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Natural Highlights of Northern Vietnam in 5 Days
- Mai Chau
- Pu Luong
- Ninh Binh
- Hanoi
Embark on an easy and accessible 5-day tour of Northern Vietnam, 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.
- 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.
Pu Luong's serene terraced landscapes
Rural beauty in the heart of Pu Luong
Rural tranquility and boat rides through Ninh Binh
Scenic biking trails through the charm of Mai Chau
Rice fields and stilt houses in picturesque Mai Chau
- 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.
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. Conclude your 5-day North Vietnam tour and.
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More tour ideas
- 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
- Meals mentioned in the program
- Bottle of water during guided tours (2 x 500ml/traveler/day)
- Government taxes currently in force (VAT, etc.)
- International flights from your home
- Visa fees, payable directly at the airport customs (see VISA)
- Bank fees related to payment
- Personal insurance
- Personal beverages during meals: beer, Coca-Cola, fruit juice, etc.
- Other meals not specified in the program
- SIM card and mobile plans
- Tips, personal expenses, and other services not mentioned in the "Our Included Services" section
Our Happy Customers
Mr. Pierre Pernot's family
06 MAY 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 French 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 affordable
Mr. Patrick and Mrs. Marie Perou
APRIL 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 Halong Bay
The adventure of traveling to Vietnam with the Kommer family
APRIL 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
MAR 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
MAR 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 enough for n
Chantal & Daniel
MAR 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 Spanish, 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 show.
The Le Boucher family
February 15-28, 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. "
The Diego Family
January 2024
We're on the flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok. I'm writing these lines because I'm eager to share more details about the trip, in addition to praising the services (hotels, restaurants, etc.) that I mentioned during the call in Vietnam.
Visiting the Angkor Wat temple complex is worth it. When we entered, we felt like we were becoming tiny people. It was a very surprising experience. On the second day, when we arrived at the lakeside village of Kompong Khleang, the scenery isn't beautiful, but it showcases the culture of the people, which is very interesting. The tour guide in Cambodia is very good, has a good sense of humor, and is always willing to explain everything coherently. So we didn't respond to the message immediately.
The continuity between the visit to Cambodia and the conclusion of the trip in Vietnam is certainly very reasonable. The number of days for visiting is also appropriate. In addition to following our itinerary, we also made use of our free t
Mr. Sebastian Rodriguez and his friends
January 2024 - The trip went well. We had memorable experiences in Asia with your team, the guides, and even the driver. Everything went smoothly, from the weather to the services (meals, accommodations) you arranged for us. Here are more details:
The first week in Vietnam was very good. We loved the egg coffee. Vietnamese cuisine is very diverse, and it was great because we had time to try most of the typical dishes: pho, bun cha, cao lau, and banh mi. The Old Quarter of Hanoi has an ancient beauty, but it's still a bit noisy. The cyclo experience was very reasonable and helped us not get bored while going to Hoi An, also to the Old Quarter, but to explore it by bikes. Ha Long Bay is very beautiful. The cruise was excellent.
The next part of the trip was in Cambodia, where we had truly amazing moments in front of the ruins of Angkor Wat. The tour guide in Cambodia was very detailed in everything we wanted to know. A few days in Cambodia are enough.
The end of the trip was in
The family of Mr. GEIGER
Dec 6, 2023 - What a superb trip! Complete satisfaction! Discovery of the NORTH and CENTRAL VIETNAM. A very well-organized journey by VIETNAM DISCOVERY; competence and kindness of our guide LUNA; We were warmly welcomed at the agency (beautiful structure) by Mrs. THOM DOAN. The circuit and hotel services were fully in line with the program. We return with lots of beautiful memories and stunning images in our minds. Landscapes, temples, rice fields, Hmong villages, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An. We wholeheartedly recommend. BERNARD
[See more]Recognition by travel guides
Most 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?
- Tour: Natural Highlights of Northern Vietnam in 5 Days
- Duration: 5 days, 4 nights
- Type: The Essentials
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