The 8-day tour includes easy outdoor activities that can be suitable for children, parents, senior people - walking, hiking, river boat trip, countryside cycle, boat cruise, sea kayaking. Highlights of the tour are day tour in Hanoi, boat cruise in Tam Coc, hike in Mai Chau, visit Cao Son market, trek in Sapa, boat cruise Halong bay, cyclo ride in Hanoi. The tour is highly recommended to small group family holidays, couples and those seeking a real life experience.
Day 1: Hanoi – Tam Coc, Ninhbinh.
Depart for Ninh Binh.
Visit the two remaining sanctuaries of the ancient citadel of Dinh & Le in Hoa Lu.
Travel to Tam Coc where we will have lunch before taking a 2-hour boat trip along the Boi river. The river trip in Thung Nang is wonderful for photo hunters, especially when local people come to harvest the water rice planted along the river, or when they transplant some seedling for the next crops.
After the boat trip, enjoy a half hour easy cycle around Tam Coc before checking-in hotel for overnight.
Day 2: Tam Coc – Mai Chau.
Transfer to Kenh Ga – “The Chicken Canal” for another boat trip along the Hoang Long river to experience the real life of a Vietnamese catholic community. Set on the banks of the Hoang Long River, Kenh Ga is a remarkable place, not only because it is surrounded by the same massive rocks that dominate Hoa Lu, but also because for most of the year the entire community lives on the water itself. The floating village of Kenh Ga receives relatively few visitors compared to nearby Hoa Lu and the peoples' aquatic way of life has changed little over the centuries.
After the boat trip, continue our journey to Mai Chau valley where we stop for overnight.
In the evening, assist to the traditional music and dance show which is performed by the Thai young girls and boys who all come from the village. Try also some rice alcohol which is made of traditional plants and local sticky rice.
Overnight in a stilt-house.
Day 3: Maichau – Hanoi. Overnight train to Laocai.
Breakfast will be provided in a Thai stilt house. Then we leave the village for a half day walking around. We will pass many different Thai hamlets, through rice fields, hill sides…We will stop by some local houses to talk with local people to understand their customs and culture.
After lunch, we will take our journey back to Hanoi.
Enjoy one-hour body massage in one of the most luxury spa salon in town before take the overnight train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on board train.
Day 4: Arrive Lao Cai. Travel to Cao Son. Visit Cao son market. Trek Cao Son villages.
Arrive in Lao Cai Railway station early this morning. You will be welcome by Lotussia local guide, driver then transferred to a local restaurant in Lao Cai city for breakfast and short rest before proceeding to Cao Son region. Stop en route for photos.
You will join the Cao Son trekking stream of people from Lung Khau Nhin and some nearby villages heading to Cao Son. Free to discover the market with our tour guide. Heading for the lunch in Cao Son Ecolodge. In the afternoon, visit the primitive forest in La Pan Tan commune. Back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Travel to Sapa. Hiking Sapa villages.
After breakfast, transfer to Sapa. We will arrive in Sapa around noon. Check-in hotel and have your lunch in a local restaurant in town.
In the afternoon, there will be a walking tour to a H’mong hill tribe village of Ma Tra (or Cat Cat). As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area.
Overnight in Sapa.
Day 6: Continue trekking Sapa. Travel to Lao Cai. Overnight train back to Hanoi.
After breakfast, we will travel by car downhill to Mong Sen where we start a dirt trail through rice fields and villages. Enjoy spectacular view along the way.
Your picnic lunch will be provided on spot.
After lunch, we continue our trek downhill towards Taphin village inhabited by Red Dao and Black Hmong minorities. These are two largest ethnic groups living in Sapa area. Stop by some house to meet local people and talk with them to understand their culture, customs and traditions. Late afternoon, we will trek back to to main road to get on our vehicle for the journey to Laocai railways station.
Day use will be provided in a standard hotel before taking the overnight train back to Hanoi.
Overnight on board train.
Day 7: Arrive Hanoi. Travel to Halong bay. Boat junk cruise with kayaking tour.
Arrive in Hanoi early this morning, transfer to the Morning Flower Market for a short visit before departing to Halong Bay.
Breakfast will be provided in a local restaurant en route.
Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and board the Bai Tho traditional sailing junk (or similar junk). Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung Cave. Enjoy a swim in the emerald waters of Halong Bay at any spot that you wish to visit or take a kayaking trip to explore the Bay (optional). Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner.
Overnight on board junk.
Day 8: Halong bay – Hanoi.
Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. Disembark at the dock at Halong City at 11:00 and travel back to Hanoi.
Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.
Day 1: Hanoi – Tam Coc, Ninhbinh.
Depart for Ninh Binh.
Visit the two remaining sanctuaries of the ancient citadel of Dinh & Le in Hoa Lu.
Travel to Tam Coc where we will have lunch before taking a 2-hour boat trip along the Boi river. The river trip in Thung Nang is wonderful for photo hunters, especially when local people come to harvest the water rice planted along the river, or when they transplant some seedling for the next crops.
After the boat trip, enjoy a half hour easy cycle around Tam Coc before checking-in hotel for overnight.
Day 2: Tam Coc – Mai Chau.
Transfer to Kenh Ga – “The Chicken Canal” for another boat trip along the Hoang Long river to experience the real life of a Vietnamese catholic community. Set on the banks of the Hoang Long River, Kenh Ga is a remarkable place, not only because it is surrounded by the same massive rocks that dominate Hoa Lu, but also because for most of the year the entire community lives on the water itself. The floating village of Kenh Ga receives relatively few visitors compared to nearby Hoa Lu and the peoples' aquatic way of life has changed little over the centuries.
After the boat trip, continue our journey to Mai Chau valley where we stop for overnight.
In the evening, assist to the traditional music and dance show which is performed by the Thai young girls and boys who all come from the village. Try also some rice alcohol which is made of traditional plants and local sticky rice.
Overnight in a stilt-house.
Day 3: Maichau – Hanoi. Overnight train to Laocai.
Breakfast will be provided in a Thai stilt house. Then we leave the village for a half day walking around. We will pass many different Thai hamlets, through rice fields, hill sides…We will stop by some local houses to talk with local people to understand their customs and culture.
After lunch, we will take our journey back to Hanoi.
Enjoy one-hour body massage in one of the most luxury spa salon in town before take the overnight train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on board train.
Day 4: Arrive Lao Cai. Travel to Cao Son. Visit Cao son market. Trek Cao Son villages.
Arrive in Lao Cai Railway station early this morning. You will be welcome by Lotussia local guide, driver then transferred to a local restaurant in Lao Cai city for breakfast and short rest before proceeding to Cao Son region. Stop en route for photos.
You will join the Cao Son trekking stream of people from Lung Khau Nhin and some nearby villages heading to Cao Son. Free to discover the market with our tour guide. Heading for the lunch in Cao Son Ecolodge. In the afternoon, visit the primitive forest in La Pan Tan commune. Back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Travel to Sapa. Hiking Sapa villages.
After breakfast, transfer to Sapa. We will arrive in Sapa around noon. Check-in hotel and have your lunch in a local restaurant in town.
In the afternoon, there will be a walking tour to a H’mong hill tribe village of Ma Tra (or Cat Cat). As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area.
Overnight in Sapa.
Day 6: Continue trekking Sapa. Travel to Lao Cai. Overnight train back to Hanoi.
After breakfast, we will travel by car downhill to Mong Sen where we start a dirt trail through rice fields and villages. Enjoy spectacular view along the way.
Your picnic lunch will be provided on spot.
After lunch, we continue our trek downhill towards Taphin village inhabited by Red Dao and Black Hmong minorities. These are two largest ethnic groups living in Sapa area. Stop by some house to meet local people and talk with them to understand their culture, customs and traditions. Late afternoon, we will trek back to to main road to get on our vehicle for the journey to Laocai railways station.
Day use will be provided in a standard hotel before taking the overnight train back to Hanoi.
Overnight on board train.
Day 7: Arrive Hanoi. Travel to Halong bay. Boat junk cruise with kayaking tour.
Arrive in Hanoi early this morning, transfer to the Morning Flower Market for a short visit before departing to Halong Bay.
Breakfast will be provided in a local restaurant en route.
Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and board the Bai Tho traditional sailing junk (or similar junk). Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung Cave. Enjoy a swim in the emerald waters of Halong Bay at any spot that you wish to visit or take a kayaking trip to explore the Bay (optional). Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner.
Overnight on board junk.
Day 8: Halong bay – Hanoi.
Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. Disembark at the dock at Halong City at 11:00 and travel back to Hanoi.
Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.
