Vietnam Hiking Tour With Pu Luong

Welcome to Hanoi – The Capital City of Vietnam!
Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transferred to downtown to check in the hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to freshen up after a long flight and reset your bio-clock before gearing up for an interesting exploration ahead. 
The charming city of Hanoi with more than 1000 years old offers so many things for visitors to explore including of numerous cultural and historical sites, tree-lines streets and green lakes,  strolling in the old quarters with series of local vendors selling multiple of goods, tasting wide selection of street foods like Pho (noodle) or Bun Cha, Banh Mi and different kinds of spring roll, check out the art gallery and some certain chill coffee shops, or just simply relax on a Cyclo around the streets to see the hectic pace of local life.
Overnight hotel in Hanoi.
Meals: No meal included on this day.

Hiking/trekking: 4 – 6 km, 2 – 3 hours: paved road/dirty trail/offbeat road. Van transfer: 3,5 hours ; Elevation gain / loss: Minimal. 
After breakfast, check out and head west to Mai Chau. We make a stop at Thung Khe Pass to stretch the legs and take photos of spectacular landscape. Continue the journey, contemplate the beautiful scenery of mountains, valleys, and villages on the way. Mai Chau located in a green valley surrounded by mountains and home to White Thai and Black Thai ethnic people featured with the house-on-stilts and paddy fields. We will have a glimpse of Pom Coong village by an hour walking around the village before having lunch. After that, continue the journey circa 1.5 hrs through the scenic road in to Pu Luong Nature Reserve where our trek starts.
Commence with a 4km hike down from Dong Dieng Village to Kho Muong village through the trail and offbeat road offer magnificent landscapes of terrace paddy fields, hills, forests and houses-on-stilts of hill tribe villages. Kho Muong is an isolated village and still retains the unspoiled poetic beauty of nature where you can still witness life as it has been over centuries, revolving around rice fields, vegetable gardens, and livestock. A short walk through the hamlet and the rice fields, where you can witness how the people of Kho Muong work in the rice fields, takes you to Bat Cave. This massive cave suddenly appears and will leave you speechless for a while. The cave is known for the 5 species of bats that have lived here for thousands of years. Brave travelers can also climb down to the cave for an interesting adventure. Try to find stalactite rocks, which are totally transformed from limestone in water drips coming from the upside of the cave. In the late afternoon, check in a homestay of Thai family. Overnight at homestay.
Meals included: Breakfast|Lunch|Dinner
 

Mountain hiking: 8-10 kms / 4 - 5 hours | Dirty trail/offbeat road | Elevation gain / loss:  from 200m to 500m | Van transfer available for leisure guests.
This morning, you wake up in the fresh and tranquil atmosphere of the remote village. After breakfast at homestay, say farewell with the local family and proceed the hiking to Ban Uoi Village along the mountain trail. You will pass through the immense Pu Luong terraced heritage, then reach the bamboo and fern forest to reach the village. Ươi is an unique village alternating within palm hills that offer bird-eyes view from top of the pass. Upon arrival, having lunch at a local family.
Afternoon, continue the hiking up hill to Ban Don Village but the route is not so challenging. Ban Don is the best spot for terraced rice fields in Pu Luong nature reserve. This is one of the few villages in Pu Luong that retains the traditional stilt house style, cultural identity and customs of the Thai and Muong people. Check in house-on-stilts at Pu Luong Valley Home.
Meals included: Breakfast|Lunch|Dinner
 

Mountain hiking: 4-5 kms / 2 - 3 hours | Dirty trail/offbeat road | Biking: 14-16 kms / 2-4 hours | Elevation gain / loss:  from 500m to 150m
Have breakfast at your lodging. 
09:00 - 16h30: This is a great experience combining trek and cycling. We start to descend into the beautiful valley, where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Continue walking downhill to a local home, where you can take a bike to cycle around Lan village. Lặn is tranquil and famous for its embroidery craft-job. A small stream with water from far most mountains winds the houses creating a bunch of outdoor nature bathing places for villagers after long farming days and cycling through the rice paddies and village to village, hanging bridge to explore more the scenic landscapes surrounding. Stop for lunch at a local house or the river banks with stunning views of bunches of water Wheel. You will end up at Hieu Village, and enjoy the Hieu waterfall, the only one in the reserve. Ride back to the bike parking place, where you will go back to Pu Luong Valley Home by transfer.
Meals included: Breakfast|Lunch|Dinner
 

Have breakfast then say goodbye to your local family, we drive more than 3 hours toward east to Ninh Binh, the site of the once capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. 
The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”. 
After that walking to visit Thai Vi temple dedicated to the Kings of Tran Dynasty, settled in a very tranquil area surrounded by rice fields and mountains. The temple looks modest in scale but contains high values of long history and cultural legacy. From here cycling to Bich Dong Pagoda on the village roads. Along the way, you will have chance catching up with the local people and learn a bit about their daily life and activities. Bich Dong pagoda is situated on a mountainside consisting of 3 separated pagodas located from low to high. When you reach the top of the stairs, you’ll be welcomed with a stunning view out of the valley of the distant mountain peaks and vast rice fields. Transfer to check in your hotel in Tam Coc where you will stay a night here.
Meals included: Breakfast|Lunch
 

After breakfast, we drive more than 3 hours to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. Upon arrival in Halong, check in the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating houses and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the cruise, enjoy cooking demonstration before having dinner. Evening attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise. 
Please note the program may be little varied upon the cruise you choose. 
Meals included: Breakfast|Lunch|Dinner
 

You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the "East Sea" by a point-oriented name "Eastern Sea", so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise coming back the pier. Disembark from the cruise, transfer back to Hanoi. 
Upon arrival, visit Hoa Lo Prison, also known as Maison Centrale, well-known as one of the most inhuman prisons with terrified punishment. In this prison, you’ll see the horrified iron shackles and many artifacts and photographs of prisoners who are wearing leg chains. Prisoners often starved, tortured, are always beaten and isolated. Thereby, visitors can understand the spirit of the revolutionary soldiers and their sacrifice for their communist ideals. 
Continue visiting Ba Dinh Square where the most solemn ceremonies of Hanoi take place. We first visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (from outside) where is the last rest place of Ho Chi Minh President, we then visit One-Pillar pagoda nearby with unique architecture first built on 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong. Check in a day-use hotel to freshen up until transfer to Hanoi railway station to board the night train to Hue. The train accommodation is basic but worth a try to experience the local train here. You will sleep overnight 

Upon arrival in Hue in the morning, welcomed by the local tour guide and transferred for breakfast. 
Being recognized by UNESCO as the 1st Cultural World Heritage for Vietnam, Hue is not only highlighted by the old royal architectural works and the most traditional Vietnamese lifestyle but also the tasting local foods such as Bun Bo Hue (Hue noodle with beef), variety of cakes made from different types of flour such as rice flour, tapioca starch, and filled with shrimp, meat, or green bean inside wrapped by banana leave that attract people from all regions of the country. Today you will have chance to taste authentic Bun Bo Hue and some kind of cakes for your breakfast before the visit.
We will discover the charm of the city from the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City, Hue Royal Museum. Go on to visit Thien Mu pagoda, the iconic of Hue city.  Transfer to have lunch at the local restaurant then check in hotel after that.
After noon, continue the sightseeing to Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang located on the west bank of Perfume River. Minh Mang tomb was built from 1840 and completed in 1843 with the effort of ten thousand workers and artisians. The Tomb offers a balance of nature and structures that is unmatched among tombs in Hue. The solemn and quiet architecture set in a poetic landscape demonstrates both the Emperor's strictness and deep beliefs. Visit Dong Ba Market where is considered as a paradise for snapshots of daily activities as well as for shopping with everything from souvenir items to Hue’s specilities. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Hue.
Meals included: Breakfast|Lunch
 

Breakfast at hotel. Check out and transfer to Hoian through Hai Van Pass (the “Ocean Cloudy Mountain Pass”), enjoy viewing the beauty of Lang Co Beach en route. On the way, stop to visit Ngu Hanh Son or Marble Mountain.
Upon arrival, have lunch at the local restaurant by the river. Proceed to check in hotel.
Afternoon, you take interesting walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls, enjoy the attractiveness of ancient houses or listen to folk music of Central Vietnam at old club-houses. Later we can stop at shrines or stroll into the market located by Thu Bon river, where you may find the same feelings of the artists, who see the rooftops of Hoian a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or get your clothes tailored within a day. Evening, amaze the town lighten up with thousands of colorful lanterns and night market by the River. Overnight in Hoian.
Meals included: Breakfast|Lunch

Cycling data - Total distance of cycling: 20 - 25km - Backroads &City roads - Support truck: Yes.

Cycling duration: 5 – 6 hours. Hard level: Easy
Hoi An was a bustling international trading port, a meeting place of the trading ships of Japan, China and the West during the 17th and 18th centuries.
After breakfast we cycle from your hotel to a local fishing village. Learn about the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families and their community. Board on boat and commence cruising on the Cua Dai River. Join local fisherman on the river and enjoy hands on experience of round net or cast net. Learn how to paddle the Vietnamese unique bamboo basket boat. Explore the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers of both sides. Go on biking to Tra Que herb village to enjoy a Complimentary Traditional Fisherman’s Lunch prepared by our chef.
After lunch, cycling around the village before continueing to Thanh Ha Pottery Village located by Thu Bon River where you will visit a space of traditional occupational village preserved intact in cultural scenery such as: banian tree, dock, communal house, religious monuments and directly enjoy clever, skillful hands of the potters producing high quality utensils. You will also have chance to do some pottery product with the guide of the locals and of course of can keep it as a gilf of this land. Back to the town to check in hotel. Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight at hotel in Hoian.
Meals included: Breakfast|Lunch|Dinner
 

Have breakfast at hotel. It is your own morning to explore this charming town your way. You can jump into a food tour to taste many local delicious dishes such as Cao Lau, noodle, bread, or lost in the shopping streets where you can find variety of products selling from silk cloths, souvenirs, painting, lanterns,…or just leisurely biking on the shadowed roads to Cua Dai beach or to the craft villages such as Kim Bong Carpentry Village. In the afternoon, transfer to Danang airport to catch the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the biggest metropolis of Vietnam with a dynamic pace of life. The city is also called as Saigon by many locals. Upon arrival, welcomed by our local tour guide and transfer to check in hotel in downtown. The rest of the day is your free time to explore this city.
Meals included: Breakfast
 

This morning drive to visit Cu Chi tunnels - the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. After a short introduction video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Return to HCMC by after lunch.
Afternoon, the sightseeing to visit the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883 and colonial-styled Central Post Office, one of the city’s major landmarks. Coming to the War Remnants Museum, you can learn a part of how Vietnamese had struggled and fought for their independence, freedom, and peace of the nation and the locals' perspective of the Vietnam War. The exhibits, such as weapons, documents, and photographs, display in the museum are firm evidence of war crimes in Vietnam and speak for the heroic actions of the former Vietnamese generation. Then visit Ben Thanh market, a symbol of the City.
Meal included: Breakfast|Lunch
 

After breakfast, we depart for Ben Tre, about 2 hours driving from Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, embark on the boat for the first glance of life on Ben Tre’s maze of waterways. Stop at traditional brick kiln to see how the local people produce bricks in the traditional way. Weave through the spectacular water coconut small canals to immerse yourself in a magic view of water coconut trees. Visit coconut workshop, where the locals process coconut into many different forms and coconut candy workshop to have a look how the local making candy by hand, try some sweets, enjoy some fruits and listen to traditional folk music as well. Go on by boat and step ashore and take a short walk to a quiet village and learn how to make a traditional sleeping mat with a local family business.
Stop for lunch at local restaurant. Relax and keep going by rowing boat on shady palm tree canal. Stop at Chet Say pier and the car will transfer us back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in HCMC.
Meal included: Breakfast|Lunch
 

After breakfast, depend on the flight time you will have free time for own leisure or exploration of this city before transferring to the airport for the departure flight home. Bid farewell to a friendly and hospitable Vietnamese people.

Meal included: Breakfast