The Best North Vietnam Cultural Heritage Tour Itinerary

Duration icon Duration: 9 Days/ 8 Nights
Trip code icon Trip Code: ORG_HCO9
Map marker icon Best places to visit: Mu Cang ChaiDien Bien Mai ChauNinh BinhLan Ha Bay

Overview

The cultural heritage tour itinerary of Northern Vietnam offers a perfect combination of hiking and sightseeing, taking you to peaceful and attractive spots in the northern mountainous region. Amazing Mu Cang Chai terrace fields on hillside as picturesque at village La Pan Tan, Mam Xoi hill, etc to Mai Chau peaceful valley and Halong on land of Trang An grottos. It will not be a perfect trip if you don’t visit Lan Ha Bay less touristic at beautiful limestone and islands.

Highlights:

  • Admire the most spectacular mountain scapes in North Vietnam with wonderful of Khau Pha Pass
  • Experience the amazingly diverse minority people’s cultures and exotic customs as well as taste their local foods
  • Discover the most magnificent terraced rice fields in Tu Le, Nghia Lo and Mu Cang Chai  recognized as a unique National Cultural Heritage of Vietnam and Mai Chau
  • Enjoy the wonderful seascape of Lan Ha Bay and overnight on Era luxury cruise

Notes:

  • This itinerary is a private tour. It shows you what is possible to travel and visiting with our guide and driver
  • We CAN also tailor made this trip as your requirement and budget such as accommodation, its inclusions…

North Vietnam Cultural Heritage Tour Itinerary Map

North Vietnam Cultural Heritage Tour Itinerary Travel Map

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Hanoi - Duong Lam Village - Nghia Lo. Homestay Nghia Lo (L/D)

Day 1: Hanoi - Duong Lam Village - Nghia Lo. Homestay Nghia Lo (L/D)

Morning activities:

You will leave Hanoi Capital city at 8:00 am with our guide and driver and travel for about 2 hours to Duong Lam ancient village which has been under UNESCO protection since 2006. The ancient houses here date back 100-400 years. Around the village are temples and gardens where offers you the opportunity to discover ancient values from the past.

Then go ahead to Yen Bai to reach Nghia Lo. You will have chance to pass through beautiful mountain landscapes have lunch en route.

Afternoon & evening activities:

This afternoon you continue to drive to Nghia Lo with through the rural countryside, paddy fields. You also have chance to see tea plantations corn or maize dotted amongst the karst limestone outcrops. You will stay overnight with a delightful White Thai family in a traditional stilt house in Nghia Lo. Have dinner at the family and interact with friendly people. Homestay at stilt house.

Day 2: Nghia Lo - Tu Le - Mu Cang Chai. Homestay In Mu Cang Chai (B/L/D)

Day 2: Nghia Lo - Tu Le - Mu Cang Chai. Homestay In Mu Cang Chai (B/L/D)

Morning activities:

Wake up early and enjoy morning sound at mountainous area. Have breakfast at the family. This morning you will make a walking, trekking around paddy terrace fields in the peaceful village to take beautiful photos. This is also a chance you can see the villagers working in the fields surrounded by ducks, chickens, pigs and buffalos.

You will pass over the dramatic Khau Pha Mountain Pass to get the panorama of mountain view spectacularly. You have more chance to discover and admire beautiful of rice terrace fields in Tu Le. Have lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon & evening activities:

You continue to drive to Nam Co Village where you will see the flower H’mong ethnic minority in their colourful traditional costume. If your trip falls on the correct day, you will also be able to visit the fascinating local market.

More chance to discover the beauties at many villages and take photograph Che Cu Nha Rice Terrace Field of Hmong people. And then visit as well as take photograph at Che Xu Phinh, La Phan Tan – it was recognized the national landscape of Vietnam in 2007 where have famous and nicest terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai District and Mam Xoi terraced rice fields and take a short walk up the hill to a viewpoint to take in the incredible views.

Arrive in Mu Cang Chai, check in homestay. Have dinner at stilt house and O/N at stilt house in Mu Cang Chai.

Note: Trekking distance 5-7 km.

Day 3: Mu Cang Chai - Dien Bien Phu. O/n In Dien Bien (B/L/D)

Day 3: Mu Cang Chai - Dien Bien Phu. O/n In Dien Bien (B/L/D)

Morning activities:

Have breakfast at stilt house. Get up early and enjoy the mountain life and atmosphere at local family. Say goodbye everyone and travel ahead to Dien Bien Phu. Passing through mountain landscapes and spend more than 6 hours on road to reach Dien Bien. Have lunch en route

Afternoon & evening activities:

This afternoon you discover Dien Bien Phu for visiting old battle field between Vietnam and French. You will visit A1 hill, Dien Bien Phu French head quarter of General De Castries. Have dinner and O/N in Dien Bien Phu.

Day 4: Dien Bien Phu - Son La. O/n In Son La (B/L/D)

Day 4: Dien Bien Phu - Son La. O/n In Son La (B/L/D)

Morning activities:

Have breakfast at hotel. This morning you leave Dien Bien to Son La and spend around 4 hours on car to reach Son La. On the way you will stop to visit Muong Phang the head quarter of Vietnam during the war. Next you visit General Giap tunnels. Check in hotel on arrival and have lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon & evening activities:

You will continue to visit Son La Prison built by French since 1908 with hundreds of objects which show the difficult and hard life in the prison of prisoners. Visit To Hieu peach tree and learn more of Vietnam history. Have dinner at restaurant and O/N in Son La.

Day 5: Son La - Mai Chau. Homestay In Mai Chau (B/L/D)

Day 5: Son La - Mai Chau. Homestay In Mai Chau (B/L/D)

Morning activities:

Have breakfast at hotel. This moring your leave Son La at 8:00 am with our guide and driver to Mai Chau. It takes you about 5 hours on transport and pass through beauriful mountain scapes and peaceful villages of local people. You arrive in Mai Chau at noon. Have lunch at local food stall

Afternoon & evening activities:

You arrive in Van village inhabited by White Thai ethnic group. Check in the homestay and be warmly welcomed by our host. You will have some rest and enjoy the fresh air at the village. Then you enjoy a walk around the village to get more experience of local life. Here you can also learn how to weave silk with an old loom in the family courtyard as well as more daily life of local people activities such as land preparation with a buffalo, rice planting, harvesting corn or vegetables,etc. Have dinner at the family. Accommodate at stilt house of Thai minority village with basic condition and clean. O/N in Mai Chau

Day 6: Mai Chau - Ninh Binh. O/n In Ninh Binh

Day 6: Mai Chau -  Ninh Binh. O/n In Ninh Binh

Morning activities:

Have breakfast with the family. This early morning you can wake up early to hear the sound of mountain life and fresh air to enjoy as your own way.

Then you visit Na Meo and Na Mo villages, typical traditional Vietnamese village, to learn about their culture and custom as well as the beauties in Mai Chau.

You return the mountain village for have lunch and check out.

Afternoon activities:

This afternoon you leave Mai Chau for Ninh Binh. You spend about 4 hours to reach Ninh Binh and have more chance to pass through beautiful mountain scapes.

Reach Ninh Binh, check in hotel. Free to have your own dinner.

Evening activities:

Evening is your free time to experience around Ninh Binh peaceful life and get more enjoyment of its beauties. O/N at hotel in Ninh Binh

Day 7: Visit Trang An Grottoes - Van Long Nature Reserve. O/n In Ninh Binh (B/L)

Day 7: Visit Trang An Grottoes - Van Long Nature Reserve. O/n In Ninh Binh (B/L)

Morning activities:

After breakfast at hotel, At 8.00 am our guide and driver welcome you at Hotel and transfer you to discover Ninh Binh Province. At first you will make a boat trip to rowing around and discover the spectacular scenery of the wetland Van Long Nature Reserve – the largest and beautiful natural area and enjoy rice paddies and limestone mountain peaks. If you are enough lucky you can see bird, langur on cliff mountain. Have lunch at restaurant.

Afternoon & evening activities:

This afternoon you continue to visit Trang An Grottoes – the famous attraction in Ninh Binh that is in the list to get World Heritage Site from UNESCO. Take a boat trip to visit one of the most beautiful cave in the complex of Trang An Grottoes with the amazing scenery.

More free in the evening to get your own the peaceful life in this province and O/N in Ninh Binh.

Special remark: You can alternative Van Long Natural Reserve by Mua Cave climb nearly 500 steps to reach summit of Ngoa Long Mountain and get the view of Tam Coc cave and Ngo Dong River as pictureque from here.

Day 8: Ninh Binh - Hai Phong - Lan Ha Bay. O/n On Venus Cruise (B/L/D)

Day 8: Ninh Binh - Hai Phong - Lan Ha Bay. O/n On Venus Cruise (B/L/D)

Morning activities:

Travel out Ninh Binh province to reach Hai Phong. It takes you around 3 hours to reach Hai Phong city. Arrive in the wharf at noon time and make the way to get on board luxurious Venus Cruise.

Afternoon activities:

Welcome aboard and greeted with a complimentary drink. Our Crew will conduct a compulsory safety procedures session and then you are free to check into your cabin and freshen up. Take some time to have a look around the vessel or watch the magical landscape go by.

Next you have a special lunch of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favorites on board. The cruise set sails to Lan Ha Bay and pass through Da Chong where you can see a lighthouse built by the French over 100 years ago.

After that when the cruise entries through Cua Van area to Lan Ha Bay (as part of Halong Bay), this area is surrounding of a lot extraordinary limestone karst landscapes. Here you start the journey to explore Ba Trai Dao beach, kayaking to immersed in the crystal clear waters of the bay and/or enjoy swimming.

You return the main boat at 17:00 pm, and cruising to a place for staying overnight

Happy hour with special drink menu (Buy one get another one for free)

Evening activities:

Join cooking demonstration is a great way to learn how to prepare Vietnamese delicious cuisines. Enjoy special Signature Dinner in restaurant on board.

The rest is your free time to relax with an exotic cocktail or whatever takes your fancy. The bar has a wide range or wines, beers and liquors for choice to enjoy the bay in the evening.

You can order a Spa service or take any activities on boat cruise such as watching documentary movies, squid fishing or simply relax on sundeck under the cover of a star filled sky. O/N on board.

Day 9: Dark & Bright Cave - Halong Bay - Hai Phong - Hanoi (B/L)

Day 9: Dark & Bright Cave - Halong Bay - Hai Phong - Hanoi (B/L)

Morning activities:

Enjoy a sunrise on Lan Ha Bay. Have a Tai Chi lesson on the top deck. Have a morning cup of tea, coffee or juice on board for morning and watch the never ending miraculous scenery unfold before you.

Light breakfast will be served in our restaurant (pastries, tea, coffee)

Then you will visit Dark & Bright cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage. Back to our main board afterwards.

Check out of your cabin as we draw closer to the mainland. After a final early brunch and a last goodbye from our crew at 11:30. Get on the tender and head back to the wharf at noon time

Afternoon activities:

Our driver welcomes you at the wharf and transfers you return Hanoi city. Drop off you at Hanoi Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake. Say goodbye you after a wonderful journey to discover beauties of northern Vietnam!

Inclusions

  • PRIVATE door to door transport (new vehicle) with air-conditioned
  • Experience English speaking guide
  • Free visa letter to Vietnam if yes except for difficult countries will have extra charge
  • Great hotel selection in Son La, Dien Bien and Ninh Binh
  • Entrance fees, permission
  • Meals as mentioned in the program (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
  • Homestay in Mu Cang Chai, Nghia Lo, Mai Chau with breakfast
  • Lan Ha Bay Cruise trip 2days/1night on Venus Cruise (Accommodation, kayak, entrance fee, cruise, meals on board…)
  • Mineral water daily 2 bottle 500ml/per day
  • Local boat in Trang An & Van Long
  • Bicycle around village in Mai Chau
  • 24/7 hotline support guaranteed
  • Bank fees if payment by credit card
  • Gov tax and service charge
  • No extra charge after final confirmation

Exclusions

  • International Air Fare in & out Vietnam if any
  • Domestic Air Fare if any
  • Hotel in Hanoi
  • Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle
  • Other than mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, soft & hard drinks
  • Meals not mentioned in the program
  • Tips are welcomed!
  • Travel Insurance

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