Halong Bay & Mu Cang Chai 7 days

Arriving at Noi Bai, the International Airport of Hanoi, you will be welcomed by the private driver of Asia Tour Advisor and first carried to Hanoi City, the capital of Vietnam. The trip normally takes about an hour and offers some poignant glimpses of modern Vietnamese life: farmers tending their fields, great rivers, modern highways…

Located on the banks of the rich-historical Red River and nestled along wooded boulevards among the city’s two dozen lakes, Hanoi is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful ancient capitals in the world, where you can witness well-preserved colonial buildings, antique pagodas, unique museums… that left by and made up a multi-cultural of Chinese, French and Russian influences.

Most tourists would be surprised by the tale of Restored Sword Lake, and amazed while experiencing the hustling and bustling streets of the Old Quarter, of which each street named after the trade that people used to make for their living on the old time. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi City then.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay is scattered with more than 2000 floating islands of karstic rock. Legend has it that these floating islands were created by a family of dragons who were invoked by the Emperor to protect Vietnam against Chinese invaders. The dragons flew across the bay, spitting out jewels and jade, which magically turned into scattered islands. Together, these islands linked to create a protective barrier, which can still be admired to this day.

This morning you find yourself on the banks of the world-renowned Ha Long Bay. The early mist is subtle and cool. It soon dissipates and is replaced by the rising sun. You can see the water glowing a faded emerald in the early light. Climb aboard your cruise and venture out onto the bay. You can’t miss the incredible karsts that protrude from the water. Some of the limestone is covered with lush greenery; other times you can see the dark gray boulders peeking into the sky. The collection of karsts that rise out of the water look like dragon’s teeth and gave way to the legend of the bay. Anchoring in the Cong Do area, a Vietnamese cooking demonstration will take place on the sundeck, followed by a sumptuous seafood dinner on board before you retire to your cabin for the evening.

The morning stretches over the bay and makes the karsts glint in the light. In the early daylight hours, you can enjoy the view of the bay from the ship’s deck while partaking in a Tai Chi demonstration. Each movement is slow and controlled to help soothe the body and the mind. 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 on a road lined with typical rice fields of the Red River Delta. The rest of the day is spent at your leisure. Dinner on your own account. Overnight in hotel in Ha Noi.

Our driver and tour guide will pick you up at 8am. After getting out of bustle and hustle Hanoi, you will enjoy the countryside view through the windows while driving northwestward to Yen Bai province. Lunch is served at a local restaurant on the way. Arrive at Mu Cang Chai late in the afternoon, check in our stilt-house homestay. After checking in another homestay by the town, the day will end with a gentle walk to visit a village of the Thai ethnic minority at the foot of a mountain nearby. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

With ‘Homestay’ experience, your dinning and overnight accommodation is provided by a local family in their traditional house-on-silts. There would be no private room and you will find yourself comfortable sleeping on the floor in a large communal area. The sleeping corner is set up with a single mattress (thin, but adequate), blankets (ditto), pillow and mosquito net. The restroom is at international standard and a few steps from the main house.

In the morning, we will get a transfer to a gather point for the whole day trekking to enjoy Vietnam’s national rice terrace heritage which creates amazing landscapes stretching down the mountain sides. Our trek will start from Che Cu Nha commune to La Pan Tan Commune in the distance of around 13 km. This trek will definitely offer us a good opportunity to see the main spots and admire the beauty of amazing rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai, the place also is wonderful for taking magic photos of with wooden houses and guard boxes spotted on the terrace fields. We will also be able to visit a few villages of the H’mong hill tribe scattered in the area and experience interesting livings of ethnic minority groups. Afterwards, you will get picked up by your private vehicle around 4.00 PM. Transfer back to Tu Le Town, a little town located at beautiful valley at the foot of Khau Pha Pass, and check into a hotel. Dinner and stay for the night.

After the breakfast, we will embark on a short walk to Tu Le Valley where we can enjoy the morning breeze, view the rice paddy fields and the daily life of villagers. Get back on the vehicle and take our return journey to Hanoi. Lunch at Nghia Lo town. Arrive in Hanoi late in the afternoon. Please enjoy your free time staying overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.

 The time will be your own until your private car arrives to take you to the airport for your flight to next destination. Finish unforgettable Tour Halong bay & Mu Cang Chai with Asia Tour Advisor. Good bye & see you in the next time! Asia Tour Advisor is capable of tailoring customized trips if you wish otherwise.