HIGHLIGHTS OF NOTHERN VIETNAM 9 DAYS
Code: PNV09
Routes: Hanoi – Pu Luong – Halong – Hanoi
Duation: 09 Days / 08 Nights
Features: Explore the treasure of the Northern Vietnam, getting a taste of the country’s diverse landscapes, intriguing history and rich culture. From the natural beauty of Halong Bay to the buzzing streets of Hanoi capital to fabulous rice terrace field in Pu Luong, enjoy immersive tours to truly connect with the remarkable wonders of Vietnam.
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Departure
Hanoi Old Quarter
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Departure Time
Around 07:45 AM.
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Return Time
Approximately 15:30 PM.
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Dress Code
Casual, comfortable athletic clothing, hiking shoes, hat and light jacket.
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IncludedHIGHLIGHTS OF NOTHERN VIETNAM 9 DAYSVehiclesEntry FeesAccommodationTour GuideMeals
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Not IncludedAny services not mentioned in the itineraryBeverages and other personal expensesTravel Insurance
FROM OUR GALLERY
Day 1 |Welcome to Hanoi
Welcome to Hanoi, our driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in if time permits. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure time to explore Hanoi – The thousand year capital city. Overnight in Hanoi
Inclusion: Airport transfer, guide and hotel.
Day 2 |Hanoi City tour – Explore the thousand year capital city
07:45 – 8:30 AM: Tour guide will meet you at your hotel then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-place. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 - the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Then continue on to the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda at West lake (One of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam).
Then visit Bat Trang pottery village (applied on Mon, Wed & Fri). Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
After lunch proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum (apply on Sun, Tue, Thu & Sat), the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam, see Vietnam’s first university, constructed in 1070 - it’s gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters and the beauty of Ngoc Son temple.
We finish our relaxing but informative day by attending a Water Puppet Show - a favorite experience for all visitors to Vietnam. Please walk back to your hotel after the show or just spend the evening enjoying a drink with a view of the city.
Inclusion: Shared transfer, guide, breakfast, lunch, entrance fee and hotel.
Day 3 |Hanoi – Pu Luong
AM: Pick you up at Hanoi Opera House at 7:00 AM and a few hotels in the Old Quarter area. Depart to Pu Luong Nature Reserve by 7:30. Estimate a 4 hour drive without heavy traffic.
Stop halfway at a part of Cuc Phuong National Park for rest around 20 minutes.
Upon arrival at Pu Luong, drop off and have lunch. After that, time to check in your reserved room. Free to relax and wander around.
PM: A whole afternoon to explore daily life at Pu Luong. Time to visit Bac Ha Village – one of the most scenic villages at Pu Luong. You will have opportunities to see rice terraces, daily life of ethnic people and interact with them closer. All little things make a grand and tranquil scenery. When the sun sets, get back your hotel. Relax and have dinner.
Trail Difficulty: 3/5
Driving Distance: Around 4 hours
Inclusion: Limousine bus, English speaking guide, entrance fees, mineral water on bus, bungalow (dorm), lunch and dinner.
Day 4 |Pu Luong – Don-Uong-Lan villages – Hieu waterfall
AM: Wake up in refreshing mountain air. Breakfast is served frome 6:00. Recharge fully and get ready by 8:00.
Walk down to Don Village known as the epicentre of Pu Luong. The area offers an easy road through vast terraced fields. Have chance to admire stunning ambience changing just after some footsteps. After a walk of 4KM, contemplate Uoi hamlet from high looking humble at the foot of the grand mountain. We promise, the landscape will feast your eyes and overload your phone card memory.
Continue down the hill to Lan village, where you start a 12KM ride. Explore the hamlet known as “Kingdom of Thai People in Puluong” with 100 Thai People families by bicycle.
Depart to Hieu village. Leisurely bike through paddy fields and you can catch lively and close sights from cool streams, farmlands, ducks paddling in ponds to friendly locals there.
PM: Arrive at Hieu Village, the most breathtaking village in that area and have lunch nearby. Take a short walk to to a unique waterfall in that Pu Luong Nature Reserve and ride back the Lan village before transfering to your hotel for relaxation. Finish second day by 16:30.
Hiking Distance: 4 km
Biking Distance: 12 kilometers
Trail Difficulty: 3/5
Inclusion: Bike, local guide, entrance fees, breakfast and lunch.
Day 5 |Pu Luong – Hanoi
AM: Have breakfast and transfer to Bang village where you will start a 5KM hike. Pu Luong is the nearest place from Hanoi that offer similar landscapes of Sapa and Mu Cang Chai. You have chance to walk among the most scenic area of rice terraced fields in Pu Luong. Along the way, you will see local houses and people working on fields. It’s much more interesting beautiful in planting and harvesting seasons.
Finish your hiking at a local restaurant for lunch by 11:00 and then get back hotel to check out.
PM: Say goodbye Pu Luong and get back to Hanoi. Drop you off at your hotel in Hanoi by 6:30.
Hiking distance: 5 km
Driving Distance: Around 4 hours
Inclusion: English speaking guide, entrance fees, breakfast and lunch, limousine bus and a bottle of water.
Day 6 |Hanoi to Halong Long Bay, welcome on board
The scenery of Halong Bay where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into bizarre shapes is truly an iconic image for Vietnam. An overnight boat trip is the best way to enjoy this Vietnamese must-see. After breakfast leave Hanoi for a 3hr30mins drive to Halong Bay including a 20-minutes stop on the way .
Arrive at the jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome onboard, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board.
Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.
Overnight on Halong Bay.
*Notes: The itinerary may be different between the cruises.
Inclusion: Shared transfer, guide on boat, brunch, dinner and boat.
Day 7 |Explore Halong bay, back to Hanoi
The sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served (also brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly back towards port.
Hit the road before arriving back to Hanoi around
15:30 PM.
Inclusion: Transfer, guide on boat, entrance fee, boat / junk, row boat/ kayaking, breakfast, brunch, hotel.
Day 8 |Free and easy
Today is your free day in the Hanoi capital and all of its fascinating historical charm. Spend your day relaxing or shopping. Do not hesitate to ask us for some restaurant suggestions for lunch. And then, spend your all day to discover Hanoi Old Quarter with various things to see: Ngoc Son temple, Hoan Kiem lake, Trang Tien Plaza, Hanoi Opera House, Long Bien Bridge,...
Inclusion: Hotel and breakfast
Day 9 |Departure Hanoi
Spend the morning is at leisure before checking out. Breakfast is at your hotel then depending on your flight you may have some more time for shopping. Then our driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Goodbye, and hope to see you again soon!
Inclusion: Airport transfer, breakfast.
JUDITH BROWN
My fiance and I had never been to Vietnam, but wanted to plan a unique elopement trip to this place. We had no idea where to start, and turned to some internet research to find the services of this agency and eventually connect with the team at this travel agency. From the first email exchange, we knew that our travel consultant and his team would be our travel company.
TASHA STEWART
I cannot speak highly enough about our trip to Vietnam and the services provided by this travel company. Everything was seamless. The private guides were interesting and knowledgable. We felt that they were more than just guides. It was like we had a friend in each city.
Cristy Party
Overall, the trip was enjoyable, but I would have appreciated more information prior to departure. While our tour guide, Mike, was great, we didn’t expect to have a full-time guide throughout the trip, and we didn’t really need that level of support. Instead, we would have preferred to have two hotel rooms in some locations, and would have been willing to pay extra at certain sites to have that option. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough details in advance to make these choices. Additionally, the rooms in Hanoi and Hoi An were too small for three people, especially in Hoi An where we stayed for three nights. In hindsight, we would have been happy to consider lower-rated hotels if it meant having two rooms. For future travelers, providing more detailed information in advance would be helpful. For example, when booking the cooking class, it would have been useful to know there was a choice between a half-day and full-day option, as we would have preferred the half-day option.