Vietnam East-West Grand Traverse – 13 Days

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
Upon arrival we will be welcome at the airport and delivered to our hotel. We will be given a briefing about traveling in Vietnam before enjoying a special welcome dinner at an excellent Vietnamese restaurant.

Vietnamese restaurant in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi – Moc Chau Plateau (B)
We travel by road to the evergreen northwest. We will lunch in Mai Chau valley and spend an hour or so trekking through H’mong villages. From there we will continue to Moc Chau Plateau where we stay the night in a guest house.

Moc Chau Plateau

Day 3: Moc Chau – Dien Bien Phu, Former French battle field (B)
We continue to travel through a very beautiful mountain region to reach Dien Bien Phu basin, the battlefield at which the French finally surrendered to the Vietnamese nationalists.

Dien Bien Phu

Day 4: Dien Bien Phu – Phong Tho (B)
We will learn more about the struggle for independence against the French by visiting military sites Dien Bien Phu before leaving for Phong Tho.

Phong Tho – Vietnam

Day 5: Phong Tho – Sapa Hill Station (B)
We will take the long and windy road to the highest pass in Vietnam. This is known as “doorway to the skies”. This is incredibly picturesque and will take our breath away. We will arrive in Sapa and check in to our hotel.

Sapa Hill Station

Day 6 Sapa, full day trekking and home-stay (B, L, D)
We will leave Sapa Township by foot, trekking along buffalo tracks through terraced fields of breathtaking beauty. The hills are populated by many distinct ethnic groups. This evening we will be hosted by a Zay family.

Sapa Homestay House

Day 7: Sapa – Tuyen Quang- visit the Mac Citadel (B)
We will say farewell to our hosts and walk another half hour to the nearest sealed road where our vehicle will be waiting. We proceed to Tuyen Quang, reaching it about 3pm. That will give us ample time to wander the streets and surrounds of the town. Overnight in hotel.

Ba Be National Park

Day 8: Tuyen Quang – Ba Be Lake (B)
We begin our migration towards the east, traveling first to Ba Be National Park near the centre. Where we will take a sampan to Pac Ngoi village of the Tay ethnic people where will stay overnight.

Homestay in Pac Ngoi village

Day 9: Ba Be Lake – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall (B)
Today we will travel to the Chinese border to visit the spectacular waterfall of Ban Gioc on the border between the two countries.

Ban Gioc Waterfall

Day 10: Cao Bang – Lang Son (B)
Leaving Cao Bang, we travel eastwards crossing Dong Khe, a place very famous to Vietnamese because it is the site of a great Viet Minh victory over the French. We will visit some historical sites and 2 lime stone caves in Lang Son.

Dong Khe – Cao Bang

Day 11: Lang Son – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
Finally reaching the coast, we board a cruise boat to tour the magnificent limestone crags and crannies of Halong Bay. Arriving at the Bai Chay Wharf at around lunch time, we transfer to our deluxe junk, join our fantastic seafood lunch, and cruise around this tranquil bay, marvel at 3000 limestone peaks that emerge from the emerald water.
We have opportunity to visit spectacular Amazing cave crammed with stalactites and stalagmites; and if the weather permits we will swim from our boat, and especially we can do kayaking to explore the hidden charm part of the bay before spending the night on the junk.

Luon Cave in Halong

Day 12: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)
Another wonderful starts when the sun rises from the Horizon. We enjoy our breakfast at 07:30AM and try more kayaks or sit on the bamboo boat to visit some other tunnel caves.
Our junk keeps on cruising around the Bay and catch Bai Tu Long Bay with Turtle Islets, Man head islet, Teapot Islet and Bai Tho Mountain. Enjoy the last delicious lunch on the Bay, you say good bye with the World Natural Heritage and leaving for to Hanoi.

Overview of Ha Long Bay from Bai Tho Mountain

Day 13: Departure (B)
Today you are free at our leisure until the time you transfer to the airport for our flight to home.