Unique Trekking Trails of Northeast Vietnam

Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport, transfer at your own to hotel for check-in.

Refresh and take a stroll around the Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake):
Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword), located at the heart of the city, is a symbol of the capital and also a center stage of the daily life of Hanoians. From morning to night, in all weather, the shores of the lake come alive and become a place for walking, gathering and meeting. People come here to do their morning exercises, chat with friends or go fishing with friends. Also called the Sword Lake, it is a place imprinted with legends. According to the most well known tale, King Le Loi received from the lake’s sacred turtle, a magical sword to chase the Chinese out of Vietnam. Once he completed the task, the giant turtle took back the sword to return it to its divine owners, hence the name “Lake of the Returned Sword”. You will also have time to visit the charming Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade mountain), standing on an enticing islet connected to the banks of the lake.

In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.
Meals included: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Note: Room is at your disposal from 14:00

Today morning, you will visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (see from outside only) and see his traditional stilt house - now the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the revered One-Pillar Pagoda. After that, you will explore the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature, also known as the first university of Vietnam. Built in 1070 by emperor Ly Thanh Tong and opened from 1076 as a university exclusively for the princes, children of the nobility and the mandarins. In 1802, Emperor Gia Long transferred the National University to Hue, which had by then become the capital city of Vietnam. You will have time to stroll through the shaded paths of Van Mieu Park to appreciate the architecture of this historical site as well as admire 82 of the 116 original steles which were used to engrave the names of the graduates.At the end of the morning, hanging around Hanoi Old Quarter and enjoy one of experiences of Hanoi. One of Hanoi's most iconic features is its coffee culture and amazing abundance of coffee shops which open early till very late at night. Some are famous for their drinks, some are known for their style, design and others for their background story. Follow your guide, a local Hanoian, to discover a coffee shop to see a true side of local culture, then have lunch in a local restaurant and travel back to your hotel.

In the late afternoon, you will have an opportunity to understand what makes Hanoi's Old Quarter such a captivating place as you taste a wide variety of Vietnamese specialties, starting with Banh Cuon - steamed, rolled rice pancakes. After your first tasting experience, you will stop at a locally famous restaurant on Hang Dieu street and taste Vietnamese noodles prepared in a southern style and which are incredibly popular with locals and travelers alike. After that, you will head to a ‘hidden’ corner of Hanoi for a short walk along a special "graffiti wall" which is also a good location for coffee shops with great views of Hanoi’s lively streets. Enjoy your drink and feel the rhythms of the night-life in this magical capital.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner during food tour
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Notes:
- The Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday. Every year, the monument will be closed between mid-September and mid-December for regular restoration and preservation of the presidential remains, which is the same as that of Lenin Mausoleum in Russia (exact dates to be checked each year). To be allowed to enter the mausoleum, you must cover your legs, stand in pairs in silence without crossing your arms, or putting your hands in your pockets.

You will travel by car to Ba Be ("the three bays" in Vietnamese), where three lakes connect in an area of approximately 3 to 5 kilometres square. It is one of the 10 largest freshwater lakes in the world and has never gone dry.

Arrive in Ba Be, you will embark on a leisure cruise before reaching the village. Spend some time walking in the surrounding village before returning to your homestay and stay the night.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Ba Be
Distance: 210 kilometres - 4 hours
Duration of the cruise: 1 hour
Note: In case of a normal boat transfer, the duration is 15 minutes

In the morning, you will reach the landing stage of Buoc Lom, from where you will take your kayak to start your day of paddling. You will first descend to the Nang River where the Puong Caves are located (according to legend, a giant dug them by hand) until about noon for lunch break near Dau Dang Falls. Then you will resume to your kayak journey and travel up a small section of the river Nang to join Ba Be lake. You will then have the afternoon to discover the different corners of the lake. At the end of the day, you will return to your host’s house.

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Kayaking duration: 5–6 hours

In the morning, you will head to Pac Bung village in Quang Uyen where you will be welcomed by your host. The regions of Quang Uyen and Cao Bang are mostly populated by the Thai and Nung ethnic groups. What’s more, the limestone formations, the jungle and forest landscapes are the perfect place for an adventure.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Distance: 150 kilometres - 4 hours

You will begin your trek from Pac Bung village to a hill top in a bamboo forest. The climb will be quite difficult but once you reach 650 meters above sea level, you will have the chance to admire the gorgeous scenery of limestone hills, fertile valleys and villages nestling on the slopes of the mountains. If the weather allows, you will get to see the entire area as far as the Ha Lang district (some 40 kilometres away). After a break, you will descend to the Na valley, to meet with the Tay and Nung communities and stop for a picnic near a cave, depending on the river level. Then, take a walk through the Lung and Mang valleys to the Bac Vong River and its waterfall, where you can enjoy a cooling swim. Your next stop will be Na Ran village, which you will reach by bamboo raft before settling in at the guest house.

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner with the locals
Accommodation: Homestay
Distance and duration of the walk: 20 kilometres - 5 to 6 hours
Level: 3
Elevation gain: + 855 meters/ - 791 meters
Terrain: slippery trails, bamboo forest, waterfall
Note: bamboo rafting - 15 minutes

You will start your day exploring the village and the local life. Then, continue your trek going down a pass at 700 meters above sea level to the great valley of Cao Thang, where you will reach Lake Ban Viet for a picnic break. Depending on the season, you can also enjoy a refreshing swim.
You will then continue your walk towards Po Tau village via rice, corn and tobacco fields and arrive in the late afternoon at your guesthouse in Po Tau.

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner with the locals
Accommodation: Homestay
Distance and duration of the walk: 17 kilometres - 4 to 5 hours
Level: 3
Elevation gain: + 742 meters/ - 756 meters
Terrain: rugged paths with uphill and downhill sections, trails used by buffalo and villagers

In the morning, you will start with a visit to Po Tau market, where some buildings from the French colonial period are still standing. You will then hike along the banks of the river and climb to a hill top for a breathtaking view of the largest valley of Trung Khanh. Then, continue your way along the path that was used by local communities for trading with China and carrying goods on horseback in the past. At the end of the trek, you will head to the Ban Gioc waterfalls, located on the Chinese border. The Ban Gioc Falls are among the largest in Vietnam. They are about 30 meters tall with a maximum width of 100 meters and are divided into three groups. They are also the biggest falls to form a "border" between the two countries, after Iguaçu, Victoria and Niagara.
In the afternoon you will depart to Lang Son - the main city of the province of the same name.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Lang Son
Distance and duration of the walk: 16 kilometres - 4 to 5 hours
Level: 2
Elevation gain: + 112 meters/ - 206 meters
Terrain: mountain paths, banks, hills, waterfall
Transportation: 180 kilometres - 5 hours

You will travel to Halong Bay, reaching there after approximately 4 hours.
There, you will embark on a cruise in the must-see Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in luxuriant vegetation overlooking the waters. Halong Bay includes some 1,900 islands and islets of rocky peaks, often uninhabited and unvisited. This scene creates a spectacular marine landscape, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994. You will be served lunch and dinner aboard with excellent and freshly caught seafood from the bay. At the end of the day, you will have the chance to enjoy a night fishing session on the boat.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on the boat
Distance: 170 kilometres - 4 hours

Early in the morning and depending on the season, you will wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay. Then the cruise will tour around the bay until you disembark at the end of the morning. After that, you will then return to Hanoi. Check-in your hotel then have the rest of the day free at your leisure.

Meal included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: 170 kilometres – 2h 30min to 2h45min

Today is at leisure and transfer at your own to Noi Bai airport for your onward flight.

Meals included: Breakfast
Note: Room is at your disposal until 12:00