An Adventurous Hiking Tour Across Vietnam

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – Water Puppetry.

Upon arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be greeted and taken to your hotel to relax after your travels. Later, hopping on a cyclo, you will explore the city and experience the contrasting styles of buildings, from French colonial to Eastern socialist designs, ancient pagodas, traditional merchants’ residences and more. After this mesmerizing tour of the Colonial and Old Quarters, you will attend a performance of Water Puppetry –an art form unique to the area and a cheerful insight into rural Vietnamese culture. You will spend the night in Hanoi.

Overnight in:  Hanoi La Siesta Classic Hotel (an exclusive oasis in the Hanoi Old Quarter, just a short walk to the legendary Hoan Kiem Lake – Deluxe room).

Day 2: Hanoi – Explore Local Villages.

In the morning, you’ll be picked up and driven to Bat Trang, a village 15km downriver from Hanoi and famous for its fine ceramics. Your guide will take you through the busy tourist area to the old part of the village along the riverside, where you can stroll through the narrow streets to watch the manufacturing process and meet the craftspeople. You can even take a go at making ceramic products yourself and bringing this home as a treasured souvenir. After, be driven to Lung Khe village where you’ll have lunch prepared by a local family and can enjoy the traditional Quan Ho music performed by villagers, officially recognized as part of Vietnam’s ‘living heritage’. You will then be taken back to Hanoi. Later this evening, a car will take you to Hanoi Railway Station for you to board the overnight sleeper to Lao Cai.

Breakfast and lunch are included.

Day 3: Sapa: Embrace an Enticing and Picturesque Hike.

You’ll arrive in the early morning and be driven to Sapa, where you will check in to your hotel for breakfast and a rest. Then you’ll start the trek from a transfer point near Thank Kim. As you follow the small trail running downhill, you will discover Thanh Phu suspension bridge, which is set over the beautiful Muong Bo River. The journey will take you through rice paddy terraces, hill sides and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the magnificent valley view and maybe even encounter some wild animals like water buffalos, goats, or mountain pigs. These creatures belong to the nearby Tay and Red Dao minorities. You’ll eventually head up to Thanh Phu village, where you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch in a local house. After lunch, you’ll head to Sin Chai village via Nam Cum village. Both villages are inhabited by Red Dao minorities, and you’ll spend the night in a local house in Sin Chai village and be fascinated by the wonderful hospitable atmosphere of the Red Dao.

Approx. Grade 3 of 5/ 45 minutes driving/ 6 hours walking.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Overnight in: A Homestay.

Day 4: Sin Chai Trek: Enjoy Lunch at a Local House.

After having a peaceful breakfast, you will head off for your second day of trekking. Your journey will take you to Nam Nhiu village, where the Red Dao minority reside. This is a great opportunity to get to visit the Nam Than village, the only village in the area where the White H’mong minority live. Afterwards, you will make your way to Nam Cang village for a delicious lunch in a local Red Dao house. The afternoon will be spent trekking to Nam Sai village, where you will pass through a small road with a stunning view of mountains and a waterfall. From here, you will make your way back to Thanh Phu village, where the Tay minority are based. Here you will be treated to a delicious, home-cooked dinner before retiring for the night in a stilt house of a local family.

Approx. Grade 2 of 5/ 6 hours walking.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Day 5: Thanh Phu – Discover My Son

On the last day of the trek, you will have the unique opportunity to cross several suspension bridges and trek through lush rice paddy fields and picturesque scenery. You will be able to meet the Xa Pho minority in My Son village, one of the smallest ethnic groups living in Northern Vietnam. These individuals are renowned for maintaining their unique costume and nomadic life. Following this, you will trek uphill to Nam Toong village of Red Dao minority, where you will have the chance to have lunch in a local school. In the afternoon, you will be trekking mostly downhill to Ban Ho village, the area’s largest village, which is spread across the two banks of Muong Bo Rivers. This is a great chance to witness the Tay minority living their ancestor life in traditional stilt houses. When you arrive at Ban Ho village, you will be picked up by a vehicle and taken back to Lao Cai station for the night train back to Hanoi.

Approx. Grade 2 of 5/ 1 hour driving/ 5 hours walking.

Breakfast and lunch included.  

Day 6: Hanoi – Dong Hoi

You will arrive in Hanoi station, where you will be picked up by a friendly driver. You will reach your hotel for a flavoursome breakfast. The morning is yours to spend as you please and you will be transferred to the airport for your late afternoon flight to Dong Hoi. Upon arrival in Dong Hoi, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay. Spend the evening relaxing and prepare for the next day’s adventures.

Breakfast and dinner included.

Overnight in: Phong Nha Farmstay (new French Colonial style, in the idyllic surroundings of rice paddy fields on the edge of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park – Suite room).

Day 7: Phong Nha – Tu Lan Campsite

Between 07:30 to 08:00, you will be picked up from your Phong Nha hotel and taken to the Oxalis office in Tan Hoa Village, which is 70km away. After a short briefing of the trekking itinerary and safety regulations, you will be given your essential safety equipment and packs and sign a Release Form. The hike commences with a walk of approximately 2.5km through picturesque corn and peanut fields until you reach the bank of the Rao Nan River. Crossing the river and climbing a rocky hill of about 50m in height, you will then descend to the beautiful Hung Ton Valley. After crossing the valley and enjoying a delectable lunch at the entrance of Hung Ton Cave, some steeper hills await you before you reach the campsite by the serene Tu Lan waterfall. Afternoon activities here include swimming and exploring Ken Cave, and a tantalising dinner prepared by the chefs, before sleeping peacefully to the sound of serene waterfalls.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Overnight in: Tent or hammock.

Day 8: Discover Hidden and Unique Caves

Are you ready for an adventurous trek to explore the spectacular caves of Hang Tu Lan and Hang Kim? Today you will begin your journey to To Mo Valley, a breathtakingly beautiful destination. After a hearty lunch at To Mo campsite, you will plunge into Hung Ton Cave, fuelled by the beauty of the Hung Ton Valley. The cave entrance has a 10m high ladder that must be ascended with safety harnesses. After ascending the ladder, you will be welcomed by the stunning scene of the Hung Ton Valley, a stunning backdrop for photo opportunities. To finish off your wonderful journey, you will proceed to Oxalis Tan Hoa office, home to a relaxing atmosphere, complete with a shower and a chance to mingle with your team before getting in the car back to Phong Nha for your overnight accommodation. Today’s trek through Hang Tu Lan and Hang Kim and to To Mo Valley will be an experience you will not forget!

The Tu Lan (Hang La Ken) caves system is situated in Tan Hoa Village, Minh Hoa District of Quang Binh, around 70km Northwest of Phong Nha. Its incredible limestone mountains and valley give rise to four stunning caves with gorgeous stalagmite and stalactite formations, a tiny waterfall, and an underground river. As such, Tu Lan is the perfect destination for those looking for an adventure.

• Easy to moderate trekking.
• 12km of trekking including up to 2km of caving.
• 300m elevation gain.
• 1km swimming in the caves.
• Descend 15m ladder in cave.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Overnight in: Phong Nha Farmstay (new French Colonial style, in the idyllic surroundings of rice paddy fields on the edge of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park – Suite room).

Day 9: Phong Nha – Hanoi: A beautiful National Park.

After breakfast, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which boasts stunning limestone formations, grottoes, and caves, as well as some of Vietnam’s largest primeval forests. Possibly the world’s largest limestone mountain range, the area is centred around the most accessible of the caves, Phong Nha. Named for its intricate network of underground rivers, caverns, and passageways, it has been honoured with fanciful names, such as Fairy Caves, Royal Court and Buddha, and imaginative legends. Speleologists may be particularly drawn to the area as its network has yet to be fully mapped. Though access to the deeper parts is restricted to authorized research purposes, there are plenty of attractions available to visitors. In the afternoon, you will return to Dong Hoi for your overnight train to Hanoi.

Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 10: Hanoi to Ha Long – A Tranquil Cruise

You’ll be welcomed at Hanoi Station in the morning, from where your driver and guide will take you to the hotel for breakfast and refreshment. You will then depart to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Area and one of the world’s largest marine karst landscapes. You’ll board the Dragon’s Pearl Junk for a two-day journey and cruise through the Bai Tu Long Bay to explore some of the less visited caves. You’ll dock to enjoy swimming or kayaking through a hidden lagoon at Cong Do area. This route is designed to take you away from the busy areas and provide a quiet and peaceful location for your overnight stay.

The cabins on board come with air-conditioning and windows that look out onto the bay. The cabins each comprise seven twin beds or four double beds, made of hard wood. The interior is cloaked with wooden panelling and highlighted with a wardrobe, pillows, sheets, and en-suite toiletries. To complete the experience, meals are provided which typically feature fresh seafood, and kayaking is also included in the booking fee.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Day 11: Ha Long – Hanoi: Uncover A Quaint Fishing Village.

Start your day off with a refreshing swim or simply laze on the sundeck of your boat, enjoying the fresh air of the bay. After a hearty breakfast, embark on a visit to a fishing village uncover the rustic rowing boats and for a chance to explore the lagoon. Your voyage then continues onto a Pearl Farm to observe the entire procedure of creating high-quality pearls. Upon the conclusion of your trip, return to the docks in late morning, get picked up and arrive back to your hotel in Hanoi after midday. The rest of the day will be yours to enjoy, and you will be spending the night in Hanoi.

Breakfast and lunch included.

Overnight in: Hanoi La Siesta Classic Hotel (**** an exclusive oasis in the Hanoi Old Quarter, just a short walk to the legendary Hoan Kiem Lake – Deluxe room).

Day 12: Hanoi Departure.

After breakfast, you’ll be free until your guide/driver arrives to take you to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight.

Breakfast included.