Along the Red River

Hanoi – Hoa Binh – Moc Chau - Hua Tat Village (L,D)

Meet at your hotel, then depart for Mai Chau via Hoa Binh Province.

Coming from Hanoi, the view of Mai Chau from the mountain pass is truly magnificent. Nestled in the heart of a beautiful valley, Mai Chau is surrounded by vast rice fields and lush green mountains. You can also enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the harmony between people and nature that characterizes this small town. The stilt houses with thatched roofs of the White Thai families, forming this low-mountain village (at an altitude of 800m), are truly authentic and make Mai Chau one of the most popular tourist destinations in Northwestern Vietnam.

We descend to the Black River Dam for a boat trip through the second “inland Ha Long Bay”, surrounded by magical and picturesque landscapes. We meet the Muong people living by the lake. They welcome us into their stilt houses with great hospitality, smoke their traditional water pipes and tell us about their customs and traditions.

Lunch at a local restaurant in a Muong ethnic village, on the outskirts of Hoa Binh City, then we continue our journey to Moc Chau – a plateau that has become very well known in recent years for its French-style dairy farming.

Direct transfer to the beautiful Hua Tat village, set among plum and peach orchards. Walk through the village to meet H’mong ethnic families.

Dinner and overnight at a H’mong homestay.

Moc Chau – Mai Chau / Ethnic Villages (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the homestay, then we set off for a walk around the village before getting back into the vehicle for the transfer to Mai Chau Valley.

(Optional: for those who would like to trek, you can take a 7-hour/25km hike from the mountains down to Mai Chau – an additional USD 20/person.)

Upon arrival in Mai Chau, we get on our bicycles and ride to Van Village, passing through the central market of Mai Chau town and beautiful terraced rice fields.

Lunch at a local family’s home.

Short walk to Ban Lac and Pong Coom villages, then the rest of the time is free for you to relax or explore this beautiful valley in the mountains of Northwestern Vietnam at your own pace.

Dinner followed by an evening of traditional folk dances performed by five ethnic groups, together with a tasting of local rice wine (glutinous rice fermented with medicinal herb roots).

Overnight with a Thai family in their stilt house (shared room).

Mai Chau – Ninh Binh (B,L)

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to the family before setting off for Ninh Binh, commonly known as “Inland Ha Long Bay” because of its impressive limestone formations, similar to those of its maritime sister. Stops for visits and photos along the way.

Upon arrival in Ninh Binh, we visit Thien Ha Cave before having lunch with local specialties, followed by a 1.5-hour rowing sampan trip through the preserved Thung Nham area.

A short bicycle ride through Thung Nang Village to visit Bich Dong Pagoda, also known as the “Jade Pagoda”, followed by a visit to Thai Vi Temple.

Dinner at your own expense and overnight at the hotel.

Tam Coc – Nam Dinh (B,L,D)

After breakfast, climb up Hang Mua Mountain, which offers a fabulous panoramic view over the karst landscape. From here, you can take beautiful photographs of the limestone formations and the rivers of Tam Coc.

After a 1.5-hour drive, we arrive in Nam Dinh, a province in the Red River Delta known for its craftsmen and bonsai growers. We visit a family in Vi Khe–Dien Xa Village, who will patiently explain some of the basic steps involved in caring for bonsai trees.

The Rural Museum then introduces us to the different styles of traditional countryside houses and objects used in rural daily life in the past.

Lunch on site with typical Vietnamese dishes and local specialties.

In the afternoon, we travel deeper into the region towards the sea for an unusual discovery of the salt fields and their small fish market.

Transfer to Giao Xuan Village for a short bicycle ride through the village, an ideal way to meet and interact with local people if you wish.

Dinner with a seafood BBQ prepared by the family. Overnight at the homestay – local comfort in a family home.

Nam Dinh / Xuan Thuy National Park - Thai Binh (B,L,D)

Vietnamese-style breakfast with the family, followed by a visit to a small local market, then transfer to Xuan Thuy National Park for a walk along the small dykes between the mangroves.

Boat trip through areas used for shellfish and oyster farming, where you can take part in shellfish – clam harvesting if you wish.

Lunch break in a small hut with fresh seafood from the area.

Relax in the peaceful surroundings before taking the return cruise towards THAI BINH, with a special stop at Phu Nhai Basilica, one of the four most beautiful Catholic churches in Vietnam. We then take the SA CAO ferry and stop to visit a typical local market before continuing to the hotel.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Thai Binh – Hai Phong – Cat Ba Island (B,L,D)

Vietnamese-style breakfast at a local restaurant, then depart for Hai Phong, with visits either to Vinh Bao or Diem Dien.

Upon arrival in Hai Phong, we visit Du Hang Pagoda, Hang Kenh Communal House, the city’s Opera House, and the flower market.

Lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a transfer to Dinh Vu Pier to take the public ferry to Cat Ba Island – the largest island in the Ha Long Bay archipelago.

The legendary Ha Long Bay means “Descending Dragon”. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a magical place, a giant geological museum often considered the “eighth wonder of the world.” Covering an area of approximately 1,500 square kilometres, it contains more than two thousand islands, islets and karst reefs of various shapes, dotted with caves and caverns that delight visitors.

The three areas – Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay (the latter belonging to Cat Ba) – are also collectively referred to as the maritime Ha Long Bay area, although Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay are less touristy than Ha Long Bay itself.

Arrival on Cat Ba Island for a walk through Hien Hoa Village and to observe local people collecting shellfish.

Overnight at the hotel on Cat Ba Island.

Cat Ba / Cat Ba National Park - Overnight Junk in Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay (B/L/D)

Breakfast.

Depart on a bicycle ride towards Cat Ba National Park, with a stop to visit a local school and learn about beekeeping.

We continue with the ascent of Kim Giao in the national park (2 hours round trip), followed by a visit to the park.

We then transfer to Gia Luan Pier, where the public ferry takes us into Ha Long Bay.

Board the junk boat and settle into your cabin for a 24-hour cruise through the eighth natural wonder of the world. Details of the cruise program will be provided on board.

Meal of fresh seafood on board.

Visit natural caves, enjoy sampan rides and swim in secluded areas of this magnificent bay. Dinner and overnight on board.

Note: The cruise will take you through Lan Ha Bay, which is less touristy than Ha Long Bay, aboard a non-private 4-star junk boat.

Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi (B,L)

After breakfast, we continue enjoying the cruise through the bay and its magnificent landscapes.

At around 11:30 AM, it is time to disembark.

Meet your driver and guide, then transfer back to Hanoi.

Stops and visits along the way: visit a ceramic workshop and a Vietnamese vocational school specializing in traditional handicrafts.

Arrival in Hanoi and direct transfer to the hotel for some rest.