Welcome to Hanoi! On arrival in Hanoi, you will be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to our centrally located hotel. We will have a full trip and safety briefing before exploring this vibrant city the way the locals do, by cyclo! It’s then off to celebrate with a welcome dinner in a local restaurant and an opportunity to sample specialty dishes of the north. Overnight in Hanoi

Meals:  D

After breakfast, the tour leader will give a comprehensive tour briefing. Afterwards, the group will first take a walk across the old colonial district to the Vietnam Women Museum. A very interesting place to learn more about the place of women in Vietnam’s History and the evolution of their roles in the society. Then a quick bus transfer and lunch is served at the KOTO restaurant, a social enterprise that trains disadvantaged youths. In the early afternoon, the group visits to the Temple of Literature to get insights about the roots and place of Confucianism in Vietnam society. Then visit the Ho Chi Minh complex to learn about the period of Vietnam’s war and unification. After a break at the hotel to refresh, the group transfer/walk to the Old Quarter to the restaurant for our dinner.

Meals:  B,L,D

In the morning, drive to the mountainous region of Mai Chau. Mai Chau is inhabited by a majority of White Thai people living in hamlets of wooden houses on stilts. But before Mai Chau let’s drive up to the heights of the province to meet with a Hmong ethnic community. Reach Hang Kia, a little village perched 1,300 meters (433 ft) above sea level in a narrow and rocky mountainous circus. Lunch is served at a local guesthouse and in the afternoon join the women of the village on a traditional Batik dyeing workshop. Hmong women are famous for their embroidery and dyeing skills. Most of the clothes wear by the people are still homemade. Transfer to Ban Buoc for dinner and overnight.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, the group will start with a 15 km (9 mi) cycling tour on narrow pathways across villages and passing by vegetables gardens, rice fields. This will give an overview of the rural daily life in the region. After the tour, a cooking session is arranged with the women of a village. Students will learn how to cook several iconic dishes including the rice cooked in bamboo. Lunch on the spot with the food cooked by the group plus some additional dishes. In the afternoon relax by the swimming pool or take a walk around the village. Overnight in a guesthouse on stilts. Evening traditional folklore show by the women of the village.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning, after breakfast we say goodbye to the local people and transfer to Ninh Binh. We arrive Ninh Binh at noon time. This area is called “Halong Bay on land”. In the afternoon, we will enjoy the boat trip in Tam Coc. We can explore the scenic limestone karst landscapes and picturesque caves along the Ngo Dong River. Afterwards, we go back to hotel for refreshment and relax before our transfer to a local restaurant for dinner. Driving time: approximately 3 hours

Meals:  B,L,D

Departure from the hotel at 9:00. About a 3-hour transfer to Halong Bay with a stop en-route. The group boards a private boat and starts the cruise with lunch onboard. Afternoon activity could include some kayaking or the visit of a cave. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Meals:  B,L,D

For early birds, you will join Tai Chi session on the sundeck. This is good way to start your day in Ha Long Bay. After breakfast, we continue cruising through the bay. We enjoy brunch on board before we arrive at the wharf in the late morning and back at the dock, where you will be met and transferred back to Hanoi to catch a flight home.

Meals:  B,L