Northwest & Northeast Discovery Tour – 15 Days

Tour Highlights

• Engage with ethnic communities, from H’mong to Dao, in local markets and villages.
• Witness the beauty of Halong Bay, Sapa’s terraced fields, and the stunning Ha Giang region.
• Discover lesser-known gems like Dong Van plateau and the ancient Duong Lam village.
• Participate in cooking classes, Tai-chi sessions, biking tours, and unique Hand Spa experiences.
• Enjoy traditional meals, learn local cooking, and savor Vietnamese flavors throughout the journey.

General Information

Tour Route: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Lang Son – Cao Bang – Ha Giang – Bac Ha – Sapa – Mu Cang Chai – Duong Lam – Hanoi
Duration: 15 Days/ 14 Nights
Departure Date: Any Time You Wish
Start/ End: Hanoi/ Hanoi

Brief itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L, D)
Day 3: Halong Bay – Lang Son (B, L, D)
Day 4: Lang Son – Cao Bang (B, L, D)
Day 5: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall (B, L, D)
Day 6: Cao Bang – Meo Vac – Dong Van (B, L, D)
Day 7: Dong Van – Ha Giang (B, L, D)
Day 8: Ha Giang – Bac Ha Town (B, L, D)
Day 9: Bac Ha – Sapa (B, L, D)
Day 10: Sapa (B, L, D)
Day 11: Sapa – Than Uyen – Mu Cang Chai (B, L, D)
Day 12: Mu Cang Chai – Nghia Lo (B, L, D)
Day 13: Nghia Lo – Duong Lam (B, L, D)
Day 14: Moon Garden Homestay – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 15: Hanoi – Departure (B, L)

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)

Welcome to our beautiful country, our local guide and driver will pick you up at Noi Bai Airport, then, we will transfer to the hotel for about one hour. There stands a savor dinner which will be served at a local restaurant. In the evening, you have leisure time to relax or even spend the time to explore the nightlife in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

After pickup from the hotel by our local guide and driver, get comfortable on an air-conditioned vehicle for a 1-hour ride to Halong Bay – the bay of Descending Dragon, situated in the Northeast of Vietnam. Next, you have a deluxe cruise to travel among islets of Bai Tu Long Bay.

After lunch, we continue the trip by a scenic drive to Thien Son Cave and enjoy time on the beach or swimming at Hon Co Island. Cong Do area is our next station, we have 1.5 hours for kayaking in the emerald water of the Bay or relax on the cruise. Get back to the main vessel in the late afternoon and join in a cooking demonstration with talented chefs to know more about Vietnamese cuisine. Dinner served with fresh seafood and a great view of Bai Tu Long scenery. Overnight on the cruise.

Day 3: Halong Bay – Lang Son (B, L, D)

Start your day with full of energy in Bai Tu Long Bay by Tai-chi session on the sundeck. Next, you have a soft breakfast before visiting Vung Vieng fishing village. The cruise will back to the harbor while having lunch. Back to the mainland and our car drives us to Lang Son province. Arriving in the late afternoon, after check-in the hotel, dinner, we spend the night in Lang Son.

Day 4: Lang Son – Cao Bang (B, L, D)

Start the day with a scenic drive to Cao Bang province while having breakfast. There have two destinations we cannot pass is the small village of Dong Mo and Tam Thanh – Nhi Thanh grottoes. After lunch in a local restaurant, we continue by RC4 to reach Cao Bang. In the middle of the journey, we have a chance to visit Dong Dang market, a special feature of Nung and Tay minority’s villages. Overnight in Cao Bang.

Day 5: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall (B, L, D)

Today, take in scenic views of Cao Bang as you travel to Cao Bang local market. The highlight of the day is Ban Gioc waterfall – the largest natural waterfall in Southeast Asia. On the way back, we have a short trek to visit Nung minority’s villages. In the late afternoon, we come back to the hotel and overnight in Cao Bang.

Day 6: Cao Bang – Meo Vac – Dong Van (B, L, D)

As the sun begins to set, we start an amazing day by coming to Dong Van. On the way, we will pass by a small town on the river Gam’s banks named Bao Lac. Then we continue to come to Dong Van, famous for Dong Van limestone plateau, recognized as a global geological park.

The winding road passing by the gigantic collar of Ma Pi Leng rated as one of four most gorgeous pass in the North, and it’s a challenge worth experiencing. Overnight in Dong Van.

Day 7: Dong Van – Ha Giang (B, L, D)

After breakfast, if this day is Sunday, you have a chance to visit Dong Van ethnic market, it must be a memorable thing in your trip. Another option for you this morning is walking through some of the most impressive limestone forests around Dong Van. The route off the beaten track along the Chinese – Vietnamese border passes through stone hills, small ethnic villages of white H’mong, black H’mong.

In the afternoon, we move to Ha Giang center by go through Yen Minh and Quan Ba Pass, relish in the marvelous landscapes here. Drop off the hotel and overnight in Ha Giang.

Day 8: Ha Giang – Bac Ha Town (B, L, D)

Today we will finish our time in Ha Giang by traveling to Bac Ha. Passing by imposing landscapes, mountains and rolling hills of the North-East region. Winding roads snake along mountainsides, offering remarkable views of the verdant valley as far as the eyes can see. We arrive in Bac Ha at the end of the day, check-in the hotel there and take a rest for the journey of the next day. Overnight in Bac Ha.

Day 9: Bac Ha – Sapa (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the hotel, start a day of memorable highlights with a stop first in the colorful Bac Ha Market in the heart of Bac Ha Town in every Sunday. In the market, you can see a lot of ethnic groups as H’mong, Phu La, Black Dzao, Tay, and Nung group.

After lunch and rest time in a local restaurant, we drive downhill towards Lao Cai for about half an hour. Before reaching Lao Cai, we will stop to take a short walk to Trung Do village which was established by Tay people. You have time to visit traditional Tay House and try a cup of tea before taking a boat cruise upstream of the Chay River. The boat will finish at Bao Nhai bridge and we transfer to our vehicle and then move to Sapa with a lot of excitement. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 10: Sapa (B, L, D)

One full day to explore the majestic scenery of Sapa, start by the road that descends in the wake of the street Cau May and follows a small track, cross the most beautiful valley in Sapa called Muong Hoa river. We have an opportunity to visit the Black H’mong village in Lao Chai, revel in a wide range of multi-color rice terraces in Ta Van Giay.

We have lunch in a home with local people in the village. After that, we continue the trip to Giang Ta Chai village which belongs to the Red Dao ethnic minority community. After taking a nap to recharge energy, we start climbing uphill to the starting point to get back to Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 11: Sapa – Than Uyen – Mu Cang Chai (B, L, D)

You will savor a delicious breakfast at the hotel before the most stunning ride to the most attractive place in North Vietnam – Sapa. On the way, we get O Quy Ho pass – one of the four most marvelous passes in North of Vietnam. Although the road leads to Mu Cang Chai is quite long, it brings you many chances to catch plenty of amazing mountain ranges in the Northwest. You have enough time to take a rest for pictures and visiting the H’mong, the Thai, and the Muong people. Overnight in Mu Cang Chai.

Day 12: Mu Cang Chai – Nghia Lo (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we depart from Mu Cang Chai to Nghia Lo, exactly the most splendid road in Vietnam. On the way to the station, we have a short hike to the village of Kim Noi.
Continue toward Tu Le, we visit an H’mong village surrounded by the lush green rice fields. We will pass by Khau Pha pass, surrounded by peaks over 2,000 meters high and have a panoramic view down to a large rice terrace fields, then pass the H’mong village of Nga Ba Khin. Continuing about 7 km to immerse in the incredible landscapes in here while get reach the Black H’mong village in Pan Tan. Finally, we arrive in a homestay in Nghia Lo and overnight here.

Day 13: Nghia Lo – Duong Lam (B, L, D)

The highlight spot today is Duong Lam ancient village in the suburbs of Hanoi. Duong Lam village retains much old architecture from the past until now. On the way come to the village, we have time to visit a tea green plantation in Thu Cuc.

In the afternoon, we arrive at Moon Garden Homestay in Ky Son village and spend the rest of the day is free to discover the homestay and Ky Son village by yourself. Otherwise, you can have the chance to taste some of the local products such as sweet potato, peanuts, maize, cassava, depending on the season. In the evening, you have the chance to observe Buddha worship. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 14: Moon Garden Homestay – Hanoi (B, L)

Start a new day by joining in Yijinjing traditional exercises to refresh yourself before having breakfast. Then we will ride the bike along the ritual paths of Thang Thac village with the local guide to discover the Ngo Quyen tomb, Phung Hung temple, Duong Lam ancient village, and Mia pagoda. After that, we will take part in a cooking class taught by a local chef. After lunch and rest time, you will experience Hand Spa service to dip in a fragrant lime bowl and the traditional herbal hand massage. You are free for the rest of the day. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 15: Hanoi – Departure (B, L)

After having breakfast, we will be free until the driver arrives to pick you up at Noi Bai Airport for your departure flight. Tour ends.