DAY 1 : ARRIVE IN HA NOI
Take off the Flight … to …
Arrival in Hanoi at …
Customs formalities and luggage recovery (Estimated time approximately 30 minutes).
You will then be greeted by your guide and driver, outside the airport, transfer to Hanoi city for a day tour of the city
Lunch at the restaurant
HANOI CITY : is the capital of Northern Vietnam and keeps this role until now. The city is located on the right bank of the Red River and far about 1760 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi features a warm humid subtropical climate with plentiful precipitation. In addition, Hanoi is considered one of the main cultural centers of Vietnam, where most Vietnamese dynasties have left their imprint.
Hanoi Cyclo : an hour cycling around and take photos in the Old Quarter.
The Old Quarter (36 old streets) : has a history that spans 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city. Ha Noi Old Quarter with its old-styled narrow streets full of antique brick houses seems to nostalgically resist the flow of time while still actively trying to adapt to the dynamic atmosphere of the modern city. Once a bustling area where merchants and artisans gathered to sell their products, Ha Noi Old Quarter consists of many small, meandering streets, each bears the name of the goods that was specifically traded there such as Hang Bac (Silver Product), Hang Ma (Paper Product), Hang Go (Wood Product), just to name a few.
Water Puppet show : is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large bamboo rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Thus the puppets appear to be moving over the water.
Overnight at the hotel in Ha Noi.
DAY 2 : HANOI – WEST OF HA NOI
Breakfast at the hotel
After breakfast, visit:
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology : this fabulous collection relating to Vietnam’s ethnic minorities features well-presented tribal art, artefacts and everyday objects gathered from across the nation, and examples of traditional village houses.
Saint Joseph Cathedral Ly Quoc Su : is a Roman Catholic cathedral with neo – gothic fashion, which was constructed about 120 years ago. The structure with domes of the cathedral follows the Gothic style and design of Paris Cathedral. It’s 64.5m in size, 20.5m in width with two bell towers of 31.5m-height. Although the looks of the cathedral, from the doorways, the colourful window glass, to the non secular work for adornment follows Western model, the primary inside half is adorned in Vietnamese approach with two typical colours yellow and crimson. Outside, in front of the cathedral is the statue of Mother Maria.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Thay Pagoda : is dedicated to Thich Ca Buddha (Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha). The temple is also known as “Thiên Phúc Tự”. The temple was established in the 11th century during the reign of Emperor Nhân Tông of the Lý dynasty. It is dedicated to Vietnamese Thiền master Từ Đạo Hạnh . It is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Vietnam, It is well maintained by the monks.
Tay Phuong Pagoda : also known as Sung Phuc Pagoda, consists of three single-level structures built in descending order on a hillock that is said to resemble a buffalo. Figures representing ‘the conditions of man’ are the pagoda’s most celebrated feature – carved from jackfruit wood, many date from the 18th century. The earliest construction dates from the 8th century.
Back to Hanoi
Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi
DAY 3 : HANOI – BA VI – HA NOI
Have breakfast at Hotel
Depart to Ba Vi farm (65km from the center), explore the traditional agriculture of Vietnam.
10h00 Come to Ba Trai Tea Village. Visit the vast hills of green tea, engage in the picking
Go to the farm and visit.
Enjoy lunch of fresh produce from the plantations.
Relax in the open air with hammocks, rugs.
Participating in Cultural Exchange, Muong ethnic dance
Lunch at the restaurant.
Hiking through the rice fields. participate in rice activities: rope hitting bucket of water, milled rice, pounding rice. Cooking class to learn how to prepare the dish “banh cuon” with rice then enjoy.
Visit fresh vegetables grown organically (Office vegetables). Here, the group will participate in the different stages of growing vegetables, harvesting, cooking and tasting.
Back to Hanoi.
Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi
DAY 4 : HANOI – NINH BINH
Breakfast at the hotel
Arrive early at Hanoi Station.
You will then be greeted by your driver and your guide, breakfast, then transfer to Ninh Binh with lunch en route.
NINH BINH : is a province in Red river delta. It is far about 90 kilometers from Hanoi with convenient transportation system. The city itself is a fairly uneventful place, but it is surrounded by a stunning landscape of lush green paddy fields and striking limestone outcrops and is the hopping off point for sights and attractions including Tam Coc and Trang An, Bich Dong, Hoa Lu, Phat Diem Cathedral, Van Long and Cuc Phuong National Park.
King Dinh Tien Hoang’s Temple: The temple is located in Truong Yen village, Hoa Lu town, in a garden of 5 hectares wide. It faces the East, and stands in front of Ma Yen Mount, where King Dinh Tien Hoang’s tomb was located.The temple was built in the 17th century, with a special architecture.
King Le Dai Hanh Temple: is almost the same as Dinh Temple in term of architectural design, except for some details. Le Dai Hang temple also consists of three parts: Bai Duong used for the community, Thien Huong, in memory of the royal mandarins of King Le, and finally, the altar in memory of the King.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Trang An Eco-Tourism Complex : is a complex beauty – landscapes called as an ‘outdoor geological museum’ with numerous caves, mountains, valley water, trees and the historic relic. The Trang An eco-tourism site is considered the “Ha Long Bay land”. Here, space was so quiet that the only sounds were those of the trains. In the distance, visitors have the opportunity to perceive the white flowers of the reeds in the foothills. While enjoying fresh air and mountain scenery, which takes visitors into a magical world. On June 25th, 2014, at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in Qatar, the UNESCO named Trang An Landscapes Complex as a world heritage, becoming the first recognized cultural and natural heritage site in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Phat Diem Stone Cathedral : is one of the most famous and beautiful churches in Vietnam with special architecture: an elegant combination between Western church architecture style and Vietnamese religious buildings. This is an Eastern architectural ensemble including Lake, Phuong Dinh, cathedral with 4 churches on the sides, 3 man-made grottos, stone churches.
Overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh
DAY 5 : NINH BINH – HA LONG BAY
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart by road from the famous Halong Bay, for a memorable cruise on the bay.
Ha Long Bay : in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. It was called ‘the wonder standing in the heaven’. In the heart of stone islands, there have the beautiful caves such as Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Sung Sot Cave, and Tam Cung Cave that are really the castles of the heaven. With the special values, on December 17th 1994, in the 18th session of World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, Halong Bay was officially recognized as the World natural heritage. In November 2000, Halong Bay was recognized by UNESCO as the World natural heritage about the values of geomorphology. On April 27th, officially stated that Halong Bay became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Halong Bay Cruise: On board a junk, you’ll have a memorable cruise. Enjoy a delicious seafood meal on board and spend your day admiring one of Vietnam’s natural wonders. Visit islets, caves, If the heart tells you, you can make a dip in the jade waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.
Overnight on the junk at Halong Bay
DAY 6 : LA BAIE D’HALONG – HA NOI
Breakfast at the hotel
You will have the opportunity to see the sunrise over the bay.
After we continue the cruise to Bai Tho Mountain in the other beautiful bay of Bai Tu Long.
Lunch and return to the pier
Back to Hanoi
Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi
DAY 7 : HA NOI – BA BE LAKE
After breakfast depart to destination at Ba Be Lake
Ba Be Lake : located in the Nam Mau Commune, Ba Be District, Bac Kan Province and about 220 km from Ha Noi, Ba Be Lake is one of the top 100 freshwater lakes in the world and the largest one in North of Vietnam. The 150m altitude makes it the Vietnam’s highest lake above sea level. Ba Be Lake is 650 hectares width, 145 meters altitude, 8 kilometers length, 20-25 meters average depth and be surrounded by the limestone mountains with caves and underground streams. Due to favorable position, at the centre of the Ba Be National Park, Ba Be Lake is the home to a giant fauna. Ba Be Lake was recognized as one of the 20 special freshwater lakes in the world and ASEAN also recognized it as the Heritage Garden. And now Ba Be Lake, with Ba Be National Park, is one of the most precious gems of Vietnamese tourism.
Welcome at 8h from your hotel by our French-speaking guide and driver, drive to Ba Be Lake passing by the less touristy path Cho Chu and Cho Don. Several stops are planned en route to visit ethnic villages and to take beautiful pictures.
Breakfast in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon: Arrival at Ba Be Lake – region renowned for its waterfalls and valleys, walk to visit the village of Pac Ngoi (village Tays), meeting with local people. Admiration of the sunset on the lake and immerse yourself in the calm of the lake.
Dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Ba Be Lake
DAY 8 : BA BE LAKE – CAO BANG
Breakfast at the hotel
Local boat ride in the enchanting scenery of Ba Be Lake and Nang River. Visit Puong Cave. Continue cruising to the Dau Dang waterfall. Moment of pause to appreciate the beauty of this small but beautiful waterfall.
After lunch at Mr. Hien, cruise continuation on the Nang River. Depart to Cao Bang. Cao Bang is a mountainous province covered by jungle. It evokes for the Vietnamese a mysterious and remote country on the borders of the Far North of the country, adjoining the Middle Kingdom.
Meeting of the Tho (Tay) and Dao ” Sapèque ” populations along the way.
Overnight at hotel in Cao Bang
DAY 9: CAO BANG – CASCADE OF WATER BAN GIOC – CAO BANG
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart to Ban Gioc (90km ~ 2.5h drive to go). Visit the cave of Nguom Ngao. A short walk through a village to reach Nguom Ngao – one of the most beautiful caves in Northeast Vietnam. It is the natural museum of stalactites and stalagmites.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Continue to Ban Gioc Waterfall : is about 370 km from Hanoi. From a height of over 30 m, large blocks of water flow down through many limestone steps. Between the waterfall is a large stone covered with trees cut the stream into 3 streams as three white silk. On sunny days, the vapor also creates a rainbow sparkling fanciful. At the foot of Ban Gioc waterfall, the river surface is wide, flat like a mirror. The two sides are the grass carpet, the green forest.
Return to Cao Bang for the second night at the hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Cao Bang
DAY 10: CAO BANG – HA NOI
Breakfast at the hotel,
Return to Hanoi through a mountainous landscape.
Breakfast in a local restaurant
Arrival in Hanoi at the end of the afternoon, to visit:
West lake ( Ho Tay) : is the biggest freshwater lake of northwest center of Hanoi, Vietnam. With a shore length of 17 km (about 10.6 miles) and 500 hectare (about 5 km2) in area, this is the largest lake of the capital and a popular place for recreation with many surrounding gardens, hotels and villas.
Tran Quoc Pagoda : is the oldest pagoda in the city, originally constructed in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Lý Nam Đế (from 544 until 548), thus giving it an age of more than 1,450 years. When founded the temple was named Khai Quoc (National Founding) and was sited on the shores of the Red River, outside of the Yen Phu Dyke. When confronted with the river’s encroachment, the temple was relocated in 1615 to Kim Ngu (Golden Fish) islet of Ho Tay (West Lake) where it is now situated. A small causeway links it to the mainland.
Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi
DAY 11: HANOI – RETURN FLIGHT
Breakfast at the hotel ,
Then visit of:
Temple of Literature : founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the Temple of Literature is dedicated to Confucius (Khong Tu). Inside you’ll find a pond known as the ‘Well of Heavenly Clarity’, a low-slung pagoda and statues of Confucius and his disciples. A rare example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture, the complex honours Vietnam’s finest scholars and men of literary accomplishment. It is the site of Vietnam’s first university, established here in 1076, when entrance was only granted to those of noble birth.
Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) : refers to a legend of the great Vietnamese hero, Le Loi, who led a successful uprising against the Chinese in the fifteenth century. Tradition has it that Le Loi netted a gleaming sword while out fishing in a sampan and when he returned as King Ly Thai To, after ten years of battle, he wanted to thank the spirit of the lake. As he prepared the sacrifice there was a timely peal of thunder and the miraculous sword flew out of its scabbard, into the mouth of a golden turtle (Vietnamese use the same word for turtle and tortoise) sent by the gods to reclaim the weapon.
Lunch at the restaurant. Then free time for shopping at Dong Xuan Market
Dong Xuan market : is the oldest and largest market in Hanoi. Established in 1889, Dong Xuan Market is housed within a four-storey Soviet-style building on the northern edge of Hanoi Old Quarter. It’s also known as Hanoi’s largest indoor market, offering a wide range of goods such as fresh produce, souvenirs, accessories and clothing, as well as electronic and household appliances.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Tonight transfer to the airport for the return flight
Take off on the flight … to ….