Upon arrival, a local guide with your private driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel.

Note: Normal check in time for hotels is 14:00

Overnight in Hanoi.

Distances and journey time:

Noi Bai Airport to your chosen hotel in Hanoi (35km): 60mins.

Located in Hoa Binh Province, a scenic 4-hour drive southwest of Hanoi, Mai Chau offers a splendid vista of mountains and valleys surrounded by lush landscape and stilt houses, inhabited mainly by the White Thai ethnic group. On arrival, you continue to drive 45 minutes to Xa Linh village inhabited by the H’mong hill tribe. Lunch will be served before enjoying the invigorating cool air while walking for 2 hours through mountain trails. Optional visit Pa Co primary school, any local gifts to them is appreciated (closed on weekends, summer and public holidays) or Pa Co hill tribe market (if it falls on Sunday). Stop along the way to observe local traditions which you may encounter. Late afternoon, check in hotel.

Overnight at Mai Chau (Home-cooked lunch)

After a 1.5 hour drive to Pu Luong Retreat, you will arrive at your accommodation followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting before a delicious lunch. After lunch, you will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk (3-6 km as you wish) in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from the river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes. Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the rafting adventure, floating along the calm river and taking in the views in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts. Arriving at scenic Tan Lap Bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner.

Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat

Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through 6km small paths downhill shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Continuing to Kho Muong which is located in the central of valley, to engage with locals and see their rural life. Heading to “Bat Cave” - where the first ancestors of Muong ethnic group lived. Lunch will served at a local house on stilts. Then trekking 7 km through the jungle to explore the abundant of flora and fauna along the way. The winding road around gorgeous mountains will take you to Uoi village which is located in the middle of the forest. You weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savour the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot. Then you will be transferred back to Puluong Retreat

Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat

Notes:

Suggested time: 09:00

Duration: 8 hours

Trekking distance: 13km

Grade: Moderate

Free time at leisure, check-out time standard is at 12:00 then you will be transferred to hotel in Ninh Binh for check-in.

The rest of day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Distances and journey time:

Pu Luong to Ninh Binh: 3.5hr

This morning, visit Vietnam’s ancient capital of Hoa Lu, the country’s first centralized feudal state from the end of the 10th century. While the ancient citadel has largely disappeared, the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties still stand surrounded by rice paddies. Continue to Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on Land”, where a skilled rower will take you on a 2hr slow journey on the winding river and canals. Enjoy the views of the beautiful karst formations as you enter three of the many natural caves formed under the hills. Visit Thai Vi temple on the way back to Tam Coc for lunch.

The rest of day is free at leisure.  

Overnight in Ninh Binh

In the morning, leave Ninh Binh for Halong Bay, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with its 3,000 islands of towering limestone dotting the bay and Gulf of Tonkin.

Arrive at noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome onboard, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight on Halong Bay.

Distances and journey time: Ninh Binh - Halong: 3.5hrs

Early in the morning and depending on the season, you will wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay. Breakfast is served on board (brunch on some boats) while the cruise will tour around the bay until you disembark at the end of the morning then transferred back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi

Distances and journey time: Halong - Hanoi: 3.5hrs

Free time at leisure, check-out time standard is at 12:00 then you will be transferred to airport for onward flights.

Our services include:

• Accommodation in a shared twin or shared double room
• Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• English or French speaking guide (for other languages and a national guide supplements apply)
• Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle
• Entrance fees for mentioned visits
• Boat trip as mentioned in the itinerary

Our services do not include:

• Other meals than mentioned
• Other services than mentioned
• International and domestic Flights
• Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature
• Tips, Travel insurance

Notes:

• We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance (covering emergency medical evacuation) for trips to Vietnam.
• Prices are valid 30 days from date of offer. Past this date price and conditions may be readjusted.
• The cost of air tickets is subject to change without prior notice by the airlines.
• Reservations during peak times (Christmas, New Year, Vietnamese Lunar New Year, National Holidays) may be subject to supplementary charges.
• Rooms at hotels are available only from 1400 on arrival day till 1200 on departure date. A supplement will be added if early check-in or late check-out is desired.
• Please note that all the above services & tours have yet to be booked, they are proposed for your information only and we will not make any reservations before we receive your confirmation to do so.
• If one or some proposed service(s) is (are) not available at the moment of booking, we will try to find other possibilities/options or other similar service(s) in order to avoid changes to the program.