2 Weeks Ultimate Northern Vietnam Tour

Have breakfast at hotel.
Today, we will take the sightseeing of the most city's outstanding historical and cultural sites. The visit includes:

- The complex of Ho Chi Minh historical sites, also called the political center of Vietnam including Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's House on Stilt, One Pillar Pagoda.
- Visit Tran Quoc pagoda on the Westlake, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi.  
- The Temple of Literature for the brief understanding about the two most popular religions in Vietnam (Buddhism and Confucianism).
- Visit the Hanoi Train street
- Explore the Old Quarter with 36 streets bearing names such as Rice Street, Silk Street or Paper Street to reflect the businesses originally carried on there from the 15th century, Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple, an enchanting body of water right in the heart of Hanoi.
- Enjoy our welcome show of northern rural of Vietnam – Water Puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Notes: 
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Monday & Friday.

06:30 - 06:45: Pick up at hotel or at the meeting point in Hanoi city centre and then depart to Sapa, following Noi Bai - Lao Cai high-way.

Along the way, you will have chance to contemplate the beauty of northwest mountains that terraced fields are sparkling in sunlight or dim in thick fog. Have a short break for 30 minutes then continue the trip to Sapa.

12:30-13:00: Arrive to hotel in Sapa, meet our local guide and have lunch.

Afternoon: Start a 2km drive to Cat Cat village, the village of Black H’Mong hill tribe. The village is on the slope of the hill and easy walking, rice and corn are grown here. Cat Cat village possesses many imposing waterfalls and also is home to the water hydropower construction built under French rule. 
Return to the hotel by car. Stay overnight in hotel.

After breakfast, leave the hotel and take a short car ride to Y Linh Ho village where we start trekking down to Lao Chai village of Black H’mong ethnic people. Here we will discover their daily life and how they make traditional clothes, handicraft, indigo... We will visit the biggest valley which provides the best view for golden rice terrace fields in Vietnam. After Lao Chai, we walk to Ta Van village of Dzay people. It is a small group of ethnic people in Vietnam with a rich culture and beautiful houses located on rice paddy fields. 
Early afternoon- Pick you up from Ta Van village to hotel in Sapa town and have lunch. Return to hotel and rest of the day is free on your own to relax or explore the town, local markets in town on your own. Overnight in Sapa. 

After breakfast, our guide takes you to Fansipang Cable Car Station and spend 20 minutes with cable car to enjoy the spectacular scenery.
Reach the altitude of 2800 meters, you have a good time to see the view and take photos, visit pagoda the spiritual destinations and trek up to 600 steps you will reach the peak of Fansipan - the Roof of Indochina. (Spend about 1,5 hours for hiking and taking photos). Come back to Fansipan Cable Car Station and return to Sapa by car and have lunch at the restaurant.
14:00-14:15 - The shared Limousine van will pick you up at hotel in Sapa and return Hanoi
19:30-20:00 - Arrive in Hanoi city center. Drop off at your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Have breakfast at hotel. Today, you are free to unwind after few days touring and traveling. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, you will leave for Halong Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape. There you will board your boat, a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels with sails, a wide transom and rectangular superstructure, that will take you first to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Weather permitting, you will be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape, or venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood. Your overnight will be aboard.

Have breakfast at hotel.
Morning, board a small sampan to visit Tam Coc which means literally “three caves” (1.5 hour boat trip). With Halong bay type views of majestic limestone cliffs and mysterious caves, as well as countryside landscape like peaceful streams, rice paddies and deserted green fields, Tam Coc really has it all. You will feel the fresh air and peaceful moments, very good opportunities for photo lovers, freezing the special moments and scenery.
Then, visit Mua Cave and start an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long Mountain for watching the spectacular rice valley with specious view of the nature.

Afternoon, visit Glimmering Bai Dinh pagoda complexes, the largest pagoda, not only in Vietnam but also in Southeast of Asia. Scenically set on the foot hill of  Dinh Mountain surrounded by amazing views of the exquisite river valley  below and dotted and the limestone karsts dotted around which will take your breath away.
This pagoda complexes stunningly  boast a array of the most massive and magnificent architecture of Vietnamese tradition refined ever built that it take a full day to explore all. So you will visit some of the highlights that owned the national:

• 500 stone statues of “La Han” (Arhats)
• 2 huge bronze bells, one weighs 27 tons, other weighs 36 tones
• Three bronze statues of Tam The (50 tons each)

Late afternoon, return to the hotel. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Have breakfast at hotel.

Then, leave Ninh Binh for Pu Luong on a 3 hour drive. On arrival in Pu Luong, explore the enchanting countryside surrounding Cham Stream, where an exciting bamboo rafting experience awaits us. Guided by our skilled local expert, we’ll peacefully drift along the stream, taking in the breathtaking scenery of Pu Luong Nature Reserve. As we glide through lush forests, verdant rice fields, and traditional stilt houses, we’ll immerse ourselves in the natural splendor of the area.

Next on our itinerary is a visit to Chiềng Lâu Village. Here, we’ll witness traditional farming methods and observe the operational ancient waterwheels, crucial for irrigating the local rice paddies. These iconic waterwheels are not only a testament to Pu Luong’s rich agricultural heritage but also serve as a significant cultural and historical attraction. Watching the rhythmic motions of the waterwheels provides a fascinating glimpse into the local way of life.

Transfer to the accommodation in Puluong in the late afternoon to check in and relax and admire the magnificent mountain ranges. Overnight in Pu Luong.

A full day to explore Pu Luong. After breakfast, head for trekking to an adventure and ecotourism for the morning sightseeing in Pu Luong Nature Reserve to see the idyllic Vietnamese landscape and rural life. Pu Luong, with 1700 meter height, as the local people definition, meaning the peak of the village.
The next stopover on the second day is Ban Don village. The people here are still remaining traditional life so you will completely immerse into the peaceful as well as tranquil of the ambiance. Enjoy the cozy local lunch with bamboo shoots, chicken hill and colorful sticky rice in a local people’s house before moving to the next destination.

Your journey to Pu Luong will not be completed without visiting Kho Muong-a beautiful valley with the green color of the paddy fields, mountains and water wheels rotating day and night time. Explore the fascination of the small villages lying sparsely on the foot of the mountains. Visiting the houses of the local people to get an insight into the uniqueness of ethnic communities in the remote areas in Northwest Vietnam living in the traditional stilt-houses. The village is surrounded by the wild primary forests makes you feel like the mother is protecting her children.

Explore Doi Cave (Bat cave), this is the largest cave in Pu Luong, the spot is created by thousands of great blocks of limestone having existed for 250 million years. There are thousands of stalactites in peculiar shapes showing how magnificent nature is. Taking steps beside these cliffs and descending deep into the heart of the cave, travellers will be rewarded with a feeling of excitement by the beautiful stones and the sound of water dripping down from the ceiling. 

Roam on the narrow road among the rice fields of Ban Kit village to enjoy the fresh air and smell the scent of the idyllic countryside.
Go back to the accommodation at the end of the day. Overnight in Pu Luong.

After breakfast at hotel we will leave Pu Luong for Mai Chau with the car ride across lush rice paddies and above a valley for stunning views.
This region is home to White Thai, H'mong, Zao, Muong, Tay and Hoa ethnic minorities who live in charming stilt homes. On arrival in Mai Chau, you will explore the villages and its surrounds like Pom Coong village and Lác village, Nhót Village, and Nà Phòn Village, etc and explore how these minority peoples live. Overnight in Mai Chau.

After having breakfast, we will drive to Hang Kia, known as an ideal spot for tourists who love to explore about ethnic life. Passing villages of Muong and Dzao tribal groups, you will stop on the way to visit Pa Co and Xa Linh communes where H’Mong people stay and held their ethnic market every Sunday morning.
Arrive in Hang Kia, the home of Flower Hmong minority people, you will be overwhelmed with fanciful scenery of clouds floating along the hill and mountain.
Early afternoon, say goodbye to Mai Chau and drive back to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.