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Hanoi arrival / city tours and discovery (D)

Arrival at the airport,
welcome by our French-speaking guide and driver and transfer to the city center of Hanoi.

Depending on your arrival time, you begin to make the first discoveries in the city of Hanoi at off-the-beaten-path sites:

- visit Dong Xuan market - a place that is at once commercial, cultural and spiritual, located in Hanoi's Old Quarter. It is the oldest market in the capital, built in 1889 by the French by leveling the Tô Lich river and part of the Red River.

- then a stroll along Long Bien Bridge (Paul Doumer), built at the end of the 19th century by the company Daydé & Pillé (and not Eiffel) to which we owe notably the Grand Palais and Mirabeau bridge in Paris. It is very popular with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles. It is an emblematic monument of the Vietnamese capital. From the bridge, you can take beautiful photos of the Red River.

Followed by a visit to the ancient citadel of Hanoi (Hoang Thanh Thang Long). It has been recognized as a world heritage site by Unesco since 2010, even if at first glance, it is only the structures, palaces and ruins of an ancient civilization, more precisely from the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties.

Then, visit the legendary Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) with the Ngoc Son Temple (Jade Mountain).

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant with typical Hanoi dishes.

Hanoi – Hoa Binh / excursions – Mai Chau / walks and visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meeting at 08:00 for departure on a loop in the Northwestern mountains, via Hoa Binh which is considered the gateway to the region.

After 2 hours drive, you descend to the Black River dam for a boat trip in the second terrestrial Ha Long Bay amidst enchanting and authentic landscapes. Meeting the Muongs on the lakeside, they invite you to their homes, in their stilt houses with all their hospitality, they will smoke the water pipe and tell us about the customs of their people.

Lunch on site.

Afternoon: continuation of the road to Mai Chau, a beautiful valley bordered by rice fields, which is also the land of the White Thais. Check-in with locals (stilt house).

In the evening, after dinner prepared by the Thai women, you are invited to participate in folk dance performances of the five ethnic groups and to taste the local wine (glutinous rice fermented with medicinal herb roots).

Overnight with the Thais in their stilt house.

Mai Chau / walks – Moc Chau / walks & visits (B,L,D)

After breakfast Thai style,
A beautiful walk in the Mai Chau valley to see the central market where cattle, fruits and vegetables, fresh fish and even snails are sold. You can taste the dishes of the ethnic groups and admire the brocade fabrics and traditional hand-woven clothes, or sip local rice wine.

Continuation of the visit to Ban Van village, a small village nestled peacefully in a deep valley backed by the mountain. The stilt houses are simple but charming with fabulous views. Resume vehicle towards Moc Chau.

Arrival at Hua Tat village, where the air is fresh, offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. You have the opportunity to explore agricultural areas and hike to enjoy breathtaking views.

Lunch with locals and then a walk to discover this H'mong village. You can try authentic Hmong paper making, embroidery and cooking classes.

Their hospitality and sincerity are warmly expressed through rice wine! A stop in Moc Chau allows us to admire Vietnam's largest tea plantation.

Dinner and overnight with H'mong locals - Hua Tat village.

Moc Chau – Son La / visits – Tuan Giao – Dien Bien / visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast with locals.
Meeting at 08:00 en route to Dien Bien crossing Son La and Tuan Giao.

Upon arrival in Son La, you visit the old prison built during the French colonial era.

Then, continuation of the road to Tuan Giao with a stop to visit the central market of Thuan Chau where you meet not only the Black Thais but also the White H'mongs who come there for trade. The White H'mong women wear colorful costumes: green-sleeved shirts and especially pointed hats decorated with red pompoms.

Crossing Pha Din, Vietnam's longest pass at 32 km, you admire the magnificence of nature. At the foot of the pass, visit a multi-ethnic primary school in Tuan Giao before having lunch at a local restaurant.

Arrival in Dien Bien in the afternoon. Located in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains, Dien Bien is in the heart of the Black Thai country. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Dien Bien.

Dien Bien – Sin Ho / visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting at 08:00 for departure en route to Sin Ho via beautiful ethnic villages of Black Thais with beautiful stilt houses and slate roofs, and the impressive dam.
Lunch at a local restaurant.

Upon arrival in Sin Ho, you will also visit Kh'mu villages along the road. Part of the Mon-Khmer linguistic group, this ethnic group is the neighbor of the Laotians, but while the women's costumes are identical to those of the Black Thais, the difference is manifested in the jewelry.
Arrive in Sin Ho at sunset. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at a local inn.

Sin Ho – Lai Chau – O Quy Ho Pass / photos - Muong Hum / walks and visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast,
Early in the morning around 06:00, you will go to a big festival held at the multi-ethnic market of Sin Ho (every Sunday morning) if it's Sunday, where you will meet the ethnic groups: White Thai, Dzay (or Nhang), Lü, Red H'Mong, Red Yao, Man "with Plank", Man "with Horns" (Man is another name for the Yaos) come to exchange their agricultural and handicraft products, especially indigo used to dye clothes. The spectacular festival will enchant us until noon.

A walk and visit to a Dzao village (Ta Phin) then resume the road towards Lai Chau and Muong Hum.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Lai Chau town after visiting the Ban Hon village of the Lus.

In the afternoon, you will cross the Pass which culminates at over 2000 meters above sea level - O Quy Ho (or Tram Ton – one of the 4 highest Passes in Vietnam).

Stop to visit the Thac Bac waterfall and then arrive at the village of Muong Hum via the inter-district road through beautiful terraced rice fields.

Arrive in Muong Hum in the late afternoon. Settle in with a local family.

Dinner and overnight with a local family in Muong Hum.

Muong Hum – Y Ty / visits – Lao Cai – Bac Ha / visits & walks (B,L,D)

Breakfast with a local family,
Meet the team for walks in ethnic villages and visit the Lao Chai village of the Ha Nhi living in their typical mud houses in Y Ty.

Then, on the way to Lao Cai for lunch at a local restaurant.

Visits to the border gate with China before ascending to Bac Ha Pass to go to the district bearing the same name. Walk to Ban Pho village to meet the H'mong.

Settle in with a local family. Dinner and overnight with a local family in Bac Ha.

Bac Ha / ethnic market (Sunday) – Sapa / visits & walks (B,L)

Breakfast with a local family,
Meet early around 07:00 to visit the ethnic market - multi-colored fair of Bac Ha (every Sunday morning) with the presence of ethnic groups: Tay, Flower H'Mong, Blue H'Mong, Nung and Phu La.

A cruise on the Chay river to Trung Do village where you will have lunch.

Continue on the road to Sapa. Walk in the town and then walk to Cat Cat village to see the Black H'mong.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

Sapa / trek to Muong Hoa valley: Lao Chai, Ta Van villages – Giang Ta Chai village (B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet at 08:00 with the team, you head towards the Muong Hoa valley, crossing the villages of Lao Chai (of the colorful Hmongs) and Ta Van (of the Days). The valley, stretching along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, promises to offer you unique scenes for your camera: terraced rice fields appearing as sculptural masterpieces on earth, roofs of rudimentary houses on hilltops, winding paths from one village to another… It is in this valley that you will have a more pleasant and surprising hike, encountering members of numerous ethnic groups: H'Mong, Giay, Dao…!

Lunch with a local family in Ta Van village.

Then, time for a walk in the village and contact with the villagers before continuing the easy hike to Giang Ta Chai village, crossing bamboo forests and waterfalls where the Red Daos live.

The driver will be waiting for you at the other end of Giang Ta Chai village to transfer you to Sapa.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

Sapa – Than Uyen – Mu Cang Chai / walks in the terraced rice fields (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet at 08:00 on the road leading us to Than Uyen and then Mu Cang Chai, passing again through the O Quy Ho Pass with stops in ethnic villages along the road.

Lunch in Than Uyen. You continue towards Mu Cang Chai and then walk to the Thai village.
Dinner and overnight with a local family in Mu Cang Chai.

Mu Cang Chai / walks & visits, ethnic encounters – Tu Le / photos and walks – Nghia Lo / ethnic encounters (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet at 08:00 and you will walk in the places where the most beautiful terraced rice fields are located. Visit the villages of La Pan Tan and Che Cu Nha before ascending to Khau Pha Pass – one of the 4 highest passes in Vietnam.

Stops for visits and taking photos in unforgettable places in the Northwest Vietnam region.
Lunch at a local restaurant in Tu Le.

You continue on the road to Nghia Lo and then direct transfer to Muong Lo village. Settle in with a local family.
Dinner and overnight with a local family in Nghia Lo.

Nghia Lo / walks – Thac Ba Lake / lake excursion and walks in Vu Linh village (B,L,D)

Breakfast with a local family.
Meet at 08:00 and you will head towards Yen Bai and then towards Thac Ba Lake with stops for visits and photos along the road.

Lunch in Yen Bai and then you continue to Thac Ba village. Thac Ba is an artificial lake, one of the three largest in Vietnam, created since the hydroelectric power plant came into service in 1970. With an area of ​​approximately 23,400 ha and a length of 80 km, the artificial lake spares 1300 islands and islets (a kind of mini Halong Bay) and many caves.

Homestay in Vu Linh village of the White-trousered Daos. Walk around the village, contact with the villagers to discover their way of life.

Friendly dinner with the host family.

Overnight homestay, in a stilt house of the White-trousered Daos.

Thac Ba / excursion and walks – Hanoi (B,L)

Breakfast at the homestay.
Meet at 08:00 and you take a cruise on Thac Ba lake through the islands to meet small villages inhabited by Tay, Dao populations. More than 300 islands and islets of red earth, some covered with carpets of grass and bushes, and others with forests, emerge from these waters.

Lunch at the homestay and then you say goodbye to the family before heading back on the road to descend to Hanoi.

Arrival in Hanoi after approximately 4 hours of driving. Direct transfer to the hotel in Hanoi.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi – Halong Bay / cruise, visits and relaxation with an overnight stay on board the junk (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel,
Meet at 08:00 for departure with the shuttle (without guide) to Halong Bay.

Arrival at Hon Gai pier. Around noon, embark on the Junk

Welcome cocktail on board and briefing.

13.00: Check-in to your cabin

13.30: A delicious lunch of fresh seafood and Vietnamese cuisine is served as the junk heads towards the heart of Halong Bay.

15.00: Arrival at the kayaking area: Cap La Island. You can of course opt for swimming and relaxing on the beach!

17.30: Return to the junk to enjoy the Sunset party. Anchor for the night.

19.00: Impressive Vietnamese dinner.

20.30: Free time for games. Possibility of squid fishing.

Overnight on board the shared 4* Junk (depending on the number of travelers / your request)

Note: These two days in Halong Bay, the cruise takes place towards Halong Bay, or Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha depending on the junks available at the time of your decision and your choice.

Halong Bay / cruise and road to Hanoi – Departure (B,L)

06.30: Morning Tai Chi session on deck at sunrise (For those who wish...).

07.00: Breakfast on board.

08.00: After breakfast, the junk sails to Thien Canh Son cave, which you visit. Your guide explains the history of Halong Bay and this cave, created by Mother Nature.

09.30: Return to the junk. Then, it's time for you to refresh, pack your bags and vacate your cabin.

10.45: During the return trip to the pier, you enjoy a cooking demonstration before tasting a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

12.00: Disembarkation.

Return to Hanoi. Direct transfer to Hanoi airport for the departure flight.

NOTE: The cruise program in Halong Bay may vary depending on different junks.