North Vietnam Explorer with Pu Luong

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s lively capital with its buzzing streets and French colonial charm. On arrival, you’ll be met by your driver and taken to your hotel in the heart of the city. Once checked in, the rest of the day is yours. You may choose to relax after your journey or start exploring the neighbourhood on foot. Hanoi is full of character, from its tree-lined boulevards to its maze of Old Quarter alleyways filled with tiny cafés and street vendors.

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Leave the city behind and journey through mountain passes and rural scenery to Mai Chau, a peaceful valley surrounded by rice paddies and traditional stilt houses. The drive is a scenic introduction to northern Vietnam’s countryside, with plenty of opportunities to stop for photos along the way. Mai Chau offers a slower pace of life and is home to the White Thai ethnic group, known for their warm hospitality. Settle into your ecolodge and enjoy the tranquillity of this quiet, beautiful setting. (B)

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Explore Mai Chau by bike, following quiet paths past emerald rice fields, bamboo groves, and stilt-house villages. Along the way, you’ll see farmers tending their crops, water buffalo grazing, and children waving as they play outside. Your guide will share insights about the White Thai ethnic group, whose homes are built on stilts to keep cool and protect from flooding. Stop to meet local artisans and see traditional weaving, a skill passed down for generations. This is a relaxed day outdoors, combining gentle activity with authentic glimpses of daily life. (B,L)

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Travel deeper into the mountains to reach Pu Luong Nature Reserve, known for its terraced fields and forested hills. The journey is short but full of scenery worth admiring, passing tiny villages and winding country roads. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk to Hieu Village and its beautiful waterfall, where several cascades flow down the hillside. The setting is perfect for a refreshing dip or simply enjoying the cool mountain air. End the day with a home-cooked dinner prepared by your host family. (B,D)

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Wake to the sound of roosters and a view over the valley. This morning, trek along hillside trails past terraced rice paddies and through villages where you might see locals weaving mats, tending their animals, or preparing food over open fires. Lunch is prepared by a family using ingredients from their farm, offering a true taste of the region. In the afternoon, float gently down the river on a bamboo raft or swim in the clear water before returning to the village. Join in seasonal farm activities such as planting, harvesting, or feeding livestock, a hands-on way to understand life in rural Vietnam. (B,L,D)

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Start your morning by watching skilled local weavers at work and learning how traditional textiles are made. After lunch, transfer to Ninh Binh, where the scenery changes from mountains to karst-dotted plains. Known as “Halong Bay on Land,” this region is full of limestone peaks rising from lush rice fields. Your resort offers a peaceful base to take it all in before tomorrow’s full-day exploration of this dramatic landscape. (B,L)

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Spend the day exploring Ninh Binh’s UNESCO-listed landscapes and historic treasures. Cruise through Trang An’s network of rivers and caves, surrounded by limestone cliffs and tropical greenery. Visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital, and learn about the Dinh and Le dynasties that once ruled here. Stop at Bai Dinh, the largest Buddhist pagoda complex in Southeast Asia, and climb to Hang Mua for sweeping views over the countryside, a photographer’s dream.

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Travel north to Sapa, a former French hill station nestled in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains. The long but scenic journey is rewarded with incredible views and the cool mountain air on arrival. Sapa is famed for its terraced rice fields and its patchwork of ethnic minority villages, making it one of Vietnam’s most picturesque regions. Settle into your hillside resort and enjoy the serene atmosphere. (B)

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Today is a gentle exploration of Sapa’s culture and scenery, with no strenuous trekking. Visit Ta Phin Village, home to the Red Dao minority, where you can see their distinctive embroidery and learn about their herbal medicine traditions. There is an option to try a herbal foot soak, a relaxing local ritual. Continue to Ma Tra Valley for a scenic viewpoint and enjoy a lunch of regional dishes. In the afternoon, explore Cat Cat Village or visit Sapa Museum and the Stone Church for a slower-paced cultural experience. (B,L)

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Enjoy a free morning in Sapa to relax, shop for handicrafts, or simply take in the views. In the afternoon, board the comfortable day train back to Hanoi. This is a relaxing way to watch the countryside pass by, with rice fields, mountains, and rural life framed through your window as you return to the city. (B)

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Enjoy a final breakfast in Hanoi before transferring to the airport for your flight. (B)