Destinations: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Pu Luong – Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay – Hanoi.

Duration: 7 Days

Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll drive to Mai Chau, passing through mountainous landscape on the way. You’ll have a stop en – route to have a soft break and photograph. Upon arrive in Mai Chau around noon, you’ll enjoy lunch. You’ll then spend your afternoon to cycle to authentic villages as Tong Dau, Na Tang, Cha Long where rarely visited by tourists. You’ll be driven to your lodge for overnight. You’ll spend overnight in Mai Chau.

Day 2: Hanoi – Mau Chau – Hiking to Mai Ha, Te, Khoe Village (B, L, G)

After breakfast, your hike starts with a walk through Kha local village and along the dirt trail through forest with tropical trees which covers Pu Poc sacred mountain of Thai ethnic minority in Mai Chau. The spectacular scenery gradually appears before you. You continue to visit Te – a small charming village is beside the forest and rarely visited by tourists. The local lunch will be served at local home stay.

After your lunch, the walk between the Thai ethnic minority villages Pu and Khoe follows the concrete trail. You can meet the local child at their house’s yard and enjoy peaceful scenery of mountain and paddy terraces.

From Khoe village, you will take a transfer back to your lodge for overnight. You’ll spend overnight in Mai Chau.

Day 3: Mai Chau – Pu Luong Nature Reserve – Hiking to Kho Muong to Don Village (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll take a short car ride in about 1 hour before we set off for our hiking through the beauty of Pu Luong nature reserve, the trek is intermediate level and requires some walking up hills but it’s worth your hike as we will see many spectacular views of villages and terraces.

You’ll hike through the minority Kho Muong to Don villages passing through Lan and Uoi Village to see many spectacular views of villages and terraces. You’ll get through dense forest and tracking along stream to reach Lan village, you will catch plenty of rural beautiful scenery of local life, people doing farm-work. You’ll have an overview of Uoi village from the road on the top side. In the late afternoon, you’ll get to our lodge in Pu Luong for overnight accommodation. You’ll stay in your own private bungalow with mountain view.

Day 4: Hidden trails of Pu Luong – Ninh Binh (B, L, G)

You’ll wake up early to witness more local activities in the morning. After having breakfast, you’ll say good-bye to our host for your good hike ahead. You’ll start your hiking through hidden gems of Pu Luong including beautiful view of valleys, nice terraces and peaceful villages.

Lunch will be prepared by a local family then you’ll continue your trek through more villages to reach to Hieu village in the afternoon before driving to Ninh Binh. You’ll arrive at your hotel in Ninh Binh in the late afternoon. You’ll spend the night in Ninh Binh.

Day 5: Ninh Binh – Tam Coc – Mua Cave (B, L, G)

In the morning, you’ll be driven to the pier and relax on a local rowboat trip in Tam Coc (three caves), a peaceful valley among limestone ‘karst’ hills, There, you’ll be rowed along a gentle river between paddy fields and through the caves.

You’ll come to a host family to enjoy a special lunch prepared by the home chef with the local cuisine featuring the yin-yang balance of the Asian culture. In the afternoon, you’ll pick up your bike to ride along a scenic canal with walking around open rice fields and looking around at the amazing folds of the rock formations. You’ll have a chance to learn about Vietnamese agriculture and cycle through different villages and a unique area known for its magnificient limestone peaks. Then you’ll visit Mua Cave, the most beautiful place to view in Ninh Binh, where can see the city far from the standing in front of Tam Coc in back and the limestone mountain along to the south of Vietnam. In the late afternoon, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in Ninh Binh for overnight. You’ll spend the night in Ninh Binh.

Day 6: Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay – Thien Canh Son Cave (L, D, G)

07.00: Pick up at your hotel in Ninh Binh by Limousine bus.

11:30: Arrive at Indochina Junk Office, take rest at the Waiting Lounge before transferring to Cruise.

11:50 – 12:15: Go to the port by Electric Car.

12:30 – 13:00: Welcome to Dragon Legend Cruise. Cruise begins with a welcome drink and safety briefing.

13:15: Have lunch while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admire the fascinating formations on the way.

14:30: Explore the well- hidden Thien Canh Son Cave.

15:00: Enjoy relaxing on a white sandy beach at Hon Co Island or kayaking to explore the limestones in the bay.

16:35: Back to junk for refreshing and watch the sunset on board.

17:15: Join a Vietnamese cuisine cooking demonstration. (Banh Xeo).

19:00: Take a rest and enjoy dinner in a peaceful and romantic atmosphere on the bay.

20:00: Leisure time, guests can experience squid fishing, and have a good night on Dragon Legend Cruise.

Day 7: Vung Vieng Fishing Village – Ha Long – Hanoi (B, L, G)

06:00: Start a new day with a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck.

07:00 – 07:15: Breakfast is served on the cruise.

07:45: Visit Vung Vieng fishing village by a rustic rowboat, meet the local people and pass through the floating school and fish farms.

08:45: Return to the cruise for relaxation and leisure.

09:45 – 10:00:Check out and enjoy some free time to relax, capture memorable photos as the cruise passes through a stunning limestone island area.

10:15: Enjoy a buffet while the cruise continues its journey on the bay.

11:30 – 12:00: The cruise returns to the International Port of Ha Long. Drive to Yen Duc village in Dong Trieu province for a short break in this typical Vietnamese agricultural village which is rich in culture and traditions.

13:00 – 13:45: Enjoy a water puppet show performed by local artists.

16:00: Arrive in Hanoi. Trip ends.

What’s included:

Breakfast and accommodation sharing double/twin room.
Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above.
Boat cruises as specified in the programme. All Ha Long Bay boats will be fully licensed and comply with current safety regulations.
Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced safe driver.
The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary.
Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
Joining limousine bus: Ninh Binh – Ha Long.
Joining luxury van: Ha Long – Hanoi.
Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available, and full board on the boat in Ha Long Bay.