Northeast Vietnam Loop

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI

Meals: Not available

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam!
Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed and greeted by the Custom Asia Travel tour guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. The remainder of the day is relaxing or be on your own discovery.
- Located on the banks of the Red River, Hanoi capital is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Here, visitors are able to find well-preserved colonial buildings, old Buddhist pagodas, and unique museums within the city. The best way to explore its Old Quarter is on foot. This French-colonial city is also known for its delicious cuisines, vibrant nightlife, and souvenir shopping…

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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This day tour to learn about the capital city of Vietnam occupies your whole day with featured sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his house-on-stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university for the morning.
Your lunch today is served at a restaurant in town with local tastes.
In the afternoon, the tour continues with a visit to one of the following museums (you can pick the one you like): the Ethnology Museum, Army Museum, National Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi Hilton prison or Vietnam Women Museum).
Followed by a short walk or a cyclo ride in the Old Quarter.
End the day tour with a traditional Water Puppet show.

DAY 3: HANOI - HOANG SU PHI (HA GIANG)

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Choice of Homestay and lodge

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At 8:00 AM you will be met and greeted by your private tour guide and driver at your hotel in Hanoi where you start for the trip. The drive today takes about 7 hours, including some stops on the way for photo opportunities and having lunch.
​Once you arrived in Thong Nguyen commune, Hoang Su Phi, check-in a home-stay at a Red Yao ethnic village for the night.
Refreshing and enjoy the dinner, cooked by the family.

DAY 4: HOANG SU PHI TREK

Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Choices of homestay and lodge

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Today, you will do a whole day trek from Thong Nguyen Commune to Nam Son Commune.
Along the way, you are able to enjoy the beautiful scenery with stunning rice fields. The trek is moderate but there are some small challenges at times. It is about 5 - 6 hours.

Picnic lunch is prepared at a local house on the way.
Dinner and overnight at another local house.

DAY 5: HOANG SU PHI - DONG VAN KARST GEOPARK

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Pho Bang Town

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After breakfast, check-out and heading to the Karst Geo-park. The drive up to the highland region of Ha Giang will offer you some good photo opportunities on the way.
Lunch is at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, the scenery is getting more stunning with high passes and august mountains. The typical photo opportunities are a stop at Quan Ba pass, a step hike to a view-point for Quan Ba Fairy Mountains. Short walks at Pho Cao village of the Hmong, Pho Bang of the Han (Chinese). Check-in a hotel in this peaceful town for the night.

DAY 6: DONG VAN KARST GEOPARK

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Van

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After breakfast, set off for the scenic morning trek in Karst Geopark. The trek in between the gray limestone mountains takes more than 3 hours (approx. 13km). This trek is a real discovery on which you have a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery and learning the amazing daily life of the tribal H'mong people. At the end of the trek, you will reach an interesting historical and cultural site. It is the H'mong King Palace. Take your time to visit the construction. Lunch is prepared at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a drive to Lung Cu Flag Tower (The monument was built to mark the northernmost point in Vietnam). Walk to the tower for the view over the area. After that, your private vehicle will take you to Dong Van town. Check-in a hotel and stay for the night.

DAY 7: SUNDAY MARKET & SKY-WALK TREK

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Meo Vac

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There is a colorful market in town (If it is Sunday today), take time of the morning to stroll around the market for hunting some photos of the locals while they are trading before hiking up to Dong Van Cannon Fort Mt. for the stunning panorama view over the valley and its town. ​ Back to the town for lunch. ​The afternoon transfer takes you to Meo Vac. On the way, stop for another trek which is above the Ma Pi Leng Pass. This scenic trek is amazing as it is on a small path but offers you marvelous views over the abyss and Nho Que River. Arrive at Meo Vac, check into your hotel and take easy for the remainder of the day.
(If it is not on Sunday, the morning will be spent for the sky path trek and the afternoon will be for a boat ride on Nho Que River through Tu San Canyon. This boat ride is a new experience in Ha Giang and this is considered one of the deepest and most unique canyons in Vietnam. Late afternoon, check-in a hotel in  Meo Vac and stay overnight.)

DAY 8: MEO VAC- BA BE LAKE

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay at a local house

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7:30 am check out at your hotel and your guide will take you to a breakfast shop to enjoy a typical local breakfast in this small town. Today, you will drive downhill to Bac Kan province, where Ba Be National Park located and it is famous for its large, green freshwater lake. Along the way, you will clearly see the change of terrain from the barren mountains with jagged limestone to the mountains covered with dense vegetation. A countryside of small rivers winding from one valley to the next, a lot of lush fields, and the villages looming at the foot of the mountains.
Lunch on the way.
In the late afternoon, you will arrive at a Tay ethnic minority village located in the national park. Check-in, dinner, and overnight.

DAY 9: BA BE LAKE - CAO BANG CITY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Bang City

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After breakfast, take a short walk to the boat dock and take the motor-boat ride through Ba Be Lake, which is considered as the biggest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. The cruise is beautiful with the scenery of steep limestone mountains covered by dense rainforest. Onward to Nang River and downstream to visit Dau Dang Waterfall. After viewing the waterfall, we will get back to the boat and move on upstream for Puong Limestone Cave. The Nang River runs through a limestone mountain in this national park and created a big cave that is decorated with many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is also the shelter of thousand bats. About 15 minutes after the cave, you will land at a little dock where your private vehicle awaiting, get back on, and drive to Cho Ra Town for your lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon drive will take you to Cao Bang province. On arrival in the city, check-in a centrally located hotel for the night.

DAY 10: BAN GIOC WATERFALL & NGUOM NGAO CAVE

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Bang City

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DAY 10: BAN GIOC WATERFALL & NGUOM NGAO CAVE

Start the day with 3-hour drive to the remote Trung Khanh District which shares the border with China. There are stops on the way to take photographs and witness the ethnic Nung people making basic blacksmiths with their farming tools in Phuc Sen village. Upon arrival at the waterfall, we take a walk across paddy fields to reach the base of the falls. If the water is not so violent, we will take a raft to get closer to the falls and enjoy the cool temperature, due to the water mist in the air. The fall is located right on the border between China and Vietnam.
Enjoy your Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant nearby. Continue on visiting Nguom Ngao limestone Cave, which is about 2 km from Ban Gioc Fall. Thousands of colorful stalactites and stalagmites will amaze you. Back to the car for returning to Cao Bang city. Dinner and spend the second night here.

Included Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Hotel in Cao Bang City

DAY 11: CAO BANG - BAC SON VALLEY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay at a local house

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Check out of the hotel after your breakfast and get ready for the morning drive to Bac Son Valley in Lang Son province. The drive includes some stops on the way for you to take photographs whenever you want. Arrive at Quynh Son village of the ethnic Tay people and have lunch on a stilt house. This afternoon you will walk to visit the village and hike up to the top of the telephone-station mountain for stunning scenery over the valley. This is a great point for those who love photographing. Dinner and chat chit with the host of our homestay tonight.

DAY 12: BAC SON VALLEY - BAC NINH

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay 

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After the traditional breakfast, this morning we will embark on a 3,5-hour hike on a rural back road. Along the hike, you can have a close look at the local farming, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in a good harmony of mountains, forests and local life. At the end of the hike, get picked up by our private transport back to the family. After lunch, make your way to the Red River Delta and pay a visit to a traditional pottery village where you will learn about the local techniques of making beautiful ceramic products. Transfer to a typical Vietnamese family for another homestay night. Dinner with the host family.

DAY 13: BAC NINH - CAT BA ISLAND & LAN HA BAY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

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Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands. Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, the bay is a "must-see" place for any visitor to Vietnam, especially an overnight trip on a traditional wooden junk. Take the morning transfer to Cat Ba Island.
Around noon - Board your private boat and start the cruising itinerary with lunch and dinner aboard. Some interesting activities are available to include kayaking, swimming, sunbathing on the sun deck. Overnight at an en-suite cabin on the boat.

DAY 14: LAN HA BAY - HANOI

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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Get up early this morning for the sunrise and fresh air on the top deck if you want. Otherwise, you can remain in the cabin until breakfast time.
After breakfast, the captain starts the engine again and take to you Viet Hai dock where you will get a bicycle for a scenic ride toward Cat Ba National park. The destination is Viet Hai village, located right in the national park area. Take a quick look at the village when you are riding through. Keep riding on the same road back the boat. Refresh and get ready to check out of your cabin.
An early lunch is served on the boat today as you will finish the boat trip at 11:45 a.m. The afternoon transfer takes you back to Hanoi. Arrive at your hotel and you may want to do some last shopping this evening.

DAY 15: DEPARTURE FROM HANOI

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Not available

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Today is your last day. It depends on your departure flight time, you may have to rush in the morning or just free at leisure or do some last shopping until get transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Goodbye Vietnam!
End of your Vietnam adventures.