Along the Red River

Hanoi – Hoa Binh / walks – Moc Chau / walks and visits - Hua Tat village (L,D)

Meet at your hotel at 8:00 AM
then depart for Mai Chau via Hoa Binh province.

Arriving from Ha Noi, the view of Mai Chau from the pass is truly splendid. Located in the center of a magnificent valley, Mai Chau is surrounded by vast rice fields and lush green mountains. You can also appreciate the calm and harmony of 'Man - Nature' that reigns in the town. The stilt houses with thatched roofs of the White Thai families, which make up the low mountain village (800m altitude), are truly authentic and make Mai Chau one of the most tourist destinations in Northwest Vietnam.

We descend to the Black River Dam for a boat trip in the second "Ha Long Bay on land" amidst enchanting and picturesque landscapes. We will meet the Muong people by the lake. They invite us to their homes, stilt houses, with all their hospitality, they will smoke water pipes and tell us about the customs of their people.

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 very well known in recent years for its French-style cattle breeding.

Direct transfer to the beautiful village of Hua Tat, located amidst plum and peach trees. Walk around the village to meet the families of the H'mong ethnic group.

Dinner and overnight at H'mong HomeStay.

Moc Chau / walks – Mai Chau / walks to ethnic villages (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the homestay
and we are ready for a walk around the village before taking the car for the transfer to Mai Chau valley.

(Option: for those who want to trek, you can do a 7h/25km hike from the mountain to Mai Chau - count 20 USD extra/person).

Arriving in Mai Chau, we get on bicycles to cycle to Van village, crossing the central market of Mai Chau town then beautiful terraced rice fields.

Lunch at the homestay

Short walk to the villages of Ban Lac and Pong Coom and then the rest of the time is free for you to rest or for your personal discoveries in this beautiful valley of the Northwest mountains.

Dinner and evening with folk dance performance of the five ethnic groups followed by a tasting of local sake (fermented sticky rice from medicinal herb roots).

Overnight with the Thais in their stilt house (shared room)

Mai Chau – Ninh Binh / visits and walks (B,L)

After breakfast,
it's time to say goodbye to the family then we set off for Ninh Binh, commonly called "Ha Long Bay on land" due to its impressive rocks just like those of its maritime sister. Stops for visits and photos along the road.

Arriving in Ninh Binh, we visit Thien Ha cave before having lunch with local specialties and continuing with a 1h30 sampan boat trip on the preserved site of Thung Nham.

Short bike ride in Thung Nang village to visit Bich Dong Pagoda "Jade Pagoda" and then Thai Vi temple.

Free dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Tam Coc – Nam Dinh / visits, walks and discovery of rural life (B,L,D)

After breakfast,
you ascend Hang Mua mountain which offers a fabulous panoramic view of the karst region. You will bring back very beautiful photos of the limestone rocks and the rivers of Tam Coc.

1h30 drive to reach Nam Dinh, a province in the Red River Delta, home to artisans and bonsai sculptors, like this family we visit in Vi Khe–Dien Xa village, who will patiently explain some basic steps for caring for a bonsai.

The Rural Museum then reveals all the motifs of old country houses and objects of rural life.

Lunch on site with typical Vietnamese meals and local specialties.

In the afternoon, we delve deeper into the region, towards the sea, for an unusual discovery of the salt marshes and its small fish market.

Transfer to Giao Xuan village for a short bike ride in the village, an ideal way to get in touch with the locals if you wish.

Dinner with seafood BBQ prepared by the Family. Overnight at Home Stay – local comfort at a homestay.

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

Vietnamese breakfast with the family,
followed by a visit to a small local market, then transfer to Xuan Thuy National Park to walk on the small dikes between the mangroves.
Boat trip in the shellfish and oyster farming areas, you can participate in shellfish - clam fishing if you wish.

Lunch break in a hut with all the seafood on site.

Quiet rest and then return cruise to THAI BINH, with a unique stop at the Basilica of Phu Nai, one of the 4 most beautiful Catholic churches in Vietnam. We take the ferry from SA CAO and then stop to visit a typical local market before going to the hotel.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

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

Vietnamese breakfast in a local restaurant (either Pho or local fried fish noodles) and then head to Hai Phong with visits to either Vinh Bao or Diem Dien where tobacco is cultivated.

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

Lunch at a local restaurant, then transfer to the Dinh Vu pier to take the public ferry to Cat Ba Island – the largest island among the islands of Along Bay.

The legendary Halong Bay means "descending dragon". It is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is a magical place, a giant geological museum, considered the "eighth wonder of the world". Over an area of approximately 1500 square kilometers, more than two thousand islands, islets, and multi-shaped karst reefs riddled with caves delight tourists.

The three areas: Ha Long, Bai Tu Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay (the latter is part of Cat Ba) are also called the maritime Ha Long Bay, but Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha are less touristy than Ha Long.

Arrival on Cat Ba Island for a stroll in Hien Hoa village and to see people fishing for shellfish.

Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel on Cat Ba Island.

Cat Ba / hike in Cat Ba National Park and cruise with an overnight stay on a Junk towards Lan Ha Bay and Along Bay (B/L/D)

Breakfast
Meet at 08:00 and depart for a bike ride towards Cat Ba National Park with a stop to visit the school and the beekeeping facility.

We continue with the ascent of Kim Giao in the park (2 hours round trip) followed by a visit to the park.
We then transfer to the Gia Luan pier where the public ferry takes us to Along Bay.

Board the Junk in a cabin in Along Bay for a 24-hour cruise in the eighth natural wonder of the world. The details of the program to follow will be found on the boat.

Fresh seafood meal on board

Visit natural caves and sampan rides and private swimming in this magnificent bay. Dinner and overnight on board
Note that the cruise to Lan Ha Bay, less touristy than Along Bay, is on a non-private 4* junk

Along Bay / cruise – Ha Noi (B,L)

After breakfast,
we enjoy the cruise in the bay and its magnificent landscapes.

Around 11:30 AM, it's time to disembark.

Meet by the driver and guide and then transfer to Hanoi.
Stop-overs along the way: visit a ceramic workshop and a training school for Vietnamese craft trades.

Arrival in Hanoi around 4:00 PM and direct transfer to the hotel for rest.