Grand North-East Vietnam Discovery

Upon your arrival at the airport, Asia Life Travel tour guide and private car will warmly welcome you. Transfer to your hotel for check in. Rest of the day you are free for jet lag. 

Meet tour guide after breakfast for a full-day exploration of Hanoi. First visit the renowned Temple of Literature and the Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university, was founded within the temple to educate the royal family, mandarins, and elite members for an impressive 800 years.

Afterward, you can choose between museum options (to be decided on the tour day):

Option 1:Vietnam Women’s Museum. This highly regarded museum showcases the rich cultural diversity of Vietnam and highlights the vital role women play in society.

Option 2:Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays). A must-visit for those interested in Vietnam's cultural diversity, this museum features a vast array of interactive exhibits representing the 54 ethnic groups of the country.

Option 3: Hoa Lo Museum - The "POWS" Known as the "Hanoi Hilton", this historic site was built by the French and served during both the French colonial period and the Vietnam War. It offers documentaries of Vietnamese history in 20-21 centuries.  

Have a break for lunch. Continue spend your time for a nice walking in the French Quarter to explore the history and architecture influence before stop for a cup of coffee when the train pass by.  The century-old train tracks that run through the heart of Hanoi’s Old Town have recently transformed into an intriguing attraction known as Hanoi Train Street, especially popular among travelers and foreigners. 

To wrap up the day, travel back to the 11th century with an enchanting performance of the ancient art of water puppetry at the famous Water Puppet Theater. After the show, join a local guide to sample quintessential Hanoi flavors by Street Food Tour. The streets of Hanoi are a feast for the senses. Visually appealing, modern style meet history and tradition interloped with sensational local cuisine. Be introduced to what the locals love, type of snacks, bowls of noodles, deserts...served street sides. Wrap up the evening with a draff beer at "Bia Hoi conner" watching the vibrant night time, then return to hotel for a good night's sleep. 

Visit Tay comunity, homestay experience.

Departure from Hanoi in the morning for your journey to Ha Giang. Stop as your wishes to capture the serene countryside, lush rice fields, and charming tea plantations.

Arrive in Ha Giang by mid-afternoon, take a leisurely walk to the Me, Lup, and Tha villages. These peaceful villages are characterized by their stilt houses covered with palm leaves, and you’ll be warmly welcomed by the friendly Tay people.

Meet your homestay host in Tha Village, beautifully situated among palm-hills and rice fields. Take a moment to relax, then enjoy a leisurely walk around the village to soak in the rhythms of mountain life as the sun sets.

Enjoy a delicious local dinner at your homestay

Embark on your journey to Dong Van, where enchanting landscapes await you along the route. 
Once you arrive at Quan Ba Pass, take a short hike to admire the stunning views of Quan Ba town and the iconic twin fairy mountains. 

Follow the winding mountain road, you'll enter the limestone rock plateau zone, considered as mountainous Halong Bay and listed in the World Geological Park Book. A dreamed route for photographers. Stop at Tham Ma Pass, Pho Cao and Yen Minh pine forest for unforgetable pictures and encounter with H'mong people who immigrated to Vietnam from China since over 600 years ago. 
Next, visit the Palace of the Hmong King, a testament to the region's economy based on poppy cultivation and the opium trade with China in the past. 

Arrive in Dong Van in late afternoon, check in at your hotel, and unwind. Explore the ancient town by night on a leisurely walk. 

After breakfast, embark on a 2-hour hike along the "trail to sky" start from Ma Pi Leng Pass. Ready with camera for breathtaking views of nature. Follow the path leading to Hmong villages nestled on the mountain side to the majestic white cliff, before arriving at the Nho Que River viewpoint, known for its emerald green waters.
Meet your driver again for a long scenic drive on the mountain road of North-east Vietnam with oppotunites for pictures and interactting with local peoples.

Late in the afternoon, check in to your hotel in Cao Bang, strolling around city in a relaxing evening.

After breakfast, set off on a scenic one-hour drive to admire the stunning limestone mountains along the border with China. We first visit the Ban Gioc Waterfall - the 3nd biggest border waterfall in Asia with 30m in height and 208m in width, located bettween Vietnam and China. Take a ferry to touching closest the emerald green waters comes out from limestone mountain ranges. 

In the afternoon, short transfer to Nguom Ngao Cave, situated in a green valley, stretches 2 kilometers and is adorned with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. It was a refuge for thousands people during the Vietnam-China border war.

On our way travel back to Cao Bang, visit Phuc Sen, a traditional blacksmith village, where you can personalize a souvenir knife by burning your name into it. We’ll also make a stop at craft villages renowned for their paper and incense stick production. The breathtaking landscapes of rice paddies, limestone peaks, and the warm hospitality of the Nung ethnic group will surely captivate you.

Afterward, return to your hotel free to explore this peaceful border city.

Depart from Cao Bang in the morning to Ba Be Lake National Park - the biggest natureal fresh water lake in Vietnam, witness the beauty of Vietnam's northern mountainous region. 

Upon arrival at your homestay in Pac Ngoi Village, you will be warmly welcomed by local Tay family. Have lunch cooked by your host in the lush of nature.

In the afternoon, cycle about 5 km to Hua Ma Cave. Spend more than 1 hour to explore this captivating site features stunning stalactites and stalagmites.

After your adventure, return to the homestay to relax or take a leisurely stroll around village to learn about the daily life of Tay people who live over hundred of years in this naional park. Enjoy dinner at the homestay.

In the morning, embark on a scenic boat trip on Ba Be Lake, immersing yourself in the beauty of the lush forests on the limestone mountains. As you come to the Nang River, enjoy a soft trek along the riverbank, passing through the Tay community on your way to Dau Dang Waterfall.
Meet your boatman again for another adventure to Puong Cave, home to thousands of bats.

Hop on your car at Buoc Lom Pier for your return journey to Hanoi.  Check into your hotel in the late afternoon, free time to relax after your adventure.

8:30 AM: Leave Hanoi by 2hour drive to start your Lan Ha Bay cruise escape. 

Upon arrival, be warmly welcomed to a romantic journey to explore one of the 20 most beautiful bay in the world - Lan Ha Bay.  A fantastic option for escaping the crowded tourist spots and fully immersing yourself in the enchanting beauty of nature. 

Get a short transfer by speed boat/tender from habbor to check in your comfortable private carbin before enjoying a delightful lunch with sea food choices.
Take some leisure time to admire the breathtaking scenery before setting off afternoon excursions. You can enjoy a relaxing bamboo boat rowed by fishman or try hands on kayaking to visit Bright Cave.
If the weather permit, it is an idealy of swimming in the emerald green water among thousands of limestone islands.  
As the sun sets, participate in a cooking class while the bar's Happy Hour is opened, the perfect view of Tonkin Bay.

The fine dining experience for dinner, featuring a delectable tasting menu, promises to create unforgettable moments.

Afterward, relax with your favorite drinks or you can also try your luck at squid fishing.

Start your day early with a Tai Chi session on sun deck, breathing in the fresh air, and witness the sunrise over the bay.

Enjoy a light breakfast complemented by a good cup of coffee or tea, preparing for a new-day adventure exploring the bay's rocky islands and natural beauty.

Afterward, return to the cruise to complete the check-out process. Savor a delightful brunch at the restaurant while cruising back to the harbor. 

Your private vehicle transfers you back to Hanoi or the airport to continue your holiday (up on request).