Northern Vietnam Odyssey

Welcome to Hanoi, a city of young people sprinkling with big trees and old French architecture. You’ll be transferred by private car with a guide to the opulent hotel in the heart of the city. Relax and explore Hanoi on your own. After that, free at your leisure to explore the Hanoi Old Quarter or Hoan Kiem Lake vicinity. From the hotel, most of the city’s attractions are within a walking distance.

In the morning, we will visit Hoa Lo Prison, used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for American prisoners during the Vietnam War when it was sarcastically known as the Hanoi Hilton. The prison was demolished during the 1990s, though the gatehouse remains as a museum. Keeping your journey to the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature, which is seen to be the first university of Vietnam.

After having lunch at a local restaurant, wrap up the day with a walking tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to thousands of small shops. Here and there, at the very quaint corner of this busy street, the life still go on as the way it does for thousands year. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you. We'll have dinner at a very authentic Viet restaurant in the old quarter before back to your hotel for overnight.

Today, we'll travel by car to Ba Be. We'll make a stop in Thai Nguyen city where we'll visit the Ethnic Museum to have an insight into the life of Vietnamese ethnic groups: Viet, Muong, Tay, Thai, H'mong, Dao and Han. Have lunch at local restaurant then arrive at Ba Be Lake in the afternoon. Here, we'll embark on a leisure cruise to reach Pac Ngoi village where we'll spend the night. Don’t miss out catching the breathtaking view of surrounding cornfields and mountain ranges. 

After breakfast, we'll start the day with a visit to a local market. Then depart for a hike of about 3 km to the village of Tay minority people which is nestled in the heart of a valley. En route visit a waterfall where you could take a swim if you would love to. Return to Pac Ngoi village in the afternoon after hiking 8km along a small river. Enjoy the majestic scenery with peaceful rice paddies, corn fields, and limestone rocks on the way. 

In the morning, the boat is waiting to take you cruising on the peaceful lake, then we'll start our kayaking excursion. Not like any other experience, kayaking in the Ba Be Lake likes stepping into a world of peace. In most of the time, there are only you with nature. Time seems to stop for those precious moments. That is when you can hear the sounds of your paddles tapping gently or see a falling leaf spinning around before it hits the water. 

After lunch at Pirate Ong, we'll take the private transfer to Cao Bang city. 

In the morning, we'll leave to Trung Khanh to visit Ban Gioc Waterfalls, the breathtakingly majestic falls that demarcate the border between Vietnam and China, and Nguom Ngao - “Tiger Cave” that is known for its wonderful limestone formations. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Our day will finish with a trip to Bắc Vọng River where we can enjoy a dip in the beautiful waterfall and nature. 

After breakfast, we'll return to Hanoi in a private car. Enjoy the beautiful sceneries of northern Vietnam on the way. Lunch at local restaurant. 

Leave for Halong Bay a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with its nearly 4,000 islands of towering limestone dotting the bay and Gulf of Tonkin. After arriving at noon, you will board a luxury boat for a cruise on Halong Bay. We'll sail to different islands and caves to explore the breathtaking beauty of the bay, swim in the crystal water, kayak, relax, watch the sunset, and savor delicious fresh seafood. 

In the evening, we can go for squid fishing or stay on board for other activities such as massage or a movie night.

Start our day with a morning Tai Chi  before visiting Vung Vieng fishing village, a settlement floating on the water and dating back hundreds of years. A local will row a bamboo boat to take us around their village and oyster pearl farming. In the afternoon, pass rice paddies and rolling hillside landscapes as we travel back to Hanoi. 

After breakfast, enjoy your free time on your own. A private guide with driver will drive you to the airport for your flight back home.