Vietnam, the beauty of Eastern Tonkin - GIR02

Hanoi arrival and transfer to hotel / free time (-)

Arrival in Hanoi. Meet by driver without guide for transfer to hotel. Rooms are generally available around 2:00 PM.

Overnight at the hotel.

Hanoi - Lang Son / visits - Ban Gioc Waterfall (B,L,D) ~ 280km = 6h30 drive

Breakfast.

Meet at 07:30 AM with the French-speaking guide and driver team for departure towards the mountains in the Northeast via Lang Son provinces and along RC4 (colonial road RC4) to reach Dong Khe, and then towards Ban Gioc, a border point with China.

Stop along the way for lunch at a local restaurant.

A day of travel on the road with photo stops in the ethnic villages.

Arrival in Ban Gioc, you will visit the magnificent waterfall and an ascent to the top of the hill where a beautiful pagoda is located, and from there you have a beautiful panoramic view of the waterfall and the Khuay Son river.

Check-in and rest at Homestay near the waterfall. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at Ban Gioc waterfall.

Ban Gioc Waterfall / visits - Holed Mountain, cave and villages - Cao Bang (B,L,D) ~ 150km = 3h drive

Breakfast

Early departure to admire the magnificent Ban Gioc waterfall, one of the most beautiful and spectacular waterfalls in Vietnam. It straddles China and Vietnam, the site is worth staying a day!

Ascent of the Truc Lam pagoda, from up there you can clearly see the waterfall and China, as well as the valley surrounded by limestone peaks.

Visit the Nguom Ngao cave (Tiger Cave).

Road to Cao Bang, with a stop at the town of Phuc Sen ethnic village, known for its blacksmithing trade. A discovery of the magnificent area with limestone peaks where the magical sacred eye of the mountain (Nui Mat Than) is located,

And then cross the Ma Phuc pass – sitting horse pass. A great opportunity to discover local life and the craft trades of blacksmithing, a specialty of this ethnic group.

Transfer to the hotel in town, dinner and overnight in Cao Bang.

Cao Bang - Bao Lac (Black LoLo) - Meo Vac (B,L,D) ~ 270 km = 5h drive

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet at 08:00 AM, depart for Meo Vac, a loop of Dong Van – Ha Giang, a district in the far North of Vietnam via beautiful mountainous landscapes and passes.

Photos and visit of Cao Bang market and then the road to Meo Vac.

A stop to visit and meet the villagers of the Black Lo Lo ethnic group, well-known since the report "En terre inconnue". Lunch on the way.

Continue the road to Meo Vac, with photo stops in the mountains and ethnic villages along the way.

Arrival in Meo Vac, direct transfer to the community village - a beautiful traditional style for the night.

Dinner and overnight on site.

Meo Vac / walks - Tu San Canyon - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Dong Van (B,L,D) ~ 50km = 1h15 drive

Breakfast at Homestay.

Meet at 08:00 AM, depart for the discovery and photos of the beautiful Tu San canyon with a boat trip on the river.

On the way to Dong Van, taking the road of happiness and passing one of the 4 highest and longest passes in Vietnam – Ma Pi Leng, a beautiful walk to the summit of the pass, from where you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view, and to the H'mong ethnic village.

Dong Van / Visits (ethnic market) - Royal Palace - Ha Giang - Hoang Su Phi (B,L,D) ~ 230km = 5h drive

After breakfast,

You will visit the weekly ethnic market (every Sunday morning), if it's not the day, you will visit the Lung Cu flag pole and the village of the Flowered LoLo in Lao Chai village.

Lunch at a restaurant on the way.

In the afternoon, visit the palace of the Hmong King (Dinh Vua Meo), dating back nearly 100 years, and then the village of Lung Cam.

On the way, a stop to visit the village of Pho Bang, which mainly houses members of the Hoa ethnic group, immigrants from China, like a small town of Hoi An.

On the road, photo stops and visit of the jardin des sarrasins passing through Ma U village, and then a photo stop at virage Tham Ma.

Continue the road to Hoang Su Phi (HSP) – a high district known for its magnificent terraced rice fields.

Dinner and overnight in Hoang Su Phi – in a family bungalow.

Hoang Su Phi / walks and visits – Hanoi (B,L) ~ 300km = 6h drive

After lunch

Meeting at 08:00 for a beautiful walk to the ethnic villages: Nam Khoa village of the Dzaos Man Ta Pan, the village of Nam Son of the Dzaos with long tunics decorated with silver jewelry, and especially admire the most beautiful terraced rice fields of Tonkin.

The walk takes between 2-3 hours.

And then the road back to Hanoi.

Lunch at a local restaurant en route.

Arrival in Hanoi, direct transfer to the hotel for rest.

Free dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi - Ninh Binh / walks (B,L,D) ~ 130km = 2h30 drive

Breakfast.

Meeting at 08:00 with the guide and driver to start the guided tour.

Departure for the visit of Ho Chi Minh's house and the One Pillar Pagoda. Continuation with the visit of the Temple of Literature, a magnificent edifice of several buildings, built in 1070 under the reign of Ly Thanh Tông to celebrate the cult of Confucius and his 72 main disciples.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Departure for Ninh Binh and visit of the Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest pagoda in Vietnam. Built in 1136 under the Ly dynasty (1009-1225), the ancient temple is located on Dinh mountain, which culminates at 187 meters. The visit will be done by electric car.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Ninh Binh / visits - Cat Ba island (B,L)

Breakfast.

Departure by bike for a visit to Thai Vi temple & Bich Dong Pagoda (Jade pagoda).

And then, a beautiful 1h30 sampan ride at the Thung Nang site (sun valley) to admire the beautiful natural landscapes and magnificent limestone peaks.

After lunch, departure for Hai Phong where you get a glimpse of this city of maritime defense, which is the meaning of the city's name.

Visit the Du Hang pagoda.

Transfer to the ferry to reach Cat Ba island.

Transfer to the hotel in Cat Ba city center. Check-in and free time for rest, beach, or personal stroll.

Free dinner and overnight at the hotel on the island.

Cat Ba / 4-hour cruise in Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi (B,L) ~190km = 3 hours drive

Breakfast.

Meeting at 07:30 for departure on a private boat cruise in Lan Ha Bay, for 4-5 hours, a World Heritage site to discover these numerous karst islands emerging from the turquoise waters of Halong Bay.

This area is not at all touristy compared to the Halong Bay side with many boats of all ranges.

Halong Bay as a whole extends over more than 1,500 km² and has nearly 3,000 islands and islets. It is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent landscapes in Asia. The bay's waters are teeming with fish, crabs, and shrimp. Visit spectacular caves.

Lunch on board.

Disembarkation and then transfer to the communal ferry to reach Hai Phong and then pick up by the driver for the return to Hanoi.

Arrival in Hanoi.

A beautiful stroll in the "Train Street" and then dinner at a local restaurant.

Transfer to the hotel and rest. Free dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi / free – Departure (B)

Breakfast.

Free day and check-out around noon.

Meeting for transfer to the airport for the return flight.

The idea of this free day for those who want to extend their trip:

• Either for beaches like Mui Ne or on Phu Quoc island
• Or for other Indochinese countries like Cambodia and Laos or Thailand and others.