Hanoi – Mai Chau – Pu Luong – Ninh Binh – Halong Bay Tour > 8 Days / 7 Nights

Airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Depending on arrival time, stroll through Hanoi’s Old Quarter and free time. Night at the hotel.

After breakfast, start the adventure discovering Hanoi boarding a jeep. This is a special way to discover the city. You will pass through the Old Quarter and go through the Long Bien bridge, historical one! Then back to the center (if weekend, we will go to the train street for a café and see the train passing in the narrow alley) to pass in front of the main buildings as the war museum, Ho Chi Minh mausolea, Tran Quoc pagoda.

Local lunch with Pho Cuon and Banh Tom

Take a walk in the Old Quarter to visit Ngoc Son pagoda to learn about the legend of “Sword lake”. Take a break to enjoy a Hanoi specialty, the egg coffee. Then continue walking along the lake to the Women Museum, unique museum of this kind in Southeast Asia. On the way back, pass by the opera house.

As a reward after the long adventurous day, enjoy a foot massage. Free time to rest in the room before starting the evening food tour Try the local dishes walking and contemplating the active night life of the Old Quarter. (If you didn’t see the train street in the morning, you will go for a drink) Overnight in the hotel.

7:00 – Pick up the guests from Hanoi Old Quarter and start the trip to Mai Chau.

Arrival in Mai Chau which is considered the capital of the Thai people. Check in and have lunch in the traditional house on stilts with specialties of the Northwest mountains.

Take a small rest to relax by the pool or a quick walk in the narrow alleys to admire the local life.

Start the cycling tour to discover the beautiful Mai Chau valley. You will pass through fields and villages and get the opportunity to discover more about the unique cultural activities of the White Thai ethnic group. Take a break to visit brocade production facilities made by locals.  You are welcome to visit the shops and to buy souvenirs from this unique place. Back to homestay & free time to relax, enjoy the swimming pool or walk around in the narrow alleys around the homestay. Diner and peaceful night in the homestay

Early breakfast to be ready for the amazing day coming. Board the car to reach the beautiful Pu Luong Reserve and stop at Pu Luong Eco Garden to drop your bags before starting the exciting day. You will board the van to reach the starting point of the trek. On Thursday and Sunday, you will have a stop to the local Pho Doan market.

You will then be dropped at the starting point. The trek will pass through a small dirt path, passing by isolated hamlet and through the jungle. You will arrive to the higher part of Hieu village contemplating some stunning views.  While going down to reach the waterfall, you will see some local houses. Free time to enjoy the waterfall (swimming and water hiking depending on season). Time to join the local house for a Garden to Table Lunch at the homestay of ethnic minority people.

Breakfast at the Retreat. Then start the trek to Kho Muong Village & Bat Cave. The trekking will start by small alley nearby traditional Thai stilt houses until reaching beautiful view points of the infinity rice terraces. Arriving from the top of the hill, you will slowly see appearing the village of Kho Muong and understand how special is this place. After walking around the village, you will walk to the entrance the cave. Possibility to visit the cave (depending on weather conditions).

Check out and lunch at Pu Luong. Say goodbye to the fabulous Pu Luong Nature Reserve and start the journey to reach the Halong Bay on land, Ninh Binh. Before heading to the hotel, you will make a stop at Mua Cave. If climbing the around 500 stairs to reach the top is challenging, you will be rewarded by the most beautiful view of Ninh Binh valley and Tam Coc. Dinner in Trang An Ecolodge.

The day begins with a bike ride in the middle of rice fields and karst peaks, crossing hamlets. You will arrive to Trang An complex, classified by UNESCO. The 3 hours boat ride is passing through karts pics covered by a lush nature, pagodas and crossing a long cave. Back to the lodge for lunch.

Afternoon, you will be transferred to Bai Dinh Pagoda, the second biggest in Vietnam. Walking through this huge site, you will immerse yourself in this amazing and surprising site. Back to the hotel to relax or enjoy the swimming pool. Evening is at leisure to dine on site or go to a local restaurant.

Early morning (6.30-6.45am), board the bus to be transferred to the pontoon in Halong. You will be transferred to the main boat to start the cruise to Lan Ha Bay. Takeaway breakfast will be provided.

Lunch will be served as the boat leisurely sails through the calm waters. The spectacle is dazzling as much by the beauty of the karst peaks gushing out of the water as by the color of the sea.

In the afternoon, you will go to see the Dark and Lights Cave where you can do kayaking or bamboo boat rowed by local people. . Back on the boat to enjoy a cocktail or a massage, the junk will sail to its home base for the night. Dinner served on board and a quiet night lulled by the waves.

Wake up early to start your perfect day with Tai Chi class or watch the sunrise on the top deck or you can choose Gym as a great place to get an unspoiled view of a sunrise. Light breakfast is served in the restaurant.

Exploring Lan Ha Bay the most beautiful natural bay in Vietnam. Having leisure time by doing kayaking around Lan Ha Bay. Then check out and have brunch in the restaurant while the boat sails back to piier.

11:30 – Get a bus back to Hanoi