Vietnam Nature tour 12 days

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide   

Day 1: Arrival at Hanoi (D, G)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, our guide will greet and accompany you to your hotel. Free time until you’ll be picked up to watch water puppet performance, a traditional art form closely connected with the long-standing spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. You’ll then be driven to a good local restaurant and enjoy a welcome dinner with us. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L, G)

The morning tour will begin with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the resting place of Uncle Ho. You will also see his house-on-stilts and learn about the simple life of the Vietnamese?s beloved leader. Your next visit will be Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas, which still maintains its unique architecture harmonious with nature and boasts many precious Buddhist statues. You will then driven to Temple of Literature, the oldest school inVietnam, giving it the distinction of being the most significant temple in both Hanoi and Vietnam.

In the afternoon, you will call at the Vietnam museum of Ethnology, an excellent instruction to the cultural heritages of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups. Later on, you will visit the beautiful Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake – a striking blue gem in the city centre. The tour ends with 1 ?hour walking tour around the Old Quarters to enjoy its warmth and cosiness, looking up to contemplate centuries-old and weather-beaten houses, both familiar and exotic, etc. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi/Ha Long/Cat Ba (B, L, G)

You’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone karst landscape. On the way, you’ll stop for a short break at Hong Ngoc Embroidery workshop and take a good opportunity to take many beautiful photos of various Embroidery products. You’ll then continue driving to Ha Long Bay.

On arrival in Ha Long, you’ll take a traditional boat for your cruise to see with your eyes one of the most beautiful natural treasure in the world. Your boat will take you first to the World Heritage area where you’ll visit Amazing Cave. You’ll have time for swimming on the emerald water in Ha Long Bay. Your lunch will be on board, usually based on fresh seafood.

You?ll then be cruised to Cat Ba Island – Cat Ba – the pearl island is the well-known archipelago in the whole country with a spectacular array of sea and island scenery; it covers an area of 20,000ha in the North-East of Hai Phong. When you arrive, you?ll be picked up by bus to your hotel. You’ll spend the night in Cat Ba.

If you don’t like seafood during this trip, please let us know what you like so we can arrange for you.

Day 4: Cat Ba (B, L, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to have a visit to Cat Ba National Park. It?s just 15 km to the North – West of the town. This Park covers an area of 15,200 ha, including 9,800 ha of forests with splendid grottoes. In tropical and primeval forests, there is a rich fauna and flora. There are 745 species of plants, including various species of rare wood trees. Your guide will take you to the National Park to have a hike through the forest.  It will take you at least 6 hours to cover the undulating terrain about 18km. On the way, you?ll have a break for a picnic lunch at Viet Hai village. You’ll continue following the path through some the farm, village and then to the harbour on the south of the island. You?ll finally find a boat is waiting to take you back to the town?s harbour. On the way, you can relax by swimming on Lan Ha Bay. Your dinner will be served later on at the local restaurant. You’ll spend the night in Cat Ba.

Day 5: Cat Ba/Hanoi (B, G)

Breakfast at your hotel, you’ll then have free time to relax at Cat Co Beach which is separated by a small range of mountain, you can swim in the blue and warm water, so clear that you can see the golden sand beneath. Moreover, the white-sand Cat Co beach makes a great place for walking around for the day

In the afternoon, you’ll take a short walk to the other harbor where you’ll take a hydrofoil to Hai Phong. Arriving in Hai Phong, your car will pick you up to return to Hanoi.

You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi/Ninh Binh/Cuc Phuong (B, L, D, G)

In the morning, you’ll be picked up and driven to Ninh Binh (110 km). On arrival, you’ll start your tour by visiting Hoa Lu, the relics of the ancient capital Hoa Lu ? the remains are the temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the two heroes who lived in 10th century and chose Hoa Lu to build the citadel of the capital city. The temples are said to be built on the old foundation of their original palaces in 11-12th centuries and restored in 17th century. You’ll then follow by a brief visit to the remains of the Old Palace. Later on, you’ll be driven to Tam Coc (three grottoes) and have lunch at the local restaurant.

You?ll be rowed along a gentle river between paddy fields and through the Tam Coc. You’ll enjoy the mysteries of nature which might be boundless inspiration for any visitors coming here to contemplate the endless fun. As some one said, it is a place “must – see” of Ninh Binh. Moreover, a peaceful valley among limestone karsts hills on the way makes a great place to see.

After that, you would be driven to Cuc Phuong National Park. You’ll spend the night in the local guest house in Cuc Phuong Park Centre.

Day 7: Cuc Phuong/Hanoi (B, L, G)

Breakfast at the restaurant, Cuc Phuong is the first national park of Vietnam and is the country’s largest natural reserve with the variety of flora and fauna with thousand-year-old trees and dripping vines. You’ll firstly be guided to visit the Prehistory Cave and the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre. You could take this opportunity to see with your eyes and know more about thousands of different endangered species. You’ll then enjoy your lunch at the park centre.

After lunch, you’ll be picked up transferred back to Hanoi for your overnight accommodation.

Day 8: Hanoi/Ba Be (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up and driven 240km to Ba Be National Park. Your lunch will be served at local restaurant on the way.

After lunch, you’ll continue on the road through striking mountain scenery to Ba Be National Park. On arrival, you’ll do the check-in at your hotel in the park centre. The rest day, you will be free to stroll in the crisp forest air, a short leisurely walk in the park around and enjoy a sunset before dinner. You?ll spend the night in Ba Be National Park.

Day 9: Ba Be (B, L, D, G)

After a breakfast at your hotel, you’ll have a boat cruise by motorboat around the Ba Be Lake which was known as Pe Lam, Pe Lu, Pe Leng. These words are following the Tay ethnic language with the meaning of “three lake”. You’ll have a chance to visit Puong Cave and then the Fairy Pond, set in dense forest with many birds. You’ll continue your boat cruise to visit Dau Dang Water Fall that is quite sight worthy and have picnic lunch on the way.

After lunch, you’ll come back to the motorboat to visit Horse Saddle Mountain. Your day will be finished by taking a short walk to the village of Tay people near by.

You’ll spend the night in Ba Be.

Day 10: Ba Be/Cao Bang (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up and transferred back to Hanoi. You’ll then visit a weekly ethnic market and stop at local restaurant on the way to have lunch, and arriving in the late afternoon. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 11: Hanoi/Ba Vi (B, L, G)

You’ll drive to Ba Vi National park which is thought of as the natural “air – conditioner” or “green lungs” of the northern delta and the city of Hanoi within. As you enter the park, you could take your opportunity to enjoy the fresh air, and when you ascend the mountain the air cools and you enter into the clouds, taking in the smell of the damp forest.You’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh temple on top of mountain and have spectacular view to the Red River Delta and the surrounding landscapes. You’ll return to Hanoi to spend the night.

Day 12: Hanoi departure (B, G)

After breakfast, your time will be your own until your guide and driver will come to take you to the airport for your departure flight.

Price in US$ per person:

Prices include:

• Breakfast and accommodation in twin or double room.
• Boats cruise as programme, sharing a luxury cruise on traditional junk in Ha Long Bay.
• Hydrofoil ticket: Cat Ba – Hai Phong
• Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced, safe driver.
• Experienced English-speaking tour guide as indicated in the itinerary.
• Entry fees for all sightseeing as mentioned in the programme.
• Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the local restaurants and on the boat in Ha Long Bay.
• Government Taxes.

Price do not include:

• International flight tickets and airport tax.
• Visas.
• Dinners except as specified above.
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
• Insurance.

Hotel list:

• Hanoi: La Belle Vie Hotel (*** located in the city centre, Superior Room) or similar
• Cat Ba: Holiday View (*** 5 minutes walk to the beach, overlooking the Lan Ha Bay, Suite) or similar
• Cuc Phuong: Park Bungalow (local standard in the middle of forest)
• Ba Be: Park Bungalow (local standard)