Trip Snapshot
Route
Hanoi - Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay
Highlights
- • Intimate Cyclo Ride through the historic Old Quarter and a refined Half-day City Tour
- • Cycling through rice fields and villages with a genuine hosted meal with a local Thai family in Mai Chau
- • Traditional wooden rowboat through the towering limestone karsts of Tam Coc/Trang An
- • Elevated Overnight Cruise through spectacular Lan Ha Bay with a special Farewell Dinner on deck
- • Seamless transition from 1000-year-old capital to ancient mountains to timeless bay
Travel Moments
Selected Vietnam highlights from this journey.
Travel Moments Gallery
8 photos
Itinerary
Upon arrival in Hanoi, your private guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the elegant capital. After a brief rest, set out on a leisurely Cyclo Ride - a charming, slow-paced way to discover Hanoi's historic Old Quarter without effort.
Where you go
- Noi Bai Airport
- Hanoi Old Quarter
What you do
- Airport pickup
- Cyclo ride through Old Quarter
Hanoi offers a wealth of sites to explore: Temple of Literature, Vietnamese Women's Museum, Old Quarter, and Fine Arts Museum, the Ethnology Museum and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex. For those interested in history, visit the National Museum of History, B-52 Victory Museum, Hoa Lo Prison, or Huu Tiep Lake where the wreckage of a B-52 bomber still rests. Let your guide tailor the perfect route for you.
Where you go
- Temple of Literature
- Ho Chi Minh Complex
- Hanoi Old Quarter
What you do
- Guided city tour
- Museum visits
- Local lunch
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Today, we leave the urban landscape and drive through peaceful rural scenery and mountains to reach Mai Chau, a tranquil valley retreat. This area is home to the White Thai ethnic community, offering a complete contrast to the city. Check into your beautiful lodge and immediately begin to enjoy the fresh air, lush rice terraces, and quiet rhythm of village life.
Where you go
- Hanoi
- Mai Chau Valley
What you do
- Scenic drive
- Ecolodge check-in
- Valley exploration
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Choose your preferred pace: either enjoy a relaxing bicycle ride through the rice fields and stilt villages of Mai Chau, or opt for a gentle hike in the stunning terraced hills of Pu Luong National Park. The highlight is a genuine Hosted Lunch shared with a local Thai family, providing a warm, cultural moment of stories and customs over authentic cuisine.
Where you go
- Mai Chau Rice Fields
- Thai Villages
- Pu Luong
What you do
- Family cycling or hiking
- Village visit
- Hosted lunch
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Today is dedicated entirely to complete rest and rejuvenation. Mai Chau's peaceful atmosphere and mountain air make it a favorite place to unwind. You are free to read, swim, enjoy the lodge amenities, or take another gentle walk through the quiet surrounding villages.
Where you go
- Mai Chau Ecolodge
What you do
- Pool time
- Village walk
- Leisure
Meals
- Breakfast
Depart Mai Chau and travel through beautiful rural landscapes to Ninh Binh. After lunch, board a traditional wooden rowboat and let a local guide you along tranquil waterways. Drift between towering limestone karsts - a magnificent area often called Vietnam's "Inland Halong Bay" - where green valleys and timeless pagodas create a sense of profound calm.
Where you go
- Mai Chau
- Ninh Binh
- Tam Coc
What you do
- Transfer to Ninh Binh
- Rowboat trip
- Cave exploration
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Drive from Ninh Binh to the coast and embark on your luxurious Overnight Cruise. Enjoy a gourmet lunch as the ship glides among spectacular limestone formations of Halong Bay. The afternoon offers optional activities such as kayaking, swimming, or exploring a hidden cave within the majestic seascape.
Where you go
- Ninh Binh
- Halong Bay
What you do
- Drive to Halong
- Board cruise
- Kayaking
- Swimming
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch on cruise
- Gourmet dinner
Sail into Lan Ha Bay, a quieter, more secluded part of the archipelago known for its pristine waters and smaller islands. Spend the day relaxing on deck or joining specialized activities. This evening, gather for a memorable Farewell Dinner on deck - an unforgettable night surrounded by dramatic limestone silhouettes under the stars.
Where you go
- Lan Ha Bay
What you do
- Tai Chi
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Farewell dinner on deck
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch on cruise
- Farewell dinner
Awaken to the soft morning light filtering over the bay. After a final breakfast, disembark the cruise and transfer directly to the airport (Hanoi or Hai Phong) for your onward journey. You depart with a rich tapestry of Northern Vietnam's elegant culture and breathtaking natural wonders.
Where you go
- Halong Bay
- Noi Bai Airport
What you do
- Final breakfast
- Disembark
- Airport transfer
Meals
- Breakfast
What Makes This Tour Special
A perfectly balanced northern Vietnam journey - from the elegance of Hanoi to the tranquility of Mai Chau mountains and the grandeur of Lan Ha Bay.
Hotel Options
Inclusions & Exclusions
What's Included
- All accommodation as per tour grade
- Private transportation with A/C
- English-speaking local guide
- Meals as mentioned in itinerary
- All entrance fees & activities
- Airport pickup & drop-off
- 24/7 local support
What's Not Included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips & gratuities
- Visa fees (if applicable)
- Drinks & meals not mentioned
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