Vietnam, the upper Eastern Tonkin to Baie d’Halong

Hanoi arrival / free strolls (L or D)

Arrival in Hanoi, after customs formalities

Welcome and greeting by our guide and driver

Transfer to downtown Hanoi – the capital of unified Vietnam, Hanoi has preserved the charming vintage feel of the French colonial era.

While waiting for your room to become available, enjoy a lovely stroll in downtown Hanoi to observe the vibrant real local life.

Welcome lunch or dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at the hotel.

Hanoi / sightseeing and strolls, Paul Doumer Bridge and Train Street (B,L,D)

After breakfast, meet up with the team at 08:30 AM for a day of sightseeing and strolls in Hanoi.

We will start the visits:

• The Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. This complex was Vietnam's first university.
• Tran Quoc Pagoda (Buddhism) which means the pagoda of National Defense, located on a beautiful peninsula in Ho Tay (West Lake), undoubtedly the most beautiful lake among the city lakes in Hanoi.
• Quan Thanh Temple (Taoism), dedicated to the deity Tran Vu – an important protector of the ancient Hanoi citadel.

These three central monuments will help you better understand the three main religions in Vietnam.

Farewell lunch at a restaurant during the tour.

In the afternoon, photo stop in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum dominating Ba Dinh Square, for the changing of the guard – the heart of political life.

Followed by a visit to Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, to better understand the life of a great man who lived very modestly.

Then visit the One Pillar Pagoda, famous for its unique architecture born from an 11th-century legend.

Towards the end of the day, take a lovely walk towards the Long Bien Bridge (also known as the Paul Doumer Bridge during the French era) and take a glance at the "Train Street" corner.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi - Ba Be Lake / strolls and sightseeing (B,L,D)

~ 250km = 4h30 drive

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet up at 08:00 AM to depart for Ba Be Lake via a road lined with stunning landscapes.

Lunch at a local restaurant along the way.

Arrival at Ba Be Lake, which is one of the most unique and beautiful natural tourist attractions in Vietnam, formed by geological structural changes millions of years ago that created limestone mountains and caves.

You will then set off to explore Ba Be Lake and the surrounding forest-covered mountains. You cross the lake by boat to the famous Dau Dang Waterfalls.

Time to visit the surroundings before arriving at the Homestay – Tay ethnic group.

Opportunity to help prepare dinner with your host.

Dinner and overnight at the homestay – stilt house.

Ba Be / visit to Hua Ma Cave - Wind Pass - Cao Bang/ Phia Thap ethnic village (B,L,D)

~ 170km = 3h00 drive

Breakfast with pancakes.

08:30 AM departure for a visit to Hua Ma Cave, a beautiful wild cave, less touristy than all the other caves in the Cao Bang area.

On the way to Cao Bang, with a lunch stop at a local restaurant at the summit of Wind Pass.

Arrival in Cao Bang, a visit to the central market by the Bang Giang River and continuation of the journey to Phia Thap village via the Sitting Horse Pass.

Arrival at Phia Thap Village, home to 50 families of the Nung ethnic minority. The village is surrounded by lush green rice fields and beautiful mountain landscapes. This village offers a fresh living environment rich in Nung ethnic culture, including food, a vibrant lifestyle, and the experience of traditional incense making.

Check-in at the homestay. Warm welcome by a 3-generation family.

Friendly dinner and overnight stay with locals in Phia Thap.

Phia Thap - Mountain with a hole - Ban Gioc Waterfall/ sightseeing - Cao Bang (B,L,D)

~ 190km = 3h30 drive

After breakfast, departure to explore the magnificent area of limestone peaks featuring the mountain's magnificent sacred eye (Nui Mat Than), followed by the drive towards the magnificent Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of the most beautiful and spectacular waterfalls in Vietnam. Straddling the border between China and Vietnam, this site is worth spending a full day at!

Approaching the waterfall, we visit the Truc Lam Pagoda; from up there, you get a great view of the waterfall, China, and the valley surrounded by limestone peaks.

We visit Ban Gioc Waterfall and then take a walk to the Tay village of Khuoi Khi, built from stacked stones.

Lunch at a local restaurant, then on the way back to Cao Bang with sightseeing stops at the Phuc Sen ethnic villages for blacksmithing.

Transfer to the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Cao Bang town.

Cao Bang - Bao Lac (Black Lo Lo) - Meo Vac (B,L,D)

~ 250km = 4h30 drive

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet up at 08:00 AM to depart for Meo Vac, part of the Dong Van – Ha Giang loop, a district at the extreme north of Vietnam, driving through beautiful mountain landscapes and scenic passes.

Photos and visit to the Cao Bang market, followed by the drive to Meo Vac.

A stop for a visit and encounters at the village of the Black Lo Lo ethnic group, well known from the documentary "Rendez-vous en terre inconnue". Lunch along the way.

Continuation of the road to Meo Vac, with photo stops at the mountains and ethnic villages along the way.

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

Dinner and overnight on site.

Meo Vac / walks - Tu San Canyon - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Dong Van (B,L,D)

~ 50km = 1h15 of driving

Breakfast at Homestay,

Meet at 08:00 departure to discover and take photos of the beautiful Tu San canyon with a boat ride on the river.

On the way to Dong Van via the Happiness Road and crossing one of the 4 highest and longest passes in Vietnam – Ma Pi Leng, a beautiful walk towards the top of the pass, from where you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view, and towards the ethnic H’mong village.

Arrival in Dong Van, direct transfer to the hotel for rest, followed by dinner and overnight stay in Dong Van.

Dong Van / Visits (ethnic market) - Royal Palace - Quan Ba (Nam Dam Village) (B,L,D)

~ 130km = 2h30 of driving

After lunch,

You depart to visit the weekly ethnic market (every Sunday morning); if it is not market day, you depart to visit the Lung Cu flag tower and the Flower LoLo village in Lao Chai village.

Lunch at a restaurant en route.

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

On the road, a stopover to visit Pho Bang village, which mainly houses members of the Hoa ethnic group who immigrated from China, reminiscent of a small Hoi An town.

On the road, photo stops and visit to the buckwheat field passing through Ma U village, and then a photo stop at the Tham Ma slope, before arriving at Quan Ba district.

Transfer to Nam Dam village, nestled by the Dao Quan Chet (Coat Dao).

Direct transfer to the village where you stay overnight at a local Dao family homestay.

Quan Ba / walks - Ha Giang - Hoang Su Phi (B,L,D)

~ 110km = 3h00 of driving

After breakfast,

Walk in Nam Dam village for 2 hours and then take the road to Hoang Su Phi, the most famous area for the most beautiful rice terraces in Northern Vietnam.

Photo and visiting stops are planned along the road.

Dinner and overnight stay at Homestay.

Hoang Su Phi / walks and visits (B,L,D)

After lunch

Meet at 08:30 for a beautiful day of wonderful walks – hikes through the rice terraces.

The trek takes you to ethnic villages: Nam Khoa village inhabited by the Red Dao (Man Ta Pan), Nam Son village inhabited by the Long-Tunic Dao decorated with silver jewelry.

Most importantly, you will see the most beautiful rice terraces in Tonkin.

Walk between 5-6 hours for the whole day.

Return to the hotel for rest.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel – homestay bungalow.

Hoang Su Phi - Tuyen Quang – Hanoi (B,L,D)

After breakfast,

The last photos at sunrise.

Meet around 09:30 for a day journey on the road heading back to Hanoi.

Photo stops along the road.

Lunch at a local restaurant en route.

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

Dinner and overnight stay in Hanoi.

Hanoi - Halong Bay/ Cruise and visits (B,L,D) / Overnight on board a Junk

Breakfast.

Meet at 08:00 for departure to Halong Bay, made famous by the film "Indochine". Its landscape is marked by 1,969 karst islands which earned the site a place on the World Heritage list. In Vietnam, it is a must-see.

If Hanoi was Thang Long, "Ascending Dragon", Halong Bay is "Descending Dragon", and its unreal chaos of rocky peaks is the fruit of the antics of this beast, master of the waters. The peaks carving the horizon into bluish teeth or the submerged mountains from which only the summits emerge, the caverns and caves where the waves disappear, the play of mists and clouds, the inland seas create a mysterious and ghostly atmosphere. The most singular aspect is that these strange-shaped hills seem to float on the surface of the water, as their base is eaten away and everywhere reigns the silence of this calm sea, occasionally broken by the cry of a seabird.

You embark on a boat for a cruise in this incredible setting. Several stops and visits, including one by sampan (traditional rowboat), will punctuate your itinerary. Boarding a traditional junk/boat. Check-in to your cabins.

Cruising in Halong Bay, which extends over more than 1,500 km² and has nearly 3,000 islands and islets. It is without a doubt one of the most sumptuous landscapes in Asia.

Lunch on board.

Here you cross landscapes where the movie "Indochine" starring Catherine Deneuve was filmed. There are superb islets: the Teapot, the Demon's Face...

Visit to one of the most beautiful natural caves in Halong Bay.

Return on board. Superb panorama over the bay at sunset.

Dinner on board the junk/boat. Overnight stay on board.

To end the day and weather permitting, a night fishing session will be organized.

NOTE: The itinerary and visits in Halong Bay may be modified depending on the program of each confirmed junk, according to the tide and weather.

Halong Bay / cruise - Ninh Binh (B,L,D)

Breakfast on board the Junk.

Sunrise over Halong Bay, as the silhouette of the limestone peaks dotting the waters is revealed.

Morning Tai Chi class on the deck of the boat (optional and depending on your cruise program).

Continuation of the bay cruise. Brunch on board.

Then, you will drive to Hoa Lu, the country's first capital from 968 to 1009 under the reign of the Dinh dynasty. Sheltered by numerous rocky peaks, the site was ideal for protecting the capital from Chinese invaders.

En route, visit Pho Minh pagoda – a beautiful piece of architecture.

Pho Minh pagoda is located in Tuc Mac village, 4 km north of Nam Dinh city and 94 km south of Hanoi. The pagoda was built when the Ly dynasty was still in power in Vietnam, but was expanded in 1262 and later by the Tran kings.

Dinner and overnight stay in Ninh Binh.

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

Breakfast.

Flat-bottom boat trip on the Thung Nang river ("Valley of Sunshine") to discover the magnificent landscapes winding between karst hills and the rice fields of this "Halong Bay on land", a scenery of great serenity with its immense sugarloaf formations dropping steeply into the river. (Replacing Tam Coc, which has become too touristy).

Visit to the "Bich Dong" pagoda (Jade Pagoda), a sanctuary in the rock.
It houses three small, ancient pagodas built at the beginning of the 18th century across three different levels. The first pagoda leans against the mountain in the middle of a lush garden; the second is reached via a small staircase, and higher up is the third, containing three Buddhas.

Lunch featuring regional specialties.

Climb to the peak of Hang Mua (Mua Cave). The view from the summit is breathtaking, offering a panoramic view over the entire region, including the Ngo Dong river navigated the day before. A great opportunity for taking beautiful photos.

Drive back to Hanoi.

Arrival in Hanoi in the late afternoon.

Dinner and overnight stay in Hanoi.

Hanoi / free time - departure (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time and room check-out around noon.

Meet with the driver only (without a guide) for the transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Notes: 
* This itinerary can be operated in reverse order.
* A French-speaking guide and driver will accompany you throughout the trip.