The highlights of the North and authentic encounters - 12 days

A day dedicated to exploring the city's most iconic landmarks:

Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first national university (established 1070). This serene complex honors Confucius and features well-preserved traditional architecture, courtyards, ponds, and gardens.

Ba Dinh District. This area includes Ba Dinh Square, the botanical garden, the Presidential Palace (formerly the Governor's Palace of Indochina), Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, and the One Pillar Pagoda, one of the city's oldest monuments (built 1049).

Tran Quoc Pagoda: Built in 1615 on the shore of the large West Lake.

Lunch with Hanoi specialties: Grilled pork and Egg Coffee.

Old Quarter of Hanoi, a bustling commercial center near Hoan Kiem Lake. This "open-air museum" is famous for its unique tube houses, narrow alleys, temples, and vibrant markets.

Lunch: Enjoy grilled pork with vermicelli and egg coffee.

Evening: You will take an overnight train between Hanoi and Lao Cai. The journey takes about 9 hours.

You will arrive at Lao Cai train station early in the morning. Shower and breakfast.

Departure for the visit to the weekly market of Coc Ly which takes place every Tuesday morning. This weekly market deeply presents the typical cultural traits of Ethnic Minorities living in remote regions, such as the different ethnic groups: Tay, Black Dzao, and notably the Flower Hmong.

Enjoy its striking atmosphere with so many goods, vegetables, poultry, horses, buffaloes... displayed there. Moreover, you will have a good opportunity to see boys and girls dressed in very colorful traditional costumes, who go to the market hoping to find their soulmate.

Transfer to Bao Yen, walk to the Tay village of Nghia Do.

You will participate in working to harvest cinnamon bark. You will spend the night in a Lodge located in the middle of the cinnamon forest.

8:00 AM: Transfer to Sapa via the scenic Muong Bo valley, known for its terraced rice fields. Enjoy a walk through charming villages, encountering the Red Dzao, Tay, and Xa Pho ethnic groups. Discover the Dzao people's traditional handmade papermaking craft (Seasonal).

Overnight stay in Sapa.

Walking in the Muong Hoa Valley. Visit to a Dzay family who makes incense cones. Stop at a traditional batik workshop to learn about Black H'Mong Batik Art techniques. You will also meet a village artisan working with beeswax technique for decorating traditional indigo clothes of the Hmong. These authentic encounters are an excellent opportunity to learn a bit about the daily life and culture of the Black Hmong Ethnic group.

Upon arrival at Y Linh Ho, transfer by car to Sapa.

2:00 PM: Departure in a collective Dcar Limousine to return to Hanoi. You will arrive in Hanoi around 8:00 PM.

8:00 AM: Transfer to Sun Pier. Boarding at noon. Transfer by small boat to reach the hotel boat.

12:45 PM: Welcome drink and brief presentation about safety instructions on board the boat and the itinerary.

1:30 PM: Lunch on board the boat as it sails towards Bai Tu Long Bay.

3:00 PM: The boat sails towards the Cong Do and Cap La region, with a kayaking activity through the karst rocks. Possibility to stop at a wild beach depending on the tide.

5:30 PM: Return to the boat and relax on the upper deck.

7:00 PM: Dinner on board the boat. Free evening for squid fishing.

Overnight on the Renea Cruise.

Enjoy breakfast before transferring to Tam Coc Pier. Embark on a serene 1.5-hour sampan ride along the Ngo Dong River, winding through mountains and rice fields. You'll pass through three caves, observing small hamlets, rice paddies, cemeteries, temples, and local fishermen.

After the sampan ride, disembark at Ben Thanh for a short countryside walk to the 13th-century Thai Vi Temple, dedicated to King Tran Thai Tong.

Next, bicycle through the Vietnamese countryside towards Bich Dong Pagoda, pedaling via Dam Khe Village. Make stops for photos of rice fields, water buffalo, and friendly locals, and pause at a cemetery to learn about Vietnamese customs.

At Bich Dong, a 15th-century pagoda, cross a stone bridge over a lotus-filled lake to Chua Ha. Climb over 100 steps to explore the stunning cave temples of Trung and Thuong pagodas, enjoying panoramic countryside views.

Overnight in Tam Coc.

After breakfast, take a walk along the small trails bordered by tropical vegetation and stilt houses with roofs covered in palm leaves. Explore the beautiful rice valley of Don, Ngon Leo. Immerse yourself in the calm nature and enjoy stunning rural scenery: terraced rice fields, ponds, stilt houses of the Thai Black people nestled at the foot of the mountain. Observe the daily life of the villagers and their agricultural activities. Take this opportunity to interact with the local people and take beautiful photos. Lunch in Pu Luong.

Afternoon: Head to Mai Chau.

Short transfer by local boat to reach the village of Ban En, a charming village of the Thai ethnic group located on the banks of the Ma River. Take a walk to visit the village.

Continue the journey to Mai Chau.

Evening: Enjoy a traditional Thai ethnic song and dance performance.

Dinner and Overnight at a homestay in Mai Chau.

You will participate in making Com Lam - sticky rice stuffed into a section of young bamboo under the instruction of a local resident. Then, take a walk or bike ride through the villages. Exchange activities with the locals.

Lunch. Afternoon: Back to Hanoi.

Free time at the hotel or at your own leisure then a car will pick you up to the airport. We wish you a safe flight ahead, and thank you for choosing GP Travel. We sincerely hope you've enjoyed your trip, and we eagerly look forward to serving you again soon!