STAD 19 : Northern  Vietnam –Exit to Laos

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Pick up and transfer to Hotel.  free and easy. Night in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – City tour ( B, L)
8h00 AM Visit to HoChiMinh Mausoleum, HoChiMinh's House-on-stilt,  Ethnic Museum or Bat Trang pottery village, Van Mieu (Temple of Literature). Lunch
P.M: Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple. Cyclo tour (1 hours) to visit Old Quarter of Hanoi and Dong Xuan Market. See Water puppet show.  Night in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong  ( B, L, D)
Vinashin Tourist Harbor - Bai Tu Long Bay -Thien Canh Son Cave- Cong Do Sleeping Area.
07.30–07.40: Pick up at your hotel in Ha Noi or nearby by shuttle bus (mini van) (Optional)
11.45–12.15: Embark at Hon Gai International harbor.
12.30–13.00: Embark on the boat. Enjoy welcome drink as Cruise Manager gives you a brief overview of the itinerary and important safety guideline. Check in your cabin.
13.30–14.30: Have lunch while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; Start sailing among famous Islets (Indochina studio, Am Islet…) of Bai Tu Long Bay, the wildest beauty with the panoramic natural views.
15.00–16.30: Visit and explore the well-hidden Co Cave (known as  Thien Canh Son Cave) where you can  hiking to the middle of the mountain to see the wild and mysterious beautiful cave, contemplate numerous  sparkling  stalactites  appear  like 'hanging  lamps’  inside  the  Cave.  (No swimming). 
Return to the boat and enjoy Happy hour. You will have 30% discount off from the special menu drinks including of cocktail, mock-tail and mixed drinks (from 16.30 pm to 19.00 pm.).  
16.30–17.30: Enjoy kayaking and relaxing on the cruise in Cong Do Area.
17.30: Take part in carving flowers on the sundeck.
18.00–19.00: Attend our chef’s cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking (spring roll).
19.00-21.00: Dinner is served in the restaurant. You can enjoy the charm of Bai Tu Long Bay at night.
21.00-22.00: Enjoy evening activities (Squid Fishing, Movie Night, Board Games, Massage & Spa services) or relax at the leisure then overnight at private cabin at Cong Do area.

Day 4: Halong – Hanoi  ( Brunch )

Cong Do Sleeping Area - Vung Vieng Fishing Village - Vinashin Tourist Harbor.

06.30-07.00: Welcome a new day with an amazing dawn on Bai Tu Long Bay. Refresh your body and soul with a Tai-chi session on the sundeck.
07.00-07.30: Catch the morning view of seascape while enjoying the breakfast with cookies and tea, café in the restaurant.
07.30-08.30: Visit Vung Vieng fishing village - the famous fishing farm by bamboo boat and discover life of local people living on the surface of Halong Bay. (No swimming).
08.30-9.30: Pack up the luggage and check out of the cabin.
09.30-10.40: Enjoy the brunch in the restaurant while cruising back to Vinashin tourist harbor.
11.00: Disembark from boat.
12.00: Your driver takes you back to Hanoi. Night in Hanoi

Day 5: Hanoi – Mai Chau ( B, L, D)
8h AM: Depart from Hanoi, over 3 hours on the bus through National Road No 6. It is the time to stretch the legs  at  Ba Khan, you have a short visit and hiking 1,5 hours at a Muong village and discover the authentic bamboo forest of northern part of Vietnam, then back to the car, continue to Suối Lốn village. Enjoy the landscape along Da river like the Halong bay on mountain.
13h00 PM: Arrive Maichau Hideaway resort, check in your room, enjoy lunch at Maichau restaurant and admire the exceptional panorama view to Black river ( Da river).
2h30 PM: Take a boat trip on Da River as the biggest lake of Vietnam. It takes 45’ to 1 hour to go to to Ngoi Hoa Bay. Along the way, you will stop to visit a floating houses and experience fisher man daily life there. After that, we head to Ngoi Hoa - Muong village – discovering Muong minority . Do Short trekking visit village, local houses on stilt then takes around 30 minutes to climb up to Fairy Pond, it’s beautiful and pristine, you will love it at first sight.  . The water here is blue like jade.
5h PM: Back to Mai Chau hideaway for dinner.
Overnight at Mai Chau hideaway.

Day 6: Mai Chau – Son La ( B, L, D)
9h AM: After breakfast, spend your morning to do Biking and trekking up through small paths inside the forest to admire a picturesque islands, villages and water fall along Da river. The view is breathtaking and “could not be missed “when you plan your trip to Mai chau. Sure that you will get a lot of beautiful photos featuring the green mountains, blue river. You can also choose to explore the surroundings on your own or relax with the comfort of  your room or unwind at our swimming pool.
11h30 AM: back to Maichau Hideaway resort by boat. Check out around 12 pm. Having lunch at restaurant in Maichau
Hideaway resort.
Then depart to Son La, stop to visit Moc Chau , It is very famous for its tea Hills.
After checking into hotel we take a walk around this mountain town. There is a little traffic on roads and many Black Thai in traditional costume scurry in all directions. Overnight in Son La.
Day 7: Son La – Dien Bien  ( B, L, D)
The provincial museum and the nearby old prison are some of this hill town's major sights. We have a chance to visit these before we leave for our next destination. The winding roads cross over the Pha Din Pass before reaching Dien Bien Phu, the site of the decisive battle in Vietnam’s struggle for independence in 1954. After checking into our central located hotel we enjoy a walk around to see this fast growing town. Our main stop is Dien Bien Phu’s Museum which details the event in place. We also pay a visit to the old battle field where the lush vegetation grows behind many war relics including old French tanks and artillery pieces. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu .

Day 8. Dien Bien – Tay trang border gate  ( B, ,)
Breakfast then transfer to border gate between Vietnam and Laos for Laos trip. End Vietnam Trip.

Accommodation offering in this trip: ( click to see hotel )  Or Similar Ones.

Tour Cost includes:

- Transportation in mountain by private car/ van
- Meal as mentioned: B = breakfast, L = Lunch , D= Dinner
- Accommodation : twin sharing room at the below mentioned hotel
- English speaking guide
- Entrance fees to indicated sights
- Boat trip

Tour Cost excludes:

- Airport taxes; Visas ( Laos, Vietnam); travel insurance; tips; personal expenses, emergency transfers, Other meals.

Trip Summary: