Active Exploration of Northern Vietnam - 9 Days

Highlights

• See the top sights and Old Quarter of Hanoi with a full-day guided tour
• Discover the essence of daily life in rural Vietnam with a village hike in Mai Chau
• Float through limestone grottoes and see temples at Trang An in Ninh Binh
• Sleep on a traditional junk boat on Lan Ha Bay, waking up to the island landscape
• Trek through the jungle and see an old hospital cave in Cat Ba National Park

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi, Massage at Huong Sen

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam! You've landed in Hanoi, Vietnam's frenetic capital. On arrival, a private driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Drop your bags and refresh before venturing out to the lively streets. Wander tree-shaded avenues lined with a mix of centuries-old architecture, from ancient temples to French colonial buildings. While there are newer parts of Hanoi, most visitors are drawn to the charms of the Old Quarter, where you can stop for a Vietnamese coffee and watch roving local vendors go about their day.

In the Old Quarter you'll find plenty of fantastic street food, so stop for your first bahn mi sandwich, go shopping in the labyrinth of streets, and then take a calm walk around Hoan Kiem Lake. Later, shake off any jet lag with a relaxing massage. Your masseuse will ease out any kinks from your long journey here! Afterward, seek out one of Hanoi's famous dishes—cha ca, which is fish marinated in turmeric and cooked at your table with dill and scallions.

Day 2: Full-Day Hanoi Culture & Walking Tour

After breakfast, you'll spend the whole day discovering the best parts of Hanoi with a local guide. The morning begins at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of the revolutionary leader. This brutalist building looms over Ba Dinh Square. Contrast that with the Presidential Palace, a canary yellow 20th-century French colonial building, and then drop by the 11th-century Temple of Literature, which is dedicated to Confucius and was the first university in Vietnam. Students still flock here to burn incense and pray for academic success.

Next, you'll drive north to the Cau Giay district and the Vietnam Museum Of Ethnology, where you'll discover the 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam. Then, enter the Old Quarter for a guided walking tour, visiting local landmarks as you learn about the 2,000-year history of this district. While in the Old Quarter, you'll also stop to try some famous egg coffee, which turns your daily caffeine hit into a decadent dessert, and sample lesser-known street foods.

Day 3: Transfer to Mai Chau, Free Afternoon

Enjoy a steaming bowl of pho for breakfast, then pack your bags for the 3.5-hour transfer northwest to Mai Chau. Take in the rapidly changing scenery as the cityscape gives way to a variety of landscapes. After passing Hoa Binh, the van will enter the mountainous areas and homeland of the Muong minority and White Thai people. This rural area is filled with lush rice paddies and traditional stilt houses surrounded by mountains and forests. Here the locals live a traditional way of life, and the region is a calm breath of fresh air after the buzz of Hanoi.

Day 4: Full-Day Hiking Adventure in Mai Chau

Connect with the locals on today's full-day hike in Mai Chau. After breakfast, you'll set off with a local guide for Van Mai village. Along the five-hour hike you'll gain an intimate perspective on the essence of daily life in this rural Vietnamese region. The path takes you through many White Thai villages where you'll see locals going about their daily work, perhaps venturing into the forest to find wood or working in the rice paddies. Your local guide will be able to share insights and details into what life is like for these villagers who work the land and do traditional crafts.

While the total walking time is long, you'll stop several times to have tea and chat with the locals and take a break for a picnic lunch with a gorgeous panoramic view. Once you reach Van Mai village, a transfer will take you back to the lodge for the evening.

Day 5: Transfer to Ninh Binh, Trang An Grottoes Boat Ride

Early this morning a private transfer will take you three hours east toward Ninh Binh, one of the natural wonders of Vietnam and a place that is often called "Ha Long Bay on Land." Set on the Red River Delta, this lush area offers both natural beauty and rich historic sights. You'll head straight to Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for an extended boat ride across the natural reserve. Here you'll float through limestone grottoes and see spiritual sites like Dia Linh mountain among the dramatic karst scenery.

After the spectacular boat ride, stop for a traditional Vietnamese lunch and then make a short transfer to Hoa Lu. This site was Vietnam's capital in the 10th and 11th centuries and it features decorative temples built in honor of former emperors and queens. You'll have plenty of time to explore the historic ruins and temples before finally transferring to your accommodation for the evening.

Day 6: Transfer to Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay Overnight Junk Boat Tour

Finally, it's time to venture toward the coast. This morning a transfer will take you three hours east to Cat Ba Island, where you'll take a ferry across to the verdant island reserve and then board a traditional junk for a cruise on Lan Ha Bay. Here you'll float among thousands of spectacular limestone islands that make up this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lan Ha Bay is extremely similar—and just as beautiful—as the world-famous Ha Long Bay, but it's much quieter, with fewer boats and tourists. 

In the afternoon, swap into a kayak and explore secluded lagoons, caves, and small beaches with a paddle, and later visit a floating village. Back on the boat, enjoy a fresh seafood dinner and relax as the sunsets on a brilliant day on the water. Tonight you'll sleep aboard the junk, so make yourself comfortable in one of the cozy cabins.

Day 7: Trekking in Cat Ba Island National Park

Wake up at sunrise in the middle of Lan Ha Bay and watch the changing light dance across this special limestone landscape. Up on the deck you could stretch your body to the rhythm of the rising sun then enjoy a tasty breakfast on board. You'll explore more bays, islands, and beaches this morning before disembarking at Cat Ba Island around noon. 

This afternoon you'll meet a local hiking guide to explore Cat Ba National Park, which covers much of the large island. Here, you'll trek through the steamy jungle, visiting caves, grottoes, and other sites. One important place is Hospital Cave, a secret hospital and safe house used during the Vietnam War. After, trek for 40 minutes to the peak of Ngu Lam, where you'll be rewarded with views and your guide will point out different insects on the way. Finally, you'll transfer to Cat Ba Town for the evening.

Day 8: Transfer to Hanoi, Free Afternoon

Wake up on Cat Ba Island and enjoy breakfast at the hotel before your 3.5-hour transfer back to Hanoi. There's still plenty to see in the nation's capital, and you'll have the rest of your day to continue your explorations. In the afternoon, you could resume your exploration of the Old Quarter and its temples or visit several traditional villages within the city limits that are famous for their crafts. There's Bat Trang for ceramics and pottery, Dong Ho for woodblock printing, and Van Phuc for silk weaving.

If you time it right, you could also make a stop at the famous Hanoi Train Street to watch the train squeeze between buildings and cafés, then find a rooftop bar to catch the sunset. Later in the evening, join a street food tour to go even deeper into the city's food scene or see the ancient art of a water puppet show and connect with culture. 

Day 9: Depart Hanoi

It's time to say goodbye to northern Vietnam. This morning, after breakfast, a private transfer will be waiting in the lobby. If you have the time, rush out for one last bahn mi! You can always save the famous Vietnamese sandwich to enjoy for lunch. Your driver will take you to the airport in time for your departing flight onward or home. Safe travels!

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