Vietnam Adventure Retreat – 9 Days

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam!

On your first day, you can arrive in Hanoi at any time as the only activity scheduled is the airport pick up. The driver will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel. Once you have checked in, the rest of the day is free for you to rest or explore the city and form your own first impressions of Vietnam. The airport transfer is included in the itinerary, so you don’t have to worry about arranging transportation on your own.

Stay overnight in Hanoi and get ready for an exciting adventure!

• Meal: NA
• Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Morning

Wake up and enjoy the early morning in Hanoi, followed by a hearty breakfast. At around 8:00 AM, your tour guide will pick you up for a half-day city tour of Hanoi.

• Explore the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university and a symbol of Confucian influence on the country’s history and culture.
• Marvel at the unique structure of the One Pillar Pagoda and learn about its fascinating creation.
• Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of the revered Vietnamese leader who fought for independence.
• Discover the scenic West Lake, surrounded by historical attractions, and visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, an important Buddhist site located right on the lake.
• Conclude the tour with a delightful traditional Vietnamese lunch at an authentic restaurant before bidding farewell.

Before saying goodbye, we will stop and have a delightful authentic traditional lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant.

Afternoon

Free time at leisure for the rest of the day. At 18h00 Enjoy a water puppet show. Have a rest of your day!

• Meals: B, L
• Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Excursion to Muong village and exploration of the Thai culture in the villages of Lac, Na Phon, and Poong Com

8:00 AM: Meet the driver and tour guide before heading to Mai Chau. Visit a Muong village on the journey. Before reaching Mai Chau town, continue on to Thung Khe pass where you may enjoy breath-taking panoramic views of the valley. A stunning valley called Mai Chau can be found 145 kilometers from Hanoi. It is a wonderful location with beautiful scenery, lush mountain ranges, rice terraces, and ethnic White Thai settlements.

Arrive in Mai Chau, settle into your lodging, and have a lunch break. Take a walk or a 5 km bike ride to the rice fields in the afternoon. Learn about the customs and way of life of the inhabitants of the villages of Lac, Na Phon, and Poong Com. Observe the craftsmen weaving and the rural workers in the rice fields. and encounter with locals. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

• Meals: B, L
• Accommodation: Mai Chau Valley View Hotel

After breakfast, trek from Mai Chau to the small village of Mai Hich. Start the day with a 30-minute transfer to Mai Ha Village, then hike through Kha and Te Villages, and stop at Buoc Village for lunch. Marvel at the scenic hills and sprawling rice fields.

Continue the trek to Mai Hich Village and interact with the local ethnic minorities, immersing yourself in their culture and daily lives.

In the late afternoon, return to Mai Chau Valley veiew and enjoy a traditional dance performance by the Thai minority.

• Meals: B, L
• Accommodation: Mai Chau Valley View Hotel

Continue your off-the-beaten-path journey in Vietnam, heading south for 2 hours through a stunning mountain pass to reach the breathtaking Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Check-in at the eco-friendly Pu Luong Retreat and savor the panoramic views of the magnificent scenery.

After lunch, visit the suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you’ll discover the impressive water wheels. Examine each wheel and learn about the innovative bamboo aqueducts that transport water from the river. Take a break at a local fisherman’s house for tea before embarking on a river adventure aboard handcrafted wooden rafts.

Upon reaching the rustic Tan Lap Bridge, conclude your rafting experience and return to your accommodation in Pu Luong.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Pu Luong Retreat

Embark on a village exploration and day-hike in the area, venturing into a stunning valley adorned with cascading rice terraces. Traverse through narrow paths surrounded by flourishing vegetation and marvel at the charming villages nestled along the mountainside. Upon reaching the village, witness the agricultural work performed by men in the farms and rice fields, and gain insights into the traditional practices of rice wine-making and intricate textile weaving by women.

In the afternoon, return to the Pu Luong Retreat and enjoy leisure time to independently explore the scenic landscape on foot or by bicycle.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Pu Luong Retreat

Embark on a captivating day-hike through the stunning valley adorned with cascading rice terraces, immersing yourself in the village life of the area.

Stroll along enchanting small paths enveloped in lush vegetation, offering scenic views of the picturesque villages nestled at the base of the mountains.

Upon reaching the village, witness the diligent work of men in the farms and rice fields, while learning about the art of rice wine-making and the intricate craft of weaving colorful textiles carried out by women.

In the afternoon, return to the Pu Luong Retreat and indulge in some leisure time to independently explore the captivating landscape, either on foot or by bicycle.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Pu Luong Retreat

Enjoy your breakfast in the tranquil setting before traveling to Mai Hich. Take a walk or a bike ride along the concrete roads and paths to explore. The stunning scenery, which includes villages, rice fields, mountains, and streams all in perfect harmony with one another, will enchant you. Don’t pass up the chance to converse with the kind locals who are always happy to invite you into their home for a cup of tea.

Return to Mai Chau for lunch before leaving for Ninh Binh, stopping along the road to meet the locals and snap pictures as you please. Check into your lodging when you arrive in Ninh Binh in the late afternoon. 

• Meals: B, L
•  Accommodation: La Belle Vie Tam Coc Homestay (Deluxe Room)

After having breakfast, our driver take you straight to the Halong Bay. Make a pit stop for a drink and a potty break. Continue driving to the harbor around noon, where you will be greeted warmly at the cruise greeting.

12:30: You will join our support vessel and proceed from the quay to our elegant yacht via the bay. Fresh drinks, cold towels, and a special meal of fresh food and an assortment of delectable delights will be offered as a welcome. When you indulge in our luxurious crap, you will be delighted. Life doesn’t get any better than this! After that, we set sail for Lan Ha Bay, one of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays.

15:30: We will explore the Dark and Bright Cave – a hidden gem of Lan Ha Bay with its untouched natural beauty and enchanting seascapes. You will have a chance to take some amazing photos of the scenic views and the local life. You will also enjoy bamboo boats and swimming – two fun activities that let you experience the beauty of the limestone mountains and the blue sky of Lan Ha Bay. You will feel refreshed and relaxed in the emerald green water of Lan Ha Bay with its swimming activities or in the mini pool with jacuzzi on Peony Cruise.

17:30: Return to the cruise. Join the sunset party on Lan Ha Bay. This is a perfect time for photography lovers to capture the stunning moment of sunset at Lan Ha Bay.

19:30: Have a romantic dinner at the restaurant on the cruise.

21:00: Experience the nightlife of the bay from the top deck. Listen to music, enjoy a cocktail from the bar, watch famous movies and relax on the cruise. Or you can try squid fishing with the sailors or just relax in your room and watch the bay from the balcony.

• Meals: B, L, D
• Accommodation: Overnight on cruise

Wake up to your last morning in Halong Bay. Try Tai Chi on the sundeck as the sun rises

• From 6:30 to 7:30, enjoy a delicious breakfast at the Cruise restaurant.
• At 8:00, we will reach the Frog Pond area, where you can kayak and relax in the four-season mini pool on Lan Ha Bay – a stunning landscape of green mountains, blue seas and diverse wildlife.
• At 9:30, check out of your room and have lunch at the restaurant. Settle any extra charges (if any) at the reception while we head back to the port.
• At 11:15 – 11:30, disembark and transfer to the port.
• At 11:30 – 11:45, you will arrive at Tuan Chau International Marina Station.

Our driver will welcome you at the harbor and take you back to Hanoi on the new highway No5B, passing through the Red River Delta and villages. You will be dropped off at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter).

Our private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby (Hanoi Old Quarter) and drive you to Noi Bai airport (international or domestic hall according to your request) in about 45 minutes. Thank you for visiting our city.

Note: Please be at the airport 3 hours before international flights and 2 hours before domestic flights.

• Meals: B, L
• Accommodation: NA