Northern Vietnam Adventure

After breakfast, you will drive an hour and 20 minutes to Duong Lam Ancient Village, one of the oldest settlements in the country. This charming historic area is filled with 300-year-old homes, and it is the native land of two Vietnamese kings whose memorials are also here. Check into Moon Garden, a lovely homestay which is good example of a traditional Vietnamese house. This scenic spot has a worship place of a clan which turns into a stunning restaurant for the property. Get a chance to do some hands on cooking experience and enjoy some foot massage at the house. In the afternoon, your family will enjoy a bike ride through the village with stops along the way to visit Mia pagoda, Mong Phu temple and the tomb of King Ngo Quyen, who established Ngo Dynasty. Our tour also includes a visit to a century old house of Mr Huyen, a villager and a writer, who will explain the traditional architecture, and share his family history and stories of life in the village. Tonight, enjoy the peaceful stay at Moon Garden amongst the lush green garden. Overnight in Duong Lam.

This morning, depart from Moon garden for about 2,5 hour’s drive to Mai Chau – an idyllic valley home to many hill tribes including Muong and Thai. It is the time to stretch the legs at the edge of Ba Khan Lake, a lovely place which is also known as “Halong on the Mountain”, complete with the scenic karst lime stones. Upon arrival at Suoi Lon village, check in to the Maichau hideaway resort to admire the exceptional panorama view to Black river (Da river). After lunch in a beautiful traditional home of the White Thai which was built on stilt, take a boat trip on Da River to see awe-inspiring landscape of Vietnam; you may also want to stop to visit a floating fish farm. In late afternoon, enjoy the facilities of the resort. Kids may also want spend time lounging at the pool and the adults can have some cool drinks at the bar.

After breakfast, enjoy a quick drive to Kha village where our local guide will take your family on a trekking tour through some lush green forest to Te Village. Enjoy the stunning landscape and with your guide’s help, get a chance to meet local people. Visit their traditional homes, interact with them and discover their culture and ways of life. After about 2,5 hours trek, your family will reach to the rendezvous where our driver will take your family to a local Thai’s house for lunch. Afterward, do another walk to explore the beauty of the countryside with lush green bamboo forests and charming villages of the White Thai minority people or our guide and driver will escort your family to Mai Chau Ecolodge, set among the peaceful valley of Mai Chau. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast, enjoy your bike ride to explore the quiet Mai Chau valley, set amongst the astounding natural landscape and idyllic villages. Though the White Thai Villages near Mai Chau lack the colorfully costumed inhabitants of Sapa, this valley’s bucolic charms, still-house architecture all make for an enriching ethnic minority experience. Beautiful scennery and idyllic villages make this area well worth a visit. Your exploration includes peaceful ethnic villages such as Na Phon, Nathia, Pom Coong, Lac and Chieng Chau. In late afternoon, your family may want to check some spa packages at the lodge. For evening enjoyment, you may choose to take part in a traditional dance show with Ruou Can (a local wine), Overnight in Mai Chau.

Today, our driver will take you for a scenic drive (about 1,5 hours) to Pu Luong Narural Reserve area. Upon arrival at the Lodge, check in to your room for a quick rest. Afterward, our tour guide will escort you to some nearby villages to visit local houses and rice paddies fields of the minorities and tribes. Trek the following smalll roads through the rice terraces and cross the stream to visit remote rural villages of Black Thai Minorities to learn about the daily life and customs of the local people in Pu Luong. Explore Doi Cave (Bat cave), the largest cave in Pu Luong. Overnight in Pu Luong

This morning, we leave the Pu Luong for about 3,5 hours drives south east to Ninh Binh, a province of astounding natural beauty with limestone peaks whose splendor is often said to surpass that of Halong Bay. Take a short drive to Trang An, board a sampan boat and start our journey for about 03-hour cruising along stream through some main grottos with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites (from 70 to 320 meters in length). Rowing from long dark-inside cave to green picturesque cannels, you are closest to nature. The complex Trang An grottoes is a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna, many of them in the Red Book of Vietnam. Some of the caves are Toi (Dark) Cave, a 315-meter deep and dark cave, Sang (Light) Cave, a 112 meters deep lighter cave. There is also a 260-meter Nau Ruou (wine brewing) Cave, which, according to legend, has water that makes a delicious wine. Ba Giot (Three Drop) Cave, according to legend, grants a wish to those who catch three drops of water. While rowing through Trang An grotto in the quiet, fresh air of the highlands, with only the sound of birds and the oars stirring the clear water and surrounded by magnificent forested mountains upon which graze white goats, visitors enjoy a heaven on earth. After the cruise, you will be transferred to your lodge in Tam Coc. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

This morning, your family will take a short drive along the rice paddies to see Hoa Lu ancient capital. Visit the two remaining temples which is dedicated to the two Vietnamese Kings. The first Temple is the worship place of Dinh Tien Hoang (also known as Dinh Bo Linh), the founder of the Dinh Dynasty. The second one is commemorates the rulers of the Le Dynasty. Stop for lunch at a nice local restaurant. Afterwards, take a leisurely bike ride through some peaceful villages in Thung Nang & Thung Nham area. This is a very beautiful spot with tranquil villages under stunning karst limestone formation. You may also want to make a visit to Bich Dong Pagoda then keep riding to Hang Mua (Mua Cave) for some hiking up to the limestone peak where you can have stunning view over the rice paddies and river in Tam Coc. Tonight, you may want to try some grilled duck or goat meat at a local restaurant in Tam Coc which is the delicacy in this area. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

If you wish to begin your day active, join the early morning Tai Chi class on the sun deck and merge with the surrounding scenery - a truly unique experience. Breakfast is served as our cruise sails towards the port. Enjoy your buffet lunch on board before disembarking. 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. Enjoy water puppet show performed by local artists. Arrive in Hanoi. Check into your hotel in Hanoi. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, we depart from hotel for a tour around Hanoi on a vintage jeep. Visit the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument lavishly built using marble and granite, and where the preserved body of "Uncle Ho" resides. The tour also includes the lovely house built on stilt over looking to the fish pond and orchard garden which was home to Ho Chi Minh. Next, we see the Temple of Literature, known as first National University of Vietnam. Afterwards, you will be driven around West lake area, also known as Ho Tay or Lake of Mist. West Lake covers a sizeable part of northwest Hanoi and offers an array of attractions. As well as escaping the busy streets of Hanoi, the lake provides an opportunity to watch fishermen at work, to see some very pretty temples- scattered around the shore – and to enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the abundance of Western–oriented restaurants. See the normal and colorful Vietnamese life filtering through all around them, from street side food joints to fishermen and temples. Back to the city enter to see the beauty of Hanoi colonial with French architectural landmarks. Visit the Opera house, the Metropole Hotel, the Vietnam History museum and Saint Joseph’s Cathedral. Back to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.