Hidden Charm North

Brief Information

 This tour does include much driving and trekking and not suit lazy tourists. However the trip will take you to the most untouched areas, the off track destinations with beautiful landscapes of Ba Be Lake, Ban Gioc Waterfall - the one at the Vietnam - China border, ethnic minorities' villages, terrific caves, etc. It will suit the more hardy travelers craving a glimpse of some of the most remote ethnic minority peoples.

Tour type: Private, classic

Hotel options: 2*, 3*

Duration: 8 days

Departure/end: Hanoi

Highlights: Hanoi city,Ba Be Lake,Ban Gioc waterfall,Nguom Ngao Cave,Halong Bay.

Price: From US$331

Brief itinerary and service:

Itinerary

 Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi. Greeted by your guide at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city centre and at leisure in the rest of the day. Late afternoon, take a Cyclo Tour in the Old Quarter and enjoy Water puppet show.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city
You are free today to relax or self explore the city. Highlights are Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest one in Hanoi, located on a semi-island in West Lake. Then heading to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, visit his stilt house and museum telling you about his life and revolutionary cause. The next stop is One Pillar pagoda, located right within the Mausoleum complex area, one of the most iconic pagoda in Vietnam. The morning tour ends with a visit to the Literature Temple, the first university of Vietnam, built in 1070 at the time of King Ly Thanh Tong. This ancient site offers a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards and passageways that were once used by Royalty.
In the afternoon visit Vietnam museum of Ethnology where introduce lifestyles and cultures of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. Beside the indoor exhibition, the museum also has out-door area displaying number of houses modeling after the traditional architecture of ethnic minorities which makes the museum stand out from others. Optionally, we visit Hoa Lo prison, built by French colonist to keep Vietnamese political prisoners and later for American pilots.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ba Be
Our guide will pick up you at your hotel in Hanoi and depart for Bac Kan province; have lunch en route at your own cost. We will arrive at Ba Be National Park around early afternoon and start a boat trip on the emerald Ba Be lake surrounded by limestone mountains and lush vegetation. Keep cruising to reach the scenic Puong cave where inhabited by thousands of bats. Then spend time to go around Pac Ngoi village of Tay ethnic people to learn about their culture and lifestyle.
Overnight and have dinner with local people.

Day 4: Ba Be – Cao Bang
After breakfast, we depart for Cao Bang. Upon arrival Pac Rang blacksmith village, get you accommodation and then go around to see the village. Overnight homestay with the host, Tay people.

Day 5: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc – Bac Son
Get up early to visit a stone craft village of Khuoi Ky where all the houses made of stone. Continue to visit Nguom Ngao cave and spectacular Ban Gioc waterfall with its untouched beauty then depart for Bac Son, a valley in Lang Son province and stay overnight with local family.

Day 6: Bac Son – Halong
Make a short tour around the village to see how they work on their farms or do their daily activities. Then climb up the highest mountain – the Na Lay peak for panoramic view over the valley. From above, the valley looks like a beautiful picture of green paradise with winding river runs crossing the rice fields, surrounded by high peak mountains. Then depart for Halong Bay. Arrive Halong City check-in your hotel and free in the rest time of the day.
Overnight at hotel in Halong.

Day 7: Halong – Hanoi
After breakfast, we get on board and take 4 hours cruising in Halong Bay, passing a lot of limestone mountains emerging from the blue crystal water. On the way we will call at a big island with two beautiful grottoes Thien Cung and Dau Go, where thousands of stalactites and stalagmites in various strange shapes create a magical world inside the mountain. Cruise back to the dock and take a trip back to Hanoi.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi departure
You are free until our driver pick up you and transfer to Hanoi airport for your next destination. Tour ends.

2020 Quotation & Services

Hotel categories	Net rate in US$/person in group of					Single supplement
	1	2-3	4-5	6-7	8 up
Tourist **	1098	654	474	379	331	59
Superior ***	1199	704	524	492	381	98

 

Includes:
Accommodation:
- 4 nights twin/double sharing at hotels with daily breakfast.
- 3 nights homestay with local people.
 Transportation:
- Transfer configuration: 4-seat car for group to 2 pax; 16-seat van for group from 3 to 8 pax.
- Land transfer by private AC vehicle for whole trip.
- Private boat in Ba be Lake and cruise in Halong Bay tour.
Others:
- Meals as mentioned. B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: dinner
- English speaking guides.
- Admission fees for all sightseeing places on tour.
- 1 bottle of mineral water and wet tissue per person on touring day.
- Free Vietnam visa approval letter.
- Service charge and Government taxes
Excludes:
- International air tickets.
- Visa stamping fee.
- Personal expenses.
- Drinks.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Services not clearly mentioned above.

LIST OF HOTELS ON TOUR