Great dragon crossing in 21 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Hanoi - arrival

  Arrival in Hanoi. Welcome by the guide and transfer to a beautiful hotel located in the lively old quarter of Hanoi. Free time and/or first discovery of the city. Welcome dinner in a typical restaurant.

• day 2

  Hanoi - visit of the millennial city

  The day begins with the discovery of the residential district where the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of the Vietnamese nation, is located. Visit of his palace, his stilt house, and the One Pillar Pagoda. The exploration of the city continues with the Museum of Ethnography, a unique place that brings together costumes, tools, musical instruments, and displays in its gardens some typical houses of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. The visit continues with the Temple of Literature, which was the first university in Vietnam (founded in 1070), then the discovery of the oldest pagoda in Hanoi (6th century): Tran Quoc, and finally the Ngoc Son Temple on the shore of central Hoan Kiem Lake. The day ends with a walk through the alleys of Hanoi's old quarter. Guaranteed immersion in the life of the capital. Dinner at your leisure. In the evening, water puppet show.

• day 3

  Hanoi – Ha Giang

  Welcome by the French-speaking guide at the hotel, departure towards Ha Giang. Visit of the Tay and Dao villages along the way. Arrival in Ha Giang at the end of the afternoon. Installation with the Tay. The Tha village area is considered particularly authentic, with large stilt houses covered with thatch, which cannot be found anywhere else. Overnight with a local family.

• day 4

  Ha Giang - Yen Minh - Dong Van

  Morning: one-hour walk in the Tha village area to admire the stilt houses and its rice fields. Departure for the Dong Van plateau. The road is particularly rich in enchanting landscapes. Discovery of the Dong Van limestone plateau, ranked among the most beautiful geological parks in the world. This area offers a landscape of majestic mountains. It is inhabited by the Hmong, an ethnic group with an ancestral and harsh way of life, cultivating corn on rocks. This geological park is nicknamed "the celestial Halong Bay" by Authentik Vietnam. Meet ethnic groups along the way (Hmong, Bo Y, Dao). Visit the Palace of the Hmong King in Dong Van, then stroll through the old town of Dong Van. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  Dong Van - Meo Vac - Bao Lac

  Departure in the morning to Meo Vac, crossing the Ma Pi Leng pass which offers a paradisiacal landscape. The view encompasses the limestone mountains, the Nho Que river, and Hmong villages nestled on the mountainside. Lunch in Meo Vac. The journey continues towards Bao Lac. This region became known in France thanks to the episode of "Voyage en terre inconnue" with the rugby player Michalak. This documentary was filmed in the village of Lolo Noir, 9 km from the town of Bao Lac. Visit of ethnic villages and photo stops along the way. Night at Thuy Duong Hotel – Bao Lac.

• day 6

  Bao Lac - Ba Be Lake

  Departure towards Ba Be via Tinh Tuc. Visit of the villages of the ethnic groups (Tay, Dao, San Chi, Lolo) and numerous photo stops along the way. A splendid landscape accompanies the traveler throughout the journey. Arrival at Ba Be, 2-hour walk in the park along the lake to the village of Pac Ngoi. Overnight stay with a local, at Mr. Tho's house.

• day 7

  Ba Be - cruise

  Transfer to the Buoc Lom pier. Boat discovery of the banks of the Nang River. Magnificent forest landscape all along the cruise. Stop to visit the Puong cave, where thousands of bats live. Then, head to the Dau Dang waterfall. Lunch in a riverside restaurant. Resumption of the cruise on the lake. Stop to visit the Fairy Pond, located in the middle of the primeval forest. Possibility to swim in the lake if the weather permits. Disembarkation around 4 p.m. Walk along the lake to the village. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.

• day 8

  Ba Be - Hua Ma Cave - Hanoi

  Morning: bike ride to the HUA MA cave (5 km). It is one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam thanks to its stalactite and stalagmite formations. Return to Pac Ngoi village around 11 a.m. Drive towards Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi around 6:30 p.m. Check-in at the hotel. Free time to rest after this long journey in the mountains. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Hanoi - Hoa Lu - Van Long

  Departure towards the city of Hoa Lu via the mandarin road. Hoa Lu is the ancient capital of Vietnam between 968 and 1010. Visit of two temples dedicated to kings (Dinh Tiên Hoang and Le Dai Hanh), national heroes of the 10th century. They are surrounded by very beautiful gardens with frangipani trees over a hundred years old! Arrival in Van Long at the end of the morning. Lunch at a local's home. In the afternoon, departure for the pier by bicycle (2 km), crossing typical villages of the region. The countryside is enchanting and the scenes of rural life are remarkable: you can see, for example, children playing around grandmothers taking care of the youngest, small local markets, duck farms, etc. Boarding small rowboats for a 1h30 ride through spectacular landscapes. Continue the itinerary with a bike ride to the Thung La temple. It is located in the heart of a peaceful valley, an ideal place for meditation. Visit of the temple. Return by bike through the villages. Dinner and overnight at a local's home.

• day 10

  Van Long - Halong Bay

  Departure in a private bus in the morning to Halong Bay via Nam Dinh and Thai Binh. The journey, through the heart of the Red River delta, takes you through endless rice field landscapes. Boarding in the afternoon on a traditional junk for a cruise in Halong Bay. Discover a fantastic landscape and visit one of the many caves hidden in the bay. Fresh seafood meals served on the junk. Overnight stay in comfortable and private cabins.

• day 11

  Halong - Hanoi - Hue by night train

  Breakfast on board the junk. It is possible to watch the sunrise from the boat's terrace. The cruise continues in the bay, amidst a very beautiful landscape dotted with wild and mineral islands. Late in the morning, return to the pier and journey back to Hanoi. On the way, visit the But Thap pagoda, which stands out for its original architecture with curved roofs. Arrival in the capital at the end of the afternoon. Transfer to Hanoi station for an overnight train journey to Hue. Note: Air-conditioned cabin with berths for 4 people.

• day 12

  Hue - visit of the poetic city

  Welcome by the guide and the driver. Transfer to the hotel to freshen up and drop off your belongings. Boarding a boat for a cruise on the Perfume River. Several stops are scheduled: Thanh Thien village, the old Bao Vinh wharf, then a walk in Sinh village (specialized in making paper prints). Continue the journey with a visit to one of Hue's most famous monuments: the Thien Mu Pagoda. Lunch on board the boat. Discover the daily life of the inhabitants living along both banks of the river. In the afternoon, visit the Tu Duc mausoleum, then head to the incense stick village. Visit the Tu Hieu Pagoda founded by the eunuch mandarins of the royal court of Hue. The day ends with a visit to Dong Ba market, the largest in the city of Hue. Transfer to the hotel and free time to enjoy, for example, the hotel pool.

• day 13

  Discovery of Hue - Danang - Hoi An

  The day begins with a visit to the Imperial City, an impressive and unique vestige of what an imperial city in Vietnam once was. Then, head to Hoi An by taking the Mandarin Road, which passes through the Hai Van Pass. A stop at the pass is possible to enjoy the breathtaking and grand view over Danang and its surroundings. Other stops are planned along the way. Visit the Cham Museum in Danang, which has the world's largest collection of objects related to Cham culture. Next, a walk of about 30 minutes on My Khe beach. This allows you to enjoy an impressive view of the statues of the goddess of mercy and to observe the activities of the village fishermen. Road towards Hoi An. Visit the Thang Loi silk factory with the possibility of having custom souvenirs made. Transfer to the hotel then rest. Transfer to the hotel.

• day 14

  Hoi An on foot and by bicycle

  8:00 am: Departure for the visit of the city of Hoi An, listed as a World Heritage Site: the museum of antiquities, the Japanese bridge, the Chinese quarter, the Phung Hung house, the market and the old port which was very lively in the 15th century and where boats and junks from all countries docked: Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, Portuguese... Bike ride (or by cyclo, or by moto-taxi) towards the vegetable village of Tra Que (located 5 km – 30 minutes by bike from Hoi An). Tra Que is renowned for its aromatic herbs, especially mint and basil. The leaves, which are smaller than usual, have a particular aroma. You have the opportunity to discover the life of the farmers by learning their techniques. Lunch with a local family. Return to Hoi An in the afternoon. Afternoon: Free time in the old alleys of Hoi An for shopping. Overnight at the hotel. Note: Hoi An, a friendly city, deserves to have one or two free days for personal discovery at your leisure and for shopping.

• day 15

  Hoi An - My Son - Hoi An

  Breakfast at the hotel. Drive towards the sacred valley of the Kingdom of Champa: My Son, where only the temples and the “Kalans” remain as vestiges. The site includes the ruins of about 70 architectural works built between the 7th and 13th centuries. They are made of bricks and stones. Return to Hoi An. Afternoon: free time to enjoy the beach. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 16

  Free day to rest in Hoi An.

  Free day to rest, go shopping or enjoy the beach.

• day 17

  Hoi An - Danang - flight to HCM City

  In the morning, transfer to Danang airport for the flight to Saigon (09:30-10:40). Reception and transfer to the city. City orientation tour with visits to the Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Ngoc Hoang Temple, and the Ben Thanh market. Then, departure for the Cho Lon district to discover its old neighborhoods, its market, the Thien Hau temple, and the Giac Lam pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in the city. Its architecture, layout, and decoration have remained almost intact since its construction in 1744. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 18

  HCM City - Ben Tre

  Departure from the hotel to reach the Hung Vuong pier in Ben Tre city: boat excursion on the Ben Tre river to discover the daily life of the inhabitants. Stop at Mr. Tu Lo's to discover the traditional methods of brick making. Then, visit to the coconut product factory. The excursion continues by boat on the canals to the village of Nhon Thanh. It will be possible to take a walk to get closer to the life of the inhabitants and have the opportunity to taste some fresh fruits. This will be followed by a bike ride on small paths through the villages, with the possibility to observe coconut groves, rice fields, and vegetable gardens. Lunch with a local family. Arrival and welcome at the local family's home. Possibility to take a bike excursion to Mr. Sau Khanh's house to admire his collection of antiques, then continue through the rice fields. Meet with farmers and participate in field work. Late afternoon: preparation of dinner with the owner. Overnight at the local family's home. Note: the bike excursion is not mandatory and is free.

• day 19

  Ben Tre – Long Xuyen

  Breakfast with the locals. Then, visit the local market by bike. Next, head to Long Xuyen via Sa Dec, with a visit to the Kien An Cung pagoda, then the Huynh Thuy Le house (featured in Marguerite Duras' novel: The Lover), and the Sa Dec market. It is very rich in fish, fruits, and vegetables. Continue on the road to Long Xuyen, visit a Caodai temple and a crocodile farm. Arrival at the end of the day. Overnight at the hotel in Long Xuyen.

• day 20

  Long Xuyen - Ho Chi Minh City

  Early in the morning, visit to the Long Xuyen floating market, very lively and authentic. Discovery of the daily activities of the Mekong inhabitants. Visit to Cu Lao Ong Ho, on foot, by bicycle, and aboard small boats through several arroyos. Drive to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Overnight at the hotel.

• day 21

  Ho Chi Minh City - Departure

  Check-out from the room before 12pm. Free time until transfer to the airport by one of our drivers, depending on your flight time. Possibility to make last souvenir purchases in the old town. Return flight.