Vietnam Adventure Tour – 9 Days

General Information

Tour Highlights

• Tonkin show
• One step closer to the impressive vista of off beaten path area of Vietnam
• Authentic experience as you bumping into the ethnic locals
• Biking trip in Tam Coc

Tour Details

Duration: 9 Days/ 8 Nights
Start/ End: Hanoi/ Ho Chi Minh
Tour Route: Hanoi – Mu Cang Chai – Hang Co Vua Village – Hua Khat Village – Sapa – Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Tam Coc – Mua Cave – Hoa Lu Temple – Hanoi
Tour Type: Tailor-made tour
Tour Customizable: Definitely! Tell us your interest
Vehicle: private air-conditioned vehicle and licensed driver
Guide Service: private English-speaking guide
Tour Departure: No fixed departure. Anytime you wish!

Brief Itinerary

Day 01: Hanoi Arrival – Tonkin Show
Day 02: Hanoi – Mu Cang Chai
Day 03: Hang Co Vua Village – Hua Khat Village
Day 04: Explore Hill Tribe – Transfer to Sapa
Day 05: Sapa – Hill Tribe Village Experience
Day 06: Sapa – Hill Tribe Village Experience
Day 07: Sapa – Cable car to Fanxipan | Back to Hanoi
Day 08: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Tam Coc – Mua Cave | Biking trip to Thung Nam
Day 09: Half-day Visit Bear Sanctuary – Departure

Full Itinerary

Day 01: Hanoi Arrival – Tonkin Show

Upon arrival, our representative will be waiting to warmly greet you and escort you to the hotel. At 16h00, you move to Hanoi Tower, just 3 km away from your hotel.

Check-in meeting point of Tonkin show. We drive by bus around 30 km to see the Tonkin show. Operated only Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, the Quintessence of Tonkin Show is one of the most interesting shows in Hanoi at this stage. The Show lasts from 7.30 PM to 8.30 PM and draws inspiration from the spiritual history of the nearby Thay Pagoda where you will be told about the story of the pagoda's founding by venerable monk Tu Dao Hanh, and an explanation of the ancient union between religion and the monarchy. Years in the making and with hundreds of performers, an interactive stage, state-of-the-art technology, as well as a stunning setting, the show is an unmissable highlight.

The local restaurants with local cuisine, enjoy your dinner.

Day 02: Hanoi – Mu Cang Chai (L – D)

Around 8h00, our driver and guide come and pick up. We move directly for Mu Cang Chai. It takes around 5 driving hours to get there. Arrive at noontime, have lunch at the restaurant.
Check-in Le Charm Resort. (Kindly note that this resort is about to complete, the rooms and restaurants, swimming pool, Onsen are all ready to welcome the clients, the receptionist area is under construction).

This afternoon is time to wander around and villages nearby the resort. Our afternoon’s itinerary today is:

14:00: Depart from the resort
14:15: Go to the top of the Khau Pha pass, go to the parachute point (15-minutes for taking photos). 14:30: Get on the bus and move to the Mam Xoi hill area.
15:00: Arrive the Mam Xoi hill area, you walk up the hill to visit.
17:30: Arrive at the resort, overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Hang Co Vua Village – Hua Khat Village (B – L – D)

This morning, we walk from the small village of H’mong named Hang Co Vua, then we walk on a small trail. We follow the terraces fields and conquer the pine forest. It is an opportunity to get into the fresh air cool in the middle of nature and mountains. When we go on a small road in the forest, we will have the opportunity to look at the forest orchid flowers, hear the birds singing and the occasional squirrel in a tree. After 2 hours walk, we will encounter villages where people Hua Khat ethnic minority Hmong live, where we will explore extremely simple lives and many wild characters. Yet indigenous people could not communicate with us because of the language barrier, but they are very friendly and open welcome when we visit their home. Leaving the village of the Hmong people we will be completely amazed at seeing the valley of terraced fields, which is the mark of human impact on nature in a harmonious way. You are able to imagine as the space carved by the hands of the artists.

After lunch, we continue to traverse to Cai Dong – La Khat Village and get into the picturesque vista of Mu Cang Chai. The stunning scene and simple life of the Hmong people is the highlight of your first day. When we arrive at the Ecolodge, check-in and rest for dinner with regional specialties.
Approx: 6 km easy walk – 3,5 hours

Day 04: Explore Hill Tribe – Transfer to Sapa (B – L – D)

Today, we depart and head to the Thai village. From the Ecolodge, we drive to Sang Village where the Hmong live. Then you walk for 2 hours on the trail, it is also the border between two provinces of Yen Bai and Son La. Standing on the trail, you watch the spectacular terraced fields in Ngoc Chien valley. The beautiful scenery here is considered an ideal destination for photographers and painters. Standing down from above, you will be startled and ask yourself is this work of man or god. Continue in the pine forest and down the valley, we will explore the life of the Thai minority. The stilts situated along the stream as the Thai people's symbol from ancient times. we will have lunch here. Then we have time to stroll through the small streets in the village to interact with the locals. Check out the resort and drive to Sapa. It takes 4 driving hours from Mu Cang Chai to Sapa. Check-in hotel in Sapa for overnight.
Approx: 7 km easy walking – almost 3,5 hours

Day 05: Sapa – Hill Tribe Village Experience (B – L – D)

Ready to be greeted by the local tour guide who gives a brief introduction about the whole tour. After that, the trekking expedition starts. We will go off the main road, onto hilly mountainous trails. Our surrounding is filled with lush vegetation, pine forest, and fresh air. We will experience the pristine beauty of the area. Ma Tra is the newly added location in a series of villages in Sapa that visitors can go to. The village is roughly 5km from the Sapa town. This has approximately 50 households, resided by only H’mong people. Ma Tra village has restored the traditional flax weaving loom, forging tools and carved silver production as part of tourism. After 3h walks from Matra, we reach Ta Phin village where the Red Dao and H’mong reside. With this mix of ethnicity, the culture is this village is rather exciting and colorful. Lunch will be served on the way to a local family.

We will also have a chance to visit the unique caves in the Ta Phin area. This cave system is small and meandering, leading to all different directions but will eventually lead us to one point. The village also has an old monastery built during the French colonial period. There is also an arts and crafts house displaying and selling authentic jewelry made by the locals. In the late afternoon, we will take our car back to the town.
Approx: 0,5-hour driving/ 4 hours walking/1-hour lunch.

Day 06: Sapa – Hill Tribe Village Experience (B – L – D)

This morning, welcomed at hotel in Sapa by local guide and driver for a short transfer to Cat Cat village. After a few minutes, we follow steps going downhill to Cat Cat village. We will stop by a waterfall and a hydroelectric station for a while before we keep going the trek on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraces. We also will admire spectacular scenery while walking along a narrow river. Eventually, we arrive in Y Linh Ho village of the Black Hmong minority, where we can take a rest while we are served lunch near the river.

After lunch, we head to Muong Hoa valley. We will pass through Lao Chai village where Black Hmong minority lives and then Ta Van village where Giay minority lives by following a very popular trekking route. Then, return Sapa from Ta Van by car.

Day 07: Sapa – Cable car to Fanxipan | Back to Hanoi (B – L)

After breakfast, we take a 4-minute Mountain Train through valleys, viaducts, and tunnels offering beautiful views of surrounding villages as well as nature. Reaching the Cable Car station, we get off the train and enjoy another 20 minutes cable car ride up to the top. Normally, it takes at least two or three days to reach the Peak of Fanxipan Mountain on foot. However, with the newly three-rope cable car system, we can see the peak and spectacular surroundings from the peak within half a day.

After a 20-minute ride, we start challenging yourself with 636 high steps up to Fanxipan Summit – which is considered ‘The Roof of Indochina’ with 3,143-meter height. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of Hoang Lien Mountain and lush forest, we walk down to the cable car station and ride back. Take the Mountain Train back to town and have lunch in a restaurant. Take a limousine sharing van back to Hanoi. Check-in hotel in Hanoi for overnight.

Day 08: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Tam Coc – Mua Cave | Biking trip to Thung Nam (B – L – D)

Pick up at hotel in Hanoi, we will take a 2-hour drive to Ninh Binh which is around 100 Km away from Hanoi. On arrival, we will climb up on the Ngu Nhac mountain to visit Bich Dong Pagoda, an ancient pagoda originally built-in 1428. We then take a 10-minute drive to our hotel – Tam Coc Garden, a luxury and eco-friendly resort nestled in Thung Nham (Nham Valley) to check-in and lunch.

In the afternoon, we will have a traditional sampan rowing on Nham River to Thung Nang (Sunshine Valley) (1.5 Km from the hotel) or you can take a bicycle ride to Tam Coc (Three Grottoes) where you take a 2-hour rowing boat in the river and then on land to Thai Vi Temple. If time permits, we go to Hang Mua with more than 486 steps to get the overview of Tam Coc. In the late afternoon, we will cycle back to our hotel, rest by the pool until dinner. Overnight in Tam Coc Garden.
Approx: 2.5hour driving / 2 hours walking /1-hour biking2.5hour driving / 2 hours walking /1-hour biking

Day 09: Half-day Visit Bear Sanctuary - Departure

Let start your second day in Ninh Binh with a trip to the only Bear Sanctuary in Southern Vietnam where black bears are seriously protected. Once there, you will get an opportunity to witness naught; however adorable black bears playing, seeking food, or even sitting inertly to think about something that we will never know. In the sanctuary. you can enjoy a program of preparing food for them. Each bear in the sanctuary has its own name and each name regards a specific history of each. You will have a great time in the Bear Sanctuary in Ninh Binh. Later, take a drive back to Hanoi for departure.

Your journey ends. Hope you enjoyed it and wish that we could serve you for your next multi country Asia tour packages.