The Bays of Northern Vietnam

Today you'll arrive in Hanoi and be transferred to your hotel.

This morning get a snapshot of rural life during a tour of a farming village. You'll see the houses, market and temples, learn how rice is cultivated and watch a cooking demonstration. Lunch will be in the company of a local family. In the afternoon there is free time in Hanoi before you take the overnight train to Lao Cai.

After traveling overnight on the sleeper train you’ll wake up in the highlands of North Vietnam. A car will transfer you to Sang Ma Sao Valley, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of the famous rice terraces. Your two-day ascent of Ky Quan San begins this morning with a 9 km hike to an elevation of 1,100 m. The hike can be rocky and uneven in parts. After a picnic lunch, you’ll continue another 6 km to 2,100 m. Here there is a rest stop with some basic wooden cabins where you'll spend the night. The guides will cook dinner while you admire views of mountain peaks swathed in clouds.

Today you’ll ascend to the summit of Ky Quan San (3,045 m). This section is quite difficult, with some steep climbs over rocks and boulders. When you reach the top you'll feel a fantastic sense of achievement. Take in the views of mountain peaks disappearing into the clouds. When you’re ready, descend to the wooden cabins (9 km) for the night.

Today begins with your second hike in the Hoang Lien Son mountains. You'll set off from the cabins and head east to a neighboring mountain, Nui Muoi (2,850 m). This is just a short 1 km hike but is worth doing as the views from this mountain are also spectacular. Then you’ll make the descent back to Ky Quan San village. Dinner and overnight accommodation is in a local homestay.

You'll leave the mountains behind today and drive more than 300 km northeast to Quan Ba. This corner of rural Vietnam is famous for its mysterious landscape of cone-shaped limestone hills. Many of Vietnam’s ethnic communities live here in villages and small towns. The drive takes all day with breaks and lunch in a local restaurant along the way. You’ll spend the night in Tam Son village.

Explore the rice terraces this morning on an 8 km trek from village to village. You'll finish at the Lung Tam Commune, a handicraft center where you can buy products made from traditional textiles. In the afternoon you’ll transfer to Dong Van. Have your camera ready as there will be some good views of the limestone karsts along the way. You'll also stop for a look around Vuong Palace, a mansion once owned by Hmong king Vuong Chinh Duc.

Have a wander around the village this morning before your visit to the market. People from the many different ethnic tribes of the area gather here and you can haggle for some souvenirs if you like. Then you'll set off for Bao Lac. On the way, don't miss the views of the UNESCO-protected Dong Van Geopark with its otherworldy limestone mountains. You'll drive over the Mai Pi Leng Pass, where the road winds its way along the side of a cliff, with breathtaking views.

Your destination today is Ba Be National Park. Ba Be means ‘three lakes’ and refers to the three lakes at the centre of the park, which join to form Vietnam’s largest natural lake. A paradise for nature lovers, the park is teeming with wildlife. Enjoy the peaceful, natural environment during a boat excursion on the lake. Your accommodation this evening is in a traditional Tay stilt house.

Today you’ll depart rural Vietnam for Hanoi, stopping en route at a tea plantation to discover how tea is grown and picked. Lunch is at the plantation with a chance to taste the tea before continuing. You'll arrive in Hanoi around 4 PM and check into your hotel.

This morning you'll travel to Hai Phong, one of North Vietnam’s most important cities and tourism hubs. Check out the views from Vu-Lach Huyen Bridge, the longest sea bridge in the country, on the way. Board your boat and enjoy a welcome drink followed by lunch. In the afternoon you'll sail to Lan Ha Bay (avoiding crowded Ha Long Bay). Take in the beauty of the hundreds of limestone islands, have a swim and watch the sunset with a cocktail. In the evening, several activities are offered on board, including a cooking demonstration and a traditional tea ceremony.

If you're up early, have a go at Vovinam, a Vietnamese martial art, on deck. Later you’ll visit a traditional village on Cat Ba Island where you can cycle around the pretty countryside and have lunch before getting back on the boat. In the afternoon, the boat will sail to Bai Tu Long Bay, an idyllic bay where you can kayak, take out a bamboo boat or go for a swim. Back on board, enjoy the sunset, dinner, and the evening’s activities.

Head out on a bamboo boat this morning to explore tunnels under the limestone karsts which lead to caves and hidden lakes. After brunch on board, the boat will return you to the harbor where you'll disembark and be transferred back to your hotel in Hanoi.

Today it’s time to say goodbye to Vietnam as you’re transferred to the airport for your return flight.