Day 01: Arrival in Hanoi. Transfer Airport – Hotel.

Arrival at Noi Bai airport via flight ???. You’ll be greeted at the airport by Lotussia local guide and driver then escorted to your hotel in town. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 02: Hanoi City Tour; Travel to Maichau.

Breakfast at hotel. We will have a half day city tour of Vietnam’s capital. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. The city tour includes such sights as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature – The first National University of Vietnam and the Ethlology museum where you can find the biggest object collection of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. Free lunch in town.

In the afternoon, we will leave Hanoi for Hoa Binh province and up then to Mai Chau valley. This scenic drive takes around four hours. Along the way we pass fields of tapioca and sugar cane as well as rice paddies. Upon arriving in Mai Chau valley, we take a short walk around Lac & Poom Coong villages to have the first experience of the White Thai community local life and their culture.

In the evening, assist to the traditional music and dance show which is performed by the Thai young girls and boys who all come from the village. We will try some rice wine made of traditional plants and local sticky rice. Overnight at stilt-house.

Day 03: Maichau Full day Hiking.

Breakfast at the Thai stilt house then we leave the village for a full day hiking around. We will pass many different Thai hamlets, through rice fields, hill sides…Stop sometimes to visit local houses and talk with local people. And one of the highlight on this walk is to experience the everyday life and the culture of the Thai people. We will arrive back to the village in the late afternoon. Overnight on stilt-house

Day 04: Maichau – Ninhbinh; Visit Kenh Ga floating village. Cycle from Kenh Ga to Tam Coc.

After breakfast, we will say good bye to the warm-hearted Thai people. We depart for Ninhbinh which is around 150 km from Mai Chau. We will arrive at Kenh Ga around noon.

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant with specialties of the region. After lunch, we will take the car to go to Kenh Ga floating village where we will take the boat trip along the beautiful “Chicken River”. Set on the banks of the Hoang Long River, Kenh Ga is a remarkable place, not only because it is surrounded by the same massive rocks that dominate Hoa Lu, but also because for most of the year the entire community lives on the water itself. The floating village of Kenh Ga receives relatively few visitors compared to nearby Hoa Lu and the peoples’ aquatic way of life has changed little over the centuries.

After the boat trip, we take a bicycle to cycle to Tam Coc – “Halong Bay on-land”.
Overnight at local guest-house.

Day 05: Cycling Tam Coc, Bich Dong. Tam Coc – Hanoi. Overnight rain to Laocai.

Early in the morning, we will take a bike to cycle to Bich Dong pagoda. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the road. Then we will take a boat trip to cruise rigzaging through many limonestome mountains of Tam Coc.

The river trip in Tam coc is wonderful for photo hunters, especially when local people come to harvest the water rice planted along the river, or when they transplant some seedling for the next crops. The tourists often compare the place with Guilin – China, or more closely, to the limestone islets of Halong Bay in the Tonkin Gulf for their similar geological structures and shapes. Thus Tam Coc is also called Halong-Bay-On-Land. Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will drive back to Hanoi. Enjoy one hour foot massage in one of well-known spa in town to experience the leisure life of the Hanoi people. In the evening, our car will transfer us to Hanoi railway station for the night train to Laocai. Overnight on the train.

Day 06: Arrival in Laocai. Transfer Laocai – Sapa. Sapa full day trek.

The train arrive Laocai station early morning. You will be met by another Lotussia local guide and driver and transferred uphill to Sapa.

After breakfast in local restaurant in town, we will take a jeep to go to Ban Ho. This is a village of Tay ethnic minority. The Tay preserve a traditional and fairly developed agriculture with cultivation of all kinds of plants including rice, maize and sweet potato as well as seasonable fruit and vegetables. Upon our arrival in Ban Ho village, we will begin our trek through the scenic valley of “Ban Ho”. Then we continue walking to Thanh Phu village where your lunch will be provided in a local house.

After lunchtime, we will head to Sin Chai village. This is a village of of Red Dao people. Dinner and overnight at the village.

Day 07: Sapa Trekking. Sapa – Laocai. Overnight train back to Hanoi.

After breakfast, we will start our day with a long trek towards Lao Cai. The route from Sin Chai, one of the most remote area in Sapa offers beautiful scenery and landscape. The trek will take us through rice paddy fields, bamboo forest, old trees jungle. Your lunch will be provided at Nam Ket. After lunch, we will trek downhill. Upon arriving in Ta Thang village, a Tay village we will be greeted again by our driver who transfer us then to Laocai station for our journey back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train.

Day 08: Arrival in Hanoi. Travel to Halong bay. Boat cruise. Kayaking.

We will arrive in Hanoi in the early morning. Met up again by Lotussia local guide and driver and transferred to a local restaurant for early breakfast then depart to Halong.

Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.

Arrive in Halong around noon and board the Bai Tho traditional sailing junk (or similar junk). Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung Cave. Take a kayaking trip to explore the Bay. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner. Overnight on board junk.

Day 09: Halong – Hanoi. Cyclo ride. Water puppet show.

Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons. After another wonderful fresh seafood lunch (early) on board disembark at the dock at Halong City. Transfer back to Hanoi.

Enjoy a short cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sales at these places. In the evening, attend to the water puppet show, one of famous Vietnamese traditional art. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 10: Fly to Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon). Saigon city tour.

After breakfast, transfer to Hanoi airport for the morning flight to Saigon. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh city airport, you will be met by another Lotussia local guide and driver and transferred to your hotel in the city center.

After your free lunch in town, start the tour with Ho Chi Minh City highlights including the Post Office, cathedral, Reunification palace, centre town, then continuation towards Cholon, visit Thien Hau temple and Binh Tay market. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 11: Saigon – Tay Ninh & Cuchi Tunnels – Saigon.

Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy a morning drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay Ninh Province in the west of Vietnam. In Tay Ninh visit the incredible Cao Dai Great Temple, with architecture that could have come straight from a Walt Disney fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world blend together in a unique religious cocktail. After lunch in a local restaurant visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. Overnight in Saigon

Day 12: Departure.

Breakfast at hotel. Free time till transfer to the airport for your onward flight at 21.10 back home. End.

After about one hour and a half, we arrive the Thay pagoda. This is one of famous attractions in Ha Tay Province, 30km southwest of Hanoi. It is also known as Thien Phuc Pagoda dedicated to Thich Ca Budha, Sakyamuni and 18 arhats. After visiting the pagoda, we will start our bike ride along the rice fields and countryside villages. The bicycle tour will take about two hours before we arrive the Tay Phuong pagoda, also called Sung Phuc Pagoda, is located on Tay Phuong mountain, in Yen village, Thach That district, Ha Tay province. It is 37 kilometres from Hanoi, along the Hanoi – Son Tay route, and 6 kilometres from the Tay Pagoda.

Lunch will be provided in a local restaurant.

After lunch, we join our support vehicle again and enjoy one more hour drive to Duong Lam ancient village. This village has been known as a museum of laterite with ancient houses aged up to 400 years old. It is also the only place in Vietnam where two kings came from. After the recognition of Hoi An ancient town and Hanoi old quarter, Duong Lam was recognized as a national relic in 2005.

Enjoy one more hour biking in the village, talking with local people, visiting  ancient houses before getting on our vehicle again for the journey back to Hanoi.

Arrive Hanoi around late afternoon. End trip.

Cross through some small villages before arriving at But Thap Pagoda in time for lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit the But Thap pagoda before continuing on to Bat Trang ceramic village. Arrive Bat Trang, we will cycle around the village, meet a craftsman in  workshop. He will show us how to make pottery and then we can try to make some by ourselves.

Join our vehicle again for the drive back to Hanoi. End trip.

At 08:00am, you will be a met up by Lotussia Travel team at your hotel in Hanoi. After briefing and a short warming up exercise, we will leave hotel for a full day bike tour of Hanoi.

The tour is split into a morning session with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Mondays, Fridays and Afternoons), his House On-Stilts, the One-Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature.

After lunch (not included), we will cycle to the Museum of Ethnology where we can find the biggest object collection of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups.

Cycle back to your hotel at around 17:00. End trip.

Itinerary:

Day 1: (Saturday) Lao Cai – Coc Ly – Boat Trip – Bac Ha. (L.D)

After having breakfast, you will travel by car or cycle from Lao Cai Railway Station. The ride is relatively flat from Lao Cai. It will take you through rural area. The road is rougher for the last 16 km. You arrive in Coc Ly, where you start a boat cruise downstream Chay River. Along the ride, you can enjoy magnificent sight of the beautiful caves and life on the riverbank. You will have lunch on a beach or later in Trung Do village of Tay minority, where you can stop by a traditional Tay house for a cup of tea. After lunch, you first cycle on the dirt trail through the village and cross a narrow stream. Your ride will be then on a good road, which goes uphill toward Bac Ha town. You stay overnight in a hotel and have diner in a local restaurant.

Cycling: Approx 5 hours cycling

Day 2: (Sunday) Bac Ha – Lao Cai. (B.L.D)

After having a morning coffee, you take a short walk to visit the old castle of the former Hmong King. From there you can have a view over the town. You will then visit this huge market with its colorful array of ethnic minority people such as Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, Nung who gather to buy and sell. After spending the whole morning exploring the market, your lunch will be served in a local restaurant. After lunch you will be able to take a nice ride around nearby beautiful Ban Pho village of Flower Hmong and Nung minorities. After visit Ban Pho village your start heading back towards Lao Cai by cycle or by car. The ride will be mostly downhill and flat through rural area, which is home to Phu La, Nung and Tay minorities. Before you arrive in Lao Cai, you will be able to stop by china – Vietnamese border, where the Red River flows into Viet Nam territory. You will have time for shower and dinner before you get on a night train to Ha Noi

Cycling: Approx 3 hours cycling

Note: The trip could be started and finished at Sapa or Lao Cai Railways Station, according to your wishes. There will be supply car provided. In case the trip starts from Sapa, the itinerary can be changed depending on your wish. You will be able to spend the night in a traditional Tay house at Trung Do village.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Sapa – Ban Ho – Thanh Phu – Sin Chai

Your trip starts from Sapa. You cycle downhill on a windy road, which goes along Muong Hoa valley. The valley is home to Black Hmong, Giay and Red Dao minorities. From the road you will have many opportunities to enjoy amazing scenery of mountains and rice paddy terraces as far as the eyes can see. After a short break in Su Pan, you will cycle downhill until you reach Thanh Phu village of Tay minority. Here you stop for lunch in a traditional Tay house.
After lunch, your ride will be mostly uphill; you head toward Sin Chai village of Red Dao minority.  Here you will have a tasteful dinner and overnight in a local house.

Cycling: Approx 6 hours cycling.

Day 2: Sin Chai – Nam Nhiu – My Son – Ban Ho – Sapa

Today’s ride will be a little softer. You will pass by some tinny villages. You can stop by a local school and give children some small gifts such as pens or books. You will also be able to meet Xa Pho minority, one of the smallest ethnic group, which cannot be found in other areas. You will pass by Thanh Phu and continue to Ban Ho.

In Ban Ho you will enjoy lunch in a local house. After lunch, you will take a short walk to the nearby river, where you will be able to have a swim. You can take a break and have a cup of tea in a Tay house before you get on a car for a journey back to Sapa.

Cycling: Approx 4 hours cycling

Note: The road from Ban Ho to Thanh Phu and Sin Chai can turn in muddy and slippery in rainy time, and becomes impossible to get through. You will have to walk your bike once in a while in between Sin Chai and Nam Nhiu. The itinerary can be changed in bad weather.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Sapa – Tram Ton – Binh Lu  – Ban Hon

You first travel by car uphill toward Tram Ton. On the way, you can take a short walk to Silver Waterfall and then head to Heaven Gate, where you will be amazed by breathtaking view to mountain surrounding included Fansipan, the highest peak of Indochina. Your ride will be mostly downhill toward Binh Lu. You will stop by Chu Va village of Flower Hmong for a break before you arrive in Binh Lu. Here you will have lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch, you turn in a dirt road to the villages. You will have time to stop by Pa Pen village of Lu minority and then Na Hum of Thai, two group ethnic minorities, which cannot be found in Sapa area. You are in a beautiful valley of rice paddy terraces and Limestone Mountain surrounded. You will arrive in Ban Hon village of Lu minority, where you spend a night in a local house.

Cycling: Approx 4 hours cycling

Day 2: Ban Hon – Tam Duong – Binh Lu – Sapa

The next morning, you cycle toward Tam Duong town. You pass by several villages stretching along the way. The ride is relatively flat. You will be able to visit the market in Tam Duong, where you meet Flower Hmong, Black Dao and Lu minorities. You stop by a local restaurant for lunch.

In the afternoon, you start on your journey back towards Binh Lu. There is almost no traffic and you will cycle through small villages and meet different ethnic minorities. The ride will be mostly downhill and flat. On the way, you can visit a Black Dao village, where you may find a beautiful handicraft for souvenir. Eventually, you arrive in Binh Lu. You will be able to take a short walk to stretch your legs before you get on the car on a journey back to Sapa.

Note: The back road from Binh Lu to Tam Duong can turn in muddy and slippery in rainy time and a small river can come high. Therefore, the itinerary can be changed in bad weather. The night spent in local house in Ban Hon could be changed into hotel accommodation in Tam Duong.

Approx: Total distance: 46 Km
Up / straight / down: 15 km / 0 km / 31 km

Approx: Total distance: 28 Km
Up / straight / down: 0 km/ 8 km/ 20 km

Itinerary:

Your ride will be mostly downhill through suburb of Sapa. You pass by Sapa town before heading downhill to Taphin.  In Taphin, you will witness the daily life among the villages and communities of the Red Dao and Black Hmong minorities. You will also have time to take a short walk around the village. You will later get on the car for the journey back to Sapa.

Cycling: 3 hours cycling

Note: It is possible to cycle all the way from and back to Sapa on a good road as you wish.  There will be a supply car provided.