the windows while driving northwestward to Yen Bai province. Arrive at Nghia Lo town early in the afternoon, check-in our homestay at a peaceful village nearby Nghia Lo. In the afternoon, embark on a bicycling tour to discover the daily life of the ethnic community in the area and enjoy the beautiful scenery of villages, rice fields an mountains. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Nghia Lo

After breakfast, transfer you to Tu Le town. Tu Le is a little town located at a beautiful valley at the foot of Khau Pha Pass. Upon arrival, get off the vehicle and start your morning soft trek to the valley and visit some villages. Taking photographs and meeting local people. After couple of hour, back to the town and having lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, start your drive up the marvellous Khau Pha Pass. This mountain pass is well known is winding road and stunning terraced rice paddies. The scenery over the valley from the pass is so amazing in the reason of rice, especially at the harvesting time. You will have another trek today for the afternoon to Lim Mong village. The trek lasts between 2 hours and 3 hours. On the drive to Mu Cang Chai, you will have two more photo stops which are the Parachuting Point and the Shoe Terrace. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Mu Cang Chai

This morning, you will get a transfer to a trekking point at Che Cu Nha Commune. The trek is about 12km on dirt paths to La Pan Tan Commune. This part of the nation's unique landscape will definitely offer you a great experience for your Vietnam trip. Beside the amazing terraced fields, you also have chance to visit some ethnic villages of the H'mong people. Get picked up by your private vehicle at the end of the trek and transfer to Ngoc Chien Valley (1 hour away) and visit an interesting hot spring. At this community, the ethnic Thai people are still keep the naked bathing custom. After having learned about the community bath, you can check in a nearby family for a dip to enjoy the warm bath. After that, back on your car and make your way to Mu Cang Chai's Ecolodge. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Mu Cang Chai

Breakfast at hotel and transfer back to Hanoi, it approximately takes you about 7 hours. Arrive at your hotel in Hanoi between 5:00p.m. and 5:30p.m. Check- back in your hotel in Hanoi, refreshment and stay overnight. 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