This 8-day tour is a great combination of Hanoi the peaceful capital, Mai Chau valley, Pu Luong Nature Reserve, the beautiful countryside scenery of Ninh Binh and unforgettable scenery of Halong Bay. Taking this tour you will have an opportunity to explore the beautiful landscapes of mountains and paddy fields as well as learn about the way of tribal and countryside people lives in the north of Vietnam. The tour ends in Halong Bay for your relaxing moments in the sea breeze.
Overview
DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL ( G/ P) 
DAY 2: HANOI ORIENTATION ( B, L, G )
DAY 3: HANOI / MAI CHAU / PU LUONG (B, L, G)
DAY 4: PU LUONG / NINH BINH (B, L, G)
DAY 5: NINH BINH (B, L, G)
DAY 6: NINH BINH/ HALONG BAY/ DORA CRUISE (B, L, D, GP)
DAY 7: HALONG BAY/ HANOI (B, L, DP)
DAY 8: HANOI DEPARTURE (B, DP)
Itinerary
Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Note: Check in time is at 2PM and check out time is at 12PM.
You’ll have the whole day to explore Vietnam’s capital city.
You’ll have the whole day to explore Vietnam’s capital city. At 08.30, your guide will take you to visit a popular attraction the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century, followed by the tour of the Hanoi’s excellent Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam's 54 distinct ethnic groups.
You’ll have lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a visit to the Craft Link Gallery.
In the afternoon, you will visit the centre of Hanoi, including Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son temple and the bustling Old Quarter, is a magnet for visitors – it’s noisy and hectic, but definitely a ‘must-see’ attraction. The Old Quarter is a maze of shopping streets and restaurants with a hotchpotch of architecture - traditional tube houses, religious buildings, artisans’ workshops and cottages, colonial houses and modern concrete edifices. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.
We’ll arrange your programme to avoid the busy times at popular destinations, but if there’s anything you particularly want to see, let us know
At 8AM your guide will pick you up at your address in Hanoi and we’ll depart for Hoa Binh Province, which lies just 80km west of Hanoi.
On the way we’ll make a stop at a local market before continuing towards Mai Chau Valley and stopping in the village of Pom Coong for a bit of rest and lunch in a typical Thai house built on stilts.
After lunch, we’ll continue your drive to Pu Luong. You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.
You have the chance to get close to village life and interact with locals living in the hills above the resort. Glimpse at daily life, walk around working farmland and rice fields, and learn about making woven colorful textiles. Free time at your leisure in the lodge.
Overnight in Pu Luong
After breakfast, you will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes.
Get transferred back to the retreat for lunch.
After lunch we will transfer to Ninh Binh. Check in and have leisure time in the middle of the mountains.
Overnight in Ninh Binh.
After breakfast we depart to visit the Dinh and Le temples of the Ancient Capital Hoa Lu which are dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the founders of the ancient capital during the 10th century.
12h30: Have lunch in the restaurant with a wide range of local foods.
In the afternoon, you will visit Tràng An which was recognized by UNESCO as A World Heritage Site in 2014. Trang An has a wonderful tunnel cave system so Kong’s Movie Group chose this place for the New Version of Kong in 2016 – “Skull Island”. With 2.5 hours for the boat trip, you will be persuaded by the beauty here.
You will spend the 2nd night in Ninh Binh.
After breakfast in hotel, at 8.30AM you’ll leave for Ha Long Bay), one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape.
11:30 – 11:45: Arrive Tuan Chau Marina – Halong Bay.
12:00 – 12:30: Transferred by our transferring boat to Dora Cruise. Welcome to Cruise and enjoy
Welcome drink, meet the captain, crew to get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Check-in your cabin.
12:45 - 13:00: Enjoy Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch, while cruising in the magnificent Halong Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay.
Continue cruising through Con Vit islet (Duck Islet), Thumb islet and Gia Luan Harbor were belonged to Cat Ba area.
Discover lagoon natural area belonged to Lan Ha Bay. Drop anchor for swimming or just simply sunbathe on our cruise (private, wild and fresh air). Heading back toward the sleeping area.
Do kayaking and swimming at Ba Trai Dao Beach area or Tra Bau area (upon the sea wave and wind)
17.30: Come back to our Cruise and participate in our sunset party with fruit, cake and tea. Take photos and relax.
18:00 – 18:15: Join cooking class guided directly by Chef of cruise. You have chance to practice Vietnamese traditional dishes such as spring roll or famous cuisine of Vietnam.
19:00: Time for dinner.
21:00: Evening entertainments: play game on the cruise: cards game, chess, listen to music, squid fishing and overnight on the Cruise. Overnight on board.
06:30: Early morning sun risers can enjoy Tai Chi lesson with fresh air on the sundeck.
07:00 – 7:45: Morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast.
08:00: Mingling yourself in the stunning views of the Bay and its dramatic limestone islets as wesail through the calm emerald waters heading Dark & Bright Cave (Hang Sang & Hang Toi)
Take your option either exploring the cave yourself on kayak or comfortably on local bamboo boat rowed by the locals.
09:30: Come back to Dora Cruise and check-out from the private cabin and enjoy a fantastic cruise
on the bay.
10:00: Have last lunch at the cruise.
11:30 – 12:00: Cruise are landing near Tuan Chau Harbor and transfer guest to Tuan Chau, tourist
say goodbye to sailors and finish the cruise.
12:00: Start from Halong bay to Hanoi.
15:30 – 15:45: Arrive in your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Your time will be on your own until when your private car and driver arrives to take you to Noi Bai Airport for your departure flight.
Prestations incluses
Includes
- Accommodation in chosen hotels in double or twin sharing room
- Rowed sampan Trang An in Ninh Binh and overnight cruise in Halong Bay
- Travel in appropriate air-conditioned vehicles with an experienced safe drivers
- English speaking local guide(s)
- All entrance fee as mentioned in the programme
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- 2 bottles water per person per day on the bus/car
Excludes
- International flight tickets and airport tax.
- Bank transfer fee(s)
- Visas
- Meal not included
- Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
- Insurance.
- Surcharge for public holiday (28 April – 3 May, 1 Sep – 2 Sep)
FAQs
(1.1) FIT – An initial deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking.
(1.2) Leisure groups – An initial deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking.
(1.3) Incentive and MICE groups – An initial deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking.
(1.4) In some circumstances it may be necessary for us to request additional deposits due to the contracture requirements of our suppliers. SKY ASIA TRAVEL will advise you of the complete conditions attached to any deposits required at the time of confirmation.
(1.5) In the event of the non-payment of any requested deposit, we reserve the right to cancel the reservation.
(1.6) Note that if many extra services are booked after initial confirmation, Cashel Travel may require extra payments.
(1.7) Please note initial deposits (20%) are non-refundable
Following the receipt of the initial deposit, the client will be furnished with a confirmation of the tour details. The client shall immediately notify in writing if any errors are noted. SKY ASIA TRAVEL shall not be responsible for any errors not so notified.
+/ Full payment must be received 45 days prior to the tour/programme commencement date unless credit facilities agreed.
+/ In the event of the non-payment by due date we reserve the right to cancel the reservation, and in such event all deposits received shall be non-refundable.
+/ In the event of billing errors we reserve the right to re-invoice the correct amount.
+/ Amendments: In the event of cancellation of individual participants which results in changes in number of passengers within the group, SKY ASIA TRAVEL might apply a charge.
Travel insurance and medical precautions are essential. We do not give specific advice on these matters as we are expert in neither, and individual circumstances differ.
We advise you to tell us the name of the company and its contact details so that we can give notification on your behalf if you are unable to do so in the unlikely event of an accident occurring.
If you are intending to engage in any activity that could be considered ‘hazardous’ in any way, you should check your insurance carefully to make sure that you will be covered in the case of an accident.
You can send your request via the form below.
Package name: The beauty of northern Vietnam 8 days
