Along the Red river

Hanoi - Hoa Binh - Moc Chau (L,D)

Pick you up at your hotel at 8:00 am and then drive to Moc Chau via Hoa Binh province and we go down to the dam of the Black River for a boat trip in the second Halong Bay on land in the enchanting and authentic landscapes. We are going to meet the Muong on the lakeside, they invite us to their home, houses on stilts, with all their hospitality, they will smoke the water pipe and tell us the customs of the people. 

Lunch on the way in Muong village outskirts of Hoa Binh city, and then we continue our journey to Moc Chau - the famous plateau in recent years by breeding the cows.

Direct transfer to the lovely village of Hua Tat, in the middle of plum and peach. Walk to the village for the discoveries of the ethnic H'mong families.

Dinner and overnight at H'mong's family.

Moc Chau - Mai Chau (B,L,D)

Breakfast at homestay, we walk around the village and drive to Mai Chau Valley.

(Optional: for the person who wants to trek, you can hike about 7 hours for 25km from the mountain to Mai Chau and the extra charge is 20$/ person).

Arrive in Mai Chau, a bike ride to the Van village through the central market of the town and the beautiful rice terraces.

Lunch at the homestay, then a short walk to the Ban Lac, Pom Coom villages, and free time at your leisure and your own discoveries in the beautiful valley of the Mountain in the Northwest.

Dinner and enjoy the evening with a traditional folk dance show of five ethnic groups and we have the opportunity to taste, after the show, local sake (fermented glutinous rice herbal roots).

Night among Thais in their house on stilts.

Mai Chau - Ninh Binh (B,L,D)

After breakfast at homestay, we say goodbye to the family and depart for Ninh Binh (which is called by the tourists: Halong bay on land). Stopover on the way for the rest and the photos.

Arrival in Ninh Binh, visit Thien Ha cave before having lunch at a local restaurant with the local specialties and then cruise a rowing sampan in Thung Nham for 1.5 hours which is still untouched by the mass tourists.

A bike ride to Thung Nang village in order to visit the Bich Dong Pagoda "Jade Pagoda" and then the Thai Vi Temple. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

Ninh Binh - Nam Dinh (B,L,D)

After breakfast, transfer to visit Hang Mua Mount, climbing the top gives you a panoramic view of the karst area from that you make the beautiful pictures on the limestone rocks and the rivers of Tam Coc.

Drive 1,5 hours to Nam Dinh, Nam Dinh is a province located in the Red River Delta, a cradle of crafts villages and tailors bonsais.

Visit a family in the village of Vi Khe - Xa Dien which cultivate the bonzais where you find all kinds of bonzais plants with all different forms and sizes alike: phoenix, dragon, unicorn, tortoise and the symbol of the Temple of Literature in bonsai style, etc... where they explain some basic steps to take care of a bonsai upon your wish.

Visit a Rural Museum which shows you all the models of house and the objects of rural life in the campagne of the North. Lunch at this museum with typical Vietnamese meals with local specialties.

Afternoon, the continuation of the road to the end of this region towards the sea to visit the salt marshes, to teach you how we take salt and small market with fresh fish on the beach.

Transfer to the Giao Xuan village where you take a short bike ride to the village to have a glimpse and make contact with the local people if you wish.

Evening: Enjoy the BBQ seafood dinner prepared by the family. Night at Homestay.

(If in the winter: Mattress + cover + mosquito net/ if in summer - on the mat + éventilateur mousitiquaire)

Nam Dinh - Thai Binh (B,L,D)

Having breakfast, visit a small local market and then transfer to Xuan Thuy National Park to visit the park, walk on the small dikes between the mangrove protected.

Boat ride in the areas cultivated of shellfish and oysters, participation of fishing the shellfish if you wish.

Stop in a hut in the middle of shellfish fields (calm as a paradise), nude bathing possibly (if you want :)). Having lunch in this hut with all the seafood locally.

Rest and then cruise back to the edge and continue the trip to Thai Binh. Visit on the way one of four the most beautiful Catholic churches in Vietnam: Phu Nhai is recognized as the Basilica.

Arrival at Thai Binh via a ferry of Sa Cao and then stop to visit a typical local market before going to the hotel. 

Dinner at local restaurant and then overnight at the hotel.

Thai Binh - Hai Phong - Cat Ba island (B,L,D)

In the morning, breakfast at the in a local restaurant (the "Pho" or local special noodles with fried fish) and then depart for Hai Phong, stop on way to visit a village that is may be Bao Vinh or Dien Diem where the tobacco is cultivated.

Arrive at Hai Phong, visit the Du Hang Pagoda, the Hang Kenh Communal House, Municipal Opera of the city and the flower market.

Lunch at local restaurant in the city and then transfer to Dinh Vu wharf to take the speedboat to Cat Ba Island - the largest island among the islands in Halong Bay.

Arrival on the island of Cat Ba, walk to the village of Hien Hoa to see people sinning shells and then rest and dinner at the local restaurant. Night at homestay.

Cat Ba - Ha Long (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the homestay, we cycle to the Cat Ba National Park with a stop visiting the school and culture of bees.

Climb to the top of Kim Giao in the park (about 2 hours/ round ways) and visit the park and then transfer to the pier of Gia Luan where you take the ferry to reach the port of Halong Bay.

Embark our cruise for discovering in the next 24 hours in Ha Long Bay, the natural wonder of the world. You follow the program in details of the cruise. Lunch with fresh seafood on board.

Visit the natural caves and take kayak or row sampan to the cave and swim in this beautiful bay if the time permits. Dinner and overnight on board.

Halong - Hanoi (B,L)

After breakfast, continue to visit the beautiful places in the bay before landing at 11:30 am.

Pick up by the driver and the guide at the pier and transfer to Hanoi. Stops on the way for visiting: the manufacture of ceramics, a school of training Handicraft.

Arrive at Hanoi around 16:00 and direct transfer to your hotel.