Beauty of the North in Vietnam and Phu Quoc Island: 11 days, 10 nights

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Hanoi

  

  Arrival in Hanoi, our guide and driver will welcome you and take you to your hotel for check-in. Check-in at the hotel. Free time to rest after the jet lag. Dinner and overnight at your hotel. Included: French-speaking guide – airport transfer.

• day 2

  City of Hanoi

  

  This morning, we will visit Hanoi, the intellectual and artistic capital of Vietnam, starting with the Temple of Literature, which was the country's first university, then the Museum of Ethnography. At the beginning of the afternoon, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and its complex, dedicated to the founder of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. You will then take a cyclo ride through the old quarters to end the day. Overnight in Hanoi. Included: French-speaking guide – Breakfast – Private transfer

• day 3

  HANOI - MAI CHAU

  

  Breakfast at your hotel, then departure for Mai Chau. Mai Chau offers a splendid view of the valley, surrounded by lush greenery and stilt houses, mainly inhabited by the White Thai ethnic group. Arrival in Mai Chau. A welcome drink and a hot or cold towel will be served. Start your walk in Mai Chau around 3:00 pm. Walk to discover the villages of ethnic minorities, such as the villages of Poom Coong and Lac. Bicycle rental is free. A bike ride through the countryside paths and rice fields will offer you pleasant moments. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight at the hotel. Included: French-speaking guide – Breakfast – Private transfer

• day 4

  MAI CHAU - PU LUONG

  

  In the morning, after breakfast, departure towards the Pu Luong reserve, crossing superb rice fields and authentic ethnic villages. Several stops are planned along the way to take beautiful photos and to meet smiling and welcoming people. You then descend the magnificent valley towards the village of Kho Muong. On the way, you can enjoy an extraordinary landscape with terraced rice fields all around you… After admiring a magnificent landscape from the top of the mountain, you visit the village of Kho Muong. According to the local dialect, “Kho” means origin and “Muong” means village. As its name indicates, it was one of the first villages to be formed in the region. This one is surrounded by a mountain range, which makes it a village isolated from the rest of the surroundings. You then settle into your hotel. The rest of the time is free for you to relax at the pool. Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight in Pu Luong. Included: French-speaking guide – Breakfast – Private transfer

• day 5

  PU LUONG - NINH BINH - TERRESTRIAL HALONG BAY

  

  After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the province of Ninh Binh. This is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks interspersed with valleys, some of which are submerged, and surrounded by vertical cliffs. Upon arrival in Ninh Binh, after lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to Van Long, the largest natural wetland reserve. It is also home to 32 amazing caves, named after their different shapes. During the dry season, Van Long is the wintering place for migratory birds from the North. Sit on a rowboat floating through the picturesque landscape, with spectacular mountain ranges creating a natural wall surrounded by a vast expanse of water. You will then enjoy a beautiful bike ride along the small winding paths in the middle of endless rice fields, where you will feel the tranquility and serenity of country life, not to mention the human contact with smiling and hospitable farmers. Included: French-speaking guide – Breakfast – Private transfer

• day 6

  VISIT OF DINH LE TEMPLE - TAM COC

  

  Today, we travel by private car to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam under the Dinh dynasty (968-980) and at the beginning of the Early Le dynasty (980-1009). Upon arrival in Hoa Lu, you will visit two temples dedicated to these two kings dating from the 10th century. They still retain all their beauty, especially the finesse of the art of sculpture and the wood and stone engravings made by Vietnamese artists. Lunch is at your leisure during the visit. In the afternoon, you will board a sampan for a beautiful ride on the Ngo Dong River. As you float along, you will admire the extraordinary landscapes, the many limestone peaks with their dramatic shapes covered in lush vegetation, rising from the middle of the rice fields. This is why the place is nicknamed the "terrestrial Ha Long Bay." You will go up the river to the three beautiful caves (Tam Coc). You will then enjoy a pleasant walk and visit the Bich Dong pagoda (the Jade Pagoda). In front of the pagoda's courtyard, you will have a panoramic view of the terrestrial Ha Long Bay. Transfer to the hotel for the night. Overnight in Ninh Binh. Included: French-speaking guide – Breakfast – Private transfer

• day 7

  NINH BINH - BAI TU LONG - THIEN CANH SON

  

  This morning, pick-up at the hotel. Departure to Halong. Your 2 days and 1 night cruise journey begins with pick-up at your hotel. After 5 hours on the road, it will be time to check in to one of the most beautiful cruises in Halong Bay. The cruise manager and crew will welcome you with drinks and a brief overview of the program for your trip, then you will enjoy a delicious lunch while your boat takes you further towards Bai Tu Long Bay. After lunch, you will visit Thien Canh Son cave, go kayaking or relax on a beach. Dinner will be served around 7:00 pm, and after dinner, it will be your time to relax. Included: French-speaking guide - Breakfast - Private transfer - Lunch - Dinner

• day 8

  FISHERMEN'S VILLAGE - YEN DUC VILLAGE - WATER PUPPETS

  

  The second day of your trip begins early with tea or coffee. At 07:00, breakfast will be served on board. After breakfast, you will continue your cruise around the bay, then visit a fishing village or explore a cave and take part in other activities (depending on your cruise). After that, you will return to the boat, check out of your cabin at 10:00 and have a delicious lunch. On the way back to Hanoi, you will stop at Yen Duc village for a short rest while enjoying the water puppet show. The trip ends at 17:00 and we will drop you off at your hotel in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Phu Quoc. Our guide and private vehicle will take you to the airport. Overnight in Phu Quoc. Included: French-speaking guide - Breakfast - Lunch - Private transfer - HN-Phu Quoc flight

• day 9

  Free day on Phu Quoc Island

  

  You are free to explore the island of Phu Quoc. With a population of 84,000 inhabitants, its area is 585 km², with a length of 50 km from north to south and a maximum width of 20 km. Its wooded hills reach an altitude of 603 m with Mount Chúa. It is also called the "emerald island" for its natural treasures and its tourism potential. The creation, in 2001, of the Phu Quoc National Park, which protects 70% of the island's territory, allows for controlled development of this still preserved site. Overnight in a good and comfortable resort. Included: Breakfast

• day 10

  FREE DAY ON PHU QUOC ISLAND

  

  Free day in Phu Quoc Included: Breakfast

• day 11

  PHU QUOC - SAIGON - RETURN

  

  You are free until the transfer time to Phu Quoc airport, where you take the flight to Ho Chi Minh, then you change terminals for your return flight. End of our services. Included: Breakfast – French-speaking guide – Private transfer Cam On, Chao Tam Biet & Hen gap Lai!