Hanoi

Your trip to Northern Vietnam begins with a visit to the ancient capital of Tonkin Hanoi with its eternal sites such as the legendary Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem), the temple of Ngoc Son, the old quarter, St. Joseph's Cathedral, the old merchant house restored to its original state, the Dong Xuan market (built by the French), the Eastern gate and some pagodas.

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. We then go to Hanoi's oldest pagoda, Tran Quoc, located on the shores of West Lake and Quan Thanh Temple with its bronze statue of the genius (northern guardian).

Free evening and night at the hotel

Hanoi, Ba Be

In the morning, we leave this teeming megalopolis that Hanoi has become for the calm of the countryside. The roads that wind between the hills open to us the vision of tea plantations and eucalyptus trees, rice fields,...

Lunch in a local restaurant in Cho Chu, then continuation to Ba Be. We finally enter Ba Be National Park and its lake surrounded by karst peaks covered with a jungle as abundant as it is luxuriant, giving this place a mystical impression. The Tay, Dao and Hmong ethnic groups live from rice cultivation and fishing, even if the advent of tourism suggests significant benefits for the local population.

On arrival, we can visit the Hua Ma cave, which has many geological features and is one of the most beautiful in the region.

Arrival at the inhabitant's for the evening meal and spend the night in a traditional house on stilts by the lake.

Ba Be, Ban Gioc Falls

Stroll on Ba Be Lake to enjoy its beauty. This lake offers us an almost "mystical" vision of the place! Magic plays its part in the view of this magnificent jungle, these cliffs or other giant sugar loaves.

Visit of the Puong cave which shelters an impressive and sometimes frightening colony of bats.

Crossing the territories of the Tay and Nung villages, which are characterized by an extraordinary activity and serenity.

Arrival in Ban Gioc, visit of the most beautiful waterfalls of Vietnam, which are open to us in a dazzling setting. Photo or swimming. A trip in bamboo rafts on the river (which marks the natural border with China) is suggested to enjoy the magical moments in this enchanting site.

Dinner and overnight stay with local people.

Ban Gioc, Bao Lac

Today, our destination is Bao Lac. But a hook is needed for the site of Pac Bo where Ho Chi Minh took refuge for a few months to prepare for the revolution. He lived here, as a hermit of sorts, in a cave that can be visited.

After this pleasant walk, take the road again which crosses many Tay, Dao, Nung, Hmong villages along the Chinese border with the sublime karst landscapes.

Arriving finally in Bao Lac, depending on the weather, we can take a short walk to see the activities of the small mountain town. Free evening and night at the hotel

Bao Lac, Dong Van

After breakfast, our journey to Northern Vietnam continues to reach the most remote far north region of our journey. We make a stop this morning in the village of Coc Xa, this small village of the Black Lolo made famous by a French television show with the no less famous rugby player Frederic Michalak. We admire the daily life of this small community, still on the margins of society, and which has kept all its traditions.

Road through magnificent mountainous landscapes to Dong Van. Meo Vac welcomes us for lunch.

At the Ma Pi Leng Pass, the most beautiful mountainous landscapes in Vietnam: steep karst peaks, steep valleys, breathtaking panoramas, as far as the eye can see. The many stops allow you to take the best pictures of the day!

Arrival in Dong Van, installation at the hotel.  

Dong Van, Nam Dam

Nam Dam is the end of our stage today. A few kilometers after Dong Van, we visit the former palace of the King of the Hmong, where he still lived at the beginning of the last century.

On the road, the stops in the many villages crossed make us aware of the daily life of the white and blue Hmong. It is with malice that they accept to have their picture taken.

The village of Lung Tam makes us appreciate the craft activity of hemp weaving by the women of this village. A real delight for us who are used to synthetic materials! The organization into cooperatives, supported by an NGO, not only allows the transmission of a cultural heritage to be propagated over time, but is also fully in line with the philosophy of sustainable development. Support for this type of project is unconditional in the face of low-cost productions "made in China". The stakes are high!

Then we reach Nam Dam where our hosts, a Dzao family with long tunics, await us to share the cottage and dinner. A walk in the village is suggested.

Nam Dam, Ban Phung

After breakfast, it is towards the southern tip of the province that our next destination is located. The mountain road first takes us to the "gate of heaven" which offers us a superb view of Nam Dam, its valley and lake.

Then we enter the Hoang Su Phi region, where the beauty of the terraced rice fields makes it famous. On the mountainside, the winding road offers us an exceptional view of the surrounding mountains! Pictures, of course!

The La Chi ethnic group of Ban Phung village welcomes us. A walk in the village is suggested. Dinner and overnight stay with local people.

Ban Phung, Bac Ha

The Sunday market in Bac Ha is the main attraction. A market coloured by these very special tunics, but also a market so "perfumed" with these unique scents that characterize Asia so well! The market creates the social bond between all these minorities, over a soup or a glass of rice alcohol! We find fabrics, local crafts, tobacco, utensils and animals of all kinds!

Lunch is served in a local restaurant. Then, a three-hour walk completes our afternoon to Pu Ngai Cho and Lau Thi Ngai. It is at Na Kheo that the car awaits us. Direction to our hosts Tay for overnight stay in a house on stilts.

The dinner shared with the family allows us to taste (in moderation) the homemade rice alcohol.

Bac Ha, Vu Linh

After breakfast, we greet our host family and head to Vu Linh, the end of our day's stopover. Ban Lien, Quang Binh are crossed, with sublime landscapes as they pass.

Lunch at Yen The. After discovering a marble sculpture workshop, one of the specialities of the region which abounds in numerous quarries, the road leads us along the lake of Thac Ba. We will notice the roofs of the houses made of latan tree leaves.

Arrival in a Dao family with white pants, who welcomes us for the lodging and the meal.

Vu Linh, Hanoi

Wake up smoothly this morning and breakfast.

Then, it is on foot, through the rice fields, that we reach the village pier to discover on board the boat one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in the North, an artificial lake feeding a hydroelectric dam. The peaks of the old hills emerge from the water body and form 1300 islets giving it a labyrinth-like appearance. By accosting one of these islets, swimming is appreciated in summer by enthusiasts.

Return to our hosts where we check our package before returning to Hanoi.

Hanoi, Ninh Binh

After 2 hours of driving, we arrive at the old capital of Vietnam, Hoa Lu (between 968-1009). The discovery of this region begins with a visit to the temples of the kings Dinh and Le.

Lunch in a local restaurant with delicious specialities. In the afternoon, by boat, we cross vertiginous karst peaks that surround rice fields! From the particularity of the boatwomen to their boats, to the enchantment of the landscapes of this romantic place, we are forever marked by this special atmosphere of tranquility!

The bike ride across the rice fields to Bich Dong Pagoda on Ngu Nhac Mountain allows us to overlook the surroundings and taste this enchanting site!

Free evening and overnight at the hotel.

Ninh Binh, Lan Ha Bay

After breakfast, we leave Ninh Binh through the regions of Nam Dinh, Thai Binh to Hai Phong to take the ferry to Cat Ba Island. Embarkation on the junk of the port of Ben Beo.

Your junk passes through the first floating fishing village, then sneaks into Lan Ha Bay. In the Ca tunnel, a kayak trip allows you to discover a lake surrounded by cliffs.

Swimming is suggested. Back on board this junk, we drop anchor in the bay to spend the night.

Lan Ha Bay, Hanoi

For lovers of starry skies or romantic nights, sleep may have been shortened! Anyway, a sunrise on the bay is worth this little sacrifice!

After breakfast, the junk continues to sneak through these countless small islets to the beaches of Ba Trai Dao. Enchanting setting if there is one, a swim is strongly recommended! We start the return trip while a lunch is offered in the lounges.

Disembarkation scheduled at Ben Beo around noon, time to check our packages and take the last pictures on deck.

On the way, if the schedule allows it, visit the But Thap Pagoda, special for its many Buddha statues and its unique architecture which make it one of the most beautiful in the country.

Arrival in Hanoi at the end of the day. Free evening and overnight at the hotel. End of your trip to North Vietnam.