Adventure in the North of Vietnam

Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the North of Vietnam on a 8 day trip that allows you to experience the nature, fresh air and have chance to discovery special the natural life.

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Welcome at the airport upon arrival and transfer to hotel for check-in and tour briefing. Rest of the day is free at your leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B)

After breakfast at hotel, we will pay a visit to the memorial complex to Ho Chi Minh to know his amazing life. Continue to the Single Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of the two driving forces in Vietnam culture. In the afternoon, we take a half day tour visiting the mystical Lake of Restored Sword and the Old Quarter of 36 guild streets from a rickshaw ride. The Old Quarter is a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers still trade the way they have done for centuries. The rickshaw tour ends up at Ma May Old House, an example of dwellings in the 19 century. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Hanoi - Lang Son - Quang Uyen (B/L/D)

In the morning, you transfer to Lang Son. We will drive up toward Vietnam and China border about 3 hours, stopover at Chi Lang - a 20-km-long structure is created from a narrow valley between two mountains. This place is associated with a great victory of Vietnam in the past and considered as the strongest citadel at the time. You have 1 hour to walk to explore and visit the “Quy Mon Quan” gate which means the Gate of Monsters where many of the invaders came to Vietnam in the numerous incursions had to enter and where many were killed by the Vietnamese defenders. After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang, continue your trip into pass as you visit Mother’s Temple and Dong Khe – the history site where The Battle of Dong Khe was fought during the First Indochina War. The fight took place in Dong Khe, in the Province of Tonkin, during September and October 1950, ending with a Viet Minh victory. Tonight, you have dinner and stay overnight in the homestay of a Nung's family in Quang Uyen.
Day 4: Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake (B/L/D)

After breakfast at the homestay, you will depart for Trung Khanh which lies on the border with China. Here you will have the chance to meet the Nung people in the village of Phuoc Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmith craft. The farming tools made here are an integral part of the lifestyle which is evident in the surrounding rice paddies and fields. Nestled in amongst these amazing landscapes is the breathtaking Ban Gioc Waterfall which spans over 300 meters, half in Vietnam and half in China. You will have time to soak up the powerful atmosphere of the falls and take some fantastic photos before heading to another natural wonder, Nguom Ngao Cave. This cave stretches out 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites. You will then make your way to return Cao Bang town and going down on snake pass to Ba Be Lake, tonight you will stay overnight on traditional house of Tay ethnic family. At the homestay, you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a meal of home cooked local food.
Day 5: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi (B/L)

You can relax on board, do some wildlife spotting or if you need to cool off, you can jump into the cool, clean waters for a refreshing swim! As you float on Ba Be Lake, you can take in the scenery of the surrounding karsts decorated with patches of wild vegetation and inhabited by all sorts of interesting creatures. The boat ride along the Nang River, with time to explore the stunning Ba Be Lake, the caves of Puong Grotto where you can explore the stalactites and stalagmites which are a result of the erosion of the river on the karst as well as looking out for the bat colony several thousand strong. You will depart for the journey back Hanoi, a drive of approximately 150 miles (230 kilometers). We will stop at some hills tea plant before returning to your hotel in the bustling city of Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 6: Hanoi – Halong (B, L, D)

Today we journey east to Halong Bay, the greatest natural wonder of Vietnam, through the Red River Delta, where we see daily Vietnamese village life. On arrival, we board a beautiful traditional junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Spend the night on boat.
Day 7: Halong – Hanoi (B/L)

Wake up to fresh coffee then further cruising and sightseeing. En route the junk weaves through more rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even further! Disembark after lunch and return to Hanoi for overnight.
Day 8: Departure (B)

Free before transfer to the airport for the departure flight.