8-days Small Group Tour Hanoi-Mai Chau-Pu Luong-Ha Long

8-days Small Group Tour Hanoi-Mai Chau-Pu Luong-Ha Long

At this tour you will have the opportunity not only to explore the wonderful city of Hanoi and its attractions, but also combine numerous activities such as trekking, biking, homestay in Mai Chau, cruise and many unbelievable emotions and discoveries!

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi

Pass By: Noi Bai International Airport, Phú Minh, Sóc Sơn, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Arrive in Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport. You will be met at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel in downtown Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3 star, 4 star or 5 star hotel according to the paid package

Day 2: Hanoi city tour

Stop At: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, 2 Hung Vuong Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
08:00 am: We will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Museum, the One Pillar Pagoda,The French colonial Styled Presidential Palace and the historical Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam, built in 1070 in honor of confucius

Please kindly take note that Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (the inside) will be opened only in the morning. It will be closed every Monday and Friday. Besides the outside of Ho chi Minh Mausoleum, you can still visit Ba Dinh square, Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s House on stilt, One pillar pagoda as normal. Museum of Ethnography also closed every Monday
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Nguyen Van Huyen Street Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
In the afternoon we will see the Museum of Ethnology then we will attend a traditional Water Puppet show. This art originates from rural festivals in Vietnam. The artists – men and women – stand waist deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move about, talk and laugh and even dance on the surface of the water. The audience is meant to experience the atmosphere of a village festival.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street, Around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
Then visit Hoan Kiem Lake (The Restored Sword Lake) and the Ngoc Son Temple, which is on an island in the northern part of the lake.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
We will enjoy a Cyclo tour along the narrow streets of the Old Quarter of Hanoi. The Old Quarter includes 36 old streets with each name representative of the type of merchandise sold in it.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3 star, 4 star or 5 star hotel according to the paid package

Day 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau

Stop At: Mai Chau Lodge, Chiềng Châu, Mai Châu District, Hoa Binh, Vietnam
07:45   Pickup at your hotel in for transfer to Mai Chau 

10:00  Short break

11:30  Scenic photo stop of Mai Chau valley/arrive in Mai Chau

12:15  Traditional lunch in local village (vegetarian available)

13:00  Bicycle ride with local tour guide, see farmers working in fields, locals weaving scarves and visit surrounding  peaceful villages.

15:00  Free time for bicycling, walking, shopping

18:00  Free at leisure before having set menu dinner with host

Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Traditional lunch in local village (vegetarian available)
• Dinner: Set menu dinner with host
Accommodation included: Overnight  Homestay in Mai Chau.

Day 4: Mai Chau - Pu Luong

Stop At: Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Pho Doan, Thanh Hoa 448100 Vietnam
You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Cham Island (Cu Lao Cham), Cham Island Harbour, Hoi An Vietnam
You will be transfer to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes.

Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the bamboo river rafting with Dinh and his team. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.

Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast at homestay
• Lunch
• Dinner: Dinner is in the hotel
Accommodation included: PU LUONG ECO RETREAT - Duplex bungalow

Day 5: Enthralling trekking routes -19 km easy walking – 6 hours

Stop At: Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Pho Doan, Thanh Hoa 448100 Vietnam
Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Your camera will not be able to sit still!

Continuing to the base of the valley, you weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savour the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot to enjoy a simple picnic lunch.

PM: After enjoying delicious food, you have free time to explore the refreshing water to the nearby river, before moving to our pick up point to be transferred back to the Retreat.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Simple picnic lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: PU LUONG ECO RETREAT - Duplex bungalow

Day 6: Village life and the community - 4,5 km easy walk – 2 hours

Stop At: Pu Luong Retreat, Thành Lâm, Bá Thước District, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam
AM: You have the chance to get close to village life and interact with locals living in the hills above the Retreat. Glimpse at daily life, walk around working farmland and rice fields, and learn about making weaving colourful textiles, followed by lunch at the Lodge.

PM: Check out the Lodge then transfer back to Hanoi (About 05 hours transfer)
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3 star, 4 star or 5 star hotel according to the paid package

Day 7: Hanoi - Ha Long on cruise

Stop At: Halong Bay Vietnam
After breakfast, 7:45 A.m drive to Halong Bay (3,5 hours), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whoever comes to Vietnam should not miss the chance to visit Halong Bay, a picturesque blend of harmonious transition between the mountains and the sea.

Halong Bay is in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) gulf and stretches over an area of 1,500 km2 with three thousand green islands that look like jewels. Upon arrival at the harbor we will embark on a junk. We will enjoy tour visit Ha Long as mentioned program on cruise for 2 days 1 nihgts.

Duration: 2 days

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight on the boat

Day 8: Ha Long - Hanoi - Departure

Stop At: Noi Bai International Airport, Phú Minh, Sóc Sơn, Hà Nội, Vietnam
After gazing at the sunrise, you will navigate through the numerous oddly shaped limestone outcrops. Stop by a cove for a panoramic view of Halong Bay. Have a brunch on boat.

In the afternoon transfer back Noi Bai Airport for flight to departure
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Brunch on the boat
No accommodation included on this day.