The authenticity of real local life along the Red River

Hanoi arrival – walks (D) depending on your arrival time

Arrival in Vietnam, welcome by the guide and driver at the international airport, then transfer to the hotel and check-in.
Rooms are only available around 1:00 PM

Depending on your arrival time, you will take a discovery walk in Hanoi's lively Old Quarter of 36 Guilds with the streets of Ta Hien, Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hang Bac, Ma May, and Dong Xuan market. The walk will take you to the Paul Doumer Bridge (Long Bien in Vietnamese), a work offered by Gustave Eiffel in 1890 from the French era. Welcome dinner at a restaurant in the city. Overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi, the millennial capital, is located in the heart of Northern Vietnam. The city's 64 lakes, as well as numerous parks and trees that shade its avenues, make it a very pleasant city to live in. Hanoi astonishes with its architecture, surprises with its cultural sites and monuments. Bustling and vibrant, it is a pleasure to discover: the Old Quarter of 36 streets and guilds: Hang Bac (Goldsmiths) and Hang Gai (Silk)..., but it also offers other historical and cultural attractions: Tran Quoc Pagoda - the most famous in Hanoi - on the shore of West Lake. Behind the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (to the left), hides the One Pillar Pagoda, a symbol of Hanoi. Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) was the first university built in Vietnam, but it is also now a haven of peace in the city center.

Hanoi / visits - Pu Bin village (B,L,D)

Morning, departure for visits and walks in Hanoi city with historical, cultural and essential sites: the Temple of Literature, visit to the Museum of Ethnography.

Lunch at a local restaurant with Hanoi specialties

In the afternoon, departure towards the Northwest of Hanoi to the beautiful valleys of Mai Chau and the Hoang Lien Son mountain range via Hoa Binh province with photo stops in the Muong ethnic villages in Cao Phong and Tan Lac.
The landscapes are magnificent with naturally formed limestone peaks.

Continue the road to the remote area, free from mass tourism, located at the top of the Trung Khe Fortress Pass at 1000 meters altitude, the village of Pu Bin nestled by the Muong and Thai people.
Upon arrival at the village, you will check-in at Farmstay Pu Bin Spice Hill, a paradise of tranquility with a moderate climate. Dinner and overnight on site.

Pu Bin - walks/visits and discoveries (B,L,D)

After a Vietnamese breakfast, meaning with Vietnamese dishes, coffee, and tea.
You will embark on a day of visits and discovery of this region with many activities: learning to extract lemongrass oil, cinnamon, etc.
A walk - hike in the neighboring villages for 03 hours to meet locals where you will be welcomed to drink tea with them.

In the afternoon, return to the Farm Stay for rest and meal preparation with the chef.
Dinner and overnight on site with an evening of traditional dance with the ethnic dancers of the village.

Notes: this part is our exclusive product, away from mass tourism

Pu Bin - Mai Chau - Pu Luong Park (B,L,D)

Breakfast and departure for Pu Luong Park with a stop for a walk and visit to the villages located in the middle of Mai Chau valley: Ban Van village, Ban Nhot, Pom Coong, Ban Lac and then Mai Hich. Lunch with locals.
Continue the road, ascending the mountainous roads towards Pu Luong Park, a beautiful nature reserve.

The Pu Luong Nature Reserve is located in the Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc districts of Thanh Hoa province. Endowed with well-preserved landscapes, abundant and diverse flora and fauna, the nature reserve has become a fascinating destination for all nature lovers. Covering an area of 17,662 ha, the Pu Luong Nature Reserve is the largest karst forest area in Northern Vietnam, with three main types of forests: lowland jungle, montane forests, and bamboo and shrub thickets. Upon arrival, visitors can cross villages clinging to the mountainsides, contemplate terraced rice fields and lush green forests, visit caves, and observe numerous water wheels – hydraulic machines used by several ethnic minorities to lift water using the energy produced by the water current to irrigate rice fields… Dinner and overnight in Pu Luong.

Pu Luong / walks - Ninh Binh (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you will go for a beautiful walk – hike towards the villages of Ban Don and others with magnificent surrounding landscapes for 03 hours before reaching Kho Muong village where you will have lunch with locals.

Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon, departure for Ninh Binh. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel located among the limestone rocks.
Ninh Binh (Halong Bay on land), located southeast of Hanoi, Ninh Binh Province is the southernmost point of the karst rock plateau of Southeast Asia… It is also the terrestrial area in Vietnam where these rocks are most impressive, giving it the name “Terrestrial Halong Bay,” a little sister to the maritime Halong Bay. First and foremost, there is Tam Coc (and Van Long, less touristy), a superb site where small rivers meander amidst rocks and rice fields. Not far from there is Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam. This region is home to the largest concentration of Catholic churches in Vietnam. Dinner and overnight in Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh / visits and walks (B,L,D)

After breakfast, a full day for on-site visits and discoveries.
A beautiful bike ride to the authentic villages of Thung Nang, Bich Dong with visits to Thai Vi Temple and Bich Dong Pagoda nestled in the cave.

A beautiful sampan boat ride at the Thung Nham site with a visit to Thien Ha cave before having lunch with local specialties and continuing with a 1.5-hour sampan boat ride through beautiful natural caves.
Visit the temples dedicated to Kings Dinh and Le at the historical site of Hoa Lu.

Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight at the same hotel.

Ninh Binh - Nam Dinh / walks and visits (B,L,D)

After breakfast, depart to visit Phat Diem Cathedral, one of the most beautiful cathedrals built by the French at the time, and one of the 4 Basilicas of Vietnam.
Continue the road to Nam Dinh, a province in the Red River Delta, home to artisans and bonsai growers 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 locals if you wish.
Dinner with seafood BBQ prepared by the host family.
Overnight at Homestay – local comfort with residents.

Nam Dinh / walks and cruise - 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 for a walk on the small dikes between the mangroves.

Boat trip in the shellfish and oyster farming areas, you can participate in 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 Phu Nai Basilica, one of the 4 most beautiful Catholic churches in Vietnam. We take the SA CAO ferry 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 (B,L,D)

In the morning, 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 Du Hang Pagoda, Hang Kenh communal house, the city's communal Opera House and the flower market.
Lunch at a local restaurant, then transfer to Dinh Vu pier to take the common ferry to Cat Ba Island – the largest island among the islands of Ha Long Bay.

Arrival on Cat Ba Island for a walk in Hien Hoa village and see people fishing for shellfish. Dinner in town and overnight on Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba / walks in Cat Ba Park – Cruise (B,L,D)

Morning, after breakfast, depart for the ascent walk in Cat Ba National Park, where 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 Ben Beo (or Gia Luan) pier depending on the cruise circuit we start for the discovery of Cat Ba, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bays.
Board the Junk in a cabin in Ha Long Bay for a 24-hour cruise in the eighth natural wonder of the world. Details of the program to follow will be found on the boat. Fresh seafood meals on board

Visit natural caves and sampan rides and private swimming in this magnificent bay. Dinner and overnight on board the junk.

Cat Ba cruise - Hai Phong – Hanoi (B,L,D)

Early morning, tai chi practice for those who want on the upper deck and then light breakfast with bread and croissants and then continuation of the cruise to other bays to admire beautiful landscapes of Ha Long Bay.

Around 09:30, cabin check-out and then relaxation time on the upper deck of the Junk to contemplate the islands and islets before having an early brunch around 11:00.
Disembark at the same pier and return to Hanoi

Arrival in Hanoi, direct transfer to the hotel for rest or personal discoveries. Dinner in town and overnight in Hanoi

Hanoi - free – departure (B)

After breakfast, a free day for your shopping. Rooms must be vacated around noon.
Meeting with the driver for transfer to the airport for the return flight.