Grandeur Nature and Great North Vietnam in 10 days, 9 nights

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  DAY 01: ARRIVAL HANOI

  

  Welcome at Hanoi airport by your local French-speaking guide, who will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name, then transfer and check-in at the hotel. (Rooms available from 2:00 pm) OPTION: Early Check-In, subject to availability Hanoi is a true museum of colonial architecture on the banks of the Red River. Capital of unified Vietnam, Hanoi has managed to retain the faded charm of the French colonial era. The modernization of the city, undertaken by the French from 1882, continued until 1955 and the face of Hanoi today has not changed much. You will then set off for an orientation tour of the city, including the must-sees: Ba Dinh Square, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside), the Presidential Palace, the Ambassadors' Quarter, the Opera House, the Long Bien Bridge (formerly Paul Doumer Bridge), the Flag Tower, and the remains of the old Citadel… Typical lunch of Hanoi specialties in a local restaurant, tasting the delicious Cha Ca dish made with grilled fish, served with fresh noodles, dill, and aromatic herbs, a symbol of Vietnamese cuisine. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and scholars, which was the first university in Vietnam. Then, a cyclo ride through the lively alleys of the old guilds' quarter, around the Lake of the Restored Sword, and visit the Ngoc Son Pagoda. At the end of your visits, enjoy free time for shopping at Dong Xuan market. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  DAY 02: HANOI - BA BE

  

  Breakfast at the hotel On the way to Ba Be, in Bac Can province, a beautiful mountain road winding through magnificent landscapes and passing through many ethnic villages. Ba Be means "lake of the three seas." It stretches for 9 km in length and from 100 to 1800 m in width, and is located at an altitude of 145 m. It is at the outlet of three valleys that meet in a circular arc. Ba Be is not only a site for the imaginative, but also for nature lovers. Nearly forty species of mammals live there, as well as more than a hundred species of birds and many butterflies. Lunch at a restaurant along the way. Continue along a mountain road to the village of Pac Ngoi, of the Tay ethnic group, located not far from Ba Be lake, on the hillside. The Tays who have settled there live from fishing, rice and corn cultivation. Their stilt houses with thatched roofs pleasantly enhance the surrounding austere landscapes. Check-in at the hotel. Free time for a walk in the village. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.

• day 3

  DAY 03: BA BE - BAN GIOC

  

  Local breakfast at the host's home Morning boat ride, about 3 hours, in the magical setting of Ba Be Lake. Visit to the Dau Dang waterfalls or the Puong cave (*). Disembarkation then transfer by road to the village of Na Phac (60 km, about 1h30 by road) for lunch in a local restaurant. Then departure towards the northeast, to the village of Ban Gioc, on the Sino-Vietnamese border (160 km, about 4 hours by road) via RN3, a magnificent road running along the river and then winding from pass to pass through the superb mountains and valleys of the region. Arrival at Ban Gioc at the end of the afternoon. Transfer to your host for the evening in their traditional stilt house. Dinner and overnight at your host's (here we are in "inn" mode, meaning several small groups can stay at the same time). The conditions are very basic and Spartan (mattresses on the floor, toilets and shower in a shed outside the house), but more than compensated by the kindness of your hosts and the beauty of the place. OPTION: Private room supplement at Saigon Ban Gioc Resort; subject to availability (double occupancy, dinner on site included).

• day 4

  DAY 04: BAN GIOC - CAO BANG

  

  Breakfast at a local's home In the morning, excursion to the Ban Gioc waterfalls Ban Gioc, located in Cao Bang province 350 km from Hanoi, is one of the 4 largest waterfalls situated on a border, after Iguazu, Victoria, and Niagara. The region is home to many communities such as the Nung, Dzao, and H'mong ethnic groups. The Ban Gioc waterfall is located on the Quay Son river and is 300 m wide. It marks the border between Vietnam and China. Continuation of the visit to the Nguom Ngao caves Lunch at a local's home In the afternoon, head southeast towards the city of Cao Bang (80 km, about 2 hours by road) with stops to admire the magnificent surrounding landscapes. Arrival at the end of the afternoon. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant or at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  DAY 05: CAO BANG - LANG SON - HANOI

  

  Breakfast at the hotel Departure to the city of Lang Son (125 km, about 3h00 drive) via Dong Khe, passing by several sites of the Viet Minh theater and the 1950 battle. Visit of the Tam Thanh cave and the local Dong Dang market, a place of exchange of goods between Vietnamese and Chinese. Lunch at a local restaurant in Lang Son, tasting the specialty of this region: its famous roast duck. Return to Hanoi (155 km, about 3h00 drive). Arrival in Hanoi at the end of the day. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  DAY 06: HANOI - LAO CAI

  

  Early wake-up, around 06:00, for a unique discovery of local life at dawn. Walk (about 2 km) with your guide from your hotel to Hoan Kiem Lake. Typical breakfast in a street restaurant to taste the famous Pho, a rice noodle soup with beef or chicken broth, then finish your walk with another must-try: Café Trung (hot coffee mixed with an egg). Transfer to the Long Bien district, located on the other side of the Red River. You will go for a unique meeting with Mr. PHAN Thanh Liem, artisan and maker of lacquered puppets used for the famous water puppet shows. You will then be invited to attend a private show of about 30 minutes, performed by Mr. Liem and his team, followed by an introductory course on puppet manipulation and making your own puppet. Typical lunch of Hanoi specialties at the training restaurant of our partner NGO KOTO. In the afternoon, return to your hotel at the end of the afternoon for a well-deserved rest after the early wake-up. Dinner in a local restaurant. Transfer to Hanoi station to take your night train to LAO CAI (SP3 train at 22:00 or equivalent). Night on board the train. Shared and air-conditioned cabin with 4 berths (mattresses). There is no shower on board.

• day 7

  DAY 07: LAO CAI - SAPA

  

  Arrival around 06:05 in Lao Cai. Local breakfast in a restaurant near the station. You may have the chance to witness the amusing musical opening of the Chinese border! Everyone rushes to cross the bridge to sell or buy their goods. Here, it is the Red River that separates Lao Cai from Heho, the Chinese city located on the other bank. Departure to discover a typical weekly market of the region (Monday: Binh Lu market / Tuesday: Coc Ly market / Wednesday: Cao Son or Sin Cheng market / Thursday: Lung Khau Nhin market / Friday: none in the region / Saturday: Can Cau market / Sunday: Bac Ha market OR Muong Khuong market). Free time to discover the villagers selling their livestock: buffaloes, pigs, horses, and where the Dzao, Giai, Han, Xa Fang, Lachi, Nung, Yao mountain people mingle in a mix of colors and languages. Lunch is served at a local family's home during your walk through the ethnic villages. Option for a hiking program on days when there is no weekly market: start a beautiful hike with your guide through the mountains (about 10 km with 03h-04h of walking). Lunch is served at the host family's home during the hike in the H’mongs Pec Bung village, then continue the path on the hill to Ban Pho village and follow the direction to Na Kheo Nung village, then descend into the valley to Na Tha village of the Tays before returning to Bac Ha. Road to Sapa. Sapa, located at 1500 m altitude, is a climatic resort entirely founded by the French in 1922. Some colonial villas still bear witness to this era. Many ethnic groups gather here, such as the Hmong or the Daos. You will discover beautiful landscapes dotted with terraced rice fields. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  DAY 08: SAPA - MU CANG CHAI

  

  Breakfast at the hotel Departure for Mu Cang Chai (140 km, about 3h30 by road) crossing a mountainous region inhabited by different ethnic minority groups: Blue H'mong, Thai, Zao, Lu... Located at the foot of the Hoang Lien Son mountains, in Yen Bai province, about 280 km from Hanoi, the Mu Cang Chai district is known for its spectacular landscapes, with the most winding passes on one side and on the other the most beautiful terraced rice fields in Vietnam. It is an ideal place for hikers and photography enthusiasts. (The best season to admire the golden terraced rice fields is during the months of September and October.) Arrival in Mu Cang Chai. Transfer to the hotel and lunch on site. In the afternoon, a hike of about 7 km on the dikes of the terraced rice fields, visiting the villages of Cau Ba Nha and La Pan Tan of the H'mongs. You will be delighted by the discovery of the magnificent terraced rice fields and the colors of the traditional costumes of the local inhabitants. Dinner in a local restaurant or at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  DAY 09: MU CANG CHAI - NGHIA LO

  

  Breakfast at the hotel Transfer to the village of Tu Le (50 km, about 1h30 by road), known for the beauty of its terraced fields and its famous sticky rice. The day is dedicated to hiking (about 4 km) descending from Khau Pha pass to Lim Mong village of the Thai ethnic group, to admire magnificent landscapes and meet the ethnic minorities of the region. Lunch with a local family in Tu Le. Continue to Nghia Lo (50 km, about 1h30 by road). Arrival at the end of the day. Transfer to the hotel. Rest and free time. Option: a farewell gift will be given to you; set of coasters or similar +05 USD/person. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  DAY 10: NGHIA LO - DUONG LAM - HANOI DEPARTURE

  

  Breakfast at the hotel You will depart towards Hanoi (200 km, about 4 hours by road) crossing a small valley surrounded by lush mountains, dotted with lakes, rice fields, rivers, and stilt houses belonging to ethnic minorities. As you approach, you will stop to visit the thousand-year-old village of Duong Lam. Famous for its authenticity and attachment to Vietnamese culture, this village located on the banks of the Red River is also the birthplace of two kings, Phung Hung (7th century) and Ngo Quyen (9th century). Take the time to walk around on foot, meeting the local inhabitants. You may have the chance to come across ladies with "black teeth". Lunch in a local restaurant within the village itself. Continue to Hanoi airport to take your return flight (flight and schedule to be specified). Arrival and assistance with formalities. Options for an evening flight if timing allows: - Day-use room in a local hotel until 6:00 pm (double occupancy), subject to availability - 1h30 of relaxation and massage in a city spa center - Farewell dinner of local specialties in a local restaurant