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Natural Highlights of North Vietnam in 5 Days
- Mai Chau
- Pu Luong
- Ninh Binh
- Hanoi
Embark on an easy and accessible Vietnam tour with this North Vietnam itinerary 5 days, perfect for everyone. Explore the natural beauty of Mai Chau, Pu Luong Nature Reserve, and Ninh Binh, often dubbed 'Halong Bay on land,' before concluding your journey in Hanoi. Immerse yourself in vibrant rice terraces, explore traditional Thai villages, and cruise the serene waters. Let this adventure ignite your soul, leaving you with lasting memories of this captivating region. This Northern Vietnam itinerary 5 days is ideal for discovering the charm and beauty of northern Vietnam.
- Experience the unique cultures of the Thai and Muong ethnic minorities in Mai Chau.
- Trek through the stunning landscapes of Pu Luong Nature Reserve and immerse yourself in the Thai communities.
- Explore the land-based version of Halong Bay.
- Glide through the captivating scenery of Tam Coc on a boat and ascend Mua Mountain to enjoy panoramic views.
Our dear travellers delving in the heart of Pu Luong
Rural tranquility and boat rides through Ninh Binh
Muong ethnicity in Ninh Binh
Rice fields and stilt houses in picturesque Mai Chau
Pu Luong's serene terraced landscapes
- Mai Chau
- Pu Luong
- Ninh Binh
- Hanoi
Day 1 Hanoi arrival - Mai Chau
Depart from Hanoi in the morning, heading toward Mai Chau, the homeland of Thai and Muong ethnic minorities, lush green tea plantations, and rice fields. Stop at Luy Ai village where the Mường people reside - a community of 26 families living in houses perched on stilts with terracotta tile roofs.
Continue your journey to Mai Chau, a verdant valley inhabited by Thai minorities. Pause en route at the summit of a pass, offering a vantage point to overlook vast tapestries of rice fields, villages with traditional houses, and mountains adorned with bamboo forests - iconic landscapes of the region.
Upon arrival, embark on a walking or cycling expedition through the rice fields and Thai villages to gain insights into their culture and daily life.
In addition to their expertise in rice cultivation, the Thais in Mai Chau are renowned for their embroidery skills, and their houses are more spacious compared to the Muongs', featuring bamboo floors on wooden stilts, roofs made of latan leaves or rattan, and large windows.
Conclude the day with an overnight stay at the hotel, enjoying the warm hospitality.
This marks the beginning of your north Vietnam 5 days itinerary with Kampá Tour.
Day 2 Mai Chau - Pu Luong
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic stroll through lush green rice fields, adorned with the charming stilt houses of local minority communities. Interact with the Thai villagers as they work in the rice fields.
Continue your journey to the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, a vast expanse covering 1700 hectares and renowned as the largest karst forest area in northern Vietnam. The reserve is predominantly inhabited by Thai minorities, who share the same language as their Thai counterparts.
Upon reaching Don village, embark on an enriching walk to explore the beauty of this village, which boasts the most exquisite and awe-inspiring rice terraces in the entire region.
Conclude your day by settling into a delightful lodge, where you can unwind and savor some free time for relaxation. Spend the night in the serene ambiance of the lodge.
Day 3 Pu Luong trek
After breakfast, set off for a day of hiking to explore the wonders of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
Begin by transferring to Bầm Trên village, situated atop the right ridge of Pu Luong. This area is renowned for its breathtaking rice fields that seem to float in the sky, providing panoramic vistas of the valley and the opposite side of the mountain range.
Descend through nature and local residences to reach the villages of Bầm Dưới, Bồng, and Quăn. Along the way, you'll encounter Thai people engaged in various tasks in the forests and gardens. A common sight is Thai men carrying long knives on their backs.
Continue your journey to Ươi, a spacious hamlet characterized by numerous stilt houses. In the villages of Lặn Trong and Lặn Ngoài, you'll discover Thai families who still preserve traditional weaving tools in their homes.
Pause for a lunch break in Phố Đoàn, a small town within the region. In the afternoon, proceed with your walk through Thai villages and their dwellings. As the day concludes, arrive at the house of Tý in Bản Lác village. This beautiful stilted house is home to three generations: Mr. Ty and his wife, their children, and grandchildren. Interact with family members and take a leisurely stroll in the village.
Participate in meal preparation and savor a warm dinner with your hospitable hosts. Spend the night in their traditional stilted house.
Day 4 Pu Luong - Ninh Binh (Halong bay on land)
Following breakfast, say goodbye to your hosts and embark on a scenic walk to Ban Hieu village, known as the "Deer Village," to visit the Hieu Waterfall. This village, home to around twenty Thai families, is nestled on the lush hillsides, and weather permitting, you can enjoy a refreshing swim.
Continue your journey to Ninh Binh, often called the "Land Halong Bay" due to its limestone formations and scenic landscapes. Visit Hoa Lu, the former imperial capital (960-1009), to explore the temples of Kings Dinh and Le, set in a picturesque valley surrounded by rice fields and limestone peaks. Learn about Vietnam's history, particularly its millennium-long conflict with Chinese troops.
End your day with an overnight stay in Ninh Binh.
Day 5 Ninh Binh - Hanoi
After a hearty breakfast, embark on a boat journey along the Ngo Dong River to explore Tam Coc. This winding river meanders through a picturesque landscape of rice fields, limestone peaks, and passes beneath three caves nestled at the base of the rocky formations. Your boat gracefully glides on the water, guided by skilled local rowers, immersing you in the enchanting scenery.
Upon disembarking, hop on a bicycle and meander through the captivating region. Your route will take you through charming villages and past limestone peaks, allowing you to soak in the serene ambiance that defines this rural area.
In the afternoon, visit Mount Mua, a place historically known for its dance performances for the TRAN kings. Climb a white staircase consisting of 486 stone steps to reach the summit. This bell-shaped mountain offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Tam Coc region, renowned for presenting the most stunning landscapes reminiscent of Halong Bay on land, featuring lush limestone peaks, expansive rice fields, and boats gracefully gliding on the tranquil rivers of the villages. Explore the Mua Cave, nestled beneath the mountain.
Return to Hanoi. This marks the end of your north Vietnam 5 days itinerary with Kampá Tour. It has been our pleasure to accompany you on this remarkable journey. Safe travels!
Hanoi
Gastronomy and culture
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- Accommodation for the entire circuit, in hotels or with locals
- Travel according to the program by private car
- English-speaking guide for the visits mentioned in the program
- All activities mentioned in the program, including entrance fees to tourist sites
- Economy class domestic flights with airport taxes included
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What they say about us
Countless travelers create unforgettable memories with us every year. Discover their testimonials about our exceptional service, stunning destinations, and the highlights of their trips !
Review from Emily and Myles after a 10-day tour in Northern Vietnam.
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Oct 05, 2023What they say about us
Françoise & Claude Family - France
December 12, 2024 - Dear NHUNG,
A huge THANK YOU for organizing our trip, which was flawless. How much work you must have had to do for us!
First, for creating a custom itinerary, taking into account our requests for visits. To do this, you contacted me several times on WhatsApp, and in the end, the tour was perfect and fit within our budget. Thank you, Nhung, for your availability, your listening, and your patience.
Then, unfortunately, we had to test, quite against our will, your competence and professionalism when, one day before departure, my husband developed a sinus infection requiring urgent surgery. We were leaving as three—my brother and us. We had prepared the trip so well that I asked my brother to go ahead. Three days later, after the surgery went very well, I decided to join my brother and take the tour from Halong Bay (one week later). Nhung was amazing and incredibly efficient. She canceled my husband’s personal bookings and took care of my transfer to the Halon
Eric and friends - Australia
November 25, 2024 - Hello Nhung,
What a wonderful surprise this palace in Sapa is once again.
We deeply appreciate the tranquility and relaxation of this sumptuous and luxurious establishment: it's a perfect retreat after the bustling days we’ve had since our arrival.
What magnificent discoveries we’ve had in the program you organized for us.
Incredible landscapes and settings, remarkable encounters, and extraordinary people everywhere in the local life. The guides were all different but so passionate and engaging (little Linh, so endearing, Hang, and Sam, so dedicated and professional). The drivers were experienced (especially Cuong in the North, who is our favorite: so kind and attentive… and an expert at navigating the mountain roads to keep us safe).
Leonardo and his wife - France
November 15, 2024 - Dear Nhung,
I finally find the time to write to you and share the impressions that our journey to Vietnam left on us.
Beyond the wonderful memories of the 23 days we spent in Vietnam, there is a particular aspect of this trip that I wish to share with you.
My wife and I have traveled fairly extensively. Not as much as we would have liked, but over the years, we have had the opportunity to visit several countries and have learned to organize our trips quite competently and independently. We have never participated in an organized tour and have always chosen our destinations, itineraries, and experiences based on our readings about the countries we visit and our personal tastes and interests. For Vietnam, our starting point was the same, and you may recall that to define our itinerary, we initially sent you a very precise and detailed travel plan.
Véronique Demonçay - Canada
October 20, 2024 - Good evening Mrs. Trang,
We have returned home and resumed work, though with a bit of nostalgia after discovering your beautiful country.
We had an excellent trip; everything was just as planned. Our guide Thien made the stay very enjoyable by scheduling visits during less crowded times. Always kind, cheerful, and speaking excellent English, he shared his knowledge and the great cultural richness of his country. He always gave us great advice. Thank you also to Mr. Long for his careful driving and kindness.
In Cambodia, Mr. Tra (short for his name) also adapted the visit itinerary to less crowded times. He added a temple visit and the visit to the Angkor Scent Workshop. We ended up visiting the floating village of Kampong Phuck, which was closer than the one originally planned, and there weren't too many people yet. This allowed us to visit a local market as well.
Just for your information, it’s necessary to complete the e-Arrival form for Cambodia in add
Pier-Luc Desbiens - Australia
October 7, 2024 - Hello,
We booked this tour at the last minute, and Kampá Tour didn’t disappoint with their prompt organization. Our guide, Thao, was fantastic—full of energy, humor, and knowledge. We spent a lot of time on boats, drifting along the rivers and canals. We loved cycling through the quiet palm groves and cruising through the narrow waterways by sampan in Mekong Delta.
A special thank you to the entire team at Kampá Tour. We spent 15 days in a wonderful country, with remarkable people, extraordinary landscapes, and a fascinating culture... Our return flight on Sunday was also perfect, and we have already been back at work since Monday... but with many images of Vietnam still in our heads and hearts 😊
Best regards,
Pier-Luc Desbiens
Brigitte and Jean - USA
September 22, 2024 - Dear Ms. Thanh LE,
We are already back in Toulouse, and we didn’t realize how quickly time flew by.
Our 18-day Vietnam tour (August-September 2024) was an unforgettable experience.
First of all, we would like to thank your agency, "Kampá Tour," and especially you, Ms. Thanh Le. This trip, organized by your agency, was remarkably well-prepared, with representatives always attentive to our needs. The selection of hotels and destinations was meticulously planned. During our stay, we had five guides who were always there for us, making us live magical moments. A special thanks to Nhi and Lam. We loved our experiences in Sapa, Hue, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, the Imperial City, and many other places (the list is long).
Regarding safety, it was very reassuring, and we felt well taken care of before and during the trip. On the first day, we had the chance to meet you at your Hanoi office, where you handed us the documents for our tour. I highly recommend this customiz
Maria Dolores & friends - Argentina
September 12, 2024 - Hello,
We had the most amazing time and are heading back to Argentina completely in love with your beautiful country! Everything was perfectly organized, and always on time.
The hotels were so comfortable, and the guides were absolutely fantastic. Special thanks to Luis in Hanoi and Ming in Phnom Penh for their kindness and professionalism – they really made our trip extra special! Hue and Phnom Penh were simply breathtaking – such charming cities with so much history and beauty. We couldn't have asked for a better experience, and we truly appreciate all the effort that went into planning this unforgettable journey.
I will be recommending your agency to all my friends and family – you have been incredible!
Big hugs and all the best,
Lane and Olivier - Mexico
August 27, 2024 - The trip went very well. Thank you.
We are delighted with our stay in Vietnam. The tour was superb, varied, and very interesting. The hotels were top-notch. The guides were attentive and very kind. We have no complaints about them; on the contrary, they were very friendly and competent, and we would have liked to do more.
Additionally, we thought of something you might want to mention to your future travelers: during our two days alone in Hoi An, we used the Grab app a lot for getting around the city. This app was recommended to us by a fellow Mexico traveler, and it was indeed very useful!
We will recommend Kampá Tour.
Best wishes to the entire team.
Sincerely,
Gesbert Family - USA
August 8, 2024 - Hello,
I finally have the time to share our feedback regarding our trip to Vietnam.
Hanoi: We really enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere, the old Hanoi; it was a very nice experience! The puppet show was really great. Pu Luong: The view was magnificent, and the walks were our favorite part.
The lodge was perfect. The night at the homestay was a unique experience, and fortunately, we had Zan to communicate a little; otherwise, the language barrier would have been too difficult. The family was very welcoming and kind.
Terrestrial Halong Bay: When we arrived, we found it too touristy (a lot of people), but in the end, we loved it! It was very lively and pleasant. We dined at a delicious restaurant right next to the hotel, typical and inexpensive; it was very good. The activities also satisfied us.
Baudry Family - Canada
July 25, 2024 - Hello,
Just to keep you informed:
First, the Au Lac Charner hotel was very good. We had a lovely evening last night, a nice dinner at the hotel (we preferred not to go out in the city because our youngest son had a stomach ache, but he’s much better today). The night was restful. The breakfast was very good.
Today the day is going very well. Everything is very interesting and the activities have followed each other smoothly without any waiting. Not many tourists, so we could enjoy it. Our guide is teaching us a lot about life in Vietnam.
We have arrived at the Mekong Home hotel, which is charming. We will have the cooking class a little later. In the meantime, we will enjoy the pool, the small boat, and the fishing rods available. It’s very pleasant! Have a great day.
Christine Baudry
Alejandra and Mirta - Argentina
July 7, 2024 - Hello, good night
I would like to thank you for the beautiful experience, the attention and kindness of the guides, the transfers, the hotels we loved. I learned a lot and it brought me beautiful memories of Vietnam, the grateful one is me. I recommended your agency to my family and acquaintances.
Greetings and see you soon,
Alejandra -
Joe and his family - USA
June 27, 2024 - Halong Bay cruise? Absolute game-changer! Hands down the highlight of our trip! And the price? Pretty sweet deal we snagged online.
But let me tell you about our almost-epic fail. Yours truly here forgot to get the visa for Vietnam in advance. Classic, right? Enter our hero, the AMAZING agent Thom. She swooped in and saved the day with her emergency visa wizardry. Thom didn’t just stop there. She contacted the travel agency, got all our paperwork sorted, and rescheduled our trip faster than you can say 'Oops, I did it again.' This all happened at the eleventh hour (literally). Our flight was at 7 pm, and we discovered the visa fiasco at 5:30 pm. Talk about cutting it close!
And because we had to arrive a day late, it messed up our follow-up travel plans. No problem for Thom, though. She rearranged everything so smoothly, even got us a direct transfer to the airport instead of the hotel, with no extra charge. Thom is basically a travel superhero, cape and all.
Horacio and his wife - USA
June 10, 2024 - Hello Thom,
Thank you for reaching out, I was also going to send you a message letting you know we had arrived home already. We just got back home this past Saturday, after traveling to Malaysia and Qatar as well. It’s been a week of catching up from all the work accumulated for the past 3 weeks.
We loved the service that Kampá Tour provided, how everything was handled down to smallest detail. All the 3 guides and drivers were wonderful, we got to know Vietnam more in depth thanks to way they presented the country to us. The hotels, the drivers, the food, the people, the scenery, the different activities, everything exceeded our expectations. Having a one-on-one guide was the best decision, since everything was customized to our specific requests.
Thank you so much for preparing everything single detail during our journey, it was a real pleasure working with you!!!! For now, we’re back to our daily routine, but will definitely use Kampá Tour again in a future t
Nadine, Marie, and her friends - France
May 23, 2024 - Hello Mrs. Duong,
As agreed, a little feedback on our stay. First of all, a big thank you for these wonderful holidays. Your country is magnificent with an endearing population.
The guides were great, mastering English well. We give a rating of +++ to Vinh for the southern part.
The proposed restaurants met our expectations, and we were able to enjoy the local cuisines.
The drivers were attentive.
The range of hotels chosen exceeded our expectations, and we appreciated it.
The tour is very well designed, but we have a small remark: on day 6, we enjoyed it less. We felt like we were walking just for the sake of walking.
A big thank you for the cake offered for Nadine's birthday. The passengers were also able to enjoy a nice piece of cake.
We will not hesitate to advertise your agency.
Best regards,
Nadine and Gérard.
Mr. Pierre Pernot's family - Canada
May 6, 2024 - Ms. Lan Duong, good morning
As promised, I'm giving you feedback on our trip in May 2024 and if I had to give you an overall rating it would be 9/10.
Let's start at the beginning the contact with your agency and yourself as well as the communication in English is excellent, your warm welcome as an experienced professional gives confidence, by your responsiveness which is maximum whether by email or WhatsApp reassures us even more, finally your formula to adapt as much as possible to the client's wishes is most pleasant, Or to simply take your tour organized according to the length of the client's stay, I discovered that the distances in the mountains are counted in hours and not in kilometers between the many bends or the fact of climbing passes it will take time.
The prices charged are competitive and in line with the services offered and given for a 21-day tour in the north (budget to be added depending on the stages, lunch or dinner which remain very affordabl
Mr. Patrick and Mrs. Marie Perou - France
April 21, 2024 - The rest of the journey went very well until Pu Long, largely thanks to Thien who quickly understood what we wanted to see (amazing hikes) and what we wanted to experience in our interactions with the minority ethnic groups. Thanks to our guide, we had many warm exchanges and shared beautiful emotions over tea, fruits, and bong gao in their humble homes. Unforgettable experiences in the villages of tiles, knives, incense, and weaving.
An opportunity for great happiness to experience the Than Minh festival proposed by Thien.
Thank you for the foot massage, which was a pure moment of relaxation... It made us want to book a full body massage upon our return from Pu Long.
We are truly delighted with our journey in the North, although we missed the good weather a bit.
A word also about our driver, who was extremely careful on the mountain roads and always provided valuable assistance with a smile for his passengers.
Looking forward to continuing towards Halon
The Kommer family - Australia
April 13, 2024 - Xenia Kommer's Family Travel Diary
[29/3/24]: Tony and the driver are great! And everything we've seen and done too 😊
[1/4/24]: Hello! We are back from the boat in Halong Bay. It was very beautiful! I didn't tell you that we ate crickets last 😁 week In Tam Coc the boys played football with children from there 😉
[3/4/24]: Hello, we arrived safely in Hoi An today. Everything is great, the hotel is very nice. Yesterday the boys swam in the Hue😉 River
[5/4/24]: Hoi An diving, I don't do it but the boys love it 😃
The Alzarral family with their friends -Spain
March 29, 2024 - To begin with, thank you for this wonderful trip that you organized for us. Thank you to Huan, Kien and Ms. Chau for conveying the love of their country to us. Bus drivers were also safe in this traffic.
After the discussion among all the participants in the trip, we send you these observations:
Guide: 5/5⭐
Drivers 5/5⭐
Bus:4/5⭐
Hotel: 4.9/5⭐ (slightly small breakfast room at the Sanouva Hotel in Saigon).
Choice of restaurant by guides: 5/5⭐
Transfer by plane: 5/5⭐
Choice of visits:5/5⭐
Organization of the agency: 5/5⭐
Thank you, Mrs. TRANG VU, for your warm welcome at the agency and for your willingness to organize our trip. We also thank Bao for his kindness and for the short documentary on YouTube. You can count on us to really appreciate your skills.
Thanks again for everything 😘😘
Mrs. Silvia and her husband - France
March 27, 2024 - Greetings from Lima, guys! We just got home and we don't even feel tired! I still have the energy to keep going, haha!
Now, let's talk about the North. In February, from Hanoi to Ha Long, there is a lot of drizzle. I suggest other visitors always carry a fine raincoat when they go. Luckily, it didn't alter our plan much. We enjoyed the coffee with egg and the bun cha. Ms. Nhung knew all the perfect places to eat, without worrying about finding available places, and at good prices! I'll send you some great photos from Hanoi!
But, the most amazing thing was the experience on the Mekong! Just perfect. We loved Mr. Nguyen; He had an in-depth knowledge of the place, which made us enjoy it to the fullest. He also shared a lot of interesting things about the Vietnamese and their current and current culture, not just theory.
The hotels were ok, no complaints. This trip makes us think of Cambodia and Thailand with our friends in the future (still wishes)
I think that's enou
Chantal & Daniel - Australia
March 15, 2024 - Hello Mrs. Huyen and all her team,
We had dreamed it, we had prepared our trip with the guides, and now we are back, with the images still fresh in our minds.
Thank you and congratulations for this perfect organization, despite the fact that a flight was delayed a day at the last minute. We found our guides and drivers as planned, the guides were friendly, spoke perfect English, the "busy" program was respected.
Recounting our journey could become a real novel, so we will talk about the main points. Now, worry before leaving because the guides said that we should avoid the Tet period, that for the lunar new year everything was closed, anyway what joy, flowers, decorations, events everywhere.
👉Hanoi, staying in the center, after a tour of the city, and a visit to Kampa Tour, a well-deserved siesta, we set off on foot (without a guide) through the narrow streets (thanks to the GPS to find the hotel).
👉The next day, visits to museums, great water puppet
The Le Boucher family - England
February 28, 2024 -
"Hello, the trip is going very well. Yesterday I grew rice. A symbol and a source of pride for me, I would even say one of the goals of this trip. Thank you"
"The work in the rice paddies is already well underway...we are lucky to see the peasants in full activity, it is really enriching to learn about your way of life. A 12km walk today was an intense moment. "
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the most interesting region to visit in Vietnam?
Vietnam is divided into three major regions: the North, the Central, and the South. Each region has its distinctive features, and the choice of the region to visit will depend on your interests.
Among the three regions, the North has more interesting things to discover. It entices travelers with its rich natural beauty (stunning bays and rivers, impressive mountains and hills, winding mountain paths, lush valleys with beautiful terraced rice fields) and cultural heritage (numerous historical monuments, ancient temples and pagodas, craft villages, a large community of ethnic minorities with authentic villages and colorful weekly markets). Without time constraints, most of our clients spend a significant portion of their trip exploring this region.
2. What is the ideal duration for visiting Vietnam?
3. Are international flights included in your travel packages?
4. Am I exempt from the visa? If not, how can I obtain it?
5. Is it easy to find a restaurant for meals on our own? How much should I budget for a lunch/dinner?
6. Can I make changes to the itinerary?
7. When and how is the balance of the trip paid?
Still have questions or hesitations?
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