Fifty shades of Vietnam - Tonkin & Annam combined tour

Hanoi Arrival - City Walks (D)

Arrive in Vietnam, welcome by your guide and driver at the international airport, then transfer and check-in at the hotel. Rooms are only available from 1:00 PM.

Depending on your arrival time, take a discovery walk through Hanoi's lively Old Quarter of 36 guilds, including Ta Hien, Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hang Bac, Ma May streets, and Dong Xuan market. The walk will lead you to the Paul Doumer Bridge (Long Bien in Vietnamese), a work gifted by Gustave Eiffel in 1890 during the French era.

Welcome dinner at a restaurant in town. Overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi, the millennial capital, lies at the heart of North Vietnam. The city's 64 lakes, numerous parks, and tree-lined avenues make it a very pleasant place to live. Hanoi is amazing with its architecture and surprises with its cultural sites and monuments. Bustling and lively, it is a pleasure to discover: the old quarter of 36 streets and guilds: Hang Bac (Silversmith) and Hang Gai (Silk)..., but it also offers other historical and cultural attractions: Tran Quoc Pagoda - the most famous in Hanoi - on the edge of West Lake. Behind Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (on the left) hides the One Pillar Pagoda, a symbol of Hanoi. Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) was the first University built in Vietnam, but it is now also a haven of peace in the city center.

Hanoi - Sightseeing - Thac Ba (B, L, D)

Morning, depart for visits and walks in Hanoi city with historical, cultural, and must-see sites: the Temple of Literature, visit the Museum of Ethnography.

Lunch at a local restaurant with Hanoi specialties.

In the afternoon, depart for Thac Ba Lake, an artificial lake, one of the three largest in Vietnam, created since the hydroelectric power plant was commissioned in 1970. With an area of about 23,400 ha and a length of 80 km, the artificial lake spares 1300 islands and islets (a kind of mini Halong Bay) and numerous caves.

Check-in at a homestay in Vu Linh village of the White Pants Dao people. Walk in the village, interact with villagers to discover their way of life.

Friendly dinner with the host family. Overnight at the homestay, in a stilt house of the White Pants Dao people.

Thac Ba / Walks - Bac Ha (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the homestay.

In the morning, take a cruise on Thac Ba lake through the islands to encounter small villages inhabited by Tay and Dao populations. More than 300 islands and islets of red earth, some covered with carpets of grass and bushes, and others with forests, emerge from these waters. Lunch at a local home and then say goodbye to the family.

En route, you'll ascend to Bac Ha, the 2nd highest district of Lao Cai, a province bordering China. Arrive in Bac Ha, take a walk in the Flower H'mong village of Ban Pho. Dinner and overnight in Bac Ha, at a homestay – Tay Ethnic group.

Bac Ha - Ethnic Market – Sapa (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the homestay. In the morning, visit the ethnic market - a multi-colored fair in Bac Ha (every Sunday morning) with the presence of ethnic groups: Tay, Flower H'Mong, Blue H'Mong, Nung, and Phu La. Drive to Sapa with stops for visits along the way: tea hill, border gate with China. Lunch at a local restaurant en route.

Arrive in Sapa, transfer to Lao Chai – Ta Van village for a beautiful walk to the house where you'll sleep. Dinner and overnight at a homestay - Zay ethnic group.

Sapa - Walks - Mu Cang Chai (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the homestay.

Take a beautiful walk to Giang Ta Chai village via the beautiful valley stretching along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, which promises to offer unique scenes for your camera: terraced rice fields appearing as sculptural masterpieces on earth, rudimentary house roofs on hilltops, trails winding from one village to another...

It's in this valley that you'll have one of the most pleasant and surprising hikes, crossing paths with members of many ethnic groups: H'Mong, Giay, Dao...!

Resume by vehicle to go to Sapa town where you'll have lunch at a local restaurant and then drive to Mu Cang Chai via Vietnam's highest and longest pass "O Quy Ho". Arrive in Mu Cang Chai, transfer to the hotel located on a hilltop for a magnificent view. Dinner and overnight stay in Mu Cang Chai.

Mu Cang Chai - Walks - Tu Le - Nghia Lo (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel. 

In the morning, you'll walk in the places where the most beautiful terraced rice fields are found. Visit the villages of La Pan Tan and Che Cu Nha before ascending the Khau Pha pass – one of the 4 highest passes in Vietnam.

Stops for visits and photo opportunities in unforgettable places in the Northwest region of Vietnam. Lunch at a local restaurant in Tu Le.

Continue the road to Nghia Lo and then transfer directly to Muong Lo village. Check-in at a homestay. Dinner and overnight at the homestay _ Thai Ethnic group.

Nghia Lo - Van Chan – Hanoi (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the homestay. In the morning, take a beautiful walk in Sa-Ren village and then drive towards Yen Bai via beautiful spots with magnificent tea hills.

Lunch en route and then arrive in Hanoi around 4:00 PM. Direct transfer to the hotel to rest or make personal discoveries. Dinner at a local restaurant and transfer to the station for the night train to Dong Hoi. Overnight on the train | in a 4-soft berth compartment | Local and tourist comfort.

Hanoi - Halong Bay (B, L, D)

Morning, after breakfast, depart for Halong Bay via the Red River delta with photo stops along the way.

Arrive in Halong around noon, board the junk for an unforgettable 24-hour cruise in Halong Bay, a World Heritage site, very well-known and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1994.

Lunch on board after embarkation, with bay seafood.

During the cruise, you'll see islands and islets of all shapes and sizes emerging from the emerald water and you'll visit natural caves in one of these islands as well as enjoy time for swimming at the beach or diving from the junk.

Dinner with seafood and overnight on board the junk in the bay. (The exact program is determined by the junk on the day, depending on the season and tides).

The legendary Halong Bay, which means "the descending dragon", is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This magical place, considered the "eighth wonder of the world", is a giant geological museum: on an area of about 1500 square kilometers, more than two thousand multiform karst islands, islets and reefs riddled with caves delight tourists. The three areas of Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long, and Lan Ha (the latter being part of Cat Ba) constitute what is called the "Maritime Ha Long Bay".

Halong Bay - Hanoi, train to Dong Hoi (B, L, D) night train

Early morning, tai chi practice for those who wish on the upper deck, then light breakfast with bread and croissants, followed by the continuation of the cruise to other bays to admire beautiful landscapes of Halong Bay.

Around 9:30 AM, check out of cabins and then relaxation time on the upper deck of the junk to contemplate the islands and islets before having an early brunch around 11:00 AM.

Disembarkation at the same pier and return to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi, direct transfer to the hotel to rest or make personal discoveries.

Dinner at a local restaurant and transfer to the station for the night train to Dong Hoi. Overnight on the train | in a 4-soft berth compartment | Local and tourist comfort.

Dong Hoi, arrival - Chay Lap Farmstay (B, L, D)

Early morning arrival in Dong Hoi around 04:30, welcome by the English-speaking guide and driver for transfer to the hotel for breakfast, then drive to the villages of Phong Nha – Ke Bang.

Quang Binh province is home to the famous Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003. Covering 85,754 hectares of exceptional geological and ecological value, the site will immerse you in a stunning landscape of karst plateaus and tropical forests as you explore its spectacular caves and underground rivers, discovering its abundance of endemic species.

You will particularly visit the Phong Nha – Ke Bang cave. En route to Chay Lap village for a bike ride to discover this magnificent place. Dinner and overnight at Chay Lap Farmstay (with swimming pool).

Farmstay / Visits - Hue (B, L, D)

This morning, you will have a choice between two options:

• Visit Paradise Cave (a magnificent cave listed as World Heritage).
• Enjoy activities in Song Chay and Hang Toi villages: zip-lining, mud baths in the middle of the cave, water adventure games (must be decided the day before for organization and preparation).

Lunch featuring local specialties. En route to Hue via the 17th Parallel Bridge. Direct transfer to Thanh Tan village in the suburbs of Hue.

You will sleep in a beautiful corner of the nature reserve where you can enjoy hot springs and mineral water known for their therapeutic properties. Relax in the hot spring and then enjoy a 45-minute spa session. Dinner in town and overnight in Hue.

Hue was undoubtedly the capital of Trung Bo between 1802 and 1945 (formerly Annam, in French Indochina). A stone's throw from the South China Sea, the city is built on the banks of the Perfume River (Song Huong), so often praised and painted by artists who have stayed there. Hue has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. An imperial city built by the Nguyen dynasty, it is today the cultural and intellectual center of the country with its palaces, pagodas, and tombs, each more sumptuous and majestic than the last.

Hue - Visits - Hai Van pass - Hoi An (B, L, D)

After breakfast, a day of walks, discoveries, and visits on site with historical and cultural sites.

Discovery visit of the city with its 3 enclosures: Citadel, Imperial, and Purple Forbidden, a major site recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2000, and where the Festival of Culture, History, and Civilization of Hue city takes place every two years.

A visit to Hue's central covered market, Dong Ba, built during the French era, located on the banks of the Perfume River where we take a sampan ride along the river to visit the sacred pagoda dedicated to the Celestial Lady (Chua Thien Mu). Lunch at a local restaurant with local specialties.

Departure for Hoi An passing through the famous Hai Van pass for a panoramic view of the South China Sea and the city of Da Nang, the 4th largest city in Vietnam.

Arrival in Hoi An, visit the silkworm breeding house and then discover the city of Hoi An at nightfall with the light of magnificent lanterns. Free dinner and overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An (Faifo), one of the oldest ports and trading posts in Southeast Asia, is now an attractive seaside resort. A popular and most colorful destination in Central Vietnam, the city is established on the Thu Bon River. It allows you to enjoy the calm and tranquility of the place and discover a rich local craftsmanship. Also discover the architecture that gives charm to this ancient city.

Hoi An - Visits/Discoveries (B, L, D)

Morning, departure for various walks to discover the real life of locals:

• Bike ride to the suburbs.
• Sampan basket ride on the river surrounded by water palms.
• Cooking class at a local home and relaxation with foot massage (optional).

Lunch at a local home.

In the afternoon, visit the old town where you discover the Japanese bridge built in 1593, the folk museum, Tan Ky house, the Tran family chapel, beautiful two-century-old houses of Chinese merchants and notables... Discovery of the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall built in 1690, which houses a pagoda dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, goddess of the sea and protector of sailors.

Dinner in town and overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An/Free day, transfer to Danang for departure (B) Night flight to Hanoi or Saigon

After breakfast, free time and check-out around noon. Meet with the driver for transfer to Danang airport for your return flight either to Hanoi or Saigon, connecting with your international flight.

Optional domestic flight + taxes: Danang – Hanoi or Saigon: 85 USD / Ticket - economy seat optional and then your return flight.