Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be warmly welcomed by Inbound Vietnam Travel’s guide and private car with our experienced driver and they will transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Spend the afternoon at leisure. In the early evening, we will bring you out for an hour Unesco intangible heritage in Vietnam: Water Puppet and welcoming dinner at a very cosy local restaurant. You will have a chance to explore the city afterwards when it is more colourful.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Notes: The itinerary can be flexible based on the arrival flight schedule; some sites can be visited today to have more time at sites or add some other sites in the next day (with a small surcharge).

After breakfast at your hotel, Our guide and driver will come and escort you for a full day city tour. Firstly, visit Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum then stroll through the garden to the Ho Chi Minh Stilt House where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 until he passed away in 1969. This simple two-room dwelling has been preserved in the same condition as during his life and can be viewed through the windows. Continue to the special architecture 11th century One Pillar Pagoda which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954.

Secondly, visit the Temple of Literature – The first royal academy in the country.

The Temple of Literature has a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, and this monument is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam’s first university. In one courtyard, giant stone tortoises bear stele on their backs, listing the accomplishments of graduating scholars.

Having lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, visit the Museum of Ethnology – one of the 25 most attractive museums in Asia.

The museum was opened in 1997 to preserve and introduce most of the richest cultures, traditions of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. It is a place which is combined with a very green and tranquil garden behind where you can really see and learn more about some of the very popular architectures as King people’s traditional house, Ede tribe’s longhouse, Bana tribe’s communal house, Stilt house of Tay tribe…

Hanoi is a blend of long-established traditions and modern imprints of Western colonization. Tree-lined boulevards and colonial buildings give the city a touch of Western elegance, while crowded blocks of tiny old houses and narrow lanes full of daily life bear the charms of the past centuries. Take 60 minutes to ride on an electric car or a tricycle through Quan Su Pagoda, Silk Road, Hanoi Railway and Hoa Lo Prison then Hanoi Opera House. Back to hotel around 05.00 PM. Have your free night.

Overnight in Hanoi.

This morning, our tour guide and driver will pick you at your hotel and drive you away from Hanoi to Sapa. It takes about 6 hours to reach Sapa town, you will have some stops on the way to stretch your feet and try some local foods as steamed corns, sweet potatoes or have green tea. You also can view the difference of terrain from flat Hanoi to hilly higher parts. After the drive, you will check in the hotel and have lunch at a local restaurant in Sapa.

In the afternoon, your guide will walk you down to a small village - Cat Cat, home to the Black H'mong tribes. As you walk to the village nestled in the valley below Sapa (about 3,5km), you will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here you have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area and have a chance to learn some of their culture and handicrafts. Dinner is served at another restaurant in town. Free at leisure or stroll around the town.

Overnight in Sapa.

Following breakfast, you explore the Sapa daily market and then set out on a 3-4 hour trek along mud paths, trails and through several hill tribe villages to Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Stop for a picnic lunch on the way. When you are at Tavan village, our car is waiting for you and bring you back to Sapa for another overnight stay.

Overnight in Sapa.

Transfer to Bac Ha where the relief from tourists is apparent. Once in Bac Ha, you will have a great chance to attend the biggest market in the northwest which is held only every Sunday – Bac Ha market. The colourful and vibrant Bac Ha Market awaits your presence to meet many ethnicities: Flower H’mong, Black Dzao, Tay, Dzay, Ha Nhi and Nung…then take a tour to the H’mong Kings House that was built by the French in 1920.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

After lunch, move to Ban Pho village and meet with the colourful Tay and H’mong members. Continue to engage with local people by familiarizing yourself with your homestay.

Overnight at homestay in Bac Ha.

This morning, we have breakfast with local products as rice noodle soup or some pancakes with honey. Then say goodbye to the family for hosting us and depart for Dong Van – geopark (one of three geoparks in Vietnam) via mountainous roads and through breathtaking valleys. When you are there, visit the Lung Cam cultural village of H’mong, Hoa people with their beautiful mud houses and yin & yang rooves. Discover the Royal Palace of King Vuong Chi Sinh Hmong, a famous historical site dating from the colonial era.

Lunch is served on the way.

Check-in your hotel by late afternoon. Dinner and enjoy your free time to explore Dong Van town in the evening.

Overnight in Dong Van.

Breakfast at hotel and check out your hotel early to depart for Cao Bang via the Ma Pi Leng Pass of over 2000m - the king of all passes (one of the 4 breathtaking passes in the North of Vietnam). You have an opportunity to admire our stunning scenery on the way to the northeast of our country.

Lunch in Cao Bang before visiting Ban Gioc waterfalls one of the 4 biggest waterfalls lay on the border between 2 countries in the world. Our guide will explain the pride of the beauty spot and the relationship between Vietnam and China. You can hire a raft to cross the border to China and get really close to the falls for unforgettable emotions and great pictures.

Afterwards, drive back to Cao Bang city to check in a new hotel.

Overnight in Cao Bang.

Enjoy breakfast at hotel and leave for Ba Be Lake and Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan province.

Check-in homestay of Tay People in a village by the Lake – Ba Be lake is the biggest natural lake in Vietnam. After lunch at homestay, you can take a short biking trip to Hua Ma cave, the biggest cave in the area. You will have time to discover the villages on the way with many stilt houses – the traditional house type of Tay people.

Enjoy dinner and overnight in a stilt-house homestay.

After breakfast, we will discover Ba Be lake by motorboat, on the way you will visit the Puong Cave, Dau Dang waterfall and the villages of local minorities by the river and the lake.

Back to the homestay for lunch then farewell the family before driving back to Hanoi. You will get back to hotel in Hanoi around 05.00 PM for your check-in or we will bring you straight to Noi Bai airport for your onward flight.

Trip ends.

Inbound Vietnam Travel goodbye and see you again.