Tonkin Adventure

This morning, your adventure begins after breakfast. You head northwest towards the Muong Lo Valley.

Along the way, a stop is planned to discover the traditional process of tea production, alongside villagers, and to better understand this local expertise passed down from generation to generation.

You arrive in the afternoon in the town of Nghia Lo, in the heart of the Muong Lo valley. Surrounded by lush mountains, this valley is the cradle of the Thai ethnic group and one of the country's main rice granaries.

You discover the area during a pleasant stroll, through centuries-old terraced rice fields and traditional wooden houses, which make up a harmoniously balanced landscape.

You share dinner and spend the night with a local family.

You leave Muong Lo by car and cross the highest highlands of Vietnam, in the heart of a mountain setting, towards the village of Lim Thai.

A walk through the rice fields allows you to stretch your legs and meet the mountain inhabitants, namely the Black Hmong and the Thai.

The day continues in an increasingly impressive setting with the passage of the Khau Pha Pass (1,580 m), lunch in the countryside, then a second trek along the mountainside to the village of La Tan Pan.

You return to your vehicle at the village of Nga Ba Kim and reach your destination for the day, Mu Cang Chai.

You share dinner and spend the night with a local family.
Approximately 5 hours of hiking Elevation gain: 300 m – Elevation loss: 300 m

After a pleasant time over breakfast, you bid farewell to your hosts and spend the morning on a scenic drive, winding up to a pass that peaks at 2,047 m altitude.

Facing you stands Mount Fanxipan, the highest point of former Indochina at 3,143 m.

You arrive in Sapa in the middle of the day.

The afternoon is devoted to exploring the surrounding countryside on foot, through villages and forests of the Hoang Lien National Park.

Along the way, you encounter many people, notably the Black Hmong from the village of Sin Chai, as well as the Dzao and the Dzay.
Approximately 2 hours of easy walking

Night at the hotel.

Today, you leave the vehicle aside and fully enjoy nature on foot. You hike through an enchanting setting until reaching the village of Ta Van, crossing several hamlets.

Throughout the route, you observe the skill of the villagers who cultivate their fields on steep slopes.

Waterfalls and rice paddies accompany this hike, punctuated by numerous encounters with the region's inhabitants, notably the Black Hmong, the Red Dao and the Dzay.
Approximately 5 hours of hiking

At Ta Van, you stay with a local family for a magical night, in the heart of the calm of the mountains

This morning, you continue your walk through fields, rice paddies, forests and villages to Giang Ta Chai, inhabited by Red Dao and Black Hmong.
Approximately 3 hours of walking

After the visits, you leave this mountainous region and take the road towards Hanoi.

You arrive in the late afternoon and settle into your hotel.

After breakfast, you head towards the Ninh Binh region and Tam Coc, often nicknamed the terrestrial Halong Bay because of its jagged and grandiose karst relief.

Upon arrival, you begin with a traditional sampan ride (bamboo boat). The contrast between rocky peaks bordered by rice fields and the surrounding vegetation accompanies your navigation through the Tam Coc caves.

In the afternoon, you continue exploring by bike, towards an emblematic sugar loaf, on whose flanks stands the Bich Dong pagoda.
Approximately 2 hours by boat and 1 hour of easy biking

To conclude this day, you visit two temples from the 17th century in Hoa Lu, former capital of Vietnam, built in honour of kings Dinh and Le.

After breakfast, you head towards Lan Ha Bay, often presented as the "little sister" of Ha Long Bay.

At the Ben Beo pier, you board a traditional junk to begin a cruise among impressive limestone karsts.

The boat reaches a floating village where seafood farming is the main activity, before continuing the cruise to Van Boi beach. Lunch is served on board, followed by free time for swimming in emerald waters or relaxing on the beach or the sundeck.

In the afternoon, you set off on a kayaking excursion to Hang Ca or Dau Be cave, a privileged way to explore the bay.

At the end of the day, the junk returns to the heart of Lan Ha to admire the sunset. You dine and spend the night on board.
Without English-speaking guide, with private driver.
Please note that an English-speaking boat guide will accompany you during all planned activities on board.

Early morning wake-up to admire the sunrise over the bay. During breakfast, the junk continues its navigation through the peaks and rocks of Lan Ha.

You stop at the isolated fishing village of Việt Hải for a bicycle discovery, in the heart of a preserved environment where roads are virtually absent.

Back on board, you enjoy a refreshing shower before brunch. The junk then peacefully resumes its navigation towards the port of Ben Beo.

Upon arrival, your vehicle awaits you for a transfer without guide to Hanoi.
Without English-speaking guide, with private driver.