Dien Bien Phu and North Vietnam | Authentic Discovery – 11 Days

Greetings from Hanoi. Take a stroll around the ancient quarter.

When you arrive at the Noi Bai airport, a knowledgeable tour guide and driver greet you in the pickup lobby. Enjoy a 45-minute drive to the Old Quarter in the heart of Hanoi while learning about the city's top attractions, customs, traffic, and food.When you go to your hotel, check in and then unwind.

Note: The hotel checks you in at 14.00.

Walkabout tours are a great way to end the day. Commence at the Ba Da tiny pagoda, which is tucked away in a little lane just a little distance from the 19th-century French colonial Hanoi Great Cathedral. Your guide also shows you around some of Hanoi's characteristic streets, such Lan Ong Street, which sells traditional medicine, and Lo Ren Street, which is the location of the metal fabrication industry. Don't forget to explore Hanoi's largest central market, Dong Xuan. Walk on until you reach Ta Hien Street, a well-known destination for nightlife and street food. Here, you'll witness colorful streets with an abundance of delectable regional fare and beverages. Taste-testing some will provide a memorable experience.

Finish up at your lodging.

Note: The walking tour will be rescheduled for the day of the city tour if your flight arrives late or if you have jet leg after a lengthy travel.

Included:
Included:
English speaking guide
Private transportation
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Conifer Grand Hotel(ROH Room)
42 Tho Xuong, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi City, Vietnam

Visiting the French Quarter, learning about Old Town, and exploring the Van Mieu Center for Culture and Education

9:00 AM: Acquire Tour guide pick-up at the Temple of Literature, which was constructed in the eleventh century by the Ly dynasty to revere Confucius and educate royal children. Savor a stroll through the park to Khue Van Cac, the city's emblem. Next, you will see the "stone steles" of World Heritage that list the names of distinguished pupils. Go on exploring Quoc Tu Giam, which is regarded as Vietnam's first national university.

Next, make your way to the Ethnology Museum, which is closed on Mondays but provides a thorough understanding of Vietnamese culture through a variety of ethnic groups' traditional homes, utensils, clothes, and musical instruments. It takes around two hours to thoroughly tour this fascinating museum.

You travel to Hanoi's "little Paris," the French Quarter, which has a large plaza, government buildings, and boulevards lined with trees after midday. See Ho Chi Minh's tomb from the exterior before taking a leisurely stroll through the botanical gardens to see the Presidential Palace, which is Ho Chi Minh's former residence and place of business. In the direction of the distinctive One-pillar pagoda, one of the city's icons. Depending on the number of passengers, exploring this complex takes one to two hours.

Enjoying at last the water puppet displays, which are distinctive acts that date back to the eleventh century. Puppets on water depict Vietnamese culture, daily life, and beliefs in these performances. Usually, a traditional music performance is included in the program.

Return to the hotel. Day's end

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Leisure: Water puppet
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Conifer Grand Hotel(ROH Room)
42 Tho Xuong, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi City, Vietnam

Having a great day seeing Thai, Muong, and tea plantations

8:00 AM: Pick up your driver and tour guide at your Hanoi hotel, then travel via Thanh Son to Muong Lo. Muong Thanh in Dien Bien Phu, Muong Tac in Phu Yen, Muong Than in Than Uyen, and Muong Lo are considered the four most significant fertile valleys in the Northwest, where the Thai ethnic group is the majority. The village's hundreds of wooden stilt-built homes are inhabited by Thai people who grow water rice. Travel down the Black River, also known as the Da River, one of the most significant rivers in the Northwest, to reach National Road Number 32.

We will stop at the green tea plantation hill in Thanh Son and then stroll through the villages with stilt houses. As an authentic Vietnamese group, it is a member of the Muong ethnic group. One of the few ethnic groups in the north unaffected by Chinese influence is the Muong.

Once at Nghia Lo, explore the Thai village on foot or by bicycle, taking in the picturesque rice field valleys and hamlets that have managed to retain their traditional stilt dwellings while mingling with the amiable inhabitants.

Note: We welcome you to stay at our homestay, which has basic amenities including a clean mattress, pillow, mosquito net, blankets, outdoor toilet, and hot water shower, for a more genuine experience and to engage with the locals. However, hotel service is also available; please get in touch with us for helpful recommendations.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
Bike: Nghia Lo
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Nghia Lo Homestay (Ms Loan) (Sharing homestay)
Nghia Lo town, Yen Bai , Vietnam

Taking in the finest of Thai, Dao, and Dzay culture while exploring the top terraces in Mu Cang Chai, La Pan Tan, and Tu Le

After having breakfast, proceed to Nghia Lo to explore a local market before traveling via Tu Le to Mu Cang Chai. Mu Cang Chai is renowned for having the stunning rice terrace that many people believe to be the most beautiful in the entire globe. Che Cu Nha, De Su Phinh, and La Pan Tan were included onto the national heritage list in 2007 as outdoor masterpieces.

You will traverse the steep area at Nghia Lo's exit, where the Dao ethnic community resides. On the way, make a stop to snap pictures and chat with the locals.

Reach Tu Le. You may go to the valley where the Thai people live in stilt huts and have some unique experiences that let you fully immerse yourself in the way of life here. Proceed to Khau Pha Pass in the afternoon for a breathtaking overview of the rice terrace valley.

After that, the vehicle will transport you to La Pan Tan, a well-known location for photographers. You will be in awe of the exquisite works of art on rice terraces produced by Hmong peasant artisans over many generations. Take in the breathtaking scenery as you go from La Pan Tan to Mam Xoi. At the end of the day, check into your lodging.

Note: We encourage you to stay at a homestay with the following necessities for a more genuine experience and to engage with the locals: a clean mattress, pillow, mosquito net, blankets, outside toilet, and hot water shower. However, hotel services are also offered; please get in touch with us for helpful recommendations.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Mu Cang Chai Homestay (Sharing homestay)
Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai , Vietnam

Seeing the Black and White Thai minority and touring Dien Bien Phu's historical sites.

7:30 AM: Travel via Tuan Giao, a stunning region of rice terraces and mountains that envelop you as you travel, to Dien Bien Phu. We take the calm national route 279 to Tuan Giao after leaving Than Uyen. When you reach Ban Chat Reservoir, a sizable body of water that will follow you for 20 kilometers, take a quick stroll to take in the peace and breathtaking scenery. Proceed driving across the Da River, one of the most significant rivers in the north, to reach the Pa Uon Bridge in Quynh Nhai. Return to get amazing pictures and mingle with the locals. After arriving at Tuan Giao at midday, eat lunch at a neighborhood eatery.

Proceed towards Dien Bien Phu, passing through the Black Thai and White Thai ethnic groups' territory. Dien Bien Phu is positioned strategically close to the borders of China, Laos, and Vietnam. This 18 km long and 6km broad valley is encircled by mountains rising to a height of 1000m. In 1954, the major battleground between the French invasion army and the Viet Minh was the valley.

Reach Dien Bien Phu around 15:30, and then proceed to the War Museum on A1 Hill, which provides a command post perspective over the basin, a tribute to the French expeditionary force troops, and a symbol of peace between France and Vietnam. After checking into your accommodation, unwind.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
A1 Hotel(Double / Twin Room)
3 Hoang Cong Chat street, Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien , Vietnam

Scenic drive to see Thai minorities, the Kho Mu people

After breakfast, travel 210 kilometers to Lai Chau, the home of various ethnic groups, including the Kho Mu, and visit the local market beside the historically significant Muong Thanh Bridge. Dien Bien Phu is not far from Lai Chau. There are 60,000 Kho Mu, who are originally from Northern Laos and dwell on the hill slopes between the Hmong and Thai communities. You are going to a place where the Hmong people are really vibrant. Muong Lay sees the local women as she passes Muong Cha; they are dressed in colorful traditional garb and have jewelry made of gold or silver. See the locals and their actual way of life by visiting the villages.

Arrive in Muong Lay, the new home of hundreds of Thai peasants. They had previously lived in the lowlands flooded by the hydropower reservoir Lai Chau-Son La. You can pause here for a cup of tea if you'd like. The journey is accompanied by breathtaking landscapes, including the Nam Na River. See Hmong and Thai settlements along the way before arriving at Lai Chau City in the late afternoon. After you arrive at your hotel, relax.

Note: Before beginning the drive to Lai Chau, it is possible to visit the vibrant local market in the morning close to Muong Thanh Bridge.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Muong Thanh Lai Chau Hotel(Deluxe Room)
113 Le Duan street, Lai Chau city, Lai Chau , Vietnam

Simple hiking in Na Tam while seeing the Lu and Laotian people

Travel the Hoang Lien Son mountain range on your way to Sapa. We will head to Na Tam Village, home to the Laotian and Lu people, after leaving Tam Duong. This is a lovely, serene setting. The local ladies are identified by their customs, which include wearing indigo-colored garments covered with silver coins and having black teeth. Visit the village and get to know the people by taking a little stroll.

Meet our driver for a transfer to Sapa, crossing Hoang Lien Son pass (O Quy Ho pass). This is the longest and highest pass in Vietnam, 54km in length and 2047m in height. Stop to relax at the top of the pass and soak up the grandiose landscape. This is also a great place for photos.

Arrive at Sapa in the afternoon. Originally discovered by the French in 1903, Sapa has a temperate climate and a picturesque rice valley that draws tourists. The town is home to the Black Hmong, Red Dao, and Dzay ethnic groups.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Sapa Elegance Hotel(Deluxe Room)
3 Hoang Dieu street, Sapa town, Lao Cai , Vietnam

Trekking through Muong Hoa Valley's rice terraces, stopping to see the Hmong and Dzay people, and then traveling to Bac Ha

8:00 AM: Have breakfast with the tour guide and take a lovely 5-kilometer drive west of town. We will set off from Y Linh Ho village for a full day of hiking. Take the route that leads downhill and engage in conversation with the amiable H'mong women and kids who reside in homes tucked away in the valley. Savor a little peace and quiet while admiring the harmony and beauty of the surrounding environment from the cable-bridge. If you're feeling fit and daring, take the scenic and less-traveled uphill route via the Buffalo Path. Take a stroll along the Muong Hoa River if you're searching for a short hike.

Straight to a quaint hamlet by heading to Lao Chai village and taking a short trail that winds through the rice fields. You'll get the opportunity to meet a grandmother who is the last artisan left in the village, decorating the distinctive Hmong indigo garments using ancient methods of beeswax decoration. It's also a great chance to become fully immersed in their lively culture and way of life.

Proceed to Ta Van hamlet, the quaint Dzay homeland, which is perched on a hill and offers breathtaking views of the Hoang Lien Son Mountain range, a river, and rice terraces. Meet people on your stroll and they will extend a warm invitation for you to visit their houses.

After lunch at a neighborhood eatery, return to Bac Ha via Thanh Kim and Thanh Phu, taking in the breathtaking scenery of the mountains, rivers, and hydroelectric lakes along the route. Bac Ha, which lies at an elevation of 1000 meters, is the home of several ethnic groups, including the vibrant Hmong, Phu La, and Tay. The Bac Ha district is well-known for its vibrant, weekly markets set against a backdrop of breathtaking wildness. For ages, the marketplaces have served as a platform for the cultural interchange of many ethnic groups, in addition to the trade of products.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Huy Trung's Homestay(Double Room)
Na Quang 3, Bac Ha town, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai , Vietnam

Returning to Hanoi after touring a typical mountain, Bac Ha Maket

7:00 AM: Begin your exploration of Bac Ha; on Sundays, you may visit a vibrant, multicultural market. If not, we can go to the Can Cau market on Saturday or the Coc Ly market on Tuesday. Savor the eye-catching ambiance surrounded by a plethora of commodities, including vegetables, chickens, horses, and buffalos, while photographing several minority groups dressed in their week's most vibrant attire. Following your visit to the market, stroll through a few charming ethnic villages. This is a typical Bac Ha environment, with clay buildings, corn fields, and hills covered with cassava. Along the way, you will see H'Mong ladies decorating plum gardens and wearing vibrant clothing.

Return to the city for lunch before making the journey to Hanoi. Arrive at the hotel at 6:00 p.m.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Conifer Grand Hotel(ROH Room)
42 Tho Xuong, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi City, Vietnam

Cooking lesson, touring Cap La Island, sailing in Bai Tu Long Bay, and spending the night aboard a boat.

8:00 AM: Pickup from your accommodation (located in the Old Quarter of Hanoi). Take pleasure in a three-hour journey to Bai Tu Long Bay from Hanoi. The Red River Delta's chain of communities and rice paddies will pass by on your travels. Stop and get a drink and use the restroom. Proceed with your drive, reach the harbor around midday, and get a hearty greeting at the cruise reception.

Arrive at our waiting room at the Ha Long International Cruise Port between 11:30 and 11:45 AM. While you wait for our captain to finish the registration procedure, take a moment to unwind. Next, make the tender transfer to our boat.

12:00 - 12:15 PM: Before settling into your cabin, take advantage of a welcome drink and a quick safety instruction about what to do while on board.

13:00: Savor a delectable Vietnamese set menu lunch as you continue to cruise slowly into Bai Tu Long Bay.

15:00: Reach Cap La Island, the kayaking location. In addition to swimming and unwinding, take pleasure in kayaking among the stunning scenery and karst formations.

17:40: Head back to the boat and take part in our Sunset Party while we cruise to the anchorage for the night. Take in a Vietnamese culinary demonstration and learn how to prepare a tasty yet straightforward dish like Nem Cuon, or try your hand at cutting fruits and vegetables.

19:00: Savor a lavish set meal while on board.

20:30 - 22:00: Use your free time to take on new challenges in Vietnamese puzzle games, play board games with your family or friends, go squid fishing, or just kick back with a glass and take in the peaceful evening on the bay.

Included:
Shuttle bus: Hanoi - Halong
English speaking guide (on board)
Meal: B, L, D
Entrance fees
Kayak: Halong
Leisure: Swimming
Cooking class: Halong (on board) - cooking demonstration
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Swan Cruise - 2D1N(Deluxe Cabin)
3 Dang Thai Than street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi City, Vietnam

Seeing the wonders of Thien Canh Son Cave, taking a breathtaking cruise, then returning to Hanoi to catch a flight home or to another location

06:30 AM: Take part in a Tai Chi class at sunrise on the sundeck or simply relax with a cup of tea or coffee while taking in the breathtaking morning scenery of the bay.

07:00: To set you up for a full day of exploring, a Western-style breakfast will be given.

07:45 AM: Investigate Thien Canh Son Cave, which is well concealed.

09:00 AM: Head back to the boat and spend a half hour getting ready and packing.

9:30 AM: End of stay.

10:00 AM: Savor a customary Vietnamese meal while dining on the boat.

Head back to the port around 10:30 AM.

At Ha Long Cruise Port, disembark between 11:15 and 11:30 AM.

After being greeted by the driver at the harbor, return to Hanoi with pleasure. Stop in the midst to take a break. Deliver to your accommodation (located in the Old Quarter of Hanoi).

Upon your request, a private driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby in the Hanoi Old Quarter and transport you to Noi Bai airport, either the international or domestic hall, in around 45 minutes. We appreciate you coming to our city.

Note:For domestic and international flights, you must be at the airport two hours prior to departure time.

Included:
English speaking guide (on board)
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Leisure: Morning Tai Chi
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day