Hanoi

Your trip to Vietnam begins with a visit to Hanoi (former capital of Tonkin), with its eternal sites such as the legendary Lake of the Sword restored (Hoan Kiem), the Ngoc Son pagoda, the old quarter and its streets with 36 guilds, 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 few pagodas.

Free evening and overnight at the hotel.

Hanoi, Vu Linh

This morning, we leave Hanoi for a trip to the countryside. Direction the lake of Thac Ba. The road winds its way between tea plantations on the surrounding hills.

Arrival in Ngoi Tu, a small village of the Dao with white pants! The installation is done in a traditional house on stilts.

Discovery of lake Thac Ba by motorboat, the largest artificial water reserve in Northern Vietnam. The plant and hydroelectric dam provide energy for Hanoi and the region. Depending on the season (and the water level), we can discover many islets formed by the countless hills around.

Return to the homestay for a convivial and hearty dinner, served with a "homemade" rice alcohol!

Vu Linh, Bac Ha

After taking breakfast prepared by our sunken hosts, we take the direction of Bac Ha in the North. Many ethnic villages line the shores of the lake. Houses on stilts, of course, in the heart of hills of acacias, eucalyptus, in an enchanting setting.

Lunch at Yen The renowned for its marble quarries and precious stones. A visit to a sawmill allows us to discover the process of "unrolling" softwood trunks for the production of plywood sheets. It is also worth noting how the wooden slats are then dried and packaged.

On the way north to Quang Binh and Bac Ha, the terraced rice fields so characteristic here, the lataniers like oases offer themselves as a spectacle in a grandiose universe.

Bac Ha, the end of our stage, welcomes us at the end of the day. The cottage and dinner will be shared with the Tay family. Corn alcohol this time, in moderation!

Bac Ha

This morning, hike for more than 3 to 4 hours in the villages of Hmong, Dao and Tay of Pu Ngai Cho, Lan Gi Thang, or Thai Giang Pho.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Then, the visit of the Hmong flower ethnic group to Ban Pho village is the highlight of this afternoon. In addition, they are renowned for the distillation of corn alcohol: tasting with moderation....

Arrival in Na Lo at the Tay ethnic group to spend the second night.

Bac Ha, Sin Cheng Market, Hanoi

Located 40 km from Bac Ha, the village of Sin Cheng and its weekly market is the main attraction of the day. It is indeed a famous ethnic market: Hmong flower, Dao black, Phu La, Tay, Nung, Giay are all there! We find fabrics, local crafts, tobacco, utensils and animals of all kinds!

Then we leave these rural populations and their mountains to take the road to the capital.

Arrival in Hanoi, free evening and overnight at the hotel.

Hanoi

Day dedicated to the second visit of the millennial capital.

We start with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology, then to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university.

In the afternoon, walk through the gardens of the former governor's palace where Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts is located. Visit the pagoda of the Single pillar and the ancient imperial citadel of Hanoi with its museum, the flag tower, the Doan Mon gate and the relics of the Kinh Thien palace.

Free time to shop. Overnight at the hotel.

Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay

Continuation of your trip to Vietnam to Hai Phong city to take the ferry that takes us to Cat Ba Island.

After a coffee break, boarding for a cruise in Lan Ha Bay, an extension of Ha Long Bay but less touristic. Warm welcome from the crew.

The route passes through a floating village of fishermen, before reaching the more picturesque areas of the bay and their hundreds of islets.

We can then kayak through lagoons and caves forming narrow tunnels. Visit of caves before continuing the navigation further north to Trois Pêches beach. Free time to swim, relax. Return on board to enjoy the sunset on the bay or learn to cook with the chef. In the evening, we can try your luck at squid fishing.

It is in a peaceful place in Lan Ha Bay where the anchor is dropped for a night under the stars.

Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Binh

For lovers of photography or romance, the early morning sunrise allows you to enjoy a sunrise over the bay. The cruise continues within this multitude of islets to the small village of Viet Hai where a bike ride is available.

A last swim is suggested and then the return starts as breakfast is served in the lounges.

Disembarkation at Ben Beo, direction Ninh Binh by car where we arrive at the end of the day. Overnight in a bungalow in Tam Coc.

Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Saigon

In Tam Coc, nicknamed the terrestrial Halong Bay (like the maritime Halong Bay), hundreds of karst peaks emerge from the ground and create an unusual and exceptional landscape. Boat trip on the Ngo Dong River, through caves, karst peaks and flooded rice fields.

Then by bike, through the villages and rice fields, we reach the Bich Dong pagoda with a magnificent view of the region.

In the afternoon, visit the former capital of Vietnam, Hoa Lu (between 968-1009) by visiting the temples of the Dinh and Le kings.

Then back to Hanoi. On the way, transfer directly to the airport to continue your trip to Vietnam with a flight to Saigon.

Arrival in Saigon, free evening and overnight at the hotel.

Saigon, Tay Ninh, Cu Chi, Saigon

Breakfast at the hotel, then on the way to the great Caodaitist temple of Tay Ninh. This atypical religion was officially born in 1926 from its creator Ngo Van Chieu. It is characterized by a mixture of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Catholicism. It experienced some interest during the 1950s, playing a political role and having its own army. The Caodai religion currently has more than 6 million members. We can attend the noon mass, the ideal time to observe the rituals and the faithful during their worship practice wearing costumes of different colors according to their hierarchy.

In the afternoon and on the way back is the Cu Chi site famous for its tunnels that sheltered the Viet Minh resistance forces during the French colonial period, then the Viet Cong soldiers during the war against the Americans.

Overnight at the hotel.

Saigon, Cai Be, Tra On

Departure this morning from Saigon to reach the city of Cai Be located on one of the arms of the vast Mekong Delta. Embarkation on the wooden sampan for a discovery of Vietnam's first agricultural region. We walk along the canals and along the orchards, villages and rice fields to discover the daily life of this half-land, half-water landscape.

On the cruise to Tra On, where we spend the night on board, disembark in Cho Lach for a bike ride through the village and countryside. Fruit tasting and visit of craftsmen on the way.

Back on the boat from where we can admire the sunset while continuing our journey. Overnight on board.

Tra On, Can Tho, Rach Gia, Phu Quoc

In the morning the boat sails slowly up the Bassac River to the town of Can Tho. We then take place on smaller boats to discover the floating market of Cai Rang, one of the largest in the delta. Here are sold mainly seasonal agricultural products but also various common products. Each boat announces what it sells with a pole at the end of which is the product sold.

Return to the dock around 10 am in Ninh Kieu and we take the road back to Rach Gia to join the fast ferry from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc. Arrival in Phu Quoc, transfer to the hotel by shuttle to rest.

Free evening and overnight at the hotel.

Phu Quoc

Breakfast at the hotel. Day and free meals to enjoy the island as we please. Overnight at the hotel.

Phu Quoc, Saigon

After lunch, transfer by shuttle to the airport and fly to Saigon for your departure flight.