Chao Ban! Welcome to Hanoi, we meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. Today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam (depending on what time you arrive). Overnight in Hanoi.

Inclusion: Airport transfer, hotel.

Your free day in Hanoi.

Depart from your Hanoi hotel at 8:00 AM transferring to Mai Chau on our spectacular 4-hour drive. Upon arrival at Poom Coom village in Mai Chau, we take a short walk to visit the ethnic Thai people then lunch is served.

At 1:00 PM, take a short car ride in about 1 hour before we set off for our hiking through the beauty of Pu Luong nature reserve, the trek is intermediate level and requires some walking up hills but it’s worth your hike as we see many spectacular views of villages and terraces.  

Arrived at the Thai stilt homestay in the late afternoon. Free time to rest and shower, then a traditional dinner with our host family. Overnight here.

Driving Distance: about 230 km 

Trekking Distance: about 9 km (3 hours)

Trail Difficulty: 3/5

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, all meals, water, and homestay with the permit.

Wake up as early as you wish to witness the daily life of the locals before having breakfast at 7:00 AM.

We have a more relaxing morning today to stroll around the village of the Thai people, pay a visit to some of the neighbors, and learn more about their life and society.

Some more easy hikes along the paddy field if time permits before catching our van ride to the lunch spot. We then have a scenic drive back to Hanoi. Finish our trip at your hotel around 5:00 PM.

Driving Distance:  235 km

Departure for Ha Long Bay is around 8:00 AM in a shared van. Arrive at the port around 12:30 PM. Welcomed on board, you are taken to your cabin before the trip briefing while you cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay and admire the fascinating formations. Visit Thien Canh Son cave. Then relax at our secluded island beach or explore by kayak. Later you return back to the boat just in time to watch the beautiful sunset from the top deck before enjoying the bay’s freshest seafood dinner.

Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breathtaking beauty of the Bay’s landscape with towering limestone. You have breakfast at around 8:00 AM before our short rowboat by the locals of the bay.

Lunch on the boat as we slowly cruise back to the boat pier. Hit the road before arriving back in Hanoi around 5:30 PM. Check in to your hotel and stay overnight here.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide on boat, entrance fee, boat/junk, rowboat, breakfast, lunch, hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and free at your own leisure to relax until 6:00 PM we pick you up for night train boarding at 7:30 PM. You are sharing AC soft sleeper cabin (s) of 4 passengers and traveling South to Da Nang.

Arrival Da Nang, station pick up upon arrival at around 12:00 PM then transfer to Hoian for about 30’. 

Early check in hotel if it is subject to available and your free day in Hoian to do your own things.

Breakfast at the hotel. Your free time in Hoian before your transfer to airport in Da Nang for an afternoon flight around 5:50 PM to HCM City. Upon arrival at 7:05 PM, driver meets at the airport pick up then transfer to your hotel.  Check in hotel and stay overnight. 

Your free day in Ho Chi Minh City.

Inclusion: Breakfast, hotel.

At 7:30 AM, you depart for Cai Lay (about 2-hour drive) where you collect your bicycles and enjoy a leisurely, two-hour bicycle ride on peaceful country lanes and quiet roads that pass through local villages and along canals. This offers you several stops on the route, seeing seasonal fruits at the tropical plantations such as rambutan, durian, longan, jackfruit, etc., perhaps watching farmers harvesting peanuts, visiting a coconut candy factory, a puffed rice factory, stopping at a market to buy fruit, etc.. We have a great photo opportunity at Cai Be Catholic Church, built in 1929-1932, with its unique steeple atop. We board our boat for a cruise over the mighty Mekong river (about 1.5km wide), past waterfront villages and the Cai Be floating market, pausing for lunch of local specialties on Binh Hoa Phuoc island. 

After lunch, we start a short cycling on small paths under the green canopy alongside water, mostly shared with just pedestrians, other local cyclists and scooters, to explore the orchards and daily life of farmers. Crossing Dinh Khao ferry, we are transferred to Cai Ngang where we start two hours riding on immense rice fields, through numerous rural riverside villages, visiting Khmer Pagoda en route. If time permitting, we have a climb up to Can Tho suspension bridge over the mighty Mekong river (Tonle Bassac – Hau Giang river), see panorama sunset view of the mekong. We continue cycling toward Can Tho or transfer by van. 

Cycling distance: 30-50km

Level: 2/5

Morning boat trip to the interesting and chaotic Cai Rang Floating Market, then up a quiet canal for more cruising. Back on the bikes (about 2 hours) to enjoy the beautiful Mekong Delta scenery and meet the locals (many on bicycles too).

Depending on your flight you may have more time for shopping or spend more time on the bikes (about 2 hourrs) to enjoy the beautiful Mekong Delta scenery meeting the locals (many on bicycle too). 

Then you make your way by your own to Tan Son Nhat international airport for your flight home. Goodbye, and hope to see you again soon!

Trekking Distance: 25 km

Trail Difficulty: 2/5