FULL ITINERARY

Tour type: Nature lovers, Local life, Adventure, Yin Yang food

Duration:  7 day

Availability: Whole year

Participants: Unlimited

Rating: *****

Categories: Hanoi & around

There are many interesting national parks throughout Vietnam. In the North, we have Ba Vi national park hiking, Cuc Phuong national park, Mai Chau – Pu Luong nature reserve and Tam Dao national park. In the Middle, we have Bach Ma national park, Yondon national park or Cat Tien is famous national park in the South.

By collecting some highlighted stops of Hanoi city break, Ba Vi national park, Mai Chau – Pu Luong nature reserve, Trang An heritage site and Bai Tu Long - Halong Bay, we can create the perfect northern loop. Starting with an amazing hiking on Ba Vi national park mountain and swimming at Ba Vi national park waterfall then ending our trip with the best memorable cruise journey of Bai Tu Long – Halong Bay which is considered as Phangnga bay in Vietnam version. Let’s reveal the real beauty of Vietnam national park with Explorer Ba Vi National Park Waterfall 7 days

VALUE

• Admire picturesque scenery of Mai Chau – Pu Luong evergreen valley and the wildlife in Ba Vi national park

• Savour truly authentic local food

• Deep exploration of ethnic minorities in culture and local life

• Scenic biking tour along with the green rice fields on the background of the mountain ranges.

• Hiking/Trekking inside national park and get closer to the wildlife

PROGRAM

DAY 1: HANOI – BA VI NATIONAL PARK HIKING

Ba Vi national park covers a spacious area of 10,815 ha over the mountain range which makes it become unique. In the past, French army built many resorts in this places because of its various flora and fauna as well as very cool weather whole year. Coming to Ba Vi, it seems to be in the different world which is very misty, cool air, not-like-other tropical places. Step inside this place, you can touch the cloud whole day during the winter time from October to March. Average temperature in the summer is around 28 degrees or 15 degrees in the winter.

At 08:00 Heading to Ba Vi, it takes us a 2-hour drive there with the distance of 55km from Hanoi. On arrival, hiking to the top of the mountains and visiting a temple worshipping to the Vietnamese God. After lunch, we explore the main attractions of Ba Vi:

• Visiting the conversation center of the wild animals

• Trekking through the jungle or Swimming in the waterfall

• Then drop-in the unique garden of medical plants and explore how to use it to cure some simple diseases such as: Stomach-ache, head-ache, etc…

Overnight in the hotel/resort in Ba Vi.

Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: VISIT FRENCH ANCIENT CHURCH – DRIVE TO MAI CHAU-PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE (139km – nearly 4-hour drive)

At 08:00 After breakfast, visiting the well-known French ancient buildings, church’s, the resort of French general, the political prison, the orchid garden, etc…

After lunch, saying goodbye to Ba Vi and proceeding to Mai Chau - Pu Luong nature reserve. It takes us 4-hour drive to Mai Chau which is 139km far from Hanoi. Passing by Hoa Binh town, the road runs through moutains, green valley and ehtnic villages. This place is home to Thai ethnic hill tribes that famous for white and pretty woman. On arrival, check-in the homestay and relaxing.

At 18:00, we join Cozy Home Hosted dinner with the host family while watching the ethnic folksong and dancing performance. The player team is the local farmers who doing farm works on day and dancing at night to serve their in-house guests. Overnight in homestay in Mai Chau – Pu Luong nature reserve.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 3: TREKKING THROUGH NATURE RESERVE

Today, we will explore this place in depth. It is available 02 trekking routes: one is easy and another is hard-trek. You can choose one of them:

Route 1: Enjoy 3-hour trekking in the surrounding of Hang village and drop-in some local house for impacting to the local community.

Route 2: Trekking from Hang village to Kho Muong village which lasts 6 hours in total.

By doing this, we will trek through the village paths on unpaved road and cross over some streams. The more road you trek, the wilder the landscape is. When meeting the local, you can find out that you can contact to the local by smiling and eyes catching.

While lunch is being cooked by the family host, relax from the fierce sunlight of the day inside a local house. Following lunch, drive to another village for visiting and exploring the newly discovered and amazingly spacious cave. If lucky, we can see the bats inside.

Overnight in homestay in Mai Chau – Pu Luong.

DAY 4: MAI CHAU – NINH BINH HERITAGE SITES  (4 hours – 159 km)

Wake up early in the morning, getting fresh air and relaxing. After breakfast, approaching to Ninh Binh for 4-hour drive. From the window, we can sightsee the evergreen vegetation, valleys and the vast paddy fields dotted with the water buffaloes or the farmers working there. At noon time, we get there, check-in homestay/hotel.

In the afternoon, starting our scenic boat trip by running gently on Ngo river, pass by the mountain ranges, the paddy fields, visit 3 adjoining caves with various shapes of stalactites and stalagmites on the roof of caves.

At the end of the boat trip, disembark the boat, jump on the bike for lovely biking tour through the peaceful rural life and end our route with a drop-in Bich Dong pagoda. Visiting this pagoda, we get a chance to hike to the top of mountain where it is located on. From there, we can get panorama of this heritage site and catch the best moment by your camera.

Then return to homestay/hotel for a shower, relax and enjoy cozy dinner before going to bed. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

DAY 5: NINH BINH – HALONG BAY – BAI TU LONG BAY

After breakfast, at 07:30 Drive straightly to Halong Bay where we will relax after the soft adventure.

13.00–14.30 : Embark the cruise, enjoy welcome before check-in the cabin.

After that, a lovely lunch with Vietnamese cuisines are ready for you at the restaurant while our cruise is sailing further to Bai Tu Long Bay. This bay is the wildest area belonging to Halong Bay heritage site.

14.30 : Exploring one of the famous cave which is less-touristic where you  enjoy short hike to the mountain and admire the sparkling stalactites on the ceiling of the cave.

15.45: Return to the boat and relax on the sundeck or you can order a cup of cocktail that always available on the bar.

16.30 : Start kayaking journey which is the best way of exploring this bay or just relaxing on the cruise/sundeck.

17.45–19.00: Attend short class of cooking Vietnamese local food such as: Spring roll (it depends our chef will decide to teach you Fried Spring roll or Fresh Spring roll.

19.00-21.00: Tasting the lovely seafood Dinner that is served in the restaurant.

At night, it is available some entertaining options such as: Squid fishing, watching movie or chatting together, etc…

Overnight on cruise.

DAY 6: BAI TU LONG BAY

Today, if you are interested, you can get up early at 6:30 for short practice of Tai-chi session on the sundeck or still sleep until the breakfast.

8.30-9:00: After breakfast, transfer to the day cruise which will help us to go further in Bai Tu Long bay.

10.30: Visit the hidden lagoons that offers the fabulous limestone islands and islets, and less-touristic beach as well.

11.00-12.00: Experiencing the kayak tour through the lagoons then relaxing/sunbathing on the beach.

12.30: Enjoy the lunch in the restaurant on cruise.

13.30-15.00: Continuing our kayak explorer and discover other caves.

15.15-15:30: Return to the main cruise.

16.45: Take a shower and relax on the sundeck until having dinner at 19:00.

Enjoy your second romantic night on this cruise. Overnight on Bai Tu Long Bay.

DAY 7: BAI TU LONG BAY - HALONG BAY - HANOI

08:00: Start-up your today with another lovely breakfast in Western style.

08.30: Exploring the fishing villages by a rustic wooden boat trip, impact to the local people and discover the local floating life here (how the children go to school and how they survive).

09.30: Pack up the luggage and check out of the cabin.

09.30-10.40: Enjoy the brunch in the restaurant while cruising back to the harbor.

12.00: Disembark the cruise and return to Hanoi by shuttle bus/private car. Trip ends around 4-5pm in Hanoi city center.

Note: this is sample cruise program, when you choose the specific cruise brand name, the program may be changed a little bit.

US$586