Vietnam trekking tour

Arrival at Hanoi airport. Meeting with the guide. Transfer to the city center and check-in at the hotel. Check-in after 2:00 PM. Free time for relaxation or to explore the city independently. Overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast, departure for the Bat Trang ceramic village. Located only 25 km from Hanoi, near the Red River, it is known worldwide for its handcrafted ceramic productions. The artifacts from this area were exported to many European countries during the 15th century. Exclusively with TropiGo Travel, it will be possible to visit Bat Trang in a very different way. In fact, you will be able to immerse yourself in the daily life of the village and closely observe the ancient art of ceramics. The guide will take you to a workshop near the market, where you can witness all stages of the production of vases, kettles, trays, tables, teapots, coffee cups, etc.

The excursion will then continue on foot. We will head to the central square to visit a small and ancient temple, a beautiful pagoda. The tour will end with a visit to a small souvenir shop.

Upon returning to Hanoi, we will visit the Temple of Literature, built in honor of Confucius and dating back to the year 1070, which became the site of Vietnam's first Royal University in 1076. Afterwards, we will begin a walking tour of the Old Quarter, also known as the district of the 36 guilds. It consists of a maze of alleys and narrow streets, divided by trade or craft. The tour, designed to capture the various aspects of local life, will end with a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as the Lake of the Returned Sword, and a visit to Ngoc Son Temple. Opportunity to enjoy a cup of egg coffee. In the late afternoon, there is the option to attend a traditional water puppet show. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Full day dedicated to visiting the current capital of Vietnam. We will start with the Ho Chi Minh Complex (from the outside), his historic stilt house, and the One Pillar Pagoda. Afterwards, we will visit the Temple of Literature (built in 1070) dedicated to Confucius and the Scholars (Vietnam’s first national royal university since 1076). Transfer to Sapa by car (about 5-6 hours). Overnight stay at the hotel in Sapa.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit to the village of Y Linh Ho. In Sapa, the temperature changes completely: located at 1650 m, it was the summer retreat of the French during the colonial period. The town is not only an ideal place to relax thanks to its mild climate and beautiful mountain landscapes, but it is also an important place of coexistence among the ethnic minorities who settled at the foot of Mount Fan Si Pan (the highest in Indochina: 3143 m). These ethnic minorities - the H’Mong, Red Dzao, Giay, and Tay - arrived from southern China between the 18th and 19th centuries. In the afternoon, visit to the villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van. Opportunity to take beautiful photographs. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, hiking excursion to Ma Tra village, inhabited by the Mong people. After lunch, departure towards Bac Ha, via Lao Cai where we will see the “Bridge of Beauty” (Cau Kieu), the border between Vietnam and China at the confluence of the Red River and the Nam Khe River. Arrival in Bac Ha. In the late afternoon, visit to Pho village and Na Hoi village. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit to the multi-ethnic Bac Ha market, held every Sunday. The dominant color here is the red of the multi-colored H’Mong (also called Flower H’Mong). The excursion continues with a visit to the old castle of the H’Mong King - Hoang A Tuong. The palace, built in an eclectic style that harmonizes Eastern and Western architecture, was constructed between 1914 and 1921 during the French colonial period by Hoang Yen Chao, father of Hoang A Tuong, the local mandarin. Transfer to Ha Giang. Dinner and overnight stay at a local resident’s home.

After breakfast, departure for the limestone plateau of Dong Van, located at 1,025 meters above sea level, where the H’mong and Tay ethnic groups live. Along the way, you can admire the majestic limestone landscape. Stop at the Heaven’s Gate of Quan Ba to take photos of the Twin Mountains before arriving in Yen Minh, a beautiful mountain valley. We continue the journey, passing through the town of Pho Bang, inhabited by the Hoa and H’Mong ethnic groups. Here you will have the opportunity to admire the typical houses of the people and discover their lifestyle. We then continue with a visit to the Palace dedicated to the H’Mong King Vuong Chi Sinh (built in 1914), one of the most famous palaces in the northern mountains. Overnight stay at a guesthouse in Dong Van.

After breakfast, a short walk awaits us in the ancient town of Dong Van, where you can admire old houses in Chinese, Tay, and H’Mong architectural styles. Afterwards, departure for the town of Meo Vac, home to the ethnic minorities of Lo Lo and Pu Peo. They still preserve their traditional culture and are easily recognized by their typical clothing. We then continue toward the Meo Vac valley, one of the most beautiful, located near the border between Vietnam and China, where we will stop for lunch in a local restaurant.

We continue our journey to Bao Lac, crossing the Ma Pi Leng Pass. This is a dreamlike place with a strong visual impact, featuring mountain chains wrapped in clouds and the picturesque Nho Que River visible in the distance. Upon arrival in Bao Lac, after checking in at the hostel, we take a short walk to the local market. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay at the hostel.

After breakfast, transfer to Ba Be Lake - the largest natural lake in Vietnam. It is surrounded by a magnificent forest rich in various plant species, and rare animals can also be found there. Stop to contemplate the picturesque beauty of the mountainous area, take photos, and interact with the locals. The day will end with dinner and overnight stay at a local resident’s home.

In the morning, a walk or bike ride to visit the Hua Ma cave. Afterwards, visit to Ba Be Lake National Park and the surrounding forest-covered mountains, home to the Tay people. A boat trip across the lake will take us to the Dau Dang waterfalls. Overnight stay at a traditional Tay family’s home.

Visit of Ba Be Lakes (the three lakes) and the surrounding forest-covered mountains, inhabited by the H’Mong and Dzao peoples. These communities still preserve their ancestral lifestyle and practice rice cultivation on mountain slopes. Continuation and arrival in Hanoi in the late afternoon. Overnight stay at a hotel.

After breakfast, departure by car to Halong Bay (Vinh Halong - 4 hours), with a chance to admire the splendid surrounding countryside. Boarding the junk for a cruise in Halong Bay. During the navigation, visit caves made mysterious by local legends and vivid imagination. Lunch on board. In the afternoon, visit by a small boat to a cave or a floating fishing village.

Dinner and overnight stay on board the junk. Private comfort cabin.

Note: The program depends on the junk used and the sea conditions. Shared English/French-speaking guide on the junk.

In the morning, after breakfast, we leave our junk and board a small traditional boat to visit a famous cave or a fishing village. Weather permitting, there will also be an opportunity for a swim. After brunch on the junk, return to the port and transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight back to Italy. End of our services.

Note: The itinerary of the mini-cruise may vary depending on the type of junk used and sea conditions. The guide on board will speak English.